Life in the Palace (Book 1 - The Palace Saga)

By Catherine Green

“We need to talk,” Tal said. Then I knew it was going to go badly. ‘We need to talk’ is the conversational equivalent of walking into your basement without turning on the light, on a dark and stormy night, when a known psychopath is on the loose. You might as well cut to the chase and slit your own throat.

Chloe Diaz assumed three things: that when Tal said that she was one of The People sent from heaven to maintain the cosmic balance, it was code for ‘I’m a pamphlet distributing, incense burning, religious weirdo;’ that the gorgeous Seth Wilks would never be her soul mate and that she’d never have to choose between them. Chloe was wrong.

Now the future of the world is in her hands, but what if price is too great to pay?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catherine Green
• Release date: Feb 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311190123

Catherine Green

Catherine Green, author of the captivating British paranormal suspense series, The Redcliffe Novels, has been immersed in the world of books from a young age. Her fondest memories involve spending Saturday mornings in her cosy local library, losing herself in the endless wonders found on the shelves. It was during those formative years that Catherine's fascination with the supernatural took root, and she discovered her innate talent for crafting stories featuring vampires, werewolves, witches, and other mystical creatures in contemporary settings. Recently, Catherine expanded her repertoire with the release of her contemporary English Gothic novel, Vampire of Blackpool. In this bewitching tale, she delves into the darker and sexier aspects of our beloved British seaside resorts, enticing readers into a world where vampires lurk in the shadows. Building on her success, Catherine is currently engrossed in creating a new series of novels that showcase vampire hunters operating in and around Manchester and the Northwest of England, revealing a thrilling and action-packed narrative. In addition to her prowess as a paranormal author, Catherine is known to her fans as SpookyMrsGreen. She maintains a popular pagan lifestyle blog, where she chronicles her enthralling adventures in motherhood and magic. Drawing from her personal experiences and spiritual insights, Catherine intends to pen a series of non-fiction books in the future, promising readers an engaging exploration of pagan practices and philosophy, when time allows her to dedicate herself to this new endeavour. With her unwavering passion for the supernatural, Catherine Green continues to captivate readers with her imaginative storytelling, combining elements of mystery, romance, and the occult. Her ability to infuse contemporary settings with mystical beings brings a fresh and unique perspective to the genre, leaving readers eagerly awaiting her next enchanting tale.

Book preview

Prologue

At the time it didn’t even make my top ten list of the weirdest things that had ever happened to me. Afterwards my whole weird-o-meter got totally recalibrated. The thing about freaky life changing events is that, outside of TV, they don’t usually come with convenient background music to alert you to pay attention.

She got a text message. This is a fairly standard occurrence, even for the socially inept Tal. Her brow furrowed as she quickly responded.

I’ve got to go, she said, quickly gathering up her books.

I stood to leave also. I’ll walk you out. I’ve had enough for today.

She looked thrown. I’m in a bit of a rush.

I can go quickly. I followed her briskly down the corridor. Her eyes darted around in the elevator.

Is everything okay? This girl was getting weirder and weirder. I decided that next semester I’d find a new study partner.

Yes, of course. I just have to go and do something. I hope I didn’t miss the bus. Do you think I missed the bus?

I had a feeling she didn’t really expect me to answer. As we hurried down the path to the bus stop, she was muttering under her breath. I listened carefully.

Please send me a bus. I need to do the Service.

Maybe I’d just study by myself for the rest of the summer session.

As we skirted around the iron gates at the entrance to the drive, we saw the bus pull away.

Oh, I’m sorry. Will you have to wait long for the next one? I was concerned. She looked at me wide-eyed. She didn’t blink.

No, she said. Another bus is coming now.

I peered at the faded timetable on the bus stop wall. It says here they’re only every twenty minutes.

A bus is coming for me. She still wasn’t blinking.

In downtown Montreal the bus routes go up and down the busy main roads, leaving the side streets for parking. Suddenly, down the hill and past the college library a bus was on its way.

Is that a number 23? Oh good. A bus came for me. I’ll be on time.

I looked at her and then at the approaching bus. I swallowed hard, Isn’t that street one way… in the other direction?

She shrugged. It might be, but I needed a bus.

You needed a bus so a bus just came?

She nodded and started getting out her ticket.

How did that happen?

It was sent for me, she said lightly.

As the door opened I called out, Who sent it?

Her response was lost as the doors closed behind her. Without the music, I couldn’t have known that my life would never be the same again.

Chapter 1

I blame it all on Spike. She says if I blame it on anyone I should blame it on my sister. Spike has a fair point. If I hadn’t been in such a rush to get away from the mess Stacy left behind when she rode out of town on the back of her boyfriend’s Harley, I would never have been in Montreal. I certainly wouldn’t have gone three months early for my freshman year, and would have had a normal study partner. But if it wasn’t for Spike I would never have met Seth.

I was on my way, slightly late, cutting across campus through the old, brick Arts building to the concrete monstrosity that was the science building. My phone buzzed in my bag and, despite my lateness, I took the call.

Hey Spike, I smiled down the phone at my longtime best friend. I heard a click and an intake of breath.

Cigarette lit, Spike replied, What’s doing, Chloe? Still studying like a crazy person? You realize this is totally against the code.

I know, I know. The alternative to being a jock is not being a nerd. There is a third way.

It sounds like you need reminding.

I defended myself. There’s no one around. What am I supposed to do? Find someone in the street and start walking next to them like we’re friends?

It worked for Crazy Steve, she laughed.

Whose name, may I point out, is Crazy, I repeat Crazy, Steve. The guy’s on meds for a reason.

I could almost hear Spike nodding as she conceded the point. True, but you have to admit that he doesn’t lack for social interaction.

Much of which takes place in his own head. I didn’t want to admit how close to the truth she was getting. Arriving at a new college just in time to take the summer session hadn’t been the best way to meet people in a new city.

Spike gave a little snort of mirth. Is it really that hard?

I sighed. No, it’s not. But at least studying gives me something to do.

"That’s great, but I didn’t mean the school work. I meant the whole Stacy thing. She ran off and your parents went mental. I got the memo, but chica, you can’t spend the rest of your life in mourning. Montreal is a party city; I looked it up online. There are some mega cool bars, live music in the clubs, free jazz on the streets, the works. You could put a shout out on Facebook and before you know it, you’d have the friends of your friends to hang with. There is no need to sit around in the library licking your wounds. Either get yourself out and get some friends, or go to therapy."

I sighed. I’m running way too late to be having this conversation. I took the easy way out. Okay, I got you. Make friends. Will do.

I’m looking forward to a progress report. Spike’s tone was light, but I knew she meant what she said.

I slipped into my regular seat in class. If the professor saw my late arrival, he didn’t seem to care. The class passed painlessly enough. About halfway through, I noticed that the guy three rows up was looking at me. I glanced to my left at Tal, my study partner. There was no one else he could be winking at except me or her. Somehow I knew it wasn’t her. I tried to look over in his direction without being too obvious. I don’t think it worked because he only smiled more.

Is he a friend of yours? Tal whispered.

I shook my head. Don’t think so. At least, I don’t remember meeting him.

I waited for her to laugh at the slight admission of (admittedly fake) drunken guilt. Her face remained totally impassive.

At the end of class, he made a beeline for the two of us.

Hi! How are you doing? he called out.

Before I knew it, Tal had blushed, mumbled goodbye and disappeared into the background, leaving me to fend for myself. I watched her brown ponytail go bobbing off into the distance. Smiling as brightly as possible, I wondered what kind of mess I was getting myself into.

Was this not one of the most boring classes you’ve ever taken? he asked cheerfully. He started walking with me, although I wasn’t sure where he was headed.

No, I shook my head. Last session I took organic chem with Professor Goodwill.

He groaned. Ahh, the infamous Professor Goodwill with the ever-present spittle.

I’ve always wondered myself if it isn’t toothpaste. Maybe he’s OCD about brushing his teeth? I glanced at him, trying to work out where we’d met before.

But then why is he always wiping his mouth? my nameless companion countered.

I laughed and shook my head. There were cute wrinkles around his blue eyes as he laughed. With blond hair and a slight tan, I can’t say I was sorry to find myself in his company.

My roommate claims that once Professor Moody lost her shoulder pad halfway down her sleeve and tried, surreptitiously, to shake it out.

He broke out laughing again. I was in that class, he said triumphantly.

I stopped walking and looked at him. You weren’t! Did it really hit someone in the face?

Michael Chan. I understand he kept it as a souvenir.

Now it was my turn to laugh.

When I could breathe again, he stuck out his hand. Josh Wilks. We haven’t actually met.

I was wondering, I said as we shook, I’m Chloe Diaz.

And why, Miss Diaz, do you have nothing better to do with your summer than to take survey science courses? Two sessions worth, no less?

I paused for a second then shrugged. It seemed like a good idea at the time. It’s not a bad city to spend the summer in, and I wanted to knock off a few pre-recs before the semester starts.

You’ll be a freshman? he asked, as we wandered out to the lush expanse of grassy lawn in front of campus.

We all have to start somewhere. And it is supposed to be the Ivy League of Canada, I justified, partly to break the silence.

It’s a good school. Don’t take that away by mentioning Canada. He threw up his hands in mock horror.

You’re not Canadian? I eyed him suspiciously.

Good grief, no. He said with passion. I’m from Boston. And you are definitely not Canadian, either.

I sensed a question. Texas, more specifically El Paso.

El Paso, that’s practically Mexico.

I did say my name was Diaz, I pointed out.

Why would you swap sunny Texas for soon to be freezing cold Montreal … unless you have a passion for gun control? His eyes wrinkled again.

It was the furthest away from Texas I could get without going to England.

Much to my relief, someone called his name from further down the hill before he had a chance to ask why I was in such a rush to get away.

Josh looked apologetic. I gotta run, but will you come out with a bunch of us tonight? We’re going to the legendary Chubby’s.

I was just thinking that I’d never heard of the place, when I heard my mouth say, Sure, what time? Apparently my mouth was in league with Spike. Not wanting to look like a total lunatic, I realized I’d have to go.

Spike’s work schedule meant I had to have the obligatory what-to-wear crisis alone. After some debate, I settled on black pants with a slight sparkle and a crocheted white sweater with a white T-shirt underneath. I put on a moderate amount of eye makeup (because my brown eyes are dark enough), nude lipstick, the handcrafted silver earrings I got last Christmas, and, as always, I piled my wavy black hair up on top of my head.

My stomach performed instant lap band surgery as I pushed open the heavy bar door. I wasn’t an expert in bar décor but with dark walls and colored lights, this one was everything TV had led me to expect.

Sitting facing the bar, Josh and his friends were hard to miss. The only other customers were a group of blond tourists huddled over a map of the city.

Over here, Josh called, despite the fact I’d already seen them. Everyone, He called out, This is Chloe Diaz from El Paso, Texas. She may have come to Canada to embrace gun control.

The collective everyone turned to smile. Josh rattled off the names of everyone else there, all eight of them, and I instantly forgot them all. They were spread out over three tables, implying that others had still to come. I sat next to Josh, across from a pretty girl with long corn blond hair and a smattering of freckles.

I’m Bernice, but everyone calls me Bernie, the blond girl smiled. You might as well just take the names one at a time.

I caught her accent and couldn’t place it. Are you from Australia?

No, New Zealand. Bernie answered with a slight smile.

Across the table another girl, whose name I clearly hadn’t caught, took a sharp breath in mock horror. Careful! To be taken for Australian instead of a New Zealander is as bad as a Canadian being thought American. Beneath short spiky hair, her eyes twinkled as she spoke, like I’d just been admitted into an international conspiracy.

I take it that you’re Canadian? I dared to ask.

