4 out of 4 stars
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I really love stories where I feel transported to a different place, and this book has that in spade! "Link" by Summer Wier is a great debut YA novel and the first in The Shadow of Light trilogy. The book's compelling premise grabbed me from the let-go and sucked me right in. The beauty of the book is not only in the plot, but in its execution as well. The author smoothly blends together sci-fi, paranormal romance, alternate universe, dark fantasy and suspense, creating one heck of a book!
It’s a tale as old as time with an original twist. This is the coming of age story of Kira Sinclair, a seventeen year old girl who has been raised single-handedly by her mom. Her dad has mysteriously disappeared long before she was born, a circumstance that brought her closer to her mother but has also shadowed her life. kira heroically struggles with abandonment issues and avoids love entangle like the plague. Little does she know what's in store for her.
While camping out in the woods with her friends and celebrating her seventeen birthday, a chance meeting with a fallen star changes her life and her destiny with a bang! When kira takes a relaxing dip at the lake, a falling star hits her literarily. Her friends hasten to take her to the hospital, but during the ride Kira passes out. She then gets whisked into an alternative world of wonders, carnivals and gypsies. This new strange world eerily mirrors her world and holds many secrets. Things aren't always as they seem there and it is up to her to expose its secrets. At first she isn't sure whether the new world is real or not, but as the story unfolds she finds out the core of the matter. Pretty soon Kira is going back and forward between the two worlds and has to deal with some shocking discoveries. The plot thickens when Kira finds out she is linked to the new world by starlight and has to choose one world over the other before the link to her star is broken. This decision will affect not only her, but the entire universe.
You will enjoy the story more if you don't know what else to expect, so I won't tell you any more than that. There is a lot going on, and I will just add that what begins as an innocent episode veers into the realm of the paranormal. You need to suspend your disbelief to truly enjoy the story. The book is written in first person and when you throw in carnivals, gypsies, black holes, mirror-worlds, an eccentric professor, a mad villain with her own agenda, dire prophecies and a love triangle, you get an enchanting story.
Talking about love-angles, I have grown tired from them and mostly I find they are written purely to add angst to the story. However, this isn't the case here. The romantic tension feels natural in the context of the story. Not only the love triangle isn't the entire focus of the story, there is also enough angst without it. The book delivers just the right amount of romance, a touch of mystery and a good amount of angst, and I found myself truly caught up in the story.
I love stories with strong female leads and this story certainly meets the bill. Kira is a strong heroin and as her story unfolds, the reader learns to admire her and root for her. The author doesn't spoon-feed the reader and lets him find out for himself, together with the heroin, exactly what is going on. Although once or twice I became confused over what was happening, all was make clear as the story moved along. I felt this confusion was intentional and it contributed to the atmosphere and the build-up of the tension. This and the narrative made me feel as though I was right there alongside with her and the other colorful cast.
The author incorporates a number of issues into this tale: destiny, fate, friendship, loyalty, trust as well as the main subject matter of good versus evil. There are twists and turns, and the story is definitely not predictable. The world-building is done gradually and the author slowly reveals information regarding it. I didn't know what world Kira came from, and oh boy was I in for surprise. Character development is very fleshed out, the writing style is smooth, and the pacing is just right. The pace builds up towards the end of the book, as Kira starts to make sense of her situation. The author skillfully weaves fact and fiction, danger and romance, and she ties up most loose ends in the bargain. I enjoyed the story immensely, and therefore I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. The book would greatly appeal to young readers and adults alike. I recommend this book to those who love YA paranormal with a splash of romance.
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LINK (The Shadow of Light #1)
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