Review--Changeling by Kelly Meding

HEROES FOR HIRE

After barely escaping a madman's attempt to annihilate all MetaHumans, Kelly Meding's supernatural crime fighters have banded together to take back the streets of war-ravaged Los Angeles.

Dahlia "Ember" Perkins still feels like an outsider among her new Meta friends, despite everything she's been through since coming into her miraculous ability to absorb heat and extinguish fires. But when the police need help investigating human skins discarded like slipcovers on the street, the Metas' youngest team member quickly finds her place. Evidence points to a murderer the likes of which they have never encountered but who inexplicably seems to be gunning for Dahlia--and who may be neither human nor Meta. After a bullet meant for her nearly kills one of her teammates, Dahlia uncovers a connection to the crimes buried deep in her past. As the danger escalates and her personal life falls apart, Dahlia soon learns there's no such thing as a "normal" relationship when you're a superhero...

I can't even remember when I last read the first in this series by Kelly Meding, so diving back into this one was a mite tricky. Luckily, it's one of those series that has a different character with each book, so I didn't really need all the backstory to Trance. Changeling was definitely an interesting development in the series and had quite a few shocks and surprises that I didn't expect so soon in a series.

Dahlia is the youngest member of the MetaHumans and everyone wants to protect her. Ethan treats her normally though and is a good friend. Marco was a good friend as well, but since he wanted more than friendship and Dahlia didn't, it kind of put a strain on their friendship. When trying to help the team out and get some new lights for their house they just bought, she runs into an old friend that she knew from high school before she moved. Noah runs his family business of light fixtures. The two seem to connect right away despite the years they've been apart.

I have to admit, I had a soft spot for Noah then. Having had too many friends move away in highschool and even years prior. Never saw them again, so when I see it happen in books there's a little envy involved, but coupled with happiness!

Things get serious though when Trance is shot during a press moment after a building caught fire and the Metas were called in. Dahlia was there at the time and feels terrible for Trance. It's touch and go on whether she'll pull through, but doctors are hopeful. This is when the story really kicks off, as Dahlia learns more about the going ons than she ever really wanted to. Starting with that Noah isn't quite who he says he is and thus begins the start of all the lies.

As Dahlia tries to unravel the lies and the mysteries she discovers quite a bit about Noah and who he works with. Although, I can't help but feel there are still so many unanswered questions. Especially where Dahlia is concerned as the ending does leave you wondering about this and that and a bit more! Like who the mysterious villain is that gets mentioned a few times but then that's the end of it. I have a feeling he or she might pop up again later and possibly was even in the first book but can't be sure since it's been so long since I read it last.

The pacing to this one was pretty good, all things considered! It had a bumpy start that was still somewhat interesting, but not nearly as exciting. But the action really picks up once Trance is shot and in the hospital and the dominoes start to fall. It's hard to know who to trust in this one because the enemy like to deceive the heroes and heroines. It's not always easy to tell when someone isn't who they say they are. And I will leave you with that bit of vagueness to delve on how you wish!

There was a bit of romance in this one, but not much. Dahlia and Noah start to rekindle some feelings felt from highschool, but once the lies start to come forth, not much else happens between them. And yet, there are still feelings. I couldn't quite understand why Dahlia still felt something for Noah despite the lies he told. I am not a fan of liars myself. But Noah did try to do some redeeming amidst the lies, so it was kind of hard to completely hate him.

As I mentioned the ending leaves a lot to be desired. I wasn't quite sure if it was a contented ending or not. So much happened and so much is still left unresolved. I guess I might just have to keep reading this series to find out what else happens to these heroes despite each book containing a different narrator/hero/heroine. But as in this one, we got a little info about what was going on in Trance's life after her story was told. So who knows what might happen, maybe in the next one I'll learn of Dahlia's fate.


Overall Rating 3.75/5 stars--yes I know, another awkward rating. I hate doing these but I can't in good sense give it a 3.5 because it was better than that, and yet the ending just left me with too many questions to condone a 4 star rating either. So awkward rating it is!