loved this book it had the perfect balance of ya/paranormal/thriller and that is very hard to find which happens to be my favorite kind of combination! I really found the whole sister seeing and feeling the other sister during dreams, not to mention all the others finding their own gifts you get to see from their point of view how they feel and what they go through I liked that the book is not just through one main character point of view. the cover is fun and mysterious its just a great book I enjoyed reading!

This is a high interest book for teens who enjoy shows like Teen Wolf.

Laurel, the main character's sister has been kidnapped from the trailer they are living in on the outskirts of town. Their mother is unwilling to contact the authorities because she is afraid protective services will take away her children again. Everything seems to be going wrong for poor Laurel. No one believes her sister has been kidnapped and she is being bullied at school for being poor.

As a high school teacher I am going to recommend this book to my inner city students. Unfortunately, I think many will identify with Laurel and her mother's crappy parenting. I will probably buy a couple of copies of the book to donate to my school library.

I have to admit the cover drew me in. I don't read a lot of fantasy/paranormal but after reading the synopsis and seeing the cover I knew I had to read it! I was not disappointed!

Right off the bat I was hooked. I had to know what was happening.

The characters are so well written. I love when I read a book and I hate the character(s) but still like them because the way they were written. Prime example would be the Skittles. Peyton and Mei. Their attitudes and the way they act you know you just want to hate them. But the deeper you get into the book, the more you get to know them. I love how each character had their own story, they actually had depth to them.

Laurel I loved! Such a great character! I love strong leads and I think she is one even though she really didn't believe in herself that much. The love between her and her sister Ivy reminds me of my relationship with my sister. I'd do anything for her.

Don't get me started on Jasper Blake *swoons* I loved him from the first time we met him!

Sparked is such a great read! It definitely keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing until the last minute. I think everything is perfectly paced. It didn't seem slow or it wasn't too fast paced. This was my first book by Helena Echlin and I can't wait to read more!

*I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I thought that the first portion of the book when Laurel is first having the nightmares and trying to figure out what happened to her sister was interesting. I enjoyed learning more about Ivy's abduction within the nightmares due to their creepy nature as well as the small hints as to what is happening to her.

My issues with this book began when the different points of view came into play as well as the emergence of the powers for the teenagers. I didn't find the characters to be likeable or interesting. They seemed to be very flawed and shallow especially Peyton. When I don't relate to characters, I find it hard to care about what happens to them or to be invested in the story. I also wish that the book was more cohesive. It felt as if this book could have been two completely unrelated books with one related to the powers/prophecy and another book about the kidnapping/psychic dreams topic.

The fantasy elements didn't seem to mesh well in the book because there wasn't a realism to them. I like for fantasy elements in a book to have a realism so that it is believable for powers to come about in real life. I think that it should have been taken out and/or used for a completely different book. Everyone in the book seems so blase about the "powers" that other characters have. All of teenagers that have sparked just believe everything including the prophecy without questioning any aspect of it. I would think that at least one character would have thought that it was all far fetched and crazy. I was also really confused by different aspects of the prophecy and how things played out with it over the course of the book.

I will be honest, I started reading this book with a set idea of what I was expecting from it and what it would deliver, and I was proved wrong after a couple of pages. So, if you don't find yourself hooked by the characters or the plot, maybe stick a little bit longer? Because the narration does feel a bit more fluid after a while.

At its core, Sparked can be about the conceptions we have of people and things, and how these change the more you look, or find out about them.

At 15, Laurel Goodwin thinks she knows all there is to know about her sister Ivy, and herself. But when Ivy suddenly disappears from her life just one week shy of Laurel's birthday, Laurel's world is turned upside down, and she is forced to face that maybe not everything is as it seems. Now, she will need to find allies (yeah, that one hot, mysterious boy who might be able to start fires with his mind, oh, and the cookie cutter mean girls) who will help her uncover the truth about their town, and Ivy's disappearance.

The book starts slow, giving us insight into the main character's life, and trying to get you used to her thoughts and rhythm. At one point, while she's at school, her English teacher corrects a writing of hers quite harshly, and I thought 'Oh, is this meta? are you criticizing your own book?', because for the next couple of chapters it really read like the younger cousin out of town that Twilight was forced to bring to the party. But as new layers and depths of the story are revealed, I was glad to see that some of the heavy cliches and tropes were dropped a little.

The characters were nice, though they seemed a bit underdeveloped for the sake of plot at points. I would've liked to see more sides, or shades to the characters once the stereotypes and tropes were dropped, but by that point of the book, they were pretty much set on their roles within the story.

I liked the 'quest' aspect of the book, and the supernatural touches were very well introduced and explained.

I would recommend the book as an easy read, for those into romance and fantasy, but if you're looking for some heavier reading or more complex world building/characters, this book might not be for you.

This was a weird read and it was hard for me to pick a rating. I finally settled on four stars because it was a really good read even though I felt like the point of view change hurt the whole feel of the book. I really loved how it started out with IVY going missing and her sister having to try and track her down, but just when I felt like the story was getting good, the POV would change throwing me into a boring story line that made me want to put the book down. When the story finally switched back to Ivy and her sister, it took a while for the feel goods to get going again. I stuck with it and the whole thing came together in the end.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. I enjoyed this book but the ending fell a little flat for me. I thought the concept was a good one and I was rooting for the good guys to win. The romance was in my opinion not needed in the book because it didn't add anything and felt a little cheesy. This book would be a good read for teens and I would love to check out more by these authors to see how their writing changes.

I really wanted to like this book. I like a story where a teen has to do what the adults are unable or unwilling to start, in this case, find her missing sister.

But the story was almost immediately sidetracked by some super over the top mean girl action. Why?! There is more than enough to go on with without adding some generic uberbitches to the story. Why not just overlooked girl, that feeling of panic that everyone is doing normal stuff; eating lunch, gossiping, stressing about math homework when her entire world is collapsing into hell.

That is a story I would read about, it was what I was hoping for. Instead the meanies don't let up, a mysterious boy wanders in and I gave up on the story before the halfway mark.

/book/show/33534890-sparked" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Sparked" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495119783m/33534890.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33534890-sparked">Sparked</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1441013.Helena_Echlin">Helena Echlin</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2094262526">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book was interesting. What really drew me into this book was the cover and the fact that someone was missing. When requesting this from NetGalley I just part of the synopsis and immediately requesting. <br /><br />Upon reading we meet Laurel whose sister Ivy has went missing. She keeps getting these dreams that is showing her where Ivy is. She tells her mom but her mom is too worried about her stupid drunk bf to care 😒 how can you not care that your daughter is missing ? Anyway.. Laurel then teams up with the new boy in her school Jasper to find out what happened to Ivy. Laurel is an aspiring writer as well. <br /><br />As Laurel is on the hunt for Ivy she learns things from Jasper grandfather that basically says Ivy has a power and they need 3 other people for this linking thing in order to free Ivy because she has been kidnapped by a demon that’s using someone’s else’s body. Laurel also befriends these two popular girls she calls the “Skittles” because they also have a power. <br /><br />This book was actually really good. It took too long for things to happen but I enjoyed it. It had its twists and turns that has to do with the girls and with Jasper. There is supernatural stuff going on like demons and superpowers if you’re into that. The ONLY thing I didn’t like throughout the whole book is that Laurel mother was not as active in her girls life. Instead she was worrying about her bf.

This book was awesome! I wasnt to sure about as I had never heard of Geek & Sundry. But I have to say that this is a publisher as well as a group of authors I will be checking out again. This one grabbed me from the first pages and it worked out great! It has pretty much anything and everything you could ask for in a young adult title. Shape-shifters, telekinesis, bending, as well as a ton of other things! I couldn't put it down.

The romance in this one was pretty insta-lovey so that kinda sucked but it worked for this story. I do wish that it would have gone from good friendship into love instead of it being only about a week before it was declared but ill live.

The only real issues I had with this one was that a few things that I won't get into because spoilers weren't explained very well. Such as the Zoroastrian Prophecy and who had to fulfill it as well as the shaming that went on for part of the book.

Even with the issues though I will be picking up book two and hope to get a print copy of this one soon. If you're looking for a new author and story check this one out!

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley*
3.5 stars
Sparked is a fast-paced YA book, with an interesting enough main character and good writing style.
But that's it. I don't know, it didn't really made me feel anything. It just lacked that special touch that all great books have.

That said, this was pretty engaging, with a good plot twist, which does the trick if you want to evade yourself.

I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you netgalley and publishers.
This story is about Laurel Goodwin who wakes up and finds her sister Ivy is missing from their trailer. Laurel starts having nightmares that make her think her sister was kidnapped, but no one believes her. Laurel finally finds someone who believes her and is willing to help her find her sister. They start uncovering secrets. Laurel and her sister Ivy had a very tough childhood, this book keeps it's pace so I don't want to say anymore and give away everything so I will end my review here :)  This book reminded me of The darkest minds, Twilight and Gone. So if your a fan on any of those you will enjoy this book! Happy reading ♡

15 year old Laurel Goodwin wakes up and finds her sister, Ivy missing from their trailer in the redwoods of Oregon. Laurel starts having reoccurring nightmares that convince her that Ivy was kidnapped, but no one will take Laurel seriously. Laurel finds help in Jasper, a new kid to town, who becomes her ally and friend in trying to figure out what happened to her sister. They start uncovering secrets and a dark prophecy in their small town, while trying to navigate around the mean girls in town. This book is definitely a mix of several different genres including paranormal, fantasy, young adult and even a bit of science fiction. I don't want to give away any spoilers but there are definitely a variety of paranormal activity and people, if you will, going on in this book. I really enjoyed Laurel as a character and found her to be quite engaging, which is usually what makes me really interested in a story. Laurel and her sister Ivy also haven't had the easiest childhood and we do learn a lot about their backgrounds, as well as Jasper's, but that comes a little later in the book. The plot moves along at a pretty quick pace and never gets boring. I don't want to give too many spoilers away, but if you like YA fantasy and paranormal, I definitely think you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.

Absolutely loved this book! I read it in one night!

Teenagers who have super powers, a missing sister, and a Twilight-esque setting perfect for that mystery/fantasy combo. The good thing about what they did with this book is that instead of an eye-rolling romp through yet another of the same old clichés the writing actually created something inventive and discussion worthy. It’s start off with a slow build and I had some severe reservations about why seemingly caring people would not care a loved one went missing but it all gets explained in a decent way.

There is something humorous and adventurous about how they guide you through their story to discover what happened to Laurel’s sister and what is going on with her peers. Despite the fantasy quality there is still something realistic and down to earth about the plotline that is detailed so the settings and people pop off the pages.

That slow build I mentioned definitely goes into overdrive and climaxes with well outlined action and emotional consequences I didn’t see coming to form the perfect conclusion. I really loved how many scenes could have just been more clichés trotted out to appeal to the masses but were written so much better with depth and care to woo the reader. There are characters you will bond with, love, hate or wonder how they manage to tie their shoes just because they irritate you meaning you have a great recipe for character development the way it’s supposed to be.

The twists interspersed are dripped in just enough to keep you engaged and the various issues presented are perfect feeder for book clubs and discussions with your teen who might just open up if you shared a book and a meal.

It should be interesting to see if this is just the first in a new series or a standalone because although most of the book is wrapped up quite tidy there is a little wiggle room left to carry on a bit of the story that was left in cliffhanger mode.

I will start off this review by saying that I did really enjoy it, for what it was-fun. It was a very quick and easy read due to excellent writing and pace. I never felt like I was slogging through it. It was light and fluffy with some danger going on, but I just couldn't get too excited about what was happening, since I could kinda see the twists coming a mile away. Personally, I think this was a little Y for me when it comes to YA. Doesn't mean it's bad, just means I'm not the target age for a protagonist who is 15. I will definitely pick up more books by these authors, so much potential here with writing style.

The main character, Laurel was pretty well-rounded, but I can't really say much about the others as they were pretty average and predictable. Mei and Peyton teaming up with Laurel reminded me a lot of Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty (two mean girls making friends with the "nobody" because of their shared abilities), but without an Ann to pick on (which I'm happy about here). The ending made me chuckle and roll my eyes a little though, along with some very oddly placed "comic relief" here and there.

Bottom line, average book. Would recommend.

Sparked is an edge of your seat thrill ride, with plenty of hairpin turns! This one is heart pounding, suspenseful, and will keep you guessing until the end! Prepare yourself for the supernatural, highly developed characters, and a unique plot!

The Plot: Fifteen year old Laurel Goodwin has always been close to her older sister, Ivy. When she wakes in the middle of the night to find Ivy missing, she begins to find out just how close they really were. Laurel begins to have nightmares, convincing her that Ivy has been kidnapped, but no one believes her, besides the mysterious, new kid at school, Jasper. With the help of Jasper, and the nightmares, Laurel uncovers a slew of secrets about herself, her sister, and the town they live in. She finds that power can come in many forms, and that someone you thought you knew could have deep secrets.

Sparked was surprisingly fantastic! I loved every minute of it! I knew I would like it, after reading the synopsis, but I cannot find a single thing I did not enjoy! It was fast paced, highly original, thrilling, and entertaining! The plot was enjoyably complex, with surprising twists, and the characters were highly developed!

I really loved the main character, Laurel. She felt like a real teenager to me. The authors did an incredible job with fleshing her out, giving her a unique personality, and making sure she wasn't a typical, "whiny", teenage YA girl. She was brave, but self conscious, intelligent and curious, she had a deep love for her sister, and she ended up going through a little bit of a self discovery and self assessment.

Jasper's character was very mysterious and added a necessary layer of depth to the plot. He was quiet and cool, dark and brooding. He had a well written backstory, played a major part in the book plot, but didn't overshadow the story with a YA romance. It was honestly refreshing to have a male character that didn't feel like they were forced to be the love interest and center of attention for the book too.

Peyton and Mei have to be talked about together. Though they both had many differences in their actions, appearances, and personalities, they were the "mean girls" in the story. They were written so well. I felt like I was watching "the plastics" in the Mean Girls movie, haha! Only, Laurel and Ivy called them "The Skittles." It was a very fitting title for the most part. Both of these characters have well written histories and are well developed within the story.

This book had everything I want in a 5 star read! It had action, adventure, thrills, suspense, and a hint of romance. The plot and characters were unique, well developed, and shifted and changed to fit with the story line. I loved the supernatural elements in the book and loved the fact that I was kept guessing until the true antagonist was revealed. The ending was nicely done and left enough to the imagination that we could either be waiting for another book, or be left to imagine more in our minds.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

First off, I should say that I was given access to this book ahead of its release in exchange for a fair review. Huge thanks to Inkshares for giving me this opportunity!! Angela Melamud, you rock!

If you follow my reviews, you know the drill! First, comes the grades, then any thoughts, gushing or notes I have, and then a ruling for clean-readers.

World-building: A
Mythology: A+
Plot-Twists: A++ (seriously, they just kept coming!!)
Suspense: A
Girl Power: A-
Guy Hero: B+
Villains: A
Love Interests: A-
Feels: A++

This book had me hooked. I finished it in one sitting. Not kidding. I could not put it down! Laurel's journey to find her sister is rife with twists, turns, and bumps in the road. Reading this book was a fantastic way to pass the night!

For you clean-readers: this book does NOT have mature content.

Sparked is a book that I binged read. It's gripping and quirky, but most importantly it's about Laurel. She is a character that I fell in love with. She isn't the typical loaner or perfect YA character. She's normal but finds herself in a dysfunctional life. Her mom is a flake, and her sister (arguably her best friend) is missing. Helena Echlin and Malena Watrous easy writing style brings Laurel's torment of tracking down her sister to the forefront. You feel every bit of time going by, and you get excited with every clue Laurel manages to scrape together. Sparked is fantastic. It's moody. It's like a modern day gothic tale. If you like the show Riverdale, you'll love Sparked and its twists and turns.

NetGalley Review
I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Despite being able to predict most of the plot twists throughout this book, I thoroughly enjoyed Sparked.

I fell in love with the writing from the beginning. Each sentence flowed together seamlessly. The amount of detail and emotion Echlin and Watrous put into this book is phenomenal. The ominous disappearance of Laurel’s sister is what initially drew me into the story. That and the mysterious super powers.

The characters weren’t too different from mainstream young adult books. However, they do touch on a few serious issues that most books might overlook or skim over. I very much appreciated how the characters approached each situation that was thrown at them.

I’m interested to see where Echlin and Watrous take this story in the future if it grows into a series, especially after that cliffhanger.