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Ghost Crown (The Tracks #2)

by J. Gabriel Gates (Goodreads Author), Charlene Keel

4.55 of 5 stars 4.55 · rating details · 29 ratings · 19 reviews

A priceless mystical treasure, a dark secret order, and a vengeful fallen angel forces collide as the battle for Middleburg continues . . .

For gang members Raphael and Ignacio, plans for the homecoming dance are almost as harrowing as their recent victory against the demonic forces that threaten their town. Despite their tentative alliance, a fight breaks out between the p...more

Paperback, 480 pages

Published June 5th 2012 by HCI Teens

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Jun 18, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

The paranormal element within the book totally blew me off! If you have read book 1 of The Tracks series: Dark Territory, you would have known that the paranormal element only comes in closer to the end of the book. This book is totally filled with it. And when you add in martial arts, you get lots of actions!

There are still as many characters in book 2 and they are really wonderful. There are some additional ones (bad guys) and they are powerful, with the ability to enslave people. Unfortunatel...more

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May 24, 2012 Heven rated it 4 of 5 stars

What can one say, other than J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have done it again. This is a great follow up to the first one in this series, “The Dark Territory”. This sequel is an action packed paranormal phenomena. From the first to the last page, this is a page turning thriller that will pull you in and make you want more.
After the win of the Dark Territory, Raphael is feeling relatively good about things, but there is one thing he is missing. The one person that means the most to him, Ai...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Charlene Keel rated it 5 of 5 stars

My co-author, J. Gabriel Gates is right. GHOST CROWN is even better than the first book in the series. Here's a little preview:

Despite a tentative alliance between the goth Flatliners and the rich, preppie Toppers, any hope of peace is dashed when Topper girl Aimee arrives at the homecoming dance with Raphael, a Flatliner. A fight erupts between the two gangs and in the midst of the rumble, a bizarre event threatens the entire student body. Middleburg High’s new homecoming queen must use her rec...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Shay Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, urban-fantasy

One of my favorite musicals has always been West Side Story and in GHOST CROWN that is what you get along with a whole bunch of magic and the paranormal to keep it interesting. And it was interesting.

I found that all of the characters were very well developed even the secondary ones though I will admit at times it can be hard to tell just who the secondary characters are. And there are a lot of characters in this story. Since I didn't read the first book in this series, I will admit to being los...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Vanya D. rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who loves paranormal stories.

Shelves: read-in-2012, paranormal-urban-fantasy

NOTE: I received this book to review from Netgalley.

Finally! I'm done with this book, and I can tell you, it feels like a huge weight was just taken off my shoulders. Now, you may think this means I didn't like the story or something. But then, you may notice my rating, and you might get slightly confused.

Truth is, I really LOVED this book. The only thing about it that sort of exhausted me was the count of its pages. 480 pages!!!!!!! To be honest, not a single one of them could be taken out, b...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, paranormal, non-erotic, young-adult

Originally posted at: http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/201...

Gates and Keel do it again with the second book in The Tracks series. This pair of authors is quickly becoming one of my favorite duos with each book about the Flatliners and the Toppers.

Middleburg is in the middle (pardon the pun) of yet another battle--both physical and spiritual--and our favorite characters are back and along for the ride. They aren't static, however. The authors show how the events in Book One, Dark Territory, sha...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Suz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012

J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have returned to the young adult scene, with an intriguing sequel to Dark Territory . Full of thrilling excitement, daring action, mystery, forbidden romance, and a hint of the paranormal; Ghost Crown delivers a rollercoaster ride of epic adventure and amusement. All the main character's are back and the threat of danger and ancient mystery steeped in Chinese mythology and lore, works well to give this story more of an edge. If reader's are seeking fast paced...more J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have returned to the young adult scene, with an intriguing sequel to Dark Territory . Full of thrilling excitement, daring action, mystery, forbidden romance, and a hint of the paranormal; Ghost Crown delivers a rollercoaster ride of epic adventure and amusement. All the main character's are back and the threat of danger and ancient mystery steeped in Chinese mythology and lore, works well to give this story more of an edge. If reader's are seeking fast paced action, drama, and unexpected twists, then they need look any further. Ghost Crown does a superb job of delivering all of that and so much more.

The character's are wonderfully engaging and so full of life, as they each battle their own demons in their own ways. Realistically flawed and likable, they spark to life on the page. The intricate story woven together with the fabric of the martial arts gives incredible depth to Ghost Crown . It's stunning and captivating, full of so many intriguing entanglements sure to wow reader's as they find themselves getting lost within the pages and soaking up everything this bright and interestingly vivid world has to offer. Author's Gates and Keel have so cleverly crafted a stunning world of imagery filled with Chiese myth and legend, based in martial arts, and have ultimately spun together a phenomenally kick-ass paranormal story of epic proportions sure to entice reader's.

Gates and Keel do a marvelous job of blending more than one individual story into the main arc in a unique and originally dimensional story that is full of dark beguiling twists and turns, unexpected at every turn around. There are triumphs and tragedy, heart pounding romance that will leave reader's gasping for their breath, and sorrow skirting the edges of their hearts. There is so much thrilling aspects to this book, that will have reader's on the edge of their seats. There is danger and peril around every corner, it seems like, and the thrills just keep coming left and right. It's enough to hook reader's and keep them rooted to their seats.

It is probably one of the best written and interesting books written, with wonderful originality, heart, and the right amount of paranormal flavor to add that little extra oomph it needs to be amazing!(less)

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Jun 14, 2012 Deb Novack rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bcc-100bks-in-yr, book-chick-city-mys-susp-challenge, net-galley, wad2012ebkchallenge

This is the first book by these authors that I have read and I thought where have I been it was great. The book has action, paranormal activity,danger and romance. I thought it was like and updated version of West Side Story. The characters were believable and I liked them all except Jack Banfield he seemed to care only about gaining control of Middleburg and nothing else. Some of the good guys had their own shortcomings like jealousy and selfishness just like the bad guys. It was truly a hypnot...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tour, posted-on-blog, other-supes

Life hasn't exactly gone back to normal after the last supernatural battle in Middleburg. A couple of weeks later, Raphael and his gang of Flatliners are still working themselves pretty hard, but it's doing no good--families are being kicked out of their homes with seemingly no rhyme or reason. Raphael knows he has to investigate, before he and his mother are next to lose their home.

Meanwhile, Zhai, the leader of the Toppers, has discovered something shady going on with his father's business dea...more Life hasn't exactly gone back to normal after the last supernatural battle in Middleburg. A couple of weeks later, Raphael and his gang of Flatliners are still working themselves pretty hard, but it's doing no good--families are being kicked out of their homes with seemingly no rhyme or reason. Raphael knows he has to investigate, before he and his mother are next to lose their home.

Meanwhile, Zhai, the leader of the Toppers, has discovered something shady going on with his father's business dealings. But the implications for him are way worse than he ever thought possible.

There is more than one evil presence converging on Middleburg, and they are seeking a priceless treasure that could spell the end for everyone.

I found this book to be quite better than its' predecessor. There is of course, a lot going on with so many different characters, that it makes it a bit hard to put it all together in a concise review. But I'll try.

Ghost Crown seemed to have less action and fighting than Dark Territory, but that is OK with me. The characters grew so much in this novel, and that is what I loved about it.

Aimee is still struggling to break free from her oppressive father, but deep down, she wants to make him happy, of course. That's why it's no surprise when she starts meeting with Orias Morrow. To me, Orias is the most intriguing character in the book. I can't get an accurate read on him to tell if he's good or evil. Every time I would read a scene he was in, I found him charming but something in the back of my mind was telling me he couldn't be trusted. I finished the book still not sure how to judge him.

In Dark Territory, Maggie was one of my least favorite characters. But I'm glad to say she's changed SO MUCH into a better person. I want her to be happy. Hopefully she can escape the fate of her mother.

The Flatliner/Topper rivalry is pushed to the background in this book, which is understandable with so much else going on in the town. For that reason, it's so laughable that it's still the main thing Rick Bandfield is worried about. There are much bigger issues at play, and it makes Rick look so childish.

Not so much kung fu in Ghost Crown, but the paranormal activity (LOL) is getting intense. It's so cool that so many characters are coming into powers they didn't know they had, and I can't wait to see how they will be able to use them next.

I know I didn't touch on everything in this review, but there are still so many things I want to know!! Where did Kate really come from? What's the deal with the Magician? Will karma come back arounf for Jack and Rick Banfield? I will definitely be reading the next book in this series to find out! (less)

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Apr 29, 2012 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ghost Crown is a paranormal, action packed adventure with mystery, revenge, and a ton of romance. J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel has an amazingly creative minds, and has create an incredible storyline that has absolutely everything you could ask for in a novel. Ghost Crown left me in awe. I kept saying, Wow, wow, WOW! Just when you think Gates and Keel has peaked and the climax of the story reached, they show you that you still have a long way to go before reaching the top of their mountain...more Ghost Crown is a paranormal, action packed adventure with mystery, revenge, and a ton of romance. J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel has an amazingly creative minds, and has create an incredible storyline that has absolutely everything you could ask for in a novel. Ghost Crown left me in awe. I kept saying, Wow, wow, WOW! Just when you think Gates and Keel has peaked and the climax of the story reached, they show you that you still have a long way to go before reaching the top of their mountain as you with see with the cliffhanger ending that had me begging, Please, NO! Don't stop the novel here…

Raphael is feeling pretty good after he won the battle against Oberon in Dark Territory, and all is back to normal in Middleburg. His only worry now is how to get the girl he loves, Aimee, to go to the homecoming dance when her brother Rick is the leader of the Toppers. They are the rival gang in the middle of a gang war between Raphael's gang the Flatliners. Raphael will find out the dance is the least of his problems when Oberon's son, Orias, shows up in Middleburg. And if he thought Oberon was an evil, supernatural force to reckon with, Orias—who's also after revenge and after his girl—is going to give him a battle from hell. Not to mention the The Order of the Black Snake and his gang war with the Toppers…And they’re all after the treasure of the Dark Territory.

Romances, romance, and more romance. Gates and Keel has every kind of romance you can think of going on between this group of teenagers. The heart breaking kind, the hilarious kind, the ones who are trying to steal the others boyfriend or girlfriend, the jerk, and the one who’s just trying to have a romance. I definitely got my romance fix.

Ghost Crown will give you every kind of read you’re looking for in a YA novel—action, adventure, mystery, drama, paranormal, and romance. J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel has left no stone unturned in The Tracks series. I recommend Ghost Crown as an all in one fantastic read!

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Jun 19, 2012 Aeicha rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5/5 Stars

I really enjoyed Dark Territory (The Tracks #1) and was very excited to delve into book two. And I’m happy to report that Ghost Crown is even better than the first book…

After their battle with the powerful Oberon, the gangs of Middleburg hope life can get back to normal…but it doesn’t. When Topper Aimee shows up at the homecoming dance with Flatliner Raphael all hell breaks loose between the gangs. But before the fight can get out of hand, newly crowned homecoming queen, Maggie unleas...more 4.5/5 Stars

I really enjoyed Dark Territory (The Tracks #1) and was very excited to delve into book two. And I’m happy to report that Ghost Crown is even better than the first book…

After their battle with the powerful Oberon, the gangs of Middleburg hope life can get back to normal…but it doesn’t. When Topper Aimee shows up at the homecoming dance with Flatliner Raphael all hell breaks loose between the gangs. But before the fight can get out of hand, newly crowned homecoming queen, Maggie unleashes her own new powers. As tensions escalate between the Toppers and Flatliners, Topper real-estate moguls begin to buy up Flatliner residential buildings, evicting their tenants, in search of a priceless treasure. But they aren’t the only ones after this treasure: the dangerous and deadly Order of the Black Snake and Orias, a half-angel, half-human being, are also after the treasure. Raphael, Aimee, Nass, Zhai, Maggie and the rest of the Flatliners and Toppers find themselves battling against each other and each against dark forces.

