TURNED

Caitlin Paine, an 18-year-old constantly uprooted by her erratic mother, finds herself thrown into the chaotic and dangerous environment of a New York City public high school. Just when she thinks she might find a moment of connection with a kind boy named Jonah, violence erupts, triggering something dormant and terrifying within her. As unexplained strength and dark cravings surface, Caitlin must confront not only the harsh realities of her new life but also the shocking truth about her own hidden nature.

The biting March wind whipped through the concrete canyons of New York City, a stark contrast to the suburban schools Caitlin Paine had always known. Standing before the imposing, cage-like structure of her new public high school, she felt a familiar dread, amplified by the chaotic throng of students and the unsettling presence of armed security.

She just wanted to disappear, to blend in, but anonymity felt impossible. Inside, the noise was deafening, the hallways packed like sardine cans. Then came the metal detectors, the scrutiny, the humiliation of being stopped because of the small cross necklace she wore.

Late to her first class, she found not a quiet room, but a scene of pandemonium ignored by apathetic substitute teacher. Just as despair set in, a kind voice offered a seat. Jonah, with his striking green eyes and gentle demeanor, seemed like a beacon in the storm. Their brief, shy connection in the cafeteria offered a fragile hope. But the walk home shattered it all.

TURNED

Mystery Urban Fantasy Young Adult Vampires Supernatural Powers