The spiky-haired girl cracked a wide smile and put one finger to her lips. Sssh, you caught me, she said in a flawless American accent. I’m really from France. I’m trying to infiltrate the Anglos. She winked.

I liked her already. Your secret is safe with me. Is anyone here actually Canadian?

I am, said an Asian guy with hair skirting the edge of one eye. I’m from Winnipeg. He put a drink down on the table in front of Bernie and sat next to her, about an inch closer than was polite. He must be her boyfriend.

I braced myself for all the usual barrage of ‘where do you come from’ variety of questions. None came. They didn’t seem to mind who I was or why I was there. Being Chloe from Texas was enough. After the obvious cracks about El Paso being practically Mexico, I stayed out of the conversation. I didn’t like having to explain how someone with the name Diaz ending up with quite such pale skin.

The group of eight quickly doubled in size. It seemed anyone who was on campus for the summer was welcome to hang out with Josh and his ever-expanding circle of friends. Spike was right this was just what I needed; some easy banter and the chance to finally unwind.

At about ten, I looked at my watch and was surprised that so much time had passed. I was about to make some ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ type joke, when the bar door opened and the most attractive man I’d ever seen in the flesh entered. His jaw could have been chiseled out of marble by Michelangelo. His dark, tousled hair brushed his sun-kissed forehead, skirting the edge of deep green eyes. His skin was tanned to perfection, but not so much that you’d suspect he’d put any effort into acquiring it. Slight stubble washed his cheeks, too long to be just the product of laziness, but not enough to be called a beard. A black short-sleeved shirt was open showing a black T-shirt stretched over a well-defined body. His dark jeans had no belt.

As the place had filled up, our group had moved closer together. The only free chair was next to me. The god of good looks sat down. I tried not to stare.

Josh put one hand on the back of my chair, Seth, this is Chloe Diaz. She’s new around here. Chloe, this is my brother.

Seth turned his emerald eyes towards me and nodded politely. Then something someone said on the other table caught his attention. I wanted to yell, No, look at me, as he quickly turned away to follow the furious debate. Something inside me sighed. Deep down in the inner recesses of your heart, every girl dreams that one day the unattainable guy will waltz into her life and transform her into the princess. But in my life, with Stacy always having been the princess, I was left to be the ugly sister.

An iPad is not going to bring clean drinking water to anybody. The guy from Nigeria was quivering with indignation.

The British chick’s eyes twinkled with glee. You can’t argue that technology doesn’t have any place in improving lives.

So while AIDS ravages the African continent, they can have 15,000 tracks to keep them company?

Josh shifted edgily in his seat. I wondered if she was hitting too close to home. I saw Bernie exchange a look with Seth.

Hey, Bernie, is it true that in New Zealand they have a giant inflatable ball and you can run down the side of a mountain like a hamster in a cage? Seth’s voice was enough to stop all other conversations in their tracks. Everyone looked at Bernie.

Sure they do, it’s the new bungee jumping, she called back, slightly too loudly.

I thought paragliding was the new bungee jumping? someone countered.

A wave of relief had everyone chattering excitedly about ever crazier sporting options.

Seth leant over in my direction.

Are you into extreme sports? he asked softly. I caught my breath as his tone made a mundane question unbelievably intimate.

Only vicariously, I answered, and immediately congratulated my mouth for producing an answer worthy of the moment without bothering to bypass my brain.

He cracked a smile. His left cheek had a dimple.

He looked me in the eyes and I nearly died.

Why are you making this happen to me? We both know that I don’t date the untouchable guys. I date the normal guys, maybe the friends of the untouchable cool guys. I go to the movies, watch Kristen Stewart do what I can only dream of, and like any other girl I go home happy with the fantasy. But I won’t ever go home with Rob Patterson, so don’t ruin my dreams by making me hope.

Are there any other pleasures you enjoy as a voyeur?

Do you have no mercy?

Line dancing; although, strictly speaking, it is an extreme sport. My mouth was on a roll.

He smirks. I haven’t much experience with line dancing.

I’m from Texas, I shrug.

He’s not sure if I’m joking. What do you wear to go line dancing?