Authors J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have crafted an intensely thrilling and suspenseful sequel full of exciting supernatural elements, kick-butt martial arts, romantic entanglements and engaging characters.

Ghost Crown is a longer read at almost 500 pages and it is filled to the brim with action and thrills, and the story moves quickly. There’s a lot going on in this book, a lot of individual character stories, but they all really flow together nicely and cohesively. Gates and Keel continue to lay out a very layered, dimensional story with really great world-building. The social awareness surrounding the intense rivalry between the rich Toppers and working class Flatliners that I liked so much in the first book is deftly developed even further in book two.

The addition of powerful supernatural elements to this already tense rivalry creates an atmosphere that is, at times, deliciously dark and explosive. And the supernatural elements continue to be original and electric. From the mysterious Shen to the dark forces of the Order of the Snake, to time traveling and jumping to Aimee and Maggie’s individual growing abilities, these elements are captivating and unpredictable. I know nothing about kung-fu or martial arts, but the authors clearly do and this adds even more layers to the story and makes the fight scenes breathtaking and realistic.

The story itself feels very hip and refreshing; especially the way the authors capture the essence of their teenage characters. I love how natural and authentic the dialogue sounds, never cheesy or contrived. And the characters themselves continue to be awesome: from brave and swoon-worthy Raphael to sweet, determined Aimee to funny, loyal Nass and sassy Dalton to thoughtful Zhai and delightful Kate…all my favorite characters from the first book are even more likable in book two. And there are new characters to get excited about as well! Orias, with his charm and internal struggle, is kind of hard to resist (for both Aimee and readers), even when his darkside shines. Maggie is one character that really surprised me in book two with how much I actually began to like her. Kudos to the authors for Maggie’s unexpected and enthralling character development!

And of course every great story has to have a bit of romance! Well, this story has a lot of romance: first love, old love, enchanted love, convenient love, unrequited love…it’s all there and it’s all enticing. Raphael and Aimee’s sweet, true love is rudely interrupted by the charming and powerful Orias, and Nass and Dalton’s blossoming romance is halted by the appearance of Clarisse, Nass’ first love. But don’t worry, none of the romantic elements dominate the story or take away from the bigger picture.

Like in book one, the last quarter of book two is breathlessly exciting and had me anxiously turning pages. There’s big showdown involving all the important Middleburg groups and the outcome is definitely unexpected. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Action, the supernatural, romance, mystery, thrills and chills...Ghost Crown has it all! A superb and a captivating sequel, this is one read (and series) that won't disappoint.(less)

