Xoe: or Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, Oh My!
So, you’re out looking for something new to read and you come across the title ‘Xoe: or Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, Oh My!’ and your first thought might be that this book is for teenagers only. Yes, this first book in the new Xoe Meyers fantasy series by Sara C. Roethle focuses on teenagers but it’s got solid crossover potential.
The story centers around a teenage girl named Xoe, who’s your typical teenager: she’s not the happiest kid on the block, she’s loyal to her friends and she finds many people annoying and irritating. Come on, that’s a typical teenager for sure!
Life seems pretty dull hanging out with her friends until a new boy moves to the area named Dan. Although he’s handsome she immediately takes a disliking to him however all of her friends are clamoring to get to know him better. Xoe doesn’t have a logical reason to tell them to leave him alone; she just senses something odd about him. Since her best friend, Lucy, finds him fascinating and Dan seems to feel the same way about her, she decides to keep her feelings to herself.
The first time Xoe and her friends go to the movies with Dan, he grabs Xoe, telling her that he knows she’s different and demands that she explain who she is. Speechless, Xoe doesn’t know what to say or how to respond. At the end of the movie, she reluctantly leaves Lucy and Dan to finish their date. Fast forward to later that night and we find Lucy at Zoe’s house crying in pain. She explains that for some inexplicable reason, Dan scratched her arm and then ran off. Xoe knows something is terribly wrong but is unable to figure out what to do.
But it doesn’t take long for Xoe to figure out that Dan is a werewolf that wants to claim Lucy as his mate. Things seem pretty desperate when suddenly, another new boy arrives in town. He’s also a supernatural creature but unlike Dan, he’s one of the good guys. He’s there to put a stop to the harm Dan’s trying to cause.
As the story progresses we learn that the city of Shelby, Oregon is a regular hotbed of supernatural activity and Xoe is about to learn more than she ever wanted to know. Not just about her friends, but about herself as well.
As stated earlier, although this book was written for the teenage reader adults will enjoy it as well. Filled with emotion and attitude, I found this book to be fun and engaging. The author seems to have a real knack for understanding how teenagers feel, showing it in Xoe’s character and how she relates to the world. Roethe sucks the reader right into a new supernatural world and when you are finished, you’re ready for the next installment in Xoe’s adventures. This is an entertaining story that centers on the relationships between teens, the importance of friendship and how to develop and maintain trust.
Life lessons we can all use.
