Static, by Tawny Stokes

Title: Static
Author: Tawny Stokes
Release: July 26, 2011
Source: Blog Tour
Purchase: (RJ Julia)

Be careful what you listen to… During the summer before her senior year, 17 year old band groupie, Salem Vale, has been following her favorite punk rockers, Malice, from gig to gig hoping that one night she might get backstage and meet the sinisterly sexy guys. She’s been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane. One fateful evening she gets her wish. It’s a dream come true. Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday’s trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out. Soon she realizes she’s changing…turning into something not quite human. Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her. Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band’s roadie shows up and stops her from killing. With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he’s just like her. And in return he wants her help to do one little thing… Help him kill the members of Malice.

Tawny Stokes’s debut, Static, completely took my by surprise! I didn’t know if I was going to like it or not, but once I started, I couldn’t stop reading Static, and finished it in no time.

One of the things I liked the most about Static is that isn’t censored. For a young adult book—especially a paranormal one, it’s pretty gritty and raw. I loved how down to earth it all seemed. The mythology Tawny Stokes has created for Static was fantastic, and was just detailed enough to enjoy Static.

I was really surprised by how much I liked Tawny Stokes’s writing style. Sure, there are some little things I noticed, but overall she is a great writer and after reading two of her books, I know I will be checking out more of her books in the future. Every word packs a punch, and her writing is smooth and to the point.

Salem was really edgy, spunky, and was a really fun character to read about. She doesn’t take crap from anybody, and was really strong and fierce. The supporting characters were all pretty solid, except Trevor, who got on my nerves too often for me to really like him throughout the book. By the end, however, I did warm up to him.

If you want a quick paranormal read that will sweep you away for a little while, don’t hesitate to read Static. It’s a great debut, and I really enjoyed reading it.