(review) Five - Out of the Dark by Holli Anderson

Five - Out of the Dark by Holli Anderson

Series: Five #1

Release date: August 20th 2013

Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Pages: 249

Source: Netgalley (ebook)

Rating: ★★★★☆

Five teenagers who’ve recently discovered they have magical powers and are living in the Seattle underground feel it’s their responsibility to protect unsuspecting humans from otherworldly foes. Things are going well until Johnathan, their unofficial leader and the boy sixteen year old Paige is in love with, is bitten by a changeling – the venomous saliva causing him to metamorphose into a ravening beast with each full moon. Paige vows that, no matter the cost, she will find a way to cure Johnathan of the evil that has embedded itself in his soul. Johnathan’s monthly transformation and daily personality roller coaster isn’t the only problem they have to deal with. The Five are also gearing up to face their toughest and most dangerous enemy yet—a powerful and ruthless Warlock who will go to any means, including high school, to build his Dark Army.

A story about teenagers with special or magical powers wasn't new and original at all, but this book was definitely special. I loved the way Holli Anderson created a unique story about werewolves, instead of just a mere shapeshifting creature that exist because of being bitten by another werewolf, Johnathan, one of the five teenagers, was bitten by a changeling. It was a good new atmosphere.

I really adore Holli Anderson's writing. The story was written neatly and chronologically, from the time our heroine, Paige, found out about her powers until the main conflict was solved. The words used were also simple yet not cheap (I don't know how to explain 'cheap') and easy to understand. The scenes and everything was described well, perfect for peoples who use English-as-a-second-language like me. I simply can't drop this book.

Our heroine, Paige, was a regular teenager until the day she found out about her powers. She wasn't exactly bad-ass but absolutely not whiny at all. She fought and learn a lot through the story, the way they all grow (mentally) was another reason why this book felt alive. All of the characters are really fun, even the antagonists (I don't know why). I was kinda relieved to find out that Halli was years younger, when she came I was literally praying "Please don't let it be a triangle love" and thank God it wasn't. Wait, just because it doesn't have any triangle love it doesn't mean that the story's going to be plain and boring, because it wasn't. (This is my favorite point) The conflicts wasn't about romance. Paige and John's romance was so innocent that I found it really cute. And it wasn't cheesy at all.

But unfortunately, (my only negative point) this book doesn't really show me the main conflict. I think it was the conflict with 'the powerful Warlock' but I felt that the sub-conflicts like John's transformation was just as important and big.

Definitely looking forward for the next sequel! Highly recommended

P.S. I think John was the only guy among the five teenagers that has a brown hair, and John in the cover looks like a bear! (lol) Thanks for Curiosity Quills for giving me a copy of this book, it was a really fun adventure.