YA Book Review:
The Hidden Legacy
The Hidden Legacy, by Christine Rees, has unique and engaging storytelling, with well-developed characters and plot which make it worth reading.
Faye Lithyer is cursed by
premonitions of strangers dying, so when she moves in with her grandmother in a
new town, she is surprised to have one about her new friend, Rachel. For the
first time in her life Faye fits in, but soon learns it’s because Rachel’s
clique is “different” too. Together they race the clock to bring their enemies
to light in hopes to prevent Rachel’s murder, but how will they succeed if they
cannot master their powers and the answers they seek are so deeply hidden?
The narrator, Faye, was a great
character overall. I loved how she was socially inept because she'd always
been bullied and never had any friends because she was different. However, at times, Faye over explained clues that gave away too much--repetitiously in conversations, thoughts, and observations. I
think it was done to lend realism to the story, but it didn't make Faye appear very clever and allowed perceptive readers to surmise
events before they happen. I think had the narrative been cut down, since it is fairly long, it would give the plot
and character due justice while lessening the predictability of the novel.
That being said, the strengths of
the novel outweigh the predictability aspect. It is still an interesting and enjoyable read. Overall, each character was
unique, yet identifiable, and completely believable as high school students.
Faye’s friends and her grandmother all show a great bond that improves her life
and makes readers emotionally vested. I found the premise itself noteworthy, not
having read a YA story that involved the paranormal present with a historical
motif. The plot is complex yet easy to follow, and the author gives a lot of
detail which transports readers into Faye’s story, making us truly envision being there. Even with the fantastical elements,
there is an equal mix of everyday high school realism which suspends our
disbelief. The action is well told—particularly the descriptions of characters
using powers—making a large portion of the book a page turner. The cliffhanger
ending leaves readers wanting more, as well as yearning to see possible
blossoming relationships fulfilled.
Despite the predictability, this
was a successful first book to a series due to its strong characters, overall
plot, and how it leaves readers wanting more. I'm looking forward to the next one, but for now, you can purchase the first book at the link below.
Buy book 1 here
Buy book 1 here