Fated

By Alyson Noel

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Immortals, Alyson Noël, comes Fated—a breathtaking new saga brimming with magic, mystery, and an intoxicating love story that will steal your heart away. Meet The Soul Seekers.

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter's sanity, Daire's mother sends her to live with the grandmother she's never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.

There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it's when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he's allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: May 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466802544

Alyson Noel

Alyson Noël is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including the Immortals, Riley Bloom, and Soul Seekers series. With millions of copies in print, her books have been translated into thirty-six languages and have made numerous international bestseller lists. Born and raised in Orange County, California, she’s lived in both Mykonos and Manhattan and is now settled back in Southern California, where she’s working on her next book. You can visit her online at www.alysonnoel.com.

Book preview

then

First came the crows.

An entire murder of them.

Circling the graveyard in strict formation, their dark beady eyes watching, relentlessly watching, their sleek black bodies buffeted by the wind. Oblivious to the dry sweltering heat, the oxygen choked air—the result of the raging wildfires that scorched the sky crimson and rained hot squares of ash onto the mourners below.

For those attuned to such things, it was a sign that could not be missed. And Paloma Santos, sure that her son’s sudden death was no accident, saw the crows for what they truly were: not just an omen but a herald of sorts—signaling that the next in line had arrived—was in fact, right there in that cemetery.

Her suspicions confirmed the instant she slid a comforting arm around her son’s grief-stricken girlfriend and sensed the life form growing within.

The last of the Santoses.

A granddaughter whose fate had long been foretold.

But if the crows were aware, then there were others who might know as well. Those who’d like nothing more than to destroy the unborn child—ensure she never get the chance to lay claim to her birthright.

With her granddaughter’s safety in mind, Paloma abandoned the burial long before the first handful of earth spilled onto the casket. Vowing to stay silent, out of sight, until the child’s sixteenth year when she’d find herself in need of the counsel only Paloma could offer.

Sixteen years in which to prepare.

Sixteen years in which to restore her own dwindling powers—keep the legacy burning—until it was time to pass down.

She hoped she would last—her son’s death bore a price far beyond grief.

If she failed to survive, failed to reach her granddaughter in time, the child’s life would end tragically, prematurely, just like her father’s. It was a risk she could not afford.

There was no one to follow.

Too much at stake.

The unborn child held the fate of the world in her hands.

now

one

There are moments in life when everything pauses.

The earth hesitates, the atmosphere stills, and time shrinks and folds onto itself until it collapses into a big tired heap.

As I push through the small wooden door of the riad where Jennika and I have camped out the past several weeks, trading the hush of the rose-and-honeysuckle-scented courtyard for the chaos of the serpentine maze of medina—it happens again.

But instead of mimicking the stillness like I usually do, I decide to go with it and try something fun. Easing my way along connecting salmon-colored walls, I pass a small, thin man caught in midstride, press my fingers against the soft white cotton of his gandora, and gently spin him around until he’s facing the opposite way. Then after ducking beneath a mangy black cat that, caught in midleap, appears to be flying, I stop at the corner where I take a moment to rearrange a display of shiny brass lanterns an old man is selling, before moving on to the very next stall where I slip a pair of bright blue babouches onto my feet, decide that I like them, and leave my old leather sandals along with a fistful of crumpled-up dirhams as payment.

My eyes burning with the effort of keeping them open, knowing the instant I blink, the gandora-clad man will be one step farther from his destination, the cat will land on its mark, and two vendors will gaze at their wares in total confusion—the scene will return to one of perpetual chaos.

Though when I spot the glowing people hovering on the periphery, studying me in the careful way that they do, I’m quick to squinch my eyes shut and block them from view. Hoping that this time, just like all the others, they’ll fade away too. Return to wherever it is that they go when they’re not watching me.

I used to think everyone experienced moments like that, until I confided in Jennika who shot me a skeptical look and blamed it on jet lag.

Jennika blames everything on jet lag. Insists time stops for no one—that it’s our job to keep up with its frantic forward march. But even back then I knew better—I’ve spent my entire life crossing time zones, and what I’d experienced had nothing to do with a whacked-out body clock.

Still, I was careful not to mention it again. I just waited quietly, patiently, hoping the moment would soon return.

And it did.

Over the past few years they’ve been slowly increasing, until lately, ever since we arrived in Morocco, I’ve been averaging three a week.

A guy my age passes, his shoulder purposely slamming into mine, his dark eyes leering in a way that reminds me to arrange my blue silk scarf so that it covers my hair. I round a corner, eager to arrive well before Vane, so I can catch the Djemâa el Fna at dusk. Banging into the square, where I’m confronted by a long line of open-air grills bearing goats and pigeons and other unidentifiable meats, their skinned and glazed carcasses rotating on spits, shooting savory clouds of spice-laden smoke into the air … the hypnotic lull of the snake charmer’s tune emanating from cross-legged old men perched on thick woven mats, playing their pungis as glassy-eyed cobras rise up before them … all of it unfolding to the spellbinding pulse of gnaoua drums that continuously thrum in the background—the soundtrack for the nightly resurrection of a bewitching square returning to life.

I take a deep breath, savoring the heady blend of exotic oils and jasmine, as I cast a final glance around, knowing this is one of the last times I’ll see it this way. The film will wrap soon, and Jennika and I will be off to whatever movie, on whatever location requires her services as an award-winning makeup artist. Who knows if we’ll ever return?

Picking my way toward the first food cart, the one beside the snake charmer where Vane waits, I steal a handful of much-needed seconds to crush that annoying ping of weakness that grabs at my gut every time that I see him—every time I take in his tousled sandy blond hair, deep blue eyes, and softly curving lips.

Sucker! I think, shaking my head, adding: Fool!

It’s not like I don’t know any better. It’s not like I don’t know the rules.

The key is to not get involved—to never allow myself to care. To just focus on having some fun, and never look back when it’s time to move on.

Vane’s pretty face, just like all the other pretty faces before him, belongs to his legions of fans. Not one of those faces has ever belonged to me—and they never, ever will.

Having grown up on movie sets since I was old enough for Jennika to sling me into a backpack, I’ve played my role as the kid of a crew member countless times: Stay quiet, stay out of the way, lend a hand when asked, and never confuse movie set relationships for the real thing.

The fact that I’ve been dealing with celebrities my entire life leaves me not so easily impressed, which is probably the number one reason they’re always so quick to like me. I mean, while I’m okay to look at—tall-ish, skinny-ish, with long dark hair, fair-ish skin, and bright green eyes that people like to comment on, I’m pretty much your standard issue girl. Though I never fall to pieces when I meet someone famous. I never get all red-cheeked and gushy and insecure. And the thing is, they’re so unused to that, they usually end up pursuing me.

