Review of Opaque
-
Jonathan Ereofoluwa
- Posts: 87
- Joined: 02 Sep 2024, 17:32
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 6
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jonathan-ereofoluwa.html
- Latest Review: Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign
Review of Opaque
[Following is a volunteer review of "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign.]
There is always this thing about young adult books that makes it extremely appealing to pick up and read; add a bit of science fiction and fantasy, and you may have crafted a stunner. I may have harbored doubts about the entertaining value of this book at the start, but I am confident I “ate the fattest bone” like the proverbial ‘patient dog’.
Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign is a tale of adventure, self-discovery, and survival with two teenagers, Adam Caspian and Carly Wit, taking center stage of the story. Adam is an introverted boy with absolutely no interest in the social interactions of the regular teenager. In fact, he hated everyone around him except his mother, who he is obsessed with. Besides being introverted, Adam struggles with dark thoughts and emotions that provoke the worst sides of him and make him even more averse to society. On the other side, Carly just transferred to Piure, California, to live with her aunt, trying to escape from being discovered along with her parents in Minnesota. A supernatural attraction pulls her to Adam as it does him to her. Already, Carly, from age 15, had discovered her supernatural ability borne from her mutated gene and had begun to learn how to hone it. She assisted Adam towards discovering his powers and ancestry. However, the struggle for survival and protecting their families from harm’s way only just began.
The strengths of this book lie in its intriguing twists and turns and the fascinating world of science created by the author. The book is action-packed, and though it began rather slowly, as soon as the action began, it did not stop. The characters were aptly crafted, and Carly no doubt was my favorite. Her sense of maturity and strength of will was beyond admiration. The storyline was profound and full of interesting conundrums. The author’s vocabulary and language usage are worthy of note, as I gained a lot from the book. With the apt use of scenic languages, the author showed mastery in description and engaged my imaginations actively.
While I am full of praise for the book, I must point out a couple of areas for improvement that will most certainly be beneficial to the author in the next book. I think the book will do more by bringing the action early enough in order to engage readers before they lose interest in the book. Not every reader may be patient enough for the good stuff, and perhaps a hook at the beginning to keep the readers eager will go a long way. Again, it will be helpful if the author maintains a consistent storytelling style, preferably in the present tense, as this makes the book even easier to read.
Besides the foregoing, I find the book a beautifully crafted tapestry of fantasy, romance, science fiction, and action. I will be giving the book a 4 out of 5 stars rating for a great plot and the writer’s descriptive ability and vocabulary. I have deducted a star for reasons I have stated in the previous paragraph, which include its slow start and the author's narrating style. I will gladly recommend this book to lovers of science fiction, fantasy, and young adult books.
******
Opaque
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
There is always this thing about young adult books that makes it extremely appealing to pick up and read; add a bit of science fiction and fantasy, and you may have crafted a stunner. I may have harbored doubts about the entertaining value of this book at the start, but I am confident I “ate the fattest bone” like the proverbial ‘patient dog’.
Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign is a tale of adventure, self-discovery, and survival with two teenagers, Adam Caspian and Carly Wit, taking center stage of the story. Adam is an introverted boy with absolutely no interest in the social interactions of the regular teenager. In fact, he hated everyone around him except his mother, who he is obsessed with. Besides being introverted, Adam struggles with dark thoughts and emotions that provoke the worst sides of him and make him even more averse to society. On the other side, Carly just transferred to Piure, California, to live with her aunt, trying to escape from being discovered along with her parents in Minnesota. A supernatural attraction pulls her to Adam as it does him to her. Already, Carly, from age 15, had discovered her supernatural ability borne from her mutated gene and had begun to learn how to hone it. She assisted Adam towards discovering his powers and ancestry. However, the struggle for survival and protecting their families from harm’s way only just began.
The strengths of this book lie in its intriguing twists and turns and the fascinating world of science created by the author. The book is action-packed, and though it began rather slowly, as soon as the action began, it did not stop. The characters were aptly crafted, and Carly no doubt was my favorite. Her sense of maturity and strength of will was beyond admiration. The storyline was profound and full of interesting conundrums. The author’s vocabulary and language usage are worthy of note, as I gained a lot from the book. With the apt use of scenic languages, the author showed mastery in description and engaged my imaginations actively.
While I am full of praise for the book, I must point out a couple of areas for improvement that will most certainly be beneficial to the author in the next book. I think the book will do more by bringing the action early enough in order to engage readers before they lose interest in the book. Not every reader may be patient enough for the good stuff, and perhaps a hook at the beginning to keep the readers eager will go a long way. Again, it will be helpful if the author maintains a consistent storytelling style, preferably in the present tense, as this makes the book even easier to read.
Besides the foregoing, I find the book a beautifully crafted tapestry of fantasy, romance, science fiction, and action. I will be giving the book a 4 out of 5 stars rating for a great plot and the writer’s descriptive ability and vocabulary. I have deducted a star for reasons I have stated in the previous paragraph, which include its slow start and the author's narrating style. I will gladly recommend this book to lovers of science fiction, fantasy, and young adult books.
******
Opaque
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign
