Rae of Hope by W J May (Young Adult, Fantasy, 10E/10E)

September 2011, Mitchell Morris Publishing 

Paperback and Ebook

Review copy 

Young Adult, Fantasy 

Themes: boarding school, supernatural abilities, family secrets, being special, having a past that affects the present, betrayal, lots of thrill/school drama, some teen romance, heaps of hilarious moments, a few tissues needed.  

Summary from Mitchell Morris Publishing

How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find the truth of the past? 

Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family's history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family's past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatu) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatu enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking. Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family's past, her evil father and her sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope for her own life. 

Nayuleska's thoughts

Rae is extremely lovable, and her voice makes the book a pleasure to read. She finds it tough being in the dark, but she strikes up friendship with her room mate and there are plenty who are curious about her. I was taken aback at virtually every plot twist, which are high paced and life changing. I loved the concept of the different forms of powers, and reading them in use reminded me of anime and video games. 

Be sure to check out W J May's website, with more information about her and Rae of Hope 

Suggested read

For more boarding school drama with supernatural power being the main focus for the students, try Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins.