The Athena EffectPublisher: Self-published, 2012Genre: YA ParanormalCountry girl Cal has been kept a secret her entire life, raised in isolation by two very troubled people. Despite her parent’s disturbing fits, Cal is perfectly content, living at one with the nature that surrounds her, and finding adventure inside the pages of her beloved books. When an awful tragedy tears her away from her remote cabin in the woods, nothing she’s ever read has prepared her for a world that she knows very little about.
Girls and motorcycles are what bad-boy Cal’s life is all about. Brought up in a raucous party house by his biker brother, he’s free to do as he pleases, going through the motions on his final days of high school. Aimless, Cal stopped thinking about his future a long time ago.
Attacked by a gang of thugs while running an errand for his brother, Cal is in serious trouble until a fierce girl appears out of nowhere to intervene. She chases off three grown men, sparing Cal a brutal beating before disappearing into the night like a spirit. He can’t stop thinking about his mysterious rescuer, and when she turns out to be the weird new girl at school who goes out of her way to avoid him, he can’t contain his curiosity.
He’s never met anyone like her before, and the more he learns about the unusual girl who shares his nickname, the more he wants to know. Cal can’t help falling for Cal, but can he keep her from falling victim to a dangerous enemy from her parent’s tragic past?
Cali lives a life of isolation deep in the woods with her parents, and except for their occasional episodes of horrible hallucinations, Cal is pretty happy living in nature. But a sudden tragedy rips her away from the only world she’s ever known, and Cali soon realizes that what she’s learned through her books could’ve never prepare her for the real world. Parties, beer, and girls is what Cal’s life is all about, and he has absolutely no idea what he wants to do after he graduates. But then he meets Cali, and his perspective totally changes. In spite of their huge lifestyle differences Cali and Cal fall for each other. But Cali’s new found happiness doesn’t last long when a person from her parent’s past appears.
The Athena Effect is a great beginning to Derrolyn Anderson’s new series!
Cali was a very interesting character to meet. Even though she’s been isolated from people all her life, she’s not naïve. Reading all kinds of books all her life has certainly helped her, and though she’s scared and confused when confronting the ‘real’ world she doesn’t falter. She’s a really strong young woman, and not afraid to defend herself by any means necessary. Really badass! Cali also has the cool ability to see peoples auras and influence them. She’s learned how to manipulate the colors, changing others to her will. I loved the descriptions of the auras. Anderson doesn’t stick to writing just green envy or red lust, she uses the full spectrum of colors and comes up with things like anxious chartreuse, flustered tangerine, sweet blood-red infatuation, or golden curiosity. Brilliant!
Cal is the usual bad-boy who’s trying to forget his past. I didn’t like him at first, because he sounded like a real jerk wondering why Cali didn’t like him when other girls practically begged to be with him. Then he started acting really silly hooking up with other girls to make her jealous. Cali ignored him (kudos to her) and he got pissed. But Calvin soon learns that she’s different and worth putting some effort into. It’s when he makes that effort to get to know Cali that I really started to like him.
I liked Cali and Cal’s story, and all the time they spend together: rescuing Rufus (Cal’s dog), going to the museum, having a sleepover. But there were times where there was too much head hopping between Caledonia and Calving. One paragraph was him, the other her, then back again. Just…too much switching. But the instances were few and far between. The pacing was fast, there wasn’t a dull moment, and once we get to uncovering what the Athena Effect is then stuff gets really interesting. Though I understand there is a sequel, the ending was a bit abrupt to me…but maybe I just wanted more Cali and Cal!
*Arc copy provided by the author*
Favorite Quotes:
~Cali and Cal~
He called out when she drew near, “Hey, Cali.”
“Hello, Calvin,” she replied.
“That’s not fair,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Because I haven’t guessed your name yet.”
He could see the corner of her lips twitch up, and he realized that he’d never seen her smile. “It’s not Rumplestiltskin,” she said.
“Huh?”
“Nothing.”
~Chemistry~
He burrowed his face into her hair. “You smell good,” he murmured.
“It’s the pheromones,” she replied.
“The what?” he laughed.
“The what?” he laughed.
“You know…chemicals.”
“No…I’m pretty sure it’s you,” he kissed her behind the ear, making her giggle.
~She’s a keeper~
“So, Cali…Did your mother teach you how to cook?”
“No, my father did. He was good at cooking things. Mama was good at growing things.”
“What were you good at?” Jarod asked.
“Hunting things,” she said.
Jarod raised his eyebrows at his brother, “Yep…She’s a keeper alright.”
