Review: The Supernaturalist

Why, oh why, do stores put ugly stickers on covers??

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Genre: Young Adult-Fantasy

Pages: 267

Publication Date: April, 2005

Rating: 2/5

Summary:

            This story takes place in the future, in a city called Satellite City. Cosmo Hill, a fourteen-year-old orphan lives at Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. Here the boys pay their way by assembling things, testing products, really just being a slave. While the boys are being transported back from where they worked that day, Cosmo sees a chance to escape with his friend. After having a near death experience during the escape, Cosmo wakes up with a new ability; he can see supernatural Parasites. The people that saved him from death, are a gang that is dedicated to eliminating these parasites that so few can see. As Cosmo joins them on a seemingly simple quest, he realizes that the leaders of the city have bigger secrets than he thought.

Pros:

·       I thought the premise of hunting parasites that few can see was going to be interesting.

Cons:

·       There seemed to be a lack of world-building. It was hard to actually picture Satellite City.

·       I also thought a lot of the plot points were rushed and the twists and turns were too abrupt.

Final Thoughts:

            This book had such an interesting premise that seemed to fall flat in execution. As soon as I started to become interested in the current scene, something dramatic would happen that would completely change the goals of the characters. It lacked smooth transitions. Also, the topic seemed to be geared towards adults but the writing seemed like it was for young, young adults which was confusing.