Mandy Reviews: Unnatural Law (Darwin's Children, Book 2) by Natasha Larry

ASIN #: B005ZZJO20

File Size: 538 KB

Copyright: October 26, 2011

Publisher: Penumbra Publishing

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Seventeen-year-old Jaycie Lerner's psychokinetic power surge is over, and her astounding powers are under control for the time being - sort of. As she struggles to maintain her humanity in the face of the awesome terror and responsibility of her abilities, she also yearns for the chance at a normal life - and a relationship with Matt Carter, the best friend she had to leave behind. But Matt's got a few tricks up his sleeve, and he's not about to give up on his feelings for Jaycie.

As Jaycie and her family grapple with the day-to-day routine of trying to keep their world together, Jaycie's mother figure, Allison Young, endures a personal crisis of her own. The superhuman blonde possesses the physical equivalent of Jaycie's awesome psychic power. So evolved, at ninety-two she still looks twenty. But what good is extended life when everyone else around her is so fragile? With no one to share her unusual life, she's a uniquely lonely woman yearning for the romantic love she sees all around her. But in a dream she gets her wish - and it quickly turns to a nightmare for everyone else in her life. The memory of a rose is all she can hold onto in the storm of obsession that nearly sweeps her away.

Things quickly turn deadly for the vampires, but the Dey-Vah Guard fairies refuse to acknowledge there's an imbalance in the nature they protect. As the danger gets ever closer to Jaycie and her family, the race is on to find answers before a secret plot can destroy them all.

Mandy's Review:

Cover

Well, the cover is absolutely gorgeous.  I love that Allison is portrayed instead of Jaycie ... I even think I like this cover a LOT better than the cover for Darwin's Children (sorry Natasha!).

I don't know how many of you watch America's Next Top Model, but the portrayal of Allison on the cover reminds me of the pale blonde chic on ANTM that is fascinated with blood and ... oh my God ... now that I think about it, her name is Allison, too!!!!  Coincidence?  I think so...

Plot

There's quite a bit going on in this book and the pace stays fluent from the first page to the last. Without giving too much away, I'm going to try and give you a quick summary. Ready?

Jaycie's trying to learn to control her power, but needs the help of a supergeek until an alpha male figures out her problem.

Haley's getting more comfortable with the family and is starting to feel like she's a part of them.

Allison is lonely and "looking for love in all the wrong places, looking for love in too many faces, searching their eyes looking for traces of the one I've been dreaming oooffff..." ... Sorry, was channeling Johnny Lee via the movie Urban Cowboy for a sec ... Back to the book ... So, Allison's lonely and wishes she could find someone she doesn't have to worry about being gentle with. She finds someone she believes she can love, but can she trust him?

The fairies are pissed that something is affecting their abilities and they're unable to detect where the issue is. They typically blame everyone around them and finally, by process of elimination, have to look at their own clan.

The vampires make an appearance again and side with Jaycie and her family.

Main Characters

Jaycie - Seventeen and having serious anger issues. Of course, this has to do with the power surge she experienced at the end of Darwin's Children ... Oh, you don't know about that? How about going to get it and read it then?

Anywho, Jaycie is trying her best to control all of the power that she now has, but it's a little difficult to control ... especially when Matt's around.

Hayley - This girl stays in sarcasm mode. She uses it as a defense mechanism against people she doesn't know, but uses it for humorous effects with the people she knows and loves.

Matt - Dedicated as ever to Jaycie and will do anything in his power to help her ... which is basically whatever he sets his mind to do. Oh, you didn't know ... Matt's perfect.

Allison - This woman has some major emotional issues in this book. It's understandable to want someone to love, but she gets blinded by her wants and desires until it's, almost, too late.

Mason - Still a pretty cool (mind-reading) dad getting his groove on with some nurse chic who he thinks hid something major from him. He winds up all mad and has John wipe her memory.

John - If you thought a magician hypnotizing a person was funny, this guy is hilarious. Not only can he make a person do whatever he wants them to, but they obey with full cognizance of what they're doing and unable to stop it ... unless he wants you to forget, then he'll just wipe that little memory from your brain.

Overall

I am totally loving this series so far. The concept is fresh and original.

Any and all YA paranormal book lover should read Darwin's Children and Unnatural Law. You will become so engrossed in the books that you won't realize you've been sitting for hours on end with no break whatsoever ... yes, they are that good.

I'm ready for Book #3, Ms. Larry!!!!! =)