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Spectral
Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian... and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.
As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.
As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.
242 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
15 people are currently reading
1860 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Duffy
9 books157 followersAuthor of MG and YA books full of adventure. I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I love writing, reading, fashion, fitness, and traveling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
June 18, 2012
Lately I’ve taken a bit of a nose dive with paranormal reads, whereas before I couldn’t get enough and use to devour them in one sitting, I feel as though many continue to follow the same clichéd paths and thus are unable to keep my attention. However with Spectral I was first drawn to it because of the cover; it had a mesmerising allure to it and my interest was piqued by reading the blurb, what was up with Jewel? And what does fate have in store for her?
Jewel and her family have been on the run for as long as she can remember. They’ve never had the chance to settle down in one place long enough for Jewel to make friends, as her family are in witness protection. Whenever the so called “mob” turns up after her family they have to quickly move to another place. However this time around after settling into their new place strange things start happening, her family seem tenser than before and then her Aunt Eva, Uncle Bernie and gran turn up, they plan to stay with Jewel’s family until her 17th birthday which is weird as they have never stayed with them before. On top of that aunt Eva starts calling the shots around the house, taking over Jewel’s mothers responsibilities, insisting Jewel take her phone with her everywhere and deciding who she can and cannot hang around with. What exactly are they hiding from her? She hears their whispered conversations about protecting her until her 17th birthday but why?
The reason I enjoyed reading Spectral was because for once there were no signs of vampires, werewolves or shape shifters, it was good to get a break from them and focus on something else for a change. Also because we found ourselves in the same position as Jewel; we had no clue as to what was going on, the only bits and bobs of information we got were from over hearing conversations and what others were telling us. So like Jewel we really had no idea about who to believe.
What also made Spectral an interesting read were the two hot guys; Roman and Chase, gosh they were swoon worthy. I honestly didn’t know who I liked more; on the one hand you had Chase, who had a ripped body, had Jewel’s back covered and wore his heart on his sleeve and then there was Roman, who was enigmatic, had luscious lips and a sexy accent, both of these guys had my heart pumping frantically.
“Kissing Roman was like opening presents on
Christmas morning; you could never tell what
would be wrapped up in each one, but it always
held a promise of something magical”.
Overall Spectral was an enjoyable debut about betrayal and testing where your loyalties lie, but also a story tinged with swoony scenes and a sweet romance.
Thank you to Tribute Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This review and more can also be found on my blog: The Readers Den
Jewel and her family have been on the run for as long as she can remember. They’ve never had the chance to settle down in one place long enough for Jewel to make friends, as her family are in witness protection. Whenever the so called “mob” turns up after her family they have to quickly move to another place. However this time around after settling into their new place strange things start happening, her family seem tenser than before and then her Aunt Eva, Uncle Bernie and gran turn up, they plan to stay with Jewel’s family until her 17th birthday which is weird as they have never stayed with them before. On top of that aunt Eva starts calling the shots around the house, taking over Jewel’s mothers responsibilities, insisting Jewel take her phone with her everywhere and deciding who she can and cannot hang around with. What exactly are they hiding from her? She hears their whispered conversations about protecting her until her 17th birthday but why?
The reason I enjoyed reading Spectral was because for once there were no signs of vampires, werewolves or shape shifters, it was good to get a break from them and focus on something else for a change. Also because we found ourselves in the same position as Jewel; we had no clue as to what was going on, the only bits and bobs of information we got were from over hearing conversations and what others were telling us. So like Jewel we really had no idea about who to believe.
What also made Spectral an interesting read were the two hot guys; Roman and Chase, gosh they were swoon worthy. I honestly didn’t know who I liked more; on the one hand you had Chase, who had a ripped body, had Jewel’s back covered and wore his heart on his sleeve and then there was Roman, who was enigmatic, had luscious lips and a sexy accent, both of these guys had my heart pumping frantically.
“Kissing Roman was like opening presents on
Christmas morning; you could never tell what
would be wrapped up in each one, but it always
held a promise of something magical”.
Overall Spectral was an enjoyable debut about betrayal and testing where your loyalties lie, but also a story tinged with swoony scenes and a sweet romance.
Thank you to Tribute Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This review and more can also be found on my blog: The Readers Den
December 26, 2011
This book was awesome! Trust. If you love a good para/romance, you will want to read this!
May 30, 2012
I love a good witch book, so I had to read this the second it was available, and I wasn't disappointed. Jewel is an amazing character. Her parents have been lying to her her entire life, and it leaves Jewel feeling disconnected from everyone, except her little brother. And she has good reason for feeling this way. I won't give spoilers, so you'll have to read it to find out what I mean, but let me just say that Duffy throws a twist in here that is truly awesome. Actually, she throws quite a few twists in the story by the end. And oh, the ending! Loved it!
Of course Jewel gets the attention of not one but two completely hot guys. Chase and Roman are both into Jewel, but there's something about Roman that's different--something Jewel is drawn to. The dynamic between the two is so well done, and there's plenty of conflict to go around.
Seriously, I don't want to spoil any of the twist and turns this book has, so go read it yourself and fall in love with Jewel and her friends.
Of course Jewel gets the attention of not one but two completely hot guys. Chase and Roman are both into Jewel, but there's something about Roman that's different--something Jewel is drawn to. The dynamic between the two is so well done, and there's plenty of conflict to go around.
Seriously, I don't want to spoil any of the twist and turns this book has, so go read it yourself and fall in love with Jewel and her friends.
December 26, 2011
Spectral is a fun ride filled with intrigue, suspicion, twists and turns, lies and betrayals, kick a$$ super powers, and most importantly, hot guys.
So, so many hot guys.
While Jewel is torn between Chase (the swoony boy next door) and Roman (the sexy, brooding guardian), I fell hard for Roman's cousin Stefano. He might not play a huge role in the book itself, but Oh Mylanta, does he float my boat. Sigh.
As a protagonist, Jewel Rose is so relatable. She grows in strength and as a character throughout the story, in an authentic, real way. Her love for her family, and especially her little brother, is endearing and makes me love *her* all the more.
I'm blessed to be critique partners with Shannon so (obviously) I've already read Spectral, but I cannot wait to own a copy with the gorgeous cover, and see the reactions of new fans!
For fans of paranormal romance, this is a must!
So, so many hot guys.
While Jewel is torn between Chase (the swoony boy next door) and Roman (the sexy, brooding guardian), I fell hard for Roman's cousin Stefano. He might not play a huge role in the book itself, but Oh Mylanta, does he float my boat. Sigh.
As a protagonist, Jewel Rose is so relatable. She grows in strength and as a character throughout the story, in an authentic, real way. Her love for her family, and especially her little brother, is endearing and makes me love *her* all the more.
I'm blessed to be critique partners with Shannon so (obviously) I've already read Spectral, but I cannot wait to own a copy with the gorgeous cover, and see the reactions of new fans!
For fans of paranormal romance, this is a must!
February 1, 2016
Honestly, I read this book as a favor for a friend and I was a little bit hesitant when I picked it up. I usually read YA contemporary novels, and I haven't been too impressed with the paranormal trend in YA lit. (I wasn't a huge fan of the TWILIGHT saga, and I'm probably the only person in the world who doesn't have any desire to read HARRY POTTER), so I wasn't sure if this book was for me. I began to read with a healthy dose of skepticism, determined simply to find a few good things to say about a book I was sure I wouldn't love.
But by the middle of the first chapter, I was hooked. I put my daughter on dinner duty and decided laundry could wait until I finished reading. This book was simply too good to put down! I've never been so happy to be so wrong!
Growing up in the witness protection program, Jewel has always lived on the fringes. Close friends are out of the question, as she never knows how soon she'll be moving again. But when she moves to Pomona Park, Florida, things start looking up. Not only does she find a true and fast friend in cute, bubbly Taylor, but she is immediately drawn to ultra-hot, super-sweet jock, Chase, who seems to really like her too. Jewel finally feels like a normal teenager.
But Jewel can't stop thinking about Roman, the super sexy bad boy, who may have all the answers she's been looking for, and the key to saving her life - if she can really trust that he isn't the enemy!
Take the magic and drama of the Twilight saga, weave in the romance of star-crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet and sprinkle on a healthy dose of "Who do you think you are?" to get a book that will keep you turning pages until the very end!
I fell in love with Chase the first time Jewel saw him outside the ice cream parlor, and I rooted for him to win her heart... but Roman was a seriously yummy distraction. What if he was really THE ONE? As Jewel struggles to discover the secrets of her family and who she really is, each boy plays a crucial role.
Forget the whole Team Edward / Team Jacob debate. Are you Team Roman or Team Chase?
But by the middle of the first chapter, I was hooked. I put my daughter on dinner duty and decided laundry could wait until I finished reading. This book was simply too good to put down! I've never been so happy to be so wrong!
Growing up in the witness protection program, Jewel has always lived on the fringes. Close friends are out of the question, as she never knows how soon she'll be moving again. But when she moves to Pomona Park, Florida, things start looking up. Not only does she find a true and fast friend in cute, bubbly Taylor, but she is immediately drawn to ultra-hot, super-sweet jock, Chase, who seems to really like her too. Jewel finally feels like a normal teenager.
But Jewel can't stop thinking about Roman, the super sexy bad boy, who may have all the answers she's been looking for, and the key to saving her life - if she can really trust that he isn't the enemy!
Take the magic and drama of the Twilight saga, weave in the romance of star-crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet and sprinkle on a healthy dose of "Who do you think you are?" to get a book that will keep you turning pages until the very end!
I fell in love with Chase the first time Jewel saw him outside the ice cream parlor, and I rooted for him to win her heart... but Roman was a seriously yummy distraction. What if he was really THE ONE? As Jewel struggles to discover the secrets of her family and who she really is, each boy plays a crucial role.
Forget the whole Team Edward / Team Jacob debate. Are you Team Roman or Team Chase?
December 27, 2011
This dark, menacing book has brought me something to read. Simply wonderful!
September 25, 2012
Wow where to begin on this review, Jewel is not your average teenage girl, unfortunately due to being in the “witness protection" or at least that is what she has been told, she has moved quite often, each time a new place and new identity. Finally they arrive at their new home and things start to change, as her seventeenth birthday nears closer and closer Jewel starts to uncover secrets about her family, if they really are her family that is…This is when we mean hot and mysterious Roman, now ladies let me just emphasize on HOTTIE. Shannon Duffy portrays Roman in a way that will have you wanting to trade places with Jewel, or at least I felt that way! But if one “hottie” isn’t enough, we also get to meet the sweet and charming Chase. Two very tempting boys and only one Jewel. Wouldn’t you want to be in her place? Poor Jewel is left with so many questions when she is told that Roman is her guardian and she is in danger, all because her birthday is around the corner and her birthmark is a sign that she is someone very special, someone that a lot of people either want for themselves or want dead…
When I first came across Spectral I was in awe of the cover, like I have stated before a cover is really a main seller for me besides the blurb. Having graduated with a degree in graphic design I know how important it is to come up with a design and color scheme that will draw in the readers attention. Spectral accomplished this for me. Looking at the cover now though, you could NEVER have guessed what the book was about, I loved that because it adds a bit of mystery and makes you want to read the book to find out more about the girl on the cover. After reading the book I now understand the significance of the butterfly, if you want to know, you have to read it as well.
It has been a while since I have read a book that focuses solely on witches, honestly I liked the change and this book has sparked my interest to look for other “witch” books once again. I do hope that Shannon Duffy continues this as a series as this book left me wanting more! I mean there just has to be more to the story of Spectral? One thing I did notice, for those that like their books to have a fairly decent amount of romantic scenes, their weren’t as many in this book, it didn’t bother me as much, actually to be quite honest I didn’t mind it at all, I was captivated by the story unraveling in front of me that my attention wasn’t focused as much on the romance part, though when those parts did come up I loved it! My mind was racing with questions such as who, when, where, what, how and why?
Though a bit slow at the start for me the rest of the book carried a nice pace. The suspense that was throughout the book kept my interest the whole way through. Shannon has created a new world for us to dive into, and I cant wait to see what she plans to do for future books.
This is definitely a book to pick up when you are looking for a read that will deliver suspense, mystery, action, a few hot guys with a bit of romance and of course the paranormal.
4/5 Bats
~Marie
When I first came across Spectral I was in awe of the cover, like I have stated before a cover is really a main seller for me besides the blurb. Having graduated with a degree in graphic design I know how important it is to come up with a design and color scheme that will draw in the readers attention. Spectral accomplished this for me. Looking at the cover now though, you could NEVER have guessed what the book was about, I loved that because it adds a bit of mystery and makes you want to read the book to find out more about the girl on the cover. After reading the book I now understand the significance of the butterfly, if you want to know, you have to read it as well.
