Power Within

The Lazarus Children #1

by C.L. Causer

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http://www.wattpad.com/35300095-power...


Charlotte 'Charlie' Gordon wants nothing more, than to be a normal girl. But having a near death accident as a child, she finds out that she has powers. After accidentally electrocuting her sister and blowing up her mother's kitchen, she suppresses her powers for ten years. Unknowing that there are more people like her out there. A lot more.

That is until a secret group of them try and hunt her down because of her unusual abilities. Forcing her family into hiding, she goes on the run. Having to learn about her powers and her past, she meets many new friends along the way. But you can't run forever. She learns that someone has betrayed her to the very people she is running from.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Rebecca McKinnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars.

This book is fast-paced, action-packed, and emotionally charged.

There are some great characters here! Charlie has spent most of her life hiding from her "problem" -- powers that cause destruction around her. After being attacked by members of the Institute, she finds other people with powers who help her learn to focus and control them.

Never a dull moment for Charlie as her live is upturned over and over.

The story deserves 5 stars, but I feel I have to lower it due to the need for editing.

[J.L. Dobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Power Within (The Lazarus Children) by C.L. Causer

There are so many thing to like about this novel.

It has a good plot-well thought out action- well paced- suspenseful and just the right amount of twist and turns to get the reader to the very end wanting to read more. The characters are done well. I love Charlie -she caught me up from the start and kept me hanging in there. There is so much to like about this independent strong young woman to suggest that the gift of these powers that she has seem as though they've been placed in the right hands.

Charlotte 'Charlie' Gordon at the age of eleven suffers an accident that should have been fatal. Out to sea she falls overboard during a strange storm that overtakes the ship she is on with her father and brother. Charlie also, at the same time, appears to have had some sort of dream which was like a vision of what was going to happen. We later find out that she is located- washed ashore where she is resuscitated.

Since then things have never been the same for Charlie. Charlie suffers episodes that wreak havoc on those around her. In an effort to control this she's been given some drugs that will inhibit this. What they really do is suppress her entire body and possibly make her lethargic. While it seems extremely bizarre that she somehow is kept off the radar, so to speak, and only her family and one personal friend, Jake, know what is happening to her; once the drugs were started they appear to be masking the real problem well enough.

We start out with her in college, having fallen asleep in class and managing to destroy a lot of personal computer equipment when her gift-curse kicks in. Thankfully no one has connected this incident and one previous incident to Charlie and she has Jake around to help her. She's low on her suppressor drugs and has had to use the drug more often, so it's time to see the doctor again.

The somewhat routine trip to the doctor begins the terror.

Charlie is attacked - the doctor is acting strangely- and Charlie ends up killing at least two of the people trying to kidnap her. She somehow incinerates them.(shades of Firestarter by Stephen King.) Since the university is close to home Charlie manages to run through the backwoods to get home. When she gets there, she finds that there's news of some strange activity around her doctor's office but no reports of anyone hurt.

At home with family she is again attacked and this time the attackers take the whole family hostage as they explain that they are there to take Charlie because of her abilities. Charlie and family also discover that Charlie's sister Valerie's husband, Ryan, is a mole placed there by the people who are now kidnapping Charlie. Ryan is portrayed poorly enough to have most readers happy that he's a villain.

Mr. Collins, the lead kidnaper, and company are subdued when Jake shows up to save the day. The family decide to go on the run. Charlie decides to split from them and Jake goes with Charlie. Eventually after several more attempts on Charlie, she decides she needs to go alone so as not to endanger everyone.

There are several groups working against each other in regards to Charlie and people like her. It will take Charlie a long time to figure out who she can trust. When the kidnappers start getting serious it might prove to be too late to turn to anyone for help.

This book has the reader guessing- not only who Charlie can trust- also what it is that Charlie might be. Slowly C.L. Causer builds the world that Charlie lives in and the readers start to see the shape of the rules that seem to exist for the people like Charlie. It doesn't take much to realize that Charlie might be something a bit above average in her community.

That makes her more powerful but also more dangerous to those around her. Not only is she a prime target for the bad people, she's also a danger to those around her until she can control her powers.

