Review: Inheritance by Joan Cleveland and Marisa Cleveland

INHERITANCE

by Joan Cleveland and Marisa Cleveland

Simeris Alliance, LLC

Middle Grade Paranormal

183 pages

His destiny is to save humankind. But first he must survive middle school...

The descendants of the fallen angels never had it so good. At twelve, Grayson Lahash is thrust into an unfamiliar world where battle lines balance precariously in favor of good over evil, and his unexpected arrival and fallen heritage may be just enough to tip the scales.

But as Grayson uncovers the secrets of his past, he must decide if he's willing to risk everything for the destiny that is his to inherit. 

MY TIDBITS

This book is written by a mother/daughter team, and in the acknowledgements, Joan Cleveland states that it was done so middle graders would have more books 'to read with passion and depth and imagination'. The authors achieved exactly this.

After watching his mother die in front of him, 12-year-old Grayson's father orders a giant to carry him off to a boarding school, where Grayson isn't sure what's going on and would give anything to get his mother back. He soon realizes that the students in the school aren't exactly what they appear to be. He's involved in something much larger and more dangerous than the normal human world he's known up to now.

The story starts off with a gripping scene and puts Grayson in a situation where it's impossible not to sympathize with him. His confusion is felt in the first couple of chapters and soon starts to gain clarity as the pieces start to fall together. The authors do a great job of drawing the reader into the story, and just when it appears as if things are making sense, the plot turns in a new, unpredictable direction, keeping the tension and mystery high until the last page.

Although Grayson is the main character, there's a rich cast of side characters, each with their very own story. Some are easy to love or hate from the beginning, where others are struggling to discover who they are and what they stand for. Especially middle graders will understand how difficult decisions can be, and how things aren't always black and white but often sit in a unclear grey.

There are so many wonderful messages in this book, none of which feel like they're being held up like a flag. The characters learn about themselves, friendship, sacrifice and forgiveness. The strong, Christian aspects of the story are refreshing. They blend seamlessly into the plot without playing down the danger, tension, and fantastical aspects of the story. There are a few violent scenes, but nothing inappropriate for the age group.

Summed up: This is a story fantasy/paranormal friends, especially Christian ones, will enjoy diving into. There are fight scenes, mystery, hints of magic, twists and turns, and battles of good versus evil, all of which can keep a reader at the edge of there seat. I especially recommend this for readers ages 10+. 

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.