Review: "Red" by Alyxandra Harvey
Note: This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were secrets here. Dangerous ones.
Kia Alcott has been sent by her father to live with her maternal grandmother Abby after being expelled from her former school. There may have been an incident involving a fire that she had inadvertently started, one that caused damage to property, to her best friend Riley, and herself. Now, she's going to have to get used to a new school, new people, and a new home that turns out to be an actual castle, one that houses secrets and one undeniably good looking but mysterious teenager named Ethan Blackwood.
As Kia begins to notice that things are not what they may seem in and around her new home, especially in the forest that lies nearby, Ethan tries to keep his distance from her, hoping that she'll soon give up and leave. But Ethan is drawn to Kia and soon, they both confess the secrets they both keep, and realize that they're adversaries. Will Ethan and Kia forever be burdened by the shackles that their destinies have put upon them or will the hunter and the hunted be able to finally break free and save themselves and others?
I love when a writer is able to put together an original and creative story that draws you in and refuses to let go and charismatic and engaging characters that have depth and snarkiness (a combo I love). Author Alyxandra Harvey undoubtedly did exactly that with her latest creation and her first with one of my favorite publishers, Entangled Publishing. Red is a young adult (YA) novel that has a supernatural vibe, a huge dosage of mystery, and a hint of romance and a book that was way more than what I was expecting.
Lead female character Kia Alcott is the "Red" in the title, with her red-dyed hair. She's somewhat of a rebel and one that's thought of as an arsonist because of the fires that authorities believe she's started. The thing is, Kia can't fully explain how the fires occur; they simply do, but yes, she's always there when the fires start. The longer Kia stays in the Blackwood home and goes to the private school nearby, the more she realizes that she needs to control her telekinetic or psychokinetic power before it gets out of hand.
I adored Kia and Ethan, both teenagers who were dealing with secrets that were weighing heavily on them and felt such responsibility for them. Kia's new best friend Sloane was a memorable supporting character as was Abby, Kia's grandmother. Their respective secrets took me by surprise. I wasn't a fan of Holden Blackwood's, Ethan's father, since the man had some warped ideas going on in that head of his. This book had an intriguing cast of characters and played a role, whether big or small, instead of being decorative.
While I did figure out the mystery regarding the wendigo, the thrill of reading the rest of the story was still there, making me want to continue flipping the pages until the end. I loved the imagery that the story evoked in my head, weaving this dark and dangerous but still beautiful place that held unfathomable secrets. This is the first Alyxandra Harvey novel I've read but it certainly won't be the last. I highly recommend Red and am including it on my list of 2015 favorites. getting a five-plus-starred rating. ♥
Release Date: 10 March 2015
Date read: 07 March 2015
Learn more about author Alyxandra Harvey here.
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