An immortal race needs her help … if she believes they exist.
Cara has never been normal, but she’s about to change that. She finally learned to ignore the animals no one else sees and a new school is her chance to start over. She should have known it was doomed the minute she heard the first voice.
Now there’s a weird gleam in her dog’s eye, two suspicious guys who keep turning up, and a voice in her head. While it tells her of a hidden race of immortal beings known as the Pyx, Cara does her best to ignore it. Fitting in is hard enough without voices of the local fauna chatting in her head.
But the voice is insistent. Across Portland, Pyx are disappearing, and Cara is the only one who can help them. As bizarre encounters pile up, Cara will have to start listening. Because soon, she’ll be forced to wonder …
What if it’s real?
Because if the Pyx are real, then so is the danger. Can she embrace who – and what – she is before it’s too late to save them?
Amazon Link: Secrets of Green & Gold (The Immortal Voices: Green & Gold #1)
Author: Jo Holloway
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4/5 stars
Cara is a fourteen-year-old girl who is afraid that others will see her as too different, because she has the ability to see and speak with the Pyx, magical creatures who usually hide in animals. The story captures the anxiety of adolescence, that constant fear that people will think you’re weird and overanalyzing every conversation or facial expression to make sure that no one is judging you. It’s a common struggle to learn how to accept yourself and not put too much weight on the opinions of others.
Cara also worries that there is something wrong with her and spends a lot of time doubting the things that she sees and hears. That makes the story slow to progress in the first half. It’s satisfying when she finally starts to grow in confidence and accept her gifts, instead of trying to suppress them.
The story is slow to get going, and it focuses more on typical school drama instead of the secret magical crisis. Some of this was still interesting like Cara’s involvement in cross-country which culminates in the Skai run, but I didn’t care for her fickle roommate. I’m glad that she found a better friend in the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for YA fantasy with a younger feel, more coming-of-age than an emphasis on dating and romance. Also, if you like animals, it’s fun that the animal companions can speak because of their Pyx. I’m curious to see what will happen in the next book.
Here is the book in my reading journal:
