Review: The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

 
The Emerald Talisman
Written by Brenda Pandos
Release Date: Available Now!!
Published by Obsidian Mountain Publishing

I am always excited when I find a book that I know nothing about before reading and end up loving!  Well, that is what happened when I read The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos.

Summary from Goodreads:
"To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves."

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading this book!  Brenda Pandos did a wonderful job creating a fresh and exciting new vampire world.  I loved the characters in this story (good and evil) and the suspense had me turning pages way too late for a few nights! I found Julia (the main character) very interesting.  She was an empath, meaning that she could sense and feel the emotions of those around her.  Her gift definitely came in handy on more than one occasion in the book, but remained a secret to everyone.  Her family doesn't even know that she possesses this gift.  She also seems to be a magnet for vampires- which sucks (bad pun I know:D)- unless you have your own super hot half vampire/half human vamp slayer as your knight in shining armor!  Nicholas is the gorgeous, yet dangerous, bad boy that Julia falls for.  At the beginning of the book she finds herself in a pretty hopeless situation that Nicholas saves her from.  They spend a little time together that evening and then he disappears for quite awhile.  Julia is immediately consumed with thoughts of him.  She finds herself completely in love with him, despite the fact that she only spent a few hours with him.  I found this a little confusing, but as I read on, I began to understand the connection between Julia and Nicholas better.  Both of them had mysteries in their lives that I really wanted the answers to.  Julia had the mystery of her mother's disappearance, her empathic gift, and the mysterious message given to her by a fortune teller concerning her destiny.  Nicholas' character didn't lack in the mystery department either!  As the only known half vamp/half human in the world, and the only vampire slayer, he is one of a kind.  That definitely holds some major intrigue!  I enjoyed learning about the emerald talisman that he wore, and about the reasons behind his connection to Julia.  His character is really cool, calm, and collected in the face of danger and is quite a force to be reckoned with!  Did I mention that he is completely gorgeous too?  Oh yes... totally swoon-worthy!

The book moved at a good pace and the ending was fantastic!  The stage was set up perfectly for another volume in the series.  There was enough resolution at the end to be satisifying, yet the unanswered questions make me pine for the sequel!  Some of the things that I am anxious to learn more about include the history of Nicholas' parents (especially his vampire father), Julia's true destiny in the fight against the vampires, and the course that Julia and Nicholas' relationship will take after the events at the end of the book (hint.hint... Brenda PLEASE cover these in the sequel!:D)  I really did love this book and would recommend it to all YA readers that enjoy good vamp fiction!

*This book was provided to me for review by the author.  Thanks Brenda!