Book Review - Sylvianna by Keryl Raist

Rating: 3 out of 5

This is the story of a young woman, Sarah, who embarks upon a new life of independence at college. Within the first day she discovers a mysterious statue that seems oddly alive. Before she knows it, her life is thrown into a rollercoaster ride as she meets a group of friends who unaware to her-she once knew. This group of friends wields incredible powers she never knew to exist. Now they must gather their courage and stop an evil force that beckons their safety. The only catch...Sarah has a secret, hidden to even herself of a treacherous past.

The debut novel of Raist took me on highs and lows. During parts of the book, I couldn't stop from reading page after page with anticipation. Then, there were other times when I fought the urge to skim through. The characters begin a bit overwhelming, and it's hard to keep track of who is who and what is what. As I continued to read, some clarification is given and the characters begin to grow more familiar and fall into place. I felt that the detail of the story was great, though sometimes a bit excessive. Raist immerses you into her world. There was passion, romance, thrills, and chills.

For updates, check out Raist's website at www.kerylraist.com where you can find more information on Sylvianna, as well as the sequel, Justice, coming in 2012!