The Dysasters

Authors: PC and Kristin Cast
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural
Type: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: St Martin's Press
First Published: February 26, 2019
Opening Lines: "Cora, why are we here? This has got to be the definition of the middle of nowhere."

Book Description from GoodReads: Foster Stewart knows she's different. Her life has never been "normal." Talking to plants and controlling cloud formations aren't things most seventeen year olds are into. Tate "Nighthawk" Taylor is perfect. Star quarterback and all around dreamy boy next door he never thought about his "extra" abilities. What quarterback wouldn't want night vision? That's not weird, right? It's cool!

But on the night of their first meeting a deadly tornado brings them together and awakens their true abilities - the power to control the element air. Unbeknown to Tate and Foster, they are the first in a group of teens that were genetically manipulated before birth to bond with the elements. Which truly sucks for Foster, as she has to face the fact that Dr. Rick Stewart, her beloved scientist father, betrayed her and now wants to use her and the others for his own nefarious world domination plot.

Foster and Tate must stop Dr. Stewart and his minions before he destroys their lives and the world. 

My Rating: 2 stars

My Review: Years ago, I remember reading and enjoying PC and Kristin Cast's first few books in their House of Night series. When I saw they had a new book coming out I was intrigued by its X-Men-type concept of genetically engineered teens who can control fire, air, water and earth. Kinda cool, right?

The book starts with an energetic opening scene but soon becomes muddled with most scenes feeling rushed and having an overly dramatic flair. While the premise is cool, the plot is underdeveloped, and the dialogue was hokey giving the feel that the authors were trying too hard (and unsuccessfully) to sound like teens. Which is surprising since their earlier series had such a different, more polished feel.

While I liked the racially and gender diverse cast, I didn't enjoy the Quick Silver-like speed of the Insta-Love between two characters who, when they met the previous day, were calling each other a D-bag and B***ch. Jumping between the multiple POVs and the sporadic addition of graphic novel art added to the confusing feel.

Overall, this YA supernatural/kind of graphic novel had a great premise but, in the end, was a tedious read causing me to skim much of the last half of the book. As a mom of three older teens myself, I know I'm not within the age range of the Teen genre, but I have been known to enjoy the occasional YA read. But YA doesn't have to mean excessive use of F-bombs, weak writing and Insta-love. Teens (and us older-than-teens) readers expect more from this genre.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.