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.
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