PREDESTINED

You would think after helping save her boyfriend from an eternity in Hell that things would go back to normal. Well, as normal as life can be when you can see souls and your boyfriend is Death. But for Pagan Moore, things are just getting weirder.

The high school quarterback and reigning heartthrob, Leif Montgomery, is missing. While the town is in a frenzy of worry, Pagan is a nervous wreck for other reasons. Apparently good ‘ol Leif isn’t your average teenage boy. He isn’t even human. According to Death, Leif doesn’t have a soul. The quarterback may have skipped town but he’s still showing up in Pagan’s dreams... uninvited.

Dank has known from the beginning Leif wasn’t human. But he hadn’t worried about a simple soulless creature. Now, he realizes he made a grave mistake. Pagan’s soul has been marked since birth as a restitution, to a spirit so dark not even Death walks near it. Dank knows saving Pagan’s soul won’t be easy but Pagan is his. And he’s already proven he’ll defy Heaven to keep her. If Hell wants a piece of him too, then bring it on.  ~ From GoodReads

WARNING: I will NOT have spoilers for PREDESTINED, but if you haven't read EXISTENCE, you might want to avoid reading this review.


Pagan Moore cheated, and fell in love, with Dank, also known as Death. They've fought Hell to be together. Pagan and Dank...they deserve a bit of a break. A chance to be a real couple. But things don't always work out like you hope, especially when a soulless ex-boyfriend with an obsession shows back up, literally invading your dreams and willing to do whatever it takes to make you his. For all eternity.
I really liked EXISTENCE. A lot. I've loved every single book by Abbi Glines. But most, or all, of you already know that. And although I thoroughly enjoyed that book, I never fully connected with the characters. I liked them, but I didn't really feel them. But in PREDESTINED? Oh. Wow. I was blown away. Something felt different to me about this one. The characters spoke to me in a way they hadn't before and implanted themselves in my heart and mind. I think it's partially because Glines had already established most of their world, and I was past the "getting to know you" phase. I was able to focus wholly on their thoughts and actions.

All of the characters felt more fleshed out to me. Pagan was stronger, sassier, more sure of herself. She is loving, but not a pushover. She fights for those she loves and is willing to go to the ends of the Earth to protect them. She makes tough, but smart decisions. She doesn't sit around wringing her hands, hoping for things to sort out. Pagan went from a girl to a woman in PREDESTINED. [Sidenote: Does that last line sound as cheesy to you as it does in my head?]

I can't talk about kick-butt female characters without including Gee. Even though she doesn't play a huge role in the series, Gee is very important. I wanted to like her in EXISTENCE, but never felt sure of her intentions. Her no-nonsense, hilarious lines make her easily my favorite character in the book. (see my favorite quote) Gee is the comic relief in this otherwise incredibly intense story.

The two characters who made the largest transition for me, though, were Dank and Leif. I'll start with Leif. I loved him in EXISTENCE. He seemed like this great, All-American guy any girl would be lucky to have. I was kind of pulling for him to win Pagan's heart and was floored by the revelation that he was soulless. Say what?!? But in PREDESTINED? I won't spoil it, but I will say he was creepy, super creepy, but still kind of charming and sad. I know that's contradictory, but it's true.

Now for Dank. I think I'm the only lady in the world who wasn't hot for Dank. Yes, he was sexy as hell and an awesome singer. But I didn't feel as if I knew him. So when I started reading PREDESTINED I was worried that I would still feel apathetic towards him. And how hard is it to pull for the "it couple" when you don't even like the guy? Glines sold me on Dank in Chapter Two. I was floored, sobbing in my bed at 1am. To be inside his head as he does his job, knowing that he treats it and those he removes with dignity and care...well, my heart grew three sizes at that moment and made room for Dank. I am now happy to say that I know Dank now and I dig him as much as everyone else. What a relief!

I can honestly say I loved every little bit of PREDESTINED. Every thing about it exuded intensity. The ante is bigger. No one is safe, and I mean no one. The story is filled with moments of utter heartbreak and pure joy. No character, no scene felt extraneous. So many questions are answered. A  surprising face from the past shows up in Pagan's life. I have some big theories about that. PREDESTINED ended on an excellent note and was set up with just the right amount of suspense for book three in the series, CEASELESS.


Favorite Quote ~

(This is Gee laying the smack down on Dank. She cracks me up.)

" 'Whatever, listen, why is it that you can't just go say 'Yo, stop haunting my girl you stupid ass piece of shit' and then be done with it? I realize you're hanging with the humans these days but Dank, you're Death. What's with all this angst?' "
 
Published April 3rd 2012                                 

You can purchase PREDESTINED at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords


Source: Received from author for review.