Kindling the Moon (The Arcadia Bell)

by Jenn Bennett

[Amanda]

Actual rating: 3.5

This review originally appeared as a guest review on Smash Attack Reads!: http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/10/guest-review-kindling-moon-by-jenn.html

In Arcadia’s world, there are magicians and demons. What is different about the demons in Arcadia’s world is that there are two types: Æthyric demons and Earthbounds. Earthbounds are demons in human bodies, all of which have halos that mark them as Earthbounds. As a magician, Arcadia should not be able to see these halos, but she does. I don’t know that I have read any adult fiction with magicians, but I found Jenn Bennett’s take on magicians fascinating and not something I have seen before, which made Kindling the Moon such an engaging read.

Arcadia — or Cady — was a fun MC. She’s been on the run from the law (not her fault), but has managed to make some semblance of a life for herself. She is determined, but is pretty realistic and doesn’t wallow. Lon makes a good love interest, except for the fact there is a 17 year age difference between the two. Rather than getting hung up over the age difference, I imagined Lon to be about ten years younger. And Jupe was a blast, a blast of energy, that is.

The mystery surrounding Cady’s parents was pretty average. Not a mind-blowing mystery, but with a few twists and turns that leads to a pretty drastic ending. The ending promises us a second book that builds on what we learned about Cady (and what she learned about herself). The second book, Summoning the Night is set to release in April 2012.