It has been a while since I have read a book that focuses solely on witches, honestly I liked the change and this book has sparked my interest to look for other “witch” books once again. I do hope that Shannon Duffy continues this as a series as this book left me wanting more! I mean there just has to be more to the story of Spectral? One thing I did notice, for those that like their books to have a fairly decent amount of romantic scenes, their weren’t as many in this book, it didn’t bother me as much, actually to be quite honest I didn’t mind it at all, I was captivated by the story unraveling in front of me that my attention wasn’t focused as much on the romance part, though when those parts did come up I loved it! My mind was racing with questions such as who, when, where, what, how and why?
Though a bit slow at the start for me the rest of the book carried a nice pace. The suspense that was throughout the book kept my interest the whole way through. Shannon has created a new world for us to dive into, and I cant wait to see what she plans to do for future books.
This is definitely a book to pick up when you are looking for a read that will deliver suspense, mystery, action, a few hot guys with a bit of romance and of course the paranormal.
4/5 Bats
~Marie
March 5, 2012
Spectral is a non-stop thrill ride! From the moment Jewel discovers an unsettling truth her world turns upside down. And with two boys vying for her attention, her struggles only multiply as she battles to protect herself and her family from an unstoppable evil.
Shannon puts an original twist on a paranormal theme we’ve seen before, but never like this. I was lucky enough to read this story while Shannon was writing it as her critique partner, and I looked forward to each new chapter showing up in my inbox. I loved trying to guess what would happen next as Shannon dropped clues, and each scene lead me to believe one thing, yet in the next, a new twist would steer me toward another realization. It kept me impatiently wanting the next pages the whole way through until the mind-blowing ending.
Jewel is truly a likable, relatable character. I loved this girl. Strong, smart, and fiercely protective over her family, especially her little brother, she’s endearing and real. Though she battles with feelings for two boys early on, it’s clear in no time that only one has her heart. Did I mention the guys? Swoon! Roman. No need to say more, girls. Once you meet him, you might as well say goodbye to your heart. His smooth, Italian ways and dreaminess with claim your heart, too.
The non-stop action and twists kept me guessing, while the heart-melting romance took my breath away. With its enchanting storyline and endearing characters, Spectral is captivating.
Shannon puts an original twist on a paranormal theme we’ve seen before, but never like this. I was lucky enough to read this story while Shannon was writing it as her critique partner, and I looked forward to each new chapter showing up in my inbox. I loved trying to guess what would happen next as Shannon dropped clues, and each scene lead me to believe one thing, yet in the next, a new twist would steer me toward another realization. It kept me impatiently wanting the next pages the whole way through until the mind-blowing ending.
Jewel is truly a likable, relatable character. I loved this girl. Strong, smart, and fiercely protective over her family, especially her little brother, she’s endearing and real. Though she battles with feelings for two boys early on, it’s clear in no time that only one has her heart. Did I mention the guys? Swoon! Roman. No need to say more, girls. Once you meet him, you might as well say goodbye to your heart. His smooth, Italian ways and dreaminess with claim your heart, too.
The non-stop action and twists kept me guessing, while the heart-melting romance took my breath away. With its enchanting storyline and endearing characters, Spectral is captivating.
April 9, 2012
This is the third witch book I've read in a row, and like the others, it did not disappoint. I'll be posting a full review later on my blog as part of the blog tour.
June 18, 2012
“Three Stars: An action packed book filled with witches and deceit!
Jewel and her family are yet again relocating. For her entire life, almost seventeen years now, she, her parents and little brother have been part of the witness protection program. They are constantly on the run, hiding from the bad guys. Jewel's life consists of new schools, no friends, constant moving and new aliases. She is sick and tired of living a nomadic life, never able to settle in one place long enough to make friends and not knowing from who they are running. On top of the hiding, Jewel must always remember to cover her distinctive birthmark, a red crescent moon on her shoulder. If anyone were to see this telling mark it could give them away. She settles into her hideous pink bedroom, wondering how long she will live here in Florida. Her seventeenth birthday is on the horizon and she would like to be settled. The next day her aunt, uncle and Grandma arrive and announce they will be staying for awhile. At school, Jewel meets a strange new boy, to whom she is instantly drawn. Suddenly the pieces begin to unravel and Jewel learns a devastating secret....her family isn't really in the witness program, and the reason for their constant moves might have something to do with her birthmark and her unique birthday. The problem is that Jewel no longer knows who she can trust...her parents? Roman? her grandma? No one?
What I Liked:
*I liked the idea of Jewel and her family being part of the witness protection program, learning what a life of continuous upheaval and secret identities would be like was interesting and depressing. The chaotic life style was an interesting element to explore.
*I enjoyed uncovering the mysterious reasons behind Jewel's family's nomadic lifestyle. Once I discovered the reason for the clandestine lifestyle, the story completely changed directions and surprised me.
*I liked that for the entire book, I was completely in the dark along with Jewel. As the pieces snapped into place I had no idea who the good guys and bad guys were. Everyone appeared to have sinister motives and it wasn't until the final pages where all was revealed. It was a big guessing game and I was certainly surprised a few times.
*I appreciated that the end of this book was exciting and fast and that it resolved neatly with no cliffhanger. This appears to be a stand alone book, but the author could certainly continue the story.
*I love the book cover and how Ms. Duffy incorpates the butterfly from the cover as a theme in the book.
And The Not So Much:
*Jewel early on meets Chase, a handsome golden boy. The reader is led to believe that he is going to be the love interest. Shortly thereafter, Jewel meets Roman and the icky love triangle is introduced. However, I had a flicker of hope after Jewel clearly makes her choice. A few chapter later, Jewel is kidnapped with Chase. I was completely befuddled by this event. First, why would they take Chase? He was an innocent victim who just happened to be with Jewel. It made no sense for them to take him and it was never explained why they took him. It felt like the only reason Chase was even a part of the story was so that the author could establish a love triangle. Ultimately, it didn't work. The love triangle and Chase's character (even though I liked him) was never believable.
*I wish I had a better understanding of Jewel's parents and their actions. It seemed they were puppets in the evil plan, but I wanted to know what their intentions were and how they ultimately felt about Jewel after all the years of caring for her and hiding her. There are some brief hints, but I wanted a more thorough explanation.
*This book almost felt like two different halves meshed together to form a story. The beginning of the novel relates Jewel's life on the run and the mystery surrounding her true identity. I really enjoyed the first part of the book. The second half involves Jewel's kidnapping and her fleeing from the bad guys. At this point, the story becomes rather chaotic. Jewel is chased relentlessly up until the big dramatic finish. The pace really picks up and there is a lot going on. *Somehow even though the second half was full of action and danger, I didn't enjoy it as much as the beginning. I guess I was more enamored with the mystery and once everything is exposed I lost some interest.
*This is a personal issue, but I really wanted to know what happened to Jewel's cat, Willow.
*This is a book better suited for older young adults. There is some teen drinking, brief mentions of drugs and some violence. Nothing extreme or over the top by any means.
Overall, Spectral was a good and interesting read. A bit different and unexpected. The book takes some big twists and turns and leads you on a dangerous, wild chase as Jewel races to safety. It fast becomes a situation where she can't trust anyone! If you like books with mystery and the unexpected, you should check out Spectral.
Favorite Quotations:
"As my family drove along the highway, the wind blew in from my open window and the oncoming cars became a blur of mesmerizing color."
"Hatred's funny. It eats at anything good left inside you like a cancer growing until all you have left is a black abyss of nothingness."
"The whole sky seemed to crackle with a spray of lightning. A few yard's away, the ocean's dark colors frosted with angry white tips on the roaring waves, seemed to mimic how I felt."
"There are many moments in life where I wish I could make time stand still; let the minutes twirl a little longer in my mind like cotton candy on my tongue."
"Thousands of luminescent stars now looked like crystalline beacons of hope."
"That guy is twenty miles of bad road, you do know that, right?"
A big thank you to Nicole at Tribute Books for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.”
Posted at @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
Jewel and her family are yet again relocating. For her entire life, almost seventeen years now, she, her parents and little brother have been part of the witness protection program. They are constantly on the run, hiding from the bad guys. Jewel's life consists of new schools, no friends, constant moving and new aliases. She is sick and tired of living a nomadic life, never able to settle in one place long enough to make friends and not knowing from who they are running. On top of the hiding, Jewel must always remember to cover her distinctive birthmark, a red crescent moon on her shoulder. If anyone were to see this telling mark it could give them away. She settles into her hideous pink bedroom, wondering how long she will live here in Florida. Her seventeenth birthday is on the horizon and she would like to be settled. The next day her aunt, uncle and Grandma arrive and announce they will be staying for awhile. At school, Jewel meets a strange new boy, to whom she is instantly drawn. Suddenly the pieces begin to unravel and Jewel learns a devastating secret....her family isn't really in the witness program, and the reason for their constant moves might have something to do with her birthmark and her unique birthday. The problem is that Jewel no longer knows who she can trust...her parents? Roman? her grandma? No one?
What I Liked:
*I liked the idea of Jewel and her family being part of the witness protection program, learning what a life of continuous upheaval and secret identities would be like was interesting and depressing. The chaotic life style was an interesting element to explore.
*I enjoyed uncovering the mysterious reasons behind Jewel's family's nomadic lifestyle. Once I discovered the reason for the clandestine lifestyle, the story completely changed directions and surprised me.
*I liked that for the entire book, I was completely in the dark along with Jewel. As the pieces snapped into place I had no idea who the good guys and bad guys were. Everyone appeared to have sinister motives and it wasn't until the final pages where all was revealed. It was a big guessing game and I was certainly surprised a few times.
*I appreciated that the end of this book was exciting and fast and that it resolved neatly with no cliffhanger. This appears to be a stand alone book, but the author could certainly continue the story.
*I love the book cover and how Ms. Duffy incorpates the butterfly from the cover as a theme in the book.
And The Not So Much:
*Jewel early on meets Chase, a handsome golden boy. The reader is led to believe that he is going to be the love interest. Shortly thereafter, Jewel meets Roman and the icky love triangle is introduced. However, I had a flicker of hope after Jewel clearly makes her choice. A few chapter later, Jewel is kidnapped with Chase. I was completely befuddled by this event. First, why would they take Chase? He was an innocent victim who just happened to be with Jewel. It made no sense for them to take him and it was never explained why they took him. It felt like the only reason Chase was even a part of the story was so that the author could establish a love triangle. Ultimately, it didn't work. The love triangle and Chase's character (even though I liked him) was never believable.
*I wish I had a better understanding of Jewel's parents and their actions. It seemed they were puppets in the evil plan, but I wanted to know what their intentions were and how they ultimately felt about Jewel after all the years of caring for her and hiding her. There are some brief hints, but I wanted a more thorough explanation.
*This book almost felt like two different halves meshed together to form a story. The beginning of the novel relates Jewel's life on the run and the mystery surrounding her true identity. I really enjoyed the first part of the book. The second half involves Jewel's kidnapping and her fleeing from the bad guys. At this point, the story becomes rather chaotic. Jewel is chased relentlessly up until the big dramatic finish. The pace really picks up and there is a lot going on. *Somehow even though the second half was full of action and danger, I didn't enjoy it as much as the beginning. I guess I was more enamored with the mystery and once everything is exposed I lost some interest.
*This is a personal issue, but I really wanted to know what happened to Jewel's cat, Willow.
*This is a book better suited for older young adults. There is some teen drinking, brief mentions of drugs and some violence. Nothing extreme or over the top by any means.
Overall, Spectral was a good and interesting read. A bit different and unexpected. The book takes some big twists and turns and leads you on a dangerous, wild chase as Jewel races to safety. It fast becomes a situation where she can't trust anyone! If you like books with mystery and the unexpected, you should check out Spectral.
Favorite Quotations:
"As my family drove along the highway, the wind blew in from my open window and the oncoming cars became a blur of mesmerizing color."
"Hatred's funny. It eats at anything good left inside you like a cancer growing until all you have left is a black abyss of nothingness."
"The whole sky seemed to crackle with a spray of lightning. A few yard's away, the ocean's dark colors frosted with angry white tips on the roaring waves, seemed to mimic how I felt."
"There are many moments in life where I wish I could make time stand still; let the minutes twirl a little longer in my mind like cotton candy on my tongue."
"Thousands of luminescent stars now looked like crystalline beacons of hope."
"That guy is twenty miles of bad road, you do know that, right?"
A big thank you to Nicole at Tribute Books for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.”
Posted at @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
May 1, 2012
GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Witches/Romance
RECEIVED: Received for Review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
I’m always looking for a novel with an original touch and Spectral I felt had the special something I was looking for. I loved the mystery behind the main characters, not knowing who she really was and what her family was running away from. Shannon Duffy wrote a story with lots of twist and turns that keep me turning the pages.
Jewel has only known one thing her whole life; her family is on the wrong from some very dangerous people. Supposedly they are in witness protection but her mother and father keep her and her brother Jayden on a need to know basis. In their new town Jewel gets a new identity as True, but her new town brings new faces. She makes some friends and one boy in particular named Roman, who has many secrets and also has this connection with her. But it seems no matter where her family goes danger is not too far behind.
Jewel is probably the best big sister ever, she smart, tough and determined to keep her brother safe when danger is around. I think my favorite part was how much she enjoyed Jayden’s company; they pretty much only have each other since they don’t make lasting friends. I don’t read a lot of YA where the brother sister relationship is really focused on. Jewel has a lot to deal with when she discovers what her family is been hiding from her and its MAJOR!
Roman, I’m sure I’m not the only one but Roman was so swoon worthy. He is the Romeo of Jewel’s (Juliet), forbidden romance that has a ton of chemistry. I like forbidden love for some reason the part of fighting for what you want appeals to me and these two really have that connection.
The villains let just say they will surprise you, I actually wasn’t expecting it and when you find out who they are was pretty intense. I loved the suspense and danger of who they are and what they wanted to do.
Overall, the plot was well done and as I said before original, with small parts that may have dragged on a bit. But nonetheless this was a book that will keep your attention and make you want more. I hope Duffy continues this as a series because even though the ending was satisfying I very much want more.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel; fans of authors Cara Lynn Shultz of Spellcaster and Rachel Hawkins of Hex Hall will love Spectral by Shannon Duffy.
THEME: Witches/Romance
RECEIVED: Received for Review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
I’m always looking for a novel with an original touch and Spectral I felt had the special something I was looking for. I loved the mystery behind the main characters, not knowing who she really was and what her family was running away from. Shannon Duffy wrote a story with lots of twist and turns that keep me turning the pages.
Jewel has only known one thing her whole life; her family is on the wrong from some very dangerous people. Supposedly they are in witness protection but her mother and father keep her and her brother Jayden on a need to know basis. In their new town Jewel gets a new identity as True, but her new town brings new faces. She makes some friends and one boy in particular named Roman, who has many secrets and also has this connection with her. But it seems no matter where her family goes danger is not too far behind.
Jewel is probably the best big sister ever, she smart, tough and determined to keep her brother safe when danger is around. I think my favorite part was how much she enjoyed Jayden’s company; they pretty much only have each other since they don’t make lasting friends. I don’t read a lot of YA where the brother sister relationship is really focused on. Jewel has a lot to deal with when she discovers what her family is been hiding from her and its MAJOR!
Roman, I’m sure I’m not the only one but Roman was so swoon worthy. He is the Romeo of Jewel’s (Juliet), forbidden romance that has a ton of chemistry. I like forbidden love for some reason the part of fighting for what you want appeals to me and these two really have that connection.
The villains let just say they will surprise you, I actually wasn’t expecting it and when you find out who they are was pretty intense. I loved the suspense and danger of who they are and what they wanted to do.
Overall, the plot was well done and as I said before original, with small parts that may have dragged on a bit. But nonetheless this was a book that will keep your attention and make you want more. I hope Duffy continues this as a series because even though the ending was satisfying I very much want more.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel; fans of authors Cara Lynn Shultz of Spellcaster and Rachel Hawkins of Hex Hall will love Spectral by Shannon Duffy.
November 22, 2012
I had been seeing Spectral around a lot when it came out. The moment I saw the words witches and magic, I knew this was one book that I had to read no matter what. Add to that a gorgeous cover and an intriguing summary. I won the book in the Indie Author giveaway hop. Unfortunately, I just didn't get the chance to read it even when I had the copy. Then came the Spectral Read-a-thon hosted by Nicole @ Tribute Books whom I'd like to thank and it was so much fun chatting with her! I knew this was my opportunity to read a book I'd had on my TBR pile since ages. The best part for me while reading Spectral as part of the Read-a-thon was being able to interact with author Shannon Duffy and get these really interesting inside snippets into what went into writing Spectral. It has been a really lovely journey. I mean, just imagine how cool it is, as an avid reader, to be able to read a book, talk with the author, ask them questions and get some really awesome extra info on it? It is a blast and I know that I am going to miss the Read-a-thon and chatting and discussing the book endlessly with all the new people I met.
Now, onto Spectral. It was simply amazing! The book took me back to my Twilight days but maybe that's only because the Read-a-thon posts had some pictures from Twilight and even though it did seem a bit predictable at times, what I loved most was the fact that it had been a long time since I read something so magical and stupefying, and so I enjoyed every page. And trust me, it was not all that predictable after all. It was an engrossing read that took all I had to not ditch the schedule of the Read-a-thon and finish it in a few sittings!
Spectral is the story of Jewel, whose family keeps shifting from one part of the world to another which makes her believe she is part of the Witness Protection Program. She doesn't question it and her parents literally make and break her by deciding what she should wear, how she should live, what she should do, what she shouldn't do and all that. Jewel doesn't question anything and sincerely goes with the flow. In her current situation, her family has decided her fake name will be True. Jewel has no idea what her family has in mind for her or even who they actually are. She has no idea that turning seventeen is going to be one huge step and a total hurdle in her life.
As a protagonist, I really admired Jewel. She was strong, a little naive but absolutely smart. Though a little confused about why her life is the way it is (which is totally understandable), she is determined and knows what she wants. There are two guys in the story and the best part about Jewel was that she doesn't kiss one because she knows it is the other who she likes. Confusing, I know, but really rare and beautiful and I don't know how to elaborate that without giving away any spoilers.
The two guys, Roman and Chase were both interestingly opposite. Roman has dark hair and is the intense, mysterious, sexy guy, while Chase has blond hair and is simple, kind, helpful and down-to-earth. It was captivating reading about them. I have to admit that I have a soft corner for Chase, but even then, Roman was his own self and a very likeable character.
Jewel's little brother Jayden was adorable and an absolute joy to have around. I loved the relationship between the two of them. They were playful and thoughtful with each other. Jewel also makes a new friend, Taylor in her recent town and Taylor was really awesome. The two friends do what any normal friends do and their banter was fun to read and added a light-hearted touch to the book.
There are plenty side characters in Spectral who come from various witch covens of the world. Even though it was a little confusing for me to remember them all, they have all been well portrayed and elucidated by author Shannon Duffy. They each play an important role in either helping or destroying Jewel.
Spectral has a very absorbing plot that pulls you into it. It's like journeying with Jewel. There were times when I myself was confused about which guy I like better or what to make of a particular situation when Shannon Duffy told me that it's bound to happen because I am with Jewel on this quest of finding who she really is. Spectral is a bewitching read and I know I've said it before but I'll say it again. I loved read reading it. Who doesn't enjoy a gripping read about magic and witches? Author Shannon Duffy's writing is striking, easy to understand and fun to read. It was absolutely impressive and a spectacular read and I think it's high time I stop now, because I can go on and on and on praising Spectraland gushing about how cool it was to talk to talk to Shannon Duffy. Spectral is a different and riveting story with a new concept that's not only outstanding, but also really cool, magical and splendid.
Now, onto Spectral. It was simply amazing! The book took me back to my Twilight days but maybe that's only because the Read-a-thon posts had some pictures from Twilight and even though it did seem a bit predictable at times, what I loved most was the fact that it had been a long time since I read something so magical and stupefying, and so I enjoyed every page. And trust me, it was not all that predictable after all. It was an engrossing read that took all I had to not ditch the schedule of the Read-a-thon and finish it in a few sittings!
Spectral is the story of Jewel, whose family keeps shifting from one part of the world to another which makes her believe she is part of the Witness Protection Program. She doesn't question it and her parents literally make and break her by deciding what she should wear, how she should live, what she should do, what she shouldn't do and all that. Jewel doesn't question anything and sincerely goes with the flow. In her current situation, her family has decided her fake name will be True. Jewel has no idea what her family has in mind for her or even who they actually are. She has no idea that turning seventeen is going to be one huge step and a total hurdle in her life.
As a protagonist, I really admired Jewel. She was strong, a little naive but absolutely smart. Though a little confused about why her life is the way it is (which is totally understandable), she is determined and knows what she wants. There are two guys in the story and the best part about Jewel was that she doesn't kiss one because she knows it is the other who she likes. Confusing, I know, but really rare and beautiful and I don't know how to elaborate that without giving away any spoilers.
The two guys, Roman and Chase were both interestingly opposite. Roman has dark hair and is the intense, mysterious, sexy guy, while Chase has blond hair and is simple, kind, helpful and down-to-earth. It was captivating reading about them. I have to admit that I have a soft corner for Chase, but even then, Roman was his own self and a very likeable character.
Jewel's little brother Jayden was adorable and an absolute joy to have around. I loved the relationship between the two of them. They were playful and thoughtful with each other. Jewel also makes a new friend, Taylor in her recent town and Taylor was really awesome. The two friends do what any normal friends do and their banter was fun to read and added a light-hearted touch to the book.
There are plenty side characters in Spectral who come from various witch covens of the world. Even though it was a little confusing for me to remember them all, they have all been well portrayed and elucidated by author Shannon Duffy. They each play an important role in either helping or destroying Jewel.
Spectral has a very absorbing plot that pulls you into it. It's like journeying with Jewel. There were times when I myself was confused about which guy I like better or what to make of a particular situation when Shannon Duffy told me that it's bound to happen because I am with Jewel on this quest of finding who she really is. Spectral is a bewitching read and I know I've said it before but I'll say it again. I loved read reading it. Who doesn't enjoy a gripping read about magic and witches? Author Shannon Duffy's writing is striking, easy to understand and fun to read. It was absolutely impressive and a spectacular read and I think it's high time I stop now, because I can go on and on and on praising Spectraland gushing about how cool it was to talk to talk to Shannon Duffy. Spectral is a different and riveting story with a new concept that's not only outstanding, but also really cool, magical and splendid.
July 24, 2015
I would like to start this review by complimenting the author for making a protagonist that isn't dumb or too much of a damsel. Jewel is a fine lead. She's bold, clever, and independent when she needs to be. My only problem of her is that she constantly say "hot" or "gorgeous" every time she meet Roman or Chase. And when I say constantly, I'm not kidding. She even has this annoying way of thinking how hot this two guys are under unnatural situations.
(This one really made me rolled my eyes.)
(This is just ridiculous. They are taken as hostage and all she can think is how HOT Chase looked? I can't just imagine myself thinking like that under dreadful situations!)
This book started off as a cliché. There's even this part at the beginning of the book where Jewel spotted Chase among his friends and can't take her eyes off of him. I'm pretty sure that's written in about a million other YA books out there. That part is actually misleading because Chase is not the real love interest, if you know what I mean. Now, that leads us to our next point, Roman Matteo…well, what can I say about Roman except that he's a pretty good guy. He can be a bit snarky but he's not a complete A-hole either, and considering the many guys and female leads I've come across recently (most of them are just plain stupid) Jewel and Roman are a nice break.
This book is very predictable and just drags sometimes. Seriously, I know what's up even before Jewel did. And while I liked being one step ahead when the obvious is staring right in front of the character's face, I also don't like being so knowledgeable. I wanted surprise and unpredictability because predictability is boring. That's what happened here. I know about the sarcophagus, who's the man chasing her and the fact that the villains will come at any moment, maybe jumping from the roof, before Jewel did. And knowing about all this before-hand is well, makes me dull. Another thing that bored me is that the plot isn't gripping enough. It's just full of hiding, chasing and getting info -- making me put the book down several times.
The writing is pretty decent. Not exactly breathtaking but good enough. There's little to no grammar/punctuation errors and there's just some passages I love:
The insta-love totally failed. I don't like insta-love. They are absurd and really annoying and doesn't make any sense. In here, I don't get WHY Jewel and Roman just fell in love. And the sparks and electricity when they touched? Nah, totally going down the road of cliché. The love triangle sucks, too. Chase and Roman are nice guys but I just can't feel any chemistry and what love triangle? I always felt like it's just Jewel and Roman. I am glad, though, that Spectral didn't focus a lot on romance, because if it did, I might not finish this altogether.
Little depth and background put on the secondary characters. Some parts seemed rushed and Chase seemed really stupid at the end. Threatening every guy -- not to mention witches -- he come across? Not cool bro, just see where it landed you. Also, I can't relate to any of the characters. I wanted to know them and feel like we're friends. I can't even made myself care about them. Like I said, almost everything is rushed.
The ending is ridiculous and a downfall. Am I the only one who find the ending a failure? I think I'm expecting some epic war between the Russian and Italian covens. I mean, come on, this two has cool superpowers and wouldn't it be cool to have some action after thepainful and dragging chasing all around Europe? Ugh, but no. Although their powers are really cool and is awesome, there isn't anything spectacular at all. Like I said, I SAW and READ about this before. And the sudden arrival of the Agusti Forza (the bad guys who wanted the Spectral dead) and the matter being resolved after a few talking is just... lame.
This might seem like an epic fail, but truthfully I enjoyed some parts of it. What I liked about Spectral the most is that its really refreshing, the protagonist isn't stupid and could piece two-by-two easily, no psychotic controlling guy, cool powers, imaginative idea and pretty good writing. Although the execution to combine this elements is somewhat lacking and the plot isn't that gripping, Spectral is still, a decent read for me. (And that cover is enough to make me swoon!)
(This one really made me rolled my eyes.)
"His blond hair that was usually neatly styled was messed up, and his Manchester United soccer jersey was wrinkled. But even under duress, the boy looked ridiculously hot."
(This is just ridiculous. They are taken as hostage and all she can think is how HOT Chase looked? I can't just imagine myself thinking like that under dreadful situations!)
This book started off as a cliché. There's even this part at the beginning of the book where Jewel spotted Chase among his friends and can't take her eyes off of him. I'm pretty sure that's written in about a million other YA books out there. That part is actually misleading because Chase is not the real love interest, if you know what I mean. Now, that leads us to our next point, Roman Matteo…well, what can I say about Roman except that he's a pretty good guy. He can be a bit snarky but he's not a complete A-hole either, and considering the many guys and female leads I've come across recently (most of them are just plain stupid) Jewel and Roman are a nice break.
This book is very predictable and just drags sometimes. Seriously, I know what's up even before Jewel did. And while I liked being one step ahead when the obvious is staring right in front of the character's face, I also don't like being so knowledgeable. I wanted surprise and unpredictability because predictability is boring. That's what happened here. I know about the sarcophagus, who's the man chasing her and the fact that the villains will come at any moment, maybe jumping from the roof, before Jewel did. And knowing about all this before-hand is well, makes me dull. Another thing that bored me is that the plot isn't gripping enough. It's just full of hiding, chasing and getting info -- making me put the book down several times.
The writing is pretty decent. Not exactly breathtaking but good enough. There's little to no grammar/punctuation errors and there's just some passages I love:
"There are always moments in life where I wish I could make time stand still; let the minutes twirl a little longer in my mind to savor like cotton candy on my tongue. To let them linger long enough that the memories become like a tattoo on the brain."
"Kissing Roman was like opening presents on Christmas morning; you never could tell what would be wrapped up in each one, but it always held a promise of something magical."
The insta-love totally failed. I don't like insta-love. They are absurd and really annoying and doesn't make any sense. In here, I don't get WHY Jewel and Roman just fell in love. And the sparks and electricity when they touched? Nah, totally going down the road of cliché. The love triangle sucks, too. Chase and Roman are nice guys but I just can't feel any chemistry and what love triangle? I always felt like it's just Jewel and Roman. I am glad, though, that Spectral didn't focus a lot on romance, because if it did, I might not finish this altogether.
Little depth and background put on the secondary characters. Some parts seemed rushed and Chase seemed really stupid at the end. Threatening every guy -- not to mention witches -- he come across? Not cool bro, just see where it landed you. Also, I can't relate to any of the characters. I wanted to know them and feel like we're friends. I can't even made myself care about them. Like I said, almost everything is rushed.
The ending is ridiculous and a downfall. Am I the only one who find the ending a failure? I think I'm expecting some epic war between the Russian and Italian covens. I mean, come on, this two has cool superpowers and wouldn't it be cool to have some action after the
This might seem like an epic fail, but truthfully I enjoyed some parts of it. What I liked about Spectral the most is that its really refreshing, the protagonist isn't stupid and could piece two-by-two easily, no psychotic controlling guy, cool powers, imaginative idea and pretty good writing. Although the execution to combine this elements is somewhat lacking and the plot isn't that gripping, Spectral is still, a decent read for me. (And that cover is enough to make me swoon!)
May 16, 2012
http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
The Good
Okay, this review is going to be difficult. Spectral is the kind of book that hits you with surprise after surprise. With so many twists, I don't know what I can talk about without revealing too much. I'll try not to divulge any more than what's in the summary.
A Special Jewel...
Jewel and her family have been running since Jewel's birth. Staying in different cities across the world for no more than a few months. But why they have to pack up at a minutes notice and run from unknown pursuers, Jewel has no idea. Then one day Jewel overhears something she shouldn't have. According to her family, she is something special, and when you're special, others either want your powers or your death. But the biggest question is who can she trust: the family she has known all her life, the mysterious stranger who says he will protector her no matter what, or her new friends. One things for sure, people are out to get her. Some want to save her, as others want her dead. And no one will tell her why.
Fiction Euphoria...
This book blew me away. I wasn't expecting the level of depth this story had. The plot was simply excellent. It was original and had so many twists and turns my head spun in fiction euphoria. I am still shocked by the lengths this novel went to entertain me. The suspense was nonstop and the mystery was superb.
A Rare Jewel...
Jewel was a great main character. She had a love for her brother that no one could sever. During her dangerous adventures, she always thought about her brother, wanting to be there with him, wanting to protect him. She also grew a lot during the novel. Despite the lies and betrayals that almost consumed her, she stayed strong. She kept moving forward regardless of her fear and did what she thought was best.
Two Sides of a Triangle...
I had a hard time finding faults in either love interest. Chase was like the perfect guy: chivalrous, strong, playful, and genuine. He really liked Jewel and wasn't afraid to put himself out there. Then there was Roman: sexy, mysterious, and forbidden. We never quite knew who he was and which side he was on, but Jewel wanted to trust him. But trusting him put her in some tough situations.
A Great Plot...
I think Spectral has one of the better plots I have seen this year. I was in the dark for a lot of the book, not knowing who Jewel should trust, or what kind of people were after her. I like that. I like being genuinely surprised by the twists in a book. The revelations about her family and who were the bad guys left me dumbfounded and shocked to my very core. This book is about Jewel finding out who she really is and what she is capable of. And though the ending was pretty much wrapped up, I would easily read book #2 if there ever is one.
The Bad
The beginning of the book was a little slow. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it took some time to finally get to the meat of the story.
Jewel was a little too gullible and trusting. If she wasn't lucky, she would have been dead years ago. She just happened to trust the right people (sometimes), even though those people didn't seem trustworthy at all. This is Jewel: Hey person I've known for 2 days. Oh, you say I should trust you and not my family? I should leave with you right now to an unknown place? Sure, let me grab my bag.
The Snuggly
There is romance in this book. Not as much as an average paranormal romance but enough that it was a subplot. We get a little bit of a love triangle between Jewel, Chase, and Roman. And though Roman's motives are 100% sketchy, he was just downright intriguing. The times that Jewel and Roman are together were magical. There was nothing overly sexual in this book except for a one scene that dealt with unwanted sexual touching.
Overall
The plot was very well done, the story held my interest, and the characters drew me in to begin with. I had fun finding out the truth about Jewel's past and future at the same time she was. It made it feel like I was a part of the story. Duffy knows what she is doing when it comes to writing an enthralling YA paranormal story. A highly recommended read.
Excerpt
We danced against each other, the music and neon lighting transforming our bodies into fluid rhythm. His toned chest through the soft fabric of his t-shirt and the gentle sway of his hips against mine was intoxicating.
“True?” His voice rose at the end of my name softly as he tilted my head up towards him.
I willed my eyes to stay focused on his as my heart rate climbed. “Yeah?” I asked, secretly hoping he would ask to kiss me, my eyes beginning to linger on his lips. I couldn’t tell if it was just the alcohol, or his total hotness that was making me swoon. Probably a combination of both.
“You’re not safe here.”
It took a second. I stared at his lips, watching the words form, then slowly they connected in my brain.
Wait. What?
The Good
Okay, this review is going to be difficult. Spectral is the kind of book that hits you with surprise after surprise. With so many twists, I don't know what I can talk about without revealing too much. I'll try not to divulge any more than what's in the summary.
A Special Jewel...
Jewel and her family have been running since Jewel's birth. Staying in different cities across the world for no more than a few months. But why they have to pack up at a minutes notice and run from unknown pursuers, Jewel has no idea. Then one day Jewel overhears something she shouldn't have. According to her family, she is something special, and when you're special, others either want your powers or your death. But the biggest question is who can she trust: the family she has known all her life, the mysterious stranger who says he will protector her no matter what, or her new friends. One things for sure, people are out to get her. Some want to save her, as others want her dead. And no one will tell her why.
Fiction Euphoria...
This book blew me away. I wasn't expecting the level of depth this story had. The plot was simply excellent. It was original and had so many twists and turns my head spun in fiction euphoria. I am still shocked by the lengths this novel went to entertain me. The suspense was nonstop and the mystery was superb.
A Rare Jewel...
Jewel was a great main character. She had a love for her brother that no one could sever. During her dangerous adventures, she always thought about her brother, wanting to be there with him, wanting to protect him. She also grew a lot during the novel. Despite the lies and betrayals that almost consumed her, she stayed strong. She kept moving forward regardless of her fear and did what she thought was best.
Two Sides of a Triangle...
I had a hard time finding faults in either love interest. Chase was like the perfect guy: chivalrous, strong, playful, and genuine. He really liked Jewel and wasn't afraid to put himself out there. Then there was Roman: sexy, mysterious, and forbidden. We never quite knew who he was and which side he was on, but Jewel wanted to trust him. But trusting him put her in some tough situations.
A Great Plot...
I think Spectral has one of the better plots I have seen this year. I was in the dark for a lot of the book, not knowing who Jewel should trust, or what kind of people were after her. I like that. I like being genuinely surprised by the twists in a book. The revelations about her family and who were the bad guys left me dumbfounded and shocked to my very core. This book is about Jewel finding out who she really is and what she is capable of. And though the ending was pretty much wrapped up, I would easily read book #2 if there ever is one.
The Bad
The beginning of the book was a little slow. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it took some time to finally get to the meat of the story.
Jewel was a little too gullible and trusting. If she wasn't lucky, she would have been dead years ago. She just happened to trust the right people (sometimes), even though those people didn't seem trustworthy at all. This is Jewel: Hey person I've known for 2 days. Oh, you say I should trust you and not my family? I should leave with you right now to an unknown place? Sure, let me grab my bag.
The Snuggly
There is romance in this book. Not as much as an average paranormal romance but enough that it was a subplot. We get a little bit of a love triangle between Jewel, Chase, and Roman. And though Roman's motives are 100% sketchy, he was just downright intriguing. The times that Jewel and Roman are together were magical. There was nothing overly sexual in this book except for a one scene that dealt with unwanted sexual touching.
Overall
The plot was very well done, the story held my interest, and the characters drew me in to begin with. I had fun finding out the truth about Jewel's past and future at the same time she was. It made it feel like I was a part of the story. Duffy knows what she is doing when it comes to writing an enthralling YA paranormal story. A highly recommended read.
Excerpt
We danced against each other, the music and neon lighting transforming our bodies into fluid rhythm. His toned chest through the soft fabric of his t-shirt and the gentle sway of his hips against mine was intoxicating.
“True?” His voice rose at the end of my name softly as he tilted my head up towards him.
I willed my eyes to stay focused on his as my heart rate climbed. “Yeah?” I asked, secretly hoping he would ask to kiss me, my eyes beginning to linger on his lips. I couldn’t tell if it was just the alcohol, or his total hotness that was making me swoon. Probably a combination of both.
“You’re not safe here.”
It took a second. I stared at his lips, watching the words form, then slowly they connected in my brain.
Wait. What?
May 20, 2012
Check out Bookworm Blogger on June 27th and join us for the Spectral Blog Tour!
Shannon Duffy's Spectral is fascinatingly unusual straight from the off. To begin, Jewel is moving to a new location. Her dad, mum and younger brother all have new names to get used to (for Jewel its 'True'), and Jewel has a new school to attend. They're all part of the witness protection program and on the run from bad guys chasing her father...or so she thinks. Things start getting weird when Jewel overhears a strange conversation her parents have with the horrid Aunt Eva and Uncle Boris involving her seventeenth birthday. True's gut instinct of fear and distrust become real when her family's odd behaviour sets off alarm bells.
