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The Darkness Trilogy #1
The Shadow
Rayna Stone is an eighteen year old girl from a small Alabama town that just wants to save a little money for college. In order to do that she has to find a summer job.
The problem with that, the only place that is willing to take her is the upscale golf resort of The Landing. This was not her idea of a summer job, being around snobby, rich folks, but when she meets eyes with the owner’s son, Liam, she starts to see the brighter side of things. That is until she’s seeing things that she can’t quite explain and having dreams that are haunted by a being she calls The Shadow.
The Shadow begins to show her things about a few missing girls, that she wished she had never seen.
Another chilling fact, her dreams seem to be coming true. As if that isn’t enough, she learns that this ability of hers gives her an insight into what others around her are feeling. Soon after this, Rayna learns that Liam does feel something for her, but even though she wants to tell him she feels the same, something is warning her to stay away.
Not because he is dangerous, but because she is.
The problem with that, the only place that is willing to take her is the upscale golf resort of The Landing. This was not her idea of a summer job, being around snobby, rich folks, but when she meets eyes with the owner’s son, Liam, she starts to see the brighter side of things. That is until she’s seeing things that she can’t quite explain and having dreams that are haunted by a being she calls The Shadow.
The Shadow begins to show her things about a few missing girls, that she wished she had never seen.
Another chilling fact, her dreams seem to be coming true. As if that isn’t enough, she learns that this ability of hers gives her an insight into what others around her are feeling. Soon after this, Rayna learns that Liam does feel something for her, but even though she wants to tell him she feels the same, something is warning her to stay away.
Not because he is dangerous, but because she is.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2012
12 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Porter
23 books190 followersA.G. Porter is an author YA Paranormal Thrillers. She loves writing about diverse characters in the deep south who are constantly at odds with the supernatural. When she isn't working on her next YA Paranormal book, she is pouring her heart into her poetry collection. Mrs. Porter lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons.
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July 9, 2019For some reason I just can't get into this no matter how hard I try. I think it just might not be for me.
October 30, 2014
Actual rating - 2.5
The Shadow felt like a really, really long read.
I couldn't get to like Rayna. She had loads of annoying moments, she babbled, and she wasn't very bright.
I found the pacing in this to be slow, and i was quite bored throughout the book. There was a few times where the story picked up and got me a little bit more interested, but those moments didn't last very long, and unfortuntely, i went back to being bored.
Overall, wasn't an enjoyable read for me.
The Shadow felt like a really, really long read.
I couldn't get to like Rayna. She had loads of annoying moments, she babbled, and she wasn't very bright.
I found the pacing in this to be slow, and i was quite bored throughout the book. There was a few times where the story picked up and got me a little bit more interested, but those moments didn't last very long, and unfortuntely, i went back to being bored.
Overall, wasn't an enjoyable read for me.
August 2, 2013
Had me hooked and I couldn't put it down.
There is a great story line with the mix of love, passion, physic senses and the paranormal. It's very different to what I've read in the past.
I loved the characters and the way they were introduced, and there was just enough back story for the secondary characters. I also loved the added chapters from other point of views. Made it interesting getting both sides.
There is a great story line with the mix of love, passion, physic senses and the paranormal. It's very different to what I've read in the past.
I loved the characters and the way they were introduced, and there was just enough back story for the secondary characters. I also loved the added chapters from other point of views. Made it interesting getting both sides.
October 30, 2014
3.5 stars
(Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk)
This was a very long story, but I did enjoy it.
Rayna was certainly an interesting character. She told us maybe a little too much information at times, and she didn’t always come to conclusions very quickly.
The storyline in this was good, but this book did have issues. For a start there was a real excess of information, and this really slowed down the pace. Rayna didn’t always seem to see what was right in front of her nose, she agonised over everything, and there were also bits that didn’t make much sense.
Then there was the love triangle. I’m still not 100% sure what on earth she thought she was doing with Liam and Jayce, but there was certainly plenty of lip-locking.
The ending to this was good, but it was once again drawn out. I have to say that I am pleased to learn that the second book is shorter!
7 out of 10.
(Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk)
This was a very long story, but I did enjoy it.
Rayna was certainly an interesting character. She told us maybe a little too much information at times, and she didn’t always come to conclusions very quickly.
The storyline in this was good, but this book did have issues. For a start there was a real excess of information, and this really slowed down the pace. Rayna didn’t always seem to see what was right in front of her nose, she agonised over everything, and there were also bits that didn’t make much sense.
Then there was the love triangle. I’m still not 100% sure what on earth she thought she was doing with Liam and Jayce, but there was certainly plenty of lip-locking.
The ending to this was good, but it was once again drawn out. I have to say that I am pleased to learn that the second book is shorter!
7 out of 10.
November 20, 2013
I loved it! Seriously could not put it down. After reading a description of it, I knew I wanted to read it. The fact that the setting is near me made it more interesting. Can't wait for the next book!
January 18, 2014
The Shadows by A.G. Porter
When I started this book I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. I don’t Usually like stories where the Characters are 18-21 aged because the Characters are either too childish and juvenile which lets face it they should be for such a young a age, or they are way too mature for their age. That was not the case with The Shadow . Even though the main characters are 17-18 years of age I didn’t feel like I was reading a high school style story. The characters are the perfect balance between teenager and adult so that a few Chapters into the book I forgot I was even reading about teenagers . The main Character Rayna wants a job so her mom compromises with a internship at the The Landing, a Upper Class Golf resort that she has no interest in pursuing, however her mom encourages her to apply for an internship anyway. Rayna is such a loving and strong character and shortly after starting at the Landing she starts having dreams about girls being kidnapped and beaten which just so happen to be the girls the news has been talking about she starts to piece things together only to find out the "dreams" are real, she puts everything she can into trying to help these girls and finding the killer so he can’t get too anyone else. The way Rayna Goes about getting information about the girls and the killer to the right people without exposing her Secret abilities to her family and friends who don’t know is great. The whole thing leads you too believe that you know without a doubt who will go missing next, then BAM its not Who you expected and doesn’t happen the way you thought it would at all. I loved how surprised I was when I got to that part of the story It was a great twist on the Authors part. The Unconditional support and love from The Secondary Character Logan is so Awesome. Logan not only believes in Rayna and her“Gift” right from the start but he is a Constant support system for Rayna from the very beginning.
The love triangle that develops between Rayna, Liam and Jayce was very believable and Angst filled. Though I have to say I was Team Liam The whole way.(Holy Hotness Can I get a real life version of him please).I am so team Liam that during “The Hospital scene” I wanted to smack Rayna upside her head lol There is so much I want to say about this book that I just couldn’t write without having to mark this review spoiler alert which I’m just not going to do because It is too good of a story to ruin for someone else. The Author did such a wonderful job of writing a story and Cast of characters that pull you in from the very beginning and keep you hooked till the end. The story is so beautifully and vividly written that it flowed though my mind like a movie. I instantly became emotionally involved in the characters and stayed up till 3am reading because I just had to know what was next. This book is a 5 star read That I highly recommend to readers of all Genres Though Because there are some violent scenes I don’t think readers under 16 should read it. I am Looking forward too the other books in this Trilogy I can not wait to see the direction the Author takes the Story and Characters in the next Two books.
