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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Dark Visions is a three-part book written by L.J. Smith and it has captivated my heart with every page. The main character Kaitlyn Fairchild is a teenage girl who is an outcast, not only because of her looks but because she is physic. Because of her abilities, she is sent to a an institution that will help hone her skills with other kids who have special abilities just like her. As she is growing with her powers, she is put to the ultimate test of survival and soon discovers what love and friendship truly are. This book is truly worth the read!
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
(Lol, do you guys like how I'm just randomly doing a bunch of book thought blogs? I'm being a book omnmonmoner right now.)
So, as opposed to doing these books one at a time, I thought that I would just wait until I finished the trilogy and write up my thoughts on them as a whole. Let me start off by saying that L.J. Smith is one of my favorite authors. Honestly, as a teenager I read The Forbidden Game Trilogy over and over again until I wore my book out. It was fun, after not having read her for a few years to take a step back and read some of her books again.
Let me start out by saying that I really do love the plotline of these books. Without ruining anything for anyone (because I know quite a few people probably haven't read these books, so I won't be so spoiler-y here). It's got a great pace, especially if you purchase the 3-in-1 collection so you can sit down and take it all as one bigger book as opposed to 3 much shorter ones. The pacing is done really well. To give you a nice, brief overview of the story.... let's see.
In book one, The Strange Power, we meet our central characters. Kaitlyn Fairchild is a teenager who sees the future via her drawings. She is, of course, beautiful but an outcast amongst her community. She is approached by a woman named Joyce Piper who wants to take her to the Zetes Institution, a place where she can learn to use and control her powers. Of course, she goes (because how fun would the book have been if she'd just said no and stayed home?), and meets the other characters in our little storyline. Rob, the 'good guy' character of the book who is a healer. Anna, her dark haired friend who can communicate with animals, and Lewis, who has PK.
And then, of course, there is Gabriel Wolfe.
He's your typical bad boy, but he has such a good story behind his actions. Again, trying not to give away too much here.
The Institute is run by a man names Mr. Zetes, whose motives are figured out later to be something not so pure as simply helping them to discover their powers. The events after they find this out and decide to do something about it span over the next two books (The Possessed, The Passion). To sum it up... we have an amazing fight, wonderful romance, betrayal, sabotage and a very spicy love triangle!
>_> There, heh. I think that was a good little summary going on here. Honestly, this book is full of enough twists to make it interesting, even if it is a little bit of a generic teenage SP book.
The only thing that I wish is that, perhaps, the books had been a little longer so that L.J. Smith could have explored and developed her characters to a fuller extent. I think that's the trouble with some of the shorter teen books - authors are forced to rush themselves to get to the end of their story without the novel becoming so lengthy that it isn't appealing to the targeted group anymore. However, there's enough spice and life in the characters that the book is still wonderful.
Maybe it's just me, a fan of the series, wanting more?
Still, I'd really say they're excellent books to read - give it a 9/10 easily. :3 Go pick them up (or buy them on ebay for 5 bucks like I did.)
So, as opposed to doing these books one at a time, I thought that I would just wait until I finished the trilogy and write up my thoughts on them as a whole. Let me start off by saying that L.J. Smith is one of my favorite authors. Honestly, as a teenager I read The Forbidden Game Trilogy over and over again until I wore my book out. It was fun, after not having read her for a few years to take a step back and read some of her books again.
Let me start out by saying that I really do love the plotline of these books. Without ruining anything for anyone (because I know quite a few people probably haven't read these books, so I won't be so spoiler-y here). It's got a great pace, especially if you purchase the 3-in-1 collection so you can sit down and take it all as one bigger book as opposed to 3 much shorter ones. The pacing is done really well. To give you a nice, brief overview of the story.... let's see.
In book one, The Strange Power, we meet our central characters. Kaitlyn Fairchild is a teenager who sees the future via her drawings. She is, of course, beautiful but an outcast amongst her community. She is approached by a woman named Joyce Piper who wants to take her to the Zetes Institution, a place where she can learn to use and control her powers. Of course, she goes (because how fun would the book have been if she'd just said no and stayed home?), and meets the other characters in our little storyline. Rob, the 'good guy' character of the book who is a healer. Anna, her dark haired friend who can communicate with animals, and Lewis, who has PK.
And then, of course, there is Gabriel Wolfe.
He's your typical bad boy, but he has such a good story behind his actions. Again, trying not to give away too much here.
The Institute is run by a man names Mr. Zetes, whose motives are figured out later to be something not so pure as simply helping them to discover their powers. The events after they find this out and decide to do something about it span over the next two books (The Possessed, The Passion). To sum it up... we have an amazing fight, wonderful romance, betrayal, sabotage and a very spicy love triangle!
>_> There, heh. I think that was a good little summary going on here. Honestly, this book is full of enough twists to make it interesting, even if it is a little bit of a generic teenage SP book.
The only thing that I wish is that, perhaps, the books had been a little longer so that L.J. Smith could have explored and developed her characters to a fuller extent. I think that's the trouble with some of the shorter teen books - authors are forced to rush themselves to get to the end of their story without the novel becoming so lengthy that it isn't appealing to the targeted group anymore. However, there's enough spice and life in the characters that the book is still wonderful.
Maybe it's just me, a fan of the series, wanting more?
Still, I'd really say they're excellent books to read - give it a 9/10 easily. :3 Go pick them up (or buy them on ebay for 5 bucks like I did.)
I have SUCH fond memories of this book! I must have read it three or four times during my teen years, and, with each read, I came to love it even more!
The story centres around a group of teenagers with ‘powers’. They gather together in an institution where their powers can be understood and developed. I know - it doesn’t sound like anything special - but it gets SO good. The characters are fantastic and the romance, although cheesy, really appealed to me when I was younger. This really is a book I would call ‘unputdownable’.
The story centres around a group of teenagers with ‘powers’. They gather together in an institution where their powers can be understood and developed. I know - it doesn’t sound like anything special - but it gets SO good. The characters are fantastic and the romance, although cheesy, really appealed to me when I was younger. This really is a book I would call ‘unputdownable’.
It took me a little while to get through this book, it was a tad bit slow, and I don't remember too much of it except that I thought it was okay and that all the characters in this book had some kind of power? It's ok.
The Strange Power
4 stars
The Possessed
4 stars
The Passion
2.5 stars
The first two were simple and predictable but fun. The third was not fun.
Quick to read, easy to comprehend, and mostly enjoyable—except for the ending lol. Would recommend to readers looking for a fast YA paranormal fantasy. Features magic boarding school-set ups (book 1), a long road trip (book 2), and a love triangle (all 3).
4 stars
The Possessed
4 stars
The Passion
2.5 stars
The first two were simple and predictable but fun. The third was not fun.
Quick to read, easy to comprehend, and mostly enjoyable—except for the ending lol. Would recommend to readers looking for a fast YA paranormal fantasy. Features magic boarding school-set ups (book 1), a long road trip (book 2), and a love triangle (all 3).
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I absolutely LOVED this trilogy. It reminded me of Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy, which is one of my absolute FAVORITES, ever. The one thing that did irritate me was how long it took Gabriel to finally be the knight in shining armor and how long it took for Kaitlyn to realize that he was the right guy, not Rob. I adored Gabriel and knew from the beginning that he was the guy Kaitlyn belonged with and was not disappointed :) I will definitely be re-reading this!
This book is simply brilliant. I have to say, my favourite character is Gabriel. I mean yeah, he is sort of creepy, but I know why. He is always the outsider. And I like that Kaitlyn gives him a fair chance to show who he really is. I especially like the part where he gives Kailtyn his memory. It makes me tears up a little bit. It's not the usual magic or socery,but it is indeed a new idea and brilliant twist.
The strange power: Kaitlyn is an artist, but not an ordinary one; everything she draws comes true. When she is invited by Dr Xetes, a scientist who is studying psychic abilities, to join his school of "talented individuals" in California, Kaitlyn is only too happy to go. There she meets Rob, a healer, and Gabriel, a dark lone wolf, who apparently wants nothing to do with her. But with so much supernatural energy going around, it's hardly surprising that the psychics soon develop a telepathic link that can't be broken. The Possessed: Having learned the dark secrets of the psychic institute, Kaitlyn and her new friends are on the run, not even daring to contact their parents or old friends. As the group hide-out together they grow closer and Kaitlyn finally discovers Gabriel's dark secret: he's a psychic vampire. In order to survive he needs to drain other people's life-force, but he's been holding back to keep others safe. Kaitlyn offers herself as a source - and finds the experience not entirely un-enjoyable. The Passion: Back at the lab, captured like animals, Kaitlyn and her friends are still in danger from the evil Dr Xetes. To escape they will need to face the true meaning of what their psychic link really means. But Kaitlyn is battling with an internal conflict too: Rob or Gabriel? Sunlight or darkness? She'll need to search her heart for the answer.
I actually really enjoyed this book, which is a big compliment coming from me, as it didn’t like the Night World, and the Vampire Diaries (although they were still good). It was nice to read something light, just about a psychic girl, compared to some of the other stuff that I’ve been reading lately which have been quite heavy-going. It was nice just to read something with a supernatural romance but not so dark and gothic.
The book has a fantastic plot. LJ Smith has a way of describing everything in this book, especially the emotions, but the great bit about the book is that it moved just at the right pace. Not too fast, not too slow – just right. I felt this book, was all very close to reality, so close in fact that I imagined it actually happening.
The whole book was very well thought out, and the research done into it must have taken a while. The idea of crystals was a clever one. So awesome, I want a Pure Crystal. Then I could see I have Psychic abilities and enhance. Just Kidding! (About the abilities – I still want that crystal! GRRR)
The spin off at the end was great, but Kait with Gabriel felt wrong, but I think it could have just been the fact that in all the books I’ve read recently the girl always falls/ends up with the bad boy – and to be honest I think Kait and Rob would be better together that Kait and Gabriel.
The characters were amazing. It’s so cool how LJ Smith can make common names really cool, one thing many authors struggle with. The characters would be easy to relate to, and partly the book, is a classic run-away story with a supernatural twist, so that was cool.
Overall the book was fantastic, definitely five stars – SO BUY IT! (Because it rocks)
I actually really enjoyed this book, which is a big compliment coming from me, as it didn’t like the Night World, and the Vampire Diaries (although they were still good). It was nice to read something light, just about a psychic girl, compared to some of the other stuff that I’ve been reading lately which have been quite heavy-going. It was nice just to read something with a supernatural romance but not so dark and gothic.
The book has a fantastic plot. LJ Smith has a way of describing everything in this book, especially the emotions, but the great bit about the book is that it moved just at the right pace. Not too fast, not too slow – just right. I felt this book, was all very close to reality, so close in fact that I imagined it actually happening.
The whole book was very well thought out, and the research done into it must have taken a while. The idea of crystals was a clever one. So awesome, I want a Pure Crystal. Then I could see I have Psychic abilities and enhance. Just Kidding! (About the abilities – I still want that crystal! GRRR)
The spin off at the end was great, but Kait with Gabriel felt wrong, but I think it could have just been the fact that in all the books I’ve read recently the girl always falls/ends up with the bad boy – and to be honest I think Kait and Rob would be better together that Kait and Gabriel.
The characters were amazing. It’s so cool how LJ Smith can make common names really cool, one thing many authors struggle with. The characters would be easy to relate to, and partly the book, is a classic run-away story with a supernatural twist, so that was cool.
Overall the book was fantastic, definitely five stars – SO BUY IT! (Because it rocks)