Just finished reading The Awesome by Eva Darrows and let me say that this is one book that certainly lives up to it’s name.  I loved this.  I just whooshed right through it like a breeze and frankly I could pick it up and read it again.  Warning: be wary of reading this book in public places as the laugh out loud moments will have you snorting and sniggering and could draw unwelcome attention!  Just saying.

When I started to read this I actually thought it was going to be one of those books that is simply trying too hard to be snarky and cool – that impression lasted for about 5/10 pages maybe before I realised I was hooked and that it isn’t trying to be those things but really is all of them and more!  I found this a perfect blend of plot, great characters, snarky banter, dead things and a little bit of romance as a side order.  I just loved this I really did.  Gushing may follow.

The main characters in this story are Maggie and her mother Janice.  Janice is a monster hunter working for the Department for Paranormal Relations.  Basically she’s a bit like the paranormal police or the Women in Black.  Maggie is her apprentice and at the start of the story her training is slowing down.  The problem: Maggie is still a virgin and this means she can’t progress as a hunter as her blood will be too appealing for certain types, particularly of the fanged variety.  At the start of the story Maggie is on a mission of a different type.  Not trying to be crude but she’s basically trying to get laid and is heading to a party for that very reason.  Of course things don’t quite go according to plan and following a failed deflowering and a botched vampire encounter later Maggie and Janice’s world is going to get set on it’s head.

I won’t elaborate.  I don’t suppose the plot can be described as mentally challenging so I don’t want to give too much away – what I can say though is it feels really unique and I was never quite sure what Darrows would come up with next.

What I really liked about this story.  The characters.  I really liked them and for me that always sells the book.  Maggie is 17.  She isn’t perfect.  She doesn’t have a trim body, she has boobs and a bit of a muffin top, she’s socially awkward and isn’t some sort of cheerleader – in fact if you ignore that she’s an apprentice monster hunter she’s downright normal.  Her mum Janice is a great character and I loved the relationship between the two.  In fact I think the way the relationships in the story are written is just great. There’s the developing relationship between Maggie and her new boyfriend – which isn’t overdone or unrealistic.  There’s the mom/daughter love/cringe thing going on.  A further relationship development when it turns out Janice has her own boyfriend and then the whole guardianship of another character in the unexpected form of a young girl called Lauren – I don’t want to give too much away here.  Basically all the interaction between these just feels real and that’s what I really enjoyed about the book – on top of which it’s loaded with humour.

In spite of Maggie’s age I wouldn’t particularly call this YA. It’s just too near the knuckle to be honest.  There’s a little bit of violence, colourful cursing and a very down to earth and realistic sexual encounter.  Now, you may be sat there thinking that this seems to treat the whole issue of losing one’s virginity too casually and I did have a moment’s pause about that but in reality that’s not the case.  Yes, Maggie wants to lose her virginity but her cold blooded attempt to do so fails quite miserably and in its place a rather sweet and tentative relationship develops instead.  No instalove here but a very realistic, butterflies in the belly first boyfriend encounter that is really lovely to read.

I really enjoyed this and would have no hesitation recommending and I definitely hope to read more from Maggie and Janice.

Thanks to the publisher for approving me a copy of this through Netgalley.  The above is my own opinion.

Also – thanks to Tammy over at Books, Bones & Buffy who posted an article that brought this book to my attention in the first place.

I’m posting this as one of my books over at Stainless Steel Dropping’s Once Upon a Time event.