Thank you NetGalley and Simon Pulse for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: March 3rd, 2016
Synopsis: Islington Arts Academy is not your average high school. Nestled in the forests of Michigan, surrounded by trees and nature and virtually no evidence of civilization, it’s an oasis for those looking to get away. Perfect for a student like Kaira Winters, who wants nothing more than to put her past behind her and focus on the present…and her looming graduation, just a few months away. But the past has a way of returning when least expected.
Kaira knows that what happened before, at her old school, wasn’t normal. She knows what happened to her ex-boyfriend wasn’t natural. But she refuses to believe that the recent death on campus, the one that has everyone on edge, has anything to do with her. She refuses to believe that she could be at fault again. But just as the past always returns, the truth can never stay hidden for long.
Even if Kaira didn’t cause the first death at Islington, or the second, or the third, she has the ability to find out who did. She has the obligation to stop whatever is coming to campus. To end the darkness that is falling with the same snow that once blanketed the woods in beauty.
But to embrace this power–to relinquish herself to the ancient entity that has been lurking in the corners of her mind–is to let go of her humanity…and Kaira doesn’t know how far she can go before she loses herself completely.
Shades of Darkness is one of those books that has so much potential but becomes mired in too much melodrama and confusion which makes for a frustrating read.
The first problem is how the book begins. I felt as though I was dropped in the middle of a story and it was difficult to get a grasp of what was going on. There’s multiple hints as to Kaira’s traumatic past, but nothing is really explained until the end of the book. All you know is that something terrible happened and Kaira has exiled herself as far away from her home as she can. She has so many issues and secrets she’s hiding that it makes it hard to relate to her at all. Even when the truth of what happened to her is revealed, I found myself not caring by that point. Further muddying the waters were the supernatural aspects. While from the beginning it’s obvious they have something to do with Norse mythology, it’s unclear for the majority of the book what they have to do with Kaira and the mysterious deaths that are suddenly occurring on campus. I will say the characters are diverse with Kaira describing herself as being an “unknown blend of Native American bloodlines”, but even this I felt was just dropped in there with no further explanation. Kaira’s best friend, Ethan is gay and the exchanges between him and his boyfriend Oliver, provide for the most enjoyable moments of the book.
For being a relatively short book at 303 pages, the story dragged and I had to force myself to keep reading. While everything is explained in the end, for me it was too little, too late. This is going to be a series, but sadly I don’t think I’ll be giving it another try. It has received some good reviews though on Goodreads, so maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood.
Lekeisha The Booknerd said:
I remember this on NG, but I stopped myself from requesting it. I will have to wait until it releases to see if I want to read it.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
If you do wind up reading it Lekeisha, will you let me know what you think?
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Lekeisha The Booknerd said:
Will do!
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Carrie said:
Uh oh, I have this one coming up too. Hope that I enjoy it a bit more. 😦
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I was hoping someone on WordPress would have this. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this Carrie.
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Carrie said:
I’ll be reading some time in the next week/week and half before it’s published. I think I ended up with about 10 books out on March 1st so I need to finish getting through all those too. LOL
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Good Luck!
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Carrie said:
Thanks, I may need it. I was already a bit irritated having to mess with a PDF, if they warned us of those beforehand I probably wouldn’t have requested it. Now I’m worried it won’t be worth the read.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
That is such a pet peeve of mine! I understand it with books like Illuminae and Steep & Thorny Way because they have so many graphics and photos, but there really isn’t any reason I can see in this case. I downloaded another book from Simon & Schuster Children’s and it was also only available as a pdf, so I’m assuming that’s how all their ebooks are released. It really is annoying.
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Carrie said:
I have not come across very many that don’t have a Kindle option but I was finding it extremely hard to find a good way to read the protected PDFs until someone posted how to download Bluefire app onto a Kindle fire. Not so horrible now but still not the same or as easy as the regular Kindle.
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Vane @ Books With Chemistry said:
Ah, telling you nothing is such a cheap strategy for thrillers (it’s a thriller, right?) – makes you disconnected to the story. I definitely don’t blame you for losing your interest. Great review!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Vane. I don’t mind being teased a little, it adds to the intrigue, but when I wind up completely confused through most of the book, well it just makes me cranky.
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HusbandAndHusband said:
That always sucks when you have to force yourself to finish reading a book.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It is getting some good reviews on Goodreads so I don’t know if it’s just me.😕
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HusbandAndHusband said:
That’s alright. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I trust yours.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I hate it when people like something and I don’t though. It makes me wonder what I’m missing. 😦 On a happier note though, I finally saw your beloved Big Hero 6 and I absolutely LOVED it! 🙂
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HusbandAndHusband said:
I watched it on the plane ride home! Isn’t it great???? One day, I wish to have my very own Baymax.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I need a Baymax right now!
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HusbandAndHusband said:
Lol!
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Zoë said:
Phew, I almost, almost requested this but decided against it. Looks like a wise choice. Sorry to hear it was a let down!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I really don’t think you’d like this Zoe.
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Cici said:
If I hadn’t read your review this would have been one of those books I read because of the really great cover. I hate plots that hint at a dark past but leave till the end of the book to explain them. I prefer it be covered between the prologue and the first few chapters. Otherwise I feel it leaves you floating trying to connect the dots.
Always a great review, twin! 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I completely agree Twin. I also think it’s manipulative which irks me to no end. That cover is gorgeous though isn’t it? It’s funny because when I first saw it it reminded me of the artwork for the Netflix series Jessica Jones.
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Cici said:
I didn’t think of that. It totally looks like the cover for Jessica Jones. And thanks for reminding me I have to go finish watching it. 😛
The designer of this should get in touch with a couple of authors whose books I’ve read. Covers were ugly but amazing work on the inside.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I love that show Cici!
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