Title: One Hundred Candles
Author: Mara Purnhagen (site)
Published: Feb 15th, 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Pages: 240
Buy: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: 3.75/5
Synopsis: 15 year old Savannah Grey has never felt she's belonged. She keeps her distance, so she's surprised by her attraction to the new boy Reece. Then strange things begin to happen: nature, it seems, is exerting an overpowering force on the world. Birds behave strangely; gusts of wind blow leaves so fiercely they seem to lure people away. And Savannah learns she has supernatural powers. Nature has a purpose for Savannah and her friends. For they are on course to meet the vile and evil Orcrassa, who wants to destroy the world by corrupting nature. And it wants Savannah Grey to help realise its savage intent.(Goodreads)
Review: I'm very glad that I stuck with this series. The sequel is much stronger than the first book, Past Midnight, (review here). Purnhagen takes the characters and situations from the first book and really develops them in One Hundred Candles. Charlotte begins to flesh out and feel more like a real person, even though the whole romance with Noah was pretty frustrating. I was not at all satisfied with the explanation for his behavior that we got at the end of the book. I almost wish he'd just go away. The haunting in this book was much darker and scarier than in the first book. Charlotte had no idea what she was getting herself involved in. There were actual attacks and consequences in this book, making the story feel more immediate and real. The pacing in OHC was also better, I read through this one in two sittings (a girl has to sleep sometime). If you had lukewarm feelings about the first book, stick with the series. It's only getting better.
