Indigo Awakening by Jordan Dane

Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: The Hunted #1
Publication Date: January 2013 (1st published Dec 2012)
Pages: 304
Book Source: Thanks Harlequin Teen

Synopsis: Because of what you are, the Believers will hunt you down.

Voices told Lucas Darby to run. Voices no one else can hear. He’s warned his sister not to look for him, but Rayne refuses to let her troubled brother vanish on the streets of LA. In her desperate search, she meets Gabriel Stewart, a runaway with mysterious powers and far too many secrets. Rayne can’t explain her crazy need to trust the strange yet compelling boy—to touch him—to protect him even though he scares her.

A fanatical church secretly hunts psychic kids—gifted “Indigo” teens feared to be the next evolution of mankind—for reasons only “the Believers” know. Now Rayne’s only hope is Gabe, who is haunted by an awakening power—a force darker than either of them imagine—that could doom them all.

My Thoughts: 

Indigo children, institution, fanatical religious group, experiments ... got your attention? Indigo children are not a new phenomenon, google it and you'll see a wealth of information and theories. This was my first read featuring these 'ultra-psychic' kids and believer or not, Indigo Awakening kept me intrigued for the duration. 

As a group of Indigo teens find each other, evade The Believers and develop their special abilities, the secrecy, danger and sense of dread kept me anxiously turning the pages. I loved the strength of the whole 'hive' psyche and I hope even more detail of the teens' powers will be revealed in future installments.

I found all the characters compelling, but particularly sweet little Benny & Gabe and his dog, Hellboy.

"Dogs lick their junk even after they die?  Good to know." He shook his head. "I know guys who'd never leave their room if they could do that."

Told from multiple view points, I thought Jordan Dane's writing was solid, the cast of characters strong, the plot suspenseful and Dane doesn't hold back with the viciousness of the bad guys. And yay no cliffhanger ending but the curve ball was a kicker :) 

Want to know more about Jordan Dane? Visit her website