Review of Opaque
Posted: 14 Mar 2024, 12:29
[Following is a volunteer review of "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign.]
Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign is the first book in the Scion Saga series of three books. It is the story of seven Russian families and their descendants, which started several centuries ago. A rare genetic mutation was found in the members of these families, which enabled them to control and manipulate matter with their core energy. They were capable of showing various traits and superpowers. A dangerous group of Russian scientists, the Iksha, was after them to harvest their powers from the mutated biological compounds in their DNA. They captured, tortured, experimented with them, and killed them. Sixteen-year-old Adam Caspian, after a car accident and a miraculous recovery, learned that he was adopted. He had been having strange experiences and was unsocial until he met Carly, also 16, and they fell in love. While investigating his birth parents, he entered a new world—the world of the seven families, of which he was a part, and about the Iksha scientists. The story narrates his relationship with his adoptive parents, the change in his social behavior, the community of the mutants, and the dangerous encounters with the Iksha militants.
The author has chosen an interesting theme for this fantasy fiction and has done an excellent job at it. The finer points of mutation and its complications are explained in simple terms, and the readers will have no difficulty understanding telekinetics, biokenreyis, biokinetic, biokenretic, limbal ring, teleportation, etc. The characters are fully developed along the storyline, and their emotional states are aptly illustrated. It is remarkable that Adam was facing psychological issues until he was in control of his core energy. The love-hate relationship with his adoptive parents and the conflicts in his emotions are quite eloquently portrayed.
The author has shown how being different by having superpowers has become dangerous for the mutated descendents, who, despite their powers, were peaceful people and preferred to live in hiding rather than fight back. The description of their life in hiding is quite impressive and realistic. The plight of an adopted child, the mood swings of a teenager, teenage infatuations and parental love, and the description of supernatural powers keep the reader engrossed in the story. Although the story continues in the next two books of the series, part of the story concludes, and the book can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone book. I did not notice any negative aspects of the book, and there is no reason to deduct a star from the rating. I rate the book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
In addition to being an entertaining suspense thriller, it has elements of family values, friendship, and misuse of science as a danger to society. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I would love to read the next two books in the series. I recommend it to lovers of science fiction and fantasy.
******
Opaque
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign is the first book in the Scion Saga series of three books. It is the story of seven Russian families and their descendants, which started several centuries ago. A rare genetic mutation was found in the members of these families, which enabled them to control and manipulate matter with their core energy. They were capable of showing various traits and superpowers. A dangerous group of Russian scientists, the Iksha, was after them to harvest their powers from the mutated biological compounds in their DNA. They captured, tortured, experimented with them, and killed them. Sixteen-year-old Adam Caspian, after a car accident and a miraculous recovery, learned that he was adopted. He had been having strange experiences and was unsocial until he met Carly, also 16, and they fell in love. While investigating his birth parents, he entered a new world—the world of the seven families, of which he was a part, and about the Iksha scientists. The story narrates his relationship with his adoptive parents, the change in his social behavior, the community of the mutants, and the dangerous encounters with the Iksha militants.
The author has chosen an interesting theme for this fantasy fiction and has done an excellent job at it. The finer points of mutation and its complications are explained in simple terms, and the readers will have no difficulty understanding telekinetics, biokenreyis, biokinetic, biokenretic, limbal ring, teleportation, etc. The characters are fully developed along the storyline, and their emotional states are aptly illustrated. It is remarkable that Adam was facing psychological issues until he was in control of his core energy. The love-hate relationship with his adoptive parents and the conflicts in his emotions are quite eloquently portrayed.
The author has shown how being different by having superpowers has become dangerous for the mutated descendents, who, despite their powers, were peaceful people and preferred to live in hiding rather than fight back. The description of their life in hiding is quite impressive and realistic. The plight of an adopted child, the mood swings of a teenager, teenage infatuations and parental love, and the description of supernatural powers keep the reader engrossed in the story. Although the story continues in the next two books of the series, part of the story concludes, and the book can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone book. I did not notice any negative aspects of the book, and there is no reason to deduct a star from the rating. I rate the book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
In addition to being an entertaining suspense thriller, it has elements of family values, friendship, and misuse of science as a danger to society. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I would love to read the next two books in the series. I recommend it to lovers of science fiction and fantasy.
******
Opaque
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords