Ada - Legend of a Healer Review

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Title: Ada - Legend of a Healer
Author: R.A. McDonald
Publisher: House of Lore
Published: January 1, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 260
Source: Publisher

No sickness, No injuries, No pain, No limits. If you had the power to heal, what would you do? For fifteen-year-old Ada discovering that she can heal feels more like a curse than a gift. When she learns of the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance, and sees the indifference of so-called friends, she sets out for Paris to find her.

The power to heal protects her, but also has her hunted by a man who sees her as nothing more than his fountain of youth. Ada realizes her true power is her will to survive, and that her only chance at freedom is to become the best at escaping.

Ada hasn't grown up in a house with a white picket fence. Instead she was cast off and absorbed into the foster care system, quickly putting up a shield of hostility. Always knowledgeable of the sicknesses of those around her and never getting hurt just seemed like facts of life. Finally on her last strike of trouble, an estranged aunt comes to the rescue, giving Ada the knowledge of how to use her healing power. Now Ada, who up to this point has shunned the world, all of the sudden has the power to heal it.
Ada's lived her entire life in the foster system, knowing she has a gift, but is convinced it's more of a curse than anything else. After pulling her last stunt and being caught, Ada is fifteen and past the age that people and her caseworker can simply overlook her childish rebellion. It's either time for her to stay in a home for kids that can't be placed in stable homes, or she goes to Aunt Jessie, her mother's best friend. The two share similar gifts, but Ada resents hers until her unique ability is brought to light and the extent of her power is revealed. Now her gift is a fight between life and death, and the life hanging in the balance is her own.

I have to say this is a first for me. Healers in YA fiction is a nice, refreshing twist on magic and the paranormal, and it was truly a pleasure to lose myself in a world so vastly different than those I've seen. R.A. McDonald has created a world within Ada - Legend of a Healer that's dark and grim, all the while perfectly merging a delicate balance of human nature, the struggle to find oneself and a trippy world where Ada's gift has more than just the power to heal. With intricate details and clever artwork peppering the pages, Ada - Legend of a Healer was a rich world that one can easily lose themselves within.

I didn't know what to expect from Ada, herself, when I started the book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Despite, or in spite of, her incredible gift, Ada is very much a normal teenager within Ada - Legend of a Healer. She's lived a difficult life outside of her gift, and her gift simply amplifies her struggle. Jessie was also a remarkable character. There were moments that I thought I knew her and loved her, and there were times I wanted to strangle her. Throughout it all though, it was apparent that she was doing the best she could, in her own way, to help Ada. The multiple settings, the search for Ada's mother, and the desperate desire to be someone Ada could come to terms with all made Ada - Legend of a Healer poignant and powerful. The only thing I would have specifically changed in the book was to have fleshed out the climax a bit more. I felt it was a bit rushed.

It's rare that I come across a book that so pleasantly surprises me, especially when the cover isn't my favourite (I'm a cover slut...it's no secret). I give Ada - Legend of a Healer a very strong 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to the YA audience, particularly those who enjoy paranormal stories.


I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

21 comments:

  1. This one sounds interesting! Like you said, there hasn't been much done with healers in YA. And if it pleasantly surprised you...it'll probably pleasantly surprise me, too! :)

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  2. Sounds interesting - like a good start to a series. Random question - How did you get the cover picture to show up within the box, or in the corner?

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  3. This is the first I've seen of this one, but it sounds great! I love when books surprise us...I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for this one. Thanks, Melissa!

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  4. This sounds really good especially the refreshing twists of paranormal and magic. It is nice to have something new. Great review :)

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  5. I really am intrigued by the healing aspect of this book, which seems to me a marvelous gift indeed. Ada sounds like a character I would like a lot, and I am really glad you liked this book and shared it since other than your Tuesday Teaser, I had not heard about this one. Thanks for the lovely review!

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  6. I have not read any books with healers. The premise sounds unique, especially since most YA PNR seem to be similar to each other. I am glad to hear that the main protagonist, Ada, behaves like a normal teenager despite her powers.

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  7. I haven't seen this one around much, but I'm going to have to look into it! Thanks for the review Melissa:)
    -Danna

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  8. I really like the sounds of this! It doesn't sound like the typical YA read... Thanks for the great review Melissa!

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  9. oh I love to be pleasantly surprised Melissa! I remember looking at this cover when you had it listed under "currently reading" and thinking I wasn't impressed at all with it but was looking forward to see if the story far surpassed it's packaging. Seems as though it did! Thanks for this review, I definitely would have passed over it otherwise:)

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  10. I will add this one to my list..thanks Melissa!

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  11. Sounds good. Makes me think of the Shifter by Janice Hardy. Have you tried that one yet?

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  12. This sounds really interesting. I like the idea of a healer, too. I'm finding some of the endings in the indie books to be a bit rushed, too. Glad to hear you liked Ada and the multiple settings. I'm with you on the cover. I'll check this one out!

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  13. I have not heard of this book but is soudns like one I definitely read. Nice review Melissa!

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  14. I'm glad you really like this one. I love stories about healers, and there are not many in YA. Jessie sounds like quite a character indeed. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. I liked this one too, Melissa! I was especially interested in her "Parkour" activities and Ada's philosophy on healing versus Jessie's. Did you answer the questions in the back? Not me.

    Heather

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  16. I'm sorry I don't recall every hearing of this bound book. But I think I should of known of it. Thanks for carrying the burden of showing us all yet another wonder.

    Of course, yet again you place a book in front of me!

    Mad Scientist

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  17. Other then on your blog I hadn't heard of this one. But your review now has it on my radar. That's a fantastic review that gave me a much better idea what to expect because that description didn't tell me nearly enough!

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  18. I haven't heard of this one but since you rated it so highly and I like the premise, I'll be adding this one to my wishlist. Great review, Melissa!

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  19. Great review Melissa! I just posted my review of this and it seems we both agree on it. Ada surprised me with how much I enjoyed the characters and the premise; not to mention the changing settings. Ada's time in Paris was by far my favorite part of the book.

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  20. And I forgot to mention: I love the new design. It's so clean, but pretty :)

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