Faustine / Imogen Rose

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Availability Kindle: YES    Nook: YES    DTB: YES

Author:

Globetrotter Imogen Rose is Swedish by birth, went to college in London where she received a PhD in immunology, and is now a Jersey girl. After her eight-year-old daughter insisted she write down her stories, Rose wrote the first of the Portal Chronicles and decided to let it out into the world. The response was so positive that she’s continued with three books in the series and at least one more planned. Faustine is the first book in a new series called The Bonfire Chronicles.  For more visit the author's web site.

Description:

Who is Faustine? Those of you who traipse around the right areas of the internet may have already seen or will see this question between now and the official “launch date” on March 14, 2011. However, eBook versions for both your Kindle and Nook and the paperback version are available now.

Faustine Spencer’s life changed forever when she found out at the tender age of five that she had special powers. At twelve she attended a special Swiss boarding school, The Bonfire Academy, where she learned how to control and channel the powers. Three years later Faustine returns to Manhattan, ready to live life as a normal teenager. Then her father, a prominent sovereign, disappears and Faustine finds her life anything but normal.

Appraisal:

Unlike the middle-class Arizona Darley (or Stevens), the main character in Rose’s Portal Chronicles series, Faustine comes from a much more upper-crust background. Yet, like Arizona, she is very likeable. I sympathized with her when things went poorly and pulled for her when she attempted to overcome challenges.

In keeping with the spirit of “Who is Faustine,” I’m hesitant to say too much specific. I will say the book has paranormal characters, but think it best the reader discover who and what they are while reading. What I can say is with the initial book in her new series Rose has created an environment rich in interesting characters, each with unique personality and (sometimes) distinctive powers. Like a fantasy book, it is a new world, yet operating within our world. There is conflict and tension aplenty. Who are friends and who are enemies is unclear. If this vague appraisal sounds appealing then this is the book for you. I love the Portal Chronicles, but think Rose has one-upped herself with Faustine.

Format/Typo Issues:

As a beta reader I received a pre-publication version of the book and cannot evaluate formatting and typos of the final release version. The author was notified of all typos I found and is believed to have fixed them prior to release.

Rating: ***** Five stars