My first kiss was on a beach in Rio de Janeiro with a boy who’d just won an MTV award for Best Kiss (clearly none of those voters had actually kissed him). My second was on the Pont Neuf in Paris with a boy who’d just made the cover of Vanity Fair. And other than their being richer, more famous, and more stalked by paparazzi—our lives really aren’t all that different.

Most of them are transients—passing through their own lives, just like I’m passing through mine. Moving from place to place, friendship to friendship, relationship to relationship—it’s the only life that I know.

It’s hard to form a lasting connection when your permanent address is an eight-inch mailbox in the UPS store.

Still, as I inch my way closer, I can’t help the way my breath hitches, the way my insides thrum and swirl. And when he turns, flashing me that slow, languorous smile that’s about to make him world famous, his eyes meeting mine when he says, Hey, Daire—Happy Sweet Sixteen, I can’t help but think of the millions of girls who would do just about anything to stand in my pointy blue babouches.

I return the smile, flick a little wave of my hand, then bury it in the side pocket of the olive-green army jacket I always wear. Pretending not to notice the way his gaze roams over me, straying from my waist-length brown hair peeking out from my scarf, to the tie-dyed tank top that clings under my jacket, to the skinny dark denim jeans, all the way down to the brand-new slippers I wear on my feet.

Nice. He places his foot beside mine, providing me with a view of the his-and-hers version of the very same shoe. Laughing when he adds, Maybe we can start a trend when we head back to the States. What do you think?

We.

There is no we.

I know it. He knows it. And it bugs me that he tries to pretend otherwise.

The cameras stopped rolling hours ago, and yet here he is, still playing a role. Acting as though our brief, on-location hookup means something more.

Acting like we won’t really end long before our passports are stamped RETURN.

And that’s all it takes for those annoyingly soft girly feelings to vanish as quickly as a flame in the rain. Allowing the Daire I know, the Daire I’ve honed myself to be, to stand in her place.

Doubtful. I smirk, kicking his shoe with mine. A little harder than necessary, but then again, he deserves it for thinking I’m lame enough to fall for his act. So, what do you say—food? I’m dying for one of those beef brochettes, maybe even a sausage one too. Oh—and some fries would be good!

I make for the food stalls, but Vane has another idea. His hand reaches for mine, fingers entwining until they’re laced nice and tight. In a minute, he says, pulling me so close my hip bumps against his. I thought we might do something special—in honor of your birthday and all. What do you think about matching tattoos?

I gape. Surely he’s joking.

"Yeah, you know, mehndi. Nothing permanent. Still, I thought it could be kinda cool." He arcs his left brow in his trademark Vane Wick way, and I have to fight not to frown in return.

Nothing permanent. That’s my theme song—my mission statement, if you will. Still, mehndi’s not quite the same as a press-on. It has its own life span. One that will linger long after Vane’s studio-financed, private jet lifts him high into the sky and right out of my life.

Though I don’t mention any of that, instead I just say, You know the director will kill you if you show up on set tomorrow covered in henna.

Vane shrugs. Shrugs in a way I’ve seen too many times, on too many young actors before him. He’s in full-on star-power mode. Thinks he’s indispensable. That he’s the only seventeen-year-old guy with a hint of talent, golden skin, wavy blond hair, and piercing blue eyes that can light up a screen and make the girls (and most of their moms) swoon. It’s a dangerous way to see yourself—especially when you make your living in Hollywood. It’s the kind of thinking that leads straight to multiple rehab stints, trashy reality TV shows, desperate ghostwritten memoirs, and low-budget movies that go straight to DVD.

Still, when he tugs on my arm, it’s not like I protest. I follow him to the old, black-clad woman parked on a woven beige mat with a pile of henna bags stacked in her lap.

Vane negotiates the price as I settle before her and offer my hands. Watching as she snips the corner from one of the bags and squeezes a series of squiggly lines over my flesh, not even thinking to consult me on what type of design I might want. But then, it’s not like I had one in mind. I just lean against Vane who’s kneeling beside me and let her do her thing.

You must let the color to set for as long as it is possible. The darker the stain, the more that he loves you, she says, her English halting, broken, but the message is clear. Emphasized by the meaningful look she shoots Vane and me.

Oh, we’re not— I start to say, We’re not in love! But Vane’s quick to stop me.

Slipping an arm around my shoulder, he presses his lips to my cheek, bestowing on the old woman the kind of smile that encourages her to smile back in a startling display of grayed and missing teeth. His actions stunning me stupid, leaving me to sit slack faced and dumb—with heated cheeks, muddied hands, and a rising young breakout star draped over my back.

Having never been in love, I admit that I’m definitely no expert on the subject. I have no idea what it feels like.

Though I’m pretty sure it doesn’t feel like this.

I’m pretty dang positive Vane’s just cast himself in yet another starring role—playing the part of my dashing young love interest, if only to appease this strange, Moroccan woman we’ll never see again.

Still, Vane is an actor, and an audience is an audience—no matter how small.

Once my hands are covered in elaborate vines and scrolls, the old woman reminds me to allow the stain to take hold while she gets to work on Vane’s feet. But the moment her attention turns, I use the edge of my nail to scrape away little bits. Unable to keep from smiling when I see the paste fall in a loose powdery spray that blends with the dirt.

It’s silly, I know, but I can’t risk there being even the slightest sliver of truth to her words. The movie will wrap soon, Vane and I will go separate ways, and falling in love is an option I just can’t afford.

With our hands and feet fully tended, we make our way along the sidewalk grills, devouring five beef and sausage brochettes, a pile of fries, and two Fantas between us, before drifting through the square’s nightly circus that includes snake charmers, acrobats, jugglers, fortune-tellers, healers, monkey trainers, and musicians. There’s even a woman who’s set up shop removing black rotted teeth from old men, which the two of us watch in horrified fascination.

Arms slung around each other’s waists, hips rubbing together on every other step, Vane’s breath tickles the curve of my ear when he slips a mini bottle of vodka from his pocket and offers me first swig.

I shake my head. Push it away. In any other place I might be game, but Marrakesh is different, and mysterious, and a little bit scary even. Not to mention I have no idea what the local laws are, though I’m guessing they’re strict, and the last thing I need is to end up in a Moroccan jail for underage drinking.

It’s the last thing he needs too, but it’s not like he listens. Vane just smiles, unscrews the cap, and takes a few swallows before he tucks the bottle back into his pocket and pulls me into a dark abandoned alleyway.

I stumble. Squint. Grasp at the wall as I fight to find my way. Steadied by the warmth of his hands at my waist, and the reassuring phrase that flits through my head—the one Jennika used to wean me from my night-light back when I was a kid:

You gotta adjust to the dark so the light can find you.

He pushes the scarf from my head, leaving it to fall around my neck, as his face veers so close all I can really make out are deep blue eyes, and the most perfectly parting lips that are quick to claim mine.

I merge into the kiss, tasting the lingering traces of vodka still coating his tongue, as my hands explore the muscled expanse of his chest, the taut curve of his shoulders, the clean edge of his jaw. My fingers twisting into his silky mane of hair, as his slip under my jacket—under my tank top—seeking, discovering—bunching the fabric higher and higher as he works his way up.

Our bodies melding, conforming into a tangle of grinding hips—a crush of lips. The kiss becoming so heated, so urgent, my breath grows ragged, too fast, as my body ignites like a freshly struck match.

So delirious with the feel of him—the warmth of him—the promise of him—I surrender to the nudge of his fingers working inside my bra—circling, pulling, as my own fingers move south. Wandering over a well-defined abdomen, then lower still, down to his waistband. Ready to venture to places I’ve yet to explore, when he breaks away, his voice no more than a whisper when he says, C’mon, I know a place. The words thick, eyes bleary, as we fight to catch our breath, fight to keep from pressing forward and claiming the kiss once again. Seriously. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before—it’s gonna be epic—follow me! He finds my hand, pulls me out of the dark and back into the bright, lively square.

At first I go willingly, prepared to follow him anywhere. Though it’s not long before I’m seduced by the sound of that incessant pulsing rhythm—the trance-inducing lure of the gnaoua drum.

"Daire—c’mon, it’s this way. What gives?" He frowns, brows slanted in confusion when I drop his hand and keep going, not bothering to check if he follows—no longer caring about anything other than locating the source of that beat.

I squeeze through the tightly packed crowd until I’m standing before it—my head filled with the hypnotic rhythm of that red leather drum, my eyes swimming with the flash of crimson silk, gold coins, and a carefully veiled face revealing nothing more than a pair of intense, dark, kohl-rimmed eyes.

It’s a dude—a trannie! Vane shoves in beside me, mesmerized by the sight of the caftan-clad male with his hands thrust high, golden cymbals clinking, body wildly writhing.

But that’s all that Vane sees.

He doesn’t see what I see.

Doesn’t see the way everything stops.

Doesn’t see the way the atmosphere changes—growing shimmery, hazy, like peering through carnival glass.

Doesn’t see the way the glowing ones appear—hovering along the perimeter.

Doesn’t see the way they beckon to me—beg me to join them.

Only I can see that.

Even after repeatedly blinking, trying to return the scene to normal, it’s no use. Not only are they still there, but now they’ve brought friends.

Crows.

Thousands and thousands of crows that fill up the square.

They land on the drummer, the transvestite belly dancer—soaring and swooping and settling wherever they please—turning the once-vibrant square into a field of dark beady eyes that relentlessly watch me.

The glowing people creep forward—arms outstretched, fingers grasping—stomping the crows to a mess of black, bloodied bits.

And there’s nothing I can do to stop their progression—nothing I can do to convince time to march forward again.

So I do the only thing that I can—I run.

Bolting through the crowd, pushing, screaming, shoving, shouting for everyone to get out of my way. Vaguely aware of Vane calling after me—his fingers grasping, pulling me close to his chest, urging me to stop, to turn, to not be afraid.

My body sags in relief as I lift my face to meet his. Wondering how I’ll ever explain my sudden bout of craziness now that everything’s returned to normal again, only to gaze past his shoulder and find the crows replaced with something much worse—thousands of bloodied, severed heads hanging on spikes that fill up the square.

Their gruesome mouths yawning into a terrible chorus that calls out my name—urging me to listen—to heed their warning—before it’s too late.

One voice in particular rising above all the rest, its grisly battered face bearing an eerie resemblance to one in a crumpled old photo I know all too well.

two

The light zooms toward me, bright and unexpected—prompting me to squint, to cover my face with my hands, only to find that I can’t raise my arms—and when I struggle to sit, I fall back again.

What the—?

My limbs lie useless, stretched out to either side, and after lifting my head, trying to get a grip on my predicament, that’s when I discover that someone’s restrained me by tying me up.

She awakens! a female voice shouts, bearing an accent so thick I can’t tell if her tone is one of fear or relief. Miss Jennika—please, to come quickly! It is your daughter, Daire. She is up!

Jennika! So my mom’s in on this?

I roll my head to the side, taking in blue color-washed walls, terra-cotta tiled floors, and the ornately painted octagonal table that serves as a convenient drop spot for my banged-up tin of Rosebud Salve, my silver iPod and earbuds, and the water-warped paperback I’ve been lugging around. Watching as an old woman wearing the traditional long, black, hooded djellaba rushes from the room that’s served as my home for over a month, returning with a frantic Jennika who drops down beside me, and brings her cool palm to my brow. Her familiar green eyes, nearly exact replicas of mine, appearing lost, set adrift, among her shock of bleached platinum hair and pale worried face.

Oh, Daire! Daire—you okay? I’ve been so worried about you! Are you in pain? Are you thirsty? Is there anything I can get you—anything I can do? Just tell me, and it’s yours! She veers closer, peers at me anxiously, as her hands fret at the pillows just under my head.

My lips are so cracked, throat so sore, tongue so parched, when I open my mouth to speak, direct the words at her, it comes out sounding garbled and senseless even to me.

Take your time, Jennika coos, patting my shoulder and indulging me with an encouraging look. You’ve been through a lot. There’s no need to rush it. I’m not going anywhere. We’ll stay for as long as it takes for you to feel better.

I swallow hard. Try my best to drum up some saliva to speed things along, but my supply is so depleted, my second attempt isn’t much better.

Untie me, I croak, yanking hard against my restraints, hoping the action will convey what words can’t.

But if Jennika understood, and I’m pretty sure that she did, she chooses to ignore it and reaches for a bottle of water instead.

Here, drink this. She shoves a long red straw into the bottle and wedges it deep between my lips. You’ve been asleep for so long—you must be dehydrated by now.

Despite my mounting frustration, despite wanting to turn away, deny myself the drink until she unties me, I can’t help but guzzle it greedily. My mouth locked around the straw, my cheeks sucked in as far as they’ll go, overcome with relief when the cool, welcome liquid washes over my tongue and soothes my dry, scratchy throat.

The moment the bottle’s drained, I nudge it away, my gaze narrowed on hers when I say, Jennika, what the hell are you doing to me? Seriously! My arms and legs flop crazily as I try in vain to break free.

Watching in frustration when she turns, abandons me for the other side of the room where she takes her sweet time consulting with the old Moroccan woman, murmuring something I can’t quite make out, then listening intently when the woman shakes her head and murmurs something back.

Finally returning to me, she takes great care to avoid my gaze when she says, I’m sorry, Daire. I really, truly am, but I’m not allowed to do that. She runs a nervous hand over the front of her black tank top—correction, my black tank top—and I don’t remember telling her she could wear it. I’ve been given strict orders not to untie you, no matter how much you plead.

What? I shake my head—sure I misunderstood. "By who? Who instructed you to bind me like this? Her? I nod toward the old woman. With her plain black robes and matching headscarf that covers all of her hair and most of her face, she looks just like every other woman I’ve ever passed in the souk. She hardly looks official enough to lay down the law. Seriously, Jennika, since when do you follow orders outside of work? Is this some kind of joke? ’Cause if so, I’m telling you right now, it’s not funny—not funny at all!"

Jennika frowns, fidgets with the silver etched ring she wears on her thumb—the one I gave her last Mother’s Day on location in Peru. Do you have any idea how you got here? she asks, the mattress shifting when she perches beside me. Do you remember anything? Her long, silk skirt swishing as she crosses her legs and her gaze pleads with mine.

I close my eyes and sigh, pretending to lose all my fight as I force my body to settle into the cocoon of pillows she’s placed all around me. I have no idea what she’s talking about—no idea what’s going on—how I ended up being held prisoner in my own hotel room, by my own mom. All I know is that I want it to stop. I want her to untie me. I want my freedom back. And I want it now.

I have to use the bathroom. I pop one eye open and sneak a quick peek, confident she’d never deny me such a simple courtesy. You think you can untie me for that? Or would you prefer I go right here in this bed? I open the other eye, shoot her a challenging look, only to watch her bite down on her lip, take a quick glance at the woman standing guard in the corner, then shake her head firmly, refusing to oblige me.

I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. You can either hold it or use the bedpan, she says, and I can hardly believe my own ears. I’m not allowed to untie you until the doctor returns. But not to worry—it shouldn’t be much longer. She nods toward the cruel-eyed sentinel in the corner. Fatima called him just after you woke. He’s on his way.

Doctor? What the—? I try to sit up, it’s a reflex, I can’t help it—but just like the last time, I slam back again.

So frustrated, so completely over this insane situation I find myself in, I’m gearing up to do something drastic, scream—cry—demand she untie me or else—when the memory ignites, and fragmented pieces spark in my

Reviews for Fated

[barbedwriting · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Let me start by saying that I really wanted to like this book. According to the blurb it has mysterious magics that complicate the protagonist's life and haunting/haunted characters. Sadly, what it didn't have for me was tension. There wasn't anything that was making me want to turn the page and keep the forward reading momentum going. And, no, I don't demand action-packed extravaganza's to hold my attention. I also like slow burn stories where the big payoff doesn't happen until the end. However, even in those stories there is something that pulls me forward through the narrative, usually a compelling question/mystery I want answered or a character I've bonded with.FATED just didn't have those things for me, and while I think it could appeal to some readers, it wasn't for me.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'll admit that what first drew me to Fated was the gorgeous cover. Everything about it is gorgeous, and I give massive kudos to the artist. Just lovely. That being said, this is my first foray into Alyson Noel's books. Her Immortals series has been on my reading list for a long time, but I hadn't had the opportunity to start it yet. I was excited to dive into this new series from the beginning.

At first glance Daire was definitely not my favorite character. Her attitude was okay, but I felt like she was kind of disinterested in everything that was happening around her. Even when things picked up speed, and she needed help, it was like she was watching it from outside of herself. I felt more connected to her in her dreams than I did when she was awake. However, as the story progressed I started to like Daire more and more. About half way through the book she does a 180 and really comes to life. It's almost like a brand new character. If you feel the same way I did about her at the beginning, keep reading. It gets better.

The concept of Fated is extremely intriguing. Watching Daire learn who she really is, watching her form a bond with the power inside her, it's all fascinating and makes for a great read. That is honestly why the book picks up so much after the first half. My gripe was that there really wasn't much Dace and Cade development in this story. Since it is the first in the series, I'm willing to give it some time. Admittedly Cade is a great villian! Also I liked that the romance aspect wasn't rushed, or took over the story. I do hope to see a little more later on in the series though.

As a package, I enjoyed Fated and will come back for more. There were little things that kept me from being fully immersed in it, but it did peak my interest for the other books in the series and also the books that Alyson Noel has already written! If you are new to her books, I think this is a good place to start. I've been told it shadows the other series, but I read it as a standalone and I had no trouble following. If you enjoy stories with heart, and just a touch of romance, this is one to add to your reading list.

[chaoticbooklover · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wasn’t too sure about this one when I checked it out. I mainly grabbed it for the cover alone, though I can honestly say that I am super thrilled that I did!

I loved Daire, Dace, Xotichl and most of the other characters in the book. I even had a soft spot for Cade, as much as I hate to admit it! Learning about the visions and dreams that have been haunting Daire, was a little shocking at first, and how everything happened after the latest vision was beyond messed up, I still knew that once her mother took the call from Paloma, I was hopeful that things would look up for Daire quickly.

Daire is sixteen and has just been told that she comes from a long line of Seekers. This at first prompts her to run away like her father before her did, though there is an accident and she ends up staying and learning what she must. She has been having the same dream featuring the same two boys; whom happen to be twins, and she realizes that one of them is “fated” to be with her. She tries to keep her distance, though it proves to be harder than she thought.

While trying to learn everything she can about being a Seeker, she has to end up battling with the undead thanks to Cade; the evil twin” in order to save Paloma’s soul. Dace and Daire find her soul and bargain to get it back. Once everything has settled, Dace and Daire return to Paloma’s house to find all of their friends there, and once Daire senses Cade’s presence she goes out to speak to him and she hear’s once again that Dace is the Echo…

I am so glad that I already checked out the second book in the series, otherwise I would be scrambling to get my hands on it. The writing style of Fated was amazing, and I had no problem getting sucked into the story. I cheered everytime Daire made progress and cringed when Cade was being particularly evil.

[aspirit-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was the first work of Alyson Noel's I've read, and I chose it mostly for the cover and genre. I didn't realize until the end that Fated is the start of a series. This was written in first-person POV, present tense, and other than it's the trendy thing to do in Young Adult novels, I don't understand why. Fortunately, the first-person worked well and the tense was acceptable, though I prefer past tense unless the story requires otherwise.


What really stood out to me were odd word choices and descriptive mistakes. For example, one character "shutters his eyes". It took me a moment to realize he must have simply closed his eyes. The way that she described the common action made it seem more important than it was. Every incident of unnecessarily unusual prose threw me out of the story.


More confusing, and prevalent, was how crows and ravens were described as small birds. A raven is typically over two feet high and heavier than two pounds, about the size of a larger hawk. They aren't birds that would be held on a single finger, and being pelted by dozens of them should have injured the heroine. Instead she rides through a shower of them unharmed--without using magic. Every time something like that happened, it ruined the believability. In the author's photo on the back cover, she looks like a city girl. Maybe she's never seen a raven in person, but she could have at least looked up the bird's stats before completing the book. Raven is a major character in the story and deserved that much.


I recognize not everyone will care about its flaws, and I was happy with the respect with which Hispanic and tribal American cultures were presented. Noel showed us stories and beliefs that are usually ignored in the U.S., and the mythology added interest into the typical Special Kid Learns to Accept Her Destiny story. Overall, I liked the novel, though I won't be looking for the next book in the series.

