ONE HUNDRED CANDLES by Mara Purnhagen

It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it's not as if Noah is anything more than a friend….

But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I've opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, as well as the novella that fits in-between the first book and this one, so I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next...

When Charlotte Silver spends Christmas in an abandoned insane asylum with her ghost-hunting family and a 'renowned demonologist', she can't believe her bad luck. Except, it gets worse, because not only is it freezing but the demonologist's assistant is suddenly overtaken by a dark entity and attacks her.

Back home and wearing a sling, she tries to get back to her 'normal' life and goes to a party with her best friend, Avery, and her crush, Noah. There, she grabs the attention of Harris, who suddenly starts showing an interest in her and takes her across the street to a private party where the kids are telling ghost stories and then light one candle for every story. Until a hundred candles are lit and the spirits are released within the room. Charlotte takes part, and shortly after, strange and creepy things start happening at school--all related to the stories kids told at the party.

Strange things might be going on around her, but for the first time she's actually got a boyfriend--Harris--and is looking forward to going to her first prom. But her parents are suddenly arguing all the time because they no longer seem to agree on anything, and the dark entity they encountered in the asylum is still after her.

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't stop reading it. Charlotte's a very engaging narrator and I'm instantly hooked into her stories. I also like her friends, they're all interesting in their own way. Her family life intrigues me, and Noah's not only a good friend but he's also a sweetheart.

In some places, this book is downright creepy. It's also sad, but so awesome! I enjoyed everything about it, and can't wait for the next book.        

H&UFRC books read: 28/24

Posted in: excellent book , reading 2011 , reading challenge , urban fantasy , YA