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Jun 07, 2012 Starr Griggs rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gates and Keel have done it again. Back in the world of Middleburg nothing is as it seems and nothing is left untouched from the events in Dark Territory. Everything has changed, Ghost Crown is darker and grittier. OOOh, what a read! There were so many moments that my mouth fell open in disbelief. I had to stop myself from screaming out warnings (especially when reading in public places!) I was so involved in this book, that everything in my reality disappeared. I really thought that I was sitt...more Gates and Keel have done it again. Back in the world of Middleburg nothing is as it seems and nothing is left untouched from the events in Dark Territory. Everything has changed, Ghost Crown is darker and grittier. OOOh, what a read! There were so many moments that my mouth fell open in disbelief. I had to stop myself from screaming out warnings (especially when reading in public places!) I was so involved in this book, that everything in my reality disappeared. I really thought that I was sitting in Middleburg watching all of this happen. I felt so many different emotions. My heart sank with the mini-defeats the characters experienced. It soared with the mini-victories. There were so many awesome elements that came together successfully to make this a rock-star book. I loved the development of the characters, everyone was tangible and felt as if they just floated of the page and came to life. The bad guys just got darker and even more unlikable. The character that sits on the fence-Zhai- was pushed even more into the murkiness of the gray area. I still wonder why he chose to be the leader of the toppers. I know how he got there but why did he accept? It’s June, and I have my first book to add to my favorite reads list for this year.
All of the characters are back in this sequel, and they all leave quite an impression, including the new ones that pop up. All of the old characters, that we have grown to love or hate, have changed since the events and Dark Territory. I think that change would be necessary, considering everything that they saw. Some of the changes are for the better, as when one embraces the gifts that shen/The ALL have bestowed upon them. Some of the changes are for the worse, as when one makes a deal with a half-breed without really understanding what they have bargained away. Some events are heartbreaking, as when one forgets her love as she is manipulated by another. All of the characters surprised me in one way or another, but truthfully, the biggest surprise was Maggie.
Ghost Crown has a little bit of everything, forbidden love, secret love, a love triangle, secret alliances, secret society, a treasure hunt, action…everything you could ever need to tell an awesomesauce story. Man! I could go on and on about how awesomely happy I am with Ghost Crown, but I still feel as if this review is too vague. I don’t think I’ve really captured how great this book is. I wish that I could find something that I hated, to give a balanced review. I looked, flipped through pages and couldn’t find anything. When I read the word “nephilim”, it was like a punch to the gut. This didn’t start out like your typical angel/fallen angel story and everything screamed that it wouldn’t fit neatly into that category. A part of me liked it better when the mysterious creatures went unnamed. But even that worked out in the end. I so can’t wait for book 3!!!! (Yes folks, in case you didn’t know, there will be a book 3!!)

Recommendation: Go. Read. Now! Right now! Put The Tracks series at the top of your reading pile.

A free copy of this book was given to me free, in exchange for my honest review.
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Mar 07, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

This sequel to Dark Territory accomplishes something that few sequels do--it's better than the first book. In Ghost Crown, the characters are much more compelling and the supernatural elements of the town and its people are better developed. The only thing I don't like about these books is that the covers are terrible. With the first one, I couldn't get any of my students to read it until I duct taped over the cover (I told them it had ripped--total lie). The ones who did read it loved it!

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Jul 11, 2011 J. Gates rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Even better than book one! And book one is so awesome, that... that... so awesome that I can't even say how awesome it is.

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Jan 28, 2013 Micheleann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: anne-rice, j-gabriel-gates-and-charlene-keel

Book 2 ghost crown is the continuatation of dark terrority is ami and raphael done forever and is their love doomed when ami finds herself drawn to someone she hates and for what reasons is she drawn to another and what happens to the gang when everyone goes on a treasure hunt who is the one to be the powerful one in chage of everything that surrounds middleberg and is rapahel really gone forever great read would defintly recommend the series cant wait for book 3 in the series thanks again j gab...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Full Review: http://simpleloveofreading.blogspot.c...

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Oct 29, 2012 Nick rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book as much as I loved the first one. Even though I've finished book two, I feel no closer to understanding Middleburg because every time a question is answered five more pop up to take its place. The unique mix of magic, martial arts, and gang wars has remained fresh and still works. I really hope that another book is in the works because I'm not satisfied with that being the end.

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Jun 14, 2012 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, on-my-ipad, to-be-reviewed, favorites

words cannot begin to explain...

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Apr 06, 2012 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, paranormal-reading-challenge, reading-romance-challenge, romance-reading-challenge

Great Squeal to the first!

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About J. Gabriel Gates

Author J. Gabriel Gates is a native of Marshall, Michigan. The son of an English teacher, his passion for the written word began at a young age. During college, another passion – for performing – led him to get his B.A. degree in theater from Florida State University.

During his years in Los Angeles, he appeared in a dozen national TV commercials and penned several screenplays while laying the grou...more

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Quotes from Ghost Crown

“The problem is, most folks these days don't have enough faith to see the magic that's all around them. These days, normal means confused, fallen, lost.” — 4 people liked it

“A wise man's questions surpass the answers of the fool, but the silence of the enlightened is divine. Meditation is the key.” — 2 people liked it

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Ghost Crown (The Tracks #2)

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