ARC Review: Touch of Death (Touch of Death, #1) by Kelly Hashway

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

What a surprise!  I'm not sure I gave this book much thought prior to reading it but I'm almost glad that was the case because once I dove into this one I didn't stop until I reached the last page.  Hashway gave readers fresh ideas, new and exciting characters and a deeper look into Greek mythology that I couldn't get enough of to be honest.  I've always been a fan but I enjoyed the new twists that Hashway put on Medusa and even Hades, it was very intriguing and kept me interested until the very end.

Readers can look at this series opener as just that.  I think Hashway did a great job of laying the foundation and starting readers off with enough background details and information that we were able to keep up but not so much as to overwhelm anyone.  Because let's face it...there has to be enough of a history lesson for readers otherwise half the time you're reading you end up constantly feeling as though you're playing catch up instead of following along with the story line.  There was an even balance throughout and I enjoyed her writing style overall.  A wonderful combination full of small elements.  A little bit of romance, action, suspense and mystery all rolled up into an installment that will surely draw readers back for more throughout the continuation of the series.

Hashway is most certainly on my radar now and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next for these new and exciting characters.  Make sure to check this title out and add a copy to your bookshelves at home.

I gave Touch of Death (Touch of Death, #1) 4 shamrocks!!!!