Chasing Power by Sarah Beth Durst Review

Title: Chasing Power
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Series: N/A
Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The bottom line: An enchanting thriller with a wonderful premise, great characters and pacing, and a big heart, I really, really enjoyed Chasing Power--I loved it entirely!

I love Sarah Beth Durst--my first novel by her was Vessel--and this book didn't disappoint me. Durst just has a way of winning my heart with her creative premises, descriptive writing, fast pacing, and relatable characters. This book, if nothing else, has made me a lifelong fan of her.

 This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kayla is used to hiding. It defines her whole life. Kind of makes sense, considering she's telekinetic. No, really--she can move things with her mind. Crazy, right? She intends to spend her summer shoplifting, building a safety net for her and her mother, Moonbeam, in case they need to run away from her psychotic father again. But things change when she meets Daniel, who catches her using her power. He needs her help, and he isn't afraid to blackmail her to get it. He can teleport, and the two embark on a wild, thrilling, often life threatening journey. But when Kayla and Daniel fall deeper into the chaos, they both discover things about them that they might not necessarily be able to live with.. Literally.

What I enjoyed:
-I loved the pacing of this novel--I couldn't put it down once I started, and the constant twists and turns had me breathless multiple times
-The premise--two gifted teenagers in a race against time to find their parents, and the secrets of their own pasts along the way
-The lush, beautiful writing, descriptive and full of detail--every time the pair traveled somewhere, I could've sworn I was standing next to them
-Kayla, the young woman who at first is almost apathetic, and she transforms into a heroine worth cheering--I really enjoyed the depth to her, and how complex she was, and her power was amazing!
-Daniel, the boy with his back against the wall, forced to use whatever means necessary to get Kayla to help him rescue his mother--I really enjoyed him as well, the boy who puts on a front but is so fragile inside--I also loved his power, teleportation
-Moonbeam, the frightened woman who, in trying to help Kayla, almost ends up suppressing a part of herself--I also really enjoyed her character development as well
-Selena, Kayla's best friend and most of the comic relief throughout the book
-What really sold this book for me was Kayla's family, and the secrets surrounding them
-The ending
-Amanda


What could've been better:
-I hated Kayla's father
-Evelyn--she was actually one of the worst characters in the whole book, and I didn't like her in the slightest
-When things picked up, the multiple locations got a little confusing

Overall, I loved Chasing Power--a wonderful read, highly recommended for fantasy and Durst fans. Next on deck: My Halloween exclusive, The Ripper's Wife by Brandy Purdy!

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