Review: Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

Title: Intrinsical
By: Lani Woodland
Level: Young Adult Paranormal/Mystery
Publisher: Pendrell Publishing 
                    (August 20, 2010)
My: Copy Review Copy from Publisher
BookWhisperer Rating:

Description:
Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn't want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist's attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn't going to go quietly.

Intrinsical has taken Lani Woodland writings to a whole new level. Her carefully crafted story will propel readers through the pages. Yara is an awesome main character, but her ghost communicating family history will seal the deal for all readers. Cherie, Yara's best friend, was a great accomodation to the storyline with the family history and knowledge. Lastly, Brent was delightful and yummy.  Well that was until you discover that there are two of him. This is a novel packed full of paranormal/ghostly aspects that it seems all characters are comfortable; realistically this seemed vaguely far fetched but ultimately did not hender the story. Pendrell seemed the perfect beautiful setting for the story, and it's detailed description made for easy visualization. Midway through this story Woodland created a twist that I have yet to see an any other book. Not many stories can successfully manipulate a main character so drastically halfway through. Impressively, Lani showed the ability to continue the story without skipping a beat. Only to be sidewinded with the conclusion that twist yet again, and without hendering her story. Transitions may have seemed to appear rugged, but they proved to be carefully crafted to lead the reader through moments of confusion; thus allowing readers to experience the characters befuddled emotions in these same moments. Woodland has an impressive ability to create stories that carry suspense, mystery, and romance that use little effort to explore.  As an avid reader of The Baby Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High this is far leap from either, but I would have to say that Lani Woodland has found her calling.