Monday 2 September 2013

Book Review-Student Bodies by Sean Cummings

Title: Student Bodies
Author: Sean Cummings
Series: Poltergeeks #2

Published: 3rd September 2013 by Strange Chemistry
Length: 304 pages
Source: Netgalley
Summary :
Whoever said being a teenage witch would be easy? For fifteen-year-old Julie Richardson and the city’s resident protector from supernatural evil, the Left Hand Path doesn't give a damn if you've found true love for the first time in your life. There’s someone lurking the halls of Crescent Ridge High School with enough malice to unleash an epidemic of Soul Worms – supernatural larvae that feed on the very fabric of a victim’s humanity. After witnessing the death of one of the most popular kids at school, Julie and über genius boyfriend Marcus are in a race against time to find out who is behind the attacks. All the evidence points to a horrifying plot at the City Weir during the Winter Solstice; the place where icy waters of the Bow River and a thunderous spillway will mean the deaths of more than a hundred of Julie’s classmates. If she has any hope of saving their lives, she’ll need a little help from a coven of white witches and an Aboriginal mage whose snarky attitude is matched only by her magical prowess.

Review: Julie Richardson is now a Shadowcull, the city's protector from evil, and she's needed. Because, after one classmate almost dies and another one actually does, they discover there's a plot involving Soul Worms, turning the students of the high school into hollow shells of themselves. Julie teams up with Twyla, a practicioner of ancient, Aboriginal magic, in the battle to keep everyone safe.
I really enjoyed Poltergeeks, and knew as soon as I finished it that i'd want to read the sequel.
Very quickly, it's established that this is different to Poltergeeks. There's still a bit of Julie's trademark humour in the writing, but the subject (bullying, the whole depression aspect of the soul worms) and the general tone of the thing is a lot darker than Poltergeeks.
Julie is still awesome. Marcus is pretty cool, and their relationship development was good. Twyla was really awesome (I think she might now be my favourite character), as were the Maven and Twyla's grandfather. Generally cool cast for Student Bodies.
I love the fact that family is important in Student Bodies. Both the Julie/her mother and the Twyla/her grandfather relationships are developed and important, when most of the good relationships in YA are romantic.
The inclusion of another magic system is great. It adds a good dose of diversity to the fantasy and YA selection of books, and it mixes in with the lore from Poltergeeks really well.
Unexpected ending. Be prepared for sadness on two counts. 

Overall: Strength 4 tea to a darker, but still great, book in this series.
Links: Amazon | Goodreads |

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Thanks for taking time to read this!
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Nina xxx

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