Steel-toe capped boots, a floor length velvet dress and fake eyelashes. It’s my turn to laugh. His face is a picture. I’m actually serious. It really happened. I did say it was an extreme sport.

He looks at me curiously, And you made it out alive?

I nodded. Ok, I’ll tell you the whole story. My best friend back home is an uber goth: long straight black hair down to her bottom, porcelain white skin and enough eyeliner to make a drag queen proud. It drives her mother crazy. Her mother is this super southern-beauty-queen-Barbie-doll type. She decided that Spike and her needed to spend more quality time together so they went line dancing. Her current (and fourth) husband is some sort of line dancing champion. Spike said she’d only go if I went to.

Spike? he raised his eyebrows.

Her real name is Lauralee Crystabell. If she ever finds out I told you, we will both have to die.

I’ll take the secret to the grave. So you went all gothed up? Is that your usual mode of dress? He looked me up and down.

No… yes… sometimes. I opened my mouth and said something I’d never admitted to myself before. I pretty much just do it to fit in with her. Our other best friend, Jared, does too. Although in his case I think it’s just an excuse to wear makeup. It’s not that I’m not into it at all. I’m not a total wannabe. It’s just not really my identity. Although it can be pretty cool sometimes.

I knew it couldn’t last more than about thirty seconds. I waited for him to turn away, now that I just admitted I’m a total loser.

He’s still staring at me.

I wriggled in my seat and shut my eyes.

When I opened them he was still staring at me.

I could feel my heart beating through my chest and there was too much saliva in my mouth. This has to be a dream. Any minute now I’m going to find myself naked in a room full of people.

But he’s still staring at me.

With any luck it could be one of those dreams.

A smile started to spread slowly across his face.

Crap. This is real.

Is he about to kiss me?

Suddenly Bernie called over, Are you coming for burgers, Seth?

The moment was broken. He looked at her, smiled a different smile, and raised an eyebrow.

He has perfect eyebrows, does he pluck them?

Sorry, some of us have to work. You young things will have to go without me. Then he laughed, not even bothering to fake indignation for long. Everyone started to gather their stuff. The party was obviously breaking up.

He’s a bartender in a place a few blocks down, Josh explained. You want to get something to eat?

I wasn’t hungry but I went anyway.

I gave a full report the next day when Spike was on her cigarette and cell phone break. I couldn’t actually see her, but experience told me she was sitting in the driving seat of her silver SUV rather than smoking on the street. I could picture her perched with the door open, looking more like someone’s kid than the car’s owner. At five foot two, the SUV’s wheels were nearly taller than her. She’d only taken the burger flipping job to keep Jared company for the summer before she went to Harvard. Having managed to get him into community college, now she was working on getting him out of the closet.

At least you found some friends. Would I approve?

Probably, it turns out there are more types than just jock or nerd, I said with a smile.

Do you mean that there’s life outside of high school? She asked with mock terror.

There might be. I’m at least leaving myself open to the possibility. It’s a hypothesis worthy of more detailed research.

I heard the deep intake of breath that signaled the start of her second cigarette. Her break wasn’t over yet, so she must be trying to buy some time.

When she was ready, she spoke, Let me recap. We’ve got Josh the cute blond guy in your class that might be interested in you, time will tell, but he hasn’t yet done anything to capture your attention; Bernie, cool kid from New Zealand, and her Asian-Canadian boyfriend Charlie; Maxine is from France with cool spiky hair; Dwayne from Nigeria’s a bit of a know-it–all, but fun to have around because he’s always got an opinion. He sounds like our own Martin, aka Slasher.

Exactly, I interjected. Wait, Martin’s going by Slasher?

He’s trying. I don’t think it’s going to stick. Even with sixteen piercings you know that in his soul he wears a pocket protector.

I giggled. I was sitting on my bed leaning against a mound of pillows. My room was big enough to have my bed smack bang in the middle and still have space for a desk behind the door. I liked the bed open from all sides, it felt untethered. I pulled my knees up to my chest as I listened to her recap.

