Review: Unmarked by Kami Garcia (The Legion #2)

“I realized that sometimes we have to step outside the walls and fight. Sometimes the armor we thought was protecting us was actually weighing us down.”

Synopsis:
Kennedy Waters lives in a world where vengeance spirits kill, ghosts keep secrets, and a demon walks among us–a demon she accidentally set free.

Now Kennedy and the other Legion members–Alara, Priest, Lukas, and Jared–have to hunt him down. As they learn more about the history of the Legion and the Illuminati, Kennedy realizes that the greatest mystery of all does not belong to any secret order, but to her own family. With the clock ticking and the life of someone she loves hanging in the balance, Kennedy has to ask the question she fears most: what is it about her past that has left her Unmarked?

My Initial Expectations:

I had a very strong love-hate relationship with the first book in this series. I loved it paranormal aspects; but I also hated it for how similar said paranormal aspects mirrored those in the hit television series Supernatural. Not only that, but two brothers travelling around the country fighting ghosts and demons was a bit too on the nose. To be honest, I had picked up the sequel before I even finished the first book. That being so, I was determined not to let twenty bucks go to waste. 

What I Liked About The Book:

This book made up for a lot of the resentments I had previously developed towards the characters. For starters, the members of the Legion were much more mature. No longer were they a bunch of annoying cliches (with the exception of Jared, but I'll get to that later). The brief insight into each characters lives outside of the Legion finally removed the uncaring distance that I had felt towards them all during much of the first book. 

Thankfully, Garcia eliminated the much despised love triangle, and in the best way. There was no drama or long-lasting awkwardness. The characters moved on and focused on more important things like mature teenagers are supposed to do. I also loved that Elle was a constant presence. She brought a well needed lightheartedness to the doomsday atmosphere and made sure that Kennedy's attention wasn't always on the hot guy. 

Surprisingly, this book creeped me out. Of course I'm already easily freaked out because of my ever-present paranoia; but this level of creep was a big step from the almost nonexistent gloom of the first book. 

What I Didn't Like About The Book:

Jared was one of my favourite characters in the first book. Now he makes me gag. He went from a tough and determined hero to a lovesick puppy with little reason. Sure, Kennedy's a nice girl, but he's known her less than two months. Take it down a notch. 

I didn't think this book could copy Supernatural any more than it already had. I was wrong. I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil it for people who haven't read this one yet; but I can tell you it involves rogue angels, demonic possession and daddy issues. 

My Overall Thoughts: 

Rarely do I come across a sequel that is better than its predecessor. While it has one of the cheesiest romances in YA, it's still super cute and not entirely cringe-worthy. I'm very relieved that author has begun to eliminate some of the distasteful cliches that made the first book so disappointing. Additionally, I'm blown away by the detail included in regards to history and demonology (and all those other paranormal terms I can't for the life of me spell). I always can appreciate well-researched information. 

I gave this book 4/5 stars on Goodreads!

Would I recommend it? Yes. Even if you hated the first book, you should give this series a second chance! 

Would I re-read it? Nah.

What did you guys think? Do you think there was significant improvement between the first and second books? Have you ever come across a sequel that was better than/made up for its predecessor?