Monday, January 14, 2013

Early Review: Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

Touch of Death
Author:Kelly Hashway
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Touch of Death Book #1
ISBN:  193705330X
ISBN13: 9781937053307
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

I did like Jodi. She starting off as any other girl only to find out that she was anything but when people start dying and resurrecting around her. If that isn't bad enough she is being stalked. There was a great amount of action and suspense in TOUCH OF DEATH. I loved that the story incorporates Medusa and I liked the scenes where her voice was involved. This is definitely not the Medusa we are used to reading about. 

The romance between Alex and Jodi was sweet but didn't move very far or feel all consuming or anything. There was a lot of over explaining of some things which tended to get a bit annoying at times. I also felt that a lot of situations were a little to obvious and it was like HEY LOOK THERE when the characters didn't pick up on it. I easily guessed the bad guys but I still enjoyed the story.

TOUCH OF DEATH was fast paced. I enjoyed most of the characters and I was left entertained when all was said and done. I think any YA fan that loves Greek mythology and zombies will enjoy it. 

I gave it 3/5 stars