Audio Review: Fated by Alyson Noel

Daire has inherited a very powerful gift. She is a soul seeker, able to travel between this world and all others. But Daire knowns nothing of this ability. Now that she's sixteen, she's plagued by strange visions. The doctors aren't able to help and her mother has become desperate. So when they receive a call from Daire's paternal grandmother -- a woman she and her mother have had nothing to do with -- offering to help, they are understandably wary. Paloma is a healer though and the off chance that she can help is enough for Daire's mother to agree. Now, Daire will learn how to control the visions and travel the realms. She'll also learn how to fight an ancient enemy in order to protect those around her.

I really loved the premise of Fated. The combination of Native American and Hispanic mysticism and folklore worked on so many levels. Shamans and spirit animals, the imagery of the different realms, Daire's abilities, all of it melds so perfectly in Noel's created world.

I had the chance to listen to this one on audio -- finishing up the last 1/4 of the book via the physical copy (I was desperate to know what was going to happen!). I have to say, Brittany Pressley did a fantastic job as the reader here. She sounds like a teen, for one. She got Daire down perfectly! Her tone is dripping with sarcasm in all the right places, and Daire's snarky teen attitude really came through in Pressley's narration.

I've seen a few reviews that have taken issue with Daire's attitude. I didn't have any problem with her perhaps because I was a bit of a sarcastic teen myself.

This is the first in Alyson Noel's newest series and is to be followed by Echo in November and Mystic and Horizon next year.