Rating: 2 stars
Since the age of ten, Billi SanGreal has been a member of the Knights Templar, led by her father Arthur. The group continues to guard what is left of Solomon’s treasure and fight against the unholy.
Now 15, Billi is tired of the endless warrior training, multiple languages and history that she has to learn in addition to her school work and longs to be a “normal” teen. However, her relentless father would never allow dating, as even her education has taken a back seat to being a Knight.
School is tough for Billi, all of her cuts and bruises earns her plenty of stares in school and more than enough rumors about her father being the cause. Now that the Knight’s oracle, Kay, is back she’ll have someone to commiserate with, even if he does annoy her. Anxious to show Billi his new abilities, Kay messes around with the cursed mirror, which proves too powerful for him. Despite being able to stop the process, they have unwittingly summoned an unholy and sent out a signal to those who have been searching for the mirror.
Billi’s quest to be “normal” will not only put the Knights Templar at risk of extinction, but all first born children of London may die at dawn as a direct result of her carelessness.
The concept of this story has a good foundation. However, the writing didn’t really develop the plot line, the conflicts nor the characters.
Billi seems to be the weakest character, when she should be the most developed. At 15 she has seen and done more than most adults, but she still comes across as very immature. Not that the love interest ran this plot line, but Billi meets Mike and five minutes later she’s in love and five minutes after that she’s sharing her deepest and darkest secrets with him. Once Mike is revealed for who and what he is, Billi, just as quickly turns her feelings towards Kay—who was not only described as one of the most unappealing men, but up to that point was more like an annoying brother to her.
Additionally, Billi is supposed to be a warrior and fighter of the supernatural, but that doesn’t come across. Billi not only has a chip on her shoulder, but she’s weak (mentally and physically) and lacks confidence. To make matters worse, she continually talks about the rigorous and constant fight training she goes through, yet she couldn’t beat a couple of teenage boys on the train.
Overall, the book felt under-developed, rushed and religious overtones seemed to take too much precedence over the story, making the action feel forced in an effort to mold itself to the lesson attempting to be taught.
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Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; 1 Reprint edition (August 10, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1423120223