Rae of Hope

Jan 22, 2012 Liz at Fictional Candy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-review, favorites

Rae is a 15 year old girl who has been through a lot in her life. At the young age of six she became an orphan in a horrific way and went to live with her aunt and uncle. Then the whisked her away to the United States to live for the past 10 years. Now she is almost 16 and they’ve suddenly sent her back to Britain to go to the Guilder Boarding School.

Right away she begins to meet new people, including Molly, her new roommate. I have a feeling that everyone who reads this book is going to fall in...more Rae is a 15 year old girl who has been through a lot in her life. At the young age of six she became an orphan in a horrific way and went to live with her aunt and uncle. Then the whisked her away to the United States to live for the past 10 years. Now she is almost 16 and they’ve suddenly sent her back to Britain to go to the Guilder Boarding School.

Right away she begins to meet new people, including Molly, her new roommate. I have a feeling that everyone who reads this book is going to fall in love with Molly. I tried to not like her, really, I did. Initially she seemed like she was all up in Rae’s face and very nosey. But it’s not long until you realize the girl has a heart of gold that is the size of Texas. She is bubbly and fun, and she has a flair for style. Molly’s joy is infectious, and her smile contagious. And as sickly as that may sound {insert snicker here} it is completely true. The girl could carry her own book, I’m sure! It’s not long before Molly drops the bomb that she doesn’t realize is a bomb. She is going to have super powers. Everyone at Guilder will, or already does.

And that includes Rae.

What?!!? Yeah, Rae is in a whole new world now. But it’s proven to her quickly and she doesn’t take much time to realize this is the truth. So then we get to meet more people, and the powers they have. There really are some very interesting ones in the group, and I can only say that yes, I was very jealous. I wish I were Rae!! To find out you are part of an elite group of people, and it’s not just because you are cool, it’s because you have actual real super powers? Heck yes!!

Ok, sorry, fan moment there.

As it turns out, everyone knows about Rae. They know her whole story. This was getting so frustrating for me. Like I wanted to scream at some of them “just tell me her the story!!” Especially Devon. Friend? Enemy in disguise? Love interest?? Oh, it’s so hard to tell. I have to be honest; he wasn’t my favorite of the boys for the entire story. I flipped like a giddy little school girl. I was interested in Andy, Riley, Devon… even Julian was a possible champion to my Rae’s heart in my eyes. My favorite for most of the story was Andy, he was totally flirty and aggressive, just like his wolf shifter power.

Then there was one scene… something from the past finds its way to Rae. The scene is so full of electricity. You’re happy, you’re sad, you feel for Rae and all that she has lost. As a mother to a young girl it really had an impact on me. This is just one point of many that show this book is not just some superficial YA read, there are real emotions and the author did a fantastic job of conveying everything.

I just loved Rae and her story. She is young, feisty, and full of heart. She’s flawed, and more beautiful for it. The girl isn’t perfect, oh no. She makes her fair share of mistakes. But she will grab you right from the start and take you on this journey with her. And you’ll be wise to go.(less)

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Mar 24, 2013 Paperback Princess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tour, reviewed

This review was originally posted on Paperback Princess to view in it's originality pls click here.

"The sins of the Father, is the sins of the Sons...or in this case, the daughter"

Rae Kerrigan was made an orphan at the age of six when both her parents died in a house fire. Adopted by her Uncle and Aunty who moved her half way across the world from England to New York City. Now at 15, Rae is on her way back to England after her Uncle persuaded her to take up an offer from Guilder, a prestigious...more This review was originally posted on Paperback Princess to view in it's originality pls click here.

"The sins of the Father, is the sins of the Sons...or in this case, the daughter"

Rae Kerrigan was made an orphan at the age of six when both her parents died in a house fire. Adopted by her Uncle and Aunty who moved her half way across the world from England to New York City. Now at 15, Rae is on her way back to England after her Uncle persuaded her to take up an offer from Guilder, a prestigious boarding school, one that she did not apply for.

Rae of Hope is the first in the Chronicles of Kerrigan series by Wanita May. It's a fast-paced and easy read and it reminded me somewhat of the Harry Potter series for several reasons; she gets an acceptance into a school she did not apply for, a boarding school in England and when she arrives she finds out that everyone is "special" with powers. However, that's where the similarity ends. The Author swoops in and creates a unique Paranormal story that was quite an unexpected enjoyable read.

Guilder is a prestigious school that belongs to special children, initially for males only, the school made an exception to allow girls in the year that Rae Kerrigan was due to turn 16. At 16 all students in Guilder get a tattoo "tatu". This power is hereditary and all the students have at least one parent that also holds the power and have the tatu. Rae is different because BOTH her parents had powers, a tatu couple is frowned upon by their society.

Rae believes she's going to be the unobtrusive student that no one notices, as she was in her previous school. However, when she arrives at Guilder, she soon realises very quickly that this wouldn't be the case. It seems that in their hidden society she's somewhat of a celebrity because of her parents. Not knowing much about her parents Rae soon unravels the disturbing story behind her Parents death and the history of her Parents that she was not told about.

Rae of Hope is a fantastic debut novel by Wanita May. I enjoyed the unique concept that at 16, children of those that have tatu powers also receive powers. I did however, wish that May provided more information as to how the children get the tatu and the powers. Generally more background info than it's hereditary magical powers.

One part that I felt May really excelled at is the depiction of Guilder. She really makes you feel like your there and I really enjoyed the old-school (literally) and I really wanted to go to Guilder! I also enjoyed the characters, WJ May did a fantastic job depicting the characters. However, there was a twist in the story and I honestly did not see that coming. I'm really looking forward to reading Dark Nebula. Please do follow the remaining stops of this tour so you can check out the other reviews! This is a series tour so you'll find reviews of Dark Nebula too.
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Feb 15, 2012 Once Upon rated it 5 of 5 stars

How do I even begin to describe this wonderful world of magic that W.J. May has created with all the amazing characters and a great suspenseful story line that leaves you astonished with the bombshell she delivers at the end. Totally mind blowing!! I immediately fell in love with the Rae. She’s strong willed, Independent and truth worthy but soon she discovers that she can not trust everyone. Rae’s room mate, Molly is a fashionista, who’s hilarious, charismatic and a chatter-box. She’s the perfe...more How do I even begin to describe this wonderful world of magic that W.J. May has created with all the amazing characters and a great suspenseful story line that leaves you astonished with the bombshell she delivers at the end. Totally mind blowing!! I immediately fell in love with the Rae. She’s strong willed, Independent and truth worthy but soon she discovers that she can not trust everyone. Rae’s room mate, Molly is a fashionista, who’s hilarious, charismatic and a chatter-box. She’s the perfect match to Rae and they quickly become the best of friends in the short period they room together. The story is so well written that I am able to read through out the story not having to stop or reread and I was able to enjoy every minute of my reading. I read the entire book in one day!! I could not stop reading!

The story begins when Rae receives a letter of acceptance to the Guilder Boarding School of England, that she never applied to. Having put it past her uncle and aunt to have applied her to this school she never questioned it. Having moved in with her uncle and aunt in New York at the age of six and never returning to England due to the accident that took away her parents, she’s not happy about the acceptance either. But she’s even more upset when she begins to unravel the REAL truths about her being in Guilder and the fact that the whole school knows more about her family’s history then she does and to make matter’s worse she discovers that on her sixteenth birthday, she’s supposed to receive this magic tattoo (tatu) that would symbolize the type of power she will possess. You think having to live with this on a daily basis is bad, try having the whole staff specifically the dean and headmaster watching her every move especially on the day of her birthday!! WHOA! that’s a lot to cope with but Rae is strong and will stop at nothing to prove everyone wrong of their assumptions.

The story line is great, creative and unique. The characters are fantastically written and enjoyable and the entire time I read, I pictured the girl in the cover as Rae. I can not deny that this book will sit on my “favorite books pile” and I will be anxiously waiting for book 2. I highly recommend this story!!!

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...(less)

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May 23, 2012 Shayna Gier rated it 5 of 5 stars

What I Loved:

I loved the idea of a tatú! I want one! Seriously. Besides the awesome idea of tatús, the plot was engaging; if I pick it apart it's not 'original' at all, but put together it's very fresh and original. I really sympathized with the main character, Rae, and was very surprised with how much I ended up enjoying the story.

What I Didn't Like:

I don't want to give spoilers... let's just say I never liked "Snape," no matter how good his intention or how much he was 'redeemed' by the author...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Kristina Holmberg rated it 5 of 5 stars

I actually really liked this book, although it reminded me a bit of the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. It´s a great read with great carachters and I definitely recommend it.

I am just sad that this isn´t that well known, and coming from Sweden I had never heard of it before seeing a review on youtube about the book. Hopefully it will get more fans as the series progresses. Otherwise I will be really dishearted.

Spoiler Warning:

Am I the only one who still thinks Devon is a spy for Lanford?

Spo...more

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May 15, 2013 Kristy Berridge rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: random-ya

Wow. What a surprising little novel.
Rae of Hope explores the exciting new world of magic for an almost sixteen year old girl oblivious to the world of gifted individuals. Marked by tattoos inherent from a singular parent, Rae Kerrigan is the unknowing recipient of such a mark.
Starting at a new school filled with students at the cusp of accepting these tattoos, Rae soon learns more about her past, the unusual coupling of her parents and the power of each tattoo. Speed, visions, strength, dream d...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Rick Veal rated it 5 of 5 stars

I initially found “Rae of Hope” featured on Front Row Lit. In all honesty, it was the cover art that caused me to stop and take a second look at the book. The look on the face of the cover model spoke volumes of someone looking for hope. I know you should not judge a book by its cover but often times it’s the cover that draws your attention and then helps convince you to buy the book. I read the synopsis and the excerpt and I immediately contacted the author, Wanita May, to request to purchase a...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Lioness rated it 5 of 5 stars

In General
I found this book really interesting and unique. It mimics Harry Potter in some ways, but the world that is woven is interesting enough that it doesn't really bother me. I would recommend you read it :D

About the Plot
A couple months before Rae's 16th birthday, she was sent to a school for the gifted in England. She has no clue what she's getting into until she reaches there since her Uncle and Aunt have never told her anything about her past. Everyone at Guilder except for her knows abo...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Mariana Bezerra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-tour, from-author, 1st-in-a-series, read-blog, debut2012, debut-author-challenge

Read this review on my blog! --> Rae of Hope by WJ May

If you guys don’t know yet I love books centered in magic and this one was a perfect catch. A girl finding her powers after being accepted for a school that she never applied. Sounds familiar? I thought of Harry Potter too when I first read the summary and that made me want to read Rae’s story.

There’s a huge difference between Rae and Harry. She’s smart and fight to discover things of her past and why nothing makes sense toward her parents...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Shellie Cruz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

Rae is about to be sixteen and is shipped off to Guilder Boarding School in England. Her parents died in a tragic fire when she was just six and she has been living with her Uncle since. Her life is about to take some turns pretty quickly. Rae is informed that Guilder is a school for the gifted and when she turns sixteen she will be getting her own tatu (tattoo) that will give her some gifts of her own. I haven’t been one to read many ‘magic’ type books but this was definitely enjoyable. Rae fin...more Rae is about to be sixteen and is shipped off to Guilder Boarding School in England. Her parents died in a tragic fire when she was just six and she has been living with her Uncle since. Her life is about to take some turns pretty quickly. Rae is informed that Guilder is a school for the gifted and when she turns sixteen she will be getting her own tatu (tattoo) that will give her some gifts of her own. I haven’t been one to read many ‘magic’ type books but this was definitely enjoyable. Rae finds that everyone has their own unique tatu (tattoo), it’s something that they are born with that shows on their sixteenth birthday, but everyone has their eyes on her.

I was wrapped up in this story line and was easily taken away with it. Rae is facing coming to a new school, knowing no-one there, everyone except her knowing her past and having to prove them wrong time and time again. I loved her roommate Molly and her new found friend Maria; they were the two of all the girls that I liked best. The romance in Rae of Hope was building from the second that she ran into Devon until the last page. There are so many characters and neat abilities that are so well written into this story line. I liked that Rae had some of her own secrets that others didn’t know about her and the fact that she could really truly trust some people. We get to see her facing her fears and overcoming what some people believed.

Rae is learning not only about this new world that she never knew existed but also about herself and her parents. She is definitely getting attention from the guys of the school seeing as they just started letting girls attend. After learning everything right along with Rae I found that her tatu suited her just fine and I could easily picture it. I loved the mystery behind this story line and loved all the twists and turns in it. I didn’t expect to see some things coming. It makes you think of the people that you can trust and those that you should take a second guess on. I really enjoyed this magical world that M. J. May has created. I can’t wait for the next installment to see where the characters go and what will unfold next in Rae’s life.
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Jan 27, 2012 Christie's Book Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rae of Hope by W.J. May
★★★★★

Rae survived the death of her parents when she was very young and has lived with her uncle ever since. Her uncle had moved them from England to America and never talked about going back... until Rae received a mysterious scholarship to Guilder, and her Uncle sent her there. Guilder was a special school, and only unique people got in. Rae didn’t feel like she was special and didn’t know why they wanted her. She soon discovered that the school was specifically designed...more Rae of Hope by W.J. May
★★★★★

Rae survived the death of her parents when she was very young and has lived with her uncle ever since. Her uncle had moved them from England to America and never talked about going back... until Rae received a mysterious scholarship to Guilder, and her Uncle sent her there. Guilder was a special school, and only unique people got in. Rae didn’t feel like she was special and didn’t know why they wanted her. She soon discovered that the school was specifically designed for people that develop special abilities once they turn sixteen. On their birthday, they receive a tattoo that represents the ability they will learn to wield. Rae was thrown into this new world, never being told that she was special by her parents or her uncle. At Guilder, she discovered the truth about her parents and family history. She had to face the mistakes her father made and prove that she was different. Determined when she received her power, she would use it for good, not evil like her father.

I’m sorry, but my fan girl side is going to come out. I absolutely LOVED this book. I mean, crazy yelling, jumping up and down, telling everyone they need to read it love. I devoured it and constantly wanted more. As soon as I finished, my response was, “I need more, and I need more now! Please tell me there is another book in the near future.” The author was kind enough to assure me before I had a heart attack that there will be a second book coming later this year. YES! Now, I just have to live through the months of withdrawals from this world until I can get my hands on the next book.

The book was beautifully written and was an engrossing incredible read. I was immediately sucked in by the writing. I was learning about the new world along with the character, which was fun. I could easily feel her excitement, anguish, pain, and other emotions along the way. It was easy to connect with this book and get lost in it, feeling like I was in the story.

