Review: Need - Carrie Jones

Pain shoots through my head.  Fireworks.  Explosions.  All inside my brain.  The white world goes dark and I know what's about to happen.

Zara White suspects a freaky guy is stalking her.  She memorises phobias and chants them when she's nervous.  OK, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died.  But moving to a freezing Maine town to stay with her grandmother is supposed to be the perfect fix - so her mum says.

Except, this plan of sending Zara away to help her stay sane?  Yeah, not working.  Turns out the stalker is not a figment of Zara's imagination.  He's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust.  There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs are pointing to Zara.

Need Pixies:
Need
Captivate

For more information visit Carrie Jones' Website or the Need Pixies Website

Review:
Zara is devastated by the death of her stepfather and her mum is so worried by her zombie like behaviour that she sends her to live with her grandmother hoping to shock her into living again.  Still struggling to cope with her grief Zara is also feeling abandoned by her mum.  Her way of coping has become memorising the names of different phobias which she recites to herself when she is feeling nervous or stressed.

Starting at a new school is hard - especially when the most popular girl in school takes an instant disliking to you but Zara does start to settle in when she makes friends with Issie and Devyn.  She also attracts the attention of two of the schools hottest boys.  Ian is an all round good guy - class president, member of multiple school clubs and on both the running and basket ball teams.  Nick on the other hand has a dangerous air to him and she finds herself instantly attracted.

Something strange is happening in the town though - the stalker she thought was following her in Charleston is now following her around in Maine, leaving a strange trail of gold dust behind him.  Devyn, Issie and Nick think they know what he is - but pixies don't exist do they?

I really enjoyed the story, Zara is obviously traumatised by her loss but I found myself really liking her.  I loved the way Zara chants different types of phobias - I learnt a lot about different types of phobias in the book & found it really interesting.  I also liked the fact that Zara is a member of Amnesty International - it was nice to have a heroine who was interested in more than boys and the latest fashions.  Issie was a lovely character & the best friend anyone would like to have.  I thought that she & Devyn make an adorable couple & I'm looking forward to seeing more of them both in the future.  I also couldn't help but fall in love with Nick - he is handsome, protective and upfront about his feelings which makes a nice change.

The story was well written and there were a few plot twists that I didn't see coming.  I also liked the fact that there was a proper ending so although I'm looking forward to reading Captivate I didn't feel like I was left hanging at the end of Need.  I've already purchased Captivate and am looking forward to spending more time with these characters.  I thought this was an excellent start to the series by Carrie Jones and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
The Bookette
Ink and Paper
I Want To Read That
Confessions of the Unpublished
The Book Mogul
Wondrous Reads
Lost For Words
Girls Without A Bookshelf
Rhiana Reads
What Book Is That?
The Fiction Enthusiast
Curling Up By The Fire
I'd So Rather Be Reading
What Book Is That?
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