Review of Opaque

[l_bookelf]

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

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3 out of 4 stars

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The writer does an excellent job at immersing the reader immediately into the world and shoes of the main character. The first chapter of Opaque primarily focuses on getting to know the complex and refreshingly far from perfect main character. While there is a lot of lingering and meandering on his musings, it also gives you hints of this person’s patterns. This glimpse into his psyche allows the reader to get a sense of how he might react later as the plot moves forward. It also creates and allows the reader to build empathy for his darker tendencies, mostly in regards towards his Oedipus complex.


Opaque primarily goes back and forth with his taboo romantic interest in his own mother and the darkness and simultaneous guilt and also a story chock full of thrilling rising action. The plot focuses heavily on character arc while packing a lot of supernatural punch. The supernatural element is introduced when a new character arrives on the scene. The two soon discover they are descendants of a rare genetic mutation. It also showed the transformation in the way Adam sees himself and the world around him after discovering more about his origins and someone who finally truly understands him.


In summary: The story primary follows Adam and Carly who both share glowing limbal rings and a link to a Russian heritage. It follows their inner journeys and coming of age as normal teenagers while honing their supernatural abilities and evading scientists that want to exploit them and their abilities.



The writing while exploring dark and taboo themes, does not contain directly profane and blunt language. However i would encourage younger readers as well as anyone with triggers or trauma’s to be aware that the book contains a fairly explicit dive into Adam’s lust for his mother and familial incest which could be triggering or upsetting for some individuals. My primary complaint with the writing is in the structure rather than the narrative itself. It would be impactful to use more showing rather than telling in the action scenes. Abstractions and metaphor could create a poetic flow that makes you linger. There are real gems of dialogue and the way the author describes the emotional reactions of characters however. The author does an excellent job at keeping you engaged with the world and the people in it and for that i would rate 3 out of 4 simply for narrative structure and plot integrity.

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Opaque
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