Review Blitz: Reveal by Brina Courtney

Reveal by Brina Courtney

(Cryptid Tales #1)

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

[Goodreads | Amazon]

**Kindle version free on Amazon**

Shay could be the key to ending a war that humans
don't know exist. Of a race of beings that aren't
real, or are they?

Shay Tafford's childhood has been fatherless, filled instead with memories of speaking to the dead. She is forced to hide her unique ability from those living around her. That's why it's been comforting to have Jeremy, a child ghost, as her confidante. But recently he's been absent, perhaps lost as her father is. When Shay meets Hugh, the guy she's had a crush on for weeks, and finds he can speak to ghosts too she's just starting to find a normalcy in her life. But as Hugh reveals the truth to Shay, about who she really is and about what it is she can do, he erases all chances she had at a normal existence. Turns out talking to ghosts is just scratching the surface of her genetically engineered gifts. Shay learns she may be part of an age old prophecy that could save the entire race of cryptids. But can she?

 The Good

• Unique plot
• Entertaining
• Quick read

The Bad

• Insta-love
• Lack of character development
• Too much telling and not enough showing

  Even though Reveal is a fast paced and quick read, it packs a lot into its pages. It presents a unique plot that I was really interested in. There were a lot of different things happening in this book, and it kept my attention the entire time. I was really intrigued by the cryptid element of this book.

"A cryptid, it's a creature based on the genetics of the human race. It can be
most anything really. Most people think the Mothman was a hoax when
really he was a genetic mutation, a mixing of sorts. Our race of Cryptid happens to also have a supernatural power, to understand and relate to ghosts."

  The characters didn't feel very developed to me. I felt like Shay and Hugh were more defined by their relationship than by their heritage. There is some definite insta-love going down in Reveal. Shay falls really fast for Hugh. And their relationship escalates quickly. It was one of my least favorite aspects of the story. One of my favorite characters who wasn't mentioned a lot was Shay's best friend Olivia. I hope to see more of her in the series. I felt like I could never get a real read on Shay or Hugh because they blended together so quickly.

Weeks go by and all I do is spend time with Hugh. I didn't return to track
after my "illness" because I was too sore. My mom said she understood and
I got a job at the library to fill my time. Hugh quit his security job and works at the library now too.

  The ghosts were an aspect that I liked of this story. Because of the type of cryptid that Shay is, she can communicate with them. It was very unique. The other aspects of the cryptid story were interesting. You can tell that Brina Courtney has done a very good job at researching and planning out this part of the story. Her attention to detail shows.

  All in all, I enjoyed Reveal. It was an intriguing story that I felt like I flew through. It kept my interest the entire time. I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the books in this series.

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Brina Courtney and Mark My Words Publicity.