Description: "Every other day Kali is a normal 16-year-old. On the alternate days, she is not sure what she is. She knows only that she has an irresistible urge to hunt and kill supernatural demons and hellhounds. When she spots a strange mark on Bethany's back, she knows that the girl has been marked for death. As Kali fights to save her, the two pair up with the endearing school pariah, Skylar, to unravel a Machiavellian scheme in which unknowing teens are being injected with chupacabra serum. Kali is a likeable, compelling heroine. Her dual existence rings true to normal teen angst about getting along with parents, making friends, and surviving high school: 'Even without my powers, I would gladly have faced down hellspawn over high school mean girls any day.' Elements of the supernatural come across organically in Kali's modern, everyday world: Darwin's seminal work is The Demon's Descent and hellhounds are a government-protected endangered species. Barnes keeps readers engaged with a steady plaiting of suspense, action, and atmospheric description. Subplots build tension and promote more questions: What does Bethany's dad's work in gene therapy have to do with her mother's emotional fragility? Should Kali trust Zev, the being she lured from Bethany's body into her own? Just how much does Kali's absentminded professor dad know about his daughter? A satisfying conclusion leaves enough room for a sequel." --School Library Journal

Please Wait