Review: The Healer

The Healer by C.J. Anaya
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I came across C.J. Anaya through a Goodreads giveaway for this series. Unfortunately, I did not win the series, but I did sign up for her newsletter. Through doing so, I received the first book and a short story. I had intended to read it for quite some time – but my to-read list is ridiculously long. Despite having not read any of her work, though, I signed up to join her advance read team when I saw she was looking for people to join. This meant I got to read her Marry Your Billionaire at the start of the year – and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew right then that I would be reading more of her work. Still, I didn’t pick this up right away. It had nothing to do with a lack of interest, rather I had so many advance reads to get through and there were so many new books I’d been waiting on, it just sort of feel to the bottom of my list. Not too long back, however, I noticed that C.J. Anaya was looking for people to review the series for her. Thus, I contacted her. I explained that I had the first book and would love to read the rest of the series. She was lovely enjoy to send me books two and three.

Then came the dreaded exam period that puts a dampener on bibliophiles. Despite wanting to read a book a day, such a thing isn’t really advised. Thus, it was put aside for a while.

Finally, however, I have got to work on the series – and it is safe to say, I’m enjoying it!

I know, I know, I’ve only read the first book. What I mean is that I enjoyed the introduction and I’m more than happy to continue on. In fact, with the way it ended I need to carry on straight away. I need to know what comes next – I’ve been pulled in, and I’m in dire need of answers to so many things.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t feel like this for the whole book. It did take me a while to get into the story, and I feared at first it would be a three star read. As I’ve come to expect through reading Marry Your Billionaire and her short stories, C.J. Anaya is a wonderful author. She had a writing style that is very much her own, and she easily brings the characters to life (seriously, the cast in this story is wonderful). But, it was a bit too much on the young adult side of things for me when the story first started. We had details of the high school life and the drama surrounding it – and such a thing never really pulls me it. It doesn’t matter how good the story is, these things will never entertain me. I hated high school far too much to ever get enjoyment from this kind of thing. However, if you enjoy such a thing, then I know you’ll love that aspect of the story. It builds so much for the later story, and it is much better done than a lot of stories out there. It’s a lot more realistic, despite the fantasy aspect of the story.

And oh my, what a great fantasy aspect it is. It reminds me some of other stories, but that is just in the under arching story. The specific details are unique and wonderful. It’s such a great story, with such interesting aspects. I really do fear saying too much. Honestly, there is so much I want to say and yet each time I start to type a sentence my brain screams out with a warning of how I’m inching towards spoilers.

You know a book is good when every tiny detail you can offer up hints towards spoilers. It means it is well thought out, with the story being wonderfully interconnected.

Honestly, there are so many good things about this.

However, I did find myself somewhat annoyed by the romance aspect. Specifically, I found myself annoyed by the instalove and love triangle. I know this links in with so many aspects of the story – yet I found myself unable to truly enjoy the romance aspect as it all seemed too much too soon. This is, in part, is due to the fact that I’m very picky when it comes to romances – but still. Even if I wasn’t so fickle, I fear I would have labelled it too much too soon.

Overall, it was a great introduction to the series and I’m more than intrigued to see where everything goes from here.

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