Intertwined

September 14, 2009
Supernatural forces of all kinds collide in this overcrowded offering from Showalter (Blacklisted
), who chronicles the adventures of two unlikely couples. Aden Stone, 16, has been in and out of mental institutions and group homes all his life, thanks to the four disembodied souls inside his head. Each grants him a separate power—“Julian... woke the dead, and Elijah could predict the death of anyone who passed him”—but their constant presence makes it hard for Aden to blend in. Mary Ann Gray has the ability to negate powers, granting Aden internal peace for the first time. Shortly after they become friends, Aden falls for a vampire princess while Mary Ann romances a werewolf. Their newfound relationships are promptly tested when witches, faeries, demons and more come to town in search of an unexpected source of power. Toss in some shambling undead, ghosts with unresolved issues and a vampiric struggle for dominance, and all that's missing is the (haunted) kitchen sink. However, strong characterization, believable romantic interplay and a fast-paced plot do a lot to redeem this story, as does an underlying sense of mystery. Ages 14–up.

December 1, 2009
Gr 8 Up-Aden Stone is not your typical 16-year-old. Since birth he has had four souls trapped within him that possess special powers: the ability to time travel, raise the dead, possess a body, and predict the future. As a result, he has spent his whole life in and out of mental institutions diagnosed as a violent schizophrenic. Now able to control the voices in his head, Aden has moved to Crossroads, OK, to live in a halfway house for delinquent boys. His goal in life is to find a means to free these souls and at last be at peace. When he meets Mary Ann Gray, she miraculously acts as a neutralizer, and for the first time in his life, he truly feels normal. The two become fast friends, establishing a sibling-type bond. Little do they realize that when they first met, their connection sent a power surge throughout the world drawing every paranormal creature from fairies to vampires to Crossroads on a quest for power. To complicate matters, Aden becomes romantically involved with a vampire princess and Mary Ann with her werewolf bodyguard. Together the teens must figure out a way to protect themselves, and all of humanity. This fast-paced, action-driven plot has many unexpected twists and turns. Well written, with a unique story line and strong characters, "Intertwined" is fresh and original at a time when there is an overload of paranormal romances on the market."Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY"

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