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[Following is a volunteer review of "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign.]

Dark and sinister thoughts about people around him often plague Adam, a 16-year-old student from Piure, California. Everyone is wary of his sociopathic behavior and unfriendly nature. But his life takes a sudden turn when Carly, a new student, joins his class. Both take an immediate liking to each other, like a moth to a flame. Carly is calm and accepting of Adam's chaos. As their friendship grows, Adam's real identity as a mutated human, called 'descendant', unveils. But his life is at stake as a group of scientists, the Iksha, conspire to destroy the descendants and acquire their supernatural powers. Who are these 'descendants'? Will Adam and Carly be able to save themselves and others from those devious scientists? Read Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign, the first book of the Scion Saga series, to learn about those teenagers' fates. 

This book is meant for young adults. The author skillfully combines several genres, like science fiction, romance, fantasy, and mystery. It is a character-driven story. The main protagonist, Adam, faces the challenges of adolescence as dark and inappropriate thoughts swirl in his mind. His unhealthy obsession with his mother adds to his emotional upheaval and the mystery aspect of the story. Adam's struggles to come to terms with his superpowers as they manifest make him relatable and authentic. As he stumbles down the path of self-discovery, his character undergoes impressive development. The diverse cast of characters adds to the complexity of the plot. Carly is calm and collected, making her a likable one. Both Dauma and Vera are caring yet strong. 

The story proceeds at a steady pace in first-person dual POVs. The descendants' origins, as well as their unique magical abilities, contribute to the suspense and fantasy aspects. The rich vocabulary enhances the reading experience. This multi-layered novel is impeccably edited, with zero errors. There are darker themes, like rape, infidelity, and mental health issues, but the author deals with them with sensitivity. There is nothing I dislike about this book. This page-turner is a promising start to a fantasy series. For all these reasons, I rate this book 5 out of 5. 

Due to the presence of profanities and some suggestive scenes, I would recommend this to older teenagers and adults. This coming-of-age novel will grab the attention of fantasy and science fiction readers. As the first book in a series, it paves the way for more stories in the future. 

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Opaque
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Hi RJ, this sounds like my kind of book; I'm glad that you said it's for adults, too, as I was a bit concerned it might be too teen-focused. Based on your 5/5 stars I'm adding this one to my list.

The story seems to have a slightly dark tone. With the combination of topics presented by the author makes the book interesting. I loved reading your review RJ it was engaging and added a point to the book.

Thank you for your detailed review! It looks like a dark but intriguing book. I look forward to reading it!

What a remarkable summary. I don't usually applaud any for this but tour summary is just the best. Its like I have known everything g aniut the boy and the new girl in school. This automatically is worth reading.

The first three words of this review, "Dark and sinister," are exactly what popped into my head when I first looked at the book cover. I enjoyed this detailed review. Thanks, RJ. I will most likely read this one soon.

I love first-person dual POV for sci-fi and YA — I feel like I get a much stronger and deeper understanding of the characters’ mindsets and obstacles! I’m also intrigued by his obsession with his mother and I wonder how that nets out in conclusion. I will check this one out. Great review, RJ!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! The blend of genres and the character-driven plot kept me engaged from start to finish. Your review beautifully captures the essence of the book, highlighting its strengths and captivating storyline. Thank you for the insightful review!

I appreciate it when a character undergoes significant development throughout the story. The book sounds like a delightful read. The dual point of view mentioned in the review adds an interesting layer to the book.

I appreciate how you mention that Adam was stumbling down the path of self-discovery. It is so important for the teen-age target audience to be able to identify with Adam's struggle. This is a reality for all teenagers and these readers will not feel alone in their personal struggles while they read this story. The author's ability to deal with darker themes in a sensitive manner is commendable. The rich vocabulary and impeccable editing are icing on the cake. Great review!

I've been looking forward to reading this book for so long, partly because of its cover. Today, I finally came across such a detailed review, which increased my interest tenfold. Thank you for the great review!

The science fiction and fantasy combination theme sounds interesting. I'm eager to delve into the book later. Thanks for writing this review