Psychic? Check. Haunted by a malevolent spirit who is making life a living hell? Check. In love with a smoking hot Scot, who is the reincarnation of the man creepy malevolent ghost murdered two centuries before? Check. Friends and family think you’re losing your mind? Check. Welcome to the life of sixteen-year-old Riley Williams, whose life hasn’t been the same since she moved to Scotland and met the spirit of Ian MacKinnon, and Laria, the witch who murdered him. Since helping Ian cross over to the other side, Riley became Laria’s target, and now the witch has made it clear she wants her dead. Laria has already possessed Riley’s brother and friends, and Riley is starting to feel a little strange herself. She just hopes that she can stop Laria before the ghost takes everything from her. With her boyfriend Kade, her brother, and her buddies by her side, Riley is in for the fight of her life.~From GoodReads
* *There are some mild spoilers for books one and two in the series. You can check out my review of book one, THE DEEPEST CUT, and book two, THE HAUNTED. **
This review is so hard for me to write. I want to talk about everything that happened in the story, but I don't want to spoil it for future readers. So I must keep this short.
I will start, though, by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed THE DEPARTED. I flew through the story in only two, maybe three, hours. The plot picks up very soon after book two, THE HAUNTED, ends. Riley and her friends decide to consult a Ouija board, which if you've read this series you'll know is just asking for trouble. The creep factor is instantaneous in this book and hardly lets up throughout the story. I am so happy that I read this on a sunny summer day, or I would've been jumping out of my skin at every turn.
Author J.A. Templeton did an excellent job of writing realistic, thoroughly enjoyable characters. Riley and her friends Cass, Cait, and Megan were so funny. As were her brother Shane, boyfriend Kade, and the other guys in the story. As a couple, Kade and Riley are a great match. Their ability to see past the horror of their situation and realize that they had each other no matter what was endearing. They did not forsake their friendships for the relationship either, and I loved that about Kade and Riley. The dialogue between the teens had excellent tone and believability. I am really going to miss these kids.
I loved the way Templeton wrapped up the series. There were revelations and backstory that helped explain the mystery and tie the past to the present. I have found that I am not always happy with a lot of the Paranormal Young Adult stories I read these days. But I have loved every bit of The MacKinnon Curse series. If you are looking for a well-rounded, spooky, yet fun series, this one should hit the spot.
Favorite Quote:
"Those words meant everything. What I wouldn't give to tell him that he was Ian in a past life, but it was hard to wrap your brain around the fact thay you could be living at the same time your earthbound spirit was hanging out with your girlfriend." (ebook, 16%)
You can purchase THE DEPARTED at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Giveaway
Author J.A. Templeton is genereously offering one winner ALL THREE BOOKS of the MacKinnon Curse series.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This is the first time I've heard of this series. However it definitely sounds like a "me" kind. I skimmed the synopsis but two things stood out to me: paranormalcy - check and hot boy - CHECK. Two things I love in a book! Great Review. I'm glad you found that this final book wrapped up the series nicely. I hate when a final book in a series doesn't give good closure.
ReplyDeletesame as The BookSlayer here. I haven't heard of t hat serie before, but it has all the things I like, in particular the psychic spooky thing and Scotland... Hope I'll win otherwise I'll go to amazon for the first book. thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI have the first book which I have heard is amazing. I still haven't read it yet though. I really do need to get to it. (and a million others lol)
ReplyDeleteoh and to answer the question, yes I believe in spirits. I actually had a pretty creepy thing happen which pretty much made it impossible to not believe in them.
DeleteI love her eyes. Alluring cover. Great review. I like the story and the point of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the awesome giveaway. Yes I do believe in spirits, there is no reason not to and so many reasons to!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good series. I will have to check it out. And yes, I believe in spirits and more.
ReplyDeleteYes - I believe in spirits! Something has to happen to your soul/energy after you die!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
Leanne
I definitely believe in spirits, every once in a while I can smell the perfume my Nanny used to wear, but only for a split second, and then it is gone. I don't know anyone else who uses the same perfume.
ReplyDeleteI love stories that explore rebirth and the movement of souls. I've never heard of this series. Sounds like a good one! Thanks for writing about it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!Sounds to be a promising book !
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this series. Great review love. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSkimmed because I have the first book and plan to read the series, but I'm glad to know that it stays quality!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this series, but I am going to look into it for sure. I do believe in spirits... big time believe. I grew up in a very old farm house that is hundreds of years old. Since I was little I saw thongs, but as a teenager it was worse. I would wake up to an old man sitting on my bed in the middle of the night, who'd just casually get up walk towards the door & simply was no longer there... door slamming (which got yelled at for a lot even though I swear it was not me), little kids laughing & running footfalls in the hallways, I opened the door to walk up stairs a few times to see little kids... ive seen 3 between the ages of 6 to 12... had things show up in pictures, stuff thrown across the room at me & the spare room down the hall always had the door open & close & the sound of things dropping... it was creaky and no one believed me Until my dad talked to my grandparents whom we got the from... he found out 3 kids died in the spare room from diptherria (spelling is wrong there I think) the oldest girl was 12, the next was an 8 yr old girl and a 6 year old boy. There was also a man whom shot himself in an outbuilding that is no longer there... his picture fit the description I gave my dad. It was scary & my dad about fell out of his chair and believes me now. When I was about 8, I informed my mother of the conversation I had with the man in the picture hanging in our hallway after I woke up from a nightmare. She made me point it out and I showed her the picture of her dad whom I had never gotten to meet. He died when my mom was a teenager... completely believe in them...
ReplyDeleteI believe there is more than my little mind can fathom and so there just might be :) Thank you for the fun.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't really believe in spirits...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, the books sound fascinating !
Of course!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!