Paranormal Reads: Mask of the Damned

The Damned of Lost Creek: Mask of the Damned

by Danae Ayusso

Summary

Mikhail grew up on the tough streets of North Philly in one of the worst urban environments in the country. For seventeen years she’s bounced from shelters, run down apartments, drug houses, and the streets with her crackhead mom until fate stepped in.

Going from North Philly to Anaconda, Montana, was a culture shock and drastic change for the young woman. Adjusting to having a loving family, security, home, food, and a warm bed was a bit difficult for a girl that wasn’t used to getting anything from anyone and was constantly watching out for herself, but for the first time in her life she felt as if she was home.

However, home is full of mysteries and is surrounded by haunted woods. Mikhail quickly learns that there is more to the mythical world than just vampires, werewolves and ghosts. The supernatural land her family is tied to, and the curse which is her birthright, have captivated her: she is one of the Damned of Lost Creek.

While trying to sort through the mystery of her family and the curse that had plagued them for centuries, Mikhail catches the attention Draven Van Zul, the son of her father’s nemesis, putting her in the middle of a war between the founding families, causing the Damned to relive the past that had cursed them, and opening all of them up to a supernatural threat spreading a plague that targets the young people of Anaconda, but more specifically, is targeting Mikhail.

Now, only the children of the Damned of Lost Creek working together can save them from before it's too late.

My Review

This is the first book I've read by Danae Ayusso, and it won't be the last. This was a phenomenal, dark, edge of your seat first book in a New Adult/late Young Adult paranormal series.

Mikhail, is our tough as nails, smart-mouthed, North Philly raised main character. She's a seventeen year old girl who's seen and lived through way to many horrific events, but she's a survivor and more so a fighter who just won't give in or give up. We meet her as she's being sent off to meet her biological father after witnessing the brutal death of her mother. She's less than thrilled since her mom let her believe that he never wanted Mikhail. To top it all off, she's being escorted by a U.S. Marshall,she calls Cinder Dick, who handcuffed her to her seat on the train taking her to meet her father in Montana. Well she did try to run off in Detroit, the Twin cities, Madison...so by Sioux Falls she was stuck to her seat. The U.S Marshall, well he ends up being one of her new uncles.

Once she gets to her new home she discovers that she has a large family that actually wants her to be a part of their family. And then, we find out things aren't what they seem in Anaconda, Montana. There are things beyond your imagination that happen in this little town, focused around Mikhail's new family, and their rivals, the Van Zuls.

It isn't all weird though in her new life, see there are these two boys, Shep who lives on her family's land, and then Draven, who happens to be a Van Zul. Sparks tend to fly between Mikhail and one of the boys, and the other boy is what most would consider the perfect boyfriend type. This is by no means a love triangle, though. She's honest that she doesn't need or want a 'boyfriend' just as she's learning to accept family and realize that she really IS different then others.

This was a stellar read! I kept getting sucked into the book and didn't want to put it down. I loved the characters, especially Mikhail, Draven, Shep, and Ellie, all were well written and engaging. The storyline was well paced and exceptionally engrossing. I would recommend this book to any that like their paranormal books a little darker but this is an enjoyable book for any paranormal reader.

I look forward to the second book in the series, which I understand will be out in a few months. ~ reviewed by Chris