Review: Saved, by Allegra Skye

Saved (The Shadow Vampires #1)

In SAVED (Book #1 of the Shadow Vampires), Keira and Amanda, twins, move with their family to a new town, and start their senior year at a new high school. But though they are twins, the girls have different fates. Amanda, beautiful, popular, is sought out by everyone. Keira, who has always lived in Amanda's shadow, is smaller, awkward, different. Even her mother, who is so close to Amanda, doesn't know what to make of her other daughter. Keira turns to books, and to her journal, for solace, and to find out about other worlds.

Amanda makes friends easily at the new school, and quickly finds a boyfriend, while Keira is left alone, an outsider. But very quickly, it is clear that something strange is going on in Everstock. The town and the school are very divided. The popular, rich kids act as if they own the school and have nothing to do with the other kids, who are poorer and live in a different part of town. Not only are the kids meaner here, but an unknown infection has gripped the town, with more and more people going to the hospital. Something here is terribly wrong.

But things change suddenly, as there is a terrible accident involving the twins. Not only are Keira and Amanda's lives changed forever, but a new dimension of life begins to open to Keira.

As Keira recovers, she begins to change in ways she can't expect, receiving new and mysterious powers that no one can possibly understand. At the same time, a gorgeous, mysterious new boy, Cooper, appears at the school, who grips her imagination, and who refuses to tell her what secret he is hiding.

As Keira and Cooper grow closer to each other, it soon becomes apparent that destiny has brought them together-and that they may each have to sacrifice it all if they want to stay together... (From GoodReads)

My Review
Saved is the story of Keira, a high school senior adjusting to life in a new town. Burdened with a family who doesn’t understand her, Keira struggles to assimilate to their new life. Amanda, the more popular, glamorous twin, quickly leaves Amanda behind. With no one to truly connect with, Keira feels totally alone. While Keira is trying to adjust, the town is being taken over by an unexplained infection, leaving the patients with puncture wounds on the neck. After Keira and Amanda are involved in a tragic accident, Keira is able to hear people’s thoughts and develops an inner strength she has never known before. As she’s trying to adjust to her new abilities, Kiera falls under the spell of the handsome and to mysterious Cooper, who obviously harbors dangerous secrets.
To be honest, I was unable to fully connect to Saved. Some of the major plot points did not feel fully fleshed out. For example, the mysterious infection. We first learn about this when Keira’s father, a physician, brings up the subject at home. Other than the few times its discussed amongst the two, not a lot happens with that subject. I thought that the infection could have had more depth within the story. Another plot point that felt lacking was Keira’s new abilities. After an accident, Keira is able to hear thoughts and has a new found inner strength. But, it’s never explained. The closest that’s given to an answer was from Cooper, who said, basically, I don’t know what you are, but you’re not human. That’s it. Maybe the answers to these questions will be in a sequel. If that’s the case, great. But I prefer when a book answers at least some of the questions that come up.
Another problem I had was the relationship between Cooper and Keira. This is a relationship gave me just did not work for me. Keira practically falls in love with Cooper after seeing him walk across campus, then in the cafeteria. Then, she’s declaring to herself that there will never be anyone else for her after speaking to him only a few times. I’m not saying that there can’t be a scenario where the characters quickly fall in love, but give me a reason. These characters barely spoke to one another.
I will say that I did like Keira. While she could get a little on the whiny side, I was always rooting for her. She definitely became a more engaging character after she started using her new abilities to her advantage.  And, a sequel that answered the questions raised in Saved would definitely be more satisfying.
You can check out Saved (Shadow Vampires #1) at GoodReads.

*I was given a copy of Saved by the author, in exchange for an honest review.*