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Psyched #1
Psyched
Aisi Turay has it all under control. At least, she thinks she does. Forget that the most popular girl in school hates her guts and will stop at nothing to embarrass her. Forget that her little brother is tormented by the ghosts and demons she sees all the time. Forget that her mom is a con artist who pretends to be psychic to make some cash. Forget that her dad is hiding a secret than can destroy everything she knows about herself. Nope, she's got this one...until that one awful day when she nearly loses it all. With ghost-hunting hottie Vance, a guy who stumbled into her life at the worst possible moment, Aisi must search for the messages hidden in visions and memories to protect her family. Maybe, just maybe, they can reclaim what she thought was lost forever.
218 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2013
14 people are currently reading
1056 people want to read
About the author
Juli Caldwell
17 books38 followersI've been writing since I could hold a crayon and probably made up stories in my head long before that. I was born in California and have lived all over the U.S., but I admit I'm partial to places with a good beach.
I hold a degree in English with a minor in psychology, which means I'm imagining what goes on in your head and putting it into my next book.
Just kidding.
Maybe...
I'm married to a guy you may call the big hairy man, and together we have two daughters who just might be crazier and more sarcastic than I am. We live near the Great Salt Lake where I spend my time playing chauffeur to the kids, writing, and trying to convince the dog not to shed on my couch.
I hold a degree in English with a minor in psychology, which means I'm imagining what goes on in your head and putting it into my next book.
Just kidding.
Maybe...
I'm married to a guy you may call the big hairy man, and together we have two daughters who just might be crazier and more sarcastic than I am. We live near the Great Salt Lake where I spend my time playing chauffeur to the kids, writing, and trying to convince the dog not to shed on my couch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 1, 2018
This wasn't a bad read at all just not quite what I was hoping it would be. Not as scary or as Gothic/atmospheric as that gorgeous cover lead me to believe it would be.
June 6, 2013
If I’d have to choose one word and one word only to describe this novel I’d say: gripping. But I wouldn’t do it justice because Juli Caldwell wrote a novel that was much more than that: it was fascinating, thrilling, scary, intriguing, mysterious, detailed, RIVETING.
Here a few things I observed:
1. Storyline: concise, cursive, had well defined start, climax and an ending. The transition from one part to the next one was well executed allowing the reader to move in and out of them smoothly. I had no idea where the story took me next or how it will end which kept me waiting for the next piece of puzzle and when I thought I had it, boom! I had nothing.
2. Settings: clear, well described. Works for me.
3. Characters: LOVED Aisi!!! I remember exactly how I first was introduced to her and how enigmatic, strong and yet underneath all of that I-have-everything-under-control mask she was worried for her little brother, mother and father, proving she was just another soft girl. Felt her emotions and grew even fonder of her because of her sense of humor. Found myself either smiling or bursting in laughter at her comical/little sarcastic/ corky sense of humor. Unfortunately she came in so strong that I didn’t feel she had an arc, but I’m not sure she supposed to have one since this is not the classic romance. There was no room for her to grow. I’ve heard sometimes authors with such strong characters soften them by the end of the book. Something to consider for the sequel. It could be a double sword if the author plans on portraying her only as the demon-slayer. Readers need to identify themselves with the characters in order to root for them and sympathize with whatever drama they encounter. Supporting characters well drawn as well.
4. Narrative: very detailed. The author has a gift of describing each detail in a lot of words. Not only each scene but each detail. Nevertheless the story was a keeper for me from the first page to the last and i look forward to reading book #2. Are we there yet?
Here a few things I observed:
1. Storyline: concise, cursive, had well defined start, climax and an ending. The transition from one part to the next one was well executed allowing the reader to move in and out of them smoothly. I had no idea where the story took me next or how it will end which kept me waiting for the next piece of puzzle and when I thought I had it, boom! I had nothing.
2. Settings: clear, well described. Works for me.
3. Characters: LOVED Aisi!!! I remember exactly how I first was introduced to her and how enigmatic, strong and yet underneath all of that I-have-everything-under-control mask she was worried for her little brother, mother and father, proving she was just another soft girl. Felt her emotions and grew even fonder of her because of her sense of humor. Found myself either smiling or bursting in laughter at her comical/little sarcastic/ corky sense of humor. Unfortunately she came in so strong that I didn’t feel she had an arc, but I’m not sure she supposed to have one since this is not the classic romance. There was no room for her to grow. I’ve heard sometimes authors with such strong characters soften them by the end of the book. Something to consider for the sequel. It could be a double sword if the author plans on portraying her only as the demon-slayer. Readers need to identify themselves with the characters in order to root for them and sympathize with whatever drama they encounter. Supporting characters well drawn as well.
