Published by: Strange Chemistry, March 5th 2013
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 320
Format: Ebook
Source: Purchased
17-year-old Becca spent her whole life protecting her brother from, well, everything. The abandonment of their father, the so called 'experts' who insist that voices in his head are unnatural and must be dealt with, and the constant threat of being taken away to some hospital and studied like an animal. When two representatives appear claiming to have the answers to Ryland's perceived problem, Becca doesn't buy it for one second. That is until they seem to know things about Ryland and about Becca and Ryland's family, that forces Becca to concede that there may be more to these people than meets the eye. Though still highly skeptical, Becca agrees to do what's best for Ryland.
What they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family's heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However, they are all--especially Becca--in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.
She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There's an attraction between Becca and Alex that can't be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.
Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he's settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he's done?
17-year-old Becca spent her whole life protecting her brother from, well, everything. The abandonment of their father, the so called 'experts' who insist that voices in his head are unnatural and must be dealt with, and the constant threat of being taken away to some hospital and studied like an animal. When two representatives appear claiming to have the answers to Ryland's perceived problem, Becca doesn't buy it for one second. That is until they seem to know things about Ryland and about Becca and Ryland's family, that forces Becca to concede that there may be more to these people than meets the eye. Though still highly skeptical, Becca agrees to do what's best for Ryland.
What they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family's heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However, they are all--especially Becca--in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.
She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There's an attraction between Becca and Alex that can't be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.
Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he's settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he's done?
Do you know how upset I am to have fund a SC book I couldn't finish? Devastated is the answer. I so wanted to love The Holders, and I suspect I would have, had it been set in America like any other Fantasy/Paranormal series. But, being as close to Irish as you could get without being Irish, I really couldn't hack it. It was, essentially, a bundle of outdated stereotypes all rolled into one mediocre book.
But here's what I liked:
That the protag is drawn into this Paranormal world because of her brother, and not because she's the person with ~mysterious power~
That it's set in Ireland (if only it had been set well)
The premise of the school. I'm actually a sucker for a paranormal academy.
The Holders themselves. I'm all for gifted teens
I even liked the similarities to X-Men so many people are complaining about. HOWEVER there weren't enough to make this a compelling book.
Here's what I didn't
The plot doesn't actually come in until about halfway
Becca is dull and lackluster, and so is - actually I can't remember the love interests name.
The romance was cliche, instantaneous, and passionless, but it befits a teenage crush/first love so I will let that slide.
The typos and errors I found in an ebook I paid for
And my personal favourite: the stereotypical, ridiculous dialect. There's a Scottish character who says this exact thing:
Becca is dull and lackluster, and so is - actually I can't remember the love interests name.
The romance was cliche, instantaneous, and passionless, but it befits a teenage crush/first love so I will let that slide.
The typos and errors I found in an ebook I paid for
And my personal favourite: the stereotypical, ridiculous dialect. There's a Scottish character who says this exact thing:
"Aye lad." Mr Anderson gestured to Alex, whose eyes hadn't left me. "We're needed yonder."
Barely anyone in Scotland says yonder. I guarantee you that, as someone with Scottish relatives who has been to Scotland more times than she can recall. Aye - definitely. Lad - probably. Yonder - nah. Perhaps this would be more suited to a historical novel, but with peanut M&Ms and McDonalds, I'm pretty sure this is contemporary.
So the incorrect Irishisms/Britishisms and the dull, uninteresting romance just shorted me out with this one. Sad I couldn't love it.
No rating, since I DNF, but if I had to rate it I'd give it 2.5 stars.
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