The characters were wonderful, and some of them caught me off guard, surprising me. Things happened in the book that I didn’t see coming, which was awesome. (I’m not going to tell you what they are and spoil it; you are just going to have to read it.) I love being surprised, instead of the story being predictable. The author did an amazing job with this. I really look forward to reading other works by this author, especially the sequel to this book. If you haven’t read this book, READ IT!

I entered a giveaway to win this book and was promptly contacted by the author. She asked me if I would be interested in reviewing a copy of this book. I thought the story sounded very interesting, so I was really excited to be asked to review a copy for her and excitedly accepted the request. Thank you, W.J. May!

-Christie's Book Reviews
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Jun 25, 2012 kelllsify rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: superheros

Recommended to kelllsify by: Christine aka polandbananasBOOKS

Shelves: supernatural-paranormal, ya, absolute-poop, had-potential-but-dotdotdot

Rae of Hope was recommended to me by this awesome youtuber. We both have similar interests in books, and I thought, hey, why the fuck not read this since it's summer and all I do is go out and spend money anyways.

When I found out that this book was not even four dollars in the Amazon bookstore, I jumped for joy. Literally.

Here's an inexpensive book with an amazing concept!

What a surprise!

Finally!

However, little did I know that this book was not good.

At all.

I admit, the plot was going wel...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Jen (Almost Grown-up) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, supernatural

Posted to Almost Grown-up:

Rae of Hope by W.J. May is exactly the kind of book early teenage years-me would have adored. You’ve gotchyer boarding school, you’ve gotchyer magical powers, you’ve gotchyer swoony boy and yer highly suspect villain.

Plus I have a heart-shaped birthmark that I probably would have convinced myself was secretly a magical tatu. That’s the kind of thing 14 year-old me did. I was awesome like that.

To be honest, even as an adult, it had me a little in its thrall.

Starting off,...more Posted to Almost Grown-up:

Rae of Hope by W.J. May is exactly the kind of book early teenage years-me would have adored. You’ve gotchyer boarding school, you’ve gotchyer magical powers, you’ve gotchyer swoony boy and yer highly suspect villain.

Plus I have a heart-shaped birthmark that I probably would have convinced myself was secretly a magical tatu. That’s the kind of thing 14 year-old me did. I was awesome like that.

To be honest, even as an adult, it had me a little in its thrall.

Starting off, I wasn’t quite sure that that would be so. The main character, Rae Kerrigan seemed– well… kind of bitchy in the beginning. A little angry at the world and judgmental of everyone around her.

But that fades a great deal as she settles in at Guilder and starts to learn about about what exactly lead to her attending the school. Everyone at Guilder has a unique power given to them through a tatu that forms on their sixteenth birthday. I was fascinated learning all of the different powers everyone had and watching Rae’s develop.

Some elements were very vaguely reminiscent of Harry Potter, which I LOVED– the most obvious being the magical boarding school, but much more focus is on the teenage elements than world-building or a mystery. We see the crush that Rae develops on her tutor Devon, she makes friends with her “roomie,” gets to know herself, that sort of thing.

Though she’s pretty much made up her mind that she likes Devon, it seems like EVERY other boy at school likes Rae, which is not only one of my “push buttons,” but also added to me having some difficulty keeping the guy characters straight in my head. I did know who Devon was the whole time though and it was nice to have a male lead that I respected because of the way he handled his relationships.

Several references felt outdated to me, such as a repeated Macgyver reference. I’m not sure that that show is even aired any more (at least, not where I live), so it felt off for Rae, a modern teen, to make the comparison. That happened with a few other shows she mentioned as well.

W.J. May managed to throw me completely off on who to suspect as “against” Rae, another thing that had me drawing a (slight) Harry Potter parallel. I couldn’t have been more surprised as the book reached its climax and the antagonist was revealed in a truly thrilling conclusion.

Despite a few (small) flaws, I genuinely enjoyed Rae of Hope and think it’s a great novel, most especially for YA readers who are actually teenagers.

Overall rating: 3.5/5. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Rae of Hope. One of the better indie published books that I’ve had the pleasure to read.(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great book, very well written, exciting, cannot wait for the next one out in December. If you like Potter and fantasy, this is the book for you.

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Mar 18, 2013 Leeanna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, for-review

RAE OF HOPE would be a great book for an afternoon of light reading. It has an easy to understand magic system, a boarding school setting, and a likable cast of characters. When I started the book, the basic story -- an orphan off to a new school, and the subsequent discovery that said orphan has magical powers -- definitely reminded me of Harry Potter. But the concept of tatùs for magic was different, and the author created her own unique world.

I mostly enjoyed RAE OF HOPE. Rae herself is a go...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, magic, paranormal-romance, shifters, urban-fantasy, ya

Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/03/indie-book-review-rae-of-hope.html

Rae of Hope follows a young girl named Rae. She has had a difficult time growing up. She lost both of her parents at the age of six in a terrible fire. She has been raised by her aunt and uncle ever since. She is now fifteen and will be sixteen in a few months. She is now, out of nowhere, being sent to a school called Guilder Boarding School. She can't find any information about the school. But th...more Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/03/indie-book-review-rae-of-hope.html

Rae of Hope follows a young girl named Rae. She has had a difficult time growing up. She lost both of her parents at the age of six in a terrible fire. She has been raised by her aunt and uncle ever since. She is now fifteen and will be sixteen in a few months. She is now, out of nowhere, being sent to a school called Guilder Boarding School. She can't find any information about the school. But things aren't much better when she gets to Guilder as she quickly finds out it isn't your typical school. Everyone has powers, but those powers don't come out until they hit sixteen. When they turn sixteen, a tattoo (tatu) appears on their bodies that represents their powers. But that isn't the strangest thing Rae must face. Everyone at the school knew who she was even before she turned up. They are frightened of her and she doesn't know why. Rae now has to face her parent's past and that past may ruin her.

What a read this was. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were quite a bit of fun after a while. I really liked Rae, but after her first interaction with a boy, she pretty much lost her brain. After she meets her bubbly and talkative roommate Molly, she goes outside with her and runs into a hot guy named Devon. But before she says anything to him, an accident happens where Rae could have almost lost her life. But after it passes, she doesn't act like a normal person would. She doesn't find the guys that caused it and scream at them and she isn't really shocked after it happens. Hell, she didn't move out of the way when the incident was taking place. I wanted to slap her at that moment. It made no sense. But she does redeem herself later. She is spunky and has a lot of fight. But come on, please don't start acting like a Disney princess.

I was a huge fan of Devon's. You do get suspicious of him given some of the things he knows, but he was the perfect guy and I loved that he wasn't afraid of Rae. He has a tatu of a Fennec fox, so he has As a matter of fact, she got a lot of attention from the guys in this book. Her attitude towards them didn't make sense to me sometimes. For instance we had Andy who I liked, but she would constantly have some mean thoughts about him. It didn't make sense to me. I know you like Devon (even though he is already taken), but why did she have such a dislike towards him? There was also Riley who I was very suspicious about in the book. He definitely had an agenda, you just don't know what. But my favorite character was Molly. I thought at first she would have been a very superficial character (well, she has her moments). But she brought a lot of energy to the book which makes sense given what her superpower was. She has the ability to create electricity. It suited her, it really did. I love the friendship between her and Rae.

We also have the school's dean, Dean Carter. The guy was just vile. He obviously can't stand women, The school was only open to boys, but ever since Rae's birth, they opened it to girls (because of who her parents were). He continues to mistreat and embarrass her in the book. He was definitely scary. But thank God for Headmaster Lanford who I honestly kept imagining looked like Dumbledore. It couldn't be helped. This book does share quite a few similarities to Harry Potter which made me enjoy this book even more. But trust me, this book stands on its own and is quite unique.

I love the mysteries we uncover in this book. Rae's powers are amazing. They are unique and supercool. I won't tell you what they are though. We also learn what actually happened to Rae's parents. I loved this scene. I won't lie, I became a little teary eyed. I love trying to uncover Rae's power and what she intends to do with it. I don't want to give anything away because this could easily be spoiled, but man the twists in this are epic. I loved the ending and what more we discover about Rae's superpowers. I would be jealous.

I highly recommend this read to YA and UF fans. I love the romance, well the lust really. But there were some good choices for Rae. As I mentioned Andy and there is also Julian. He has the ability to draw the future. I pray we got more of him in book 2 (which I have already). He too was perfect. I want more of him, I really really do. I love this story of trying to avoid your family's past. That no matter what they did, it doesn't mean you will be like them or that you plan to do what they did. I really liked the idea of the tattoos that show up and show their powers (but why do girls get the tramp stamp?) I wish I could say more about this book. I am so happy I joined this blog tour. This little gem would passed right under my nose. Put this on your wishlist today.(less)

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Aug 14, 2012 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-of-age, current_issues, paranormal, relationships, romance, scifi-fantasy, young-adult, suspense

W. J. May’s Rae of Hope blends J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter with the Casts’ House of Night and television’s Heroes and X-Men to imagine a school for the powerful hidden away in the English countryside. Rae’s parents died in a mysterious fire when she was a child. Now living with an Aunt and Uncle in America, she’s surprised to find herself invited to join the very select and curious Guilder boarding school. But many more surprises await as she learns about her past and what being “the girl who s...more

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Jul 16, 2012 aobibliophile™ rated it 5 of 5 stars

A man without tattoos is invisible to the Gods. - Iban Proverb, quoted on vanishingtattoo.com

from her Uncle's home in New York, fifteen-year-old orphan Rae Kerrigan finds herself sent across the Atlantic on a scholarship at the exclusive Guilder Boarding School in England. everyone is interested about her and she is clueless why. not everyone's intent is friendly though...
author Wanita J. May's novel is something to get excited about. this young adult urban fantasy brims with endearing character...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Majibookshelf Juhina & Farah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rae of Hope started off as a great book, and guess what? It never got boring! It was filled with great ideas, and I certainly loved the fantasy in it, and everything felt great while reading this book. Not too much drama, not too much romance, and not too much fantasy either. I just felt like everything was a perfect measure.
Rae is an awesome protagonist. Her uncle suddenly tells her that she got a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School. Not only to find that it wasn't any normal school, but she...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rae Kerrigan has no idea why she's been accepted into the elite Guilder Boarding School in the English countryside. For the past nine years, she's been living with her Uncle Argyle in New York--ever since her parents perished in a mysterious fire that she survived, though with emotional scars from the loss. She immediately finds that though she knows no one there, everyone has heard of her, and they all seem scared of her, too. She soon learns that Guilder is a school for students who get specia...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Jennifer Monzon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

How do I even begin to describe this wonderful world of magic that W.J. May has created with all the amazing characters and a great suspenseful story line that leaves you astonished with the bombshell she delivers at the end. Totally mind blowing!! I immediately fell in love with the Rae. She’s strong willed, Independent and truth worthy but soon she discovers that she can not trust everyone. Rae’s room mate, Molly is a fashionista, who’s hilarious, charismatic and a chatter-box. She’s the perfe...more How do I even begin to describe this wonderful world of magic that W.J. May has created with all the amazing characters and a great suspenseful story line that leaves you astonished with the bombshell she delivers at the end. Totally mind blowing!! I immediately fell in love with the Rae. She’s strong willed, Independent and truth worthy but soon she discovers that she can not trust everyone. Rae’s room mate, Molly is a fashionista, who’s hilarious, charismatic and a chatter-box. She’s the perfect match to Rae and they quickly become the best of friends in the short period they room together. The story is so well written that I am able to read through out the story not having to stop or reread and I was able to enjoy every minute of my reading. I read the entire book in one day!! I could not stop reading!

The story begins when Rae receives a letter of acceptance to the Guilder Boarding School of England, that she never applied to. Having put it past her uncle and aunt to have applied her to this school she never questioned it. Having moved in with her uncle and aunt in New York at the age of six and never returning to England due to the accident that took away her parents, she’s not happy about the acceptance either. But she’s even more upset when she begins to unravel the REAL truths about her being in Guilder and the fact that the whole school knows more about her family’s history then she does and to make matter’s worse she discovers that on her sixteenth birthday, she’s supposed to receive this magic tattoo (tatu) that would symbolize the type of power she will possess. You think having to live with this on a daily basis is bad, try having the whole staff specifically the dean and headmaster watching her every move especially on the day of her birthday!! WHOA! that’s a lot to cope with but Rae is strong and will stop at nothing to prove everyone wrong of their assumptions.

The story line is great, creative and unique. The characters are fantastically written and enjoyable and the entire time I read, I pictured the girl in the cover as Rae. I can not deny that this book will sit on my “favorite books pile” and I will be anxiously waiting for book 2. I highly recommend this story!!!
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Jan 07, 2012 Valette M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read the summary and was hooked, what an interesting idea! This book in no way was a disappointment.
Rae(main character) felt very realistic, and I loved the fact that, even though she was a very strong lead, she still had several insecurities and "personal demons" that she needed to deal with. In many books the main character is usually somewhat tempted by evil, however Rae always considered the greater good and was willing to give up her life for the world. Her roommate, Molly, made a fun q...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

WOW. Great story line with great characters. I liked the the idea of tattoos (tatus)that give a person powers at the age of 16. It was different from other stories I have read and I liked learning about it right a long with Rae.
There was so much that I liked about this story. Rae is a character that is learning about this life she never knew about. She goes from normal to special through the course of the book. The way she handles all the new information coming at her shows strength and intelli...more WOW. Great story line with great characters. I liked the the idea of tattoos (tatus)that give a person powers at the age of 16. It was different from other stories I have read and I liked learning about it right a long with Rae.
There was so much that I liked about this story. Rae is a character that is learning about this life she never knew about. She goes from normal to special through the course of the book. The way she handles all the new information coming at her shows strength and intelligence. She is 16 so she does have her moments but for the most part she is a great heroine. The story has a lot going for it. It has a unique story line but it also is reminiscent of Harry Potter in that these young people come to this Guilder school to learn about their powers and how to use them.
There is a lot of discovery going on in the story. Rae is discovering her abilities, her families history, and first crush/love. It is a page turner for sure. I was engrossed with every detail and was pleasantly surprised with a little twist during the final climax.
One other thing I liked is the reference to the school being built during the time of King Henry VIII, Tudor style. Subtle references placed strategically throughout were a nice bonus.

