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A review by foreverbeautifulbooks
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
3.0
I bought a copy of this book at a library book sale. I read the inside flap and was intrigued that this was about ghosts.
I was very surprised by this story. At times I kind of hated Aura, but then I have to remember she's only sixteen and we were all sort of narcissistic at that age. We take things for granted when we are young and we forget that things CAN hurt and touch us in life altering ways.
The story was very well written and unique. How often do you get a paranormal sort of dystopian story were everyone born after a winter solstice can see ghosts.
My one issue with the book seemed to be the 'kids' that can see ghosts that are about to come of age. Now, you have what appears to be a group of extreme government agents that seem to feel the seeing of ghosts is bad and--well evil. Apparently if you are a really angry ghost you can do what is called, Shade. You black out and become just crazy roaming around all black and screaming. I am going to assume this is a form of being a Poltergist, this is how was understanding this.
However, all these kids have ghosts coming to them for 'closure' they need help passing on. Seems logical right. Yet all these selfish teenagers are unwilling to help them. That was the lone thing that really put me off about the story. I was like JUST GO SEE HER DAUGHTER AND TELL HER! But instead they plug their ears and "la-la-la". It not only annoyed me but made me really lack sympathy for anything happening to the characters.
Then you have NO adult encouraging this aside from ONE ghost in the story, but that is only because the lead female wouldn't let go and it was 'holding her back.' That was the only really BIG thing that bothered me.
I found that Zach was my favorite character. I thought Aura as a lead was weak. She was slowly redeeming herself by the end, then at the end she does something selfish AGAIN, but I think the author is rolling with a whole love triangle thing here.
As much as I really want to know what caused 'the shift' which I am assuming it is something fae related since they hint at that and it being based in Ireland, I don't know how soon I will jump into book two. I have like atleast ONE female in a book to really want to move forward, but Aura and Megan sort of just give female leads something to be desired.
I was very surprised by this story. At times I kind of hated Aura, but then I have to remember she's only sixteen and we were all sort of narcissistic at that age. We take things for granted when we are young and we forget that things CAN hurt and touch us in life altering ways.
The story was very well written and unique. How often do you get a paranormal sort of dystopian story were everyone born after a winter solstice can see ghosts.
My one issue with the book seemed to be the 'kids' that can see ghosts that are about to come of age. Now, you have what appears to be a group of extreme government agents that seem to feel the seeing of ghosts is bad and--well evil. Apparently if you are a really angry ghost you can do what is called, Shade. You black out and become just crazy roaming around all black and screaming. I am going to assume this is a form of being a Poltergist, this is how was understanding this.
However, all these kids have ghosts coming to them for 'closure' they need help passing on. Seems logical right. Yet all these selfish teenagers are unwilling to help them. That was the lone thing that really put me off about the story. I was like JUST GO SEE HER DAUGHTER AND TELL HER! But instead they plug their ears and "la-la-la". It not only annoyed me but made me really lack sympathy for anything happening to the characters.
Then you have NO adult encouraging this aside from ONE ghost in the story, but that is only because the lead female wouldn't let go and it was 'holding her back.' That was the only really BIG thing that bothered me.
I found that Zach was my favorite character. I thought Aura as a lead was weak. She was slowly redeeming herself by the end, then at the end she does something selfish AGAIN, but I think the author is rolling with a whole love triangle thing here.
As much as I really want to know what caused 'the shift' which I am assuming it is something fae related since they hint at that and it being based in Ireland, I don't know how soon I will jump into book two. I have like atleast ONE female in a book to really want to move forward, but Aura and Megan sort of just give female leads something to be desired.