School Library Journal
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Gr 9 Up-Half-Blood is a hodgepodge of every currently popular YA supernatural romance. There are demigods, superpowers, aether-sucking daimons (vampires), and daimon hunters. Of course, what supernatural romance would be complete without the requisite forbidden love between a "pure" blood (who is really a demigod, so explain how that is pure) and a half-blood (offspring of a demigod and a mortal-so really, a quarter blood). Alex is in trouble. Her mother has been killed by the aforementioned blood-sucking daimons and the teen is on the run. Since she is a half-blood, she is taken to the Covenant-one of several private boarding schools for the not so mortal (sound familiar?)-and harshly punished by getting extra martial arts training from uberhot Aiden, who is, of course, a tortured but kindhearted pure blood. But wait, there's more. Alex's mother is not dead; she has been turned and is now hunting for Alex, who is unknowingly the next Apollyon-a superhuman half-blood who can become a "god-killer." Enter Seth, the current Apollyon, who senses right away that he and Alex have a supernatural connection. What's a girl to do? Kill her mother, swear to never have a real relationship with the long-suffering Aiden, and become curious about Seth? It's the perfect setup for the sequel. Pass on this one and recommend Tera Lynn Childs's Oh. My. Gods (Dutton, 2008) instead.-Robin Henry, Wakeland High School, Frisco, TX (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.