The second in a new series by popular urban fantasy author Kelly Meding, about an X-Men-like group of young people with superpowers who must find a way to work together.
Five months ago, Dahlia Perkins was a struggling newspaper journalist whose biggest responsibility was paying her rent on time. After learning she has the ability to absorb and deflect massive amounts of heat and fire, Dahlia is struggling to find her place as the newest hero in an established team of former Rangers freelancing their abilities in post-Meta War Los Angeles.
The team’s first major case: two discarded human skins. One is a John Doe, the other was a janitor for Weatherfield R&D, a scientific research and development firm Dahlia once investigated—and she’s itching to investigate them again. The ability to use and shed another person’s skin isn’t a power any of them have encountered before, nor something any of their former Meta enemies possess. But when a third skin appears and one of Dahlia’s teammates is nearly killed by an assassin’s bullet, it’s clear someone else besides Weatherfield is targeting the Rangers—and their killer may not be Meta at all.
Changeling has one of the most bizarrely awesome endings I have ever read! I mean, the whole book was quite great, but I never would have expected that ending. Maybe a variation on it, but I really never expect authors to stick it out with something like that. Woah. Anyway. Dahlia aka Ember is the newest member of the Meta team, but she's not exactly accepted. Then she's shot at, but Trance takes the bullet, and empty bodies (as in just in tact skin) start showing up. Someone seems to be out for the Metas, but who and why?
Changeling had me hooked from the beginning. I love these kind of villains, where their abilities are just disturbing and you don't know what they've got planned. What kind of Meta leaves their victims completely drained of everything, but with their skins perfectly whole? It's just so freaking strange! And the answer is even stranger. There are quite a few info-dumps to explain what the Changelings are, where they came from, and what they're doing, but I was fascinated!
But let's talk about that ending. Changeling has lots of twists, turns, and reveals. Characters are lying and hiding stuff, and you can never even be sure that someone is who you think they are! Of course, there has to be a big show down with the evil mastermind, and I did expect Dahlia to be the victor. However, I did not expect her to gain her victory in this manner and then....well, I can't give that way. All of the clues are there, but I'd expect the author to fix it, but she doesn't! That is certainly something special! Although I cannot even imagine what Dahlia must be going though, because this is not at all normal or comfortable.
Changeling was really great! It was exciting and nonstop action, and everything just kept me hooked and flipping pages! Obvious I'm completely wowed by that ending, because. The plot definitely came to a close, but Dahlia's situation doesn't seem to be resolved. I suspect we'll be seeing more of her in the background of the following books. At least I hope so!
