Darkness Becomes Her Review

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

My Take: This book is different from the other paranormal books I've seen lately. One interesting aspect is that it takes place in the not so distant future. A horrific hurricane has leveled New Orleans. The country is not in a fantastic fiscal shape so when a private group offers to buy the land and restore it, U.S.A. jumped at it. But it's a place you don't really want to go. There are stories, legends, and little concrete evidence to refute the stories.

The truth is that there were 9 families that went in on the business venture. They wanted a safe haven for those in the society that are different. If you've ever been to New Orleans, you know why they chose it. Turns out, they're all a little on the freakish side.

Enter Ari. She wants to find out who she is. She's been in foster care for the past 13 years or so. Her most recent stint has been with a couple of work as bail bondsmen. This is crucial because they have taught her how to fight defensively. I like this part because then Ari is not 1)helpless or 2)suddenly and magically Kung Fu. She ends up in her birth place which, ironically, is what used to be New Orleans.

Once in New 2 (New Orleans), she meets up with a bunch of other misfits that are different ages, sizes, and powers. She escapes being killed by Greek "Monster Killers" a couple of times and finally discovers her curse. And it's bad. Really bad. So bad that Athena (yes, the goddess) wants to either own her or kill her. If Athena doesn't get her, the Novem want her. That's the head of the 9 families.

Fun read. Strong language. Some adult themes; i.e., how Ari's ancestor came to be cursed by Athena is not a pretty picture. This is book #1. I'm anxious to see how Ari manages her curse and what happens to the children misfit, especially Vi.