Rating: 3 stars

For all you Clash of the Titans fans, Darkness Becomes Her will combine your love of Greek mythology with a great paranormal tale. However, instead of the mortal son of Zeus fighting to save heaven and Earth from the dark god, Hades, we have the confused and mysterious Ari Selkirk.

With her long silvery white hair and strange teal eyes, Ari has always attracted attention; and not always in a good way. Growing up in the foster system made Ari tough and untrusting—until she met Bruce and Casey.

Bruce and Casey are bounty hunters and taught Ari how to defend herself; making her a part of the family business. A few months before her 18th birthday Ari set off to the psychiatric hospital where her mother spent her final days, to find out whatever she could about the mother she lost too soon, the father she never knew and who—or what—she really is.

Learning only of her mother’s snake infested delusions; Ari’s thirst for knowledge is left unquenched. Armed with only a small box of her mother’s effects, Ari is surprised to find a letter addressed to her from her mother; with one emphatic point—Run!

Shocked and confused, Ari decides the answers can only be found in the place where it all started—New Orleans. Slowly recovering from the devastating hurricanes, the city is now known as New 2; and has become a haven for the strange and unexplainable—like Ari.

Hitching a ride to New 2 with a 13 year-old mail delivery girl named Crank; who also offers Ari a place to stay. Crank and her four housemates who, with their varying degree of abilities, assist Ari on her quest for answers. But, it’s the dark and mysterious Sebastian who may be the key to unlocking Ari’s secret—and perhaps her heart as well.

As far as pacing goes, Kelly Keaton isn’t one for delayed gratification. Although it’s always appreciated when things aren’t painfully drawn out, Keaton moves things forward a bit too fast. One minute Sebastian is angry, moping and annoyed and then next he’s making out with Ari in a restaurant booth. Now, I’m all for getting to the good stuff but, with no history to build on, other scenes come off as contrived and opportunistic.

Overall, Kelly Keaton is off to a good start and despite a few pitfalls, Darkness Becomes Her is very entertaining. To be fair, judgment will be reserved until the second book. Perhaps by then Ms. Keaton will have settled down and things will flow a bit smoother.

If not, we’ll always have Sebastian.
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Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 22, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1442409248