Token of Darkness by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 208 pages
- Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (February 9, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0385737505
- ISBN-13: 978-0385737500
- Purchase Token of Darkness on Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound
Cooper Blake has everything going for him—until he wakes from a car accident with his football career in ruins and a mysterious, attractive girl by his side. Cooper doesn’t know how Samantha got there or why he can see her; all he knows is that she’s a ghost, and the shadows that surround her seem intent on destroying her.
No one from Cooper’s old life would understand what he can barely grasp himself. . . . But Delilah, the captain of the cheerleading squad, has secrets of her own, like her ability to see beyond the physical world, and her tangled history with Brent, a loner from a neighboring school who can hear strangers’ most intimate thoughts. Delilah and Brent know that Cooper is in more trouble than he realizes, and that Samantha may not be as innocent as she has led Cooper to believe. But the only way to figure out where Samantha came from will put them all in more danger than they ever dreamed possible.
* Read an EXCERPT of Token of Darkness.
This is my first book by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and I have to say it doesn't really leave a good impression to me. The story lacks action from the beginning until the middle part, and I feel like it was put together without a main point. Yes, I know Cooper's involved in an accident, there's a ghost who's not really a ghost called Samantha accompanying him, and they both met a psychic named Brent, but I don't feel connected to either of the characters. I think the "darkness" and "shadows" are supposed to make the reader feel scared or at least, acknowledge that it has some horrifying effect. But no, I don't feel anything, at all. I think The Complete Horowitz Horror (which is intended for children aged 12+) is so much better than this book.
SPOILERS!
The ending is better, but it still sounds off. Not quite right, I mean. Turns out Samantha the ghost is actually an elemental, which is a raw form of power. It finally resides in Margaret's body (Margaret is her maker) and Cooper promises to take her out for a date. Duh.
Token of Darkness has some paranormal elements, and the writing is quite good, but it is not exciting enough. I can only say that it is slightly entertaining. Maybe I'll try reading something else by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes in the future. Maybe.
Rating: 
Notes: 100% clean read. No kissing or sexual content. Fans of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes might enjoy this book.
Purchase Token of Darkness on Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes was born in Maryland in 1984 and grew up in Concord, Massachusetts. Her first novel was written when she was thirteen. She currently attends the University of Massachusetts, where she is studying English.
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