Naliyah by Shauna Kelley (5 stars)

About Naliyah
(from Goodreads)

Lenora Scheid can tell you much of human nature. After more than a century of traveling from warzone to warzone, she has experienced more than she can handle of mankind’s thirst for blood and power…she cannot, however, tell you what she is.

Not exactly human, but not precisely vampire either, Lenora’s whole life has been spent under the watchful eye of her father. With only her dreams of a mysterious blue‐eyed man as company, she has little choice but to follow her father across the world despite his refusal to help her understand her true nature.

As Lenora reaches the end of her tolerance with their life of travel and death, she comes face to face with her blue‐eyed man and everything changes. Can this man save her from a life of brutality? Or will the secrets kept from her for so long destroy them both?

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Review

Lenora Scheid has spent most of her life on the move and struggling to remember details. Her father isn't much help, and they seem to up and move every time she gets close to figuring out who--or what--she is.

Still, he's all she's every had, and she has to trust him. Then, she makes a friend. Someone who wants Lenora to break free. But Lenora's attempts at a life lead to tragedy. In answer, her father uproots them again. Finally, she crosses paths with a man she's known only in her dreams. Are the answers she craves far behind? Will she be able to live with what she learns.

I love Shauna Kelley's work! She crafts amazing characters with deep flaws but great strength. 

Lenora is one of those great characters. She is more mature than a normal young person, thanks to life events and extenuating circumstances, but she clutches to youthful beliefs--like trusting her father and following him past her own gut. Yet, she grows and begins to question. When faced with uncertain influences on her journey to answers, she continues to become stronger--putting more emphasis on her gut than her past. 

And she's not the only great character. There are several, including her father, who were captivating, but I could never quite decide whose side they were on. Was the father protecting her or using her for his own purposes? What about the blue-eyed man? Since this is the first book in a series, I was left with more questions than answers, but I couldn't put it down.

Plus, the spin on what Lenora is really appealed to me. Her gifts are unlike any I've ever read before, and I'm quite intrigued to see where this story goes.

Highly imaginative, captivating, and rich in characters and story. A must read!

Ratings: 5 stars

Please check out my reviews of two of Shauna Kelley's other books: Don't Wake Up and Max and Menna.

About the Author
(from Amazon Author Central)

Shauna Kelley lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and beloved mutts. Dedicated aunt, adventurous baker, and action movie fanatic, she spends her days writing, teaching, and crocheting.

Kelley's first novel, Max and Menna, was a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award finalist for Young Adult Fiction in 2010. Naliyah is her third novel.

Kelley delights in the opportunity to interact with readers. Find her online at her blog or on Facebook.

Note: I was a beta reader for this novel (lucky me!). A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.