Halflings

December 19, 2011
Burch opens her YA paranormal series with a chomp: “Fangs settled into Nikki Youngblood’s leg.” After that in media bite of an opener, readers quickly learn about three halflings—half-angels, half-humans, who look like teenage boys—sent to protect 17-year-old Nikki. Mace, Raven, and Vine live with their angel “father” and crew chief, Will. Something odd is going on in Nikki’s small Missouri town, and it involves a local lab, her biology teacher, and, possibly, her godfather. Complicating emotional matters is the attraction Nikki feels to both Mace and Raven, which is mutual with each boy and also forbidden. Burch has a great idea, and details about the halflings intrigue: they generate an electrical field, and varied powers are “perks” of their half-divine birthright. The book has some technical problems. Nikki’s parents aren’t well-developed and their presence is fairly arbitrary; the villain has the subtlety of an elbow to the ribs; and the writing is too often trite (“fear and torment had stolen the last shreds of her strength”). Still, this is popcorn: easy to overlook flaws, gobble up, and seek more. Ages 15–up.

August 1, 2012

Gr 7-10-The angelic (or in this case half angelic) YA invasion continues with this series opener. Nikki Youngblood is just an average 17-year-old, which means she's a black belt in karate, an intuitive artist whose work is already in a gallery, a science nerd, a motorcycle chick, and, of course, beautiful in an unconventional way. She is also being chased by assorted human and otherworldly bad guys (and hell hounds), possibly under the control of the mysterious Damon Vessler. Not to worry; a trio of super-hot blond guys-not angel or human but something sadly in between-has been tasked with keeping her safe. Halflings are the offspring of rebellious angels and human women. While they are allowed to fight on the side of good, they aren't given the possibility of a heavenly afterlife or even allowed to fall in love. No surprise that Good Boy Mace and Bad Boy Raven are both attracted to Nikki. Religion is addressed but isn't particularly intrusive; secondary characters are pretty stock (the ditzy BFF, the antisocial computer-nerd Halfling); and Nikki, despite her many talents, is more Bella than Katniss. Still, fans of the Romeo & Juliet model will enjoy, and the cliff from which readers are left hanging should entice them to return for Book 2.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2012
If this novel were a holiday, it would undoubtedly be New Year's Eve--full of the promise of fun and romance, but a whopping disappointment in the end. The first book of a planned trilogy begins with 17-year-old Nikki Youngblood running for her life, a pack of hellhounds gnashing at her heels. Luckily, three half-human, half-angel hunks are looking on and rush to her rescue. Though it is unclear why Nikki is the target of such nefarious forces (an issue that is never satisfactorily resolved), the Halflings assume responsibility for her protection and attempt to uncover the truth about dark and mysterious happenings in her Missouri town. Unfortunately, the balance between questions raised and answers given is maddeningly uneven. The narrative is riddled with cliches and clunky descriptions (hair "dancing in waves as if orchestrating a dance," for example) that weigh the storytelling down. Even a good, old-fashioned love triangle can't save the story from itself. Bad boy Raven's lust for Nikki is at least in character, but it is nearly impossible to comprehend how the virtuous Mace could fall so hard, so fast and with so little explanation, especially when it could damn him. In the end, readers will be left scratching their heads wondering what actually happened and, worse, whether they even care. (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)

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May 15, 2012
Grades 9-12 When 17-year-old Nikki Youngblood is attacked by hell hounds while sketching in the woods, she has no idea that she is about to become the focus of a celestial battle. She is saved by Halflingsoutcast half-angel, half-human beingswho are trying to redeem themselves by protecting her. Mace, gorgeous and sweet, and Raven, also gorgeous but with a bad-boy tinge, form the corners of a doomed love triangle, as romance with a human can lead to eternal damnation. They must all work together to discover why Nikki is a target in the never-ending battle for humanity. In Burch's fast-paced debut novel, which is marked by lively writing, Nikki is full of doubt and indecision, making her a character that readers will relate to. A completely unresolved cliffhanger ending makes it apparent that this is the first in a planned series sure to appeal to fans of both star-crossed lovers and Stephenie Meyer.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2012
Seventeen-year-old Nikki Youngblood finds her understanding of faith, love, and independence tested when a series of bizarre attacks places her under the guidance of three Halfling--half human, half angel--teen boys. Featuring clichid prose but a nondidactic exploration of religion and a believable love triangle, this thoughtful and compelling paranormal romance has plenty of cross-genre appeal.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)