When I started this book I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. I don’t Usually like stories where the Characters are 18-21 aged because the Characters are either too childish and juvenile which lets face it they should be for such a young a age, or they are way too mature for their age. That was not the case with The Shadow . Even though the main characters are 17-18 years of age I didn’t feel like I was reading a high school style story. The characters are the perfect balance between teenager and adult so that a few Chapters into the book I forgot I was even reading about teenagers . The main Character Rayna wants a job so her mom compromises with a internship at the The Landing, a Upper Class Golf resort that she has no interest in pursuing, however her mom encourages her to apply for an internship anyway. Rayna is such a loving and strong character and shortly after starting at the Landing she starts having dreams about girls being kidnapped and beaten which just so happen to be the girls the news has been talking about she starts to piece things together only to find out the "dreams" are real, she puts everything she can into trying to help these girls and finding the killer so he can’t get too anyone else. The way Rayna Goes about getting information about the girls and the killer to the right people without exposing her Secret abilities to her family and friends who don’t know is great. The whole thing leads you too believe that you know without a doubt who will go missing next, then BAM its not Who you expected and doesn’t happen the way you thought it would at all. I loved how surprised I was when I got to that part of the story It was a great twist on the Authors part. The Unconditional support and love from The Secondary Character Logan is so Awesome. Logan not only believes in Rayna and her“Gift” right from the start but he is a Constant support system for Rayna from the very beginning.
The love triangle that develops between Rayna, Liam and Jayce was very believable and Angst filled. Though I have to say I was Team Liam The whole way.(Holy Hotness Can I get a real life version of him please).I am so team Liam that during “The Hospital scene” I wanted to smack Rayna upside her head lol There is so much I want to say about this book that I just couldn’t write without having to mark this review spoiler alert which I’m just not going to do because It is too good of a story to ruin for someone else. The Author did such a wonderful job of writing a story and Cast of characters that pull you in from the very beginning and keep you hooked till the end. The story is so beautifully and vividly written that it flowed though my mind like a movie. I instantly became emotionally involved in the characters and stayed up till 3am reading because I just had to know what was next. This book is a 5 star read That I highly recommend to readers of all Genres Though Because there are some violent scenes I don’t think readers under 16 should read it. I am Looking forward too the other books in this Trilogy I can not wait to see the direction the Author takes the Story and Characters in the next Two books.
January 6, 2014
**I was given a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Wow, this book was an amazing book, I loved it from start to finish and even after I finished I was still thinking about it! There were so many things going on at once, but it was not confusing or hard to follow. The characters grabbed your attention from the start of the book and they held it for the whole thing, I felt myself feeling bad for some of them as if they were friends of mine (poor Jayce). I felt like the details to the story were well written, as were the character development throughout the story. I would have loved to perhaps see some headers for the chapters for whose point of view it was being told through, or perhaps the chapters could have been shorter so that they had their own, instead of mixing them all in one, but the book was still easy to follow and understand. Some of the details were graphic ( I loved it), however, a younger audience may not. I am so looking forward to the next book so that I can continue to follow the story to see what Rayna chooses, how CJ makes it, and what happens to Liam!?!?! When I finished reading it, I felt like I was leaving my friends and while that is not a good feeling, it is a great thing that an author can accomplish! This book was a great read, and I am looking forward to many more books by this author (especially the next 2 in this trilogy)!!
*This review has been done in conjunction with A Girl Amongst Books Blog. For more information on our reviews, please visit our Facebook site: www.facebook.com/agirlamongstbooks*
Wow, this book was an amazing book, I loved it from start to finish and even after I finished I was still thinking about it! There were so many things going on at once, but it was not confusing or hard to follow. The characters grabbed your attention from the start of the book and they held it for the whole thing, I felt myself feeling bad for some of them as if they were friends of mine (poor Jayce). I felt like the details to the story were well written, as were the character development throughout the story. I would have loved to perhaps see some headers for the chapters for whose point of view it was being told through, or perhaps the chapters could have been shorter so that they had their own, instead of mixing them all in one, but the book was still easy to follow and understand. Some of the details were graphic ( I loved it), however, a younger audience may not. I am so looking forward to the next book so that I can continue to follow the story to see what Rayna chooses, how CJ makes it, and what happens to Liam!?!?! When I finished reading it, I felt like I was leaving my friends and while that is not a good feeling, it is a great thing that an author can accomplish! This book was a great read, and I am looking forward to many more books by this author (especially the next 2 in this trilogy)!!
*This review has been done in conjunction with A Girl Amongst Books Blog. For more information on our reviews, please visit our Facebook site: www.facebook.com/agirlamongstbooks*
November 19, 2014
A.G. Porter has woven a tale of suspense, romance, and the paranormal like no other. Although I was reading a story about a teenaged girl discovering herself, at no time did I feel as if the characters were weakened by their age or inexperience.
Told from Rayna Stone's perspective, The Shadow started out with the basics to build up the world she lived in. But once we are introduced to Rayna, the story took off. I found myself unable to put this book down. The more I read, the more I needed to know about what was happening, what was going to happen, and how the characters were going to react. I love a good series, and The Shadow is the perfect beginning to a series I will be reading.
There were no weak points within this story. Porter used imagery and dialogue to set up an atmosphere that kept me on the edge of my seat and flipping the pages. Rayna is great character who not only grew as a person throughout the story, but in her supernatural abilities as well.
What I loved the most about this book was how Porter used the paranormal in a realistic way. Instead of being a quick fix to certain problems, Rayna's dreams are used as a plot point to further the story and the reader's interest. They are graphic, but not so much that I wouldn't recommend this book to readers above the age of fifteen.
The Shadow was a great read. Porter has proven herself to be a fantastic writer - one I will be seeking out in the future to read.
Told from Rayna Stone's perspective, The Shadow started out with the basics to build up the world she lived in. But once we are introduced to Rayna, the story took off. I found myself unable to put this book down. The more I read, the more I needed to know about what was happening, what was going to happen, and how the characters were going to react. I love a good series, and The Shadow is the perfect beginning to a series I will be reading.
There were no weak points within this story. Porter used imagery and dialogue to set up an atmosphere that kept me on the edge of my seat and flipping the pages. Rayna is great character who not only grew as a person throughout the story, but in her supernatural abilities as well.
What I loved the most about this book was how Porter used the paranormal in a realistic way. Instead of being a quick fix to certain problems, Rayna's dreams are used as a plot point to further the story and the reader's interest. They are graphic, but not so much that I wouldn't recommend this book to readers above the age of fifteen.
The Shadow was a great read. Porter has proven herself to be a fantastic writer - one I will be seeking out in the future to read.
January 13, 2014
AH I'M SORRY THIS REVIEW IS LIKE A YEAR LATE OKAY
(actually it's just a couple of months but still, i've been procrastinating, then i forgot about it, then i just-- okay no more excuses)
SO hold on gotta go conjure up my notes for this. I'm at school as I type this up. I don't know why that matters okay i'm just rambling again.
THE ACTUAL REVIEW-
So i'm going to exclude a synopsis from this since you can pretty much just scroll up like four times and click the "read more" thingy and AYYYYY a synopsis.
So going into this I was super intrigued with the idea. I don't read much paranormal stuff, and I had to admit, the summary of this had me hooked. After it came in the mail, I was especially impressed with the cover art, so I was totally prepared to jump into this and love it. However, when I began reading, I realized there were a couple of issues.
The main issue I had with this book was the writing. Had the writing been better, my writing would have been way higher. I had found several grammar and spelling mistakes, but as a self-published book, I let it slide. I mean, come on, if I were to publish a book, my grammar and spelling would be a little wack. But besides that, the writing was a bit choppy. The sentences were all very short and basic with little or no flow. Despite this set back, it was still entertaining to read, because the voice of the narrator was so (for lack of a better word) sassy that it was simple to read.
I just wish that the writing would have been more poetic with a bigger variety of sentence structure, since a lot of the book seemed to go along the lines of:
I did this. I saw this. Then I did this. I thought this. He said this. I responded this. We did this.
Besides that, all of the other issues I had with this book were minor things that I often see in other books.
**Rayna, the main character, was a really fun and relatable main character, however I felt like she was a bit of a downer. I mean, I totally understand that her life is plagued with these bad dreams but I actually made note of how many times she cried; it's quite pathetic. But then again I can't really blame her because I cry SO much, so that one was a bit forgivable, but still I felt it was notable because every other chapter she's blubbering incoherently to (I can't for the life of me remember the name of this side character omg)
**There was a climax that was really interesting and fun to read, but there was really no resolution of The Shadow. We're introduced to some characters/ideas that would've helped her get rid of the Shadow, but ultimately I think we're gonna have to wait until the end of the series to get rid of it. Nevertheless, I like the action that went on within this book, even though I think it's a bit misleading because the action is really about saving someone else rather than saving herself.
**This kinda goes along with the crying thing, but Rayna had a tendency to be over-sensitive and annoyoing. And again, this could just be her personality, but sometimes it felt like she was just so scared and she would be praying and stuff and I just was overcome with this annoyance for her that she was so sensitive about something that's been happening to her for weeks. Then in the end she gets this REALLY big boost of courage to go on some mission to save someone in danger and it was kind of random because the whole book she's crying into the shoulder of her best friend.
But there are good things!
**I'm really upset that I can't remember this one guy's name because he was my FAVORITE! After Rayna would have these dreams inundated with this dark creature, there was this guy that was always her shoulder to cry on and he was there for her and he was one of my favorite side characters, ever. He's one of the first people introduced in the book and as the novel goes on he just is so supporting and he offers so much love to Rayna. I loved him so much.
**Everything in this book was very realistic. I was expecting it would get really chummy toward the end because we were dealing with a supernatural thing in her dream, but it was actually plausible, which was nice.
**I feel like I need to include something about the love triangle that went on, but honestly it was well done and it felt genuinely angsty. I was strictly TEAM LIAM BECAUSE LIAM IS THE BOMB DIGGITY so I was like cringing and got really upset and stuff whenever other stuff happened *cough*, which is good so that was well done!
I may or may not end up picking up the sequel to this one, but i'd be willing to continue the series : )
(actually it's just a couple of months but still, i've been procrastinating, then i forgot about it, then i just-- okay no more excuses)
SO hold on gotta go conjure up my notes for this. I'm at school as I type this up. I don't know why that matters okay i'm just rambling again.
THE ACTUAL REVIEW-
So i'm going to exclude a synopsis from this since you can pretty much just scroll up like four times and click the "read more" thingy and AYYYYY a synopsis.
So going into this I was super intrigued with the idea. I don't read much paranormal stuff, and I had to admit, the summary of this had me hooked. After it came in the mail, I was especially impressed with the cover art, so I was totally prepared to jump into this and love it. However, when I began reading, I realized there were a couple of issues.
The main issue I had with this book was the writing. Had the writing been better, my writing would have been way higher. I had found several grammar and spelling mistakes, but as a self-published book, I let it slide. I mean, come on, if I were to publish a book, my grammar and spelling would be a little wack. But besides that, the writing was a bit choppy. The sentences were all very short and basic with little or no flow. Despite this set back, it was still entertaining to read, because the voice of the narrator was so (for lack of a better word) sassy that it was simple to read.
I just wish that the writing would have been more poetic with a bigger variety of sentence structure, since a lot of the book seemed to go along the lines of:
I did this. I saw this. Then I did this. I thought this. He said this. I responded this. We did this.
Besides that, all of the other issues I had with this book were minor things that I often see in other books.
**Rayna, the main character, was a really fun and relatable main character, however I felt like she was a bit of a downer. I mean, I totally understand that her life is plagued with these bad dreams but I actually made note of how many times she cried; it's quite pathetic. But then again I can't really blame her because I cry SO much, so that one was a bit forgivable, but still I felt it was notable because every other chapter she's blubbering incoherently to (I can't for the life of me remember the name of this side character omg)
**There was a climax that was really interesting and fun to read, but there was really no resolution of The Shadow. We're introduced to some characters/ideas that would've helped her get rid of the Shadow, but ultimately I think we're gonna have to wait until the end of the series to get rid of it. Nevertheless, I like the action that went on within this book, even though I think it's a bit misleading because the action is really about saving someone else rather than saving herself.
**This kinda goes along with the crying thing, but Rayna had a tendency to be over-sensitive and annoyoing. And again, this could just be her personality, but sometimes it felt like she was just so scared and she would be praying and stuff and I just was overcome with this annoyance for her that she was so sensitive about something that's been happening to her for weeks. Then in the end she gets this REALLY big boost of courage to go on some mission to save someone in danger and it was kind of random because the whole book she's crying into the shoulder of her best friend.
But there are good things!
**I'm really upset that I can't remember this one guy's name because he was my FAVORITE! After Rayna would have these dreams inundated with this dark creature, there was this guy that was always her shoulder to cry on and he was there for her and he was one of my favorite side characters, ever. He's one of the first people introduced in the book and as the novel goes on he just is so supporting and he offers so much love to Rayna. I loved him so much.
**Everything in this book was very realistic. I was expecting it would get really chummy toward the end because we were dealing with a supernatural thing in her dream, but it was actually plausible, which was nice.
**I feel like I need to include something about the love triangle that went on, but honestly it was well done and it felt genuinely angsty. I was strictly TEAM LIAM BECAUSE LIAM IS THE BOMB DIGGITY so I was like cringing and got really upset and stuff whenever other stuff happened *cough*, which is good so that was well done!
I may or may not end up picking up the sequel to this one, but i'd be willing to continue the series : )
September 30, 2014
4 Stars|Goodreads|The Shadow (The Darkness Trilogy) On Amazon
Meg's Review:
I really enjoyed this book. It seemed super interesting form the start and the synopsis grabbed me so I was thrilled to get the chance to read it.
Rayna has always been a little different but what teenager isn't. the moment she starts her internship at The Landing life around her changes drastically. Part job, Part dreams. the thing is Rayna has some very unique dreams and the more they happen the more her life changes. The other thing, she is being chased. Not in life, but in these dreams. Every night the Shadow is forcing her to live torturous dreams time after time.
With all this going on Rayna is also in the depths of finding love. Liam. Oh goodness. Some of the scenes with them were a little young, but remember how you were at that age while you are reading. I know I related with them, it was sweet. I miss the innocence of falling in love. This story shows you that and then take a dive down another level with the emotional aspects that we experience.
A really great story with a fantastic thriller/mystery twist to it. It was a good storyline and had just enough mini plot lines to really keep you drawn in. I couldn't put it down. It was a one sitting read for me.
My one area in the book with complaint would be the character development for some of the secondary characters. I wanted a little more from them. I felt like we got a little but didn't really get to know them very well. I assume this is to help draw us into the second book especially with the ending we are given.
Overall a great read. :)
Synopsis:
Rayna Stone is an eighteen-year-old girl from a small Alabama town that just wants to save a little money for college. In order to do that she has to find a summer job. The problem with that, the only place that is willing to take her is the upscale golf resort of The Landing. This was not her idea of a summer job, being around snobby, rich folks, but when she meets eyes with the owner’s son, Liam, she starts to see the brighter side of things. That is until she’s seeing things that she can’t quite explain and having dreams that are haunted by a being she calls The Shadow.
The Shadow begins to show her things about a few missing girls, that she wished she had never seen. Another chilling fact, her dreams seem to be coming true. As if that isn’t enough, she learns that this ability of hers gives her an insight into what others around her are feeling. Soon after this, Rayna learns that Liam does feel something for her, but even though she wants to tell him she feels the same, something is warning her to stay away. Not because he is dangerous, but because she is.
Goodreads
The Shadow (The Darkness Trilogy) On Amazon
Overall a great read.
January 1, 2014
*Original Review posted on Gin's Book Notes- http://ginsbooknotes.com*
I have thrown away close to ten different attempts at writing this review and in the end decided that the fairest thing I can do for the author and the reader is to share my notes and questions I asked myself while attempting to write this review.
If I had to use three words to describe The Shadow they would be:
Intriguing, Suspenseful, and Unresolved. The story is intriguing and captured my attention from the first page, the suspense and the characters kept me reading and wanting to discover what happens next, the ending left me with more questions than answers.
How did I feel about the characters?
I liked all the characters. I feel like the author did a good job on character development and provided a firm foundation for future books in the series. I would have liked to have a better understanding of what “The Shadow” actually is and why he is so focused on Rayna.
How did I feel at the end of the book?
I felt disjointed. I think the biggest reason I felt this way is because the whole time I was reading the book I was getting a good triumphs over evil light beats the darkness vibe but at the end of the book I was left with a general feeling of wrongness. I think if I had stopped reading at the end of chapter 20 I would have been much happier and less conflicted. So, I guess what I’m saying is, I think there are two too many chapters in the book and it is those last two chapters that take away from the overall impact of this story.
Cautions?
Anyone that is sensitive to abduction and/or abuse stories may want to avoid this one. The book has some graphic scenes where some of the abducted girls are beaten to death so I don’t feel comfortable recommending it to younger teens. I know some people are sensitive to Christian influences in books and then there are Christians who are sensitive to the paranormal so I feel obligated to mention that the main character is a Christian and that she deals with / comes to terms with many aspects of the paranormal. So there is a mix of Christianity and the paranormal–which is something that I personally liked.
Summary: I feel like this is a story with great potential. The suspense is high and the story is intriguing. I definitely want to follow the series and see what happens next. I hope that book 2 provides a lot of the answers as to who and what “The Shadow” actually is and what part Rayna plays in his plans. I think with a little bit of plot tightening and underlying theme cohesiveness I could easily move from liking this series to loving it.
I have thrown away close to ten different attempts at writing this review and in the end decided that the fairest thing I can do for the author and the reader is to share my notes and questions I asked myself while attempting to write this review.
If I had to use three words to describe The Shadow they would be:
Intriguing, Suspenseful, and Unresolved. The story is intriguing and captured my attention from the first page, the suspense and the characters kept me reading and wanting to discover what happens next, the ending left me with more questions than answers.
How did I feel about the characters?
I liked all the characters. I feel like the author did a good job on character development and provided a firm foundation for future books in the series. I would have liked to have a better understanding of what “The Shadow” actually is and why he is so focused on Rayna.
How did I feel at the end of the book?
I felt disjointed. I think the biggest reason I felt this way is because the whole time I was reading the book I was getting a good triumphs over evil light beats the darkness vibe but at the end of the book I was left with a general feeling of wrongness. I think if I had stopped reading at the end of chapter 20 I would have been much happier and less conflicted. So, I guess what I’m saying is, I think there are two too many chapters in the book and it is those last two chapters that take away from the overall impact of this story.
Cautions?
Anyone that is sensitive to abduction and/or abuse stories may want to avoid this one. The book has some graphic scenes where some of the abducted girls are beaten to death so I don’t feel comfortable recommending it to younger teens. I know some people are sensitive to Christian influences in books and then there are Christians who are sensitive to the paranormal so I feel obligated to mention that the main character is a Christian and that she deals with / comes to terms with many aspects of the paranormal. So there is a mix of Christianity and the paranormal–which is something that I personally liked.
Summary: I feel like this is a story with great potential. The suspense is high and the story is intriguing. I definitely want to follow the series and see what happens next. I hope that book 2 provides a lot of the answers as to who and what “The Shadow” actually is and what part Rayna plays in his plans. I think with a little bit of plot tightening and underlying theme cohesiveness I could easily move from liking this series to loving it.
October 18, 2013
Ohhhh man, this book was GREAT! So intense and full of twists, it kept me turning pages. :)
My only problem with this book: SO MANY GRAMMATICAL ERRORS AND TYPOS! :( *cringe*
Other than that, i'd recommend it :)
My only problem with this book: SO MANY GRAMMATICAL ERRORS AND TYPOS! :( *cringe*
Other than that, i'd recommend it :)
July 23, 2013
This book was very good and well written! I loved the entire book. I cant wait till the next one. I also cant wait till I get to meet the author!
July 25, 2022
THE SHADOW is the first book in The Darkness Trilogy and I found myself scooped up by the story, invested in it, until it reached the for-now conclusion.
