Fated

March 26, 2012
Steeped in Native American mythology, the first book in the Soul Seekers series from Noël (the Immortals series) is an atmospheric and enjoyable though typical supernatural read. Sixteen-year-old Daire has spent her life traveling the world with her mother, a movie makeup artist. When increasingly frequent visions of silent watchers and spooky crows cause a very public freakout, Daire is headed for institutionalization until her long-missing paternal grandmother resurfaces and takes her in. Settled in Enchantment, N. Mex., Daire learns she is a Seeker, part of an ancestral line of shamans. But even as Daire seeks her spirit animal and sets off on a vision quest, she has her first taste of high school, gets to know the boy she’s been seeing in her dreams, and must save the world from an undead army. Though weakened by genre clichés and offscreen character development, Noël’s story is nicely paced and well-written. The foreshadowing and loose ends that set up future books aren’t subtle, but Noël’s many fans will be eager to find out what happens next. Ages 12–up. Agent: Bill Contardi, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents.