Firespell, A Novel of the Dark Elite by Chloe Neill

Publisher: Signet Books/New American Library/Penguin Group
Pages: 246

From the Cover: When Lily’s guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St. Sophia’s. Lily’s ultra-rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she’s hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building.

The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout’s a little weird—she keeps disappearing late at night and won’t tell Lily where she’s been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout running from a real monster.

Scout’s a member of a splinter group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, who’ve sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers, magic users who’ve been corrupted by their power. And when Lily finds herself in the line of a firespell, Scout tells her the truth about her secret life, even though Lily has no powers of her own—at least none that she’s discovered yet…

Lily finds herself thousands of miles away from the parents, currently sabbatically in Germany where they hope to peruse ancient philosophical documents. Thrown into the Windy City, known as Chicago, she has to adapt to her new surroundings. St. Sophia's Prep School for Girls, where she an outsider from Sagamore, NY and maybe not all that wanted. She's a junior in high school and has to start all over making friends and connections that are unfamiliar to her. And Chicago is nothing like Sagamore.

Scout, her suitemate and hopefully her new BFF, shows her around, giving her the nickel tour of the school and the Second City. But what lurks beneath the city is what holds Scout's attention, and all to soon, Lily's as well. There are really monsters and most are in human form. Evil denizens that want nothing more than siphon away what the others have, power. Magically power. Lily with her new found family of Adepts will have to confront things that have never been known to her before, if they can stay in one piece.

Firespell by Chloe Neill was a very fast fun YA read. I love books about magic, where is comes from and how it's used. Chloe Neill offers a new take on magic and how it happens to be born within the soul, and when it needs to be given away. Our unwilling heroine, Lily Parker, finds herself thrown into a world not of her own making, but since she's there, she's going to make the most of her situation. She's strong, positive or as positive as a teenage girl can be at a new school with strangers for friends, and she has no idea what she's in for. After befriending Scout, the mysterious girl with nightly errands, Lily has her eyes opened about more than just St. Sophia's and life of a 'regular' (a non-magical person). Jason, Lily's would be hero, is more than he's appears to be as well with his glowing sapphire eyes and wicked smile, but then there's the enigmatic Sebastian, one of the would be bad guys (one of the Reapers - a vampiric type of witch who as they age, need to sustain their power by drawing energy from others, human or witch a like), can see Lily's power and encourages it's use. But is Sebastian what he appears to be? He fights along side the evil denizens, but helps Lily when she needs it most and no one but Lily knows. How he comes to figure into the later storylines, this reader will be interested to know.

Firespell by Chloe Neill is a little reminiscent of the House of Night Series, but not too much, which I have seen it compared to. I think the resemblance begins and ends with Lily being sent to a prep house that isn't exactly what it appears to be. If you enjoy House of Night or Dead is the New Black Series, you'll enjoy this new series as well. I had fun with this little pager turner that demanded to be read, I certainly had trouble putting it down. If you're looking for a new YA series for the new year, trying Firespell, A Novel of the Dark Elite Series. I can't wait for the next in this new series. I recommend this book for lovers of YA, magic, mystery, and mayhem. I had fun with it.

I bought this book for my own enjoyment. Thanks Chloe Neill for a great read.