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Forecast
Calvin isn’t a teenager, not really; instead, he’s spent his life trying to protect his mother and sister from his alcoholic father. Calvin keeps a knife close and sleeps with one eye open, even years after his father has left the family. A summer vacation spent at their late grandfather’s estate promises him and his sister the chance to leave their problems behind.
Instead of blissful freedom, they find the old house harbors secrets at every turn, like a mysterious stone door in the forest with rumored powers to give its entrants the gift of future-seeing. When Calvin faces the return of his seemingly-reformed father, he throws himself through the door to receive the gift of foresight. But the door offers more doubt than certainty, and the future he sees is riddled with disturbing confusion. With a revenge-obsessed lawyer hunting him down and a secret society out to control him, Calvin must figure out how to stop what he’s started before he loses what he holds most dear.
As he battles the legacies of his past and the shadows of his future, Calvin must accept help from unlikely sources, give trust he never thought possible, and learn that the greatest challenges lie not in the things to come, but in the present moment.
Instead of blissful freedom, they find the old house harbors secrets at every turn, like a mysterious stone door in the forest with rumored powers to give its entrants the gift of future-seeing. When Calvin faces the return of his seemingly-reformed father, he throws himself through the door to receive the gift of foresight. But the door offers more doubt than certainty, and the future he sees is riddled with disturbing confusion. With a revenge-obsessed lawyer hunting him down and a secret society out to control him, Calvin must figure out how to stop what he’s started before he loses what he holds most dear.
As he battles the legacies of his past and the shadows of his future, Calvin must accept help from unlikely sources, give trust he never thought possible, and learn that the greatest challenges lie not in the things to come, but in the present moment.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
332 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2013
3 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Elise Stephens
16 books60 followersElise Stephens credits much of her storytelling influence to a lifelong love of theater and childhood globetrotting. Her work focuses on themes of family, memory, and finding hope after a devastating loss. Her short fiction has appeared in Analog, Galaxy’s Edge, Escape Pod and FIYAH, among others. She lives with her family in Seattle in a house with huge windows to supply the vast quantities of light she needs to stay happy. Visit Elise at www.EliseStephens.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 26, 2014
5 Words: future, family, revenge, power, deceit.
You know when you get so caught up in an ebook that you don't even think to charge your kindle and then it dies when you're madly swiping to the next page and you want to cry?
Yes. That happened.
It's fair to say that this book is nothing like what I expected it to be.
I loved the relationship between Calvin and Cleo and how much Cleo changed - she needed to grow a pair and she did. And I loved how Natalie put such a spanner in the works.
The whole Forecast thing was a little weird and I didn't understand it, especially when it came to VisumOris, but the characters didn't seem to understand it either.
This was a good book about seeing the future, and I loved the restrictions and problems that come with such power.
You know when you get so caught up in an ebook that you don't even think to charge your kindle and then it dies when you're madly swiping to the next page and you want to cry?
Yes. That happened.
It's fair to say that this book is nothing like what I expected it to be.
I loved the relationship between Calvin and Cleo and how much Cleo changed - she needed to grow a pair and she did. And I loved how Natalie put such a spanner in the works.
The whole Forecast thing was a little weird and I didn't understand it, especially when it came to VisumOris, but the characters didn't seem to understand it either.
This was a good book about seeing the future, and I loved the restrictions and problems that come with such power.
July 31, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
I wasn’t sure what I’d think about Forecast, based on its descritpion, but I ended up enjoying the book more than I thougth I would. Calvin is one of the most realistic protagonists I’ve come across in YA literature. He knows hardships, he knows troubles, he knows what it’s like to get hurt, to protect others, what pain feels like. His reactions to things are so incredibly realistic I expected him to crawl out of the pages any minute.
Calvin made this book come alive, but an equally as intriguing character is the estate of Calvin’s late grandfather. The house harbors many secrets, and is so impressive it’s almost a character on it’s own. By passing through a mysterious stone door in the forest, Calvin receives the gift of foresight. However, the future isn’t clear, and there’s more doubt and confusion than clarity. Calvin struggles with his new power while trying to get away from the people hunting him down.
While Calvin was my favorite character, I enjoyed the other characters as well, in particularly, Cleo. The dynamics between the two siblings were spot-on and entertaining.
Forecast is a rollercoaster ride of plot twists, emotions and an unexpected ending. Add in solid writing, and you know you’re in for quite an adventure. Recommended to fans of YA fantasy.
I wasn’t sure what I’d think about Forecast, based on its descritpion, but I ended up enjoying the book more than I thougth I would. Calvin is one of the most realistic protagonists I’ve come across in YA literature. He knows hardships, he knows troubles, he knows what it’s like to get hurt, to protect others, what pain feels like. His reactions to things are so incredibly realistic I expected him to crawl out of the pages any minute.
Calvin made this book come alive, but an equally as intriguing character is the estate of Calvin’s late grandfather. The house harbors many secrets, and is so impressive it’s almost a character on it’s own. By passing through a mysterious stone door in the forest, Calvin receives the gift of foresight. However, the future isn’t clear, and there’s more doubt and confusion than clarity. Calvin struggles with his new power while trying to get away from the people hunting him down.
While Calvin was my favorite character, I enjoyed the other characters as well, in particularly, Cleo. The dynamics between the two siblings were spot-on and entertaining.
Forecast is a rollercoaster ride of plot twists, emotions and an unexpected ending. Add in solid writing, and you know you’re in for quite an adventure. Recommended to fans of YA fantasy.
September 6, 2013
Loved this book, the characters, the storyline. Well done.
