Book Review: After Dark by Emi Gayle

Review: After Dark
Series: The 19th Year #1
Author: Emi Gayle
No of Pages: Ebook
Release Date: October 31st 2012 by J. Taylor Publishing

Synopsis:

What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn’t know will probably kill her.

In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she’ll be for the rest of her life.

She has no choice but to pick. As a Changeling, it’s her birthright. To Mac, it’s a birthchore. Like going to school with humans, interacting with humans, and pretending to be human during the pesky daylight hours.

Once darkness descends, Mac can change into any supernatural form that exists—which makes her as happy as she can be. That is, until Winn Thomas, the biggest geek in her senior class figures out there’s more to what hides in the dark than most are willing to acknowledge.

In this first of the 19th Year Trilogy, Winn might know more about Mac than even she does, and that knowledge could end their lives, unless Mac ensures the powers-that-be have no choice but to keep him around.

My thoughts:

After Dark has some really great characters. Above all my favorite is the main character, Mac. I love female characters with male names! But Mac is more than just a name, she is one tough cookie! And being supernatural in a world full of humans you would have to be. She’s done a great job at keeping her secret until she meets Winn and finds out about the book he’s reading.

So even with Mac being tough and seriously knowing her own strength of character her birthday is coming up and she has elders that are pushing her to choose which race she wants to lead. Tough enough to just figure out who you are when you’re that young but knowing you are going to lead an entire race of beings once you choose your path? Thanks for the pressure! The elders actually really threw me off. I always think of my elders as actually giving good advice and showing me the right path, well mostly anyway, but these elders actually made her life a living hell! Every time they did something I was cringing!

And then there’s Winn. Even without knowing it he is a great shoulder for Mac. Sure she’s strong but every person needs someone to bring the best out in them. I was hoping that Winn would be that person for Mac! He just really gives her a positive influence that apparently nobody else is going to give. She doesn’t know it but all of her decisions are based off of her feelings for him.

You find out slowly what is going on and why. Actually Mac finds out slowly as well. One clue at a time. But this definitely added to the suspense of the book. Although I had many questions throughout, I felt that the pace and the plot was very steady and it kept me interested. The ending was very well done and I was pleased with the overall decision that Mac finally was able to make. On her own without the Elders influence!

Really good young adult read. A bit supernatural and paranormal and all fun!