The Sixth Power

OOH.. I'm excited that I've been reading some really great books as of late and this one is no exception!

The Sixth Power - Carol Nicolas

Tania Westing, a high school senior, is one of the Gifted Ones, descendants of an ancient family with seven special powers. Some of the powers are common, and some are rare.

Until her geneticist brother Tom was murdered, Tania lived an ordinary life. Now hidden in her mind is a clue that will reveal Tom’s research, including secret formulas to unlock all seven powers. During spring break, Tania meets and falls in love with handsome Dan Maclean. When Tania reveals her rare power to heal, the evil Gifted Ones who killed Tom suspect Tania has his research and formulas and come after her. Tania must learn to use her powers to help save Dan’s sister in time to keep Tom’s secrets safe.

While this is a YA novel, it doesn't fully feel like it. If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, you'll probably enjoy this because the secret carried throughout this book is a riddle of sorts from that book. I am also left chanting,"sequel, sequel" because you are left with some loose ends and a big of a cliff hanger at the very end. 

Tania has had a life full of loss- her mother died in an accident and her brother died of an apparent suicide. But all is not as it seems and that goes with everyone around her. She is quickly realizing that she's not really a normal kid and things are happening all around her that puts her life in jeopardy. Her very much in denial father takes her to Arizona where she meets Dan. She pretty much falls for Dan but he also opens her eyes to things she's always suspected but are being confirmed. Danger isn't at bay for too long of course and upon her arrival home- things escalate quickly. She's being hunted for secrets her brother has "hidden" in her mind of his genetic research and even Tania doesn't know what the enemy wants, and she's not fully sure who the enemy is. Tania is "gifted" and she's only beginning to learn what gifts she has, how to use them, and how to know when it's appropriate to use them. She is reunited with her mother's sister who is trying to give her a really crash course training to develop her gifts but it's not quite enough. 

This book is a really fast read because you almost feel like your Tania- you're trying to figure it all out with her and none of it really makes sense. And even in the end? I felt like I was just getting the tip of the larger iceberg. Such a great book and I can't wait to read what's next for Tania and her friends!