Exciting debut of a compelling series

Whoever enters your life in the near future or someone with whom you are recently acquainted will bring grave danger to you. This is your lifeline, and it is short. You will need to be careful who you allow into your life.” - Madame Maxine

When Marise starts her first day at St James, it quickly becomes apparent that a new school, a mysterious new roommate and befriending a set of twins is just the start of her new journey.

Twins Aiden and Ethan couldn't be more different. Aiden is determined to put the events of the previous school behind him and to keep as much distance between his brother and himself as possible - after all, no one wants a sibling who borders on homicidal.

Plagued by whispers in his head, Ethan is adrift and scared by who he’s becoming. He’s drawn to Marise after their first meeting but despite his qualms is unable to stay away from her. Luckily it turns out that Marise might just be the one to help him figure out who and what he is.

As her search for answers begins to bear fruit, Marise finds her own life increasingly in danger. Later a friend is found brutally murdered and when the enemy unexpectedly strikes, the lives of Marise and those around her are irrevocably changed forever...

The Balance is the first instalment of The Balance series and was my first introduction to the author. From the offset, I found myself completely immersed in the premise of the story about twin brothers with inexplicable abilities whose destinies are tied to a girl in an age-old prophecy.

The plot revolves around Marise who lost her parents during a brutal home invasion which left her technically dead for two minutes when she was eight years old. She’s been raised by her grandmother who has recently been admitted into a nursing home. Within days of enrolling at a boarding school, Marise finds her life increasingly in danger after she strikes up a friendship with two troubled brothers.

I was pleased that the author chose to use alternating points of view between the three main characters as this gave deeper insight into their thoughts and feelings. Marise is a strong, appealing protagonist that readers will instantly connect with. Aiden and Ethan are intriguing and complex characters who will divide readers depending on who they decide to root for 😉

This was an exciting and well-written debut. The author has created a complex plot with several twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the end. The intriguing finale has ensured that this reader will definitely be looking out for the follow up. Perfect for YA/ Teen readers

Mary Helen Gallucci's voice was clear and concise with excellent pacing. I felt that her voice was perfect for the tone of the novel.

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