Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra—the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti, a dark band of forces who disrupt the balance of good and evil in the world and cause chaos.
Having recently lost her beloved Auntie—the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra—Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can't understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .
Will Meri and Tens find Juliet in time to save her from a life of misery and illness? And will Meri and Tens' own romance weather the storms of new discoveries?
Synopsis taken from goodreads.
Title: Wildcat Fireflies (Fenestra #2)
Author: Amber Kizer
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 12, 2011
Format: E-ARC
Source: Received from author courtesy of Teen Book Scene. Many thanks goes to Amber Kizer and Teen Book Scene for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Blog tour: Teen Book Scene. You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking the banner located below the review.
Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository
My rating: 4.5/5
Ever since Auntie died, Meridian and Tens have been on the road searching for more Fenestra. They are drawn to a quaint town in Indiana on their search, and they settle in there while they scour the surrounding area for any signs of the girl Meridian knows is nearby. Always on the alert for Nocti, they keep searching until they find the Fenestra. Juliet has had a hard life, living in foster care with an abusive foster mother. She takes the other children under her wing and tries to keep them out of sight of their foster mother as they work around the clock in the nursing home that they live in. With Juliet's birthday fast approaching her abilities are manifesting, and she is struggling with the exhaustion her untrained and unknown power is bringing her.
Though this is the second book in the Fenestra series it can be read as a stand-alone. I would have loved to have read the first book beforehand because I really enjoyed reading about these characters and their world. Meridian and Tens are both so believable as they are learning more about their abilities and the depth of their feelings for each other. How they approach certain topics is also endearing and so emotionally and awkwardly true.
I really enjoyed reading about these characters. Between Meridian and Tens, and the friends they make in town; along with Juliet, and the other children at the nursing home this book did not lack for memorable characters. Heartwarming and three-dimensional, they captured my heart to the point that I was hoping that all would be well for all characters in distress even when they were in the midst of danger.
Another aspect that I really loved was the history of the town. It was incredibly rich and I loved reading about it and how the town celebrated said history with reenactments, and festivities.
All in all, a well-rounded, descriptive read that will keep the reader glued to the page as they hope everything will work out for all of the characters. New characters, and questions that arise about Meridian's Fenestra heritage will also keep the reader invested as they learn more about them and the ties that bind them together. I absolutely loved the concept of Wildcat Fireflies and I cannot wait to read what Kizer has in store for these characters. I will definitely be re-reading this one, and continuing on with the series because it is just that good.
I really enjoyed reading about these characters. Between Meridian and Tens, and the friends they make in town; along with Juliet, and the other children at the nursing home this book did not lack for memorable characters. Heartwarming and three-dimensional, they captured my heart to the point that I was hoping that all would be well for all characters in distress even when they were in the midst of danger.
Another aspect that I really loved was the history of the town. It was incredibly rich and I loved reading about it and how the town celebrated said history with reenactments, and festivities.
All in all, a well-rounded, descriptive read that will keep the reader glued to the page as they hope everything will work out for all of the characters. New characters, and questions that arise about Meridian's Fenestra heritage will also keep the reader invested as they learn more about them and the ties that bind them together. I absolutely loved the concept of Wildcat Fireflies and I cannot wait to read what Kizer has in store for these characters. I will definitely be re-reading this one, and continuing on with the series because it is just that good.
