Review: Starling by Lesley Livingston

Publisher: Harper Teen
Series: Starling #1

Pages: 352

Received: Received from Harper Collins Canada in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 28, 2012
Buy From Amazon.ca / Buy From Chapters.ca

Goodreads Synopsis:

"Love is just the beginning... of the end."

Mason Starling is a champion fencer for Gosforth Academy, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Until now. When a ferocious storm rips through Manhattan and unleashes terrifying creatures onto Gosforth’s campus, Mason barely escapes alive. Without help from the mysterious stranger who appeared in the midst of the storm, she might not have made it at all. But now, in the aftermath, Mason’s life begins to spin dramatically, mystically out of control, and the only one who seems able to help her is the stranger who can remember nothing but his name: Fennrys Wolf.

As Mason and Fenn uncover more about Fenn’s past and the strange events that surround them, they realize that Mason’s family — and its dark allegiance to the ancient Norse gods — is at the center of everything. A predetermined fate seems to be closing in on Mason, but is it possible to change one’s destiny?

Readers who fell in love with Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange trilogy and those who love Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series will be captivated by the sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action of Starling.

My Review:

So I have yet to read the Wondrous Strange or the Mortal Instruments series, but if they are like this book than I am definitely interested. This story was gripping from the first page, everything happens so fast that there doesn't seem much time to breathe in between the big moments of the story. I also really enjoyed the detail Lesley puts into the mythology of the story, I found myself intrigued by the information that kept coming up throughout and how it was connected with the rest of the story.

The characters were the most interesting part of the book for me, especially Fenn. I love when there are secrets about a character in the book and you learn about them along with the character. That's exactly what Lesley does here. Fenn knows nothing about himself except his name, and slowly things are revealed to him along with the readers, until you learn why he is there.

I do have to say though, that I wasn't a huge fan of Mason's character. I felt like she didn't have much emotion throughout the novel unless it dealt with her claustrophobia. I felt like her character needed more development throughout the novel. I am hoping that the second book gives us more to Mason than this one did.

There were also a few points in the story (closer to the end) where information comes out that was never really mentioned before and it confused me a little. The ending left me completely shocked as well, and I'm still wondering about it. I am interested to see what happens next with Mason.

I recommend this book if you're a fan of mythological things and the supernatural. It is a gripping read and Lesley leaves you wanting more.

You can learn more about Lesley Livingston and STARLING at the Harper Collins Canada webpage.