Review: Revival (The Variant Series #1)

Revival (The Variant Series #1) by Jena Leigh
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: November 14, 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Possessing the uncanny ability to fry a television set from twenty paces can really wreck a girl’s social life.

If you’re looking for proof, just ask sixteen-year-old Alexandra Parker. After catching her boyfriend in the arms of the prettiest girl in school, she made the journey from social elite to social pariah in a haze of electricity and exploding electronics. But finding herself at the bottom of Bay View High’s social hierarchy was nothing compared to the shock of discovering who—and what—she really is.

After being zapped out of a burning bookstore by the mysterious Declan—a hero nearly as handsome as he is infuriating—Alex finds herself under the protection of the powerful Grayson family. It’s through them that she learns the truth: that the world she’s always known is nothing like it appears to be... and that she has far more in common with them than she might want to believe.

Now, on the run from a fire-wielding hit man and a secretive government organization, Alex must navigate a strange and treacherous new world filled with superhuman mutants known as Variants. As she begins to unravel the many secrets of her family’s past, she uncovers the real reason for her parents’ death twelve years earlier—and finds out that the threat to her family, and to everyone she cares about, is still dangerously real

♥ ♥ ♥

Team Declan FTW!

I loved this story. Revival by Jena Leigh follows 17-year-old Alexandra Parker as she uncovers secrets from her past that she never knew existed. As if being a high school junior wasn’t enough, Alex has to deal with an ex-boyfriend from hell, a crazy stalker, and powers that confuse the life out of her. Spending a day with her best friend Cassie should have been relaxing and fun, but when someone threatens Alex’s life and a mysterious (and incredibly attractive) stranger shows up to save her life everything changes.

I genuinely enjoyed the plot of this book. I thought it was well thought out and extremely well written. I love how Alex slowly starts discovering things about herself and the people around her and how her grudging friendship with Declan starts out. Alex is the perfect kind of main character. She’s got hint of insecurity and lack of a back bone when it comes to dealing with people that hurt her, but at the same time she’s not afraid to stand up and fight for the people she loves.

Alex isn’t a push over and she’s snarky and smart. The combination makes me understand her and feel for her in a way that draws me into the book ever more. Now I’ve mentioned Declan a couple of times already, but it has to be said, he’s awesome. His character puts a constant grin on my face. I love him. I’ve totally added him to my list of book boyfriends.

He is such a complex character and there are so many layers to him and the more Alex gets to know him the more layers we see peeled back. He’s strong, confident, and sarcastic. And he has heart like you wouldn’t believe.

All of the Variants (people with special powers) in the Grayson household are awesome, though I have to say I don’t love Nate. I don’t hate him, but I certainly don’t love him. I’m dying to know what happened and what he’s hiding from Alex and everyone else. I do not like how he’s constantly getting annoyed that Declan and Alex are training together and stuff. Kenzie is awesome and Brian is adorable.

I love the fact that Aiden is around and that there is a spark between him and Cassie. I think it’s really great that even though she isn’t the main character she still gets a lot of time in the book. Her attitude and snarkeness is made of sheer awesomeness. I really like the adults too, except of course the Agency.

There were so many levels to the plotline and while a lot of things came to light in this book and a lot of the questions I had in the beginning were answered, there are still a few things left that I hope the sequel will address. Seriously, this book has shot straight up to the top of my favorites list. I can’t wait until book two comes out so I can see how things progress with Alex’s powers, how school works with the new transfers, and what comes of the information Nate is hiding.

Revival is definitely something I’d recommend to my readers and with high regards. Leigh’s book is captivating, full of adventure, romance, and strong well-written characters. Definitely one to check out!

♥ ♥ ♥

Author Bio:

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Jena Leigh spent ten years in the mountains of North Carolina before returning home to the lightning capital of North America. A shameless geek, she loves bad sci-fi movies, Skittles, writing cracktastic e-mails to friends and taking shenanigan-filled road trips to faraway concerts. She has a degree in English from Appalachian State University. REVIVAL is her first novel.

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