Auracle by Gina Rosati Review

Title: Auracle
Author: Gina Rosati
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publish Date: August 7, 2012
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 304
Source: Author

16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe.

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.

Anna has an extremely unique gift. She can leave her body at will and travel to another world, or plane, where things are a refreshing change from the ordinary. It's always been a gift until one day, it becomes a curse. When a devastating accident happens, Anna's body is inhabited by Taylor, a schoolmate suddenly looking for a home. Now, Anna's spirit is locked outside her body and time is running out. Can she and her best friend Rei find a way to get Anna back to her old self before it's too late?

We've all read about super, extraordinary powers in YA. It's nothing new, right? Wrong. Auracle takes what I thought was going to be a mere story about semi-ordinary powers and turned my world entirely upside down. Gina Rosati has crafted a mesmerizing tale of a girl with an extraordinary gift facing unimaginable circumstances. Featuring a sharp, witty and completely refreshing tone, Auracle tackles a new form of the paranormal with ease, weaving us into two worlds with such ease that you might just wonder what is really real.

Anna was a surprisingly pleasant MC to follow throughout Auracle. Whereas many YA heroines are a bit too over-the-top and put-on, I found her to be entirely realistic. She had a youthful, witty voice, and her emotions were spot on to her circumstances. Her love interest, Rei, was a perfect blend of charisma, intelligence and understanding - pretty much the epitome of what a love interest should be. Their connection is a plotline in and of itself, and it lends a sweeter, lighter air to a deep and fast-paced story. Most of all though, it's innocent. I'll admit that Taylor, the villain, fell prey to a lot of the mean girl stereotypes, and while she was a good villain, I do wish there was another layer, or hidden agenda for her character. Colour me crazy, but I like my villains to be truly twisted and entirely too far gone. Auracle doesn't shy away from the action either. The plot is consistently changing and morphing - transforming its characters and demanding that the reader keep up with its steady, ever-moving pace. With wit, charm, excitement and loads of character, Auracle kicks this tired genre up a notch yet again.

I am actually quite surprised just how much I enjoyed Auracle and, to those wondering, yes - it lives up to its gorgeous cover! I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal.

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