Review Detail
Young Adult Fiction
1024
Mystery, cool powers, and uncertain romance
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
4.0
*This is a first pages review by North of Normal Book Reviews
I really enjoyed the first page – the mystery, the cool powers, the competition, and the uncertainty left hanging in the air.
I mean Liam is obviously going to win the test/contest, but reading this made me curious as to how and what he’s winning, what exactly can he do, and most importantly of all who is he? There’s just enough to tease my curiosity: Liam is an empath and a prince who can most likely read minds, or at least keep people from reading his. I love it when the everything revealed in the first page makes me want more, and Shaila did a great job hooking me. I would most likely buy the book if I found it in a store and would definitely check it out of the library.
Shaila changed the first page to reveal the paranormal elements, which was a keen decision, because, really, as a paranormal reader, that’s what I want. I need to know on page one exactly what I’m dealing with. If I’m going to read a book about empaths, then I really want to know up front that there are some.
This first page does so much so well:
Readership: YA. Liam’s “now come of age” which to my brain means he’s likely 18.
Genre: Mind reading? Definitely paranormal.
Mood: All the sass you could ever need is within Liam’s first spoken line. This opening let me know this book will be full of the sharp teen wit and sarcasm. And then this:
“No, sir, not at all. Although, uh … I’d like to know when it is you’ll begin with me.”
Setting: This was one area I wish were a little less done on page one, because I was still getting my mind around the character and world. I really didn’t care what used to be in the room, and I didn’t know what a signing-over ceremony was–I’m still in the moment of this test:
The manor staff had rearranged the study to hold both the testing and signing-over ceremonies. Gone were the leather club chairs and stained glass lamps normally dotting the large space
“Tell me more” factor: I know that Liam is a Prince and needs to win something, perhaps the crown, but I don’t really know what or why, and I definitely want to find out more!
This first page earns 4 out of 5 North of Normal stars!
I really enjoyed the first page – the mystery, the cool powers, the competition, and the uncertainty left hanging in the air.
I mean Liam is obviously going to win the test/contest, but reading this made me curious as to how and what he’s winning, what exactly can he do, and most importantly of all who is he? There’s just enough to tease my curiosity: Liam is an empath and a prince who can most likely read minds, or at least keep people from reading his. I love it when the everything revealed in the first page makes me want more, and Shaila did a great job hooking me. I would most likely buy the book if I found it in a store and would definitely check it out of the library.
Shaila changed the first page to reveal the paranormal elements, which was a keen decision, because, really, as a paranormal reader, that’s what I want. I need to know on page one exactly what I’m dealing with. If I’m going to read a book about empaths, then I really want to know up front that there are some.
This first page does so much so well:
Readership: YA. Liam’s “now come of age” which to my brain means he’s likely 18.
Genre: Mind reading? Definitely paranormal.
Mood: All the sass you could ever need is within Liam’s first spoken line. This opening let me know this book will be full of the sharp teen wit and sarcasm. And then this:
“No, sir, not at all. Although, uh … I’d like to know when it is you’ll begin with me.”
Setting: This was one area I wish were a little less done on page one, because I was still getting my mind around the character and world. I really didn’t care what used to be in the room, and I didn’t know what a signing-over ceremony was–I’m still in the moment of this test:
The manor staff had rearranged the study to hold both the testing and signing-over ceremonies. Gone were the leather club chairs and stained glass lamps normally dotting the large space
“Tell me more” factor: I know that Liam is a Prince and needs to win something, perhaps the crown, but I don’t really know what or why, and I definitely want to find out more!
This first page earns 4 out of 5 North of Normal stars!
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