Other by Karen Kincy

Other by Karen Kincy
Release Date: July 1, 2010
Publisher: Flux
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Buy The Book: Amazon

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.

When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.

My Thoughts: I had anxiously been awaiting Other to be released but than once I got it, I was reading other stuff so it took a back burner for a few months. I'm so glad I finally read it! Other was amazing! I loved it! I enjoyed every second of it. We meet Gwen who is Other. Gwen, is half-human/half-pooka. She can shape shift into any animal she wants. The main idea of the book was that people were murdering Other's which put Gwen's life in jeopardy. She is also dealing with other life issues as well, including her boyfriend Zack and how far she should take their relationship, her feelings for her new friend Tavian, and the issues she faces with being Other. 

Lets talk about the boys in the story. Zack is a religious Christian who is taught to be against Other's. Gwen is afraid to tell him because she's nervous how he'll react. Yes, she believes he really does love her but how can she be sure? What Zack did to her made me want to slap him!

There are also other main characters, Zack's cousin, his brothers, I didn't really like them from the get go. They irked me.

Than there is Tavian. Tavian is an online friend who becomes a real friend. He's sweet, caring, and Gwen thinks he is more like her than she knows. I loved how that friendship blossomed.

The good part of this book, is that the murderer isn't revealed until the end of the book and we never know who it is throughout the book I loved seeing how Gwen and Tavian work together to solve the mystery of whom she/he is. I loved their little encounters and how they could be so free together.

Other is magical, a great story, a great debut. Its everything I hoped it would be and more. 

Overall: I loved this one! A favorite. I love how brave Gwen is, how she sticks up for herself and doesn't let people walk all over her. I can't wait to see what Kincy does with the next book!

Cover: Love It! It fits the story perfectly and it's very appealing. 

What I'd Give It: