Review: CHASING POWER by Sarah Beth Durst

Title: Chasing Power
Author: Sarah Beth Durst (@sarahbethdurst)
Published: October 14th, 2014
Series: N/A
Genre: YA Paranormal
POV: 3rd Person
Pages: 376
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: eARC / Hardcover
Source: Author, Netgalley / Purchased
Rating: The Royal Library, Middle Shelf

Sixteen-year-old Kayla was born with the ability to move things with her mind-things like credit cards and buttons on cash registers-and she has become a master shoplifter. She steals to build up enough money for her and her mom to be able to flee if her dad finds them again . . . which would mean grave danger for them both.

When she's caught stealing by a boy named Daniel-a boy with the ability to teleport-he needs her help and is willing to blackmail her to get it. Together, they embark on a quest to find and steal an ancient incantation, written on three indestructible stones and hidden millennia ago, all to rescue Daniel's kidnapped mother. But Kayla has no idea that this rescue mission will lead back to her own family-and to betrayals that she may not be able to forgive . . . or survive.

Kayla might seem like your average girl, but she has telekinetic powers, a penchant for thievery, and her father is out to kill her. But, Kayla still feels like she has the act of normalcy down, until a teleporting young man named Daniel shows up and threatens to blackmail her if Kayla doesn't help him find his kidnapped mother. Together, with a little help from Kayla's friend Selena, Kayla and Daniel travel the world in search of dangerous stones and Daniel's mother, before it's too late to save anyone. 

Chasing Power is an action-packed, thrilling, super-powered adventure. The characters have plenty of humor, resourcefulness, and determination. The settings are lush, vivid, and made me wish I had the funds to travel the world. Once the action begins, there's never a dull moment, and Durst keeps this whirlwind adventure thrilling and surprising until the very end. The secrets that are revealed are shocking, and I found it difficult to set this story aside because how captivating it proved to be. Superpowers, secrets, and one epic treasure hunt, Chasing Power is the epitome of entertaining. 

Highlights: The characters with special abilities were fascinating, but I loved how even with their talents, nothing came easily. Selena is easily the most wonderful BFF ever - she may be a privileged and wealthy girl, but she's genuine, smart, and more capable than most people might expect. The romance is only slightly starting to build by the end of the novel, and I appreciate the way Durst put the focus on family and the overall adventure/mystery first.  

Lowlights: Kayla falls victim to an unfortunately normal problem in YA lit - not reaching out to an adult when s#!* hits the fan. So much could have changed or been avoided had she reached out to her mother. But, that's just the reasonable part of me - the bookworm in me is grateful for her mistakes, because it helped create a thrilling story.

Cover: I had to take a moment to appreciate this outstanding cover. Very symbolic, very eye-catching, and it reminds me of Metric's album Fantasies, which is always great.

Rating: The Royal Library, Middle Shelf: Highly Enjoyed, 4+ out of 5. Action, adventure, awesome abilities, fantastic best friends, family, and plenty of secrets...Durst makes it easy to love Chasing Power. This is the type of novel that has it all, and leaves you with the urge to start rereading again. 

I received an advanced electronic copy of this novel from the author for review consideration. 

This is no way affected my opinion of the novel.