The Problem With Prophecies ((The Celia Cleary Series #1) by

What worked:

Celia comes from a lineage of seers and her first prophecy shows her the death of a classmate. She decides to save him but her grandmother says trying to stop fate is futile. Death will happen, and fate will always find a way to make it happen. This rule of prophecies establishes the book’s main conflict. Every time Celia saves Jeffrey, fate will present her with new visions of scenarios for his death. Is she prepared to become a lifelong guardian for a boy she barely knows?

The story explores the prophecy’s effect on Celia’s life, going beyond the magical implications. She doesn’t want it to seem like she’s stalking Jeffrey so she’s forced to find ways of saving him without his knowledge. That’s tricky, especially when she’s trying to keep her efforts secret from her mother and classmates. Celia’s obsession to save Jeffrey demands her full attention so other areas of her life suffer. In addition, her former best friend won’t speak to her since she blames Celia’s grandmother’s magic for her parents’ separation. Celia doesn’t know how to deal with the girl but there are moments of wistfulness from past memories.

The resolution of the problem will evoke different emotions from readers. There’s no apparent way to stop fate from taking Jeffrey’s life so Celia’s efforts seem futile. Jeffrey’s a really nice boy which makes his impending death even harder to accept. Celia discovers a page is missing from her seer handbook and she’s frustrated that it may provide clues about what she can do. She becomes better at understanding her abilities but there’s always an air of uncertainty with her visions. Several strange events later in the plot create new questions, and the emotional climax is a surprise if readers don’t recognize clues along the way.

What didn’t work as well:

The early plot has a similar feel to the movie “Groundhog Day” where the same events continually happen over and over. While Celia’s rescues differ in details, she saves Jeffrey’s life several times in a short span of time. Later, the rescues are less frequent and require more planning, so the story becomes more engaging and satisfying.

The Final Verdict:

The first rule is fate cannot be defeated. The early pages feel a little redundant due to frequent rescues, but the story quickly becomes faster-paced and interesting as Celia learns to use her powers. Her determination to save Jeffrey is the backdrop for a sweet story of friendship, and the surprising conclusion will conjure many emotions. I recommend readers give this book a shot.