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Empath
Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her.
Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.
When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her, unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.
Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.
Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.
When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her, unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.
Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2013
76 people are currently reading
1321 people want to read
About the author
Becca J. Campbell
16 books285 followersBecca writes New Adult (college age) fiction that's typically Urban Fantasy but often ranges anywhere from Science Fiction to Thrillers. Her writing typically involves a bit of the fantastical with an emphasis on relationships. She is addicted to thinking up cool, super-human abilities and the tragic downsides that go along with them.
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August 16, 2013
Y'all are receiving a sneak-peek at my review! I'll be posting it around once the book is live, and then on my blog next Tuesday.
Book Info: Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Thriller
Reading Level: New Adult
Recommended for: Fans of thrillers involving paranormal elements
Book Available: August 20, 2013
Trigger Warnings: murder, violence (esp. toward women), warning for those who are afraid of snakes and/or spiders
Animal Abuse: a bear in killed (it was attacking), snakes and spiders are used to assault women and could potentially be harmed in that process
My Thoughts: I will admit to being a fan of this author already, so was very excited when she contacted me to edit this book. I was quite impressed by her abilities, as this manuscript was fairly clean. Oh, there was plenty for me to do, but compared to some I've seen? Impressive. This is the first time I've received a manuscript that contained the term jack-o'-lantern in which it was correctly spelled, so I was quite impressed.
Ethan was a chilling character. That sort of cold cruelty freezes my blood. There was a quote I wanted to use here, but it would make a spoiler, so I'll leave it out. But believe me, he was a highly believable, and highly scary, character.
I couldn't help but like Cam—his sunny nature and natural charm is very appealing. His brother Josh, while quiet, seems to contain a certain complexity. I would have liked to have learned more about him. I also really liked Chloe's character, her strength and feistiness. As far as Jade's other romantic interest, I of course liked Logan. It's so interesting how all these people consider themselves unique—and each is, of course—but there are so many people that have these different unique characteristics. I like how the author wove all their strengths together in the end to solve the problem.
I believe this is scheduled to be the first book in a new series. The second book is to be titled Outsider. I'm not sure what characters will continue. Jade and Logan's story seems to be complete, but there is a lot to be learned still about Josh, so I'm hoping he's up next. I am quite looking forward to wherever she takes this. It was a very enjoyable book.
Disclosure: I edited this book for the author. I do not receive any remuneration based on sales. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her.
Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.
When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.
Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.
Book Info: Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Thriller
Reading Level: New Adult
Recommended for: Fans of thrillers involving paranormal elements
Book Available: August 20, 2013
Trigger Warnings: murder, violence (esp. toward women), warning for those who are afraid of snakes and/or spiders
Animal Abuse: a bear in killed (it was attacking), snakes and spiders are used to assault women and could potentially be harmed in that process
My Thoughts: I will admit to being a fan of this author already, so was very excited when she contacted me to edit this book. I was quite impressed by her abilities, as this manuscript was fairly clean. Oh, there was plenty for me to do, but compared to some I've seen? Impressive. This is the first time I've received a manuscript that contained the term jack-o'-lantern in which it was correctly spelled, so I was quite impressed.
Ethan was a chilling character. That sort of cold cruelty freezes my blood. There was a quote I wanted to use here, but it would make a spoiler, so I'll leave it out. But believe me, he was a highly believable, and highly scary, character.
I couldn't help but like Cam—his sunny nature and natural charm is very appealing. His brother Josh, while quiet, seems to contain a certain complexity. I would have liked to have learned more about him. I also really liked Chloe's character, her strength and feistiness. As far as Jade's other romantic interest, I of course liked Logan. It's so interesting how all these people consider themselves unique—and each is, of course—but there are so many people that have these different unique characteristics. I like how the author wove all their strengths together in the end to solve the problem.
I believe this is scheduled to be the first book in a new series. The second book is to be titled Outsider. I'm not sure what characters will continue. Jade and Logan's story seems to be complete, but there is a lot to be learned still about Josh, so I'm hoping he's up next. I am quite looking forward to wherever she takes this. It was a very enjoyable book.
Disclosure: I edited this book for the author. I do not receive any remuneration based on sales. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her.
Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.
When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.
Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.
April 8, 2015
Empathy by Becca J. Campbell is beautifully written and described. Jena is an empathy. She is an only child and after an incident in kindergarten she was homeschooled by her mom and dad. They took her to all kinds of doctors but never decided the cause. Jena spent a couple years in high school and became friends with a few girls. Going to college in Colorado was very hard for her to do. Jena took nonlinear courses but wanted to be on her own. her first course was Philosophy. She ran out of class several times when the emotions were too high. she missed a lot and she missed midterm exams. She met Professor Logan when she got lost in the woods. He helped her study caught up with what she missed. then he distanced himself from her. Jena wondered why she felt relaxed around Logan. Jena got a job at the bookstore in town.
October 20, 2013
I’ve read Gateway To Reality by Becca and really enjoyed it so I didn’t hesitate to join the tour and review Empath! This is quite different from her other book and it has some intriguing slants on empaths and some other abilities that the characters have in this book, a new approach and way to look at them, which I found very refreshing.
It probably wasn’t a good idea for Jade’s parents to keep her isolated while growing up. Now she’s starting college and going to her first class and she’s not yet learned to put up a protective barrier between her and other people’s emotions. She doesn’t just feel their emotions, theirs become hers, she feels and reacts to what they are feeling.
One good thing is she meets Cam. Yes, his emotions become hers when she’s near him, but his are sunny and pure and it makes it easy to be with him. He’s like a shield between her and others. That is, until his feelings for her deepen and she has to fight her reactions when he becomes more passionate.
A chance encounter at the grocery store exposes her to the dark, evil emotions of a stranger. Unbeknownst to Jade, Ethan has her firmly in his sights and can’t wait to add her to his collection.
My thoughts
The thing that most intrigued me about Empath was how the author introduced each characters unusual abilities and made it uniquely her own. They are more like a human condition than a supernatural one.
Some of the characters gain their abilities through physical trauma, but some, like Jade and Logan, a professor and loner at her college, are born with them.
Logan doesn’t know why he’s like he is and keeps to himself so no one will learn his secret. A casual encounter with Jade has him wishing he were different. He’s drawn to Jade but not sure if he should act on his attraction.
When Jade bumps into Logan on a hike in the woods, she’s pleasantly surprised to not feel anything from him. She doesn’t feel his emotions, and enjoys being able to feel her own when they are together. This, along with his rugged good looks, stir up an attraction, plus she’s curious to see what he may be hiding.
Jade now has some new friends and a possible love interest or two, but she’s also caught the eye of a sadistic predator.
The author writes in several points of view so you can see what each character is thinking and understand their actions better. The switches in points of view are easy to follow as they are written in their own distinct voices. I liked this as I was further connected to the characters and came to care for them, or in one instance, loathe and fear one.
There are some fun scenes when Jade steps outside her comfort zone and tries some new things and some scary, suspenseful ones as her predator approaches.
Empath is a clean new adult fantasy romance. There are no sex scenes and the predators actions are not explicitly detailed, leaving you to use your imagination.
I’m into this series now and looking forward to what comes next. While this chapter of the series is wrapped up, there are some teases at the end which raise your curiosity and make you want to come back for more.
I received this ARC for my honest review. I was in no way influenced and am anticipating more great adventures in this series.
It probably wasn’t a good idea for Jade’s parents to keep her isolated while growing up. Now she’s starting college and going to her first class and she’s not yet learned to put up a protective barrier between her and other people’s emotions. She doesn’t just feel their emotions, theirs become hers, she feels and reacts to what they are feeling.
One good thing is she meets Cam. Yes, his emotions become hers when she’s near him, but his are sunny and pure and it makes it easy to be with him. He’s like a shield between her and others. That is, until his feelings for her deepen and she has to fight her reactions when he becomes more passionate.
A chance encounter at the grocery store exposes her to the dark, evil emotions of a stranger. Unbeknownst to Jade, Ethan has her firmly in his sights and can’t wait to add her to his collection.
My thoughts
The thing that most intrigued me about Empath was how the author introduced each characters unusual abilities and made it uniquely her own. They are more like a human condition than a supernatural one.