Part of the story happens at school with all the usual school things. Jewel is new, afraid, stands out and gets picked on by the popular girls, but meets the lovely Taylor who shows her around and becomes a good friend. Taylor's boyfriends best friend is Chase and Jewel builds an immediate rapour with him over a basketball game. Something in her goes ting every time he's near and for Jewel this is a new raw emotion she's never experienced. Another newcomer to the school is Roman. Roman is dark with a seductive smile and a mystery that surrounds him. He also offers Jewel his hypnotic smile and after a couple of encounters he tells her he's her Guardian. This freaks her out. She hasn't a clue whats going on. Guardian of what? After a little investigation Jewel soon realises her life's been built on lies, the exception being her little brother Jayden who is an innocent in the whole set up. When Jewel gets kidnapped the mystery starts to unfold and the dangers become very real. Jewel is a Spectral, a witch that comes along every millennium, that can absorb other witches endowments and use them herself. And the other covens want to use her for her powers and will stop at nothing to get to her. None more so than the Augusti Forza, a coven that has killed many Spectrals in history. They fear that a Spectrals new found powers will get misused and the Spectral will turn evil. For Jewel, she just wants a normal life where she can take care of her brother and stop the bad guys from hurting her family.
The story twists and turns many times. The mystery and suspense based around Jewel's adventure is non-stop. We travel from the US to Russia and then to Venice in the middle of carbival season. Jewel has to make hard choices and at times I felt sorry for her and was at a loss as to who she should side with. She can't trust her family. She can't trust Roman. Taylor's mother goes all weird so is Taylor trustworthy? The romancing between the two boys was an excellent diversion to the chaos. Chase is a good honest guy who accepts her for who he thinks she is, an innocent, beautiful girl. Roman puts on the brakes almost at the start but soon falls for her completely. Jewel has to make a decision and in the end she chooses wisely.
Overall I loved the story. There wasn't a huge amount of actual spells or conjuring, it was more about witches using their powers like superheroes. But this new conception of witchcraft in the modern day was a refreshing change. In the beginning Jewel was a little too naive but her character grew so much in the story and by the end she showed how strong she could be. And she couldn't have been that person without the journey she'd had.
I'm almost sorry that Spectral is a stand-alone novel. I would have liked to find out what happens next, and travel with Roman and Jewel on their incredible adventures. But all loose ends get tied up with a great ending. If you have a witchy side then this one is definitely for you!
Spectral is out now! Don't forget to check in on the Blog Tour so learn more about Shannon Duffy and Spectral.
Shannon Duffy's Spectral is fascinatingly unusual straight from the off. To begin, Jewel is moving to a new location. Her dad, mum and younger brother all have new names to get used to (for Jewel its 'True'), and Jewel has a new school to attend. They're all part of the witness protection program and on the run from bad guys chasing her father...or so she thinks. Things start getting weird when Jewel overhears a strange conversation her parents have with the horrid Aunt Eva and Uncle Boris involving her seventeenth birthday. True's gut instinct of fear and distrust become real when her family's odd behaviour sets off alarm bells.
Part of the story happens at school with all the usual school things. Jewel is new, afraid, stands out and gets picked on by the popular girls, but meets the lovely Taylor who shows her around and becomes a good friend. Taylor's boyfriends best friend is Chase and Jewel builds an immediate rapour with him over a basketball game. Something in her goes ting every time he's near and for Jewel this is a new raw emotion she's never experienced. Another newcomer to the school is Roman. Roman is dark with a seductive smile and a mystery that surrounds him. He also offers Jewel his hypnotic smile and after a couple of encounters he tells her he's her Guardian. This freaks her out. She hasn't a clue whats going on. Guardian of what? After a little investigation Jewel soon realises her life's been built on lies, the exception being her little brother Jayden who is an innocent in the whole set up. When Jewel gets kidnapped the mystery starts to unfold and the dangers become very real. Jewel is a Spectral, a witch that comes along every millennium, that can absorb other witches endowments and use them herself. And the other covens want to use her for her powers and will stop at nothing to get to her. None more so than the Augusti Forza, a coven that has killed many Spectrals in history. They fear that a Spectrals new found powers will get misused and the Spectral will turn evil. For Jewel, she just wants a normal life where she can take care of her brother and stop the bad guys from hurting her family.
The story twists and turns many times. The mystery and suspense based around Jewel's adventure is non-stop. We travel from the US to Russia and then to Venice in the middle of carbival season. Jewel has to make hard choices and at times I felt sorry for her and was at a loss as to who she should side with. She can't trust her family. She can't trust Roman. Taylor's mother goes all weird so is Taylor trustworthy? The romancing between the two boys was an excellent diversion to the chaos. Chase is a good honest guy who accepts her for who he thinks she is, an innocent, beautiful girl. Roman puts on the brakes almost at the start but soon falls for her completely. Jewel has to make a decision and in the end she chooses wisely.
Overall I loved the story. There wasn't a huge amount of actual spells or conjuring, it was more about witches using their powers like superheroes. But this new conception of witchcraft in the modern day was a refreshing change. In the beginning Jewel was a little too naive but her character grew so much in the story and by the end she showed how strong she could be. And she couldn't have been that person without the journey she'd had.
I'm almost sorry that Spectral is a stand-alone novel. I would have liked to find out what happens next, and travel with Roman and Jewel on their incredible adventures. But all loose ends get tied up with a great ending. If you have a witchy side then this one is definitely for you!
Spectral is out now! Don't forget to check in on the Blog Tour so learn more about Shannon Duffy and Spectral.
June 9, 2012
This is a Bookcase to Heaven™ review.
*
Spectral was a brilliant mash-up of everything I loved, and Shannon Duffy's skilful mastering of all the aspects of YA is, in one word, sensational.
Let me start off by explaining the various well-executed ingredients in this tale. From the daunting experience of being the new girl in school to crushing on the ridiculously beautiful new boy in town, from ancient family secrets to dangerous kidnapping across continents, and lastly, a cat-and-mouse chase from cold unforgiving Russia to carnival-dancing Italy... And then it all culminates in a mind-blowing final clash between two powerful witch covens. What more can you ask for?
So in short, the three hundred plus pages of Spectral was a feast for the eyes and the heart.
Jewel begins narrating the story in the back-seat of the car as her parents move yet again to another small town. She is fed up with the fact that her parents are part of the witness protection programme, and all her life, she has been escaping from some inescapable bad guys. Fast forward to her first day in school where she meets a dark mysterious boy, Roman, whom she discovers is her table partner.
But, the real plot only starts when Jewel discovers that she is a witch and a Spectral no less, much to her aghast. A Spectral is a once in a millennium gift to a single coven, and would in turn enhance the powers of the coven she is in to no bounds. With the rest of her family hiding this life-changing secret from her, Jewel begins doing some sleuthing and careful research on her own, determined to take her destiny into her own hands. What she discovers, however, both exults and frightens. She will come to her powers on her seventeenth birthday and if she does not complete her metamorphosis, she will die.
Yet, her confidence in her family, which Jewel believes will protect her, crumbles in a single night when she stumbles upon an old photograph telling her of her true origins. The family that she had known for years is not her true kin.
And henceforth, the real adventure finally begins with Jewel searching for the Spectral dagger and the boy who holds the key to her heart. Betrayed again and again by those she called her own, Jewel learns to discern between who to trust and who to trick. Amidst all these fresh betrayals, is Roman-- a boy on the mission to kill her, sent from the most powerful witch coven. Yet, he is the only one who never deserts her.
For those who have to know the ending before they read, let me just say it is all wrapped up brilliantly in a flourish in Italy, where everything begins and everything ends.
That is why I was so completely won over by this book. Because this book delivers, just like a full three-hour worth of movie watching experience. I'm thrown into a once in a lifetime adventure from a tiny town to Russia then Italy. It's so action-packed that I simply have nothing more to ask for.
Also, I will have to begrudgingly give some credit to the love triangle. It was pretty tolerable though it was one we could have done without. Thankfully, there were no wishy-washy decisions this time round. Instead, Jewel followed her heart and ended up with the one boy who could make her smile and hurt like no one else can. Just as a side note, no matter how much I loved Jewel and Roman together, they embraced just a little too much...
But, ultimately, a round of applause still, for Shannon Duffy. The author who surprised me, delighted me and impressed me with her remarkable debut of a girl fighting for her own destiny.
*
Spectral was a brilliant mash-up of everything I loved, and Shannon Duffy's skilful mastering of all the aspects of YA is, in one word, sensational.
Let me start off by explaining the various well-executed ingredients in this tale. From the daunting experience of being the new girl in school to crushing on the ridiculously beautiful new boy in town, from ancient family secrets to dangerous kidnapping across continents, and lastly, a cat-and-mouse chase from cold unforgiving Russia to carnival-dancing Italy... And then it all culminates in a mind-blowing final clash between two powerful witch covens. What more can you ask for?
So in short, the three hundred plus pages of Spectral was a feast for the eyes and the heart.
Jewel begins narrating the story in the back-seat of the car as her parents move yet again to another small town. She is fed up with the fact that her parents are part of the witness protection programme, and all her life, she has been escaping from some inescapable bad guys. Fast forward to her first day in school where she meets a dark mysterious boy, Roman, whom she discovers is her table partner.
But, the real plot only starts when Jewel discovers that she is a witch and a Spectral no less, much to her aghast. A Spectral is a once in a millennium gift to a single coven, and would in turn enhance the powers of the coven she is in to no bounds. With the rest of her family hiding this life-changing secret from her, Jewel begins doing some sleuthing and careful research on her own, determined to take her destiny into her own hands. What she discovers, however, both exults and frightens. She will come to her powers on her seventeenth birthday and if she does not complete her metamorphosis, she will die.
Yet, her confidence in her family, which Jewel believes will protect her, crumbles in a single night when she stumbles upon an old photograph telling her of her true origins. The family that she had known for years is not her true kin.
And henceforth, the real adventure finally begins with Jewel searching for the Spectral dagger and the boy who holds the key to her heart. Betrayed again and again by those she called her own, Jewel learns to discern between who to trust and who to trick. Amidst all these fresh betrayals, is Roman-- a boy on the mission to kill her, sent from the most powerful witch coven. Yet, he is the only one who never deserts her.
For those who have to know the ending before they read, let me just say it is all wrapped up brilliantly in a flourish in Italy, where everything begins and everything ends.
That is why I was so completely won over by this book. Because this book delivers, just like a full three-hour worth of movie watching experience. I'm thrown into a once in a lifetime adventure from a tiny town to Russia then Italy. It's so action-packed that I simply have nothing more to ask for.
Also, I will have to begrudgingly give some credit to the love triangle. It was pretty tolerable though it was one we could have done without. Thankfully, there were no wishy-washy decisions this time round. Instead, Jewel followed her heart and ended up with the one boy who could make her smile and hurt like no one else can. Just as a side note, no matter how much I loved Jewel and Roman together, they embraced just a little too much...
But, ultimately, a round of applause still, for Shannon Duffy. The author who surprised me, delighted me and impressed me with her remarkable debut of a girl fighting for her own destiny.
May 8, 2012
“Anything for my butterfly,” he whispered, and then softly pressed his lips against mine.
What an amazing read! I didn’t know what to except going into Spectral, but now that I am done all I can say is with romance, action, mystery, suspense, and witchcraft all put into one epic novel, this has made one amazing YA debut!
Spectral is through the eyes of True…well at least that is her name for the moment, True’s real name is Jewel. Jewel is a part of the witness protection program, her and her family has been moving and changing names for as long as she can remember. Her parents tell her there are bad people in the world that want them dead, and while Jewel believes it, once she arrives in her new town..strange things start happening. Jewel is about to find out that her whole life is a lie, the people around her aren’t who she thinks they are, and she herself is not as she seems. …and most importantly, she will find out she can’t trust anyone.
This novel was magical! I for one am not one that reads witchcraft books often, I don’t know why, but they have always been my least favorite in the paranormal genre…but after reading Spectral I am left speechless! The witchcraft in this novel was so different than any other witch themed novel, each witch had a unique power, some were able to turn invisible, others could control people with voice commands, and others could even put whatever image they want into your mind to make you feel like you were living in your own nightmares. Yeah these witches were not people to be messing with!
Besides the awesome unique-ness of the witches in the novel I also loved the love interests in Spectral. Normally there will be one love interest in which I cannot stand, but in Spectral I loved both of them! While Roman is the one that was mysterious and protective and totally stole my heart, I still really liked the other love interest Chase. Chase was your average genuinely nice guy that you couldn’t help, but like! Shannon put together an amazing love triangle in Spectral!