Then you have an assorted bunch of other international student randoms and Mr. Too-Cool-To-Be-True.

That’s about right. Pleasant images of the gorgeous Seth floated through my mind.

Are you going to make a play for him? Spike asked calmly.

I snorted, Not freaking likely. Why would I do a stupid thing like that? Did you miss the part where he’s a pre-med philosophy major, who plays in a band, works in a bar, as well as being the hottest guy in the city?

No, I got that the first five times you mentioned it. But he’s cool and hot, does there need to be another reason?

"Aren’t you the one who refused to read Twilight because there was no basis for their relationship?"

Spike chuckled. Please, if you’re going to die you should have a better reason for doing it than because the guy is hot.

Edward and Bella have a love that is true, so don’t even go there. But even if his being hot was the only basis for their relationship, you’re saying it’s a good reason for me to date someone? I sat up on the bed.

I’m saying that it’s a bad reason to die. It is, however, a very good reason to express an interest in getting to know someone better.

There are more than enough girls expressing an interest. I don’t need to go jumping on that particular bandwagon, thank you. I walked over to my desk and flicked open my laptop. Sitting in front of the computer had a comforting feeling of being productive without actually having to do anything.

Don’t give me that, ‘if all of your friends jumped off the Brooklyn bridge, would you, too?’ crap. Sometimes all of your friends are going bungee jumping.

We laughed in unison.

Someone has to date him, why not you?

There is a serious flaw in your hypothesis? Word is he’s stayed single quite happily for the last year. I flicked through PowerPoint slides for my class.

It’s the summer; everyone wants to date in the summer. It’s seasonal.

I stopped what I was doing. There was a funny note in her voice. Everyone wants to date in the summer?

Spike, who are you dating?

Why do you think I’m dating anyone? Spike could be a big baby when she wanted.

No, don’t bother giving me the runaround. It’s seasonal, who are you dating?

She paused, probably working out if she could get out of it.

Some kid from Phoenix, she said casually.

Phoenix? What kid from Phoenix? Who do you know in Arizona? I groaned inwardly.

There was silence. I wasn’t talking until she did. I wondered how much longer her break from work would last.

Reluctantly she spoke, His name’s Fred. He came down to El Paso to work at Doug’s. You should see his artwork. It’s hella cool. Most people can’t get that much texture on body art.

So it was love at first sight when you got a new tattoo? I wasn’t going to let her try the old blind them with details trick on me.

No, she said quickly, I’d have told you if I got a new tat.

But not a new boyfriend. I shot back jumping up from my seat.

It’s not like it’s official; we just hung out a few times. You haven’t exactly been available recently. I’ve been pretty hard pressed to get through the walls of misery without so much as a smoke signal.

Aren’t goths supposed to wallow in self-pity? I countered.

Come on, Chlo, you’re not a goth, she spat back.

I’d just admitted as much to a total stranger, but it stung when she said it. Especially when she said it.

There was a heavy pause. Spike sighed, Hang on a sec, can we both breathe? Are we really squaring off to fight?

It was my turn to sigh. No. I wish you’d have told me there was someone new in the picture. It feels weird not to know what’s going on in your life.

Yeah, well, ditto. The hurt filled her voice.

Fair enough. I got it, more detail, more disclosure. I sank onto my bed.

Okay, me too. Now I see why people are always so against long distance relationships. Spike sounded more like her old self.

Want to tell me more about him? I asked tentatively.

Her tone softened. I could bet she was smiling. He grew up in Philly, but his Mom got remarried last year, so he went to live with his Dad in Arizona. He was in college and dropped out. Got a job in Phoenix and started making beautiful pictures.

How did you meet?

The smile was still in her voice, Remember when Ricky Ray and JC had that ‘tea’ party? Ricky Ray invited Fred as thanks for doing such dope work on his shoulder. Fred and I ended up wasted on the sofa, having one of those late night conversations that seem really deep, but with 20/20 hindsight are just stupid.

About what?

