Ember (Death Collectors #1) by Jessica Sorensen

Poor Ember does not have an easy life. For some unexplained reason, she can see death. With nothing more than a brush against a person,  she knows how they will die. Naturally, she tends to stay away from everyone - except her oldest (and only) friend Raven. The only person with whom Ember has shared her secret.

Until she meets Asher. He's the completely gorgeous (yet mysterious) new guy in town, and for some reason, Ember can't sense death from him. Because of this, she  finds herself gravitating more and more towards him. He brings her a sense of peace she has never known. Unfortunately  Asher is not all he appears to be, and the more time they spend together, the more Ember comes to realize that Asher has been keeping secrets from her.

Ember eventually gets caught up with another boy, a neighbor by the name of Cameron, whom she met in the cemetery, and although she doesn't have the same feelings for him as she does Asher, he gives her the same sense of calm that Asher does. 

Soon, bodies begin turning up murdered and staged in an eerily similar fashion to her own Father's. As Ember realizes her own life is now in danger, she must quickly figure out who she can and cannot trust. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

**Mature Content Advisory** 
Recommended for readers 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

This was my first time reading anything by Ms.Sorensen, even though I had heard of her before. I am thankful that my introduction to her was this series as she has got me completely hooked! 

I loved the depth that she put into her characters - especially Ember. I don't know that I would have the strength to live out my day to day life with the gift (or curse depending on your point of view) that she has. Her best friend Raven often annoyed me, dragging her to parties and into situations that she should have known would have made her best friend uncomfortable. It seemed like she was more interested in herself and being seen then in how interacting with other people would affect Ember.

Speaking of the characters - I loved both Cameron and Asher's characters, never really sure which of them (if either of them) were really good or evil. What secrets were they keeping? Why couldn't Ember sense their deaths the  way she could with everyone else? Thankfully, all these questions are answered in the story - but if you want to know, you'll have to read it for yourself!!

Ember (Death Collectors #1) had a plot that to me, was very original and unexpected. Sure I knew there were going to be some paranormal aspects to the book, but I was blown away by the direction in which it was taken. The ending was perfect. It left the story wide open for the next installment of the series, but did not end on a huge cliffhanger, or with unanswered questions. I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of the second book!

Note: Ms.Sorensen has also published an edited (and expanded) version of her book entitled Ember X which contains more violence and sexual content than her YA version. I have also included the link to purchase that book at the bottom. 
Purchase Ember (Death Collectors #1) from Amazon by clicking the link below:


OR for a re-edited adult version of this book containing more violence and sexual content, you can purchase Ember X also from Amazon by clicking the link below: (I did!)