The Named

Authored by: Marianne Curley

This was the first book in a while that interested me almost from the start. The prologue was interesting, and I guess necessary, but once I got into the first real chapter, I was hooked.

The Named is a trilogy which focuses on a group called The Guard which guards against the Order of Chaos. Both groups are led by immortals. The Order of Chaos goes back in time (or rather, humans have a misunderstanding of how time works) to change history which results in Chaos, which makes the Chaos Immortal more powerful. The guard goes back in time to stop the Order from succeeding. The book alternates point of view from Ethan, a boy who had been in the guard since his sister was murdered and Isabel, a new recruit who's powers have just begun to show.

The book moves at a very fast pace and there is a lot of action. Ethan is at the end of his training and becomes Isabel's trainer. Also they have quests to the past as well as to the place where the prophecy is written. Along with the action, there is also that bit of romance for example, at one point Isabel is killed in the past, leaving behind her real body in the real world and her soul to wander the middle world. But there is hope. She can be retrieved if she hears her name called by her soul mate before she reaches the bridge.

So id you want a fast paced novel that is easy to read and easy to get into and are committed to reading books 2 and 3 as well then I would highly recommend it. I guess the only downside is that the main characters are teenagers with hero complexes and big egos. And stupid Isabel at the end was too concerned for her brother and was being annoying because she was supposed to be saving someone else. *sigh*

Also- Spoiler alert -

Ethan does get his wings at the end even though he was supposed to never be able to have them which is kind of annoying. I don't think he really needs them. He's not even the main focus of book two.