Review: Unnatural by Michael Griffo

Author: Michael Griffo
Publication Date: February 22, 2011
Genre: YA Paranormal
Copy provided by: Teen Book Scene
Summary (via Goodreads):

In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…

For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.

But Michael’s only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire—part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy’s confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here—and a danger more powerful than he can imagine…

Why I read this: It sounded intriguing when Teen Book Scene sent around feelers for it.

Plot: The plot had a pretty good pace, although it felt a little weighed down by the many various characters and not-so-subtle sideplots that left me with a lot of questions spinning in my head as to what was going on. I felt like there was almost too much going on and too much of it trying to be intriguing but failing. I did however enjoyed the budding romance between Michael and Ronan.

Characters: There were just too many point of views in this book. I found some of the characters incessantly whiney (*cough* Nakano *cough*), but they were really well-developed. I especially liked getting to know Brania, the girl who was supposed to catch Michael's interest, if he wasn't oh-so-gay.

Relatability: Anyone who still loves vampire stories in YA will probably dig into this. For me, I don't think I'll be picking up another vampire novel in a while.

Cover Commentary: Not quite how I pictured the characters, but rarely does that happen for me from cover to novel.

Rating: 3/5 Roses

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