October 5, 2022
The author was good at setting up suspense and creating action, but her storytelling seemed clunky. Things often seemed to get discovered or action happened just to create an exciting scene, but didn't seem believable considering the character's were only 15. Also her comparisons were hilariously clunky (example when main character meets up with beautiful girl: "Calvin met her eyes to check her sincerity. They were grey eyes, wet and smooth, like dolphin skin..." Ha ha ha. In addition, after ALL the build-up of the characters gaining psychic abilities, they never used their abilities with any focus, or to overcome obstacles, even during the climax. WHAT?! Ridiculous. Then who cares?! Oh, and good gracious! Incredibly old-fashioned view of female characters (they're beautiful, but weak, and always hiding never exploring or thinking things through. Arrrrgh).
August 26, 2014
Calvin is a curious fifteen-year old teen and who wouldn’t be as he walks inside a massive old house that is just begging to unleash its mysteries. When his twin sister and he decided to visit his ancestral home before starting the school year, they didn’t anticipate uncovering the secrets their family had hidden from them. His grandfather, a psychic, the one and only Percy Humboldt was a foreseer of things to come and had a great following before his death. His housekeeper, Mrs. Seabrook, who manages the Humboldt Manor, has a great knowledge of the things of the past, for which she slowly passes onto the two teens as they investigate the Manor. It’s his study that intrigues Calvin and for which Calvin finds the most valuable information which will transform both of their lives forever. His twin Cleo putts around in the garden for garden bulbs where she unmistakably discovers the key. This key which was to remain hidden has now fallen into the hands of the twins and now the intensity of this book is skyrocketing. This key is like a time bomb, people want it and others think it is cursed; I’m torn between what are sinister ways and just curiosity. I cheered for both sides, I wanted to open the locked door with the key and I wanted to be on the other side of the door and figure out why it was locked. I wanted to see what was there and experience it yet as I read the words that grandfather left for them in his letters, I was chilled and I feared for them but I wanted it all the same. Once you have the power that grandfather talked about, you can’t turn it off and like their grandfather the twins wanted to know, they wanted to see if it was real. As grandfather begs them to destroy the key, he tells them about his life, his family and the VisumOris organization. So many sides and different stories, just who do you believe? It’s only a key and a door, right?
I received this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
I received this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
July 30, 2014
4 fangs
This book is a standalone but could be part of a series if the author chooses too.
It is a bit long winded but is well written. It will make you feel different emotions.
Calvin and cleo are siblings but they get on and love each other like siblings are supposed to. Their mother sends them to their dead grandfathers house for the summer break alone , but for the housekeper of sorts. When she tries to sort out their life as it is at the moment from their small apartment. Their father had been moved out for two years by then fir being drunk and abusive towards their mother.
When they got to their grandfathers, they were told of events that had happened there in the past. Their grandfather had found a hidden door and his life had been changed forever.
Cleo finds a key and the siblings begin to argue about it. Their father comes to visit and the adventure starts.
Will they become a family again and will they find the hidden door. Read the book to find out.
This book is a standalone but could be part of a series if the author chooses too.
It is a bit long winded but is well written. It will make you feel different emotions.
Calvin and cleo are siblings but they get on and love each other like siblings are supposed to. Their mother sends them to their dead grandfathers house for the summer break alone , but for the housekeper of sorts. When she tries to sort out their life as it is at the moment from their small apartment. Their father had been moved out for two years by then fir being drunk and abusive towards their mother.
When they got to their grandfathers, they were told of events that had happened there in the past. Their grandfather had found a hidden door and his life had been changed forever.
Cleo finds a key and the siblings begin to argue about it. Their father comes to visit and the adventure starts.
Will they become a family again and will they find the hidden door. Read the book to find out.
July 3, 2015
I enjoy books that have a quick moving plot and adding magical elements just makes it better. No matter what age it is targeted towards. Calvin is a great character in a book filled with many wonderful characters. His grandfather’s house is extraordinary and has many secrets; if wasn’t a house then I’d be raving about the character development.
Once Calvin goes through the stone door in the forest he has the gift of foresight, but since everything that happens affects the outcome of the future this gift cause more ambiguity than clarity. This is a wonderful book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
4.5/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or the publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**
Once Calvin goes through the stone door in the forest he has the gift of foresight, but since everything that happens affects the outcome of the future this gift cause more ambiguity than clarity. This is a wonderful book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
4.5/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or the publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**
August 10, 2014
I received a review copy
I’m not a huge reader of young adult, but I am a big fan of magical elements in my reading and this book caught my attention right from the beginning. The mysteries that surround the family were exciting and engaging, and once Calvin goes through the door, it was near impossible to put this book down. I also enjoyed the dynamic not only between Calvin and his sister, but all the relationships within the family. A very intriguing and unique read!
I’m not a huge reader of young adult, but I am a big fan of magical elements in my reading and this book caught my attention right from the beginning. The mysteries that surround the family were exciting and engaging, and once Calvin goes through the door, it was near impossible to put this book down. I also enjoyed the dynamic not only between Calvin and his sister, but all the relationships within the family. A very intriguing and unique read!
September 6, 2013
First I would like to thank the author Elise Stephens for giving me this book for an honest review. I love this story, the characters are amazing. They are believable and you can identify with them. I love how believable the relationship with the twins Calvin and Cleo and their father Martin. The characters had flaws, no one was perfect. I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 31, 2014
Interesting book, a story of redemption and forgiveness. Much better content than most YA, no questionable content. It was a slow start for me, but the last half went quickly.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews