142) Scorch by Gina Damico

The Blurb :

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby is a teenage grim reaper with the bizarre ability to damn souls. That makes her pretty scary, even to fellow Grims. But after inadvertently transferring her ability to Zara, a murderous outlaw, Lex is a pariah in Croak, the little town she calls home.

To escape the townspeople’s wrath, she and her friends embark on a wild road trip to DeMyse. Though this sparkling desert oasis is full of luxuries and amusements, it feels like a prison to Lex. Her best chance at escape would be to stop Zara once and for all—but how can she do that from DeMyse, where the Grims seem mysteriously oblivious to Zara’s killing spree?

My Review :

I absolutely loved Croak by Gina Damico and the cliffhanger ending had me pre-ordering this sequel as soon as I could. When the book finally released I waited till I knew I had enough time to sit down and read it all in one go. You need the time because it isn't easy to stop when a chapter is over and go take a break. Like Croak, Scorch was just as addictive and hard to put down.

Things are fast and furious in this book. There is quite a few things going on that the reader doesn't realise until the last moment. Which is good because Lex hasn't got a clue either. She isn't slow on the uptake but with people dying because of her she is a little distracted. People use this to their advantage and by the end of the book you wonder how the author managed to keep the reader off the scent. It was obvious.

The relationship between Lex and the other inhabitants of Croak is very rocky this time around and at some points there is also the chance of problems arising with boyfriend Driggs. However it is Lex's relationship with her family that is the most interesting. Extremely distant from her parents and twin she doesn't even seem to feel related to her uncle Mort who is a huge figure in the story. I wonder if this will change at some point.

The story is an emotional and fun rollercoaster ride and once again we are left with a cliffhanger ending. To tell you more about the story would just ruin the nice twists, turns and surprises. This is one you really have to enjoy by reading it yourself. The concept is extremely original and unique that the plot could go off on holiday and you wouldn't notice.

Don't be put off by the young adult label. The author skirts around the mushy stuff and doesn't let the Grims act like kids. Making more time for action and interesting content that will make you go wow! Highly recommending this one but make sure you read Croak first!