Book Review: Unmarked

Unmarked (The Legion #2)

By: Kami Garcia

Published By: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: September 30, 2014

Page Count: 384

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher via NetGalley

Audience: Young Adult - Paranormal

Review of Book #1: Unbreakable

I really enjoyed reading the first novel in this series last fall. The wait for Unmarked to be released was excruciating and I predict this trend will continue. The ending of this one left me wanting more now. Unmarked did not fall prey to the second novel syndrome. In fact, Unmarked out shined Unbreakable.

Kennedy and the Legion were not doing so well when we parted ways at the end of Unbreakable. Things haven't improved much at the beginning of Unmarked, but I could only hope that the Legion was on there way to spring Kennedy from her boarding school. This segment is a minor blip on the plot line, but it does start to set up Kennedy's intense regret and guilt over everything that went down in the first novel. She feels responsible for all the negative things swirling through the world because of her mistake with the shift.

Luckily for Kennedy, Jared and the rest of the Legion don't blame her for unleashing a demon on mankind. The gang is all together again after the first few chapters and all hell starts to break loose. Murders, violent crime, and turbulent weather hammer towns in West Virginia and Massachusetts. The Legion must find the demon before he opens the gate and more demons rush to Earth. Humanity's fate lays in the hands of the give teens.

I enjoyed that Kennedy starts to get some answers in this novel. She learns more about her family and her specialities. It was nice to see Kennedy start to carve out her own place in the world. There were some twists and turns concerning Kennedy that I never saw coming. Kudos Kami Garcia - you kept me guessing and on my toes.

Furthermore, I loved the fast paced plot of this one. There is a lot of world build up in the first novel so that readers can understand how the Legion operates. This time the plot could focus on the action of tracking the demon. As a result, I had a hard time putting this one down for any length of time. The writing in this one felt tighter and stronger. On more than one occasion, I was seriously freaked out.

In spite of loving this Unmarked, I do have two minor complaints. First, I was a little overwhelmed with all of the different factions of secret societies that are mentioned. Second, that ending felt like a punch to the gut. I don't like so many things being left in the air. I know there is another novel, but I hate not having a sense of closure when I leave a story. Loose ends don't bother me, but this one left a gaping hole.

Overall, Unmarked has earned it's place on my 2014 favorites shelf. It is the perfect creepy read to keep you company on those chilly October nights. Just keep some salt nearby.....

One Last Gripe: Kennedy's blame and self doubt got annoying at times.

Favorite Thing About The Book: The characters

First Sentence: Iron bars were the only things separating us.

Favorite Character: Kennedy

Least Favorite Character: the demon

Summary:

The heart-pounding sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Unbreakable, by New York Times bestselling Beautiful Creatures co-author Kami Garcia.

He is here... and he could be anyone.

Kennedy Waters lives in a world where vengeance spirits kill, ghosts keep secrets, and a demon walks among us–a demon she accidentally set free. 

Now Kennedy and the other Legion members–Alara, Priest, Lukas, and Jared–have to hunt him down. As they learn more about the history of the Legion and the Illuminati, Kennedy realizes that the greatest mystery of all does not belong to any secret order, but to her own family. With the clock ticking and the life of someone she loves hanging in the balance, Kennedy has to ask the question she fears most: what is it about her past that has left her Unmarked?