[Review] Turned by Morgan Rice

Turned by Morgan Rice

Rating: 3 Stars

Series: The Vampire Journals #1
Version: E-book

Release Date: January 24th 2011

Goodreads synopsis:

Eighteen year old Caitlin Paine finds herself uprooted from her nice suburb and forced to attend a dangerous New York City high school when her Mom moves again. The one ray of light in her new surroundings is Jonah, a new classmate who takes an instant liking to her. Before their romance can blossom, Caitlin suddenly finds herself changing. She is overcome by a superhuman strength, a sensitivity to light, a desire to feed--by feelings she does not understand. She seeks answers to what’s happening to her, and her cravings lead her to the wrong place at the wrong time. Her eyes are opened to a hidden world, right beneath her feet, thriving underground in New York City. She finds herself caught between two dangerous covens, right in the middle of a vampire war.

It is at this moment that Caitlin meets Caleb, a mysterious and powerful vampire who rescues her from the dark forces. He needs her to help lead him to the legendary lost artifact. And she needs him for answers, and for protection. Together, they will need to answer one crucial question: who was her real father? Caitlin finds herself caught between two men as something else arises between them: a forbidden love. A love between the races that will risk both of their lives, and will force them to decide whether to risk it all for each other

YES, this in another vampire book, foo, got that off my chest. Now lets get started. 

The novel Turned is meant to be an interest peeking introduction to Morgan Rice's The Vampire Journals series. And at this, for me, it succeeds.

I was intrigued by the mythology,plot and main character in that order. With out giving much away the mythology focuses on the existence of different vampire species and a prophesied war. There are also Biblical allusions. As this is an introductory book much is left to be revealed. The plot revolves around the main character's realization of who she is and the part she will play in the prophecy. And of course her romance between human Jonah and vampire Caleb. Caitlin has grown up constantly moving from town to town as result of her not so good single mother's incapability to keep a job. This has given her an amount of self-sufficiency but has not hardened her into a loner who doesn't want to make a friend or two. In this book she plays both the savior and the damsel in distress (though even then she tries to hold her own.)

What I didn't like about this book was the common typos and romance. Yes there is a love triangle forming is this book, but the boys seem to also represent her conflict over wanting to just be normal or become something more. The main issue I have with this book is that both relationships seem forced. Especially the one between her and Caleb.

Over all I found this book an interesting start to a new vampire series. Those who like vampire or just general paranormal romance should defiantly give this book a try. Those who are not a big fan or looking for a really different or original take should stay clear. This book is new version of an old formula but a good one. Hey if it ain't broke why fix it?