Review: Duality (Melancholia, Volume 1)

Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Series: Melancholia
Author: Elle Casey Website :: Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter
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Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Summary: Malcolm's had a problem for as long as he can remember. No matter where he goes or what he does, he leaves misery in his wake. Sadness and negativity are his constant companions, influencing others around him until they cannot bear to live. 

But then Rae shows up in his life, and everything changes. Darkness cleaves to light. Anger yields to joy. The question is whether she'll be his salvation or his destruction. 

DUALITY is a 3-book Young Adult/New Adult Paranormal Romance. Volume 1 will be published April 30, Volume II May 31, and Volume III June 30, 2013.

Holy. Flipping. Moly. Elle Casey has yet again astounded me with her amazing writing, characterization, and unique view on the paranormal. I completed the 360 pages of Duality in about 5 hours - never putting it down, completely entranced.

Duality is told from both Malcolm and Rae's points-of-view, taking turns chapter by chapter which, typically, I'm not a fan of, but Elle completed it seamlessly, allowing readers to follow easily and me unable to imagine Duality told any other way.

Malcolm and Rae are both equally lovable, battling their opposite curses while trying to simply make it through their senior year of high school. I easily felt sympathy for these two unique and lonely souls, drawn to each other but used to hiding between classes in bathrooms to avoid run-ins with Rainbows and Miserables. Yet together, things seem to be changing...

Malcolm doesn't know what it is about Rae that draws him in, but he does know that when she's around, he just feels...better. And strangely protective. Rae is more than excited to meet someone who isn't completely drawn to her - if only he didn't react with such intense distain...and wasn't so understatedly badboy sexy.

Finding her first friend in the hilariously outspoken (and Neutral) Jasmine, Rae is finally able to do things she's never done before, like text someone who isn't her overprotective and obsessed parents, while Malcolm sees a lightness in acquaintance Kootch that allows him to finally let his guard down, if only slightly. Circumstances, and a mutual friendship with Kootch and Jasmine, drive these two together time and time again, but will they be able to discover what they can mean to each other before it's too late?

Battling highly strung emotions, kidnappers, and horrific pasts, while maintaining a hilariously uplifting and laugh-out-loud quality that only Elle Casey can combine, Duality is a series that I cannot WAIT to finish. Yet again, Elle has me feigning for more and counting down the month of May until the next release in the Melancholia series. 5+ stars, well deserved.

Please take a moment and "like" my review on Amazon HERE! :)