Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes

Blind Sight #1 Leocardo

by Ermisenda Alvarez

A blind girl drawing is abnormal even on the magical island of Edaion where leaves brush themselves into piles in the middle of the night. So when Odette Reyes, a girl blind from birth, begins to experience ominous side effects of the island's "gift," her brother Leocardo and best friend Aniela must figure out what the doctors cannot. As an immigrant, Leocardo is not biased by accepted rules of magic and determines that Odette's drawings are premonitions. Aniela grew up with magic and knows premonitions are impossible. She determines Odette is a medium channeling voiceless spirits.Who is right? Whose eyes will you read through?Snatched out of their life in Spain, Leocardo and his blind sister Odette find themselves on an island with no recollection of the trip. After foiled attempts to escape, Odette’s strange behavior gets worse. Even after learning the island has bestowed magic upon them both, Leocardo faces the possibility his sister is having a mental break down. Just as he thinks he is settled in, job and romantic life stable, Odette disappears. Read Aniela's side of the story in "Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson" by Eliabeth Hawthorne.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2012

About the author

Along with numerous solo works, Ermisenda began writing on role play sites at fourteen and completed her first crime novel at fifteen. Driven by the desire to evoke the kaleidoscope of emotions her favorite authors are able to, she kept writing. Growing up bilingual amongst her Spanish family in Australia, she found a love and deep appreciation for language and the power it wielded.

Now she's working on a joint project with coauthor Eliabeth Hawthorne. Ermisenda has written Leocardo's perspective of Blind Sight #1, the first book in an urban fantasy series that changes depending on whose perspective you're reading. So the question is, "whose eyes will you read through?"

~~~

Writing with my lovely American, spending time with my flying Dutchman, and living with my Spanish family in the Australian culture.

Reviews

[Kyllan Brindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. I have to preface my brief thoughts on this book by saying the pair of them worked. They just worked. Not only that, but my reading experience while I made my way through the pages of this angle, was only bolstered by the knowledge I had gained from the first.

I felt as though I was constantly saying ah-HA! And that was a lot of fun. Yet at the same time the author manages to make things feel new.

Aniela's book was a much more magical beast. She had grown up knowing of the existence of powers on the island and that colored not only her interpretation of certain key events with Odette's story line, but also the way she approached her relationship with Leocardo. Conversely he doesn't respond well to the 'supernatural' things going on around him. Upon first entering their apartment he launches into a scene reminiscent of Mel Gibson in conspiracy theory. I'm surprised his first move isn't to sink half his money into pad locks for his tapioca pudding.

Leocardo isn't already established on the island. He's the 'just got finished talking to Mr. Roarke and Tattoo sort of guy.' New arrival. And right from the get go, you can see that this fellow is a man of action. It's reflected well in the overall pacing of the book which moves at a quicker rate then Aniela's side.

Not a bad thing. After having met Leocardo in Aniela's side of things, it fits. 100%. And the idea that I had of him, based on other characters interacting with him in the other book, was confirmed. He is painted rather exactly like I imagined.

This book is written in a way that is unique from its sibling novel. The writer most certainly has her own voice and uses it well to relay Leocardo's side of things. The pacing is spot on and it just oozes tension.

Could you read one of these books and not the other and still be fulfilled? Yes. But why in the world would you? These novels are done in such a manner that they are far more than rehashing the same story from a different perspective. The characters are individual enough and bold enough to make you feel like you might just be reading two entirely different stories.

Do yourself a favor. Don't pass this up.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an ARC reader, I randomly chose to read Aniela's version first. As I started reading Leo's, I, at times, wished I had read his story first. Now that I'm done, I don't think reading either of the books in any order is particularly important.

First of all, there are so many things covered in Leo's book that aren't in Ana's. Furthermore, without giving anything specific away, you learn a lot more about certain characters (not just the protagonist). Although there are obviously some scenes that are the same, the overall story is quite different. Also, the verbiage used in both books are consistent with each other and with the characters. The tone of Ana's book is much more proper than the way people today speak, it is perfectly suited to a well-educated princess. Leo also lacks much of the slang used today, however he was a partly university educated scholar from Spain, with a language teacher for a mother. Neither book uses obscure words, which was refreshing since I didn't have to pause my reading to look up words in the dictionary.

Pacing in this book was similar to the other: it has moments that are slow and moments of intense activity. I feel this book had a bit more romance, and it has tons of "big brother" love (which I just adore - I've always wanted a protective and loving big brother!).

I think these books do an amazing job at telling one story from two different perspectives. Although I have always wanted this to be done, I was unsure of how it would come out: would the stories be too similar or have too much overlap? how could the author(s) possibly explain all the settings/characters/etc to make each story understandable? and so on. These authors do a brilliant job. By limit the setting to an independent island nation, which in many ways limits the number of characters, things were much easier to understand. Don't get me wrong, not everything in one book appears in the other - there are characters that appear in this book that aren't in Ana's version. By separating this story into two distinct points of view, the reader is able to get one "big picture" and learn so much more about each character.

Honestly, I'm a little sad I'm an ARC reader because that means I have to wait that much longer for the next books in the series. I truly enjoyed these books and will definitely reread these when it comes out!

[Andrew Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Ermisenda Alvarez for giving me the ARC to review.

Blind Sight (Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson and Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes) is a unique and very engaging pair of books. It’s the same story told from the perspective of two different characters who start on seprate paths that later start interacting and finally come together as one at the climax.

Each book could stand on it’s own as a good novel and be read independent of the other. The protagonists each follow their own arcs through their story–Aniela’s shown from her perspective, Leocardo’s shown from his. But the two books read together as one are much more meaningful than the individuals. The combination of the two gives the plot multiple dimensions that make it that much more captivating and enjoyable. Imagine a movie shot from two different camera angles (two different characters’ points of view) and you get to watch both versions. That’s Blind Sight.

