Scorched (Scorched, #1)

by Mari Mancusi

[ladygrey]

ETA REREAD: Super fast read. I didn’t realize how much of the story I’d forgotten. Remembered the bit about her mother fairly clearly—forgot about her grandfather entirely. The twin brothers came back to me fairly quickly. Still a unique idea with a few cliche plot points but interesting enough characters who all evolve quite nicely to make it easy to look forward to the second book.

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Definitely 3.5 stars. This was a fast paced story full of action but it didn't sacrifice any of the characters in the midst of it. It's a small cast so it's easy to get to know them and like them all. I'm excited for the second book where they all get to work together.

And even though it was fast, the writing wasn't blunt or rudimentary so it was actually fun to read. I liked the way information was revealed as the story unfolded. In some ways it reminded me a lot of Anne McCaffrey because there were dragons that bonded with humans and time travel but this was simpler and lighter in a way though it had its own darkness and more fun.

I really liked how it's not contrived. Trinity was able to look at a lot of situations and see how she made what she thought was the best choice possible but how it actually created a lot of trouble. That was so refreshing for a YA heroine because they're always doing dumb things that make trouble but they usually get petulant instead of recognizing it and taking responsibility for their choices. And just when I was getting bored of the pseudo-boarding school bit Connor showed up and turned the story on a dime, though she was on the verge of changing it herself. I liked the spark and the powers a lot but also liked the price for them. Caleb and Connor were each really great in their own way and her grandfather was kind of fantastic. And I really liked Emmy too. It's so nice to have a story of likable though flawed characters.

Oh, but just for the record, also totally a Terminator plot line with her father. I didn't expect her mother to be alive but I totally saw that coming the first time he's mentioned like a third of the way through. Still looking forward to the second one though.