Not many teenagers could handle disturbing visions of people dying or dead without going insane, but Dean Curse has had some time to adjust to his unique ability. In Relic, Steven Whibley gives us and Dean a bit more information about the centuries-old secret society that bestowed Dean with his gift. While Dean often feels his gift aptly fits his last name, he learns that it is his mental fortitude and strength of character that made him a prime candidate for these visions. Despite his stress and misgivings about his abilities, Dean and his crew Lisa and Colin are back in Relic, working hard to stop a monk from pulling off a museum heist. At least, they would be working hard if the police didn’t suspect Dean was causing trouble instead of trying to prevent it.

What Steven Whibley has excelled at with The Dean Curse Chronicles is writing stories for teens that are smart, insightful, and compelling. While Dean, Colin, and Lisa all chatter on in the way 14-year-olds do, they show extreme bravery and quick thinking in the face of danger. Instead of focusing heavily on romance or teen angst, Relic deals with a darker side of the world in a way that appeals to the inner crime-fighter inside us all. So much happens in every chapter that it’s a fast-paced read that feels like watching a big budget action flick, but with brighter colors and sharper wit. If not for the fact that this pack of friends get around on bicycles, not in cars, one could almost forget just how young Dean and the gang are.

The addition of society member Archer was fantastic. It gave the gang an adult they could not only speak to, but who could also boost their confidence and allay their fears. I’m eager to see what new trouble young Dean Curse will find himself in next.

Relic is the second book in Steven Whibley's The Dean Curse Chronicles, a mystery series for young adults. Dean has a special gift that he's just learning how to use. He gets visions when someone is going to die. Dean's pals, Colin and Lisa, work with him to try and change the patterns of events and keep those people alive. In the first book, Dean saved his sister, Becky, a frizzy-haired know-it-all whose life is dedicated to embarrassing him, by throwing himself in front of a moving vehicle. When Relic begins, he's still wearing the cast on his broken leg. Dean's mother has arranged a family outing to the local museum which has a display of coprolite. Becky's a collector with a taste for the bizarre and collecting fossilized feces is her newest passion. When they arrive at the museum, there's a protest led by Cambodian monks over a stone Buddha head which is on display there. While Dean is exploring the exhibits with Lisa and Colin, one of the monks gets into a heated exchange with an onlooker and charges away, knocking into Dean -- which sets off another vision.

You don't have to be a young adult to enjoy Relic by Steven Whibley. Each vision leads Dean, Colin, and Lisa into a puzzle-solving adventure which may or may not save a person's life. The three are a fabulous team. Colin is a comical blend of James Bond and MacGyver, and the interaction between him and the others is endlessly entertaining. While I read the first book in the series, Relic stands alone, and readers new to the series will quickly get involved. There's plenty of action and suspense, and there was just enough humor to keep this reader grinning and sometimes laughing out loud. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in The Dean Curse Chronicles.

Relic: The Dean Curse Chronicles by Steven Whibley is a suspenseful thriller that will keep the reader turning pages. Dean Curse has a gift. A vision that someone is going to die comes to him and he has 24 hours to stop the tragedy. With the help of his two friends Lisa and Colin, the teen does everything possible and necessary to keep whoever is in his vision alive. When a relic belonging to a small Cambodian village is stolen and then placed in a museum exhibition, things take a turn for the worse. Dean’s visions of museum guards and Cambodian monks dying lead them into action. With guidance from Mister Archer, a veteran member of the Congregatio de Sacrificio society, the teens learn more about using Dean’s gift, and what it all means as they work together to save lives. With plenty of courage in the face of their own personal doubts, they press forward, risking their lives and braving the possibility of being found out.

Steven Whibley has the makings of a classic thriller series with the creative concept and the well established characters of this novel. His characters reflect the true psyche of teens as they struggle with their own insecurities while stepping forward to meet an important set of challenges. The reader is drawn into the plot and can hardly wait to turn the page and find out what action awaits. The plot is believable and has a light-hearted, comic relief built into the tense action. This is a great addition to any reader’s library and is likely to become a very popular read among young adults and teens alike.

In Steven Whibley's book, Relic: The Dean Curse Chronicle, Book 2, the main protagonist, Dean Curse, still thinks that having visions of people twenty four hours before they die is not a gift. However, he realizes that it is not a curse either. Has he finally accepted and embraced his visions? It does not matter. What is important is that he now understands the need to act and save anyone he can. Together with his friends, Dean has to figure out what his visions are showing him. After saving a man at the mall from death, they find themselves fighting a monk in a museum and stealing back a severed Buddha head.

While I admit that Relic fails to exceed my expectations, I also think that this second book has its own unique way of catching my attention. Although the first book, for me, is more interesting, Book 2 also has its charm that young adults will love. Dean’s new adventure arouses my curiosity and I am looking forward to more adventures in this sequel, but it looks like Steven Whibley is keeping them for the next series. This is probably the reason why I feel something is lacking. I am too excited to follow the reluctant hero in action. With this being said, I cannot wait to read the third book, Impact! Relic is dialogue-driven and it is written effectively. Whibley surely knows where he wants to bring his story and reading his book is a wonderful experience.