Review by alyssajanel13 -- Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign
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Review by alyssajanel13 -- Opaque by Calix Leigh-Reign
[Following is a volunteer review of "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign.]
From the author’s forward, Calix Leigh-Reign lays out the overreaching theme of Opaque. Human or mystic, created or evolved, we are all creatures who have been programmed in some way. In this world and the others, many of us desperately search for ways to deprogram those wirings. It’s true for us today in our world and it’s certainly true for Adam Caspian in his tiny clannish modern city of Piure.
The plot mixes iPads and mysticism in the same paragraph seamlessly. Adam drags himself through the gauntlet of high school. His relationships with his parents are expected (Mark not Dad) and yet rather unusual (obsession of all presentations with his mother.) And naturally, there’s a girl. But this one, Carly, has her own magic in the form of limbal rings on top of usual teenage struggles. She is no helpless vixen but a mighty leader in her own right. Calix’s metaphor of high school and adolescence as an absolute foreign realm is spot on. You can feel the terror and anger and suspicion and lust in the prose. Phrases like “voice as hand, pulling from Satan’s seabed” show the mastery of the author. The sheer imagination, from winds named Zsita to burning telepathic eyes, the magical world created is intense and vivid.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the true multi-dimensional and multi-linear aspects of the characters. Adam is not just an angsty teen. He is a dark, troubled young man. He is angry and he is violent because of that. Jealousy can be a religion for him. And it can be a hell for those around him. He’s created with mystic influences and these either control and dampen or encourage his outbursts. And he’s not the only one. Carly can just as agitated and aggressive, but maybe this happens among them both because of the descendant heritage that they share.
From a technical perspective, this book is filled with solid biology that feels soundly referenced and presented. The book is expertly edited and swiftly paced. The artistic details are beautiful additions. I loved the pop up text message bubbles. It truly brought modern day amongst the otherworldly aspects.
The only aspect of the book that tripped me up was the mix of language styles. Characters and prose are very formal at points. And then a young teenager like Carly switches gears mid-sentence and throws out slang like “gen pop.” I love a two-dollar word. Is psithurism too big for this audience? Not only once but twice? Who knows. I’ll take it. Sometimes there is a twinge of the appearance a writer trying too hard, but the inventiveness and compelling nature of the story more than make up for any ego word or language showcases.
Fans of fantasy tales will be enthralled by this book. It also has much to recommend itself for to the romance crowd as well. And while the book may be described as young adult, there is certainly more than enough suspense, action and great story telling to entice older readers as well. A well-deserved 3 out of 4 star book. Definitely an author I will want to follow as the saga continues.
******
Opaque
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
From the author’s forward, Calix Leigh-Reign lays out the overreaching theme of Opaque. Human or mystic, created or evolved, we are all creatures who have been programmed in some way. In this world and the others, many of us desperately search for ways to deprogram those wirings. It’s true for us today in our world and it’s certainly true for Adam Caspian in his tiny clannish modern city of Piure.
The plot mixes iPads and mysticism in the same paragraph seamlessly. Adam drags himself through the gauntlet of high school. His relationships with his parents are expected (Mark not Dad) and yet rather unusual (obsession of all presentations with his mother.) And naturally, there’s a girl. But this one, Carly, has her own magic in the form of limbal rings on top of usual teenage struggles. She is no helpless vixen but a mighty leader in her own right. Calix’s metaphor of high school and adolescence as an absolute foreign realm is spot on. You can feel the terror and anger and suspicion and lust in the prose. Phrases like “voice as hand, pulling from Satan’s seabed” show the mastery of the author. The sheer imagination, from winds named Zsita to burning telepathic eyes, the magical world created is intense and vivid.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the true multi-dimensional and multi-linear aspects of the characters. Adam is not just an angsty teen. He is a dark, troubled young man. He is angry and he is violent because of that. Jealousy can be a religion for him. And it can be a hell for those around him. He’s created with mystic influences and these either control and dampen or encourage his outbursts. And he’s not the only one. Carly can just as agitated and aggressive, but maybe this happens among them both because of the descendant heritage that they share.
From a technical perspective, this book is filled with solid biology that feels soundly referenced and presented. The book is expertly edited and swiftly paced. The artistic details are beautiful additions. I loved the pop up text message bubbles. It truly brought modern day amongst the otherworldly aspects.
The only aspect of the book that tripped me up was the mix of language styles. Characters and prose are very formal at points. And then a young teenager like Carly switches gears mid-sentence and throws out slang like “gen pop.” I love a two-dollar word. Is psithurism too big for this audience? Not only once but twice? Who knows. I’ll take it. Sometimes there is a twinge of the appearance a writer trying too hard, but the inventiveness and compelling nature of the story more than make up for any ego word or language showcases.
Fans of fantasy tales will be enthralled by this book. It also has much to recommend itself for to the romance crowd as well. And while the book may be described as young adult, there is certainly more than enough suspense, action and great story telling to entice older readers as well. A well-deserved 3 out of 4 star book. Definitely an author I will want to follow as the saga continues.
******
Opaque
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
