Review - Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Published by Harper Teen
Published 31 August 2010

Summary - Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal. 

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal.

If I could describe Paranormalcy in one word, I would say "BLEEP" because I kind of like to censor any cuss words when i'm *actually* talking about a book (well from now on I do anyway).  You know when you really REALLY want to love a book so much you get all giddy and excited? well thats how I wanted to feel about this book.  And guess what? I DID.  For like, the first 50 pages or so, and then, I kind of hit my peak and my bubble of excitement deflated FAST.

I can't deny that this book will be loved by many people.  I'm just not one of them.  Paranormalcy really is a fun read, it's fast and fresh and it's unlike anything in the supernatural genre.  BUT (and I probably should've guessed by, I don't know, the title?!) this book had faeries.  FAERIES.  Oh my good gosh, I HATE faeries with unrelentless abandon.  I didn't like the book because it contained the one supernatural creature that makes me want to CLAW MY EYES OUT.  

On a more positive note, Paranormalcy is one of those rare cases where the protagonist could actually kick your ass.  Evie is a major badass.  Plus, she like colour co-ordinates her weapons with her shoes and accesories.  Any girl who is willing to co-ordinate weapons of terror with her outfit is a girl I can get on board with.  Calling your taser "tasey" though? not something I am down with.  Better? Evie is a snarky pants.  Her voice and narration made me laugh at times because she is SUCH a girl, and it was nice to see a little vulnerability shine through.

Plus the whole IPCA thing is SO fascinating, or would've been if I actually learned anything about them.  I would've like to see the inner workings of the company and why they chose to do what they do and why the paranormals actually let them get away with it.  I liked how Evie began to question the moral aspects of the agency, and the stuggle she felt between doing what was right for the company verses what was right for the supernaturals they had detained.  And the love interest? I know your all wondering if there was any decent swoonage.  Yeah.  Not so much.  It was one of those cases where you like the girl and you like the boy, but then you put them together and you wait for something.  That thing that makes you feel all giddy and want to shout at the pages "JUST KISS HIM ALREADY".  That thing was just not there.  I want the ANGST!

All in all, this book just wasn't up my street.  It whispered promises to me of dark sexy times with that cover.  It told me I would just LOVE the white knuckle ride that would commence as soon as I had opened that shiny cover.  And once again, I have found a book where the cover has literally no meaning to the plot line of the story.  I don't know how I feel about this one, because parts I liked, parts I hated with a fiery passion, so lets just say i'm on the fence.