Tunnelville (Mad World book #2) - Erin Callahan & Troy H Gardner

5+++++ Stars!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

Following their panicked escape from Wakefield, Astrid Chalke, Max Fisher, and their friends find themselves adrift and on the run in western Massachusetts. After picking up a young thief with a complex philosophy, and dealing with the pains of prescription drug withdrawal, they make their way to Boston.

Drained by a long trek to the city, the damaged teens settle in an underground tunnel community--a city below the city that appears to lie on the fringes of both the world above and the world of magic. Among the eccentric tunnel folk, they encounter the fabulous Angie DeVille, a self-made hipster and socialite who takes them under her neon wing and envelops them in her breathless and fast paced life.

Funded by a seemingly ruthless organization, the relentless Dr. Lycen is tasked to hunt down the Wakefield escapees. But as Astrid and Max eke out a meager existence in their new home and do their best to stay off Dr. Lycen's radar, they learn that new and even more harrowing threats might be lurking just over the horizon.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS -

Erin Callahan lives with her husband in the bustling metropolis of Hooksett, New Hampshire, and works for the federal government. She enjoys reading and writing young adult fiction, playing recreational volleyball, and mining the depths of pop culture for new and interesting ideas. A year after graduating from law school, she found herself unemployed and took a job at a residential facility similar to the one featured in Wakefield. Though she worked there for just over a year, the strange and amazing kids she met will forever serve as a well of inspiration.

Troy H. Gardner grew up in Sunapee, NH, and graduated with a B.A. in English/Communications with a dual concentration in film and writing from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He spent ten years working in the banking industry dreaming up numerous stories to write. When not writing, Troy keeps mental notes on the various stories he wants to tell.

MY REVIEW -

I LOVE THIS SERIES! This will probably be my favorite series of the year! It was almost as if they wrote this series just for me. Again the second book got very mixed reviews on Amazon - personally, I just don't get it! What's not to like? Maybe they are taking it too seriously. But, to each their own. That's why there are so many kinds of books.

I loved it! I almost think I liked this one even better than the first one! And that hardly ever happens.

Great storyline, great character development, great descriptions, and lots of great quirky lines. One of the things I loved most about this series. Is the authors got the teenagers spot on. I hate reading a YA book where the teens talk like adults. I read it thinking "A teenager would never say that." In this book the teens are perfect, they actually talk and think and act like teens. Now that's what I would expect. I loved all of the teen banter back and forth, it was perfect, it was like I was eavesdropping. It made me wonder if the Authors themselves have a passel of teens or if they just sit and observe.

Sure, I wasn't in  love with ALL the characters, but that very rarely happens in any book. I did have my favorites tho! But even if I didn't like them they were all still fun and very believable. And in the end, when all paranormal hell broke loose - I had no trouble at all picturing it! Job well done!

Also there was a nice touch of magic/paranormal that did not overtake the story. I thought it was a good blend.

Here's a few lines I  liked -

"They want all of us to steal from some college kids," Ben said.

"Not steal, I said slowly.

"Then what? Astrid asked.

"Okay, steal. I think we should steal from college kids."

"More woods? Azreal asked.

"What Vampires don't like trees? Simon asked.

"Right, dumb-ass, wooden stakes," Lawrence chimed in.

"I'm a Gothic city Vampire, not a rural one. Completely different breed."- LOL loved that one!

"Uh, how about we're tired and hungry and homeless? We rob laundromats, some of us are kind of crazy, there's a nameless conspiracy out to get us, and some of us might have powers we know absolutely nothing about. there's probably more, but my stomach hurts too much to think." - that's pretty much it in a nut shell

I have already been promised book 3 (which I can't wait for!) in June (entirely not soon enough). Sooo check back for that review.

If you want a fun paranormal series to read this year - this is the one to pick!

Thank you so much Erin for sending me this e-book to read and review! (could you guys please write faster?)

Get your copy from Amazon - HERE

Read my review for book one, Wakefield - HERE

And get book one from Amazon - HERE