6/10, didn't like the main character, go read the Keeper of the Lost Cities series for a better fantasy novel than this. ( )

Taken at birth and hidden away from all who love her, Ebrielle is unaware of who she is, what she is capable of and how much danger she is about to bring to those around her. Given a new name and new life on earth, Ebony has grown up in an overprotective family surrounded by sheltered peace, until the night she sneaks out to go to a party, meets a boy and uncovers a truth that will change her life.

Josh's life has been anything but peaceful. Orphaned at a young age he has experienced more loss and hardship in the last sixteen years then most have in their whole lives, and now just when he has met a girl that could be the one, he finds his short life is about to end. However as one deal is made to save his life, another may be made to bring it to an end.

Hidden is the story of an angel, a demon and a human boy all fighting it out for the love and life of a girl with violet eyes and untold powers. As the forces of good and evil turn earth into a battle field, one girl is trying to figure out who she is, what she wants and where she belongs. The beginnings of a new angel series that is sure to please. ( )

Hidden is about this girl that has purple eyes and when she was a kid her skin was purple. Her mom did not let her go outside. Due to the color of her eyes. Her eyes are magical. When she looks in to people there eyes she can see there feeling and what they are thinking. She has a mom she does not really like her mom becuase she thiniks that her mom is to protective. SHe has no dad so she is not aloud to do anything without her permition.

This book was very interesting i liked it alot it had good grammar. Also it didnt get perdictable durning the end the auther really did amazing job with it. She also gave alot of deatil. I thought it was interesting and misterical. i would not mind reading this book again. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: This was a fun paranormal book with action, romance, and an interesting plot. Unfortunately, I felt a huge disconnect with the characters.

Opening Sentence: Do you ever stare at your reflection and wonder who that person is looking back at you?

The Review:

Ebony is 16 years old and has been very sheltered her whole life. She grew up on a ranch with her parents and until recently she was home schooled. She has always been a little different, like having heightened senses where she can see and hear better than anyone else. She also has the most gorgeous set of violet eyes. Her life is pretty laid back and she has always been very happy, but her life is about to change forever. Ebony’s parents have always been really over-protective so when she wants to go to a dance club with her friends, one night of the course the answer is no, but Ebony decides to go anyway. When she gets to the dance club she literally runs into a really cute boy, and she feels a weird connection to him. Soon after that things start to go terribly wrong and Ebony has to find answers before everyone she cares about is taken from her.

Jordan has lived a really rough life. His dad is in prison, and his mom died years ago from a drug overdose. He has bounced from one foster home to another over the years. Then one night it seems like his luck is about to change, he goes to a club with one of his friends and meets the most beautiful girl. She runs into him and knocks him into the club wall. Jordan feels an instant attraction to the girl, and can’t stop thinking about her, than something crazy happens and Jordan dies. While he is dead he is visited by an angel that needs a favor. Jordan’s guardian angel was kidnapped as a baby and they need Jordan’s help finding her. Jordan gets a second chance at life, and he is really hoping his luck will change.

This was told from a dual point of view where we get to see inside both Jordan and Ebony’s mind. First you meet Ebony and I actually really liked her. She was strong and interesting. Once I hit about the middle of the book, she started to irritate me. She honestly could not make up her mind and it drove me nuts. I felt that there were a few conversations that just kept getting repeated because she would say one thing than do something totally different. She ended up being a very frustrating character that I ended up not really liking at all.

Next we meet Jordan. At first I sympathized with Jordan and really felt for him. He was dealt a pretty rough hand in life and I was hoping things would change for him. He gets in a better situation, but instead of appreciating it, I felt like all he did was whine about not getting what he wanted. He also was a very indecisive character and I didn’t like that. I felt that Jordan had some good qualities, but overall I just didn’t really feel much of a connection with him.

This was just an ok read for me. At first, I was really intrigued by the story and was excited to see where it would go, then in the middle of the book I started to lose interest. The plot was very predictable and I felt a big disconnect with the characters. The romance was cute, but it was instalove which is one of my big pet peeves. There were a few positive things about the book like good action, an interesting villain, and a beautiful cover. With all that being said, I do think that I will give book two a try. Even though I didn’t love this book, I think that there will be people out there that really enjoy it. So if the synopsis sounds good to you, you should give it a try.

Notable Scene:

I climb out of the vehicle in a hurry to find Amber before she walks into the club. But when both my feet are on the pavement I swing around and collide with someone standing still.

It’s a boy, and I hit him so hard I send him flying across the pavement, into the brick wall, where he slides to the floor with the wind knocked out of his lungs.

Oh, no!

I’m at his side before he opens his eyes. ‘Are you all right?’ He lifts his head at the sound of my voice and his eyes flutter open. I take his hand to help him back on to his feet. Not my wisest idea. My pull is more like a yank. He springs up in one go and slams into my chest. I hear something crack.

Oh no, no, no! Was that his rib?

Silently he looks at me, eyes wide open now – deep, dark blue and full of amazement at my strength. Terrified he’s going to fall, I keep my arm around his waist and a firm grip of his hand, forgetting how strong my grip can be until he yanks his fingers out and shakes them with a confused expression furrowing his brow.

Embarrassed, I offer my stammered apologies. ‘I’m so, so sorry, really, truly, so sorry. Is anything broken? Can you stand if I let you go?’

Finally he says, ‘I think I can manage.’

I breathe a sigh of relief. ‘Good. For a minute there . . .’ I stop mid-sentence when I realize he’s staring again, his eyes wide and focused directly on mine.

‘Are your eyes really . . . purple?’ he says.

‘They’re violet, actually.’

‘Does anybody have violet eyes?’

‘Apparently I do.’

FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury USA Childrens provided me with a copy of Hidden. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

I think the blurb of this book really doesn't sell it - I put off reading it until I read Mandee's review, and when I found out she enjoyed it, I decided to give it a chance. I'm so glad I did, and also sad that I left it so long, because Hidden is a wonderful book that most readers will enjoy.

Hidden refuses to follow the usual formulaic outline of a paranormal romance - the protagonists are strong and rather more mature than the average YA characters, the plot is amazingly paced, and the concept is cool and exciting. I think the book has a lot to offer. My favourite aspect of the book is that it's told in dual point-of-view. I think this story hinges on the reader being privy to what Jordan is experiencing, and I love it when I get to see both sides of the story.

Ebony is refreshingly intelligent and independent - she thinks her decisions through, is careful and never idiotically blunders her way into dangerous situations, and always has the welfare of those around her foremost in her mind. She is careful and initially distrusting of the strangers that claim they can help her, which I found more realistic than the blind faith some other YA heroines have. I think her sheltered lifestyle contributed to this, in part, and I really like this smart, conscientious girl.

I was fully expecting Ebony and Jordan, as the narrating protagonists, to randomly fall in love, as is the way of many YA novels and was pleasantly surprised at the romance in the book. I subsequently had my heart broken, and am still reeling from it all, but I love the clever way the author has handled the predictability of romance in YA, and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything falls out in future books.

I love the plot of the book, it seems well researched and is vividly painted. The fictional Australian setting is great, and I enjoy the idea that a little valley Australia can hide an angel so well! I did initially think that the book is too heavily foreshadowed, because I guessed so many things before they happened, but now that I have finished Hidden, I feel it was intentional on the author's part. Readers almost always know what is going to happen before the protagonists and it added a sense of desperation because I wanted the characters to figure everything out before time ran out.

I can't really praise Hidden any more - you'll have to grab a copy and experience the awesome for yourself! I'm really looking forward to the follow-up books and following Ebony's journey to find herself.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic. ( )