Author: Jordan Dane
Published: TBR December 27, 2011
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
My thoughts: **POSSIBLE SPOILERS!**
This book takes place in Alaska. It's mostly narrated by Abbey in 1st-person, but there are multiple 3rd-person narratives as well.
Abbey is our protagonist. She is just your average high school gal. She's pretty cynical though, and this stems from losing her mother in a tragic car wreck 5 years prior (one in which Abbey almost died herself). She blames herself and doesn't seem to know how to channel her feelings or her grief. She is an outcast at school, anchored only by her best friend Tanner - who has dealt with a loss of his own; he's wheelchair bound thanks to a 4-wheeler accident when he was younger.
Abbey has an obsession. Nate Holden. He is the pretty, popular boy at school. His goal in life is to climb mount Denali with his father and crew, and his goal is about to be realized.
Abbey plans to listen in, via radio, to the progress of the climb. She has it all planned out with Tanner, but then she gets the news that her dad wants to take her hours away to Healy (a place with no cell reception & no phone) to celebrate her mothers birthday. She thinks that, surely, this yearly trip can be skipped just once? Later that same night, a terrible prank aimed at Abbey causes her to beg her father to get the trip started a week early, and he agrees.
Before Abbey leaves, and all through the visit to Healy - she sees ravens. A lot of ravens. They all seem to be following her, watching her. Then she starts having strange dreams about Nate. He's on his trek and ends up being attacked by a huge, winged thing. When Abbey wakes up, she freaks - this dream just felt too real. Then, guess what? Poof! Nate shows up in Healy! He seems a little "off" to Abbey, but she goes with it. They share a kiss, a long chat, and a very strange promise.
A short time later, Abbey finds out from Tanner (via phone call at the local grocery)that Nate and his friend Josh have gone "missing" while on their trek. So, why did she literally just see Nate? Kiss him? Talk to him? Why didn't he mention any of this? What on earth is going on?
Turns out, Nate is in huge trouble - and Abbey is the cause. She has to make a deal with Death (quite literally) to save his soul.
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Complaints:
* Abbey's crush/love for Nate.
Okay, she supposedly has this insane love for him. She hasn't even spoken to this guy! This is prepubescent behavior/thought process. Surely a 16-17 year old girl would know she was just infatuated?! I really feel like this made Abbey seem sort of, well... dumb. Even after they had their encounters in Healy and spent a little time together, I really felt like Abbey was being completely delusional and naïve.
* Abbey's attitude/personality.
I didn't like Abbey at all. I rarely dislike a protagonist. Along with her delusional crush - this girl was bitchy, cynical, sarcastic, and downright mean to her dad. I almost wanted to cry!
* I don't think we got to know enough about Nate. His character was poorly developed.
* It was quite confusing as to who Abbey's love interest really was. I mean, at first I think Nate... then I think it's Death... but then it ends up being Tanner? WHAT?! Are you freaking kidding me?! I liked the outcome, but I so wasn't prepared for that. It pretty much came completely out of the blue. It was just all over the place.
* This looks like a stand-alone novel, but that doesn't seem right. I checked in as many ways possible, but it doesn't look like there is a second book or plans for one. If this is true - I hate the ending. I don't understand how it can be left the way it is. If this is the end, I don't even understand the purpose of Nate being in the story AT ALL. If all the author wanted was to put someone's soul in danger, why not Abbey's father? Or Tanner? Why bring Nate into the story a tall? It's just odd!
What I enjoyed:
* Tanner. He was a really fantastic character. He was humorous, insanely intelligent, patient, kind, adorable... and a really super friend. He did everything for Abbey, everything he could to make her happy.
* The Denali trek. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense! I think this was my favorite part (or, maybe my second-fave). Seeing Nate try to save his friend, the avalanche, the search party, etc. I enjoy that sort of thing and I think it was portrayed really well.
* Death. The way the author described Death's feelings of lethargy and his (or is he an "it"? *shrug*) need to feel love and be loved - it was sort of heartbreaking. It was something I really enjoyed about the book, something I don't think I have read anywhere else before.
* The pace was sort of weird, but it wasn't dull. I didn't get bored at all, and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. Nothing sucks more than reading a book and feeling like it's a chore. I didn't get that from On a Dark Wing.
Overall:
This book might confuse you a bit here and there. It might make you say "Huh?", but it is definitely unique and interesting to read. It was an original story and I enjoyed it. :)
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ARC source: NetGalley.com, publisher Harlequin Teen.
