Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Review: The Secret of Spruce Knoll

The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle
Series: Channeler #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 338 (paperback)
Source: Author
Author's Website | Twitter | Facebook


Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though.

As Eren and Aiden’s relationship develops, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets—and many dangers. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren’s parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger too. Only time will tell if Eren can embrace her unwanted power and protect the only family she has left
My Rating:

My Review:
After Eren's parents die, she moves away from the only life she knows to live in the middle of nowhere with an aunt and grandfather she never knew.  There she undergoes a change and discovers she's a channeler, obtaining power that she never imagined.  She is reluctant to explore her new power though she is encouraged by her new friend, Aiden.  Soon Aiden is in trouble and when Eren tries to help him, she discovers that his family is mysteriously connected to the death of her parents.  Knowing this, she cannot rest until she discovers the truth and ensures that justice is served.

I had a few issues with this book but ultimately, the intriguing plot and unique paranormal elements kept me engrossed from beginning to end.  Some phrases were used too often for my taste and too much was unveiled through dialogue.  The romance felt right but didn't move too quickly.  I look forward to seeing it progress through the series.  The mystery isn't much of a mystery but I turned page after page waiting to discover how the conflict would be resolved. I enjoyed the action at the end of the novel.  At the end we get a complete resolution but Ms. McCorkle does a great job of introducing characters that make me want to return to discover what's next.  The channeler aspect really sets this one apart but I definitely want to know more.  Overall, a satisfying read.

P.S.  It upsets me a bit that Eren's ancestry and description in the book is not reflected in the model on the cover.  Or maybe "mocha" means something different to me than everyone else.
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  1. That is a huge pet peeve of mine! I hate when the cover does not reflect the character. It irks me to no end!

    1. It drives me crazy but it also makes me wonder why create a character that you wouldn't feel comfortable being represented on your cover.

  2. White washing is really a HUGE problem! I think I'd be really annoyed by the info-dumping you described. But the premise and story sounds interesting and unique. I haven't explored channelers before so I think the author may have hit on something different with that.

  3. It's so bad the cover doesn't reflect the character!! But is sounds good, thanks for the review!

  4. Personally I hate covers with characters..they are always so different in my head when the author describes them.

  5. Unique paranormal plot, sounds great even though there were a few issues.
    Happy reading,
    Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog




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