The Yara Silva Trilogy: Indelible by Lani Woodland

Hi there readers!

How are YOU today?

Good I hope.  The week better be treating you right or you have my FULL permission to give it a good stern glare…okay?  Now that that’s settled, how’s about we delve into a good read.  Today’s featured title is the second installment in the Yara Silva Trilogy…and boy does it pack a punch!  Ready to read all about it?  If not, feel free to first check out my review of book one…if so, here goes!  Today’s book of choice is….

The Yara Silva Trilogy, book 2:

Indelible

By

Lani Woodland

First off, I gotta say it….the titles though wonderful and unique, certainly don’t roll off the tongue with ease, but it is part of their charm and really, once you hear/see them, they’re not easy to forget.  Moving forward….let’s start with a definition of the title conveniently provided for us in the front of the book.

INDELIBLE:  Making marks that cannot be erased, or removed.  That which cannot be eliminated, forgotten, or changed.

 

Yep…that certainly fits this book as well as the many storylines floating around in it.  Yara has more mysteries to deal with this time around of both the ghostly AND the earthly varieties.  Number one ghost contender…Sophie Pendrell; this is one family that just won’t quit!  Seriously, you’d think they created a school JUST so that they could cause trouble for kids of all ages in life and in death.  Sophie has some unfinished business to attend to thanks to her husband as well as her own sense of duty to a promise made long ago, but will she let Yara help her?  Eh, no…or more like h-e-double-hockey-stick-o no.  It seems she blames her for the mess that exists currently in conjunction with that promise and while it’s true, it is SOMEWHAT her fault…should that really matter?  I mean, she was tricked into discovering the location of the hidden object that would lead to the potential unraveling of all the good magic that binds the school grounds, locking in the evil brought by man that once tried to escape.  Gheesh!  Oh…wait…I’ve said too much.  O-O  Ahem…moving on….

The story is chock full of information about the addictive nature of gambling, the dangers in messing with Mother Nature, and what darkness can be provoked when the wrong person is given a LITTLE too much power.  We get reacquainted with the evil that is Thomas from book one, catching a glimpse of just how he became the way he was, what he hoped to accomplish, and the “gift” he left behind for Yara’s boyfriend, Brent.  Notice I said gift with quotation marks there….suffice it to say, it’s not a puppy.  School politics come into play a time or two as they discover further connections to both themselves and the past but don’t be surprised if you get caught in the web they are spinning.  They seem to have a knack for saying and doing the right thing at the right time even if it’s really the wrong thing at the right time….you know what I mean.  The powers that be are controlling and vindictive…case closed. 

Things are not all doom and gloom though.  The Silva family gains the spotlight a time or two, especially Yara’s Grandmother Vovo.  Oh how we’ve wanted and needed to meet her more fully!  She’s a wealth of knowledge, love, and power…and don’t let her sweet little old lady demeanor fool you either; she can be MAJORLY tough when the time calls for it.  It’s pretty impressive.  Outside of blood relatives, we catch up with Cherie (her best girl friend) and Brent (Yara’s formerly possessed…well, sorta…boyfriend) as they make their way through the school year and try to help Yara out as well.  Cherie is still curious about the paranormal, but is definitely a little more cautious after last year’s “fun” fest.  Brent…well, at times I wanted to strangle him for his reactions and actions (or lack thereof), while others, let’s just say that like the water and fire Yara and he are, together they make one steamy couple.  ^_^

Did I mention secrets abound?  No seriously.  American Wakers…the Council…the list goes on and on.  Why didn’t her grandmother TELL her about ANY of it?  Or did she even know?  Something to ponder (though it is answered in the book…well, at least the last question)…but I can pretty much guarantee we’ll be learning more about any and all of this in book three.  I would have never guessed the outcome for Sophie; as far as I was concerned this is one ghost that was written off.  What’s that old saying?  Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.  Yeah, well how about try to kill me one or more times and still expect some help from me?  O-O  I can hear the crickets chirping now as you wait for that response that will never come.  ~shakes head~  I definitely can’t wait to see how Yara’s growing powers come into play…and even Brent’s…and whatever happened to….oh no, you’re not gonna make me slip up this time!  (hehe) 

In summary, book one introduced us to Yara’s world as she uncovered talents she didn’t know she had, and really didn’t want.  Book two gets us more intimately acquainted with the ways of the Waker and all it entails as Yara embraces her power more fully…even if reluctantly….and accepts her family heritage.  It’s a powerful role she has to play in the lives of those who’ve moved on unsuccessfully but one she must fully accept if she has any hope of controlling it as opposed to it controlling her.  Believe me; you don’t want it to control her….scary results.  O-O  My one line verdict….I DEFINITELY have to see how it all ends!

Recommended reading for teen readers and beyond.  The story will keep you under its spell from start to finish as it weaves a tale of magic, romance, danger…and school (the end of year prank is totally worth that exposure though).  You’ll laugh.  You’ll smile.  You’ll cringe at the reactions some show in response to decisions made (*cough* Brent *cough).  You’ll widen your eyes in shock as the scene turns from serene to dangerous in no time flat.  You’ll change your mind about certain characters a hundred times over.  In short, you’ll enjoy yourself and really, isn’t THAT what’s important?  This book was released a few weeks back so feel free to seek it out as well as its predecessor (Intrinsical…which I happened to review right here on the site if you would like a sneak peek) in a bookstore near you! 

