Violet works for a security company part-time, while also attending a special school for "preters" or preternaturals, those gifted people who have special abilities. She has an adopted brother named Weylin, and her adopted sister, Ophelia, died some years before. She is stunned when she sees Ophelia as she is reviewing a video, and even more so when Ophelia reaches out to her, asking for her to meet by Bramy Cave. When Violet and Weylin arrive, instead of Ophelia, they find a dead body and run away, for fear of implication in the death.
Before long, Violet finds herself under investigation not only for the death of this young man, but also for a terrorist act that occurs at her mother's workplace, Griff Glass. Penny, the determined investigator, is ruthless and believes Violet to be guilty, but of what? Since Violet and Weylin are keeping a few secrets from their savvy mom, Ivy, they both seem guilty. Before long, they find that all of Fairhaven is in a state of violent unrest, as the mortals have risen up against the preters in an attempt to drive them from the city, claiming they committed the terrorist attack and the recent murder. As Violet and Weylin race to reconnect with Ophelia, while also staying one step ahead of Penny, they uncover a vile kidnapping ring that could place preters in even more danger than they could possibly imagine. It seems their enemies are all around them and no one is who they seem.
Fortunately, there's a little time for romance since Violet and Noah, Commissioner Griffen's son, seem to have formed a crush on one another, and Weylin has a new romance up his sleeve as well, one his adopted sister won't approve of at all.
Once again, I hate to be negative, but this book doesn't make much sense. As I mentioned when I reviewed Forgotten Violets, there's no world-building here and you can't simply create an entire world in the span of a few pages. The romance seems forced, some of the characters change their behaviors in whiplash-inducing fashion, and it just doesn't make a lot of sense. Again, and I hate to harp on it, but this book is riddled with ridiculous typos. One such is this, a brief quote from the book regarding a missing locket: "Instinctively touching my hand to my throat, I reached out for the neckless." Ok, really? If she was neckless, she'd have no need for a locket, but I jest. How about this one, that describes an adversary Violet encounters: "The woman who accompanied Ophelia was remarkably beautiful with soft auburn hair and topaz eyes. Her skin was flawless and her bearing regal. Dressed in designer white slack and a navy blue blazer, she wore multiple gold bangle bracelets, a long gold chair and large diamond earrings." Now, I am not trying to be a jerk, but this woman doesn't seem too formidable as I picture her wearing only one pant leg and a long gold chair attached to her. It's laughable, but not something I want to experience when reading a book that is not pure comedy.
Martin Niewood needs a good editor. He needs longer books with more world-building. Since he has self-published these books, I am betting someone told him this when he tried to have these books published at a publishing house, but who knows. All I know is that I can't recommend them. They are a bit of a drudge to get through, the typos physically cause me pain to read them, and I just can't get into the characters and their plight, which seems rushed. Enter at your own risk. He may improve over time with a good editor, since he does have some good ideas, but I am tapping out.
