The Cadence

Emma King’s life is fairly ordinary, with the exception of one extraordinary aspect. She is plagued with the rare ability to feel a person's emotions with a simple touch. Any sensation she feels becomes amplified to almost unbearable levels. Emma has learned to keep her hands to herself and her emotions under wraps.​

But when quiet, good-looking Gage Parmer moves to town, everything changes, and for the first time in her life, Emma loosens the chains that hold her emotions in check and prepares herself for the whirlwind that is to come. Mysteriously lacking in emotions, Gage tells Emma an incredible story that pulls her into his world of impossibilities. At first, she refuses to believe. But when she puts his words to the test, she discovers that his world is also hers. ​

Soon she will be forced to use her ability in an attempt to destroy an ancient evil that has defied death and ruled the centuries in a reign of terror.

They are called… The Cadence.​​

In the end, she has only one weapon and one chance to defeat the Cadence, break their circle of power, and restore hope.

Gr 8 Up-Emma and her foster brothers have abilities that heighten one of their senses. When a mysterious new boy at school seems drawn to Emma, she certainly doesn't expect him to know about her family and their gifts. But he does know, and even more intriguing, he tells her that there will eventually be six of them and they will be drawn from California to the Elan Valley in Wales for The Gathering. There they will come into their fullest power and an evil group called The Cadence will try to drain their magic. This book had great possibilities, but several factors stand in the way for readers. The first page of acknowledgments begins with an effusive Christian thanksgiving, which sets up expectations for a religiously themed book. Two of the main characters being named King and Pastor further set the stage for a Christian allegory that never materializes. The other factor hindering momentum is the large number of characters introduced through the backstory. In spite of these stumbling blocks, the new twist on extranormal powers and world-building emerge into a fairly solid paranormal novel. Fans of the genre will be able to overlook the faults and focus on the freshness of the characters' voices.-Genevieve Gallagher, Charlottesville High School, VAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.