Torn

There is so much wrapped up in Torn that it's not exactly easy to review. A bit of murder, lots of magic, and a love triangle that is messy and intriguing. Add it all up and you have a book is equal parts contemporary fiction and paranormal fiction. Pretty amazing combination wouldn't you think? Sadly I'm honestly still stuck on how I feel about this book.

Maura is a fairly strong character overall, but it was tough for me to like her at the beginning. As a reader I saw that Erica O'Rourke was working to create a character that could grow into her own. Maura's inability to feel strength comes from many sources around her, including her own family hiding her in the shadows and keeping secrets from her. However there were times when she bordered on whining and it really bothered me. Once she broke out of her shell, and found her inner strength, things between us were much better. I finally felt a connection to her at the end of the book.

In terms of romance, there's plenty of steam between Maura and the two men she comes into contact with. Delicious love triangle anyone? Luc and Collin are two sides of the spectrum. Luc is charismatic and self-assured, while Collin is quiet, stoic and reserved. To be honest I thought the two of them were perfect foils for the two parts of Maura's life. If I were in her shoes, I'd have just as much trouble choosing as she does. I'm still not a hundred percent sure if her interest in both of them makes sense but it is Maura's life, not mine.

The world building in Torn was rather good. The magic is explained well, and I enjoyed the way that it was attached to the elements. My only complaint here is that I would have liked a better glimpse into the people behind the magic. The Arcs are mentioned a few times as the keepers of the magic, but never fully fleshed out. Even Luc, who is an important character, doesn't have much back story in terms of his abilities. I hope that in the sequel there will be more explanation of the world Maura has been dropped into. That was what really held my attention, and kept me wanting more.

My feelings for Torn are just so mixed. I feel just as lost as Maura at this point. What I can definitely say is that this book kept me reading until the last page, which means a lot. I am definitely looking forward to book two, to see if the things I missed are explained there. As a complete package, this was a good introduction into Maura's world. I now wait to find out what happens next.