Book Review: Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy.

Product details:
Publisher: Puffin.
Release date: May 5th 2011.
Paperback, 304 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: YA.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Jacki King is fifteen and adjusting to her new life in a small village. She's missing Dublin but she's making new friends: artistic Colin, feisty Emily - and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable. But no sooner is Jacki settled than the torturous headaches and nightmares begin - followed by strange visions, voices and signs...Jacki refuses to believe that something paranormal is happening. But then she discovers the unsolved murder that occurred in the village years before ...

In a Young Adult market dominated by vampires, angels and werewolves, Laura Jane Cassidy’s debut novel, Angel Kiss is a breath of fresh air. When I first heard about this one, I marked it as yet another angel novel, but I was wrong. In actual fact there’s not a celestial being in sight. Instead, Cassidy presents to us a perfect blend of mystery, spooky supernatural happenings and romance which all combine for an exciting, unique debut that will keep you reading late into the night.

Angel Kiss tells the story of fifteen year old city girl Jacki King, a sassy, music loving teen who has recently relocated from Dublin to the small village of Avarna. If Jacki thought that country living was going to be boring, though, she was wrong. Avarna may be a small town but it’s harbouring a big, dark secret. Soon after moving to Avarna, Jacki begins suffering from headaches and terrible visions, and then the nightmares begin. It seems that something, or someone, is trying to reach out to Jacki from beyond the grave, and she needs to uncover their secret, because the nightmares won’t stop…

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that one of my all time favourite books is The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, and I can’t give this book higher praise that to say it reminded me in part of Derting’s debut. In The Body Finder the missing dead call to Violet, and though the books are different in a lot of ways, Jacki and Violet’s spooky abilities definitely mirror each other. Also, when I first read The Body Finder there was nothing else quite like it on the YA market and this one has is similarly refreshing in its unique concept and dangerous edge.

In addition to its compelling storyline, Angel Kiss has some great characters that definitely add to the appeal of the book. Jacki, independent and feisty, is a great protagonist who I connected with immediately, while her friend Colin fast became one of my favourite characters. Artistic, sweet and thoughtful, Colin is definitely someone I warm to if I ever met him. Then there’s Nick. Dark, brooding and oh, so handsome, Nick is just my type. I would have liked a little more romance in Angel Kiss, but I’m looking forward to seeing how Nick and Jacki’s relationship develops in the next book in this series.

While I’ve always enjoyed adult crime fiction, I think adapting it for the YA market and adding a supernatural element is a winning combination. This book is set in Ireland and as someone who is well used to Irish village life, I found that Cassidy captured the tone of her setting perfectly. I read Angel Kiss in one sitting, and I can’t wait to see what Cassidy has in store for Jacki in her next book, 18 Kisses, released in 2012. This one comes highly recommend from me, especially if you’re looking to step out of your paranormal romance comfort zone. I promise you will find something new and exciting in Angel Kiss!

Stop by tomorrow, when Laura Jane Cassidy will be featured as this weeks Delightful Debutante!