Pottery and its meaning as an art form. Whether Styrofoam deserves more recognition as a medium.

I chuckled. He did sound cool. One conversation does not a dreamy Spike make.

I almost heard her lick her lips with pleasure. "Yesterday we hung out in the mall just the two of us. They were showing Friday the Thirteenth as a matinee and he asked if I wanted to go. When the movie started, he held my hand. It was really old school."

Did he kiss you? I asked, fascinated by the guy who made Spike sound all young-love.

Yeah, we hooked up last week. But you know it was at the end of the night when most people had already left or passed out, so I wasn’t sure that it counted. Now it looks like we’re on the way to being official.

So soon?

What’s soon? We’ve hung out every night.

You didn’t say that. I said accusingly.

"What’s there to tell? I was just passing on the good bits. He kept finding some lame-assed reason to hang around with me until he asked me out. Obviously, I would normally be forced to break him into small pieces but it happens that I like him so I let him live. If I’ve decided he’s worth the effort, why not make it official? It saves me the trouble of dealing with anyone else who might try to muscle in. But chica, I gotta go flip some burgers." She hung up.

Spike’s in love, or at least ‘luuurve?’ She doesn’t usually date. She hooks up with guys when the mood takes her and she had that whole polyamorous thing going with JC last year, which was really just an excuse to hedge their bets at the end of the night. How did anyone get Spike to giggle and consider going steady? Should I go home and check it out? What am I thinking? Going home would mean being at home. I’m not ready to face Mom and Dad

Reviews for Life in the Palace (Book 1 - The Palace Saga)

[yonitdm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting take on the paranormal romance genre. I loved the characters, they felt real, it was easy to keep up with the assortment of background characters because they were given some sort of backstory and description that many books gloss over. The theme of "the world is not as it seems" is handled in an entirely new way and it's fascinating to see it through the eyes of the new character. While other books in the genre have unrealistic buy in to the acceptance of someone from the outside entering a "new world" Life in the Palace handled it from both the main character looking in and the dwellers of the Palace looking out at this person trying to enter their world. I hated the end because I wanted to know more! I am so happy to hear that there are more books in the series so the readers aren't left hanging!

[l_manning · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Chloe Diaz is starting a new life in Montreal. She's discovering a whole new world, one that includes her classmate Tal and the very handsome Seth. Seth and Chloe are immediately drawn to each other, but Chloe also begins to find interest in Tal's background. Tal belongs to a group of believers known as "The People," and Chloe begins to learn more about them. The People are caught in an eternal battle on an entirely different spiritual plane, and they create ammunition and strength for the battle by being of service in the physical realm. Unfortunately for Chloe, the worlds of Tal's beliefs and her relationship with Seth become intertwined in ways Chloe could have never imagined, and things will never be the same.So I found the concept of this book to be really interesting. However, I'm not sure the execution lived up to the idea. The relationship of Chloe and Seth was very quick, and while I don't particularly enjoy that kind of thing it made sense within the context of the book. The plot kind of stalled out after that though. Some of that was due to some of the necessary exposition with Tal and The People, and then setting up their relationship with Chloe and Seth. Things kind of drug from there though until very close to the end. When things really began to wrap up together, things got very exciting again. Maybe this is just due to my general dislike of schmaltzy romance? There is a lot of that in this book. Think Twilight levels of sudden soulmate-ness. I know a lot of people dig that though, so they may not feel like it drags as much as I did.I did like Chloe though. She was a girl who did things her own way and for her own reasons. Even while being caught up in this sudden romance, she was very capable of making her own decisions that were best for her life. Seth is very much a dream guy who tons of girls will want to see more of. Tal and her group were even more interesting to me. I wanted even more explanation of what they did and why and how it all worked. I did think that Tal and friends did not come off looking very good with the way they handled the Chloe situation, but then no one really comes off looking the hero in all this. In the end, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The ending felt very unsatisfying for me, but it certainly left me hanging. However this is a creative book with interesting concepts. I think people who enjoy romance and adventure will find things to like in this book. Book provided for review.