Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Just finished the sequel to Firelight by Sophie Jordan called Vanish.  I had been anticipating the sequel for quite some time and it didn't disappoint.  The book was shorter than I like but I couldn't put it down.

The book starts where we left off in Firelight, with Jacinda and her family headed back to the pride.  However, something unexpected happens.  On the way there, Tamra, Jacinda's sister, manifests after years of thinking that she would never be a draki.  We also find out that she is just as rare as her sister, a shader draki.  There are only two in the Pride.

Things go well for Tamra upon returning to the Pride but not for Jacinda.  She is seen as a traitor and is shunned by everyone, except Cassian.  Cassian is determined as ever to win Jacinda's affections but she is still pining over Will.  At first, she finds Cassian's advances annoying but eventually her loneliness leads her to see that she feels something for him as well. 

Then the impossible happens.  Will finds the Pride by some stroke of luck, or is it the draki blood that runs through his veins that leads him there?  Either way, he's created a problem that Jacinda just can't ignore.  Cassian orders her to break off all connection with him or he'll tell the Pride about the draki blood inside of him.  There is only one problem, she can't live without the boy she so desperately loves. 

Will and Jacinda concoct a plan to run away together but it goes horribly wrong when Will's hunter family shows up.  Jacinda and Cassian's sister, whose been spying on Jacinda, are captured.  Will helps Jacinda escape but she cannot run knowing that Cassian's sister is still in the hands of the hunters.  She heads back to the Pride, against Will's wishes and bears the full punishment for her actions.

The Pride is livid and demands the cutting of Jacinda's wings but when it comes down to it Cassian can't bear the thought of it and offers an alternative.  If Jacinda will bond with him, then her wings will be spared.  Unwillingly, she accepts and is thereafter bonded with Cassian.  Afterwards, her plan to run away only strengthens.  She needs to be with Will more than anything.

After convincing her sister to run with her, Jacinda and Tamra sneak away and head out to meet Will.  Cassian finds them and tries to stop her until he finds out her plan.  They are on a mission to save his little sister.  Cassian insists on coming along and the group follows Will into the heart of the draki hunter's operations. 

Will they live or die?  Will Jacinda choose Cassian or Will?  We won't know till book three because that's exactly where Sophie Jordan ends the book.

Altogether, I loved the book.  The twist with Tamra was an awesome addition to the series and I absolutely loved seeing this side of Cassian.  I actually think I wanted Jacinda to end up with him after this book.  As always, Sophie Jordan's books are a little on the short side but the intensity was so great that it didn't matter.  I never once got bored, maybe a little mad at Jacinda for how she was treating Cassian, but never bored.  I can't wait for the next book.  This series is such a different concept and I love the descriptions of the changing from human to draki.  Sophie makes it so believable you feel like you are right there. 

As for parents looking for a good read for their teens.  This is a great choice.  There are a few intense kissing scenes but outside of that it is a relatively clean book.  I give it two thumbs up!!!