A few things I noticed but did not really take away from my reading experience were the change in font for no apparent reason. I don't know if this had to do with reading it on my kindle or not. Also Molly started off with dialogue written to show an accent but as the story progressed it no longer was there. Being American I think of football as NFL so it took me a bit to realize that when the characters were talking about playing football and dribbling down to a net that they meant soccer. That was my own fault for thinking American when the beginning of the story said the school was in Britain.

Overall I liked the writing of this author. It was paced just right with detail that was not overpowering. As a reader I was allowed to get involved mentally and I appreciate that in a book. This is a great book that had my complete attention all the way through. This is a book that I would probably read again and definitely will look for the next one. I am now curious about Rae's second year at Guilder and all that is in store for her. Maybe a little romance with Devon? I hope so.
*I received a copy for an honest review (less)

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Feb 14, 2012 Shae Carcar rated it 4 of 5 stars

Overall thoughts:
I was easily engrossed in this book! It centers around a world that has a lot magic in it, but it still managed to be have aspects in it that I could relate to.

Rae of Hope is about 15 year old Rae Kerrigan moving from New York all the way to England to attend Guilder Boarding School for gifted people. Before moving, Rae had no recollection of her magical abilities or even of her deceased parents traumatic past. When she finally arrives, she's brought to the realization that her...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Marva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fellow-goodreaders

I read Rae of Hope prior to its publication. Very good work by a talented writer. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. May's presentation of a more sophisticated teen world than your average cheerleader bullies and hawt jocks. Despite the setting, this is definitely not a Harry Potter re-run. The provides a fresh look at the difficulties of both growing up and learning how to use a vast magical power.

Set in an English school for talented paranormals, Rae is a late-bloomer having been protected by her uncle...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Remarkable first book to a marvelous new series…I am officially Hooked! The Chronicles of Kerrigan has this awesome Harry Potter mixed with X-men vibe. Children that will become inked are selected to go to a school for the “gifted” where they will receive their tatu at 16 and then learn how to use and harness the power they receive from the tatu for the next 2 years. In Raes’ case she will be learning a lot more than she ever bargained for.

Rae has no idea what a tatu is, why she is at Guilder, a...more
Remarkable first book to a marvelous new series…I am officially Hooked! The Chronicles of Kerrigan has this awesome Harry Potter mixed with X-men vibe. Children that will become inked are selected to go to a school for the “gifted” where they will receive their tatu at 16 and then learn how to use and harness the power they receive from the tatu for the next 2 years. In Raes’ case she will be learning a lot more than she ever bargained for.

Rae has no idea what a tatu is, why she is at Guilder, and why everyone keeps looking at her and whispering behind her back. With the help of her bubbly roommate Molly, a senior hottie Devon, and the compassionate Headmaster Lanford, Rae learns the legend of her past, the depth of her fathers evil, and how her tatu could be very dangerous. Unfortunately everyone is too blinded by the past to see the good in Rae. Through out the course of the school year we follow Rae and her friends on her journey to uncover the truth about her family, fight off the same demons that tormented her father, and get a grasp on this new crazy world she is living in. But someone will turn on her when she needs them most.

I am in love with this character, the story line, and the magic! Rae is this beautifully strong girl that in the face of everything has hope and determination not to be what everyone thinks she will become. “You can’t undo the past. The sins of the father are the sins of the son, in this case the daughter.” She has an amazing power and a strong will to do good with it, something her father did not posses. Devon is a dream of a guy that helps Rae with her familys’ past. Molly is that awesome best friend that can put a smile on your face even when your are feeling down. She is the cause of out loud laughter in this book. :)

Rae of Hope is full of suspense, attraction, friendship, deception, and not letting ones past define you. I am immediately jumping into book 2 so that I can get more of the adventure and to see what type of women Rae is becoming. I highly recommend this book to lovers of Harry Potter. You will not be disappointed.

Actual Rating: 4.5(cuz you know there is no way to give half points)(less)

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Feb 01, 2012 Chelesbells rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rae doesn’t remember what started the fire that took her parents lives and led her to live with her aunt and uncle. It’s nearly 10 years later, and that night is still one big question mark. When she is accepted into the Guilder Boarding School in England, she hopes she will finally receive some answers. Turns out, they’re not the answers she expected. Rae soon realizes that Guilder is no ordinary boarding school. It is a school for the gifted... the supernaturally gifted. Her classmates all rec...more Rae doesn’t remember what started the fire that took her parents lives and led her to live with her aunt and uncle. It’s nearly 10 years later, and that night is still one big question mark. When she is accepted into the Guilder Boarding School in England, she hopes she will finally receive some answers. Turns out, they’re not the answers she expected. Rae soon realizes that Guilder is no ordinary boarding school. It is a school for the gifted... the supernaturally gifted. Her classmates all receive tattoos, or ‘tatus,’ on their sixteenth birthdays. Tatus that come with special powers and great responsibility. And Rae’s sixteenth birthday is only months away. Along with that unexpected shock comes the revelation that both her parents were inked and gifted and that her father may not have used his powers for good - not exactly the sweet sixteen she had in mind. Even worse? All eyes are on Rae, scrutinizing her every move, but never asking the one question they all want to know: What exactly did she inherit from her father, and what will she do with whatever gifts he passed on to her?

“‘You can’t undo the past. The sins of the father are the sins of the son, or in this case, daughter.’”

Will Rae be able to prove them wrong? Rae of Hope is a coming-of-age story with a paranormal twist. Kudos to W.J. May for creating such a different and intriguing young adult story.

I really enjoyed Rae’s classmates. They were all rare individuals, and it was so much fun learning about their different inks and what abilities they possessed. They had great interactions with one another and were very well-developed characters. I found myself suspecting every one of Rae’s peers as the potential “bad guy,” only to be completely shocked when the antagonist was revealed! I love being surprised, and I really enjoyed this unique story. It had a very X-men-meets-House of Night feel, while still maintaining its wonderful originality. I definitely look forward to the next installment and to finding out what happens to Rae and her friends.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Review originally posted at: A Belle's Tales

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Apr 18, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own-this, tour, posted-on-blog, other-supes

Rae Kerrigan has been shipped off to England to complete her junior and senior years at a mysterious boarding school. Her Uncle, whom she has been living with for the past 10 years since the death of her parents, sends her off without offering a clue as to why.

It doesn't take long for Rae to figure out that Guilder is not a normal school. The students here all have supernatural abilities, which manifest on their 16th birthdays--along with the appearance of a mystical tattoo.

As Rae learns more ab...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Stacey O'Neale rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review was completed by Amanda Harbin, staff reviewer with the YA Fantasy Guide.

I enjoyed reading this book. The story has a bit of a Harry Potteresque feel about it, but still came across as original and unique. The characters in the story were fun and the relationships were believable. The relationship between Molly and Rae was one my favorites. It unfolded nicely and there was a good dynamic between their characters. My chief complaint about the characters was that there were a few too m...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Christina Madison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-2012, ebooks, psychic-abilities, werewolves-shapeshifters

Full review here: http://zodiacbookreviews.blogspot.com...

Rae Kerrigan is on the cusp of her sixteenth birthday. For many girls, their sixteenth birthday is a rite of passage, a coming of age. But for Rae, it's that and so much more.

When Rae receives a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School, which was originally an all-boys school, now enrolling girls, her uncle jumps at the chance for Rae to attend his alma mater. But there's more to Guilder and its students (and apparently Rae) than meets the...more Full review here: http://zodiacbookreviews.blogspot.com...

Rae Kerrigan is on the cusp of her sixteenth birthday. For many girls, their sixteenth birthday is a rite of passage, a coming of age. But for Rae, it's that and so much more.

When Rae receives a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School, which was originally an all-boys school, now enrolling girls, her uncle jumps at the chance for Rae to attend his alma mater. But there's more to Guilder and its students (and apparently Rae) than meets the eye.

When Rae meets her roommate, Molly, she's introduced to the world of the tatù (taa-toe; rhymes with shoe). Molly tells Rae that on their sixteenth birthdays they will receive an ink that will grant them special powers. The ink appears on the arm of boys and the lower back of girls. Devon is the first inked boy she meets at Guilder. He has also been assigned as her tutor and quickly becomes one of the few that Rae feels she can trust.

What's odd is that everyone Rae meets seems to know more about her and her past than she does. Turns out that her father was a very dangerous man and her mother may have sacrificed everything to save her. A common saying in the murmurs that follow Rae is, "the sins of the father are the sins of the son, in this case the daughter." Rae is living under the shadow of her fathers misdeeds and is trying to fight off the demons of the past. She can't change the past, but she's her mother's "rae of hope."

I really loved the whole tatù concept. It was fun learning about each new tatù and the powers they gift, and it was really exciting anticipating what Rae's tatù would be. With her mother's ink being the sun and her father's ink being a wizard or sorcerer, I couldn't wait to see what Rae's ink would look like and which of her parent's gifts she inherited. When it finally appeared on her birthday, I could picture it in my head perfectly, it just seemed so beautiful. I would love to see concept art for Rae's tatù.

I know that Rae's past and the anticipation of her tatù gain her a lot of attention, but I thought that the male attention she gained was a little over the top. It just seemed that at times EVERY SINGLE GUY was falling over himself to get Rae's attention. Although it did provide some entertaining moment, and I even felt bad for the guys, because Rae is obviously infatuated with Devon.

The dynamic between Rae and Devon was excruciating and tortuous (in a good way) at points. Rae is completely head-over-heels for Devon, but he has a girlfriend. There are moments so sweet between them and you totally think they're going to get together, but then something happens to put space between them again. But the push-and-pull was definitely worth it in the end.

I haven't been this satisfied with a book's conclusion is quite a while. All loose ends are tied up real nice, there's promise for a great (and complicated) romance, and I was left with a smile on my face. I can't wait to for the next installment in the Chronicles of Kerrigan series.(less)

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Rae of Hope (The Chronicles of Kerrigan #1)

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