Review: Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan

Title:  Fractured Light
Author:  Rachel McClellan
Publisher:  Cedar Fort
Imprint:  Sweetwater
Pub Date:  02/07/2012
Category:  Young adult/adult urban fantasy

I’m reviewing this book as part of a blog tour. Check the tour calendar here for the rest of the  tour.

I got really exited about this book because it had everything I love, an original story, characters I could relate to, a gorgeous love interest, plenty of action and excellent writing. These characters were ones I wanted to hang out with and the story so engaging that I didn’t want to put it down. At the same time, I didn’t want to finish it too soon because I enjoyed reading it so much.

The blurb
Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona has the ability to manipulate light and harness its energy. This is the power the Vykens are after. This is what the Guardians are trained to protect. Christian has been waiting his whole life for the opportunity to fulfil his destiny as a Guardian, but Llona has other plans for him. Going against everything that she’s been taught and defying the Auran Council, Llona convinces Christian to teach her how to use her power as a weapon. It may be her only hope of survival.

Llona is a truly modern girl, not one to sit back and let others protect her without making an attempt to protect herself. She has a power that she knows little about, one traditionally not used as a weapon, but Llona doesn’t let that stop her working out things for herself. Her struggles to handle her situation are easy to relate to, and her frustration with certain people and certain rules remind us of when we’ve had to abide by rules we think are unfair or repressive.

Christian is the traditional protective love interest who knows more than he’s saying and though that’s an often seen theme, I don’t think it ever grows old. The romantic in us just loves a strong protective guy. It’s in our genes. Of course, there’s a reason they can’t be together in the way they both want, but if a romance didn’t have a stumbling block, it wouldn’t be very interesting – so don’t mock the romance formula.

The story also has similarities to a lot of contemporary young adult fantasy in that the main character has special powers they either didn’t know they had or know little about, but at least here the powers are different to anything I’ve seen before and are something that can be used to help people. There’s a lot of potential here for some interesting developments ( I use the power of light in the sequel of Lethal Inheritance, so I’ve already thought about this one) . I thought I had the bad guy figured until he helped save her life – a nice twist to throw us of the scent – but I discovered why at the end when he showed his true colours.
The suspense builds throughout the book holding our attention until the very end. Great endings are rare and ‘Fractured Light’ has one. The main threads are tied up in a satisfying manner, but the story is moving on, drawing us into a future with new challenges without using the cheap artifice of the dreaded cliffhanger.  Well done Rachel.

I give it 5 stars and recommend it for everyone who likes young adult urban or paranormal fantasy.

Author Blog:http://www.blackbirdinmywindow.blogspot.com/
Author Website: http://www.rachelmcclellan.com/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRachelMcClellan
Book Poster page: http://fracturedlightbook.com/

Did I mention how much I love the cover? What do you think?