The suspense winds the story around several times until the end where the real shocker kicks in and because this is the first book of the series the reader is left hanging.

I would be doing an injustice to not give fair warning to the reader:

What damages this novel is the grammar. The upside to that is it makes this a poster child for all to look at to help understand the need for editing by several eyes. The version I have is fraught with so many were sat(9) was sat(21) was stood(9)were stood(4). They are just plain annoying. There are words that are inexplicably separated by spaces. When it comes to the grammar in this novel- well, it's not for the faint of heart.

Sliding tenses back and forth didn't seem to bother me that much- I could mostly figure things out.

This is still a good strong story. It could be better, but all that aside I'd love to see the next book in this story. I definitely want to know what happens next in Charlie's life.

J.L. Dobias

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable story with well developed characters.

Unfortunately it was spoilt by poor editing / proof reading.

I will certainly read the next book in the series.

[Farhana · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much I enjoyed the book: 10/10
How well I think it was written: 8/10

I finished Power Within about a month ago and I'm so glad I did! I'm beyond grateful to Chantelle for sending this to me because it probably would have slipped by me unnoticed otherwise! As soon as I finished reading Power Within I felt so lost and confused - as though there was something missing in my life. I emailed Chantelle pretty quickly to ask her when the next book would be released and lucky for me, I don't have to wait too long because Part II of The Lazarus Children is out in September!

The beginning of the book was a little difficult for me to get into - I honestly couldn't figure out what was going on. Once the first chapter was over with, it all became a lot clearer to understand and I found myself extremely invested in the book!

The only negative thing I can say about this book is that there were some tense issues that irked me. The majority of the book is written in third person, but every now and then there's a sentence in second person as though someone else is narrating the story. Since there is no dedicated narrator, I have to assume that this is just an editorial error. It's easy to overlook once you're focussed on the story line, but it can be off putting if you're a perfectionist!

I can't tell you how much I love - our amazing protagonist - Charlie! I can never stay mad at her for long, even when she decides to be an independent idiot. I guess my love stems from the fact that she's not a wimpy damsel in-distress: she's an assertive young woman capable of saving herself. Her internal pain and inability to trust is also something that I empathised with automatically. We all have our monsters in the closet, so it's lovely to be able to witness someone growing and maturing into a happy and stable adult in spite of this.

I absolutely love all the other characters and other Charlie's sister I didn't really have a problem with any of them which is definitely a new experience! The love triangle was such a huge tease: I found myself constantly shifting from one pairing to another! The ending (which I won't spoil) I saw coming but decided to ignore and deny until it was forced on to me. It broke my heart but was also the biggest cliff hanger that Chantelle could have put at the end of the book. It seriously leaves you wanting MORE as soon as possible.

As you can tell, I'm definitely suffering from withdrawal and will probably go back to read the book again. Honestly, this is one book I'd happily purchase for retail price from a book shop. I really hope this gets picked up by a publishing house, because The Lazarus Children deserves the recognition!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Doodle's Book Blog


I was really excited to read Power Within and the story didn't disappoint. C.L. Causer pulled me in and kept me guessing.

Charlie Gordon is a college student who has been living with powers since she was about eleven years old, but now they are getting out of hand. Her best friend Jake convinces her to go back home and see her doctor about getting a stronger prescription for depressants. She agrees, but what she finds is making her gut scream for her to leave.

I don't want to go too in depth about the characters because most of the main characters don't come into play until about halfway through the story. So, lets start with Charlie. She has had her powers for about ten years, but has never learned to control it. It takes almost getting kidnapped for her to realize that she needs to learn how to control what she can do, but she has no idea what it is she's actually capable of doing. The other character I want to talk about is Jake. He is Charlies best friend and confidant. He knows all about her powers and the struggles she faces on a daily basis. It's through his help that Charlie is able to run away from the people who are coming after her.

