The Nexus: Samhain

In the paranormal category, there are so many options. There are the vampires that turn to goo, and explode, and even some that twinkle. There are demons and dragons, incubi and shifters.

The Nexus: Samhain is none of these. This paranormal story is an excellent example of a YA story that holds secrets and stories and relationships that are deep, or they are fun.

Eleven-year-old Max has made some poor choices but wants to make amends. He visits lands that are other-worldy, and visits times outside of his own.

From Jack, to Percy, to Mr. Creeps, there are so many colorful and mysterious characters, but that's not all Max has to deal with. He also has to deal with pre-pubescent crushes, local deaths of prominent figures, and both ignorance and embracing of the mystical arts.

Witches who travel through time, a mother and mayor who won't hear of anything magic, and a Native American tribe that holds those powers dear merge in one small town.

I loved the characters, their colorful personalities and their interesting back-stories. Though there are some allusions to frisky teenagers, the story is well within appropriate messaging for a teenage reader or above.

Ian Cadena has taken his imagination into a dimension of magick, and mysticism that calls out to the readers and I would recommend this book to any who ask.

I am anxiously waiting for book 2 of this series. Book one has a compelling cliffhanger that just cannot be ignored or forgotten.