'Devour in an Hour' #1

Review Written: Saturday 21st January 2012

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Leigh Fallon’s first published novel is courtesy of Harper Collins. Just so we have a little background knowledge, other delights brought to us include L J Smith’s Vampire Diaries (which I have a love/hate relationship with) and the author who could almost knock the Fairy Queen crown off of Holly Black’s head, Melissa Marr’s ‘Wicked Lovely’ series.

You can assume that this too is a paranormal book. Essentially four people (Megan, Adam, Áine & Rían) who control the 4 elements – air, water, earth and fire. Like the teenage, Irish version of Avatar. The story revolves around the improvement of Megan’s power. No teenage paranormal novel would be complete without a complicated romance. See, females who hold the sign essentially have to go through arranged marriages to ensure their children have the possibility of possessing powers too. So alas, Adam and Megan can’t be together forever. They are however, only 17 so I’m sure they would find someone else. Oh wait...that’s not the point is it.

It is a well known fact, to all that know me that I do not often get on with female characters in teenage books. Their dependency on the love interest is not something I’d like to encourage. Nearly all of them are feminist nightmares. The main character Megan has moved from America to Ireland and echoes the air of Meyer’s Bella Swan. Okay, I’m exaggerating, she isn’t that much of a feminist nightmare and has a better superpower than being a human shield. Page 286 continues the teenage girl desperately in love theme by being made to feel guilty for upsetting her boyfriend. I doubt this is intentional. I think the whole idea is meant to be “romantic”; a perfect looking guy falling for you, who wouldn’t want that? Except, the whole concept of this Romance with a capital ‘R’ tends to be lost on me.

Negatives aside, this first novel was good. The idea is something I’ve not encountered in young adult fiction so that gets praise itself. Adam & Megan are just as smitten with one another – it’s nothing new that young adult fiction women find their soul mates at the age of 17, it’s just how these things go. Its part of my devour in an hour series so it’s definitely moreish. The character I warmed to the most was Rían. He had this Loki thing going on and he didn’t utterly annoy me. If I had to choose between him or Adam, he’d get the upper hand.

Apparently this is a proposed trilogy. I’m looking forward to the next one as I want to see how this one ends out. I just hope that it can stand the text of the dreaded sequels which lead to the downfall of many a good original novel.

NEXT REVIEW: L.A. WEATHERLY'S ANGEL FIRE