You, the reader, see the arrival of Leocardo and his sister, Odette, on the island of Edaion and watch them try to adjust to their new world. Meanwhile, you see Aniela adjust to her young adult life as a member of one of the most established families on the island. And as their paths start crossing, with Odette and her gift as the common element, you watch Ana and Leo discover each other’s past while coping with the present situation. And they’re mutual desire to help Odette ultimately brings them together as love interests. (No spoilers–you’ll have to read to see how it turns out.)

I definitely recommend Blind Sight. Put both of these novels on your to-read lists! The hardest decison you’ll have to make regarding Blind Sight is which one to start with.

[Jennifer (random jendsmit) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got to read this book through R2R Program here on GR.

This book was just ok for me. I understood the story and by the end I was understanding the characters and how they intertwined with the others within the book.

I don't know why I didn't really enjoy this book, it is right up my alley, so to speak, but I just never really got into this book. I was really into the story in the beginning and then it didn't really move fast enough for me, I think.

Everyone else really liked this book, so I am the odd man out on this one, which is ok - but I wish I could put into words why I wasn't just INTO this book... but I can't so I'm not much help there.

The writing itself was ok and was easy to follow. I am going to try reading the POV of Ana and see if that is the same result for me.

I liked Leo - he was complex and conflicted. I understood what he was feeling and what he was going through.

I know I'm rambling on and on, but I am truely stumped as to why I didn't really like this book - so I'm going to shut my mouth now and try not to dwell on it anymore.

I think PNR lovers should pick up this book just to try it out - like I said before, most everyone else liked this book and the story itself is good.

so that's it for now from me...
@jendsmit

[Cecilia Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leonard and his sister Odette are transported to Edaion. Unable to understand how they arrived to the island, he tries to look for means for them to leave but in the end, he grudgingly accepts they can't leave. In the meantime he is puzzled by what is happening to his sister, and in the process of investigating what is causing her behaviour he meets Aniela. He also finds more about the royal family, and some events which happened many years back.

I enjoyed the mysterious feel around Leocardo's story. Hopefully we can get Odette's POv, learn more about her.

I would recommend these books to fans of fantasy stories.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a unique book, written in a unique way!

Please visit my blog for my review!!

http://thejoyofthewrittenword.com/201...

Choose Joy!

Patricia

[Anne Schilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of both books in exchange for an honest review. I didn't feel like I could review the books separately so this is my review for both books.

When I was little, I believed in stories about bending spoons and mind readers. Precognition was a normal phenomenon that just seemed to be limited to a handful of my dreams. Nana talked to plants and to dead people, and Mama took me for a psychic reading once. Teachers informed me that the human brain is barely used, and so I developed this conception that if I could learn to use it a little bit more, one of these psychic abilities could become mine to master!

What would it be? I used to try to move objects with my mind, certain that if I started small enough… well, I was sure I lifted the corner of a tissue once. How exciting would it be if there was a place I could go where my psychokinetic tissue-moving skills could be harnessed, trained, and enhanced the way I might enhance my knowledge, my memory, or my imagination? Edaion is that place, and Blind Sight is the story that takes you there through the eyes of two very different people whose lives are brought together by the mysterious behavior of one blind girl.

Co-authors Eliabeth Hawthorne and Ermisenda Alvarez invite us to Edaion through two different stories that come together as one, in a place I imagine might be in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle somewhere, obscured from rest of the world by weather and inexplicable magnetic disturbances. Edaion is where magic unleashes the natural powers of the mind. She’s an island immigrants can’t leave, tourists can’t remember, and she’s the only world her natives ever know.

No story is complete until you’ve heard it told by all its witnesses. Blind Sight is a unique and, in my opinion, brave attempt to truly offer us a story from two different perspectives. I’ve been really looking forward to seeing how well it worked, so you can imagine my excitement when I was asked if I’d do this review. I wasn’t disappointed. The two books have enough in common that I never felt lost, and enough differences that I felt like I read two separate stories. Together, they succeed in opening our eyes to a bigger story than either could tell by itself.

Aniela Dawson

I couldn’t get past the prologue without being tearily reminded of my own childhood memories, and so I was quickly enraptured. This part of Edaion’s story is told from the point of view of a princess, native to this mysterious island.

Seventeen-year-old Aniela Dawson is the youngest member of Edaion’s royal family. She is expected to develop the telekinetic powers she inherited from her mother. She did not expect that her sister Tatiana’s birthright would be stripped by their mother and given to her, fueling a bitter sibling rivalry.

Like any young adult, Aniela feels the need to emerge from her mother’s stifling control that created this rift in her family. When she discovers that her friend Odette Reyes, a blind immigrant from Spain, draws pictures from a trance, she sees it as an opportunity. She sets out to find the answers behind this mysterious gift, and in the process to find herself.

Aniela is charming and innocent. She offers a sheltered view of Edaion with a glimpse into the noble class and her family. The characters are enjoyable and the relationships are believable. Reading is smooth, with a but that I’ll get to, the story is the right length, with another but, and I was kept guessing about enough to make it more than just Aniela’s personal story.

I enjoyed being taken into Aniela’s world. Eliabeth Hawthorne did a good job of making me feel the part of a young princess who just wants to be a girl. I noticed particularly how Aniela’s behavior and speech changed when she was around her friends instead of her family. Aniela takes her native island for granted, and so for the reader, Edaion becomes only gradually less mysterious as the unfolding adventure sheds more light.

I felt like I was part of the story. I was suffocated by Aniela’s mother and shared the princess’ need to escape. Odette was my favorite character, with the last of my buts, and I found myself imagining I was her in conversations. The mystery and adventure were engaging and built up nicely as the story went on.

Leocardo Reyes

I read this book after finishing Aniela Dawson so I was already hooked. It kept me surprised and captivated, and nicely explained all the questions I had. This part of Edaion’s story is told from the point of view of a reluctant immigrant to this mysterious island, who believes he has somehow been kidnapped.

Twenty-year-old Leocardo Reyes finds himself thrust into a life where mystical powers have become reality. He and his blind sister Odette appear on Edaion after she inexplicably draws a picture with no memory of what she did. He finds himself distrustful and wary, suspecting there is foul-play involved in their arrival.

Leocardo’s first instinct is to protect his handicapped sister. His attempts to escape and return home to Spain are futile. He is forced to abandon them when winter makes travel impossible, and turn his attention instead to understanding the meaning behind his sister’s strange gift, while discovering and developing his own.

Leocardo is brooding and frustrated and his emotions come off well. His tale is set within Edaion’s working class. It has the same enjoyable and believable characters Aniela Dawson introduced us to, adding further color and at times surprising depth. I enjoyed the same smooth reading in a style that was similar, but not identical.

I loved meeting the different sides of Leocardo’s and Odette’s personalities. Ermisenda Alvarez incorporates some Spanish into the story’s dialogue that adds a nice cultural flavor. I had a lot of fun learning the parts of Odette’s story that only her brother could tell, and reading Leocardo’s different view of the events that he and Aniela shared together.

This was an entirely different story made better by the familiarity with the characters and the anticipation of events. The drama surrounding the Reyes’ appearance in Edaion and the deeper look into the less sheltered aspects of the society there reveal a darkness that Aniela just doesn’t see. Of course the drama impact of the adventure is less when you already know what will happen, but the ending is surprisingly different.

Blind Sight was a fun and entertaining story, suitable for both the young and the young at heart. I enjoyed it from the front cover of Aniela to the back cover of Leocardo. Reading the second book while the first was still fresh in my memory felt to me like the key to both stories. I don’t know that I would have wanted to read one without the other, and it felt like I read them in the right order, so I would recommend that.

The Buts (with a tiny spoiler):

I was totally in love with Odette’s character and I simply missed her. The story line unfortunately swept her under the rug a little bit. There was plenty about her, but not enough of her.

There are little placeholders in each book for the other one. At first, it was annoying. I realized after a few of them why it was going to be necessary, so I got used to it. It’s hard to say how I would have handled the same challenge.

Both books do one thing that put me off. Each story wraps up nicely and then the final chapter is told from a point of view that is not through the eyes of the character for that book. This was to offer a sneak peek into the next books, which I don’t mind, but the sudden shift to another point of view felt very out of place to me.

What did I love?

I love Edaion. She isn’t just an island; she’s an enigma, a powerful and mysterious force reaching out into the world to find the missing pieces to her puzzle.

I love the main characters, but especially Odette. The saucy, moody blind, girl, attending high school with kids who can all see, holds my heart.

Most of all, I feel like I’ve read something different! Once I had finished the first book and started the second, it was obvious how these two authors complement each others’ styles. The further I read into the second book, the more impressed I was with how much care and effort they put into their collaboration. I’ve never read anything like it before.

I’ve called these books a “novel duet” because they work in harmony to tell one story and you won’t get the experience that is Blind Sight without reading them both.

[Monaliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 4/5 stars
Read the review in my blog!

Welcome to the Blind sight blog tour! I received both books for a review, and was asked to think about how the two sides work together.

Blind Sight includes two books, Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes and Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson. And what makes these books so special is that they can be read together, or just one book!

So, I read both of these books and write a small review from both of them, then conclude how these two works together.

Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson by Eliabeth Hawthorne

MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS
I had some pretty mixed feelings about this book. I just loved the beginning, and it was really promising!
Some may thought it was too slow paced, but it worked well for me. I also liked a lot how the relationships between Aniela and her family member came out. I especially adored the scenes which involved Aniela and her mother. Add Tatiana and the mess is ready!

Of course I also loved the beginning of Aniela's and Leo's relationship. She's all iffy and uncertainty is just killing her, and the reader, but that's part of the thrill!

Then came chapter 13, and I just lost it. It's a huge thing when the main character goes on a date with someone she's interest in, but we had no idea when did this happen! Suddenly, they're just on a date. I was actually mad, because I love the suspense, but now we just missed it. I felt like I was left out of something huge.

After that, there was some occasions when the plot worked and everything was exciting again, but over all, the story kind of fell apart. It wasn't so fluent, and there wasn't logic in the conclusion. Meaning the exciting end wasn't so exciting, because there was no logic in it.

There's also the exciting mystery with Odette, but it didn't feel like Aniela was actually trying to solve it, it was more like she just says over and over again, "she's a medium, because she has to be a medium". There's some things to back up her theory, but it just doesn't seem like the obvious answer. We get to see some glimpses of other peoples lives, but something's just missing. We also get some fishy feelings about certain people, but Aniela lives in some oblivion, where she doesn't notice this kind of things. We also don't get any background to the country they're living in, and since it's a huge part of the plot, it felt like something important was left unsaid.

This had some huge potential, and if only the execution was slightly better, I could have really enjoy this!

Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes by Ermisenda Alvarez

MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS
I just loved this! There was so many good things in this, I can't even remember everything.

The beginning was just sooo exciting! We find out how people end up in Edaion in the first place, and the history and everything else I left graving for with Aniela's side.

We also find out what happens with Aniela! Meaning, how they end up on a date. There's huge amount of other people, but there isn't too many, this just worked so well. Meaning the story.

It's really hard to say anything about this, because this was just so good read :) This is definitely worth reading, so get a copy, quick!

And then the main question..
How the two sides work together?

That's sort of a tough question. Sure, they have the same events and so on, so they do work together pretty well.

But it was also said, that these books can be read without reading the other. This is half the truth.
You csn read Leo's part of the story without reading Aniela's, but it doesn't work the other way around. I read Aniela's story before Leo's and I was truly pissed off occasionally. There's lots of things that are just glimpses from Leo's story, so they really didn't make any sense.
There's sudden references to jellyfish, sleeping beauty, Leo's girlfriend and so on, but they've only mentioned once in the story, so your mouth just hangs open, because you're so out of it.

But if I had read Leo's story first, I would've understand Aniela's side much better.

So, in conclusion: They work together well, BUT I suggest you first read Leo's story, other wise you'll get really confused.
And if you only want to read one book, I suggest you choose Leo.

Love,
Monaliz @ Mind Reading?

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blind Sight through the eyes of Aniela Daswon. Elizabeth Hawthorne
Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes Ermisenda Alvarez.

I received these books free direct from authors for review but as always this does not affect my review in anyway, the opinions I voice are honestly held.

I've reviewed both books together – the length and quality of editing of both is very good – none of the oft seen grammar and spelling errors ( a recent book mentioned jewellery made of 18 carrot gold – my horse would love that but not sure I would! Sadly there sort of errors along with misuse of your/you're are all too common in kindle books) these are self published books so congratulations to the authors for not falling in to that trap.

Well, onto the story...I was intrigued at the idea of the same story written from two different points of view and by two different authors and I wasn't let down. They worked well to keep the cohesion of the basic story together and I found is fascinating looking at incidents from a second viewpoints. As the old saying goes – two sides to every story and these books certainly prove that. I think it would have worked better though if they'd been sold as one book, still kept separate but as one novel. I know readers can choose to buy both or just one but feel that you need to read both to get the best from the story. Many things that puzzle in one book are explained in the other.
I found Odette to be quite a cold person – I know she has major problems but I just didn't really feel any empathy with her in contrast to her friends the princess Aniela who has to overcome a bullying and over controlling mother. Maybe its just that we don't really seem to get much of the background of either Odette or her brother Leocardo before they arrive on the island. The idea of the island too is a little shallow on details, I'd like to know more about how it works, how people are selected and found who arrive there, and how it works within the “real” world. Everyone just seems very accepting far too quickly of having their previous lives disrupted.

There are mysteries relating to Odettes Gift, to the Royal family and to the interpersonal relationships of the major characters. It seems very much as though these books are “scene setting” for further novels and for me there are too many questions and not enough answers to really enjoy the books as they deserve. They're marketed as YA books and I'm not that of course (!! long time past..) so maybe they can take to this kind of beginning of a sereis but to be hinest I'd have thought their attention needed capturing even more quickly than mine but who knows. The reviews certainly read as though others have found the books captivating so I guess its just a personal choice issue that they didn't do it for me. I didn't dislike them in any way – more that I just didn't really care any more about the dangers and problems the characters faced. Still, I found the same thing for Lord of the Rings and the Terry Pratchett novels – something son no 1 loves, and of course they have a great following. I think what this means for anyone reading this review is if you like LotR and Pratchett there's a good chance you'll be interested in these books, but if your reading tastes lie more in line with mine on the paranormal/fantasy line then you may find you feel the same way about these books as I do. Don't just take my word for ot though – use the “look inside “ function – its a decent sample of they style of the books so will give you a good idea of how you feel about them.

Stars: well for quality of writing, length and price they're 4 star but for content on a personal level only 3 stars for me for the reasons I've explained :( so an overall of 3.5 stars.

[Kate Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read this review and more like it please check out my review site Urban Fantasy Reviews at www.ufreviews.com

On Sunday I reviewed Blind Sight from Aniela's point of view, and now I am reviewing the same story but from the eyes of Leocardo. While the premise of two books that essentially are the same story but told from a different perspective was an exciting one, I have to admit I was a little worried that I would start comparing them and not really allow myself to get lost into the world the author created, or the characters. It's human nature to remember stories that are similar to draw parallels, but the story is a good one. I might however recommend reading something in between the two perspectives so it's not super fresh on your mind when you start on this perspective if you have read the one before.

Leocardo is an interesting perspective, because he and his sister Odette are arriving on the island as newcomers. When you are new somewhere it presents a lot of challenges. You have to establish a whole new life in a whole new unfamiliar place. The upside to Leocardo being new on the island is that as a reader you get to experience everything new with the characters. Whereas when you start with a character who already knows the world, you have to pick up the world through bits and pieces, because the character already has the knowledge.

As for the writing, it was really good, and it starts off strong. I can't tell you how much I appreciate a strong opening, because when it starts off slow I have to keep telling myself to finish the book, instead of wanting to finish the book because I couldn't put it down. Not only did the book start off strong but it had a really good pace to it. There wasn't anything that made it feel too slow, and there wasn't nothing too fast that it felt confusing. It was the perfect amount, it made me excited to turn the page, and want to know what was going to happen next.

I also have to say that I may have enjoyed the relationships between the characters more than I enjoyed the characters themselves. That is not to say that the characters aren't strong on their own, but they are made so much more when they are put with other people. It gives the characters way more depth, and it helps to bring the reader into the fold.

The book also has a bit of humor in it, it's used sparingly but it is used in a manner that helps with cut the drama in the book. Like I said before the book is fast paced, but the humor breaks up the fast pace in a way the reader can appreciate.

I like Leocardo as a character. I think he is a good guy with a good heart and is a protective person by nature. I like all those things about him, it makes him likable for the reader. His personality traits compliment his relationships with others as well.

I have said before on this blog that I am not a huge fan of YA books, but this book can easily be read by either the YA reader or the adult reader. I think the book suites either type of reader. It's a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes urban fantasy, and you should also consider reading the other perspective of this story as well. I will compare the two of the book on Thursday on my blog, so stay tuned!

[M.G. Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am proud once again to be able to promote more self-published work. This, an interesting co-written novel that tells a story from one half of two main characters. The other half is written by Eliabeth Hawthorne and you can see the girls joint blog here.

The premise features on Odette Reyes, a girl blind from birth who suddenly and inexplicably begins to draw. Not just simple drawings but as good as any skilled artist. Yet, she cannot see the images that she is creating, shocking her brother Leocardo who wants to understand how she is able to do this. The two now live on an island known for having magical properties and even the experts are at a loss to explain what is going on here.

There are many questions to intrigue the reader and encourage you to read on. What is the nature of this island? Where is it? How did they get there? Why are they there? And finally, how come their parents cannot remember them? (they have moved away from their parents and Leocardo contacts them several times - each time the mother reacts angrily) With so many questions to answer, it is easy to get absorbed into the narrative from very early on - and stay there. Despite having all of these question spinning around your head, the story developed very nicely along the lines as expected from a fantasy novel. It is incredibly well paced and for that the author should be commended.

Regular readers will know that my fantasy tastes lean more toward the urban fantasy end of the spectrum rather than the "swords and sorcerers" approach so this work was definitely more my sort of thing. However it does contain an element of both, with the overt magic of traditional fantasy and the very real-world setting including mobile phones and other modern technology that will keep the fans of urban fantasy happy. These styles are well fused. If you are in favour of one particular fantasy style you're likely to enjoy it.

It is written in quite a simplistic and approachable style - which is not a problem in itself as Suzanne Collins uses this style rather well in The Hunger Games. And of course, it's an accepted feature of Young Adult literature to write in an engaging and approachable style. However I do feel the language feels a little stilted at times and it could have done with one final and thorough edit for writing voice and to inject a little more passion. But this is something that we all learn as writers as we develop our voice over the years. No doubt Alvarez will look back at this in years to come and identify her own errors. I still do it now with my earlier work.

I tend to struggle with books where I don't particular like the protagonist and I must say I didn't particularly like Leocardo. It wasn't just the fact that he thought he was god's gift to women (this did irritate me but then I am a 38 year old male), I just didn't find him particularly sympathetic. However the world was enough of a distraction for me to enjoy this overall.

See more book reviews at my blog

[Embee Kuhl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start out by saying, I LOVE LOVE the concept of the book. I haven't come across the concept of a single story with two seperate volumes - each from a different character's point of view. I'll admit that there are likely some out there, but in the masses of books I read I can't recall any (not recently at least).

I found the story very intriguing - it came across as a sort of fantasy take on the bermuda triangle type phenomenon. There was a lot of mystery that enveloped not only the origins of Edaion but many of the characters. I found myself thirsting for more information on Leocardo, Odette, the royal family and the other unique people that populated what turned out to be a decently crafted magical world.

If I have any complaint, it would be this: I felt that the beginning could have been played out a little more. I felt slightly cheated by Odette and Leocardo's transition from home to Edaion. I, personally, would have liked to see a longer introduction that allowed us to get to know two prime characters before they were thrust into an environment that they weren't use to contending with.

There were other points in the plot where there seemed to be a lack of information, however unlike the beginning they came across as a well crafted artful omissions. It was these artful omissions that had me grateful that I already had the 2nd volume (Aneila's take on things) and made my initial desire for a more meatier opening less severe. As I read about Edaion, it's residents and a little on it's origin - I was more than pleasantly suprised at how the writer eased you in to the "magical" aspects of the story; they didn't jump up and down, as if to say "look, look at my magic and how AWESOME it is". Rather, Ermisinda wove delicate strands of magic into every day fiction and as the story went, those strands that were already laid bare grew in brillance and detail.

Blind Sight also did something else for me - it is one of the novels (the other being Farsighted by Emlyn Chand) opened my eyes (hope that doesn't sound too punny) to a whole new niche in fiction (for myself anyways). What I mean is both Ermisenda (and her partner Eliabeth), along with Emlyn Chand should be applauded for their use of disabled characters - but not relying on that disability to carry the plot. These women took their title characters in directions that others should consider - strong, independant and forthright; I found it refreshing that these blind people didn't just TAP TAP TAP around the story with their canes as that isn't the sum of blind people in the real world - for that authors like Ermisenda Alvarez, Eliabeth Hawthorne and Emlyn Chand should be applauded.

[J.A. Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors of this unique project approached me about doing a review, and while I'm not really a book blogger, I was so intrigued by the concept I agreed. I really enjoyed these two stories and recommend them to people looking for a slightly different take on fantasy. The two books are Blind Sight: Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes By Ermisenda Alvarez and Blind Sight: Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson By Eliabeth Hawthorne.

The two authors got together and decided to tell the same story but from the point of view of two different characters. I do recommend you read Leocardo's story first. I think everything makes a little more sense if you do it that way. Aniela's story then fills in the details and answers the questions that you were left with after reading Leocardo's story.

The basic premise is that there is this island nation called Edaion. People on this island have magical abilities but they can only use them publicly in the winter when the tourists are all kicked off. Sometimes the island calls people too it as is the case with Leocardo, his sister Odette and his dog. The island apparently needs their special abilities to help it protect its citizens. Odette strangely develops the ability to draw even though she's been blind since birth. It's this drawing that pulls them into their new life on Edaion.

Through the Eyes of Leocardo is obviously told from Leocardo's point of view. Originally a citizen of Spain, he is not terribly happy with their new situation. Odette seems to adapt more quickly. This story tells of his struggle to adapt and figure out what is going on and his growing interest in Aniela, a native of the island, and royalty. I liked this story but Leocardo kind of annoyed me a little. To me he was a little overly dramatic at times. The beginning of the book drags a little, but the ending is quite interesting as Leocardo and Aniela start to put the pieces of the puzzle of Odette's gift together.

I liked Through the Eyes of Aniela better. Her character didn't annoy me and I felt the writing was a little stronger. It tells the story of Aniela's tough family life, her strength at trying to overcome those challenges and be her own person despite her mother's wishes. It also shows her compassion as she helps Odette and Leo adapt to their new lives and her bravery at dealing with the scary side effects of Odette's gift.

Overall this was a really interesting project and I enjoyed reading the novels

[Delphina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually finished these two books (Blind Sight Through The Eyes of Aniela Dawson and Blind Sight Through the eyes of Leocardo Reyes)last week and have been struggling on how to write a separate reviews for them. They are both very strong books in their own right, but because I read them back to back, I am having difficulty separating the the two. In all honesty, I would have most likely felt they were fours if I only read one, but putting the two of them together was simply magical. For this reason, I am reviewing them together.

I'll tell you what I loved about them:

*The stories are each complete on their own, so you do not feel like you are missing huge gaps if you only read one.
*The characters are believable even in such fantastical setting.
*Many stories are told from multiple characters point of view. What makes this project amazing is that they are not only from each characters point of view, but also in each characters distinct voice. Having two authors working together on this was genius!
*The books, while telling the same story, are in no way repetitive. The scenes that are the same are ones you really wanted to see from both sides.
*The world created was so fantastical, yet you felt like it could be real and you just had not been there yet.
*At no point in time did they make Odette (the blind character) weak or needy. I was afraid that since it was through the eyes of her brother and friend, you would get the sense that she was helpless/needy and I never felt that.
*While the main story arc was complete, enough was left open so that you want to read more and I am really hoping the series continues.

I read Aniela's story first, for no other reason than it downloaded first. I am not sure which order I would recommend going in, though. I can see advantages to both. I do recommend you read both, however. It really enriches the experience immeasurably.

I received an ARC to give an honest review of. Because it was an ARC, I can not make a definitive comment on formatting or editing and I know that is valuable information for people using ereaders. I will say, that the copy I read had very few editing issues (none that distracted from my enjoyment of the book) and no formatting issues.

This is one of the few ebooks I plan to also buy the print copy of once it becomes available. Yes, I enjoyed it that much :).

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way this starts, drawn right into the mystery in the opening pages and drawn further in at the start of the first chapter. I would recommend reading this after Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson" by Eliabeth Hawthorne the co-authors version of the story because of this mysterious opening, at least that’s what I thought after reading the first third of the novel, now after finishing it I think it’s less important which order you read them in.

But I definitely encourage you to get both because aside from a great story that stands well on it’s own it’s so very interesting to experience it from another character’s perspective. This has been done before “An Instance of the Fingerpost” by Iain Pears and Rashomon by Ryûnosuke Akutagawa being two examples that spring to mind, but the interesting thing is those were written by one author, we see the story develop through different character’s eyes. “Blind Sight” is fresh because not only is the story told through differing characters but also completely different authors who each bring a unique perspective to the novel. Aside from being entertained isn’t that why we read fiction to learn about another person’s perspective on the world.

I don’t want to get into any spoilers so I just say I love the way Ermisenda paced this book, I was drawn into the mystery immediately and the story moved along nicely with time to mediate on some of the finer points of the mystery but never slowing down or becoming repetitive. I really liked the brother sister dynamic, compared to the large royal family the differences are striking.

I received ARC copies from both Ermisenda and Eliabeth and want to thank them both and let them know that I’m rooting for you both and eagerly await your next book. Whether it’s set in the magical island of Edaion or some other world they dream up I waiting to read it.

[Daisyhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is based on an advanced reading copy.

As a premise, the idea of having two novels tell the same story from different perspectives is indeed intriguing. Coupled with a plot line combining fantastical magic powers, mysterious clues, a cast of quirky characters and subtle humour, a great little story is born.

Whilst the novel is clearly aimed at young readers I found it a pleasurable read. Fast moving and page turning - be ready to lose a few hours of your day to this volume!

From the start Leocardo and Odette are set up with a vibrant sibling relationship that, whilst sometimes lost in the story, remains the essence of Leocardo's perspective and he's central motivation. It is a testament to Alvarez's penmanship that I hungered to learn more about their close bond and felt emotionally connected to Leocardo’s grief as Odette slips suddenly into the island’s mystifying grasp.

However, it did seem that peripheral characters lost purpose as the novel progressed and Aniela entered the story. I thought this was a shame as they provided a welcome breath of fresh air amidst the mystery and I hope they return in the upcoming sequels.

As Aniela eclipsed the minor characters she also did Odette, skewing the focus of the novel slightly from Leocardo and Odette's relationship to that of Leocardo and Aniela's romance. That being said - I greatly enjoyed Leocardo's fresh attempts in capturing Aniela's affections and the realistically awkward deep-seated insecurities that arose in the attempt.

Set against the backdrop of an interesting clash of typical fantasy imagery and a contemporary society, Blind Sight breaths new life into what can be a stale genre. With plenty of action and a mounting mystery the novel acts as a fantastic introduction to the series – establishing the absorbing world of Edaion and leaving many enthralling questions unanswered.

The final chapter of the novel almost overshadowed the rest of the story – promising a whole new layer of mystery and introducing what seems like the most vivacious and beguiling character yet: Titiana.

I fantastic first part to what I suspect is a very intricate plot loaded with ingenuity - I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel.

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the authors again for giving me a copy read and allowing me to review it for their release tour. Now I know in the other version, I said I loved her side, but boy I love his side too! This is just so fascinating to read the same story, but not exactly, from two different people's perspectives because it's the same plot, and the same ending, but nothing is the same! No two people ever think or feel exactly the same, and you really get to see this. And now with these, you want to hold on to these characters as you've invested in them- twice if you've read both books- and you just can't help yourself.