[eunicakes · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

If I could give a book zero stars I would. I do not rate books lightly but this book took the cake. It was painful to read but I was reading it for a challenge so I pushed through it. The main character is supposed to be a quiet girl who always feels different...BUT she is so arrogant. She comes off as if she believes she is better that everyone else etc. Not a humble character and not very likeable at all! The story description sounded like it would be an interesting story, but no. It really felt like it was just about a spoiled girl coming into her own, but at the same time I feel like she really didn't.

I really would not read something else that this author wrote. The story idea had such promise but the book itself was not interesting and painfully slow. I would not recommend it at all.

[edensteffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really good book! Can't wait for the 2nd one to come out!

[karen813 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fated is the story of Daire Santos, a 16 year old girl, who is haunted by visions she doesn't understand. She is sent to live with her grandmother who she doesn't know but who insists she can help Daire not only understand the visions, but embrace her destiny, as a Soul Seeker. Daire reluctantly moves to New Mexico where she meets her mysterious grandmother and finds the blue-eyed boy (and his evil twin) who are also making appearances in her dreams. Daire's story is an interesting one and I thought the inclusion of Native American mythology helped differentiate it from others in the paranormal genre. I loved the character of Daire's grandmother and her companion Chay, I thought they were very well written and fully believable. Unfortunately I did not connect as much with Daire as a character and her story was not as compelling as I think it could have been. I also think the beginning of the book was a bit slow and the end was a bit rushed, overall the story didn't seem as balanced as it could have been. Ultimately I think the series has promise, I just hope that Daire is easier to connect with in future installments.This review is based on a copy obtained from the publisher via the Early Reviewers giveaway.

[calavari · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fated This is a fun venture into a realm of mysticism that I was never really familiar with. It's a great YA book, definitely made for a YA audience, but enjoyable for any reader who can keep that in mind.
I know that not all adults read YA, but I'm one that does. There are a select few that don't feel like they are targeted specifically at teens but happen to have protagonists that are in the YA age range, and then there are books that are YA and target that audience. This is the second kind, which is not a bad thing. I feel it's important to point that out when reviewing YA books. It's targetted at the YA audience and while someone who enjoys YA will still enjoy it because it's well done and all the characters are great with an interesting plot, I wouldn't recommend it to an adult whose only experience with YA was the Hunger Games or the Lunar Chronicles, one that may complain of angst in some teenage characters. I find that sort of thing ridiculous.
First of all, adults have angst too and second of all, sometimes it's totally appropriate. Oh yes, and there's third, don't read about teenagers and then complain when they act like teenagers. Okay, I'll admit that some writers do go overboard and characters are doing things that seem ridiculous, but that's bad writing and not what YA is actually about.
Daire is a great character. She's gotten more freedom than is normal for a girl her age and she knows it and respects that. She respects her family, even when she disagrees with them but she's not afraid to go it alone if she needs to. The two male leads don't quite form a love triangle, and I feel like that's made obvious from the first dream. Their dichotomy in character is well done and even explained. There's a reason for it. And there's a reason for the specialness of each character. I hate when a story has someone who is just "the one" without a viable reason for it. This definitely has great reasons for why each character is crucial to the plot.
I loved all the adults too. Her mom is truly trying her best and even Daire sees that. Her grandmother is amazing, even when she's being cryptic. Each one gives Daire a little insight into what's going on around her. She does have troubles with adults, but none of the blatantly ridiculous things that make it seem, in some of the poor attempts at YA, that the teens are the only people in town with any sense. They all have their own things going on and some are even trying to manipulate these teens, which are little too powerful for their own good.
The mysticism was new for me. It was a part of what drew me to the book in the first place. This is one of the books I came across only because of Top Ten Tuesday lists and therefore a reason I really love those posts. I was never much into magic stories, but mysticism is something else entirely, especially when I can read about new ones.

[hawaiianmermaid701 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the beginning of the book I was interested in the plot and the magic system, but by the end I sort of lost interest.Maybe it was my fault for taking so long to read this, but I never felt the need to jump right back into the story to see what happened. I liked this book, I most likely won't read the rest of the series but this one wasn't bad by any means.

[mellymel171328 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved the book, I found it a bit see through at some places but I found it hard to put down. I loved the main character because she is that typical hard headed teen that thinks she knows it all, amazing read a must read. I can't wait for the second book to be released so I can continue to read about this amazing story.

[orchdork5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Alyson Noel has been on my to be read list for several books. Fated was the first one of hers that I have read. It did not disappoint! Although I was a little weary at first about the story line, I was drawn into the book immediately. I can't wait to read more of her novels!

[sparkleponies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good vs evil in a new twist that interweaves magic, folklore, high school and romance with dark spirits. Daire and Dace seem fated to be and work together to overcome bad spirits in the NM town of Enchantment. Lots of surprises and a very good read.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There were times when I wanted more and times when I wanted less but overall I found this quite interesting, Alyson Noel has done some research on shamanism and it showed. The characters were a little thin and I didn't see the build of the romance in the story but I'm curious to see how this is going to develop.Daire Santos is having episodes, seeing things, lashing out, which lands her drugged up and under a threat of a psychiatric institution until her grandmother steps in and offers help, help that will enable her mother to continue with her job. Then Daire discovers that her grandmother may have a key to what's going on with her, it may just be natural and it needs training, but can she overcome her natural scepticism (which was only glimpsed not worked with much) and find a way out of her problems that doesn't have her drugged or institutionalised?Interesting twist on the usual paranormal story, curious to know where it's going to go from here.

[bookishthings · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was really hoping this book would draw me in. I loved her Immortals series, but this one just didn't have that kind of pull for me. I did love the idea behind this book though.

I liked how the characters had Hispanic and Native American origins. These cultures have many things to offer. Magick and spirit animals were extremely important in the building of this story. Your spirit animal guides you through your choices and life's journey. I have often wondered what animal I would be most like, but I still haven't figured that one out. I wasn't exactly sure how the magick fit in besides the fact that all seekers posses it. There wasn't much of an explanation in what Daire could do, just that she was extremely powerful. Noel does offer a few scenes with minor things Daire can do.

There wasn't much background on any of the characters except Daire, the MC. The base knowledge of Dace and Cade was given, but nothing more. I would have loved to know a bit more about Dace. He is the main focus in her dreams, and it would have been nice to see other parts of him.

Even though I felt there was a lot of buildup and not enough events, I will read the next book in the series (due out this fall). I'm intrigued with where the story will take us, and if her dream is a prophecy or just her fears.

[sunset_x_cocktail · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this book in the book section of a local supermarket several years ago. I picked it up before I read 'The Immortals' series by the same author. Cover lust - totally loved the pretty yellow cover and I'm a sucker for anything with Native American mythology. I love Native American mythology. After intensely disliking first three books in The Immortals I was probably just going to let this book sit on my shelves unread.

Then I needed a book with a yellow cover for a reading challenge so figured why not? And as it turned out, I loved this one. It was actually very nearly a five star book.

I loved the world building, and actually really liked the main character, who's had an unusual upbringing and now found herself in a completely new situation. Daire is the daughter of a Hollywood makeup artist who never went to school, moves around constantly with her mum on the job and does her schooling via some sort of Internet school. Freaky things are happening, it gets really bad and she's shipped off to live with a grandmother she's never known in a tiny town in New Mexico.

She had to adapt to a new situation, while that in itself is nothing new in YA, the world building and introduction into the mythology of the book was what made it work really well.

One thing that I felt let it down for me was the first half of the book felt over written and very long winded, lots of description and while nice...I could have done with out it. And there were more than a few times that I felt Daire suffered from the dreaded "speshul snowflake" syndrome. It didn't help that her grandmother kept enforcing that. Last of her line, very powerful, great things expected and so on. It did get a little tiresome. Also, I found the grandmother repetitive in getting her points across.

That aside, the grandmother was a pretty cool character. Most of the characters were pretty interesting, other than the typical Mean Girl crew, who just irritated me. While there was a potential love triangle, it didn't seem the focus of the plot. It didn't feel too insta lovey either. Daire had been having dreams of the love interest long before she met him, all of which ties into the destiny and mythology plot. Don't really want to go into too much detail as too spoilery

Some of it required a certain suspension of disbelief, but it was still very enjoyable. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where this goes.

And another square crossed off for Book Bingo - A yellow cover.

[ldh5522 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Alyson Noel has been on my to be read list for several books. Fated was the first one of hers that I have read. It did not disappoint! Although I was a little weary at first about the story line, I was drawn into the book immediately. I can't wait to read more of her novels!

[kathy_chiff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First thing... I love the name Daire so this book was off to a great start!!!!!I adored this book because it had such a great plot and strong relatable Characters. The background story to thisbook was amzing and i just wanted to oearn more about the magical soul seeker world.The best bit about this book is the fool proof, imaginitive storyline that runs along side it. I also like the spirit animals although i could never get my head round why the call them 'horse' or 'raven' like it's their name rather than their breed/spiecies.The worst bit about this book (i'm nitpickin here) was by the end it started to get a bit too unbelievable. The whole different worlds thing i think was a bit too far. Despite this i think the boook's ingenious.I would really reccomend this book to anyone. You don't have to be a teenager I think i read it at 11 an it was on e of the best books i've ever read.I've read the second book Echo aswell and it was just as good!I hope this is usefull because ive tried to leave out any spoilers because i couldn't give this amazing plot away and wreck the whole book for you Enjoy.....

[karina0valerie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Welcome to this book review !Well... How do I start this, it's the second series that I read by Alyson Noël, I oved the whole idea of the book. It was orriginal and got you wanting more of this world. Though I prefered Even in the immortals series, Daire got me ! She was so genuien, real and so easy to relate to. It's an easy read and something that is fun but probably will never be a reread. I like it but it wasn't more that. It's in my opinion a good in-between book, book. And as usual I must say Alyson's writing style is still as marvelous as it was !!! definitely give it a shot ! Hoping you will like it.-Bookarina :)

[annesanse · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Why I read it: I received an advance copy from the publisher for reviewing purposes, and I like Alyson Noel's other books.What it's about: Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.What I Thought:Let me start off by saying that this is the first time I've ever read a a pre-release book, so I didn't (and still don't) really know what to expect. Also, I really enjoyed Alyson Noel's Evermore series and was super excited about this new series. That being said, Fated was a bit of a let-down for me. I found the first half of the book almost unbearably slow and irritating. It did finally pick up around chapter 24, but if I were merely reading this for pleasure I probably would have stopped around page 50. Even though I thought the story improved greatly around the half-way point, I found the ending extremely anti-climatic. I didn't really enjoy being inside Daire's mind (that's unusual for me), and there were a lot of parts where I felt the writing was distracting. I kept finding myself wishing that I was reading about Daire's blind friend Xotichl. She was a very interesting character and the chemistry between her and her boyfriend Auden was awesome. I found the idea of Xotichl's "blindsight" super cool and I think her story would have made a much more intriguing book. Here's a line from pg. 192 -- A moment later, the lights dim, and Auden stands before us with a guitar strapped to his front. "This one's for Xotichl," he says, followed by, "actually, they're all for Xotichl." -- How sweet is that? Oh well.I thought there were a lot of things that just didn't make sense. Like why would Daire's mom have a problem with Dace because he seemed like a heartbreaker but not have any kind of problem with Vane Wick who was obviously a jerk? I did enjoy the chemistry between Daire and Dace when she was dreaming or semi-conscious but not in real life. Overall, I'm and hoping that a lot of my complaints might be fixed before the actual release of Fated. Despite a few more mysteries being revealed at the end of the book I don't plan to pick up any of the planned sequels.

[theloopylibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Unlike potato chips, I can and did easily stop with just one book of The Soul Seekers. I’m not saying it wasn’t a decent read. Many teens will and already do like The Soul Seekers series. Fated had an attention-grabbing opening that created immediate suspense and anticipation. The teen voice and characterization were authentic (maybe a little too much so because as an adult I found Daire Santos rather annoying). The exotic locations and unusual upbringing of Daire add flair to the story and create perfect backdrops for mystical and paranormal events. Sometimes the pace slowed as the writer took the time to explain things. Maybe these explanations were necessary for the first book in a series, but I craved more action and romance. Occasionally, Fated became corny and cliche’ as well. Other times the novel surprised me in unexpected, positive ways. Fated became more engrossing the further I read into it, but it stopped short of turning me on to the series. One book satisfied my curiosity enough, plus I never connected with the characters enough to feel invested in their fate. Nevertheless, die-hard fans of the young adult, paranormal genre may want to try The Soul Seekers series for themselves.

[krau0098 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I got a copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. It’s a pretty typical paranormal YA book; there’s teenage angst, insta-love, and dreamily beautiful boys. The story moves fairly slowly and isn’t all that interesting. The second book in the series, Echo, is scheduled for a November 2012 release. Previously I have read the first book in the Riley Bloom series by Noel and didn’t really enjoy that book; I was eager to try a more YA focused book by Noel to see if I enjoyed it more.I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was well done. The narrator does an excellent job conveying emotion and distinguishing between characters’ voices. The narrator also sounds exactly like I imagine Daire would sound. The CDs stop at good stopping points and don’t leave you absolutely in the middle of something while switching disks.Daire travels the world with her professional make-up artist mother. She is constantly brushing shoulders with the rich and beautiful. That is until she starts having hallucinations of glowing people and severed heads. After drugging Daire to the gills doesn’t help her mother is forced to seek help from Daire’s elusive grandmother who lives in the town of Enchantment and is about to introduce Daire to a world she never imagined existed.Daire is a super brat, she gets better towards the end of the book, but remains selfish throughout. She is so mean, abrasive, and annoying that I had trouble engaging with her at all. She is incredibly mean to her mother and dismissive with the people around her. She does grow and change a little as the book goes on, but not much. She is still making selfish decisions and treating her mother like dirt.Daire’s grandmother is more interesting, but her speech comes off as formal and stilted and her conversations with Daire always sound awkward.Then of course there are the two absolutely gorgeous twin brothers that Daire meets in Enchantment. One is evil (Cade) and one is good (Dace); one is out to destroy Daire and one is deeply good and in love with Daire before they even meet. When Daire finally meets Dace she is drawn to him but constantly tries to push him away and get him to leave her alone. In their second or third meeting, despite Daire’s protests, Dace is kissing her and has his hands up her shirt. Is this really okay? Not only are they in insta-love but Dace (the good brother) starts making out with Daire even though she says no. Really? And he is the good one?Okay enough of that let’s talk about the story and world. The premise of the story is a fairly simple one. The brothers are part of a family of Coyotes who are evil and out to take over the world and plunge it into darkness. Daire and her grandmother are from a family that is a long line of Seekers, they are out to save the world from the Coyote’s influence. The magic and background are strongly influenced by Native American myth and magic. It’s an interesting, if simple, idea and makes for a more interesting premise than a lot of paranormal YA out there. This idea and premise are one of the redeeming qualities of this book.The writing style is simple and easy to read. The pacing was a bit slow and it took a long time for the story to really become exciting and engaging. The book wraps up nicely and leaves the reader with a little cliffhanger to wet their appetite for the next book in the series.Overall not my favorite YA paranormal book, but okay. I did enjoy the Native American premise to the story, this is different and more interesting than some of the other YA paranormal out there. I did not enjoy the characters; Daire is a brat and the twins are over stereotyped male leads. Daire’s relationship with Dace is full of insta-love making it goofy and obnoxious...not to mention he makes out with her despite her protests. The pacing is a bit slow and the plot fairly simple. I would only recommend if you are interested in reading a paranormal YA story with Native American bent to it. Otherwise I would skip this, there are many other better YA books out there.

[7hir7een_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fated was an enjoyable novel. As an avid reader of young adult fiction, I have noticed, like everyone else, that the market is somewhat saturated with books that can be classified as paranormal romance. I don't have nearly as many qualms with this as some people. I, for one, am not tired of paranormal romance. In fact, it is one of my favorite genres. For those that don't feel that way, however, be warned that this book could be, in a way, considered paranormal romance. However, that said, this novel is something different than anything I've encountered.Instead of vampires or werewolves, Fated deals with the world of spirits, souls, shamanism, and other bits of Native American mythology. Daire Santos doesn't understand why she is different. She has no idea why time stops for her, why she sees ravens taunting her, why glowing people hover at the edge of her consciousness, watching and waiting for her to give in and come to them. Her visions come to a horrific head in a foreign country, leaving her mother, Jennika at a loss. The doctors to say Daire has experienced a psychotic break, and to get her back the the States immediately. But the medications aren't working, and the doctors threaten to institutionalize her. As a last ditch effort, Jennika contacts Daire's grandmother in New Mexico. She has only spoken to this woman, Paloma, once, at Daire's father's funeral -- before she was born. However, she seems to know more about Daire's situation than anyone, even though Jennika never even told her she was pregnant those 16 years ago. When Daire is sent off to live with Paloma, she feels abandoned, lost, and afraid of the mythological mumbo-jumbo her grandmother is quick to spout. Can she really accept that she is part of some higher plan, that she has mystical powers, a destiny to fulfill? To make things even more difficult to sort out, Daire meets the boy of her dreams -- literally. Although she's never met him outside of dreams, she feels drawn to this boy, and equally repelled from his apparently evil twin brother. When it's clear that her path is more intertwined with these two than she ever realized, everything becomes a bit too real to deny.I appreciated that this novel tackled something new. Fated has a rich mythology, full of spirit animals, spirit journeys, fate, soul-seeking, and of course, good and evil. The events surrounding Daire are very intriguing. The pages fly by as Daire comes into her role as a Seeker. It is very interesting to learn along with Daire the circumstances surrounding her life as a Seeker. Although her relationship with her love interest seems to be a little too instant-love for my tastes, this is offset by Daire's visions and recurrent dreams in which he appears, and the mysticism surrounding them. It becomes easier to stomach the quick onset of the relationship because Noël succeeds in pushing the reader to believe that they are truly meant to be together, that their destinies are entwined. The novel doesn't focus on their relationship, however. It is much more concerned with Daire's growth. Her growth in her capacity to fulfill her Seeker destiny, and her growth as a person. As the daughter of a Hollywood makeup artist, Daire has never been able to settle down in any physical or emotional capacity. She was always taught not to get attached to spare the pain of loss. Her life in New Mexico finally offers her the chance to have a home, to have a family, to have friends. Learning to accept these things, to learn to put trust in others, requires her to mature, and to accept herself first.I'd recommend Fated to those who want to read something a little different. If Daire's world sounds promising to you, I urge you to give this novel a try. I didn't regret it.This book was obtained freely through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

[adrienne2093 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great book to add to Noel's collection. Not my favorite but definitely had some interesting plot lines and twists.

[kitkat1242 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is the first book in the Soul Seekers series by Alyson Noel. Having read Alyson's Immortals series, I had expected to love this series too. However, I did not, and I will tell you why.The storyline caught my attention, and I really wanted to read it. I started off not getting into the book at all, which is very unlike me. It had a slow beginning, a slow middle, and it was about three quarters through when I started to feel a small connection with the book.Character wise, they all seemed a bit predictable and boring. Daire was an OK character, and Dace and Cade were the typical good and bad brothers who are both interested in Daire. I felt sorry for Daire's Mum Jennika, for Daire calls her by her first name, and doesn't acknowledge her as "Mum", despite living with her all her life. I don't know why, but that felt weird for me. I did, however, like Daire's Grandmother Paloma. I found her very likable, and strong. In this sort of situation I can understand why Daire calls her Grandmother by her first name, as she was only sent to her Grandmother's house, and has not known she existed until then. I didn't feel too much of a connection with Dace and Daire. It felt like it was forced, if I'm honest.I feel like the spirit guide and soul seeker business wasn't quite explained properly, and that's probably one reason why I felt lost. I felt there were missing parts in the story. At one point she runs away, the next you find it's gone two or so weeks later, and I felt like a chapter had been cut out of my book. (I even looked back to make sure!).On a plus side, I liked the format of the book. The chapters are fairly short, so you feel like you're reading a lot. I would say I also liked the ending. It does make me want to read the next book to see what happens next.The cover to this edition that I read is gorgeous. It is very pretty and detailed, and I love how the crows are flying nearby. I love how all the dark and light lilac colours mingle together.Overall, I'm going to give this three stars because I felt that it was lacking in certain areas. I really do hope when I read the next book in the series that the characters develop more, have better connections, and that I understand what is going on straight away.If you pick this book up, I really hope you enjoy it more than me. If you are into paranormal romances, then give it a try.Happy reading =)

[jlight_18 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mature sexual content--13 and upStrange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

[deslivres5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Took me awhile to review this book which I snagged as an Early Reviewers copy. But once I started, it was a quick and mostly enjoyable read. With a series, especially one with the first book named Fated, there wasn't much mystery as to what was going to transpire plot-wise. But I did enjoy the unique locations and the setup of the universe in question. Some of the allegiance switches at the end of book can only be explained by the paranormal, I guess. We'll see how they hold up in the next book in the series. I see that the second book in the series, Echo, is already available at my public library, so I'm off to rejoin this world.

