Shelley Liked It: Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Series: Seeker 1
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Released: February 10, 2015
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Format: E-Book, 448 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.

Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.

SEEKER is a story that revolves around (4) main characters. Yes, I did write (FOUR) characters. They are Quin Kincaid, Shinobu MacBain, John Hart, and a character calling herself Maud or Young Dread. What is a Seeker you ask? That's a great question! Per Dayton, a Seeker is a person who is a finder of hidden ways, and protectors of humanity against evil. They are able to travel through THERE to get anywhere they need to be in order to carry out their mission. But, they are also pawns in a much, much larger longer game that has pitted families against each other for power, wealth, status, and control of various Athame's.

Quin and John have fallen and can't get up. Petty way of saying that they have feelings for the other, but in reality, it doesn't really matter after John goes all John Wick on his former trainers and friends, while leaving Quin and her mother injured. Quin and Shinobu go onto complete their training and take their oaths as Seekers. But, along the way, they learn the dark secret that has been kept from them since they were 8 years old. They each struggle with their own darkness and what they did to satisfy their mentor. This sets Quin, who loses 18 months of herself after nearly dying, against John and the Dreads in an effort to keep the Athame from falling into his hands.

John is not necessarily a bad person. He's just been told by his family that his main reason for existing is to seek out vengeance against those who harmed his family, including his mother. Who can blame him actually? Braic is just a bastard, and I just don't feel it necessary to sugar coat how awful he is as a parent, or a Seeker. I would have added Shinobu's father Alistair to the villains list as well, but he kind of redeems himself when hell is closing in on his son, and Quin.

Most likable character, EXCEPT when he becomes a drug addict: Shinobu MacBain

Character who didn't get a whole lot of scenes but should have: Mariko MacBain

Character with the most potential but needs to stop letting people walk all over her: Quin Kincaid

Most annoying villain(s): Tie between John Hart and Briac Kincaid. Pick one. You can't go wrong.

Character that caused me to rail against them the most: Fiona Kincaid, mother, wife, drunkard, escort, holder of secrets we haven't explored yet.

Most interesting character, but needs a bit of work: Middle Dread, aka Maud

SEEKER takes readers from Scotland to Hong Kong and ends with an action packed finale set in the skies above London. There are still so many questions to answer. Is Maud actually a friend, or does she have her own agenda & fate? Are the other Athame's still in existence, or have they been destroyed? If John really wanted Quin's help, why did he do such vile things in his pursuit of her help? Will Quin understand why she has the advantage over others, or will she succumb to John's vengeful path?

This story is unique in the way that SEEKERs use an Athame (dagger) in combination with a lightning rod to travel to any specific set of coordinates they wish. I do like that Dayton doesn't use a whole lot of angst when it comes to Quin's choice of romance. Although I do loathe John, I think they were good together even if only for a moment. Obviously I have issues with Shinobu as well, but they've been tied to the hip since they were 8 years old. You can't really dislike that idea.

I will be honest with you in saying that 2016 is a long way off, and thus I will probably need to re-read SEEKER before I decide on reading the sequel. I think one of the strange things about this story is the number of reviewers who have given up and moved on. Perhaps the writing is a bit strange, and the world doesn't entirely make sense, and the characters definitely need a bit of growth from this book to the next, and Quin definitely needs to stop trusting people. But, I can't pick up a book without finishing it. I just don't see that happening any time soon.

**I received this book for free from (Delacorte Books for Young Readers) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

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