Title: Moon Dust
Rating: ★★★★
Genre: YA / Paranormal / Romance
Publisher: Pulse
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Review:
Since reading Pittacus Lore’s “I Am Number Four,” I didn’t think I was going to be able to find any other paranormal alien story I would like. I was dead wrong.
Samantha Hunter is a strong female protagonist with an interesting secret and an even more interesting life. After moving to New Mexico to start a new life with her father, it isn’t long before Sam meets Lucien, a mysterious bad boy with whom she falls in love.
What I Loved:
1. Sam’s hair changes colors, which signifies her emotional changes as well as foreshadows the coming apex.
2. The dialogue is incredibly realistic.
3. The relationship between Lucien and Sam is not forced. It seems natural. She asks the right questions and he gives her that I-Don’t-Know-How-You’re-Going-To-Take-This look.
4. The angst-ridden and undying teenage love. In this book, it literally spans galaxies.
5. Sam. As far as female protagonists go, I was hoping for a strong one (finally!) and got my wish. Sam’s awesome. She was realistic and her emotions matched the situations perfectly.
6. Lucien. C’mon. Who doesn’t love a bad boy as the male lead (think Dean Winchester). He’s a bad boy because he’s secretive, but that doesn’t mean he’s not willing to practice some good old fashioned chivalry and keep Sam comfortable, even when she feels like she could fall apart.
What I Didn’t Love:
1. I don’t know about you but my interest wanes when I see things like ‘four months later.’ The time span itself really isn’t important. And if you need the before/after, a simple ‘less than a week later’ would suffice.
2. The term ‘gray’ when used in speaking about aliens. It’s overdone. I wish the term had been more creative. The entire novel was so different from anything else I’d read that I was a little disappointed to see such a common term used. For me, it took a little bit the book’s amazingness away.
Overall, I loved Moon Dust and highly recommend it. It’s a quick and easy read (only 259 E-Pub pages) and I blasted through it within a couple of hours. But it was definitely entertaining and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel!
Synopsis:
Samantha Hunter’s life is transformed after a tragic accident kills her mother and brother in the mountains of Western Pennsylvania. Before, Samantha lived on the edge…she was fearless; after, Samantha was merely taking up space…she was dispirited. However, meeting up with Lucien Foster from New Mexico moves Samantha’s life in meaningful new directions. She senses an otherworldly connection to Lucien, and before long he pulls her back to life. Samantha soon realizes that her and Lucien’s paths have crossed before and begins to figure out his mysterious identity. Unlike Samantha, Division Six, a rogue covert government organization, has known about Lucien and his siblings for years, placing him in grave danger – and only Samantha can save him. However, if Samantha saves Lucien, he must leave her behind to save her…will saving Lucien mean losing her one true love?
