Reborn by C.C. Hunter- Shadow Falls: After Dark #1

Posted 30 April, 2014 by Danny in Blog, Danny, Danny's Book Review / 5 Comments

Reborn by C.C. Hunter- Shadow Falls: After Dark #1Reborn by C.C. Hunter
Series: Shadow Falls: After Dark #1
Published by St. Martin's Press on 2014-05-20
Genres: Action & Adventure, Coming of Age, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology, Fantasy & Magic, Friendship, Girls & Women, Legends, Myths, Fables, Love & Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
4.5 Stars

Return to the beloved world of Shadow Falls, a camp that teaches supernatural teens to harness their powers—and where a vampire named Della will discover who she’s meant to be.

For Della Tsang, Shadow Falls isn't just a camp: it's home. As a vampire who's never fit in with her human family, it's the one place she can truly be herself. But when a mysterious new guy arrives at camp, Della’s whole world is thrown into turmoil. Chase is a vampire with secrets, who knows more than he’s telling.

But the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to trust this attractive stranger—and feel drawn to him. But romance is the last thing she wants—as she keeps telling Steve, the hunky shapeshifter who won’t stop trying to win her heart. And if Della isn’t careful, he just might succeed.

When a new case puts everyone she cares about in danger, Della’s determined to do everything she can to save them . . . even if it means teaming up with Steve and Chase, who leave her more confused than ever.

With their lives on the line, will Della and her friends survive—with their hearts intact?

Here comes a new Spin Off Series from one of my favorite writers and one of my favorite Young Adult Paranormal Series: Shadow Falls. When the series ended last year I was sad. Then CC Hunter announced the Spin Off with Vampire Della and I was not.. exactly thrilled at first, as she was not one of my favorite characters, but now after finishing I’m totally Team Della – GO Della!

Angry, with a lot of sass and heartbreak underneath that hard shell!

Della is an interesting character, she’s very angry and not always very nice, which is why I was not immediately sold on her as a protagonist. Being made a Vampire was one things she had to get used to, but what hurts her even more is the rejection of her parents. Since her parents do not know about supernaturals, they think she’s at a camp for troubled teens. Their rejection, and especially the cold shoulder from her Dad huts Della so much that she completely closed off from friendship and love with the fear of being hurt again.

Once you get to know in Della’s head, it’s easy to understand her better and hurt along with her. Also, I loved that everyone made her aware of her cold snappish behaviour and that she begins to reflect her attitude and slowly begins to change!

Beautiful friendship, and finding a family where you would not expect it!

The theme which was prominent in The Shadow Falls series carriers also into this new series. It focuses a lot on the power of real and true friendship and that you can find family in many different places. Della’s friendship with Kylie (protagonist of the previous series) and the witch Miranda is absolutely moving and touching and makes you wish to have such close friends yourself. It’s with them that Della can be herself and she’s loved simply for who she is.

Then there is the Vampire camp leader Burnett who is also working for a CIA like organisation only for Supernatural. He’s a closed off badass who also has a hard time showing and expressing feelings, but he has taken on Della and seeing their relationship was also a thing of wonder.

Love, Romance and no real Triangle! !

What made this story really shine was Steve with whom Della has some kind of an relationship, which Della has a hard time truly defining as being in a relationship due to her issues. But Steve knows her and he loves her for who she really is and he never gave up on her and I LOVED that about him so much! when Della pushed him away, he pushed forward even more. How can you not love a boy like this!

The synopsis hints a a Love Triangle, and while a triangle was major part of the previous series, it is completely differently handled here for which I’m grateful.

Dangers, Killings and Mysteries!

Apart from all this wonderful elements there is of course  also a plot line that keeps everyone moving and hooked. There is a killing and Della desperately wants to prove herself to Burnett to help and solve the case. Then there is the mystery surrounding Chase which totally ended up in a super surprising twist I didn’t see coming. In addition Della tries to find family members her father never mentioned before and in her desperate wish for love, she tries to find them.

The story hooked me right from the beginning and there were lots of surprised and twists along the way. The ending was exciting, closed up some loose ends to satisfy the reader, but then leaves some mysterious for the next book!

If there is one thing to complain about is the constant feminism from Della, who thinks that she’s not taken seriously that she’s a girl. While I like the theme and I think it’s an important issue to be addressed, a little less wouldn’t have hurt and would have still gotten the message across.

Bewitched Rating

 

Rating 4.5

 

Bottom Line

Reborn by C.C. Hunter kicks of excitingly into a new series set in the Shadow Falls world. Beloved characters are back, and new ones are introduced. Even though I was skeptical, Della proved to be a kick ass heroine with a lot of heart we just needed to discover she has. The romance is touching and the basic them of love, friendship and family is what truly shines in these pages! Even if you haven’t read the previous series feel free to jump in now!

 

   

Shadow Falls Links

 

Watch the Book Trailer


It’s epic!!!

 

Danny_Signature_muchloveI

Exciting Info

If you haven’t read the Shadow Falls series yet, here is your chance: St.Martins is giving you a copy of Book 1 and 2 – Shadow Falls: The Beginning if you show that you pre-ordered Reborn! Open for US and Canada – doesn’t this sound amazing?
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5 Responses to “Reborn by C.C. Hunter- Shadow Falls: After Dark #1”

  1. I actually just finished reading this book, and I’m also grateful for how C.C. Hunter executed this love triangle as well. I thought the one with Kylie in the original series was too much of a mess. Plus, I actually found Kylie to be less likable compared to Della despite her sassiness. Great review!
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