I really can't say enough how well these are both written as they have such a crazy vibe, they describe the same scene but you see completely different things- for example, when the lake is describe by Leocardo, it's a wonderful, magnificent thing, because he's amazed, and Ana thinks its beautiful but has seen it every day of her life, yet it still holds magic in her tale. I don't know what else to say other than read them! Each book holds valuable but different secrets and I can't wait to read the next installments!!

Another thing is all the information Leo finds out about Ana's family, going back some generations, and there are some serious secrets going on, but ya gotta find out on your own. He sees Ana and thinks she is just showing compassion for his sister, who has become a friend, and he tries to stop his feelings and be preofessional. It's such a crazy ride! :) Big 4 paws from me!

[Tim Oldenhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is based on an ARC copy.

After hearing about the concept of the two books that make one story, I was quite sceptical about the idea. However after reading the novel I was very pleased by how the story made sense. I didn't feel like I missed out at Leo's side. There was enough to keep me satisfied with the single story but also to intrigue me to read Ana's.

Relationships are another strong point of this novel. The relationship between Ana and Leo is intriguing and keeps you reading to see how it develops. The tension at times leaves Leo with awkward moments that are all to recognizable at times. This bit of humor was placed in at the right times to keep the book a bit light.

The speed of this book is another strong point. At the start you get to learn the characters and their habits slowly, but as you keep reading the pace increases. Personally the pace could have gone up a bit quicker though, but especially at the end you can't stop reading untill you know how the book ends.

The ending of the book surprised a lot. The tension was built up very nicely, starting halfway through the book.. Even though the novel ended there is enough material left to want to read Ana's side and especially part two of the series.

All in all I really enjoyed reading Leo's side of blindsight, it definately is a good read. I recommend it to people who like Fantasy and YA novels.

[Tricia Kristufek · Rating 4 out of 5]

...they were Edaion's slaves now.

Leocardo Reyes finds himself transported to Edaion with his blind sister, Odette. With no recollection as to how they arrived and no contact to be had with their parents, Leo has no choice but to accept his new life and try to make the best of it. When Odette starts drawing pictures, Leo tries to find answers to the questions that surround them.

Help comes in the form of Edaion's youngest princess, Aniela Dawson. Together with Ana, Leo attempts to find out what Odette's gift is, premonition or a medium. During all this, his world is shaken when Odette falls into a coma. Now, with his only remaining family member in danger and his budding relationship with Ana, Leo must come to terms with the life he's destined to lead.

Full of tension and mystery, Leo brings an outsider's perspective on Edaion and on how the immigrants learn of their powers. Partnered with Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson, Leo's perspective gives in-depth insight into Edaion, as well as giving a teaser of insight into Ana's sister Tia.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was a bit slow and I wanted the beginning to take off more. I wanted to see Leo and Odette developed more at the first part of the book. I wanted to see the transition from their home to the new home in Edaion. The book got more into the characters as the book went along. It also helped fill in some blanks from the other book Ana. I personally like this book a bit better then the other and I know some of you will like both if not one over the other. Overall for both books the authors did a good job and I did enjoy the stories I would like to read more by them both.

[Ermisenda Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love my book! If I didn't, we wouldn't be publishing. I write for myself, but also for my readers. Blind Sight is unique, written in two volumes from two points of view. (See "Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson" by Eliabeth Hawthorne). I gave it5 stars and I hope you enjoy Blind Sight as much as I do.

[Daphnée Kwong Waye · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was reading this book, I always wanted to turn the page as I reached the end of one. The story is original and every step towards the end is even more surprising, with new turns of events.
But when I reached the end I was a little disappointed... because I felt it wasn't the end... yet! If there's going to be a sequel... I can't wait!

[Eliabeth Hawthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm Ermisenda's coauthor! Ermisenda's strength is plotting and tension. Just when you think everything is calming down, something new disrupts the peace. It is impossible not to worry right along side Leocardo as he has to deal with each new problem life throws at him.

[Jess McHenry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the plot, but was at times a little disoriented by the passage of time. Over all, I did enjoy the story. I would also recommend it to others.

[Tawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This three star rating is more personal preference than anything else really. I liked the book, but wasn't enthralled by it. The writing was good, but the characters were still hard for me to connect with. The concept of the story was good, but a bit confusing and I believe it could've been presented more clearly or with more detail for understanding.

The Story
Leo and his blind sister Odette are compelled to move to this small island country somewhere in Europe I guess.... Leo is not happy about this, but for some reason can't find a way to leave. They begin to start a life there albeit reluctantly for Leo. Come to find out there is magic in this new place and Odette is falling into weird trances and drawing things, only to have no memory of it afterwards. The story unfolds from there with trying to figure out what these drawings are and what magic both Leo and Odette are developing.

Likes and Dislikes
--I liked the concept of this story that an island is like a physical being and bestows magic "gifts" on those who it deems worthy, interesting. However, I don't believe that the author gave us enough information on the history of this island and how things came to be the way they are there. How exactly does it work? If the author was going to do an information dump in the form of Theo telling Leocardo what was going on I wanted to know more, that was the shortest info dump I've ever had in a book. Granted info dumps are not always a great literary device, sometimes they are needed and this one didn't give enough
--The writing did seem to all flow well. Nothing jumped around and the story was written in a cohesive manner. However, I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. I wasn't emotionally invested in what happen to them.
--I didn't really get that they were from Spain at first, yes it did mention how he didn't like Spanish television but neither do I and I'm not from Spain. Then it was quite confusing what the hell happened next to get them to Nevaeh (though Leo was confused by that too so that part is understandable)....and I'm assuming it's off the coast of Europe somewhere, England maybe because it says the island has British style houses and people spoke English.

