Title: Dark Companion
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Author: Marta Acosta
Publisher: Tor Teen, July 3, 2012,
Source: Free for review from the author and Amazon Vine Program
Rating: 4
Sexy Rating: 4
Description from amazon.com:
Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true.
They are.
The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much?
As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove—and what she would risk to stay there….
**
I’m a fan of Marta Acosta’s adult CASA DRACULA SERIES and I wanted to see if she veered off in a different direction from her vampire world. She didn’t. This novel was more of a psychological narrative about the way a teen deals with a violent, disturbing childhood. I felt Ms Acosta was true to Jane’s character throughout the entire story. Even when Jane allowed herself to be used inappropriately she was searching for love and acceptance.
The side characters were well drawn and Mary Violet was an absolute hoot with her poems and translations of French phrases. We are made to distrust and be skeptical of Lucky and be terribly curious about Jack. This is a very well written book and I was delighted when a character from the Casa Dracula series made an appearance.
Along with Jane we feel that there is something off. There is something not quite right at Birch Grove Academy, a mystery. There are passages that are lyrical, we can hear the trees whispering. All is explained following a very exciting ending.
La Deetda Reads 
Thank you for your review, Marta. I look forward to reading Dark Companion.
Kylie Sabra
http://www.TheSingingDagger.com
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Hi Kylie, I’m Deetda, not Marta but you are welcome for the review. It is truly worth the read. Stop by again, I love company.
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Great review Dot. I think Mo would maybe like this book. I’ll have to pass as YA is just not for me.
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Hi Edyta, As you know I’m usuually in the same arena as you when it comes to YA. And truth be told, I might have passed this up if it wasn’t for the fact that I did like Marta Acosta’s Casa Darcula Series. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy reading this one.
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Whoot! YA Dot! I actually downloaded Marta Acosta’s old version of this book when she was giving it away as a free ebook. I’m not sure how different it is to this version of the book. I’ll need to dig it up and read it. See, there are some good YA books out there ;).
Edyta, I know you didn’t really enjoy Finnikin of the Rock, but I’m holding you to your saying you’re going to give Froi of the Exiles a go. Seriously great book IMO.
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Mo, There are plenty of good YA books and I’d be reading them if only they were without all those teenagers….sigh. My fave YA’s are GRACELING & FIRE both by Kristin Cashore and Hunger Games. I’m sure there are many more that are worth the read.
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Haha you have good memory Mo. Since I said I’d give it a try (and you remembered) I’ll give it a try at some pt.
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