Not My Kind • Halflings

Halflings by Heather Burch
Series: Halflings #1
Publisher: Zondervan Publishing
Source/Format: Netgalley (Thanks!) || e-galley

[I received this from the publisher. This in no way affects my review.]

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Halflings is a story filled with unexpected twists, all of which are built up on an interesting premise. Although there were parts that I thought could have been improved, the novel is, overall, an intriguing beginning to a series and I look forward to seeing where Heather Burch decides to take it.

The Characters

Nikki is the main character in Halflings, but I certainly didn't find her remarkable. She's not a "bad" character, per se, but she didn't manage to stand out amongst the crowd of great YA heroines I've read about. I do like the fact that she's an artist, and how that manages to play a role in the story. Plus, she's definitely brave and she has a good heart.

Mace, one of the three "Lost Boys" who protects Nikki, is the "good" Halfling. He always plays by the rules, and strongly believes in the goodness of what he does - until he meets Nikki. It was really fun to see the carpet pulled out from under his feet! His obvious attraction to her and the eventual development of his feelings are definitely reminiscent of what it's like to first become smitten.

Raven, another "Lost Boy", is the "rebellious" Halfling. He's experienced so much frustration and disappoint that it's totally understandable why he chooses to put on this bad boy persona. Obviously, I found that aura attractive as always, even with his smirking, I-know-everything attitude. His attraction to Nikki is different - hot, heavy and deliciously tempting in a more passionate way.

Vine, the third "Lost Boy", is the "little brother" of the trio. Though he’s clearly younger than the other two, he appears to be quite intelligent and quick on his feet. He’s such an endearing character, and is actually my favorite one in the story.

The Story

What intrigued me about Halflings in the first place was the idea of a Halfling. The history of their kind and their purpose is discussed in the novel, but I personally feel like there's so much more we can learn about them.

The speed at which the story moved felt weird to me. Instead of being a really slow burn or a really quick action-packed novel, it flitted back and forth between the two extremes in a choppy manner. A lot of crazy things happen in the novel, especially when new characters are introduced or the situation takes a turn for the weird. I thought this was amusing, for the most part, even though it could be a little weird (timeline-wise) in my head.

There's definitely a clear pattern to the tale: a choice between good or evil. And to find out what choice was made, well, you'll just have to read the book yourself!

Personally, I say you should...

Read this novel if you're interested in stories about making choices, or into the YA paranormal genre. It's a pretty good story, but I wouldn't put it on top of my TBR pile.