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Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy, #1)

Kiersten White

Start date: September 1, 2011

Finish date: September 30, 2011

Discussion: Books of the Month

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What Members Thought

Jun 05, 2010 Bonnie rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, vampires-werewolve-zombies-oh-my, 2010-books, paranormal-activity, fair-folk-and-other-fey, ya-paranormal

Aww, this book was pure paranormal fluff. I thought from the cover (which is gorgeous, but has nothing to do with the feel of the book itself) that this would be one of those super angsty Fallen kind of books. But it was more cheeky than that.

This is the story of Evie, an orphan who has been raised by the International Paranormal Containment Agency because of her unique ability to see through paranormal creatures’ glamors. She gets sent out on assignments to bag & tag paranormals for the Agency. Aww, this book was pure paranormal fluff. I thought from the cover (which is gorgeous, but has nothing to do with the feel of the book itself) that this would be one of those super angsty Fallen kind of books. But it was more cheeky than that.

This is the story of Evie, an orphan who has been raised by the International Paranormal Containment Agency because of her unique ability to see through paranormal creatures’ glamors. She gets sent out on assignments to bag & tag paranormals for the Agency. What she really wants is to go to a normal high school and be around people her own age. She has a pseudo-mother figure in the Director of her unit and a best friend who is a mermaid, but she wants more social options. Enter Lend, a cute boy and shapeshifter who breaks into the Agency and is subdued by Evie. Romantic sparks ensue? You betcha. There’s also a mysterious evil slaughtering paranormals throughout the world and a creepy and maliciously charming Fae that keeps trying to gain control over Evie (though the Agency doesn’t believe her about this, because they arrogantly believe they have control over the fairies who work for them).

Evie is much less dumb than her paranormal YA contemporaries. While she considers some of the normal stupid tropes – My Love Interest Will Abandon Me When He Finds Out What I’m Really Capable Of So I Won’t Tell Him The Truth; I Must Run Away To Protect The Ones I Love; etc. –she actually ends up TALKING ABOUT THINGS TO PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP HER. This is a miracle. Thank you, Evie. Thank you, Ms. White. There is nothing more annoying than a heroine who throws herself into danger because she is incapable of having a conversation that could resolve almost all her anxieties.

I was happy that there was minimal relationship drama. Evie is capable and cheery and Lend is charming and decent. There is some worry on Evie’s part over her relationship with Lend, but with minimal angsting. Evie and Lend come together as two lonely people who appreciate what’s unique in each other and just have fun hanging out. It seems healthy and normal and nice.

While the writing was not a thing of beauty, it was breezy enough. I wouldn’t say I loved the book, but I had fun with it.
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Aug 25, 2011 Nairabell rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star, teen-ya-paranormal, read-in-2011, favorites, read-in-2013

Evie has always thought of herself as a normal girl with a paranormal life, after all her best friend is a mermaid, her ex is a faerie and the only thing unusual about her is the ability to see through paranormal's glamours. When a shapeshifter breaks into the compound where she lives, Evie's world begins to change. She starts to have dreams filled with haunting prophecies and paranormals begin to die under strange circumstances. But as her feelings for the shapeshifter grow, so do her doubts ab Evie has always thought of herself as a normal girl with a paranormal life, after all her best friend is a mermaid, her ex is a faerie and the only thing unusual about her is the ability to see through paranormal's glamours. When a shapeshifter breaks into the compound where she lives, Evie's world begins to change. She starts to have dreams filled with haunting prophecies and paranormals begin to die under strange circumstances. But as her feelings for the shapeshifter grow, so do her doubts about who she is working for.

This is one of those books I've had recommended to me so many times I've actually lost count. I was excited to read it, but also a little worried that I might not like it. I really enjoyed the story and found it to be cleverly written with great world development. It begins with Evie making an arrest for her employers, the IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency) and is action packed from page one.

The world is populated with a huge variety of paranormals - vampires, werewolves, mermaids, faeries, nymphs, trolls, hags - basically anything and everything you can think of, plus a few more. There is no info dumping despite the depth of story and all the species are amazingly well developed.

Evie is a very likeable character with a lot of snark and a slightly weird dress sense. Given that she's been bounced through the foster system until she was 8 and then taken in by the IPCA she's well written and believable. Her mermaid best friend Lish is brilliant, especially the fact that she has a computer to speak for her which refuses to swear leading to lots of 'bleep' placement which in some ways is funnier than any swear word could ever be.

There is a hint of a love triangle in the book between Evie, her faerie ex Reth and the new shapeshifter Lend. I pretty much disliked Reth from the page he appeared - arrogant, stuck up and annoying. On the other hand Lend is sweet and funny, and helps Evie without even realising it.

All in all this was an amazing read and I can't wait for Supernaturally.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50 ...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Lisarenee rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own

This is about Evie, a teenager like no other. She works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency where she tracks and contains paranormals. Armed with her trusted Tasey (her name for her pink sparkly taser) she goes on missions. Found at the age of 8 by the agency they put her to work when they realized she had a special talent - she can see through paranormal’s glamour.

Now paranormals everywhere are being killed and the main focus of everyone is figuring out what or who is killing th ...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Teri Jackson rated it it was amazing

I loved this book!!!!! I think it is a must read for any one who likes paranormal stuff.

My favorite characters are Evies and Lend they are just so cute and you really get to know them through out the book.

I love the ending and can not wait to read more from Kiersten White.

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