The main story is Rayna is growing into psychic powers. She's never had them before and doesn't know how to deal with them. Not only that, but they're not 'nice' powers. When she dreams, she sees and feels what abducted girls are going through, their pain, their terror. Add this to trying to be a normal teenage girl who goes from having no love life to a weird triangle, and you have Rayna's life.
This is mainly told from Rayna's perspective but it segues nicely into my biggest complaint. This book is first-person BUT not always from Rayna! This made it confusing as there was nothing to say who was speaking. I know some of it was the big bad but something should have been said/written to make it clearer. I've seen it done with chapter headings, or switching from first- to third-person. There are ways. And then towards the end, we get new characters speaking up and, once again, it isn't always clear who it is.
The one person we DON'T hear from is the one I wanted to hear from the most - Liam. He has a story to tell but no voice with which to tell it. Maybe he will get one in the other books. I don't know.
This book needs a good edit/proofreading as there are spelling mistakes littered throughout. However, that did not stop my enjoyment of it. I don't do triangles as a rule, but this was not normal, and I do want to see what happens next.
A very good YA read with some dark scenes that some readers may find disturbing.
The main story is Rayna is growing into psychic powers. She's never had them before and doesn't know how to deal with them. Not only that, but they're not 'nice' powers. When she dreams, she sees and feels what abducted girls are going through, their pain, their terror. Add this to trying to be a normal teenage girl who goes from having no love life to a weird triangle, and you have Rayna's life.
This is mainly told from Rayna's perspective but it segues nicely into my biggest complaint. This book is first-person BUT not always from Rayna! This made it confusing as there was nothing to say who was speaking. I know some of it was the big bad but something should have been said/written to make it clearer. I've seen it done with chapter headings, or switching from first- to third-person. There are ways. And then towards the end, we get new characters speaking up and, once again, it isn't always clear who it is.
The one person we DON'T hear from is the one I wanted to hear from the most - Liam. He has a story to tell but no voice with which to tell it. Maybe he will get one in the other books. I don't know.
This book needs a good edit/proofreading as there are spelling mistakes littered throughout. However, that did not stop my enjoyment of it. I don't do triangles as a rule, but this was not normal, and I do want to see what happens next.
A very good YA read with some dark scenes that some readers may find disturbing.
April 15, 2021
I loved it. Yes there were some errors, but the author is an Indie Author who is doing an amazing job without a team so points for that.
Not one but 2 love triangles, teenage angst, paranormal and supernatural themes with a thriller all scooped in the plot? Yes please! No spice but that’s ok because it’s nice to feel like an innocent teenager again sometimes.
The story reminds us what it felt like to be confused as a teenager while still struggling to be independent and move about our friendships and social groups. There’s also the sub-issue of dealing with the grief of losing a parent in the story but it doesn’t overshadow the storyline.
All in all, loved it as a fast read and have the other 2 in my cart.
Not one but 2 love triangles, teenage angst, paranormal and supernatural themes with a thriller all scooped in the plot? Yes please! No spice but that’s ok because it’s nice to feel like an innocent teenager again sometimes.
The story reminds us what it felt like to be confused as a teenager while still struggling to be independent and move about our friendships and social groups. There’s also the sub-issue of dealing with the grief of losing a parent in the story but it doesn’t overshadow the storyline.
All in all, loved it as a fast read and have the other 2 in my cart.
May 17, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy. I loved how Rayna felt like a fully realized person and her struggles and victories were exciting to experience. I highly recommend this series!
—W. M. Martin
—W. M. Martin
August 26, 2021
This was so dark and twisted. Definitely a different take on the horror genre (and truth be told I don't typically read). I have never read a book like this one. Very interesting.
February 19, 2022
Not bad but not for me.
July 19, 2023
So many typos and story holes, felt like a long read
November 17, 2014
I really enjoyed reading "The Shadow", by AG Porter. Since it seems like I spend too much time writing & not enough time reading, this was a great story for me to be able to escape to. I won't go into detail about the story-line, since you can scroll up and read the synopsis. Instead, I'll get right into why I liked this book.
For me, this book had a mix of lusty angst, action, mystery, as well as that spooky factor, all of which made me want to hurry and finish this book once I started it. The more I read, the more questions I had, especially once I finished it, which makes me really anticipate reading the next book. I liked all of the characters, especially Rayna Stone, the female protagonist, and her love interest, Liam. I liked how their relationship didn't spontaneously combust like so many do in YA stories (including some of mine lol). Instead, it progressed slowly, making you want more instead of having it shoved down your throat. Something else I enjoyed about this story, of course, was the paranormal aspect of it, with Rayna having abilities that are a bit outside the norm, which always adds that 'otherworldly' element to things.
I never read my own books' reviews, but I do like reading other book reviews, especially the bad ones, of books that I enjoyed, like this one. Some of the reviews for "The Shadow" mention that it was a long read and that the story-line was slow. I happen to disagree. Being the first book in a series, I expect them to be a bit 'slower', letting the story unfold, introducing me to the characters, helping me to visualize the scenes. It's like a first date—you don't want things to move too fast. I thought the pace was fine, since I didn't have to skip over anything. When I have to skip over excessive detail, that's when it's moving too slow for me, but this book didn't have that. It played like a movie in my mind, which is what I look for in books. If I can't 'watch' the story as I read it, I usually can't finish it.
Some reviews also mentioned errors, which always upsets me when those errors are minor and don't affect the flow. It's almost impossible not to have errors, unless you're published by a big-name publisher who probably has multiple editors assigned to one book. My first book, "For Always", which was NOT self published and was edited, has some errors. There are actually errors in the book that aren't in my original MS, including words missing. How that happens, I don't know, but it does. We trust our editors to make our books as perfect as possible, but in the grand scheme of things, even editors are human. Unless a book is filled with a lot of errors, to the point it's too distracting to read, I don't mention it in reviews. (I actually had my editor leave many grammar mistakes in my first series due to the fact my writing is southern and I want it to read that way. I'm one big walking, talking grammatical error lol.) Anyway... sorry for the rant, it's just something that bugs me.
Now, where was I? Oh, yeah...
I loved the characters in this story. I will admit that Liam calling Rayna 'Love' annoyed me at first, until I remembered he was from Australia, and then I was like... awww ♥. Even though Rayna became upset at times and felt a bit hopeless, she pulled it together in the end, showing what a strong character she really is. She had a great relationship with the other characters and I look forward to seeing what they all do in the next book. (And did I mention Liam is a sexy Aussie???)
There's no foul language or sexual scenes in this book, making it a clean read, appropriate for all YA ages (12+), in my opinion. It does have a few scenes that depict abduction/abuse, but nothing extremely violent. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read YA paranormal novels and is looking for something besides vamps, fae, wolves, or my favorite, ghosts.
For me, this book had a mix of lusty angst, action, mystery, as well as that spooky factor, all of which made me want to hurry and finish this book once I started it. The more I read, the more questions I had, especially once I finished it, which makes me really anticipate reading the next book. I liked all of the characters, especially Rayna Stone, the female protagonist, and her love interest, Liam. I liked how their relationship didn't spontaneously combust like so many do in YA stories (including some of mine lol). Instead, it progressed slowly, making you want more instead of having it shoved down your throat. Something else I enjoyed about this story, of course, was the paranormal aspect of it, with Rayna having abilities that are a bit outside the norm, which always adds that 'otherworldly' element to things.
I never read my own books' reviews, but I do like reading other book reviews, especially the bad ones, of books that I enjoyed, like this one. Some of the reviews for "The Shadow" mention that it was a long read and that the story-line was slow. I happen to disagree. Being the first book in a series, I expect them to be a bit 'slower', letting the story unfold, introducing me to the characters, helping me to visualize the scenes. It's like a first date—you don't want things to move too fast. I thought the pace was fine, since I didn't have to skip over anything. When I have to skip over excessive detail, that's when it's moving too slow for me, but this book didn't have that. It played like a movie in my mind, which is what I look for in books. If I can't 'watch' the story as I read it, I usually can't finish it.
Some reviews also mentioned errors, which always upsets me when those errors are minor and don't affect the flow. It's almost impossible not to have errors, unless you're published by a big-name publisher who probably has multiple editors assigned to one book. My first book, "For Always", which was NOT self published and was edited, has some errors. There are actually errors in the book that aren't in my original MS, including words missing. How that happens, I don't know, but it does. We trust our editors to make our books as perfect as possible, but in the grand scheme of things, even editors are human. Unless a book is filled with a lot of errors, to the point it's too distracting to read, I don't mention it in reviews. (I actually had my editor leave many grammar mistakes in my first series due to the fact my writing is southern and I want it to read that way. I'm one big walking, talking grammatical error lol.) Anyway... sorry for the rant, it's just something that bugs me.
Now, where was I? Oh, yeah...
I loved the characters in this story. I will admit that Liam calling Rayna 'Love' annoyed me at first, until I remembered he was from Australia, and then I was like... awww ♥. Even though Rayna became upset at times and felt a bit hopeless, she pulled it together in the end, showing what a strong character she really is. She had a great relationship with the other characters and I look forward to seeing what they all do in the next book. (And did I mention Liam is a sexy Aussie???)
There's no foul language or sexual scenes in this book, making it a clean read, appropriate for all YA ages (12+), in my opinion. It does have a few scenes that depict abduction/abuse, but nothing extremely violent. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read YA paranormal novels and is looking for something besides vamps, fae, wolves, or my favorite, ghosts.
July 11, 2013
My latest YA read was The Shadow by A G Porter. The first part of the "Darkness" trilogy, and a very good read.
Rayna, still mourning the death of her father, goes to work as an Intern at "The Landing" an upper class resort, whilst waiting to decide which college to attend and basically what to do with her life. Leaving her home friends behind she soon forms new friendships and attracts the attention of three different boys. Meanwhile, girls are going missing in another part of the country...and Rayna starts dreaming of them, and the man stalking them, "The Shadow". At the same time, she realises that she can sense the thoughts and feelings of those around her. Struggling with this plus her romantic entanglements, Rayna starts to try and unravel the mysteries and make sense of her life once more.
This is a page turner - certainly by the middle you will be racing towards the end with the need to KNOW - and is very well written. The flow of the story is great, although one very slight niggle is that I found it over wordy in places - too many sentences to get over a little information - but really thats just a personal thing and it didnt detract at all from my overall enjoyment of the book. Also I think its the proof reader in me - I automatically edit in my head! The romance angle was well done without suffering from what I call "Twilightitis" and the supernatural elements were well imagined and intriguing. The end made you want to dive straight into the next one and I am looking forward to finding out what happens next.
Characterisation was great. I loved Jace particularly although I couldnt tell you why - and the background for each character was informative enough for you to get a sense of them and how they have come to where they are. I'm hoping that future instalments will bring some of the secondary characters more to the foreground as there were a couple in there that didnt get a lot to do this novel and yet you feel that they have a lot to add. All in all an involving read - and I feel that this trilogy once completed with make a great addition to the genre. It is violent in places - perhaps not for younger "young adults" but certainly anyone over the age of 13 would love this and it is also a book that adult readers would enjoy. Happy Reading Folks!
Rayna, still mourning the death of her father, goes to work as an Intern at "The Landing" an upper class resort, whilst waiting to decide which college to attend and basically what to do with her life. Leaving her home friends behind she soon forms new friendships and attracts the attention of three different boys. Meanwhile, girls are going missing in another part of the country...and Rayna starts dreaming of them, and the man stalking them, "The Shadow". At the same time, she realises that she can sense the thoughts and feelings of those around her. Struggling with this plus her romantic entanglements, Rayna starts to try and unravel the mysteries and make sense of her life once more.
This is a page turner - certainly by the middle you will be racing towards the end with the need to KNOW - and is very well written. The flow of the story is great, although one very slight niggle is that I found it over wordy in places - too many sentences to get over a little information - but really thats just a personal thing and it didnt detract at all from my overall enjoyment of the book. Also I think its the proof reader in me - I automatically edit in my head! The romance angle was well done without suffering from what I call "Twilightitis" and the supernatural elements were well imagined and intriguing. The end made you want to dive straight into the next one and I am looking forward to finding out what happens next.
Characterisation was great. I loved Jace particularly although I couldnt tell you why - and the background for each character was informative enough for you to get a sense of them and how they have come to where they are. I'm hoping that future instalments will bring some of the secondary characters more to the foreground as there were a couple in there that didnt get a lot to do this novel and yet you feel that they have a lot to add. All in all an involving read - and I feel that this trilogy once completed with make a great addition to the genre. It is violent in places - perhaps not for younger "young adults" but certainly anyone over the age of 13 would love this and it is also a book that adult readers would enjoy. Happy Reading Folks!
August 7, 2013
Rayna is an eighteen-year-old seemingly normal girl who lives with her mom. Her dad had passed away several years ago, something they were both still dealing with. Rayna has no idea what she wants to do with her life, unlike her best friends, but she does know that she wants a job to save money for college. Unfortunately there isn’t a company in her small town that will hire her, except for The Landing – a swanky golf resort that she has no interest in pursuing, but her mom forces her to apply for an internship anyway. Once she arrives for the summer internship, she is immediately drawn to the President of the Board of Directors son, Liam. Being attracted to a beautiful boy always makes things seem better, right? Rayna begins having dreams that totally freak her out. She is being shown things about missing girls. She also learns that she can sense the feelings of those around her. Well, isn’t this going to be an interesting summer job?
The Shadow has an awesome storyline that I was very anxious to read. I love all things paranormal – including silly shows like Paranormal Witness – so after reading the synopsis for this book, I was ready to dive right in. Although some people find the paranormal to be totally fictional, I always wonder, “what if?” So, to me, reading about things like creepy dreams coming true and the likes always sends chills up my spine.
I think the characters in this story are pretty well developed, but the flow of the storyline is not quite there. This first installment is a definite nail-biter, but not until later in the story. It took some time to get into this book. After reading The Shadow it was obvious that this is a debut novel, which I’m not digging on in any way. Writing a book is difficult. It could have used an editor, though, and would have been much smoother if it was fifty or so pages shorter. I definitely want to continue the series, as I now feel connected to the characters, and excited by the plot. If you love the paranormal like I do, you’ll want to get in on the ground floor for this series!
The Shadow has an awesome storyline that I was very anxious to read. I love all things paranormal – including silly shows like Paranormal Witness – so after reading the synopsis for this book, I was ready to dive right in. Although some people find the paranormal to be totally fictional, I always wonder, “what if?” So, to me, reading about things like creepy dreams coming true and the likes always sends chills up my spine.
I think the characters in this story are pretty well developed, but the flow of the storyline is not quite there. This first installment is a definite nail-biter, but not until later in the story. It took some time to get into this book. After reading The Shadow it was obvious that this is a debut novel, which I’m not digging on in any way. Writing a book is difficult. It could have used an editor, though, and would have been much smoother if it was fifty or so pages shorter. I definitely want to continue the series, as I now feel connected to the characters, and excited by the plot. If you love the paranormal like I do, you’ll want to get in on the ground floor for this series!
June 7, 2014
In book 1 of A. G. Porter's The Darkness Trilogy, Rayna is looking for a summer job to help her to pay towards college but ends up getting and internship at a golf resort called ‘The Landing’. She is enjoying the job and meets a few new friends. She soon starts to have terrifying dreams about girls who have been kidnapped by somebody she calls the shadow that are so realistic they make her physically sick and start affecting her sleep. Even with all this going on Rayna manages to capture the hearts of two gorgeous rich guys and falls in love with one of them, although the relationship may prove deadly for one of them. After watching the news about the recent kidnapping and the discovery of a body Rayna realises that her terrifying dreams are actually becoming true, and the worst bit is she believes that one of her new friends is mixed up in all of this madness and may become the next target.
Will Rayna be able to save her friend before it is too late?
She starts to send the police anonymous recordings through a friend of a friend but does not have enough information to give them a good lead. After Rayna and her friend get attacked and leaves Rayna in hospital and her friend missing she now has to rely on her ‘gift’ once again to help her. Drawing in extra strength to guide her Rayna goes on a mission alone to save her friend from the hands of ‘The Shadow’.
The Shadow by A. G. Porter has many twists and turns. It was chilling in parts and left me scared to go to sleep. The Shadow is terrifying and seems to have an unhealthy obsession with Rayna. It is a very good book for young adults who like the paranormal and scary reads. It is the first book of a three part series.
Will Rayna be able to save her friend before it is too late?
She starts to send the police anonymous recordings through a friend of a friend but does not have enough information to give them a good lead. After Rayna and her friend get attacked and leaves Rayna in hospital and her friend missing she now has to rely on her ‘gift’ once again to help her. Drawing in extra strength to guide her Rayna goes on a mission alone to save her friend from the hands of ‘The Shadow’.
The Shadow by A. G. Porter has many twists and turns. It was chilling in parts and left me scared to go to sleep. The Shadow is terrifying and seems to have an unhealthy obsession with Rayna. It is a very good book for young adults who like the paranormal and scary reads. It is the first book of a three part series.
September 14, 2015
(2.5 Stars)
"The Shadow" is one of those books that has so much potential but fails because of a plot filled with superfulous information that makes the reading tedious at times. Additionally, the main character is a whiny teen who is so fickled and self absorbed you find yourself questioning whether or not you like her or not.
Rayna just completed her junior year at New Hope High. She wants to get a summer job to earn some money for college since her father died two years ago and her mother has been struggling financially. However, her mother makes her apply for an internship at the prestigious, Landing where she will be working with a bunch of rich kids and patrons. This is not high on Rayna's ideas of things to do.Yet, when she goes to the interview, her feelings begin to change.
Once Rayna begins working at the Landing, she meets a bunch of great kids. However, she is also having horrible nightmares about girls who have been kidnapped and killed. When she saves her hearthrob, Liam from falling from a collapsing stage her friend Logan begins to suspect that there is more to Rayna that she allows people to see. As her nightmares increase, so does her tension and belief she will be one of the victims. So, she tries to keep Liam away from her in an attempt to keep him safe. Will this work? Will she make it out alive? Quite frankly due to all of the minutia towards the end, I don't even think I cared.
The writing was okay but could have stood better editing for all of the superfulous goings on. It bogged down the flow of the plot and left me bored at times. I truly will not be going on to the next book in this series because this one just didn't do it for me. Sorry, Ms. Porter. This one isn't for me.
"The Shadow" is one of those books that has so much potential but fails because of a plot filled with superfulous information that makes the reading tedious at times. Additionally, the main character is a whiny teen who is so fickled and self absorbed you find yourself questioning whether or not you like her or not.
Rayna just completed her junior year at New Hope High. She wants to get a summer job to earn some money for college since her father died two years ago and her mother has been struggling financially. However, her mother makes her apply for an internship at the prestigious, Landing where she will be working with a bunch of rich kids and patrons. This is not high on Rayna's ideas of things to do.Yet, when she goes to the interview, her feelings begin to change.
Once Rayna begins working at the Landing, she meets a bunch of great kids. However, she is also having horrible nightmares about girls who have been kidnapped and killed. When she saves her hearthrob, Liam from falling from a collapsing stage her friend Logan begins to suspect that there is more to Rayna that she allows people to see. As her nightmares increase, so does her tension and belief she will be one of the victims. So, she tries to keep Liam away from her in an attempt to keep him safe. Will this work? Will she make it out alive? Quite frankly due to all of the minutia towards the end, I don't even think I cared.
The writing was okay but could have stood better editing for all of the superfulous goings on. It bogged down the flow of the plot and left me bored at times. I truly will not be going on to the next book in this series because this one just didn't do it for me. Sorry, Ms. Porter. This one isn't for me.
August 8, 2014
The Shadow by A.G. Porter (The Darkness Trilogy Book 1)
I received this book for an honest review. I found the story to be very exciting read and enjoyable. Rayna is a teenager who is like most, does not know what she wants in life. Her friends know what they want and have everything mapped out, Rayna is struggling. She has been struggling with many issues, which have been brought upon her and have detoured what she really wants out of her life. Her mother wants her to try for an internship that might be more influential and benefit her for her future. I do like Rayna in the story, even though she can be confused and not know what exactly in life she may want, she is a strong young girl. Rayna does get accepted and meets new friends that she becomes close to. She meets some nice looking ones that catch her eye, my favorite was Liam. He is not like the rest and does not care about the popularity or money issues. During all of this, Rayna does have many horrible dreams that at times she cannot understand or they can come true. She does find some answers to her dreams with others like her, which makes this story more interesting. Girls have come up missing and her dreams revolve around the disappearances, but can she help them in enough time? The situations that arise with Rayna can make anybody grow up and protect what she has. I found myself wanting to know more and not able to read enough to get to the answers. It is a very good story that captures your imagination.
I received this book for an honest review. I found the story to be very exciting read and enjoyable. Rayna is a teenager who is like most, does not know what she wants in life. Her friends know what they want and have everything mapped out, Rayna is struggling. She has been struggling with many issues, which have been brought upon her and have detoured what she really wants out of her life. Her mother wants her to try for an internship that might be more influential and benefit her for her future. I do like Rayna in the story, even though she can be confused and not know what exactly in life she may want, she is a strong young girl. Rayna does get accepted and meets new friends that she becomes close to. She meets some nice looking ones that catch her eye, my favorite was Liam. He is not like the rest and does not care about the popularity or money issues. During all of this, Rayna does have many horrible dreams that at times she cannot understand or they can come true. She does find some answers to her dreams with others like her, which makes this story more interesting. Girls have come up missing and her dreams revolve around the disappearances, but can she help them in enough time? The situations that arise with Rayna can make anybody grow up and protect what she has. I found myself wanting to know more and not able to read enough to get to the answers. It is a very good story that captures your imagination.
October 14, 2014
The Shadow by A.G. Porter is a paranormal thriller that is told from the perspective of Rayna Stone, an offbeat eighteen year old girl who takes a summer internship at a resort. She begins having vivid dreams revolving around a series of girls who have been kidnapped, and begins to encounter a dark faceless being that haunts her. Rayna soon makes several new friends, not the least of which is Liam, the Board of Directors attractive son. Things become more intense when Rayna’s nightmares become more frequent, leading her into uncharted territory as she tries to help others, and protect those around her.
The Shadow is a page-turner and an exciting read for anyone into suspense novels or paranormal thrillers! Miss Porter has done an incredible job of creating believable and likable characters that aren’t annoying, as well as highly detailed narrative. Don’t let the fact that the main character is a teenager discourage you from picking up this book. The subject of lucid dreaming is explored in The Shadow in an original and thought-provoking way. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this trilogy, and returning to Rayna Stone’s world. This book is a great read, and highly recommended!
Brian Weimer (author of Nexus)
_____________
The Shadow is a page-turner and an exciting read for anyone into suspense novels or paranormal thrillers! Miss Porter has done an incredible job of creating believable and likable characters that aren’t annoying, as well as highly detailed narrative. Don’t let the fact that the main character is a teenager discourage you from picking up this book. The subject of lucid dreaming is explored in The Shadow in an original and thought-provoking way. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this trilogy, and returning to Rayna Stone’s world. This book is a great read, and highly recommended!
Brian Weimer (author of Nexus)
_____________
July 10, 2013
I'll say one thing for this author: she knows how to keep you reading. She writes so vividly, it's like watching a movie unfold in your head. Her writing choices, particularly in the second half, are brilliant, and the ending leaves you screaming, "What?! Where's the sequel!?" which is the mark of a good series.
But it was also a bit wordy for my particular taste (it won't be, for others). I felt like the story could have been told in a shorter amount of time, and that some of the back history of secondary characters wasn't essential to the plot. I also had a lot of trouble keeping people straight, since a lot of the secondary figures have similar names -- Liam and Logan, for instance. There's also two guys whose names start with N (Nick and Ned), and two guys whose names start with J that are about the same length!
It's nice to see a book that blends the supernatural (the main character is psychic, and something of a dream seer) with religion (nice references to God, although His name is also taken in vain on occasion), but it also contains some grisly moments that deal with a murderer beating girls to death, so the under 12 set might want to wait a few years.
But it was also a bit wordy for my particular taste (it won't be, for others). I felt like the story could have been told in a shorter amount of time, and that some of the back history of secondary characters wasn't essential to the plot. I also had a lot of trouble keeping people straight, since a lot of the secondary figures have similar names -- Liam and Logan, for instance. There's also two guys whose names start with N (Nick and Ned), and two guys whose names start with J that are about the same length!
It's nice to see a book that blends the supernatural (the main character is psychic, and something of a dream seer) with religion (nice references to God, although His name is also taken in vain on occasion), but it also contains some grisly moments that deal with a murderer beating girls to death, so the under 12 set might want to wait a few years.
June 22, 2014
This is the first book of a trilogy and the author wastes no time in getting on with the story. Rayna sees things. Nasty, pull the covers over your head until its gone away, type things She has powers and these seem to be drawing the Shadow to her.
Overall, this is a well written story. The characterisation is good; the action and locations are well described, and the chiling, evil nature of The Shadow seeps through the pages. You fairly leap through the pages to race to the end.
The tale is told from 2 perspectives, though mostly from Rayna’s point of view. She seems to take everything in her stride in a manner which is difficult to accept at times, given the darkness she is being exposed to.
There is contrast to the malevolence from Rayna’s group of friends, who (again, somewhat questionably) believe Rayna and provide her with support, friendship and love.
Overall a good read, and a good debut novel from the author. For me, it seemed as though things which ought to have raised issues between the characters were smoothed out a little for expediency.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Overall, this is a well written story. The characterisation is good; the action and locations are well described, and the chiling, evil nature of The Shadow seeps through the pages. You fairly leap through the pages to race to the end.
The tale is told from 2 perspectives, though mostly from Rayna’s point of view. She seems to take everything in her stride in a manner which is difficult to accept at times, given the darkness she is being exposed to.
There is contrast to the malevolence from Rayna’s group of friends, who (again, somewhat questionably) believe Rayna and provide her with support, friendship and love.
Overall a good read, and a good debut novel from the author. For me, it seemed as though things which ought to have raised issues between the characters were smoothed out a little for expediency.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 18, 2016
I read this book a while ago but I re read this and the second one in advance of the third one coming out soon. This is a great story. I would say it is YA but with some violence. The writing of the characters are great, A. G. Porter captured the angst of becoming adults and to add the paranormal on top of that. Rayna, the 18 year old main character does seem to not quite see things that are obvious in spite of her "gift". Part of growing up, finding out you have certain abilities and dealing with something dark. Oh and throw in a love triangle. I love the descriptions of the places (which I live near) and was on pins and needles til the end. It may get bogged down with lots of information, but I like that, I question characters of books I read like where and why do they do this so it's ok with me. Overall, love it! Now on to the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2015
Dark and Mysterious
This was a dark and mysterious romance. The author was able to keep my attention and interest throughout the book. The mystery of who The Shadow is was well kept thru the whole book. He is still a mystery in the end. The main characters are easy to like, the love triangle, and heartbreak is just an added bonus to this novel.
This was a dark and mysterious romance. The author was able to keep my attention and interest throughout the book. The mystery of who The Shadow is was well kept thru the whole book. He is still a mystery in the end. The main characters are easy to like, the love triangle, and heartbreak is just an added bonus to this novel.
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