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‘Dark Visions’ - Review

Author - L.J Smith

Rating 7/10

Genre - Supernatural, Drama(?)

Originally published - 1994

Warning - This book does talk about experimentation on teenagers and there are pieces of torture. Nothing overly graphic but still dark.

Okay before anyone challenges me or complains about this review. Yes I know that technically Dark Visions is a series and I said I was going to avoid reviewing an entire series at one time. But this trilogy was re-printed as an omnibus and that’s the format I found it in. In my mind it’s one large book and I’m gonna treat it as such.

Dark Visions is about a teenager named Kaitlyn Fairchild who is an outcast in her town because people believe her to be a witch since her art predicts the future (most often morbid events). She is offered  scholarship with the Zetes institute to study her power and learn amongst four other 'psychic’ teenagers. Of course their is a darker agenda going on and Kait, with the help of her new found friends, must uncover the truth before it’s too late. Now I will be the first to admit that this book can be a slog in sections. Some of it drags on and other things that you wish would go for longer just don’t. But the exploration of the different powers is definitely a plus (with everything from healing and energy draining to communication with animals) and I’m a sucker for some of the characters. And yes, Gabriel is my favourite character for anyone who’s read the books. If you like embarking on longer storylines I would recommend this one. But if you do want something fast and action packed this might not be for you.

Buy Dark Visions here!

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Writing Prompt #2

Write a story using the world/creatures off of this blog as inspiration.

 https://followinghiddenfootsteps.tumblr.com/

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Change is good - or at least necessary

L.J Smith, Dark Visions

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‘Demon Road’ - Review

Demon Road by Derek Landy, (released 2016)

Rating 9/10

Genre - Supernatural, Fantasy, Horror

Warning - this book does have a far amount of violence and the series does get darker.

Possessed cars, serial killers, ghosts, demons, vampires and all of the wit you ever wanted in one book. As someone who is a fan of both Skulduggery Pleasant (Landy’s other bestselling series) and the CW’s Supernatural I went into this book with very very high hopes and they were met 100%. I will personally never get tired of Derek Landy’s writing style, he has the ability to turn any situation into something that’s hilarious while also being surprisingly dark. Anyway enough of my fangirling and onto the story.

The story essentially follows Amber Lamont, a 16 year old loner who spends most of her time online avoiding the people in her life. But when she discovers that her parents are planning to kill her she is forced to go on the run. She finds herself going from one supernatural disaster to the next as she forms alliances/friendships with the other travelers she meets on the road. The book is as fast-paced as it sounds and I found it nearly impossible to put the book down once I finally started it. This is in no short part to the characters. Amber is by far one of the most-relatable characters I’ve read in YA in a very long time. Her interactions with other characters, mainly Milo, are witty and clever. She’s intelligent but doesn’t always make the right decisions because of how new to the world she is. And Amber isn’t afraid to get involved and take action. If sarcastic supernatural themed books are your thing I don’t think you can go past this one.

Buy Demon Road here!

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Writing Prompt #1

Take the last idea you had (whether or not you’ve started writing it) and re-create it from the villains POV... But keep in mind that the storyline has to stay the same. 

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How easily the hunter can become the prey. All it takes is a new perspective.

Derek Landy, Demon Road