Book Review: Lucid

I don't know about you, but that week went by quickly. Before I head off to my grandfather's 80th birthday party this weekend, I'll be reviewing, Lucid, the second book in the Brightest Kind of Darkness series. I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received the actual kindle copy direct from the author.

Title: Lucid

Author: P.T. Michelle

Series: Brightest Kind of Darkness #2

Publisher: Patrice Michelle

Original Publication Date: July 7, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Once Nara combines her prophetic ability with Ethan’s power to outsmart Fate at his own deadly cat-and-mouse game, she’s more determined than ever to help Ethan learn the meaning behind the raven sword tattoo that suddenly appeared on his back after their confrontation with Fate.

During her quest to uncover the tattoo’s secrets, Nara enlists the help of some new friends and discovers her own surprising connection to Ethan

While Nara digs deeper into the mystery, her desire for answers leads her down a dangerous path full of powerful and ruthless enemies. Swept into an age-old battle, Nara quickly learns that keeping one’s enemies close can be a necessary evil, making an intangible enemy she can control far more preferable to the human enemies she can’t.

I started reading this book almost immediately after finishing up the first book of this series. In Lucid Ethan is away for most of the book trying to mend things with his parents. Nara and Ethan's relationship is reduced to phone calls and text messages. In an effort to stay close to Ethan, Nara sets out to discover the meaning behind Ethan's tattoo.

Nara gets some help from a new friend, Drystan from Wales. I know some people might say, "why, oh why, did the author take Ethan out of a lot of the story and add Drystan," and I say, "because it works and I liked his character." Who else would help save Nara when she needs it while Ethan is away? Who knew researching ravens could be dangerous?

Not only do I like Drystan, I also like the strange little raven Nara named Patches that visits Nara everyday and tries to warn her of danger. 

This book is not only about Nara's search to find out more about the raven tattoo, but she is also trying to search for more information on her Dad that walked out on her family years ago. During this time her friends are getting ready for the big school dance and they all insist Nara attend even though Ethan won't be able to make it. 

Everything in this book fits together nicely. With Nara researching the raven tattoo as the main focus of this book, it has a little bit slower, but rhythmic pace that builds up to the end. And wow what an ending! I immediately wanted to see if I could get my hands on the third book after finishing this one, but it doesn't come out until the end of this month. I'm really excited to see what happens next in this series.  

I liked this book a little bit better than the first book and would definitely recommend it. I would even be more than willing to pay $2.99 (the currently Amazon price as of this posting) to buy the kindle book on my own. 

My Rating: 

Book Review: Brightest Kind of Darkness

We're a little over half-way through the week! For your enjoyment today, I will be reviewing Brightest Kind of Darkness, by P.T. Michelle.

Title: Brightest Kind of Darkness

Author: P.T. Michelle

Series: Brightest Kind of Darkness #1

Publisher: Patrice Michelle

Original Publication Date: June  27, 2011

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

I picked up this kindle book on Amazon for FREE last November (still free as of this posting). It is a self-published novel, although I think it is more than good enough to be a mainstream published novel, if the author chose to do so. I finally got around to reading it recently as I agreed to read and review a copy of the second book in this series from the author (review for book #2 to post tomorrow). In preparation for reading the second book, I thought I should finally getting around to reading the first one. I was NOT disappointed. I'm actually kind of sad it too me this long to read the book. I devoured it in about a day.

The entire book is from Nara's point of view. Nara has dreamed the entire next day of her life (unless her sleep is interrupted) since she was seven. She is now sixteen. Nara usually avoids trying to change the events of her day, but does try to go out of her way to avoid hearing unpleasant conversations, etc...Dreaming about her entire next day also helps her avoid studying for tests/assignments as she already knows what's coming. It also makes her the star goalie of her soccer team as she knows ahead of time which way the ball is going to go. EVERYTHING is very predictable for Nara. She wishes for once she would live her day like a normal teenager, not knowing what is going to happen next. Fortunately or unfortunately, one day that happens. Shortly after calling in a bomb threat to school (it was just too big for her to ignore and let it happen), Nara stops dreaming her next day. 

Imagine that. You know your entire next day and have for almost the last ten years of your life. Whether you want to or not, you come to rely on the information you gain in your sleep and suddenly one day it's gone. You have no idea why. You suddenly aren't do so well in school and as far as being that star goalie...yeah, not so much anymore. 

However, all of this does come with an upside. The upside? Ethan. Ethan is fairly new to the school, he is a loner that tends to walk around with the "no one cares, why should I give a shit" look. Rumor also has it he was kicked out of his old school. Nara had previously tried to say hi to him before, but he always ignored her or didn't hear her, until after the bomb that is. Ethan's locker is moved right next to Nara's. Come to find out, maybe Ethan is just misunderstood. He does seem to be showing up where she is lately and helping her out.

I have to say I really liked both Nara and Ethan. They felt like very real people to me. I felt Nara did a pretty good job transitioning into going through the day like a normal teen (as her power goes spotty), well as much like a normal teen when people start getting hurt at a high rate and Nara keeps hearing strange whispers and shocks whenever she tries to prevent anyone from being hurt. Who is hurting everyone? What is up with Ethan? And can they solve the mystery before someone close to Nara gets hurt?

A pretty good start to a series. I would recommend this novel to family in friends. It is very well written and has a great story. I started the second book almost immediately after I finished this one.  

My Rating: