ARC Review: Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Teardrop

Author: Lauren Kate

Publication: Delacorte Press (October 22, 2013)

Description: The first in a new series by Lauren Kate, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fallen series, TEARDROP is an epic saga of heart-stopping romance, devastating secrets, and dark magic . . . a world where everything you love can be washed away.

Never, ever cry. . . . Eureka Boudreaux's mother drilled that rule into her daughter years ago. But now her mother is gone, and everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, the tall, pale blond boy who seems to know things he shouldn't, who tells Eureka she is in grave danger, who comes closer to making her cry than anyone has before.

But Ander doesn't know Eureka's darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her oldest friend, Brooks, and a strange inheritance—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book no one understands. The book contains a haunting tale about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea. Eureka is about to discover that the ancient tale is more than a story, that Ander might be telling the truth . . . and that her life has far darker undercurrents than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts: TEARDROP was in interesting beginning to a new trilogy by Lauren Kate. I liked the way it added paranormal elements to a contemporary story. 

I enjoyed getting to know Eureka Boudreaux. I felt so bad for her as she was grieving for her adored mother. I sympathized with her as she struggled to fit in with her father and stepmother.  While she loved her young twin half-brother and half-sister she had never connected with her stepmother Rhoda. I could understand how grief had made her pull into herself and even attempt suicide. I could understand how grief had pulled her away from her friends and the things she used to love doing. She is lucky enough that her friends Cat and Brooks have stuck with her and aren't making her feel worse by feeling sorry for her. 

As is the case in so many young adult novels these days, there are two boys who are involved in her life and candidates for her affection. Brooks is her best friend and has been since they were small children. The new boy in her life is Ander who is quite a mysterious character. Ander is also where the paranormal starts coming into this story. He is a Seedbearer - beings who have power to control the wind, are from the lost continent of Atlantis, and who are determined to save humanity from the actions of the descendant of Selene's Tearline. The Seedbearers believe that Eureka is that descendant and that her tears will destroy the world. Ander has spent his life watching Eureka and, while watching, he has fallen in love with her. His love won't let him allow the Seedbearers to kill her.

To make things even more complicated, some on the lost continent of Atlantis are able to use their minds to invade human bodies. They want Eureka to bring humanity's destruction. One is using Brooks' body to try to make that happen. Since Eureka doesn't know that, she sees Brooks' actions as another betrayal of her trust.

I am eager to see where these trilogy goes because I feel invested in Eureka and her story. 

Favorite Quote:

She found the back corner of a bench where she'd be the least claustrophobic. She remembered what Ander had said under the tree about being cocooned. She couldn't relate. The entire world was too tight a space for Eureka.

I got an ARC at ALA and an ARC from Amazon Vine. You can buy your copy here.