Review: Chasing Power by Sarah Beth Durst

Title:  Chasing Power

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Publisher:  Bloomsbury

Publishing Date: October 14th 2014

Pages: 376

Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy

Series:  Stand Alone

Source: Audi

  

Lies, secrets, and magic — three things that define Kayla's life.

Sixteen-year-old Kayla plans to spend her summer hanging out on the beach in Santa Barbara and stealing whatever she wants, whenever she wants it. Born with the ability to move things with her mind — things like credit cards, diamond rings, and buttons on cash registers — she has become a master shoplifter. She steals to build up a safety net, enough money for her and her mom to be able to flee if her dad finds them again. Well, that, and the thrill of using her secret talents.

But her summer plans change when she's caught stealing by a boy named Daniel — a boy who needs her help and is willing to blackmail her to get it. Daniel has a talent of his own. He can teleport, appearing anywhere in the world in an instant, but he lies as easily as he travels. Together, they embark on a quest to find and steal an ancient incantation, written on three indestructible stones and hidden millennia ago, all to rescue Daniel's kidnapped mother. But Kayla has no idea that this rescue mission will lead back to her own family — and to betrayals that she may not be able to forgive... or survive.

This is the first Sarah Beth Durst novel I have read, I have many on my TBR list but just haven't made my way to them yet. I am so happy I was finally able to mark one as read, and I enjoyed the read through and through. It was a great read. Solid from start to finish. There was magic and myths and powers and chases, thefts and danger and even a bit of romance. I enjoyed the fantasy and the contemporary side. I enjoyed all the relationships and all the characters. It was wonderful. 

Kayla and her mother have been on the run and in hiding for years, from Kayla's father. Who is said to be a bit of a psychopath. Kayla is magical, she has a power that enables her to move things with her mind. Kayla's mother, Moonbeam, is a witch of sorts. Like Charmed witch not like Sabina the Teenage Witch Witch. Kayla takes care of Moonbeam, so she thinks, She makes sure she eats pays the bills, stays sane. That sort of thing. Kayla earns money by stealing while using her telekinesis. Kayla has a best friend named Selena who is normal but awesome. Kayla meets Daniel, is blackmailed by Daniel because he needs to save his kidnapped mother. Daniel can teleport. This is what takes Daniel and Kayla on an adventure across the world looking for clues to find three special stones that cannot be brought together, if so bad things will happen.

I liked the book. I really liked the book. I didn't expect a fantasy, the cover and the book scream sci fi, maybe even dystopian but no its not. It fantasy. There are artifact, jewels, witches, myths, magic, all this and more. Its is a book of awesome though. It was full of adventure and mystery. Almost had an Indiana Jones feel or a Romancing the Stone feel., Maybe somewhere in between feel. It was good. I loved the story, the adventure, the tiny bit of romance, the magic, the powers, and oh the characters. I loved all the characters. This was a book mix between a character driven and story driven book. 

Kayla was a pretty cool character. For the most part she had her head on straight. Well at least when it came to paying the bill and taking care of her mother. She was a bit of a thrill seeker so when it came to jumping across the world with Daniel she didn't hesitate too much. yes she pulled it off by saying she was being blackmailed and then by wanting to save Daniel's mother, but I think she just wanted an adventure. She was smart, fast thinking, kind of a bit too much of a risk taker, but a fresh breath of air when it comes to female leads. 

Daniel was  a bit annoying at times but by the end I liked him. He started of selfish and kind of dumb when it came to putting things together, but he came out okay. He did just want to save his mother. He loved her very much and really wanted her approval all his life. Which he never seem to have. He had a connection with Kayla with the  mind power and I think he was just what she was looking for and vise versa. They made a great team. 

There was romance. I liked the romance. It was not the center of the story but it was evident. It started off as hate, I mean Daniel blackmails Kayla so Kayla is not happy with him to say the least. It goes from hate to partners, to friends, to romance. I liked it. Lots of chemistry. It was good!

One more character I would like to mention is Kayla's best friend Selena. She was a nut and I absolutely adored her. She was my favorite. She was spunky and witty and just fun. 

The story moved and a very fast pace and it was full of mystery. I really didn't figure anything out until right before it was revealed. Somethings I never saw coming and somethings I was way of base. So it was great with the mystery. It was great with the adventure too. It was exciting, never slow never boring. 

It did focus around the adventure and the mystery but it also focused around relationships and trust and lies and betrayals. I love those things in my reads. I was very satisfied. Also it is a stand alone and ends great, complete, and it had closure. A few things aggravated me about Kayla's choices or how stupid the adult seemed to be but in the end I liked it very much

I really enjoyed and it look forward to reading more by this author. 

 

Sarah Beth Durst is the author of nine fantasy novels for children, teens, and adults, including Conjured, Vessel, and Ice. Her most recent YA novel, Chasing Power, came out in October 2014 from Bloomsbury, and her most recent book for adults, The Lost, came out in June 2014 from Harlequin/Mira. She was awarded the 2013 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature and has been a finalist for SFWA's Andre Norton Award three times. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband and children. For more information, visit her at www.sarahbethdurst.com.