Undone: Outcast Season Book One by Rachel Caine (Review by Bella Aire)

Cassiel was once Djinn. But when she refused to do what she was asked, she became human.

Cassiel doesn’t like or understand humankind. To live, she has to use the power of the human Wardens, so she is partnered with the Warden Manny. Manny is somehow different from what she expected. He gives her a chance when no one else will, and he trusts her enough to introduce her to his family. As Cassiel watches Manny and his family, her views of the human race begin to change. She can no longer observe humankind distantly; now Cassiel is a participant. She forms a bond with Manny’s young daughter, Isabel, and a different sort of connection with Manny’s intense brother, Luis.

Cassiel is content to remain distant from it all until a tragedy occurs, and she is forced to partner up with Luis to prevent an unknown disaster from occurring.

I loved Cassiel’s fresh perspective as a human who doesn’t like…humans. She begins as a very cold protagonist, but that changes as the novel progresses. The longer she is human, the more kind and caring she becomes. This is especially apparent as Cassiel’s understanding of right and wrong develops, and her feelings for her fellow humans form. I loved the contrast shown between the early and late Cassiel. What surprised me was how much I liked her throughout. She doesn’t come off as the likeable sort, but I understood the choices she made in Undone.

The world Rachel Caine created, full of Wardens and Djinn, had a tremendous amount of depth and her characters were extremely convincing. Undone started off fast and never really slowed down. Putting down this book was near impossible and with good reason. A question is formed in the reader’s mind during the first few pages that isn’t answered until the closing few. Though some questions are answered, Undone doesn’t really reach a true resolution. Instead, the novel wraps up with a classic cliffhanger. One thing is for sure- Rachel Caine knows how to keep her fans reading.

It is clear that Rachel Caine knows what she’s doing where writing is concerned. When the rest of the series comes out, I will be reading them. I’m excited to have come across such superb series recently…particularly since some of my old favorites (Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Twilight Series, etc.) came to a close this past year.

Order Undone here: http://www.amazon.com/Undone-Outcast-Season-Book-1/dp/0451462610/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232504963&sr=8-4

Check out Caine's website here: http://www.rachelcaine.com/