VOYA
This second volume in a fantastic teen trilogy from established paranormal fiction writer Armstrong begins with Maya and her friends stuck on a pilotless helicopter about to crash in the isolated mountains of Vancouver Island. Most survive the crash (including Maya's dog), but their trek through the hills is reminiscent of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet, with the added complication of armed enemies running the search parties. The first book in this trilogy ended with Maya and her friends kidnapped, on the pilotless helicopter. This one will not end the story, but at least no one is in immediate mortal danger as the book comes to a close, and the trek through the woods without any supplies is over. Armstrong's strength has always been character development combined with paranormal world building, whether it is Maya and the mountain lion shape-shifters of this novel or the werewolves, witches, and demons of her Otherworld series. This volume is tied tangentially to the Otherworld and her previous YA trilogy, Darkest Powers. The cabals (paranormal mafias disguised as large corporations) are still the ultimate baddies. Their presence will pull her fans further into this newest novel, but new readers—and nonparanormal fans—will simply enjoy the survival tale of a group of teens running for their lives in the remote Canadian mountains. This is a highly entertaining novel that this reviewer stayed up into the wee hours to finish—many other readers will likely do the same. Reviewer: Beth Karpas