Although not all my reviews are spoilery, which I do not consider this one to be, here is a little warning just in case.

 Review Written: 5th August 2012

The Soul Seekers: Fated by Alyson Noel

I do not warm to Daire straight away like I did with Ever from the Immortals. In fact, it takes me a long time to. She moans a lot - although on hindsight, perhaps that is how we all are at sixteen and just fail to realise that about ourselves. The book itself, it takes me a good 200 pages before I find myself not wanting to put it down. So if you do pick up this book and find it slow to begin with, this is normal.

The story starts on a film set in Morocco - Daire's mum Jennika is a make-up artist so they travel around a lot. On a trip out to Marrakesh with rising film star Vane Wick, Daire sees crows and gory heads on pikes speaking to her. Needless to say, she freaks out and lashes out injuring both herself andVane. This is where the story picks up pace. Her mum receives a phone call from Daire's paternal grandmother, Paloma saying that she can help Daire and stop her from being institutionalised. So, off Daire goes to New Mexico.

Here, she is told that she is a Soul Seeker - a person who can navigate between the living and the dead. Each seeker has an animal guide - Daire's is a Raven. Her grandmother's is a white wolf. Throughout the book, you can tell Paloma is sick - signs like nosebleeds and coughing up blood. Can Daire help save her?

Previously, Daire had been having dreams of 2 boys with bright blue eyes. One is, I assume, her soulmate, the other is his brother who happens to be evil. Dace & Cade. Twins who were separated, one to live with their mother and one to live with their father before being reunited. The story of their family is a sad one which adds to the hatred of Cade and their father. They are part of the Richter family; the Santos' enemies.

The story offers an array of supporting characters who don't double up as love interests. Xotichl, pronounced Sochee, is blind but has a great inner sight. If you've seen Avatar: The Last Airbender, think Toph. Xotichl has the same sense of humour, she just doesn't bend earth. We have the 'Cruel Crew' run by leader Lita whom you're supposed to dislike and when they become all 'friendly' at the end, I don't buy it for a second!

Overall, it takes a while to get into it and sometimes it gets over complicated by detail but I did enjoy the book and am looking forward to the next one!

NEXT REVIEW: AMANDA GRANGE'S MR DARCY, VAMPYRE