There were some things I liked and didn't like while reading. I really liked that Charlie thought of others before herself. She isn't self-centered and bratty like a lot of YA characters who end up in a situation like hers. I also liked that I didn't know how it was going to end. I made assumptions throughout the book, but my jaw dropped when the truth was revealed. The build up and follow through were amazing and I'm glad I got to read this book. What I liked the most was that each character had depth and a story that shaped them into who they were. I learned a lot about the characters and understood why they acted the way they did. There was only one thing I didn't really like while I read and it was a mix-up in past and present tense. It didn't impact the story line in any way because as I read over it, I corrected the errors. It was annoying on occasion, but was something I got used to and overlooked.

Overall, the book was a great read and I recommend it to paranormal lovers who want to read about characters who aren't in high school, but are still classified YA. I can't wait to read the next installment to the series!

[Lulu (The Bookworm is Here!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope I'm wrong when I say: This is one of those books that probably will never get the recognition it deserves; this is a book that should belong in the market, sitting on shelves at all bookstores. Yes, I think that Power Within is one that many people will enjoy. I certainly did!

Charlotte "Charlie", is a great main character. A girl who wants nothing more than to be normal and to keep others safe, she is a true fighter. When her "powers" start to get stronger, she must run from people who want nothing more than to hurt her, meaning she must leave her family behind. Charlie is a very relatible character and I easily connected to her. A quick thinker and strong willed, you know Charlie will not go down without a fight. Her family and friends, although not going into too much detail, were great to have in the story. Sometimes I found it difficult to keep everyone straight in my head but generally, the important characters stick in your mind. From the people she leaves behind, to the people she meets: they are all interesting to read about. I was surprised by some characters, especially at the end. What I really enjoyed were some of the conversations with Charlie and the friends she makes: they act and speak like real university/college aged teens!

Power Within did start off a little bit slow. Until the first confrontation, I had a hard time getting into it but as soon as we pass a point, I simply could not stop! I was on the edge of my seat and hooked. I finished the 400 page ebook in one day. The way the story progresses, with the dreams mixed in there (Charlie's), the foreshadowing was impressive. I loved the chunk of the book that contained Charlie's 'on the run' experience. It was like I was watching a movie unfold. All the different settings we are taken to throughout her journey were described well. Now, the "powers". I thought they were really cool and explained ok. I didn't fully understand how they came to be but I think, since this is a trilogy, it will be explained even more. I want to just mention the ending. (Author note: your cruel you know that?) it was a cliffhanger. And oh my, I was NOT at ALL expecting that revelation at the end. It just kinda made me shock-still... and pained me. I will be looking out for the second book!

I'd highly recommend this for para-normal/sci-fi, romance, action, and mystery fans. It was an incredible ride and I hope others will hop on the train!

[Angela Fristoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Power Within is one of those books I'm on the fence about. There is an interesting premise, but I just couldn't get into the story completely, especially in the beginning. Causer starts off with some good action, but I couldn't really get into it. Then about halfway through the story, things started clicking for me. The plot seemed to be stronger and I was actually starting to connect with Charlie.

In the first half of the story, Charlie is helped along by her best friend Jake and they have a really sweet friendship, one I was immediately hoping would become the romantic part of the plot. Then Jake disappears, and a new love interest pops up. Tyler was more of the typical YA love interest. Good looking, mysterious, rough around the edges, and he and Charlie immediately dislike each other. Even though the romance was a bit predictable, Tyler grew on me, and I liked that Charlie never relies on him to save her.

Charlie was really the reason I kept reading. She's not one of those over the top characters. As the central character, Causer does a good job of keeping us primarily in Charlie's head, and it's a nice one to be in. She's a nice girl. She loves her family and her friends, and wants to protect them, but she's also not stupid. She's willing to accept help, and it's trying to keep everything hidden, although she is smart enough to have some trust issues with people she's just met.

The one thing that kept me from from enjoying the story was the editing. I did read the updated version the author sent me, but there were frequent grammatical errors, and while I can ignore a certain amount, they became an annoyance the further I read. An example would be the continual misuse of sat and stood. Sentences which should have said "They were sitting at the table." were written as "They were sat at the table." or instead of "They were standing at the door." it was written as "They were stood at the door.".

The last third of the book really picked up the pace and I really got into the flow of the story. I enjoyed the ending and thought it was a really strong conclusion to the first book in the series. I am definitely open to reading more by Causer.

Check out more of my reviews on my blog Turning the Pages

[Precious Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohmy! I am definitely surprised with the story and how it went. It was like a bomb was dropped unexpectedly in front of me after guessing a hundred times when it is going to go off. I am so blown.

Charlie is one of the many special individuals that has power within them. While others only has only one special power, Charlie has more. That is what made her the target of an institution that is determined to get to her and make her as a subject of their experiment. It was not supposed to turn out that way, after supressing her power for ten years, but when an incident occurred in her university caused by her powers, it rang a bell to the enemies that she never knew.

After months of chasing and living with people who took her in and helped her control her powers, her enemies got hold of her at the same time unleashing the lies in her life.

Power Within is a fast-paced and action packed novel that will keep you awake at night if you didn't finished it in one sitting. Haha. It is kind of long and sometimes I feel like I am slipping in the story but hey, I hang on!

I was torn with all the revelations. I was rooting for him (so as not to spoil) and yet, why?! Because of this, I can't wait for the next book of the The Lazarus Children series.

What I like:
* Charlie's sacrifice for her family's safety
* the way she only trusts herself
* the simple things that make her happy

* I would like to say thank you to Ms. Chantelle for providing a copy! Well appreciated!

[Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie has been trying to keep a grip on her powers that she has had for about 7 years now. But lately her powers are getting out of control and she does not know how to control them. When she finds out that some people are after her and an attempt made to kidnap her powers become too scary for her to handle alone and decides to make a visit home. She never wanted any powers, just wants to be normal.
Charlie is a good main character because she is selfless, she wants others to be safe and not hurt anybody, even the people that want to hurt her.
There are a lot of different side characters that are brought into the story. Ranging from her college friends to family and the "bad guys". I liked the differences, assortment and how I found all of the characters interesting.
The story has a good balance between the action and the unraveling of the plot, or down time. The best part of the writing is the dialogue. I love when books have great dialogue because I feel that is a good way to get to know the characters, how they interact with others instead of always inside their heads all the time. Also a good balance between narrative and dialogue.
Overall it was a good, fast read and I was surprised to see the kindle version selling for only $1. That is a great deal

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

Power Within introduces us to the Lazarus Children, special individuals whose DNA holds the key to unlocking the power within. Be the power telekinesis, empathy, enhanced physicality, fire-starting, etc. Charlie Gordon's powers were unlocked the day she nearly died in a vicious storm at sea. She's been doing everything she can to suppress them for the 10 years since their appearance. Now her time has run out and she needs to learn to unlock and control her powers before enemies she never knew existed capture her. Yet how can she stay one step ahead when she's being betrayed at every turn?

Power Within is a excellent novel, always keeping you on the edge of your seat! I loved the characters (even the bad guys) and the story flowed smoothly - full of action, intrigue, and wicked cool powers. I felt that Charlie was very mature and down-to-earth considering everything she'd gone through. One note: some of the spelling and grammar could use a polish, but it doesn't truly detract from the story. Due to the way Power Within ended, I cannot wait for the next book in The Lazarus Children series!!

The Lazarus Children Series: Power Within (1)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but found myself wishing somebody had proof read it, as the countless grocer's apostrophes, typos and grammatical errors were rather distracting.

The book follows 3 distinct phases in Charlie's life, with a fourth imminent in book #2, which seems set to be darker.

I found myself liking Charlie and many of the characters we get to know in the book, and wanting to know more about what happens to her. However, some of the plot had me thinking that the characters' actions seemed reckless under the circumstances, and the way the events of the final chapter occur seemed rather too simplistic.

Despite all that, I enjoyed the book, and want to read more about Charlie and the other characters.

[Emma Causer · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely amazing read !!! I could not put it down, action packed all the way through. As soon as i finished it i wanted to read again

[Dolly Sandor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this a 3.75 Stars in it's current form. The author is a breath of fresh air except for her use of tenses.
See Pure Textuality website for full review.