Another person in which I loved (but not quite as much as Roman(;) was Jewel, I felt so sorry for her having to move so often, and for not even being able to trust her own family. While I did love Jewel, I will say a few times she did react rather irrational to some things, but another time when some people closed to her passed away, I felt she didn’t mourn them enough. It felt like at the moment she was really upset, but later in the day she was fine…which seemed to me way too soon to be acting okay.
Besides from adding whole new twists in witches, Spectral will give you epic action scenes, leave you on the edge of your seat till the very end, while still making your heart all fuzzy from the romance! This is a debut book you do not want to miss!
What an amazing read! I didn’t know what to except going into Spectral, but now that I am done all I can say is with romance, action, mystery, suspense, and witchcraft all put into one epic novel, this has made one amazing YA debut!
Spectral is through the eyes of True…well at least that is her name for the moment, True’s real name is Jewel. Jewel is a part of the witness protection program, her and her family has been moving and changing names for as long as she can remember. Her parents tell her there are bad people in the world that want them dead, and while Jewel believes it, once she arrives in her new town..strange things start happening. Jewel is about to find out that her whole life is a lie, the people around her aren’t who she thinks they are, and she herself is not as she seems. …and most importantly, she will find out she can’t trust anyone.
This novel was magical! I for one am not one that reads witchcraft books often, I don’t know why, but they have always been my least favorite in the paranormal genre…but after reading Spectral I am left speechless! The witchcraft in this novel was so different than any other witch themed novel, each witch had a unique power, some were able to turn invisible, others could control people with voice commands, and others could even put whatever image they want into your mind to make you feel like you were living in your own nightmares. Yeah these witches were not people to be messing with!
Besides the awesome unique-ness of the witches in the novel I also loved the love interests in Spectral. Normally there will be one love interest in which I cannot stand, but in Spectral I loved both of them! While Roman is the one that was mysterious and protective and totally stole my heart, I still really liked the other love interest Chase. Chase was your average genuinely nice guy that you couldn’t help, but like! Shannon put together an amazing love triangle in Spectral!
Another person in which I loved (but not quite as much as Roman(;) was Jewel, I felt so sorry for her having to move so often, and for not even being able to trust her own family. While I did love Jewel, I will say a few times she did react rather irrational to some things, but another time when some people closed to her passed away, I felt she didn’t mourn them enough. It felt like at the moment she was really upset, but later in the day she was fine…which seemed to me way too soon to be acting okay.
Besides from adding whole new twists in witches, Spectral will give you epic action scenes, leave you on the edge of your seat till the very end, while still making your heart all fuzzy from the romance! This is a debut book you do not want to miss!
April 23, 2012
First off, the cover is gorgeous! It is also perfect for the book. Right down to the color jade and that little butterfly. Everything is relevant to the story. It is so eye catching and beautiful. The model is...wow. I mean, this is just a great cover. Props to the designer. Isn't it stunning?! This is one of my top favorite covers of 2012.
Now, let me tell you that this book wasn't for me. I'm going to tell you what I like and what didn't resonate well with me. OK?
I was quickly swept up in this story. Its got a great beginning. It reads like a YA contemporary--which I love--while you're waiting for the paranormal aspect to kick in. I liked Jewel--for the most part--and I wanted to get to know her better. I like that this is a witch story. It's been awhile since there has been anything out about witches. It's about time! The story line is original, and that is refreshing. It isn't the same old thing.
I liked Jewel and Roman very much. They have different powers and their characters are likeable. There are also some swoon worthy moments. You know I love me some romance!
What I didn't like so much:
I'm such a romance junkee. I like Roman, but I don't think we got to know him well enough before the romance started happening. It just was there. Because we don't get to know him there were several moments that I wasn't sure if I could trust him or not. Jewel and Roman became romantic too fast. Way to fast. I felt like we missed out on all those special moments that bring a couple together. They just started making out before they knew anything about each other. I also had a problem with the fact that I'd be in the middle of reading an action sequence and then...BAM! They stop everything to make out. But they are still in imminent danger. Don't get me wrong the romance scene's were swoon worthy, but they felt ill timed. Get through the action and then let's make out. Not literally in the middle. Jewel was also on her death bed at one point but she was thinking about how hot Roman looked. I'm not sure that was realistic. Felt very...cheesy. Jewel was also kissing more than one boy and I wanted to take her aside and tell her nobody's going to want to buy the ice cream truck if she's giving out the popsicle's for free. Lots of kissing without actually knowing the boys she was kissing. Make up your mind girl! BUT....that's just me nitpicking.
I wasn't enjoying when the Russian's came into play. Everything started feeling cheesy and stereotypical. I liked the original plot line but maybe the conversations are what felt that way. Just the wording used. BUT...the plot is good. Kept moving fast and it was interesting. I know many of you will enjoy Spectral, I'm just being picky.
Now, let me tell you that this book wasn't for me. I'm going to tell you what I like and what didn't resonate well with me. OK?
I was quickly swept up in this story. Its got a great beginning. It reads like a YA contemporary--which I love--while you're waiting for the paranormal aspect to kick in. I liked Jewel--for the most part--and I wanted to get to know her better. I like that this is a witch story. It's been awhile since there has been anything out about witches. It's about time! The story line is original, and that is refreshing. It isn't the same old thing.
I liked Jewel and Roman very much. They have different powers and their characters are likeable. There are also some swoon worthy moments. You know I love me some romance!
What I didn't like so much:
I'm such a romance junkee. I like Roman, but I don't think we got to know him well enough before the romance started happening. It just was there. Because we don't get to know him there were several moments that I wasn't sure if I could trust him or not. Jewel and Roman became romantic too fast. Way to fast. I felt like we missed out on all those special moments that bring a couple together. They just started making out before they knew anything about each other. I also had a problem with the fact that I'd be in the middle of reading an action sequence and then...BAM! They stop everything to make out. But they are still in imminent danger. Don't get me wrong the romance scene's were swoon worthy, but they felt ill timed. Get through the action and then let's make out. Not literally in the middle. Jewel was also on her death bed at one point but she was thinking about how hot Roman looked. I'm not sure that was realistic. Felt very...cheesy. Jewel was also kissing more than one boy and I wanted to take her aside and tell her nobody's going to want to buy the ice cream truck if she's giving out the popsicle's for free. Lots of kissing without actually knowing the boys she was kissing. Make up your mind girl! BUT....that's just me nitpicking.
I wasn't enjoying when the Russian's came into play. Everything started feeling cheesy and stereotypical. I liked the original plot line but maybe the conversations are what felt that way. Just the wording used. BUT...the plot is good. Kept moving fast and it was interesting. I know many of you will enjoy Spectral, I'm just being picky.
June 28, 2012
RATING: 5 ROMAN , CHACE & STEFANO STARS!!!
“Listen to me , Jewel. I wanna tell you a story..........It’s the story of the butterfly....”
I absolutely loved Spectral. Shannon has written a great story. All is not what it seems, and I loved the curveballs Shannon threw at us.
I am going to say, the guys in this book are gorgeously written. Chase Quinn, the jock type, Mr Karate kid, is a fine specimen and I would love to read more about him. Stefano, is a little sarcastic, gorgeous of course, he says it how he calls it. Last but not least is, Roman Matteo. Where Chace is blond and American, Roman is dark, mysterious, plays in a band and is Italian.... adds a few bonus points for smexiness.
Pretty early in, you work out that Jewel aka True’s mum and dad, are keeping some skeletons in the closet. We just don’t know what. Aunt Eva needs a bit of a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ and little brother Jayden is a sweetie.
Shannon had me turning these pages wanting to know more. I was very intrigued. She held back on being predictable. You may think you know what is coming up, but then....curveball!
I love how Chace calls Jewel aka True, maple leaf, and he is a good listener. This is always important when you have unbelievable things to get off your chest. I am hoping there is another book ....? I would like to get to know Chace more....after all Jewel did promise.
Jewel is a very likeable heroine , she is only, almost seventeen, but she will fight for her family and for good. She just has to make it to her seventeenth birthday party.
Shannon takes us from America, to Russia , and on to Italy, a lovely bit of scenery along the way and some smackdowns as the story unfolds.
Taylor is a great friend and Olivia needs a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ from me also...hehe! No seriously, she needs a slap, jealousy is not attractive.
I really enjoyed this tale of love, betrayal, brave hearts, witches, Augusti Forza, power struggles , spells, loyalty and some witchy fighting. The story will keep you intrigued to know more and the guys are just gorgeous. I highly recommend Spectral and have my fingers crossed for a sequel.
Oh and pink , don’t buy Jewel any pink......
FAVE QUOTES:
“If you change your mind, believe me - I’d make sure you knew I wanted you. I know I’d be there for you, and I’m damn sure I’d never let you go.”
“And what happened to you? You’ve obviously been drinking the Kool-Aid......”
“You know, right about now, I think your nickname should be Chaos. Continue to not listen, and your nickname will be Armageddon.”
“Tu sei bella, butterfly.”
“Listen to me , Jewel. I wanna tell you a story..........It’s the story of the butterfly....”
I absolutely loved Spectral. Shannon has written a great story. All is not what it seems, and I loved the curveballs Shannon threw at us.
I am going to say, the guys in this book are gorgeously written. Chase Quinn, the jock type, Mr Karate kid, is a fine specimen and I would love to read more about him. Stefano, is a little sarcastic, gorgeous of course, he says it how he calls it. Last but not least is, Roman Matteo. Where Chace is blond and American, Roman is dark, mysterious, plays in a band and is Italian.... adds a few bonus points for smexiness.
Pretty early in, you work out that Jewel aka True’s mum and dad, are keeping some skeletons in the closet. We just don’t know what. Aunt Eva needs a bit of a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ and little brother Jayden is a sweetie.
Shannon had me turning these pages wanting to know more. I was very intrigued. She held back on being predictable. You may think you know what is coming up, but then....curveball!
I love how Chace calls Jewel aka True, maple leaf, and he is a good listener. This is always important when you have unbelievable things to get off your chest. I am hoping there is another book ....? I would like to get to know Chace more....after all Jewel did promise.
Jewel is a very likeable heroine , she is only, almost seventeen, but she will fight for her family and for good. She just has to make it to her seventeenth birthday party.
Shannon takes us from America, to Russia , and on to Italy, a lovely bit of scenery along the way and some smackdowns as the story unfolds.
Taylor is a great friend and Olivia needs a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ from me also...hehe! No seriously, she needs a slap, jealousy is not attractive.
I really enjoyed this tale of love, betrayal, brave hearts, witches, Augusti Forza, power struggles , spells, loyalty and some witchy fighting. The story will keep you intrigued to know more and the guys are just gorgeous. I highly recommend Spectral and have my fingers crossed for a sequel.
Oh and pink , don’t buy Jewel any pink......
FAVE QUOTES:
“If you change your mind, believe me - I’d make sure you knew I wanted you. I know I’d be there for you, and I’m damn sure I’d never let you go.”
“And what happened to you? You’ve obviously been drinking the Kool-Aid......”
“You know, right about now, I think your nickname should be Chaos. Continue to not listen, and your nickname will be Armageddon.”
“Tu sei bella, butterfly.”
June 28, 2012
MICHELLE'S REVIEW:
RATING: 5 ROMAN , CHACE & STEFANO STARS!!!
“Listen to me , Jewel. I wanna tell you a story..........It’s the story of the butterfly....”
I absolutely loved Spectral. Shannon has written a great story. All is not what it seems, and I loved the curveballs Shannon threw at us.
I am going to say, the guys in this book are gorgeously written. Chase Quinn, the jock type, Mr Karate kid, is a fine specimen and I would love to read more about him. Stefano, is a little sarcastic, gorgeous of course, he says it how he calls it. Last but not least is, Roman Matteo. Where Chace is blond and American, Roman is dark, mysterious, plays in a band and is Italian.... adds a few bonus points for smexiness.
Pretty early in, you work out that Jewel aka True’s mum and dad, are keeping some skeletons in the closet. We just don’t know what. Aunt Eva needs a bit of a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ and little brother Jayden is a sweetie.
Shannon had me turning these pages wanting to know more. I was very intrigued. She held back on being predictable. You may think you know what is coming up, but then....curveball!
I love how Chace calls Jewel aka True, maple leaf, and he is a good listener. This is always important when you have unbelievable things to get off your chest. I am hoping there is another book ....? I would like to get to know Chace more....after all Jewel did promise.
Jewel is a very likeable heroine , she is only, almost seventeen, but she will fight for her family and for good. She just has to make it to her seventeenth birthday party.
Shannon takes us from America, to Russia , and on to Italy, a lovely bit of scenery along the way and some smackdowns as the story unfolds.
Taylor is a great friend and Olivia needs a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ from me also...hehe! No seriously, she needs a slap, jealousy is not attractive.
I really enjoyed this tale of love, betrayal, brave hearts, witches, Augusti Forza, power struggles , spells, loyalty and some witchy fighting. The story will keep you intrigued to know more and the guys are just gorgeous. I highly recommend Spectral and have my fingers crossed for a sequel.
Oh and pink , don’t buy Jewel any pink......
FAVE QUOTES:
“If you change your mind, believe me - I’d make sure you knew I wanted you. I know I’d be there for you, and I’m damn sure I’d never let you go.”
“And what happened to you? You’ve obviously been drinking the Kool-Aid......”
“You know, right about now, I think your nickname should be Chaos. Continue to not listen, and your nickname will be Armageddon.”
“Tu sei bella, butterfly.”
RATING: 5 ROMAN , CHACE & STEFANO STARS!!!
“Listen to me , Jewel. I wanna tell you a story..........It’s the story of the butterfly....”
I absolutely loved Spectral. Shannon has written a great story. All is not what it seems, and I loved the curveballs Shannon threw at us.
I am going to say, the guys in this book are gorgeously written. Chase Quinn, the jock type, Mr Karate kid, is a fine specimen and I would love to read more about him. Stefano, is a little sarcastic, gorgeous of course, he says it how he calls it. Last but not least is, Roman Matteo. Where Chace is blond and American, Roman is dark, mysterious, plays in a band and is Italian.... adds a few bonus points for smexiness.
Pretty early in, you work out that Jewel aka True’s mum and dad, are keeping some skeletons in the closet. We just don’t know what. Aunt Eva needs a bit of a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ and little brother Jayden is a sweetie.
Shannon had me turning these pages wanting to know more. I was very intrigued. She held back on being predictable. You may think you know what is coming up, but then....curveball!
I love how Chace calls Jewel aka True, maple leaf, and he is a good listener. This is always important when you have unbelievable things to get off your chest. I am hoping there is another book ....? I would like to get to know Chace more....after all Jewel did promise.
Jewel is a very likeable heroine , she is only, almost seventeen, but she will fight for her family and for good. She just has to make it to her seventeenth birthday party.
Shannon takes us from America, to Russia , and on to Italy, a lovely bit of scenery along the way and some smackdowns as the story unfolds.
Taylor is a great friend and Olivia needs a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ from me also...hehe! No seriously, she needs a slap, jealousy is not attractive.
I really enjoyed this tale of love, betrayal, brave hearts, witches, Augusti Forza, power struggles , spells, loyalty and some witchy fighting. The story will keep you intrigued to know more and the guys are just gorgeous. I highly recommend Spectral and have my fingers crossed for a sequel.
Oh and pink , don’t buy Jewel any pink......
FAVE QUOTES:
“If you change your mind, believe me - I’d make sure you knew I wanted you. I know I’d be there for you, and I’m damn sure I’d never let you go.”
“And what happened to you? You’ve obviously been drinking the Kool-Aid......”
“You know, right about now, I think your nickname should be Chaos. Continue to not listen, and your nickname will be Armageddon.”
“Tu sei bella, butterfly.”
June 8, 2012
Jewel has been running all her life, but she's always had her family. Or so she thinks. Now known as True, since every location requires a name change, Jewel faces her seventeenth birthday in a new town with no friends. Then she meets Chase and Roman. She's drawn to both boys, but Roman is different. Soon she finds out, so is she.
The story takes the reader through a maze of self-discovery with scenes full of emotion, confusion, action, peril, and romance. Jewel is drawn to Roman, who declares himself her guardian, but she's had so many people lie to her that it's hard to trust anyone fully. Her true destiny unfolds before her in a race against time that takes her from home to Russia and Italy.
What I found most endearing about this story... the strong teenage voice of Jewel. In between running for her life, she complains about the color pink or debates her boyfriend choices. She's fiercely devoted to the idea of family, but she still gets annoyed when they tell her she can't go to a party. Jewel is a character that will stick with me. I don't know if Shannon Duffy intends on making this a series, but I sure hope so. I'm not ready to be done with Jewel yet. Or Roman. My only complaints: some of the story elements seemed rushed, and I wanted more of Roman and Jewel.
I highly recommend Spectral to readers who enjoy a well crafted coming of age story with interesting and engaging characters. The paranormal aspect adds to the story, but Jewel could be any teenager struggling with finding herself while surrounded by adults who think they know best. But, not to fear, the witchcraft elements are captivating and unlike any I've read to date.
I often struggle to find books for my daughter, an advanced 12-year-old reader. Books classified young adult can be inappropriate for young teens. Spectral, however, is a book I would pass on to her. The romance is sweet and, in my opinion, acceptable for younger young adult readers. While there's plenty of action, none of it seemed over the top or too scary.
I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
The story takes the reader through a maze of self-discovery with scenes full of emotion, confusion, action, peril, and romance. Jewel is drawn to Roman, who declares himself her guardian, but she's had so many people lie to her that it's hard to trust anyone fully. Her true destiny unfolds before her in a race against time that takes her from home to Russia and Italy.
What I found most endearing about this story... the strong teenage voice of Jewel. In between running for her life, she complains about the color pink or debates her boyfriend choices. She's fiercely devoted to the idea of family, but she still gets annoyed when they tell her she can't go to a party. Jewel is a character that will stick with me. I don't know if Shannon Duffy intends on making this a series, but I sure hope so. I'm not ready to be done with Jewel yet. Or Roman. My only complaints: some of the story elements seemed rushed, and I wanted more of Roman and Jewel.
I highly recommend Spectral to readers who enjoy a well crafted coming of age story with interesting and engaging characters. The paranormal aspect adds to the story, but Jewel could be any teenager struggling with finding herself while surrounded by adults who think they know best. But, not to fear, the witchcraft elements are captivating and unlike any I've read to date.
I often struggle to find books for my daughter, an advanced 12-year-old reader. Books classified young adult can be inappropriate for young teens. Spectral, however, is a book I would pass on to her. The romance is sweet and, in my opinion, acceptable for younger young adult readers. While there's plenty of action, none of it seemed over the top or too scary.
I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
June 27, 2012
Spectral opens with Jewel having no idea what she is. As far as she’s concerned, her father did something when she was a baby and they have been in the witness protection programme ever since, often having to run for their lives in the spur of the moment. They are constantly on the run and moving from place to place. So, she is somewhat surprised to come home from school one day to find her grandmother and an aunt and uncle at her house. When she overhears them having a conversation about her being the Spectral and coming into her powers on her 17th birthday, one month away, she doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Then she meets the hot new guy at school, Roman. He tells her that he’s her guardian, that she’s in danger, and he explains to her what the Spectral is.
For the most part, Jewel was an ok, likable character. She seems fairly smart and able to quickly accept things and work things out for herself when required. But then, she comes up with a really stupid reasoning, and follows this up with some stupid actions that had me really mad while reading, at this point to be honest, I felt like giving up. Thankfully, she eventually figures out her mistake. In my opinion it was out of character for her.
There is kind of a love triangle, but personally, I didn’t feel I ever learned enough about Chase to have any strong feelings for him so Roman was always the guy I was rooting for. Though I think it was always obvious the direction it was going to take. Roman was a good character and I liked him more than any of the others, but I couldn’t say I had a deep connection with any of them.
The relationships move very quickly to start with but do ease off somewhat so that I couldn’t really say its insta love. But not an enjoyable build up either.
Despite my negativity so far, the overall storyline is quite enjoyable and imaginative. Shannon has a decent writing style and the book had a nice flow. The ending is good with some fast paced action, but also some sad scenes. Spectral was overall, a fairly enjoyable read.
Then she meets the hot new guy at school, Roman. He tells her that he’s her guardian, that she’s in danger, and he explains to her what the Spectral is.
For the most part, Jewel was an ok, likable character. She seems fairly smart and able to quickly accept things and work things out for herself when required. But then, she comes up with a really stupid reasoning, and follows this up with some stupid actions that had me really mad while reading, at this point to be honest, I felt like giving up. Thankfully, she eventually figures out her mistake. In my opinion it was out of character for her.
There is kind of a love triangle, but personally, I didn’t feel I ever learned enough about Chase to have any strong feelings for him so Roman was always the guy I was rooting for. Though I think it was always obvious the direction it was going to take. Roman was a good character and I liked him more than any of the others, but I couldn’t say I had a deep connection with any of them.
The relationships move very quickly to start with but do ease off somewhat so that I couldn’t really say its insta love. But not an enjoyable build up either.
Despite my negativity so far, the overall storyline is quite enjoyable and imaginative. Shannon has a decent writing style and the book had a nice flow. The ending is good with some fast paced action, but also some sad scenes. Spectral was overall, a fairly enjoyable read.
January 26, 2013
Every story has its own theme. Even if it’s a premise that’s been done before, execution makes all the difference. Light, fun and predictable can still succeed. It mostly did for Spectral.
The plot both worked for me and it didn’t. The opening chapter drops the reader into an active scene full of tension. Curiosity had me flipping pages to get all the details explaining Jewel’s life in the witness protection program and why her family was moving yet again. As a reader, I was definitely sucked into the story and wanted to know more.
Then Jewel started school, and the predictable part of the plot appeared. The cutesy, helpful friend showed her around school—you know, the one that would, of course, become her best friend. There’s the hunky, sports jock that every girl notices, aka Chase. Yep, he’ll be hitting on Jewel shortly. And let’s not forget the dark, mysterious guy named Roman that plays guitar and is so gorgeous Jewel can’t help but be drawn to him (what girl wouldn’t be)…which all seems counterintuitive since she’s grown up being secretive all her life. Where literally showing her birth mark could be life threatening if she’s recognized.
While I found the presentation of the main characters and love triangle formulaic and a predictable part of the story, I was still interested in seeing where the plot would lead. The introduction of Jewel’s additional family members definitely had me wondering what they really wanted—and why Jewel didn’t ask her parents what was going on or tell her controlling Aunt Eva off.
The pace picks up in the second half of the book and the story really starts moving. The reader discovers why Jewel is being hunted and what she’s capable of. Family secrets are revealed, and though I expected some of the information, I was still pleasantly surprised. Even the love triangle’s resolution was predictable, but I wasn’t disappointed in the outcome. Spectral overall was an enjoyable read.
The plot both worked for me and it didn’t. The opening chapter drops the reader into an active scene full of tension. Curiosity had me flipping pages to get all the details explaining Jewel’s life in the witness protection program and why her family was moving yet again. As a reader, I was definitely sucked into the story and wanted to know more.
Then Jewel started school, and the predictable part of the plot appeared. The cutesy, helpful friend showed her around school—you know, the one that would, of course, become her best friend. There’s the hunky, sports jock that every girl notices, aka Chase. Yep, he’ll be hitting on Jewel shortly. And let’s not forget the dark, mysterious guy named Roman that plays guitar and is so gorgeous Jewel can’t help but be drawn to him (what girl wouldn’t be)…which all seems counterintuitive since she’s grown up being secretive all her life. Where literally showing her birth mark could be life threatening if she’s recognized.
While I found the presentation of the main characters and love triangle formulaic and a predictable part of the story, I was still interested in seeing where the plot would lead. The introduction of Jewel’s additional family members definitely had me wondering what they really wanted—and why Jewel didn’t ask her parents what was going on or tell her controlling Aunt Eva off.
The pace picks up in the second half of the book and the story really starts moving. The reader discovers why Jewel is being hunted and what she’s capable of. Family secrets are revealed, and though I expected some of the information, I was still pleasantly surprised. Even the love triangle’s resolution was predictable, but I wasn’t disappointed in the outcome. Spectral overall was an enjoyable read.
May 9, 2012
Review:
I really enjoyed Spectral. It was a new and interesting kind of story that hasn’t been discovered yet. Spectral was different and interesting, and it kept you focused on the book, which was a very good thing!
Cover:
The cover was really pretty. It drew you in and captured your attention. Her face is so captivating that it held your focus for a few seconds, and then it would release you and let your eyes wander to the pretty butterfly on her arm! J
Plot/Writing:
The story had a mysterious tone to it. All you wanted to do was find out why she was on the run and who her family was running from. Spectral is full of twists and turns that keep your attention and makes you turn the pages. It was very well written, and there were almost no spelling and grammar mistakes that I picked up on!
Characters:
Jewel is the follower type, or that’s what it makes you believe in the beginning of the book. She is moved from school to school, running from some mysterious person who her parents refuse to tell her. She decides she wants to know the truth, and when she begins digging she is determined, and no one can stop her.
Then there is Rowan, who, according to me, is amazingly sexy. He is the “bad boy” type that everyone tells you to stay away from, but you don’t and they end up being the sweetest and most caring people ever. Yeah, that’s Rowan. While he is that, he is also surrounded by an air of mystery, and you never can quite pinpoint him until the very end.
All in All:
I really enjoyed Spectral. It was a quick and easy read, and you should definitely read it if you like stories about witches! J 4 out of 5 Tacos!
I really enjoyed Spectral. It was a new and interesting kind of story that hasn’t been discovered yet. Spectral was different and interesting, and it kept you focused on the book, which was a very good thing!
Cover:
The cover was really pretty. It drew you in and captured your attention. Her face is so captivating that it held your focus for a few seconds, and then it would release you and let your eyes wander to the pretty butterfly on her arm! J
Plot/Writing:
The story had a mysterious tone to it. All you wanted to do was find out why she was on the run and who her family was running from. Spectral is full of twists and turns that keep your attention and makes you turn the pages. It was very well written, and there were almost no spelling and grammar mistakes that I picked up on!
Characters:
Jewel is the follower type, or that’s what it makes you believe in the beginning of the book. She is moved from school to school, running from some mysterious person who her parents refuse to tell her. She decides she wants to know the truth, and when she begins digging she is determined, and no one can stop her.
Then there is Rowan, who, according to me, is amazingly sexy. He is the “bad boy” type that everyone tells you to stay away from, but you don’t and they end up being the sweetest and most caring people ever. Yeah, that’s Rowan. While he is that, he is also surrounded by an air of mystery, and you never can quite pinpoint him until the very end.
All in All:
I really enjoyed Spectral. It was a quick and easy read, and you should definitely read it if you like stories about witches! J 4 out of 5 Tacos!
May 29, 2012
YA readers will certainly be kept guessing while reading Shannon Duffy's debut book, "Spectral" this summer! The plot is a perplexing one, and the characters serve to keep one guessing almost to the end about the crux of their life-style and the problem that keeps them running. Jewel's birthmark and special qualities are featured and decidedly interesting. Duffy's beautiful book cover will grab lots of ebook followers, is my guess, which is first and foremost in the the YA fiction crowd these days.
While her writing is good, I think Ms Duffy could have made the twists and turns of the novel a bit clearer to her readers. It's good to have suspense and mysterious characters; particularly handsome leading men! But, readers need time and information to fall deeply under the spell of a book and character. As in art--we sometimes need to create some clear space to see the full picture. Some more self-editing and experience will help in her next YA book, I suspect.
There is much to recommend "Spectral." The family and Jewel are, for the most part, interesting characters, their moving and "hiding" creates good mystery, as does her attempt to discover the whys and wherefores of her being. I loved the idea of Shannon's book.
I'm looking forward to more from this talented author. I think she has good ideas, and I think with her next book we'll see her develop as a solid YA author. This was a 3.5 star book for me. Not quite a cross over fiction... but fun, I thought, and age appropriate for teenagers.
Deborah/TheBookishDame
While her writing is good, I think Ms Duffy could have made the twists and turns of the novel a bit clearer to her readers. It's good to have suspense and mysterious characters; particularly handsome leading men! But, readers need time and information to fall deeply under the spell of a book and character. As in art--we sometimes need to create some clear space to see the full picture. Some more self-editing and experience will help in her next YA book, I suspect.
There is much to recommend "Spectral." The family and Jewel are, for the most part, interesting characters, their moving and "hiding" creates good mystery, as does her attempt to discover the whys and wherefores of her being. I loved the idea of Shannon's book.
I'm looking forward to more from this talented author. I think she has good ideas, and I think with her next book we'll see her develop as a solid YA author. This was a 3.5 star book for me. Not quite a cross over fiction... but fun, I thought, and age appropriate for teenagers.
Deborah/TheBookishDame
May 12, 2013
This is a book I got from a friend, she told me to read it and write a review for her blog. So here’s my take for my personal files.
Jewel is not the typical teen, there’s a web of lies around her and she’s forced to hide and chance cities. She’s never long enough in any place to make friends or any kind of relationship until her family moves to Pomona Park. Then, suddenly she makes friends and has two suitors, Chase and the mysterious Roman.
When Roman appears in the story, we’re introduced to the first supernatural facts and suddenly it all starts escalating. Jewel’s life is in danger and it’s difficult to tell who’s on her side and who’s the enemy.
What I liked: The plot is an interesting mix of witch elements, and it’s never too easy to anticipate the next twist in the story. The secondary characters are well developed and add to the plot without losing focus in our tortured little witch.
What I didn’t like: The way the two main characters get together. Personally I’d have liked them to get to know each other a bit more before they declared they’re undying love. Especially on Roman’s side, he seems too eager to betray just to be on the side of a girl he just met.
Overall, it’s a good supernatural YA story, with interesting and not overly used ingredients, which is refreshing. So far, it also completes the plot in only one book, another thing that’s not so common nowadays. Good stand alone for now, not sure if we’ll see a sequel sometime in the future.
Jewel is not the typical teen, there’s a web of lies around her and she’s forced to hide and chance cities. She’s never long enough in any place to make friends or any kind of relationship until her family moves to Pomona Park. Then, suddenly she makes friends and has two suitors, Chase and the mysterious Roman.
When Roman appears in the story, we’re introduced to the first supernatural facts and suddenly it all starts escalating. Jewel’s life is in danger and it’s difficult to tell who’s on her side and who’s the enemy.
What I liked: The plot is an interesting mix of witch elements, and it’s never too easy to anticipate the next twist in the story. The secondary characters are well developed and add to the plot without losing focus in our tortured little witch.
What I didn’t like: The way the two main characters get together. Personally I’d have liked them to get to know each other a bit more before they declared they’re undying love. Especially on Roman’s side, he seems too eager to betray just to be on the side of a girl he just met.
Overall, it’s a good supernatural YA story, with interesting and not overly used ingredients, which is refreshing. So far, it also completes the plot in only one book, another thing that’s not so common nowadays. Good stand alone for now, not sure if we’ll see a sequel sometime in the future.
May 2, 2012
First off I wouldn't be doing the cover justice if I didn't mention how gorgeous it was. Truly eye catching.
I always love it when I am pleasantly surprised by a book. When the writing and storyline go above and beyond my expectations for it.
When I find myself caught up in the story and the lives of the characters. When I put other things, like laundry, on hold so I can finish the book and get lost in the story.
This truly is one of those stories.
The writing was well done, the characters are people you would want to know. The story never gets boring or lags and there are so many unforeseen twists and turns that you feel a little dizzy like you just stepped off a roller coaster ride.
And did I yet mention the wonderful guys in this story? Chase and Roman and even Stefano, are all wonderful characters that you can't help but like and maybe even swoon over a little.
Jewel is courageous and brave and as time goes on becomes one heck of a kick butt heroine. Her whole world was turned upside down in a matter of weeks and really, she handled it beautifully.
This was one of those stories that you really hope there will be a sequel too because you want another adventure to go on. You don't want the story to end.
If you are a fan of paranormal romance this really is one of those reads that you just can't miss out on.
I always love it when I am pleasantly surprised by a book. When the writing and storyline go above and beyond my expectations for it.
When I find myself caught up in the story and the lives of the characters. When I put other things, like laundry, on hold so I can finish the book and get lost in the story.
This truly is one of those stories.
The writing was well done, the characters are people you would want to know. The story never gets boring or lags and there are so many unforeseen twists and turns that you feel a little dizzy like you just stepped off a roller coaster ride.
And did I yet mention the wonderful guys in this story? Chase and Roman and even Stefano, are all wonderful characters that you can't help but like and maybe even swoon over a little.
Jewel is courageous and brave and as time goes on becomes one heck of a kick butt heroine. Her whole world was turned upside down in a matter of weeks and really, she handled it beautifully.
This was one of those stories that you really hope there will be a sequel too because you want another adventure to go on. You don't want the story to end.
If you are a fan of paranormal romance this really is one of those reads that you just can't miss out on.
July 7, 2013
The minute I started reading I was caught up in Jewels life and had a hard time putting the story down. I made predictions along the way and was quite surprise when the usual story line was different than the usual. In the beginning of the story, I will admit I did compare it to Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She didn't know she was a witch till it was close to her birthday. However, that is where all the similarities go. Which makes me one happy girl! Some things were the same like the love triangle that Jewel gets herself into unintentionally.
I loved how Jewel isn't a normal girl but is strives for normalcy and accepts her destiny. She is a strong female that is handed so many challenges before she turns 17. She really can't trust anybody and the people she does trust turns out to be untrustworthy. Roman who she shouldn't trust according to her family is really her only ally in this book. He has opened so many doors for her and helps keep her safe. His coven does not approve so he hides it from them, while pretending he is on his mission that he was sent to do.
However, I don't fall in love with Jewel till I realize how much she loves her brother. Even when she fines out that he really isn't her brother, she does all she can to protect him. She protects him at all cost, no matter the danger she puts herself in. She grows a s person from when you first meet her.
I loved how Jewel isn't a normal girl but is strives for normalcy and accepts her destiny. She is a strong female that is handed so many challenges before she turns 17. She really can't trust anybody and the people she does trust turns out to be untrustworthy. Roman who she shouldn't trust according to her family is really her only ally in this book. He has opened so many doors for her and helps keep her safe. His coven does not approve so he hides it from them, while pretending he is on his mission that he was sent to do.
However, I don't fall in love with Jewel till I realize how much she loves her brother. Even when she fines out that he really isn't her brother, she does all she can to protect him. She protects him at all cost, no matter the danger she puts herself in. She grows a s person from when you first meet her.
May 28, 2012
Jewel and her family have been moving from place to place all her life. In each destination required a fresh start complete with change of names. All she knows is what her parents have told her: escaping the mob. One night she overhears a conversation which changes how she perceives things, and finally finds out who she is. A Spectral: Like the ultimate witch. She also gets to meet a boy, Roman, who says he is her guardian. There is more than meets the eye where Roman and his coven in Italy are concerned. Thing is, although getting involved with her is forbidden, he's determined to protect her from anything and anyone who poses a threat. He does a very good job, and even suprised me a couple of times. Definitely a guardian worth having around. :)
Overall Spectral was a great read. To see Jewel discover who she is, who she can trust, how she eventually accepts who she is. The book takes you from Florida to Russia and eventually Italy.(to one of my favourite seasons. The Carnival, which is something worth seeing in Venice)
There is also a love triangle: Chase, Roman and Jewel. It was good to see her follow her heart on that one :)
Overall Spectral was a great read. To see Jewel discover who she is, who she can trust, how she eventually accepts who she is. The book takes you from Florida to Russia and eventually Italy.(to one of my favourite seasons. The Carnival, which is something worth seeing in Venice)
There is also a love triangle: Chase, Roman and Jewel. It was good to see her follow her heart on that one :)
July 24, 2013
It seems to me that witch books are getting better and better. This time there's an usual idea with a witch, a girl who has no idea how special she is, and her guardian. They fall in love, although it's forbidden and find their happy ending. Unoriginal? Yes. With a good twist? Yes. Boring? Definitely not!
The book is quite long, but not drawn-out, full of action and fights. Then there's a love triangle: Chase, Roman and Jewel. I didn't like Chase, he acted a bit immature at some points and was a bit annoying. Roman was the opposite. According to the writer's description, Roman was very good-looking and risked many things to ensure Jewel was safe.
Jewel was weird at first, her family moved a lot, and she never asked any questions about it, like it was normal. Then, when she read the book about witches and their craft, she freaked out and took her anger out on poor Roman. I was sometimes surprised how he acted so calm and relaxed while she shot daggers at him. I know it wasn't easy for her, but at least she knew the truth and could be prepared for her enemies.
This could be a great read for lovers of YA genre, with a bit of supernatural, romance and action genre.
The book is quite long, but not drawn-out, full of action and fights. Then there's a love triangle: Chase, Roman and Jewel. I didn't like Chase, he acted a bit immature at some points and was a bit annoying. Roman was the opposite. According to the writer's description, Roman was very good-looking and risked many things to ensure Jewel was safe.
Jewel was weird at first, her family moved a lot, and she never asked any questions about it, like it was normal. Then, when she read the book about witches and their craft, she freaked out and took her anger out on poor Roman. I was sometimes surprised how he acted so calm and relaxed while she shot daggers at him. I know it wasn't easy for her, but at least she knew the truth and could be prepared for her enemies.
This could be a great read for lovers of YA genre, with a bit of supernatural, romance and action genre.
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