Once best friends at an elite superhero training academy, Callie
Bradford--code name Iridium--and Joannie Greene--code name Jet--are now
mortal enemies. Jet is a by-the-book hero, using her Shadow power to protect
the citizens of New Chicago. Iridium, with her mastery of Light, runs the
city's underworld. For years the two have played a dangerous game of cat and
mouse.

But now playtime's over. A looming evil threatens both them and the world
they share. As Jet works with a "normal" man who has an extraordinary
ability to make her weak in the knees, Iridium teams with a mysterious
vigilante called Taser. Both Jet and Iridium are convinced that the other
woman is the key to a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions.

And one of them is right.



Black and White is a wonderful mix of just about everything. Suspense, a well established plot, strong characters, a little bit of romance, a well thought out universe, humor, good guys, bad guys, the whole sha-bang,

It's well written and actually quite difficult to tell that it's been written by two different individuals (so the two authors, Kessler & Kittredge, were obviously on the same page throughout the novel and did a great job of meshing it all together for a fluid read.

Aside from one or two chapters, each chapter in the book is dedicated to one of the mc's viewpoint, either Jet - our resident good girl, by the book hero, or Iridium - the rabid who obviously from the get go had a hard time with rules and authority of both the academy and the corps. Although you can easily sympathize with both girls throughout the novel.

There is a lot of background story through the novel, but it's extremely well done, rather than telling one story in the present, the authors are telling two stories. The conflct & plotline from now, and the story of the girls former years and friendship at the academy as well as the differences that drove them apart. There is a lot of going back and forth but it's done smoothly by ending of the current section of Now, with a new section beginning for Then and so on and so forth.

Jet is a shadow power. Shadows are known for mental instability that eventually over takes them. Iridium is a light power and has issues with the rules and the way things are done. Both girls are extremely intelligent and bond very early in their days at the academy with Iri becoming Jet's protector from her tormentors, doing everything she can to help Jet through. Present day, Iri and jet have become enemies. With Jet, everything is plain as day, it's either this or it's not. With Iri, shades of grey exist, Heroes are just mouthpieces for their sponsers and the Corp, robots.

Overall, Black and White is a well written book by two talented authors and one I thoroughly enjoyed and would definitely recommend. I'll be reading it again and am looking forward to the release of the next Jet & Iridium novel, Shades of Grey in July 2010.


Grade: A