4. Narrative: very detailed. The author has a gift of describing each detail in a lot of words. Not only each scene but each detail. Nevertheless the story was a keeper for me from the first page to the last and i look forward to reading book #2. Are we there yet?
April 25, 2014
3 1/2 out of 5 Stars
I felt the events in the story were rushed and in turn was unbelievable. Putting that aside, I did enjoy the overall story.
I felt the events in the story were rushed and in turn was unbelievable. Putting that aside, I did enjoy the overall story.
July 8, 2018
A DNF for me. I stopped shortly after Aisi meets Vance. And within moments she's blabbing her biggest secret and her dad blabs his (kind of) and the best friend and cousin just make out? Uh, that scene was ridiculous.
June 1, 2013
Aisi Turay is one awesome girl. She has power to see the dead...as in their souls. Now she's on a dangerous soul-risking quest, seeking answers to a mystery that's haunted her family for years. People she's lived around her whole life and never spoken to, as well as a new friend, have the knowledge she needs to solve it, and maybe bring her family back together again. This is a great read, filled with suspense. I NEVER knew from one chapter to the next what was happening. It is well written and a very enjoyable...and a bit scary!
March 2, 2016
This one reminds me of each paranormal movie or TV show, but I must admit, I've never read something like this. Maybe I'm a bit too much in romance stories lately so I haven't been even looking for something like this. It surprised me how good stories like this can be. I gave it 3 stars just because everything happens too fast. It should go a little bit easier maybe.
September 22, 2013
Quick read. Decently developed characters. I'm still curious what the folks in chapter 22 had been subsisting on.
November 4, 2016
Very good book
Loved the whole story. Really interesting characters who have great interaction. A little scary, but I get scared over anything, so judges for yourself. Can't wait to read the next one.
Loved the whole story. Really interesting characters who have great interaction. A little scary, but I get scared over anything, so judges for yourself. Can't wait to read the next one.
May 14, 2020
This book started off really good, but started going downhill as soon as Aisi and Vance went to go see Father J. Everything just got kind of weird and confusing, and even after everything that happened, nothing really gets accomplished.
June 25, 2020
This book has been on my kindle forever!! Finally got the chance to read it. It was an okay read, I lost interest at some points and other points I couldn’t put it down. It was a bit too much roller coaster of interest and not for me. But still decent.
March 26, 2018
this was an okay book. The characters where well developed and story flowed smoothly. Paranormal is normally what I read and this book did not let me down. I would recommend this book.
November 19, 2016
The idea of this story was good, I can see what the author was aiming for. Unfortunately it fell short on a number of levels.
The relationships and the actions of Aisi's parent's, especially her father, are unrealistic and underdeveloped. The first chapters felt unimportant and had me wondering if there was anything about the story going on in them--thankfully I found small ties that made them understandable, but at the same time, they could have been bigger and made more important. The backstory was thinly created, and there is not enough in the book to explain the characters' motivations or some of the character's lack of input; Aisi is pretty much left to figure everything out on her own without any explanation on why.
Some parts of the story lacked proper or any transition to take you from one time and location to another, and I found what characters were doing and where they were unclear, inconsistent, or even contradictory at times. The prologue was confusing and it wasn't clear which character was involved or what the relevance or time frame was. If used as a flashback instead it could have been much clearer and relevant.
One thing that bugged me the whole way through was the tense used for actions and events that occurred in the past. Everything was stated in time with the telling of the story and interrupted readability.
The relationship Aisi develops with Vance is strange and I just didn't really believe it. Some parts were okay, others were forced and unrealistic. Mostly his his lack of questioning when weird stuff happens with Aisi just doesn't work with who he is and what he's into.
All that aside, when you get 8 or so chapters in, the confusion starts to lift and layers of the past and promises of what is to come fill the pages. An okay read, but with a little character consistency and further development, and a solid foundation to explain why everything happens as it does, and this story could be great.
The relationships and the actions of Aisi's parent's, especially her father, are unrealistic and underdeveloped. The first chapters felt unimportant and had me wondering if there was anything about the story going on in them--thankfully I found small ties that made them understandable, but at the same time, they could have been bigger and made more important. The backstory was thinly created, and there is not enough in the book to explain the characters' motivations or some of the character's lack of input; Aisi is pretty much left to figure everything out on her own without any explanation on why.
Some parts of the story lacked proper or any transition to take you from one time and location to another, and I found what characters were doing and where they were unclear, inconsistent, or even contradictory at times. The prologue was confusing and it wasn't clear which character was involved or what the relevance or time frame was. If used as a flashback instead it could have been much clearer and relevant.
One thing that bugged me the whole way through was the tense used for actions and events that occurred in the past. Everything was stated in time with the telling of the story and interrupted readability.
The relationship Aisi develops with Vance is strange and I just didn't really believe it. Some parts were okay, others were forced and unrealistic. Mostly his his lack of questioning when weird stuff happens with Aisi just doesn't work with who he is and what he's into.
All that aside, when you get 8 or so chapters in, the confusion starts to lift and layers of the past and promises of what is to come fill the pages. An okay read, but with a little character consistency and further development, and a solid foundation to explain why everything happens as it does, and this story could be great.
October 9, 2013
I thought this story was a very creative and interesting way to portray psychics. Aisi has a rough home life and is trying to keep her life together the best she can. Her mom almost seems depressed, or crazy, or both and she has to almost be a mother to her younger brother, Leo. I kept wondering why she just didn't go live with her dad--wouldn't that be easier? He obviously cared more than her mom seemed to. I thought it was funny that her mom pretends to be psychic and that Aisi really is.
I loved it when Aisi showed Monica what was what in the locker room.
When Vance and Colby came to town, I just knew things were going to change and start happening...and that hopefully mysteries would be solved. I really enjoyed the way Juli Caldwell wove all of these pieces into the story and tied it all together. I thought it was very well done.
Just a side note, I'm not a big fan of demons and the like, but it wasn't over-the-top crazy. It all worked.
Content: may be a little scary for younger readers, but otherwise clean.
I loved it when Aisi showed Monica what was what in the locker room.
When Vance and Colby came to town, I just knew things were going to change and start happening...and that hopefully mysteries would be solved. I really enjoyed the way Juli Caldwell wove all of these pieces into the story and tied it all together. I thought it was very well done.
Just a side note, I'm not a big fan of demons and the like, but it wasn't over-the-top crazy. It all worked.
Content: may be a little scary for younger readers, but otherwise clean.
February 9, 2017
Aisi is an everyday high school girl with a unique ability. Like her little brother Leo, they are both haunted—psychic. They both can see the dead. Leo is frightened by these scary apparitions, but Aisi refused to feed them her fear, so she fights them and sends them back to Hell using her special gift of Latin and telekinesis.
One day, Aisi gets a dark warning from a demon, who will kill all happiness and joy and reign again. This one is the most dangerous demon she has ever faced and, for the first time in her life, she is actually scared. What will happen to her family, to Leo? What has he done to the twin sister that mysteriously disappeared all those years ago? What would happen if he won?
Aisi is tough and fearless, and it was interesting seeing her try to solve this mystery by delving in the morbid history of demons and how it related to her father and what happened to her sister.
Although not all the pieces fit in this supernatural puzzle, the whole psychic vs. demon angle was enjoyable.
A good read!
One day, Aisi gets a dark warning from a demon, who will kill all happiness and joy and reign again. This one is the most dangerous demon she has ever faced and, for the first time in her life, she is actually scared. What will happen to her family, to Leo? What has he done to the twin sister that mysteriously disappeared all those years ago? What would happen if he won?
Aisi is tough and fearless, and it was interesting seeing her try to solve this mystery by delving in the morbid history of demons and how it related to her father and what happened to her sister.
Although not all the pieces fit in this supernatural puzzle, the whole psychic vs. demon angle was enjoyable.
A good read!
May 5, 2017
I enjoy a good paranormal book and although this book seemed to start out slow it went out with a bang. I was surprised how quickly slow went till I started this review. I would very much like to see more of Aisi Turay and the rest of the characters in the book in perhaps a series. Juli Caldwell did a fabulous job at keeping ones interest and pulling out a perfect ending that really wasn't an ending. I love the sassy Aisi Turay and her friends and family and of course the unlikely hero ghost hunter Vance Alfaro. So with that I have but one thing to say Juli Caldwell right us another book to compliment this one. There is much you can use to create another book with these characters so I WILL BE WATCHING.
June 23, 2013
This is one of those books you just can't put down. What I love about Psyched in addition to a great, spooky story is strong characters and narrative voice. Aisi is the most awesome chick, strong-willed, sassy, and deals with some crazy stuff happening with a spunkiness that I loved. I'm familiar with this author and her work and she really breathes her own quirks into her characters and the effect is hilarious. Which seems odd, I know, considering the demon factor, but it works. In addition to the memorable characters, Psyched is well-written, riveting, surprising and genre-busting. Teens will love this book, but it definitely has a more wide-ranging appeal.
February 17, 2016
Overall this book had a very good story line that kept me engaged and interested throughout the whole thing.......there wasn't a part that was slow or uninteresting, and it wasn't predictable or cookie cutter. There were a great deal of errors throughout the e-book, and it wouldn't hurt to have an edited by a trusted proofreader. That fact would not keep me from reading other books by this author or in the series. The characters are well developed, and the reader really begins to care about them. If you like a good story with demons and ghosts plus many twists and turns, then this is one for you.
January 21, 2020
This book has good ideas but the execution falls short. Aisi has the makings of a great protagonist, but she's surrounded by an uneven narrative structure that doesn't flow well, and by other characters that are more cardboard.
At times this seemed more like a satire of YA paranormal novels than an actual YA paranormal novel, especially as various characters were introduced with names that tried way too hard (Byington? Really?). When Aisi met The Boy and "the was just something about him" yadda yadda, I'd had enough. DNF.
At times this seemed more like a satire of YA paranormal novels than an actual YA paranormal novel, especially as various characters were introduced with names that tried way too hard (Byington? Really?). When Aisi met The Boy and "the was just something about him" yadda yadda, I'd had enough. DNF.
August 2, 2014
Psyched opens up a fun, spooky world that makes readers wonder if there is really more out there than meets the eye. There is just enough light-hearted humor to relate to the author's target audience and she delivers an exciting story with strong characters. At the end, I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next with Aisi.. Great book for a wide age-range. An added bonus is that there is nothing inappropriate for younger eyes. This book is fun for girls and boys of ALL ages!
Read
October 22, 2013This was interesting until about 35-40% in. The diner scene with Vance was just... Not well developed. All of a sudden everyone is spilling all their secrets in front of anyone around? The best friend doesn't find it fishy or concerning? Stuff that was unexplainable and weird and alarming before all of a sudden were like common trivial events?! What just happened? Prob won't finish.. Just kind of ruined it for me. Bummer.
June 29, 2014
I got this book from a Goodreads giveaway. The book is overall a good book to read, just had some things that didn't go fluidly at least to me. The plot and the characters are good and the size of the book is fine. It just seemed to go from a little slow to jogging to running and jumping and then a nice leisurely jog. But as I said overall a good book to read.
October 6, 2014
It was not scary enough for me.
Sometimes a little boring.
I liked the beginning, but half way I was getting a little bored.
It's between 2 and 3 stars.
I love the cover, the cover is a 5 star cover.
Sometimes a little boring.
I liked the beginning, but half way I was getting a little bored.
It's between 2 and 3 stars.
I love the cover, the cover is a 5 star cover.
July 18, 2015
While her overall writing style is fine and the concepts were okay, I just didn't like her use of coincidence. I felt like it was heavy-handed, and while Dickens got away with it, not many people use it well.
May 7, 2016
Yes and no
This book was well written and the characters were enjoyable with a good paced plot line......But the whole idea is feeling overdone. Although it was an enjoyable read, there are so many other books out published that cover this topic.
This book was well written and the characters were enjoyable with a good paced plot line......But the whole idea is feeling overdone. Although it was an enjoyable read, there are so many other books out published that cover this topic.
October 2, 2013
Very good young adult book. To be continued..
November 11, 2013
Fun and enjoyable.
It may be billed as "young adult," but adults will love it as well.
It may be billed as "young adult," but adults will love it as well.
January 30, 2014
Will review.
February 18, 2015
It was written well and I enjoyed all of the characters
January 2, 2016
This was an amazing book!! Cant wait to read the sequel Freaked!
April 18, 2016
I loved this book. it follows a girl named Aisi who can see ghosts and demons and learns more about herself and her family history as the story unravels. highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews