Chosen at Nightfall

Chosen at Nightfall (2013) C.C. Hunter

The conclusion to Kylie Galen’s story arc at Shadow Falls.

Kylie has had a rough couple months: she lost her grandmother, her parents are divorcing, she’s discovered she’s a supernatural being, she learned the man she’d called her father her entire life was not, in fact, her biological father, and has met the ghost of her father, whose family wants her to come away with them to both learn more about herself, and to hide from the rest of the supernatural community.

But she’s also made two best friends–a witch and a vampire–and has has two adults who care for her and look after her.

And a boyfriend who has made her happier–and more miserable–than she ever guessed possible.

If you have not read the previous book in this series, don’t be put off by the witches and vampires and werewolves and shapeshifters and fae. One of the main themes of Shadow Falls Camp is for the various supernatural factions to learn to get along–something the groups haven’t always done well throughout history.

Yes Kylie and Della and Miranda are teenagers, and they’re often silly (because they are teenagers). But they aren’t stupid. And the adults in their lives–Holiday and Burnett–aren’t idiots, though don’t treat Kylie as a completely rational adult (which, she isn’t (and most teens aren’t)).

“Say what?” Kylie asked. “Swords can be possessed? Okay…. this is just too freaky for me.” She started dusting off her hands to wipe off any possessed germs.

The romance was my least favorite part of this story, and when I saw where Kylie’s HEA was heading I was highly irritated, but I think she did a good job of making the HEA believable, and certainly made Kylie put a great deal of thoughts into her choices.

One bit I found hilarious. From the first book, it’s made clear that Kylie’s mother has inundated her with information on sex–pamphlets on safe sex and venereal disease and the life. But for all the statistics, Kylie doesn’t actually know very much, which led to some wonderful exchanges.

Della chuckled again. “It’s when a guy gets really turned on and is ready to do the deed and then the deed gets canceled.”
Kylie leaned in. “Do their balls really turn blue?”
Della burst out laughing. “I don’t know, I’ve never gotten down there and checked.”

It does get a bit overbearing when Kylie spouts her statistics, but as this is a YA book, I’m totally willing to let it slide.

Overall, I really enjoyed this series, liked the way things were wrapped up, and I look forward to continuing with the characters with Della’s story.
Rating: 8.5/10

Published by St. Martin’s Griffin

 
 

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