Book Review: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller.

Product details:
Publisher: Razorbill
Hardcover, 416 pages.
Release date: August 19th 2010.
Ages: Young Adult.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

If you’re looking for a fresh, exciting new read, then this book is for you! With her tale of love across the ages, Kirsten Miller has turned the paranormal romance genre on it’s head and delivered a completely unique tale, one which I can pretty much guarantee will keep you enthralled right until the last page. The Eternal Ones is the first book in an exciting new Young Adult series, and I have to say, I can‘t wait to get my hands on the sequel! I’ve always been interested in themes of reincarnation and past lives, and when you add a shady secret society, some swoonworthy romance and a sassy heroine into the mix, what you get is a really great read!

We are introduced to our heroine, Haven Moore, a small town girl whose big time dreams are being hampered due to mysterious visions she has experienced from an early age. These visions take Haven back to 1920’s New York and into the lives of doomed lovers Constance and Ethan. Haven is shunned by her deeply religious community who reject the notion of reincarnation and declare Haven’s visions to be the devil’s work. Haven knows that she is destined to be with Ethan, and so, when she sees Iain Morrow the world’s hottest movie star on an evening news report, and finds herself inextricably drawn to him, she knows she must travel to New York to uncover the truth. There she meets Iain and also enlists the help of The Ouroboros Society - a powerful secret society dedicated to the study of reincarnation. Soon enough, everyone wants a piece of Haven and the information she holds, but who, if anyone, can she trust?

I loved this book right from the start. The writing style, short chapters and fast-paced plot kept me entertained, so much so, that once I picked up this book, I didn’t put it down until I was done. Added to it‘s stunning mystery and epic romance, this book has great crossover appeal, and is one that will be enjoyed by teenagers and adults alike. At times, Haven is a little naïve in her actions and she makes some strange choices, but overall she’s a great character, as are her supporting cast.  It also helps that her love interest, Iain happens to be smokin’ hot! I loved learning of the history of The Ouroboros society - secret societies are one of my major obsessions - and I was thoroughly engrossed when reading about this one.  I can't wait to find out more! There are lots of exciting  twists and turns in this book right up to it's stunning conclusion in the Eternal City of Rome, where you will definitely be left wanting more. Overall, this is a great read. Highly recommended!