Review: Pyxis: The Discovery by K.C. Neal

Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason. Things take a strange turn when she uses her late grandmother’s food dyes for a bake sale, and her customers suddenly find her irresistibly alluring. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same dreams of a dark force that consumes everything in its path.

Pursued by shadowy figures and a crazy woman with secrets from the past, Corinne must find out who her grandmother really was. In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she is destined to protect this world--and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free.

First off, many thanks to the author for sending me a review copy of Pyxis: The Discovery. I've been intrigued ever since I first saw the incredibly gorgeous cover. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. From the very first page, I was hooked, and now that I've finished I'm so glad I chose to pick it up when I did.

Corinne appears to be a typical high school sophomore. She's learning to drive, working at her father's cafe, and trying to deal with her personal life. Who knew that a batch of petit fours made for a bake sale would lead to some strange events and startling revelations? Like her best friend Angeline, Corinne is shocked to find that guys who had never before spared her a glance are suddenly fawning all over her. The only connection between her and these guys? They all consumed her petit fours.

Beside the fact that I'm obsessed with the name Corinne, I really loved her personality. Character development was great throught the story. I adored Mason, and Ang(eline) was just plain awesome. The bond between the three of them was fabulous. Corinne and Mason are perfect for each other, and Corinne and Ang are as thick as thieves. Many of the minor characters were well-written, too.

Another thing I enjoyed about Pyxis was the originality. In all my years of reading, I don't think I've come across anything quite like the "supernatural", for lack of a better word, world described in the book. The ideas were clearly researched and well thought out. The only area that disappointed was the climax, because in my eyes, there honestly wasn't one. While there were several moments of increased tension, I can't pick out a certain scene or chapter that could definitely be labeled as a climax. Also, many different ideas and possibilities were explored, but I wasn't quite able to fully grasp the concepts at a few points.

Overall, Pyxis was a fabulous read. Although I didn't like the lack of action, I understand that the author needed the first book to lay a foundation before getting to the intricate details. I can't wait to read the sequel and find the answers to all of my burning questions!

Rating: 4/5 stars