[abookwormshaven · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read Alyson’s Immortal series and loved the first couple of books, but the series started to drag for me towards the end. I was leery to pick up another series by Alyson, but the summary just sounded too interesting and I did like the first few books in the Immortals series and hoped that would be the case with the Soul Seekers as well.Fated follows the life of Daire, she is a sixteen year old girl who has never really had a place to call home. She and her mother travel so much and as a result they never put down roots. Daire doesn’t really mind this and thinks she is not missing anything. She does however have strange things happen to her often, like time slowing down or visions of glowing people. She never confides these things to anyone for fear of them thinking she is crazy. However, one day when the visions spiral out of control, she goes into a fit and has to be taken to a hospital. The doctors say she has had a psychotic break and recommend her mother put her in a hospital. Forced with not knowing what to do next her mother takes Daire to her to stay with long lost grandmother in New Mexico since she says she can help her. Daire is not too happy about this turn of events until she starts to make friends and gets closer to her grandmother. She likes having people around her that care for her and she starts to settle into life in Enchantment.Daire’s grandmother teaches her how to harness the power she has been given and I enjoyed the mythology that Alyson painted for us. It is not one I have seen explored too much and I found the Native American twist on all of it very interesting. There is a guide at the beginning of the book to acclimate you to all the sprits that inhabit this world and I did find myself referring to it a couple of times. The Native American culture really permeates this pages and I was very absorbed in learning more about this world.Fated does have some romance weaved in, but it is really a story about Daire discovering who she is. We follow her while she tries to navigate this new world that she has been suddenly thrust into and learns about her past and what her future holds. I did enjoy Daire as a character, she is self-reliant, but still has some trust issues to work through. She does not want to let people get close, but once the walls come down she is loyal to those she loves.As for the guys, there are two in here, Cade and Dace. Who also happen to be twins, one light, and one dark. Daire has had dreams for the past six months that all revolve around Dace. She thinks they are figments of her imagination until she comes face to face with him in high school. She gets tongue tied and is not quite sure what to make of him. They have a slow building romance which was very sweet and appropriate for their age and the circumstances they found themselves in. Sometimes in young adult paranormal the love interest can be an insta-love and there is no build up whatsoever. It was nice to see Alyson have her characters get to know one another and take their time building a relationship.Overall, I did enjoy this book and the characters in it. However, I do not see myself picking up the next book. I did like what I was reading, but I am not compelled to look into the life of Daire anymore. I will read reviews of future books and see how it is received and might give it a try depending on what others say. If you read Alyson’s Immortals series and liked it, then odds are you will like Fated as well. I would read a couple of chapters see what you think and decide from there. Or check around and see what others think as well. Alyson is a good writer and has developed a very interesting mythology for this book, but I am just not wowed by the overall storyline.

[shaunesay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received my copy of Fated (Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. I was attracted to this one for a couple of reasons, first I had already read and enjoyed Evermore (the Immortals #1) by the same author, and I was intrigued by the Native American mythology aspect of the story.Daire Santos is 16 and has started experiencing disturbing visions that are becoming more and more frightening and extreme. Finally after one of these visions leads to a violent breakdown, they can no longer be ignored. In desperation, her mother arranges for Daire to live with a grandmother the girl has never met, hoping that the old woman will be able to help her, giving her a stable environment instead of the transient existence of traveling from movie set to set for her job.Enchantment, New Mexico is anything but enchanting, and at first Daire feels abandoned and alone, as her attempts at leading a normal life going to high school fail as she becomes a target for the popular crowd. Her grandmother is able to help her understand and control her visions, once Daire stops fighting against them and accepts her calling as a Soul Seeker who can travel between the worlds of the living and the dead. She also meets Dace, literally the boy of her dreams, but unfortunately his brother is his polar opposite, and Daire's enemy in the much deeper world she has come to know.I enjoyed this one, I liked Daire and Dace (I seem to like D names a lot), the spirit animal guides, and her time in the cave learning about her ancestors. Also Daire's difficulty with her spirit animal, like a teacher you think should be good, but seems to have a perverse torturous streak until you finally understand what they're trying to tell you. I would like to see what challenges are in store for Daire, since I'm sure she hasn't seen the last of her nemesis Cade and his family.There are 3 more books to come in the series, Echo, Mystic and Horizon. For more information on the author and her work, check out her website alysonnoel.com

[ramplo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was too slow and drawn out, you could tell from the first chapter that it was being set up for a series and that's not really a good sign. All the vague answers felt too forced, again it just felt like it was being forced into a longer series.I HATE when characters continually question "am I crazy". This book has chapters worth of this, the whole first part of the book should be burned...might as well throw in the rest.Overall the basic story wasn't that bad, but the story and plot and junk just gets in the way...2.5/5

[yabreviews_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What is happening to Daire Santos? That is what she would like to know. She is perfectly content to travel with her mother, who works on movies. Then she starts to see the “glowing ones,” having dreams and acting out. Her mother, Jennika, is at her wits end and doesn’t know what to do. She ends up sending her to live with her grandma Paloma in New Mexico.Daire isn’t pleased about living with someone who she has never met and her mother has only met once – at her father’s funeral. She is set against going there to live, but it is either that, or go to a psychiatric hospital to help her and Daire doesn’t like doctors.When she arrives in New Mexico, she learns about Soul Seekers and what role she plays in them. She also meets Cade and Dace, the twins, who both play an important role. The question is, what role do they play?I have long been a fan of Alyson Noël’s writing having read both the Immortals and Riley Bloom series. Fated was an easy book for me to read. I love the way that Noël writes so that you are immersed in the story. She doesn’t just tell you about the characters, she allows you to experience what they are experiencing. In some books, I find it really difficult to get through the history, but not so in Fated. I like how Cade and Dace are twins, but are opposites. Even their names are composed of the same letters, but make different words. Daire is a strong character who does things her way and doesn’t take the easy way out.The Soul Seeker series is one that I will continue to follow.