Chameleon by Kelly Oram

Chameleon

by Kelly Oram

For small-town rebel Dani Webber magic and monsters are no more real than the Easter Bunny… until the day she accidentally stops time. Dani quickly discovers that not only do supernaturals exist, but she herself is one of them. This is great news for her life-long best friend Russ, who can finally come clean about his own supernatural status and his undying love for her. Before the two can start to enjoy the long overdue relationship, Dani is taken by a powerful council of supernaturals who believe she is the Chosen One destined to save them from extinction.

As if being kidnapped and expected to save the world isn’t bad enough, an ancient prophecy warns of the Chosen One’s dark nature: “Only the truest love will keep her an agent for good.” The council believes they know who this “true love” is and, unfortunately, that person isn’t Russ. The mysterious, powerful and devastatingly handsome Seer is the last person Dani wants in her life, but when she starts having visions of a horrific future, she has no one else to turn to for help.

Soon Dani finds herself torn between two very different boys with two very different opinions of whom she can trust. With the visions getting worse and time running out, Dani is forced to put aside her feelings and work with both the Seer and Russ before an ancient evil is unleashed upon the earth.

Reviewed by ladygrey on

3 of 5 stars

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I don't even know. I want to be petulant because I don't like how the story ended but I also feel like I should be objective, blah.

Objectivity first: I really liked the fantasy world Oram created. It was a lot like the Heir Chronicles by [a:Cinda Williams Chima|125308|Cinda Williams Chima|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1291420167p2/125308.jpg] but Oram's own twist on it with more supernatural species. I really liked the whole idea of supernatural energy and the transfer of it and bondings. Especially how Oram totally called out that it was a fun excuse for physical contact and how the characters accepted that part of it. It also added good complications into the narrative. I like how Dani never really just accepted what happened to her. In another YA book she might have been kidnapped but then forgot all about it when Mr. Sweet and Dreamy started helping her recover. But she never forgot that she was forced into a marriage, never stopped being angry that she was kidnapped, never was blind to how many people were manipulating her for their own ends and she fought against that. ummm, spoilers. whatever.

Petulance: I have never in my life been on a book team. I've had preferences and fun discussions but this book... maybe I've just never been so sharply on the losing team. But Dani's relationship with Russ was established so well and so strongly in the opening chapters. And I didn't spend two weeks in the white room so despite Dani's experience, as a reader that bond was never broken. Also Russ was dynamic and charming and funny and interesting. Gabriel was boring. Dull. Bland. Sweet but naive. And despite the marriage I never bought it. Not even when Joan of Arc shows up and says Dani and Gabriel are soul mates. Their entire relationship was under the cloud of grievous manipulation and yeah he was a nice guy and would make a good friend and ally and I actually liked her being conflicted between the cravings and the manipulation. It was good conflict. But I never believed in any substance to their relationship. He was never interesting and they were never fun and I can't understand why she'd walk away from someone she truly knew and loved for him. And I even sort of admire her respect for their marriage but also if she said "I don't care about your laws, I wasn't conscious so it doesn't count," I would not have faulted her for walking away from him back to the guy she loved.

You don't think it's a good idea Dude. Learn how to use contractions. You sound like freaking moron.

I'll probably read the next one because I am curious and Oram is good at developing her characters well so even if I don't like how the whole thing played out, I do like them but I can't imagine I won't still be petulant about the whole thing.

ETA: Yeah, the synopsis for the next book makes it pretty clear it's the 'Russ gets a consolation prize' book. But if it's a whole book full of Russ I won't complain.

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  • Started reading
  • 16 February, 2014: Finished reading
  • 16 February, 2014: Reviewed