Firespell by Chloe Neill

Release Date: Available Now from Signet

Source: From Publisher

Synopsis:

As the new girl at St. Sophia's boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she'll have to face--but oh, how wrong she is.

When Lily's parents decide to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she is not happy. Lily's classmates are the ultrarich brat-pack type--and if that isn't enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophia's creepy campus.

The only think keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout's a little weird--she keeps disappearing late at night. When a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout, who's running from a real-life monster. Scout is part of a splinter group of rebel teens who protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and the gone-to-the-dark-side magic users called Reapers. She lets Lily in on her secret, even though Lily has no powers of her own...or at least none she's discovered yet.

I read this quite awhile ago, probably before it came out. However, the stack of to be reviewed books on my desk just kept growing, and this little gem got lost in the shuffle. This isn't Chloe Neill's first book. She's written a Paranormal series for adults. This is her first YA book though, and it's a great YA debut. When I started reading it, I was afraid it was going to fall into all of those same paranormal traps that we see so often, but I was pleasantly surprised.

This is a very readable book that does put some new spins on the genre. Does it have a familiar feel to some other series? Sure, but I honestly didn't care. I just really enjoyed the ride. Also the characters, especially Lily and Scout, are just so completely likable, I'd follow them through any adventures.

I love Neill's Chicago. It's dark and full of secrets, but we still get to see that part of Chicago that anyone who visits instantly falls in love with. It's such a great setting for any book and Neill really captures it here.

I'm really looking forward to more in this series. I'm not sure when to expect one, but I'll be buying it as soon as it hits shelves. For now, Firespell is being added to my shelves as a keeper. That's a pretty high honor in my world.