Title: Existence (Existence Trilogy #1)
Author: Abbi Glines
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Pub. Date: December 12, 2011
Acquired: Purchased through Amazon
Blurb from Goodreads:
What happens when you’re stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.
Pagan Moore doesn’t cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.
Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn’t let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he’s dead.
Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn’t realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.
He is Death and he’s about to break all the rules.
My Review:
I picked up this book because I won PREDESTINED (Exitence Trilogy #2) from Abbi Glines in the YA Scavenger Hunt. I’d meant to read it for awhile, but you know how it is with a growing TBR list. Books just get piled–one on top of the other. And sometimes some really great reads go unread because of this. Well, I’m really glad I won PREDESTINED because I got a chance to enjoy this very delightful series!
The whole idea that “Death” (also known as, Dank) can be a romantic love interest isn’t something that you see very often. And, I really do appreciate a unique and original concept like this one.
I couldn’t help but feel badly for Pagan, who seems like she’s had it rough most of her life, having to keep her knowledge of–and interaction with–ghosts a secret from everyone. Fortunately, she has good friends in Miranda and Wyatt. And while they may have no idea of what Pagan deals with, there’s still a fierce loyalty between them.
I love it when a story incorporates, not only a beautiful romance, but also a strong friendship bond, as well. And, with Pagan, Miranda, and Wyatt, who have all been friends since they were little, you can tell that these side characters are in place to help build up this story and not just for some unnecessary filler.
There is also, a love-triangle. Well, I should say that Pagan has two love interests. But, it seems pretty clear from the beginning who Pagan can’t seem to live without. That being said, I think Leif is a pretty great character, as well. He may not have the whole mysterious, seductive, supernatural vibe going in this book, but he, sure as heck, has the boy-next-door thing going. And he obviously cares about Pagan. While I may not have prefered Leif for Pagan, I didn’t find myself disliking him, either. I could see why she cared about him.
Now, for the romance as a whole, I felt like sometimes Pagan may have been a little TOO dependant on Dank and that may have made her appear a little too weak and needy for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the all-emcompassing-desperate-true-love thing, but I just didn’t get quite ALL of the decisions that Pagan made in regards to Dank. This didn’t take away from my opinion of her, per se, I just didn’t find that I could relate to her at certain parts of the story.
I will say this: I absolutely LOVE this series so far! I’m more than excited for the third installment–Ceaseless– to come out later this year. I think Ms. Glines is a fabulous writer and a phenomenal storyteller!
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Check out Abbi Glines’ Page.
