ParaWars: Uprising by Caitlin Greer
Series: ParaWars #1
Release Date: October 15, 2013
Pages: 215
The Paranormal Uprising brought myth and legend out of the shadows and into real life. The war that followed tore the world apart. Two years after the Uprising, twenty-year-old Kendry is learning the hard way that the battle lines aren’t as clear-cut as human versus para. And the hard way means being hunted down by both human militants and para separatists. Trouble is, she has no idea why.
On the run with only her mysterious gargoyle guardian, Kendry knows that finding out why she’s on everyone’s most-wanted list will be no easy task. It means charging headlong into a war she’d hoped to avoid, and is woefully unprepared for. So when she realizes that everyone in her life has been lying to her, discovering that she’s somehow the key to ending the war is the last thing she needs. With both sides tearing up the world to find her, it’s decision time for Kendry—keep running, or stand up and fight.
About The Author
Cait writes YA and NA stories that range from sci-fi and fantasy (because she loves making worlds and things up), to contemporary (because she kind of sort of fell into it and discovered she’s not half bad). Her best friends growing up were the combined works of Robin McKinley, Madeline L'Engle, Anne McCaffrey, Andre Norton, and too many others to mention.
She drives a Jeep, loves the outdoors, takes pictures of everything she can, and writes obsessively. A martial artist and a former teacher, Cait is owned by two cats who started out incredibly small, and are now incredibly huge.
She currently live in Utah, but Virginia will always be home.
Excerpt:
He shrugs, and then gasps, because the moon chooses that moment to peek over the horizon. Rock turns to skin across him like a fiery line of embers, until it encompasses him, and my gargoyle friend is stone no more.
His face reveals a moment of pain and pleasure so intense, and then it’s gone.
“Just like that,” I say, unable to keep the awe out of my voice.
“Just like that,” he whispers. His eyes are still unfathomable.
ParaWars: Uprising was an action packed book. Every fantasy creature you can imagine is in this book. From minotaurs to werewolves to gargoyles to gods to fae…I could go on a very long time listing them are all in this book. Caitlin Greer has created a seamless book that merges fantasy, science fiction, and new adult together.
Kendry world changed two years ago when the Para came out of hiding and announced to the world that they exist, and soon after the world crumbled. Para and human militia are fighting along with those from both sides who just want to co-exist. Kendry and her mother have created a semblance of life in a small town until the day an army stormed her town and kidnapped her mother.
ParaWars had a bit of a rocky start for me. I was enjoying it, but it didn’t blow me away. But something happened about 1/3 of the way in and I was hooked, and time I finished this book I was amazed. The book’s best feature was the characters. I came to love each and every one of them Buc and Sam the minotaurs, Shelley one of the only other humans around and her friendship with Kendry, and Caleb and Thom’s bromance. One of the things that made this book great was the variety of characters and how each of the creatures worked together.
Kendry has a lot thrown at her very quickly once this book gets going. As strong as she was I’m glad the author didn’t get let it bounce off her. You see Kendry fall apart and react how a normal girl would. There are tears, anger, and emotions. Kendry states in the book that she had to grow up quickly after the Uprising, but she realized she is still acting like the teenager she was when it happened. You can see glimpses of this throughout the book, which made her character very real.
You’re right. I don’t understand. I’m young and stupid, and I behaved even younger and stupider than I am. I should be in college, partying and panicking about graduation in a year, not traipsing around the wilds of Virginia looking for my mom. I thought I’d done a lot of growing up, dealing with the world falling apart. I was wrong. I’ve been acting like a teenager, the same teenager I was when it all happened. But I’m not, and I haven’t been for a while.
The romance in ParaWars didn’t always take centre stage, which was nice, but when it did it shined. Axel is the best friend and hot new guy all wrapped up into one smoldering gargoyle. He was so stern and stone like towards Kendry, but it was blatantly obvious to everyone that he cared about her. Axel just wanted to protect her, not fall for her. Axel would do anything to protect Kendry from the dangers she knew nothing about. I loved the parts where he would fluff up his wings and surround her, protecting her from the danger. Even with Axel protecting her Kendry still fought with him over making the decisions concerning her without her input. She stood up for herself and made him realize she can defend herself too.
