Title: Tattoo Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 01/09/07
Summary:
Bailey Morgan isn't the type of girl who shows a lot of skin, but somehow, she ends up in a dressing room at the mall with her friend Delia applying a temporary tattoo to her lower back. Never one to suffer fashion doubt, trendsetter Delia knows exactly where she wants her own tattoo: on her stomach, right where her shirt ends—can you say "midriff"? Annabelle, the quiet one, chooses the back of her neck, and tomboy Zo plasters hers on the top of her foot. The tattoos will last for three days, and Delia's sure that with them, the four friends will absolutely kill at the school dance.
Unfortunately, killing is just what someone has in mind, and Bailey, Delia, Annabelle, and Zo are in for the battle of their lives. Along with her tattoo, each girl receives a gift—a supernatural power to help them in their fight. As Bailey's increasingly frightening dreams reveal the nature of their enemy, it becomes clear to the girls that it's up to them to save the world. And if they can get Delia to stop using her newfound power to turn gum wrappers into Prada pumps, they might actually stand a chance.
Plot: 3 Stars
I loved the idea of tattoos giving the girls certain powers. I especially enjoyed Delia's power of transmogrification (changing objects into different objects) because I had never heard of that specific power before. The author did a great job at weaving the sidhe and the fates together with the story of the four friends -- Bailey, Zo, Annabelle, and Delia. I just felt some of the high school aspects were a bit cliched at times. But the unique twist the author put on the paranormal aspect of the story definitely made up for it.
Pace: 4 Stars
This novel was short and sweet. I finished it in a little under a day, and basically only put it down to eat and sleep. I breezed through the chapters, but the story never felt rushed. It was a fun, light read that kept me guessing until the very end. It was a little short, but I think adding to it would've slowed the plot down in a bad way, so I'm glad it was streamlined and to the point.
Characters: 4 Stars
The four best friends were an awesome group. Each was their own person, but together they became a very strong entity (even before they gain their powers). I especially liked Zo because she's the tomboy of the group and Annabelle because she was very book-smart. Delia, the fashionista and almost-mean girl of the group, could've gotten on my nerves very easily, but Jennifer wrote her in a way that she never crossed that line. Bailey made a good narrator and center focus for the group because I feel she would've faded to the background had one of the others narrated the novel.
Cover: 3 Stars
Although the cover depicts the placement of Bailey's tattoo, I feel that it's a little bland as far as covers go. I would've liked to have seen the four best friends on the cover since all four of them are main characters. It would've also been cool to have the tattoos actually represented, instead of the title being the tattoo. Had I not already known what the novel was about (I met Jennifer at one of Melissa Marr's signings last April), I may not have been interested enough to pick it up and read the back.
Overall: 3.5 Stars
Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.
Sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteI heard of this one around some other blogs and yours is probably the most positive. It looks interesting, but probably not enough for me to get really intrigued. Great review, though.
ReplyDeleteTattoos and powers, that does sound intriguing. If Dannie is saying this is the first positive that doesn't sound good at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a good honest review.
I also think it should be taken into account that this novel was published in early 2007. The Young Adult industry has really taken off in the past couple years and I think it's raised everyone's expectations.
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