Touch of Death ARC Review

TOUCH OF DEATH 
BY KELLY HASHWAY

Released Jan 15th by Spencer Hill Press .

If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you do! 

You are definitely in for a treat.

"If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct..."

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins. 

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. 

 All About Kelly! 

I write for children of all ages from picture books up to young adult. I am proudly represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management. My debut YA, TOUCH OF DEATH, releases January 15, 2013 through Spencer Hill Press. Also look for my other upcoming YA novels: STALKED BY DEATH (Spencer Hill Press, July 23, 2013), THE MONSTER WITHIN (Spencer Hill Press, April 2014), THE DARKNESS WITHIN (Spencer Hill Press, TBA), and INTO THE FIRE (Month9Books, spring 2014). My debut MG series CURSE OF THE GRANVILLE FORTUNE releases in 2016 through Month9Books.

MY REVIEW

** ARC received from SPENCER HILL PRESS, my affiliation with the company in no way affects my review **

Admittedly, I have been sitting on this review for a good while. I'm not quite sure why.
I knew I had to read this book when I first came across Kelly's website. Necromancers and Medusa?? Yes please! Not to mention, the cover is GORGEOUS. There was so much contained in just the synopsis, I was itching to get a review copy. The day it came in the mail, I spent the rest of the afternoon devouring it on my couch. 

You jump right into the story from page one and it never really slows down. After a sequence of bizarre happenings--and when I say bizarre, I mean seriously weird--Jodi is confronted by a cute and mysterious stranger. There were a bunch of questions running through my head at this point--what the heck, zombie animals?! Stalker?! Geez, this Jodi girl sure is unlucky.
But, I loved her character right away. She questions what is happening to her which is always nice to see in a main character. Yet, she steps into her role and passes with flying colors.
Jodi is faced with some harsh realities and must leave her mother and the world she knows behind. (This is the emotional part of the book. eek!)
After learning she is Ophi, her training in Necromancy begins. (This was my favorite part of the book!) Having Zombies as servants is so creepy, yet kinda cool. And the process in which they raise the dead and control them is pretty fascinating. Plus, the backdrop of mythology gave this story a unique touch. Jodi even comes face to face with Hades! Ah! I don't want to give anything away, so I won't say anymore.
Just know that she really proves herself as a strong female lead by the end this book! Jodi has immense strength and with Alex by her side she definitely has what it takes to save her people. 
Speaking of Alex, he is such a charmer once you get past the fact that he started out as a stalker. I loved how well he works with Jodi, he's patient with her and really comes through when everyone else is against her. 
Kelly has a wonderful and captivating writing style. One that really sucks you in. She manages to take the 'deadly touch theme' to a whole new level, breathing originality and some serious spunk into it. Any YA fan will get along great with Touch of Death! I can't wait for Stalked By Death which comes out July of this year.
Keep 'em coming Kelly!