ARC for review from the fabulous folks over at Pendrell Publishing.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog of works, be sure to stop by their site, like them on Facebook or check out their Twitter feed.  To discover more about the Yara Silva trilogy (yes, I said TRILOGY…as in there is one more installment still to come!  Guess what’s on my wish list?  ^_^), check out the book’s official web page…and if your curiosity is still not quenched (which I totally don’t blame you for), pay a visit to the author’s site or follow along on Twitter (you won’t be sorry….she’s a joy to tweet with)!

Until next time…happy reading!

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

Happy Friday everyone!

Another week has come and gone putting the weekend squarely upon us.  Here's hoping that all your ideas for the next two days work out according to plan...and leave you refreshed and ready for the coming week. 

Today's post features a book with a rather curious title...not unlike a certain blog you may currently reading (hehe)...from a debut author and a start up publisher. (I always did like sharing something new with others.)  The title itself is taken from the base word 'intrinsic' which by its definition means to belong to something or be a part of something.  In this case, the word is enhanced by the "-al" to bind it to the story even further much like the destiny that our lead character is trying to avoid...but I digress.  Let's jump into the story, shall we?  Today's book of choice is...

Intrinsical

by

Lani Woodland

Yara (and most of the other women in her family) is a Waker, which is one that can communicate with ghosts and aid them as needed…sounds cool, right? Not so much if you're a teenage girl in high school who happens to have no interest in this particular gift. Unfortunately for her....she may not have a choice. In fact, her very life as well as that of a close personal friend may depend on the strength of her abilities in order to make things right. You see at Pendrell Prep School things have gone horribly wrong and not in the "bad-grades-and-bad-hair-day" sorta way....more the top students taking their lives way but as in most cases things are not always as they seem. Will Yara accept her family heritage and uncover the truth before it’s too late? Or will a pair of gorgeous eyes and abs have her falling head over feet into the land of no return? Good luck Yara…you’re going to need it.

In the world of YA, finding a book unique in storyline can be rather rough….and before you start throwing things at me for saying that, let me explain. You have a slew of books on all things that go bump in the night from witches to werewolves, vampires to monsters, ghosts to zombies…but one I haven't seen until now resides within the pages of this book…bravo. The author takes the little used paranormal specter (aka ghosts) and adds a new twist…someone that’s able to interact and guide them.

For those of you thinking of the movie Casper right about now, erase the image…it’s not like that at all. While it’s true, some are friendly, while others are not, there is in fact a dark sinister force at work in this book and the way it’s uncovered and dealt with (I’m not saying that it’s conquered…that’s for you to find out) is definitely a surprise. You reach a point when you think…whoa, wait a second...how are we going to move on from her…only to discover that SURPRISE, the author found a way and a rather interesting one indeed if I do say so myself.

Let’s talk characters. Yara, our main lead, has the usual worries of teenage girls everywhere with the addition of not wanting to be labeled crazy if she inherits her family’s gift. Lucky for her, she’s stronger than she thinks especially in the face of all that is to come…plus she has a great best friend on which to rely. Yara’s past is glimpsed off and on throughout the story which helps us form a more rounded picture of her, but I would have loved to learn more about her grandmother because from the sound of it, she’s a hoot! Cherie, her best friend, is all about the loud, proud, and leading the way…especially when it comes paranormal investigation into life after death. (There is a reason for this which is revealed in time.) Nothing can surprise this girl, or so she thinks. Brent…the love interest, but oh so much more…is really just trying to find himself, literally (hehe…sorry, it’s funny if you’ve read the book) and the tension between him and Yara serves the story well WITHOUT overshadowing the main plot. In short…a great combination of personalities and interactions to be experienced…

You learn of Yara's world as it is, as she wishes it to be and how it could be. She knows of her family’s history (to a point) but tries her best to avoid what seems inevitable so she doesn’t stick out from the crowd…one of the many lessons uncovered about presenting your true self to the world. You see the outcome of choices made and how even a small change can affect things on a larger scale. Think of the old saying about the butterfly flapping its wings; a small move out of the ordinary and a whole sequence of events can be thrown in a new direction. This adage is used here with great success…just minus the butterfly. You get the good versus evil, the "you can do anything" empowerment, even the potential romance with each turn of the page and in unexpected ways. Really…and it’s not just the main character that explores theses areas either presenting a united front with her long term and new found friends thus giving you more people to grow attached to in the story.

Recommended for readers of the YA genre from teen through adult...if you're looking for an interesting storyline with a different slant on ghostly encounters, this may just be the right choice for you. It has all the mystery and flair to keep you guessing with enough laughs and potential for a happy ending to keep you asking for more.

Review copy courtesy of author Lani Woodland and Pendrell Publishing. (THANKS!) To find out more about this recently released title, check out the official website.  To find out more about the author and her current works in progress, visit her site, blog or follow along on Twitter.  Interested to learn more about this new publisher?  No worries...they've got a website too. 


Until next time…happy reading!