Conclusion
I don't know if I would say "hey read this book", but if someone mentioned it I would say it is a good story. I would also say that I believe this author has the capacity to grow and will probably pick up another book in the future to see how it goes.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes Ermisenda Alvarez opens with Leocardo and his blind sister Odette in Spain. The pair find themselves unintended immigrant to the island of Edaion, where Odette begins having seizures and produces drawings that are a sign of her magical gift that the island has given her. Leo is in search of answers, about the island, how to help his sister, and what his gift might be. Aniela is a princess on the island, and becomes friends with Odette. She is in search for answers to help Odette too, and while she comes to different conclusions that Leo, she only wants to help the siblings and perhaps get a little closer to Leo in the process.

Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes was an enthralling read, and one I wish I had read earlier. The island of Edaion is a well crafted world of magic, and some politics as well. Leo is transported to the island with Odette after her very first drawing episode, which is strange enough, but Odette is blind. I liked that Odette was a fiercely independent teen, including the angst and worries that come with a normal teen and the adjustment that comes from trying to find her place in a new school and home. Leo seems to feel like he holds the responsibility for everything, and needs to make everything perfect for his sister, which would be impossible even under normal circumstances. He wants to escape the island and the magic it imparts, but fails every attempt as well as in most attempts to gain information about the island and his sister's well being. The complications of his job, relationships, and his own doubts all fall to the wayside when Odette disappears and her life might be on the line.

I highly recommend Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes for readers looking to get lost in a book that is a little bit different than everything else. There is mystery, magic, family, and a smidgen of romance all thrown together into a pot of reading goodness. I also recommend following it up with Aniela's side of the story in "Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Aniela Dawson" by Eliabeth Hawthorne. I hope other books set in Edaion follow soon, because there are many characters whom I would like to read more about.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on the blog: What the Cat Read

I’m wishing that I had read this story first out of the two! Not only did I connect with Leocardo (Leo) more than I did Aniela (Ana), but I also enjoyed reading his take on the events surrounding his sister. Ermisenda did a great job bringing the characters to life and creating a rich plot-line that kept me reading nonstop from page one.

Leo is one of those characters that I would expect to meet in real life. His struggle to adjust to life in Edaion and his feelings of helplessness and confusion towards his sister’s health made him easy to relate too. Likewise Ana and Odette felt more alive in this book than they did in Aniela’s story. And yes, a lot of this has to do with the fact that it is written by a different author. I truly enjoyed Ermisenda’s writing. I felt that she had a better grasp of who the characters were and how to convey them within the storyline. The pacing of events felt smoother and the overall plot fit better with Leo’s telling than from Ana’s.

The other thing that I enjoyed within regards to this book was getting Leo’s views on the secondary characters in more detail. Since he is a new comer to Edaion, you get to meet everyone for the first time and are able to create your own opinions on them without the familiar views that come from Ana’s friendship and growing up with them all. It was easier for me to get into the story as it was told from an outsider’s perspective rather than an insider’s one. Of course, your mileage may vary and this is why I would strongly suggest picking up Aniela’s story and giving it a read through after finishing Leo’s story. Not only will you get a different perspective on things, but you’ll also get more insight into the land of Edaion and definitely learn a lot more about Ana.

[Anika Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of having a story told in two different points of view was what really drew me into reading this book, and even though I haven’t read Aniela’s side yet I am very interested in doing so. Aniela is the mysterious “princess” who plays a major role in helping Leo discover Odette’s gift, and I think her side of the story would really help in fleshing out the royal family’s function in Edaion.

As with many self-published works out there, I felt this story could do with a thorough editing. There were some instances of awkward grammar and repetitive sections that disrupted my reading from time to time. I also felt that as the story was so short, major plot developments felt rushed, including the small episodes of romance. This is a shame because the story itself is fascinating and will hopefully be expanded in future works. This first instalment felt very much like an introductory chapter rather than a full novel.

My writing critique aside, I thought that Blind Sight was a very imaginative story with passionate characters. I’ll look forward to seeing what’s in store next for the citizens of Edaion.

This review was originally posted at The Oaken Bookcase as part of the Blind Sight book tour and the Discover Aussie Fantasy feature!

[Laura Mcquillen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The format for this book is different and not something I've seen for a long time. Two books. Both titled the same. Each told from the perspective of a different character. Each written by a different author. I remember reading books as a kid where you would read one side, then flip it over and read the other side. While I haven't had a physical copy in my hands, this concept sort of reminds me of that. I was intrigued and excited about the whole idea! As a writer, I cannot imagine how incredibly difficult writing like this would be. You would have to know your writing partner very well to pull this off.

I let the authors choose which side to give me, and I received Leocardo's side. The other side is from Aniela's (aka Ana) perspective. You get lots of exposure to Ana throughout Leo's side and I can only imagine that the same is true for Ana's side. At this point, I can't speak as to whether or not they are stand alone reads, but why cheat yourself, anyway? It's also interesting that one perspective is from an outsider and the other is from a native.

See more at my review blog: http://kickbackandreview.blogspot.com...

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating. I'm impressed.

I love the idea of having two novels tell the same story from different perspectives. Add powers, mystery and some humour it makes this an enjoyable read.

This book begins with Leocardo and his close relationship with his blind sister Odette. From one day to the next, they end up in the island of Edaion. Odette's drawings gets eyebrow raising concerns. I was thrown into action in the first chapter (NICE). Its thrilling to learn the history of the place and its people. Just when Leocardo thinks everything is falling into place (love interest and work) his sister disappears.

just loved this! There was so many good things in this, it was a page turner, I could not determine what would happen.

I would recommend this book to those who love mystery. You will be intrigued with the characters and unique story.