Review: Shadows - Amy Meredith

Something weird is going on in the town of Deepdene. Something very weird.

Eve Evergold has developed her very own electromagnetic field, and one of her friends is being driven crazy by demon-filled nightmares.

So it's lucky for Eve that two gorgeous new guys have arrived in town to take her mind off of all the weirdness. Or maybe it's not so lucky...

From its upmarket Hamptons setting to its label-adoring characters, Dark Touch is a glamorous addition to the YA Paranormal genre. Shadows, the first book in the series, introduces us to the privileged Eve Evergold and her exclusive hometown - where, under the surface, a dark history of demons and witchcraft threatens to repeat itself.

Initially more concerned about whether her lipgloss needs reapplying than whether she has a poltergeist, Eve Evergold isn't your regular paranormal protagonist. She's popular, rich and practically joined at the hip with her carbon-copy best friend Jess. She's used to being invited to all the best parties and having the hottest guys fall at her feet. In real life, she'd probably be pretty annoying. But as the heroine of the Dark Touch series, she's a blast. Sometimes literally. So as she's adjusting to the fact she can now shoot lightning bolts from her fingers, Eve is also worrying about the side effects... in the form of the major static hair problem she's developed. And if a trip to the mall to investigate demons comes with the added bonus of gorgeous new shoes, so be it. She's not the deepest heroine you'll ever meet, but she works the tongue-in-cheek humour angle like nobody's business.

As you might expect, Shadows also comes complete with not one but two potential love interests for our heroine Eve. Minister's son Luke and mysterious rich boy Mal are both new in town, and both drop dead gorgeous. As the story unfolds, it soon becomes clear that one of them is also a demon - but which one? In all honesty, I don't think readers will find it too hard to guess who the bad guy is in this little triangle. There are plenty of clues along the way, and a lot of fun to be had in watching the ever-so-slightly oblivious Eve stumble blindly towards the truth.

Shadows is a witty and engaging start to the Dark Touch series. It's pleasingly smart and filled with the kind of self-referential humour that's sure to appeal to the more jaded YA paranormal reader. It made me grin more times than I can count, and I'll definitely be looking out for The Hunt, the next book in the series, later in 2010. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a light-hearted, upbeat supernatural read that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Out: April 1st 2010, UK

Thank you to Random House / Red Fox books for sending me a review copy of this book.