2.5 stars.
I really did want to like this book. The concept and some of the characters were entertaining, but the execution really fell flat. (BEWARE: This review contains spoilers)
BLURB (but I edited to give way more information than needed):
Meet Trinity Marrow, a girl with an explosive secret whose hiding place has just been discovered…
Eighteen-year-old Trinity may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her gift (Trinity is the last Trueborn (Nephilim) and her protector, Misha, is supposed to keep her safe) is the reason she’s been in hiding for years in a compound guarded by Wardens―shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her to enhance their powers.
When Wardens from another clan arrive with reports that something is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own―but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret (of being a Nephilim) comes to light. To save her family (just Misha because he's been taken by a demon.) and maybe the world, she’ll have to trust Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed (Even though the war has been long happening so I don't know what that's all about)…
WORLD BUILDING
This book is set in modern day USA. Except there's all forms of supernatural monsters and creatures. Needless to say, I could never picture anything. The only times I knew where I was was when Trinity traipsed through the woods. And even then it was a difficult thing to picture. The places were hard to even visualize. The Warden's home, for example, seemed to be a fortress with a small shopping center inside? Or was it not? There was a manor... but something else? I was very confused.
CHARACTERS
The characters were all over the place. Jada and Ty were unnecessary characters, as was Peanut the ghost. The villains were weakly sculpted, and the other cast (Roth, Cayman, Layla) seemed half-baked and forced. Nothing truly stood out about them other than to facilitate some version of conflict between Zayne and Trinity. The only characters that were fairly well done were Trinity and Zayne. But even so, Trinity got on my nerves, always saying things like 'superfreaky' or 'super gross' and referencing pop culture at every opportunity just made me think she was a copy of Kim K if Kim K was a warrior child.
PLOT
The plot was very weak. The twists were expected and borderline cliche. From Zayne being Trinity's true protector, to Misha's eventual betrayal, to Michael being Trinity's dad. The betrayal in the end not only felt as though it were placed there for shock value, but the climactic event fell so flat that I was genuinely bored. The plot itself was lacking in many, many ways.
GENERAL THOUGHTS
The banter between Trinity and Zayne was fantastic. The romance between them really developed naturally and I appreciated that part. However, there seemed something missing in the relationship. Not until I finished the book and waited a few days did I find out what it was. Personality. The relationship itself had no personality. The two characters were hooked on each other for appearances (especially Trinity who drove me BATTY with how often she ogled Zayne) and I never really got the deeper connection between them. Of course, in the end that was explained (he's her true protector so the connection between them was destined to be), but it still felt odd.
Normally I don't point out typos, but this book was RIDDLED with them. It was unbearable to the point where I stopped keeping track. This is a NYT bestselling author, you'd think they'd try and make her book as clean as possible.
However, that being said, something in me (perhaps it's the masochist) wants to read the second book. Maybe it gets better? Maybe the second book will be genuinely painful to read. I have no clue, but we will see what happens.