Review of Opaque
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Leia Temple
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Review of Opaque
[Following is a volunteer review of "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign.]
From the moment I started reading "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign, I was enthralled. The first page, crafted like a fantasy journal, immediately pulled me into its world. I was barely five pages deep and I could already sense the promise of an unconventional protagonist who teetered on the edge of moral ambiguity or, perhaps, even instability. Adam was not your typical hero, and that’s precisely why I loved him.
"Opaque" is the opening act of the "Scion Saga" trilogy. It is a young adult fantasy novel that charts the bumpy path of self-discovery embarked upon by its protagonist, Adam. Adam has always felt disconnected from his peers, often viewing them as lesser beings. However, the arrival of Carly, a transfer student from Minnesota, sparks a sense of belonging in Adam, leading him on a journey to uncover his true identity.
The introduction seized my attention with its evocative language and taboo subjects. Adam was a complicated character whose grim thoughts were depicted with visceral intensity. His stark lack of empathy extended to everyone, with the sole exception of his mother. The author's ability to convey this and establish relationships through subtext was commendable.
It became apparent later on that Adam's feelings towards his mother were far from innocent. With each page, the taboo elements intensified, leading to my revelation that Adam was grappling with an Oedipus complex. I admired the author’s courage in incorporating this as a consequence of Adam’s internal conflict. In contrast, Carly was quite mild and introspective in nature. Her presence served as a counterbalance to Adam’s unhinged personality, and it was fascinating to observe her influence on him over time. The inclusion of other characters, like Vikki, added dynamism to the story as well.
While the plot had its share of clichés, this did not detract from my overall reading experience. Instead, these familiar elements seemed to naturally pave the way for the unfolding plotlines. Moreover, the development of the characters and the author's immersive writing style diverted my attention from the more commonplace tropes. The world-building was notably consistent, which was laudable for an urban fantasy novel. The mysteries surrounding Adam's abilities and Carly's background further enticed me to piece together the puzzle. Both the romance and action sequences were skillfully penned, with the author's extensive vocabulary enriching the prose. An additional layer of immersion was provided by the illustrations scattered throughout the novel.
In my view, "Opaque" was an impeccable read, one that I enjoyed from start to finish. It was a book that left me with no criticism to offer. I unhesitatingly awarded it a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars. There were no grammatical or typographical errors and the immaculate editing contributed notably to my seamless reading experience. However, the book did explore mature themes, including instances of profanity, implied incest, rape, violence, and homicide. While these elements were handled with sensitivity and were not gratuitously explicit, some readers may be disgruntled by them. The book also contained some erotic scenes, but these were subtly described.
"Opaque" was a rather dark book. As such, it's necessary that readers sensitive to the aforementioned elements embark upon the novel with discretion. This book would be best suited for mature readers who have an affinity for dark fantasy novels peppered with unorthodox twists.
******
Opaque
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
From the moment I started reading "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign, I was enthralled. The first page, crafted like a fantasy journal, immediately pulled me into its world. I was barely five pages deep and I could already sense the promise of an unconventional protagonist who teetered on the edge of moral ambiguity or, perhaps, even instability. Adam was not your typical hero, and that’s precisely why I loved him.
"Opaque" is the opening act of the "Scion Saga" trilogy. It is a young adult fantasy novel that charts the bumpy path of self-discovery embarked upon by its protagonist, Adam. Adam has always felt disconnected from his peers, often viewing them as lesser beings. However, the arrival of Carly, a transfer student from Minnesota, sparks a sense of belonging in Adam, leading him on a journey to uncover his true identity.
The introduction seized my attention with its evocative language and taboo subjects. Adam was a complicated character whose grim thoughts were depicted with visceral intensity. His stark lack of empathy extended to everyone, with the sole exception of his mother. The author's ability to convey this and establish relationships through subtext was commendable.
It became apparent later on that Adam's feelings towards his mother were far from innocent. With each page, the taboo elements intensified, leading to my revelation that Adam was grappling with an Oedipus complex. I admired the author’s courage in incorporating this as a consequence of Adam’s internal conflict. In contrast, Carly was quite mild and introspective in nature. Her presence served as a counterbalance to Adam’s unhinged personality, and it was fascinating to observe her influence on him over time. The inclusion of other characters, like Vikki, added dynamism to the story as well.
While the plot had its share of clichés, this did not detract from my overall reading experience. Instead, these familiar elements seemed to naturally pave the way for the unfolding plotlines. Moreover, the development of the characters and the author's immersive writing style diverted my attention from the more commonplace tropes. The world-building was notably consistent, which was laudable for an urban fantasy novel. The mysteries surrounding Adam's abilities and Carly's background further enticed me to piece together the puzzle. Both the romance and action sequences were skillfully penned, with the author's extensive vocabulary enriching the prose. An additional layer of immersion was provided by the illustrations scattered throughout the novel.
In my view, "Opaque" was an impeccable read, one that I enjoyed from start to finish. It was a book that left me with no criticism to offer. I unhesitatingly awarded it a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars. There were no grammatical or typographical errors and the immaculate editing contributed notably to my seamless reading experience. However, the book did explore mature themes, including instances of profanity, implied incest, rape, violence, and homicide. While these elements were handled with sensitivity and were not gratuitously explicit, some readers may be disgruntled by them. The book also contained some erotic scenes, but these were subtly described.
"Opaque" was a rather dark book. As such, it's necessary that readers sensitive to the aforementioned elements embark upon the novel with discretion. This book would be best suited for mature readers who have an affinity for dark fantasy novels peppered with unorthodox twists.
******
Opaque
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
