Current Impressions (Never Forgotten) by Kelly Risser introduces us to Meara Quinn who has had a bad year. She is no longer an innocent girl, her mom is gone and she has graduated. Now is the time to take a leap of faith. She leaves her love, Evan, behind to join her father on a world journey so she can learn more about herself. While on this journey, she begins to develop magical powers and must undergo grueling training so she can learn how to use them. Her father chooses her aunt and a man not from their clan, named Kieran, to train her. From there, life continues to unfold, leading to the death of two of her father's guards and taking Meara on a journey to find out what is going on.

I have not read the first book in this series but having read this one, I simply must. The world created within the pages of this book is enthralling and the story that unfolds is one that will capture your attention and make you wish the story would not end. Meara has a great spirit and she must certainly handle a lot of things at once. You can certainly tell that author Kelly Risser loves the work she is doing and has a passion for telling a good story. Success has been reached with this one because I truly enjoyed every page turning moment I spent with these characters. There are a lot of twists and turns within this story to keep even the most experienced reader happy. If you want a book that grabs your attention and still holds tight until the end, then this is the one for you.

Until recently Maera’s life was relatively normal. But the death of her mother and the return of her Selkie father has changed all of that. When she travels to the small island her Selkie family calls home, she believes it’s going to be a new adventure. She has no idea how much of an adventure. Nothing is as it seems anymore. She’s about to be thrust into an entirely new world full of danger and war. She’s learning that even the boy she loves is something other than he appears and the boy she’s convinced herself to hate (ever since that one kiss they shared) doesn’t seem so terrible after all. It’s going to be a long summer for Maera and before it’s over she’ll question everything she’s ever believed in Current Impressions by Kelly Risser.

Current Impressions entranced me from the start. I couldn’t stop reading and actually finished the entire book in one sitting (as in I did not move from my spot on the couch until it was done). I loved the characters and the way you feel like you’re really involved in the story. Maera, Evan, Kieran, Ula and all the rest felt real and I wanted to learn even more about them. When the book ended I was extremely disappointed, but only because a search online told me that there isn’t a third book yet. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and magic. It will definitely pull you in and you’ll love the characters and the story just as much as I did.

When Meara left the human world and joined her Selkie family on an invisible island in Scotland, she left behind the entire past seventeen years of her life, including her boyfriend Evan. Life as a Selkie was filled with endless exciting discoveries. Every day she learned something new about this new life, including her incredible magical powers that were strong beyond what anyone could have imagined. But her most shocking discovery was that she was next in line to lead and protect the people of the island - something her father had neglected to tell her when they left the human world. Death was a very rare occurrence in the Selkie world, but two Selkies had been found dead - possibly murdered- and this had everyone worried. The island was on lock down and no one was allowed to leave, not even to go into the water for a swim. Now how was Meara going to keep up with the demands of her Selkie life and ensure that she continues to see Evan? And then there was also the issue of her very undeniable attraction to Kieran, her Selkie trainer and protector.

Current Impressions by Kelly Risser is a one of a kind exciting Young Adult fantasy story with a unique plot brought to life with exceptional writing and memorable characters. After reading the first chapter I was completely captivated and I said to myself, 'this is gonna be one thrilling read' - and yes, I was right. The setting of the story was very memorable and gave it a unique thrill, adding to an already exciting cast of characters, each compelling in their own way. I loved how Kelly Risser portrayed the characters, making them unique and yet very easy to relate to. It was a sheer thrill to follow Meara's activities as she adjusted to her new lifestyle and endeavoured to balance her teenage persona with the demands of her new position in the Selkie world. Current Impressions is the kind of book you read in one go because you just can't wait to see how the events play out. Fans of the Young Adult/fantasy genres are going to love it.

Current Impressions by Kelly Risser is a fantasy romance novel in the Young Adult genre, and sequel to Never Forgotten, a lovely perma-free novel that I had the pleasure of reading last year. In the first book, our heroine Meara Quinn fell in love with local boy Evan after changing countries for her sick mother to live out her days. Now, Meara’s mother has passed away, but Meara is only just beginning to explore her abilities as a Selkie (a creature of untold magic, who can also transform into a seal-like being in water). She needs her father’s help to learn about her magic, and that means leaving Evan behind, for a little while at least.

What follows is an adventure that smacks with a truly teenage narrative. Kelly Risser’s first person prose makes it easy to hear Meara’s voice in your head whilst reading, and even easier to feel for her as she struggles against all new magical dangers, as well as the feisty Kieran, whose part in the tale I enjoyed very much. Don’t be mistaken in thinking that Current Impressions is merely a romance tale, for I particularly enjoyed Risser’s new twists on the Celtic mythology of Scotland, and most especially the beautiful new settings and otherworldly atmosphere that fill this book’s pages. Overall, I’d say that Current Impressions is an excellent read for both teens and adults who are looking for a little whimsical magic in their lives. A well-told tale with plenty of suspense, action and mythology.