Some of the characters gain their abilities through physical trauma, but some, like Jade and Logan, a professor and loner at her college, are born with them.
Logan doesn’t know why he’s like he is and keeps to himself so no one will learn his secret. A casual encounter with Jade has him wishing he were different. He’s drawn to Jade but not sure if he should act on his attraction.
When Jade bumps into Logan on a hike in the woods, she’s pleasantly surprised to not feel anything from him. She doesn’t feel his emotions, and enjoys being able to feel her own when they are together. This, along with his rugged good looks, stir up an attraction, plus she’s curious to see what he may be hiding.
Jade now has some new friends and a possible love interest or two, but she’s also caught the eye of a sadistic predator.
The author writes in several points of view so you can see what each character is thinking and understand their actions better. The switches in points of view are easy to follow as they are written in their own distinct voices. I liked this as I was further connected to the characters and came to care for them, or in one instance, loathe and fear one.
There are some fun scenes when Jade steps outside her comfort zone and tries some new things and some scary, suspenseful ones as her predator approaches.
Empath is a clean new adult fantasy romance. There are no sex scenes and the predators actions are not explicitly detailed, leaving you to use your imagination.
I’m into this series now and looking forward to what comes next. While this chapter of the series is wrapped up, there are some teases at the end which raise your curiosity and make you want to come back for more.
I received this ARC for my honest review. I was in no way influenced and am anticipating more great adventures in this series.
November 28, 2016
Empath by Becca Campbell hooked me from the opening pages. I was quickly drawn into Jade’s world and the characters became my friends too…most of them.
Jade walked into the classroom and it confirmed her reason for online classes. The feelings bombarded her…anger, attraction, excitement. She struggled to maintain a calm appearance. Were they her feelings, or someone else’s?
‘She believed in God…Why had he given her this FLAW?’
Everything changed for her when she met Logan. He calmed her.
Logan, is a professor at the college she was attending and he is a loner, for reasons of his own. He knew he should stay away from her, but we know how that goes. Becca Campbell’s writing drew me to him immediately. There is something special about him and I was as drawn to him as Jade was. She wondered…is he special too, is this the beginning of something wonderful for her, could she have a relationship?
Ethan…Becca draws a vivid picture of him in my mind. I do love a good villain and Ethan fits that picture perfectly. He is a psychopath, feels no fear and has powers of his own. He collects snakes and they are his tools of torture. Serial killers collect trophies and his are especially heinous. His thoughts and fantasies are EVIL, and they are about Jade. He MUST have her.
Cam, poor Cam. He has a huge crush on Jade and I wonder what will become of him. Since a snowboarding accident, he has blackouts that cause a sense of deja vu. I love that Becca describes his senses in depth…every sight, sound and smell, no matter how small.
Jade has more friends with unique powers of their own and they all hold a special place in her world. Why were they chosen? Maybe they weren’t FLAWS. Maybe they were gifts.
When Jade meets ‘Bigfoot’ I was not surprised. I expected it and had hoped it would happen. I think I know his name. Will I be right? We will have to wait and see.
I like how the romance is slow developing, subtle. Do you remember your first love…the butterflies in your stomach, the heat of a blush rising to the surface of your face, the excitement of even a glimpse of him/her, the teasing and playfulness of a conversation? It reads like real life and that makes the story even more believable. The triangle is not really a triangle, but Cam feels like it is.
I guess you can tell I fell in love with the characters. They may be young, but the danger surrounds them as they go about the normal business of life. I usually write more about the action in a novel and the characters just happen to be in the way. Not so with Empath. I am now heavily involved in their lives and will see it through to the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Empath by Becca Cambell.
To see more visit fundinmental
Jade walked into the classroom and it confirmed her reason for online classes. The feelings bombarded her…anger, attraction, excitement. She struggled to maintain a calm appearance. Were they her feelings, or someone else’s?
‘She believed in God…Why had he given her this FLAW?’
Everything changed for her when she met Logan. He calmed her.
Logan, is a professor at the college she was attending and he is a loner, for reasons of his own. He knew he should stay away from her, but we know how that goes. Becca Campbell’s writing drew me to him immediately. There is something special about him and I was as drawn to him as Jade was. She wondered…is he special too, is this the beginning of something wonderful for her, could she have a relationship?
Ethan…Becca draws a vivid picture of him in my mind. I do love a good villain and Ethan fits that picture perfectly. He is a psychopath, feels no fear and has powers of his own. He collects snakes and they are his tools of torture. Serial killers collect trophies and his are especially heinous. His thoughts and fantasies are EVIL, and they are about Jade. He MUST have her.
Cam, poor Cam. He has a huge crush on Jade and I wonder what will become of him. Since a snowboarding accident, he has blackouts that cause a sense of deja vu. I love that Becca describes his senses in depth…every sight, sound and smell, no matter how small.
Jade has more friends with unique powers of their own and they all hold a special place in her world. Why were they chosen? Maybe they weren’t FLAWS. Maybe they were gifts.
When Jade meets ‘Bigfoot’ I was not surprised. I expected it and had hoped it would happen. I think I know his name. Will I be right? We will have to wait and see.
I like how the romance is slow developing, subtle. Do you remember your first love…the butterflies in your stomach, the heat of a blush rising to the surface of your face, the excitement of even a glimpse of him/her, the teasing and playfulness of a conversation? It reads like real life and that makes the story even more believable. The triangle is not really a triangle, but Cam feels like it is.
I guess you can tell I fell in love with the characters. They may be young, but the danger surrounds them as they go about the normal business of life. I usually write more about the action in a novel and the characters just happen to be in the way. Not so with Empath. I am now heavily involved in their lives and will see it through to the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Empath by Becca Cambell.
To see more visit fundinmental
August 20, 2014
Simple and smooth
First of all thank you to the "Shut up and Read community" for sharing the copy of this book with me.
Empath for me was an usual young adult potboiler with all the ingredients that makes for a good intriguing read. The plot on a broader glance follows the traditional paranormal methods but the treatment and nuisances makes it a bit different and this was enough to sell this book for me.
Empath's story treatment is nice, the parallel narration technique used is quite impressive and kind of fuels the interest. Language is simple, short and easy flowing which makes it a enjoyable read.i love the elements used in the story like the supernatural powers, story enhancers, twists and turns.i did notice a bit rawness in language, but in pinches, other wise the simplicity of the language helped me love this book. Fortunately for me,the author did not incorporate too much emotional melodrama that is an usual side dish for paranormal young adults. Yes there are love trouble, teen angst and other related stuffs, but as i said ....does not hover.
If you have read the book, then you will probably understand when i say that the character of Ethan was totally different and something that kept haunting you and wanting to continue the the book and i loved how the author had made this character run parallel with the main characters and at the end culminating into a crucial story developer. In case you have not read the book, then look out for the character of Ethan.
Empath even though comes with the usual young adult schemes,still emerges as a good and different read because of keeping it fast paced, simple and quick without much hovering. The plot comes with interesting developments, does not stall long, gets to the point straight away. There are lots of fresh elements in the book, in case you are thinking that why should i go for this book, if it follows the routine. Characters are fun. Language is simple, playful and helpful. Its a good read if you love paranormal genre.
How was it?
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness...
I delight in weaknesses, insults in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when i am weak, then i am strong
First of all thank you to the "Shut up and Read community" for sharing the copy of this book with me.
Empath for me was an usual young adult potboiler with all the ingredients that makes for a good intriguing read. The plot on a broader glance follows the traditional paranormal methods but the treatment and nuisances makes it a bit different and this was enough to sell this book for me.
Empath's story treatment is nice, the parallel narration technique used is quite impressive and kind of fuels the interest. Language is simple, short and easy flowing which makes it a enjoyable read.i love the elements used in the story like the supernatural powers, story enhancers, twists and turns.i did notice a bit rawness in language, but in pinches, other wise the simplicity of the language helped me love this book. Fortunately for me,the author did not incorporate too much emotional melodrama that is an usual side dish for paranormal young adults. Yes there are love trouble, teen angst and other related stuffs, but as i said ....does not hover.
If you have read the book, then you will probably understand when i say that the character of Ethan was totally different and something that kept haunting you and wanting to continue the the book and i loved how the author had made this character run parallel with the main characters and at the end culminating into a crucial story developer. In case you have not read the book, then look out for the character of Ethan.
Empath even though comes with the usual young adult schemes,still emerges as a good and different read because of keeping it fast paced, simple and quick without much hovering. The plot comes with interesting developments, does not stall long, gets to the point straight away. There are lots of fresh elements in the book, in case you are thinking that why should i go for this book, if it follows the routine. Characters are fun. Language is simple, playful and helpful. Its a good read if you love paranormal genre.
How was it?
August 6, 2013
ARC REVIEW
I received an ARC for an honest review of this book, and it landed in my inbox yesterday afternoon. I was honestly conflicted on the stars I should give this book, but finally decided on a very good 3.5. I loved the originality of the story, never have I come across another with quite the same (para)normal characters. I loved how Becca switched between the POV's of the main cast who includes Jade, our heroine blessed (or as she feels) cursed with an empathic ability that is so strong she does not know where her feelings begin and other's feelings start. We have our classic quiet guy Logan, a professor at Jade's college with some secrets of his own, and the of course the bad guy, Ethan, a sadistic killer with a target in mind..
Becca did a very good job of keeping all the different threads of her story together, not once did I have to go back - everything played out clear and without holes in the story.
On the down side I like my paranormal or fiction books to be - even though it is totally impossible, to make me feel it can happen, maybe. For me, the story had too many sub plots and side characters in the cast with coincidental abilities / disabilities, so towards the end I sort of wished for more character development between the main cast and less fokus on the friends, siblings and other side plots. It made the main plot ending very easy to guess halfway through the book, and the final ending a bit too much for too little interaction?.
I had a look online and saw Becca J. Campbell is a fairly new writer, and I honestly have to say I see great things happening for her in the future. I remember years ago I read authors with her storytelling ability who is now NY best selling authors!
Empath is definitely worth the read and was like a fresh breath of air in the now very over populated Faye, vampire, werewolf world.
I received an ARC for an honest review of this book, and it landed in my inbox yesterday afternoon. I was honestly conflicted on the stars I should give this book, but finally decided on a very good 3.5. I loved the originality of the story, never have I come across another with quite the same (para)normal characters. I loved how Becca switched between the POV's of the main cast who includes Jade, our heroine blessed (or as she feels) cursed with an empathic ability that is so strong she does not know where her feelings begin and other's feelings start. We have our classic quiet guy Logan, a professor at Jade's college with some secrets of his own, and the of course the bad guy, Ethan, a sadistic killer with a target in mind..
Becca did a very good job of keeping all the different threads of her story together, not once did I have to go back - everything played out clear and without holes in the story.
On the down side I like my paranormal or fiction books to be - even though it is totally impossible, to make me feel it can happen, maybe. For me, the story had too many sub plots and side characters in the cast with coincidental abilities / disabilities, so towards the end I sort of wished for more character development between the main cast and less fokus on the friends, siblings and other side plots. It made the main plot ending very easy to guess halfway through the book, and the final ending a bit too much for too little interaction?.
I had a look online and saw Becca J. Campbell is a fairly new writer, and I honestly have to say I see great things happening for her in the future. I remember years ago I read authors with her storytelling ability who is now NY best selling authors!
Empath is definitely worth the read and was like a fresh breath of air in the now very over populated Faye, vampire, werewolf world.
August 19, 2013
Disclaimer: I was a beta/ARC reader for this book and have been asked to provide an honest review by the author.
The cast of characters is amazing. Pure and simple. Every character has a clear personality and I could see myself really getting to know them.
The story is exciting and perfectly paced. I love the POV switches. It really keeps the story going, and it's nice to see what is going on with the other characters.
The antagonist is mysterious, creepy and one of those horror movie types that you love to hate.
The writing flows nicely. I love everything I've read from Becca J. Campbell, and this is no different. She always delivers and I can't wait to read more of this new series!
The cast of characters is amazing. Pure and simple. Every character has a clear personality and I could see myself really getting to know them.
The story is exciting and perfectly paced. I love the POV switches. It really keeps the story going, and it's nice to see what is going on with the other characters.
The antagonist is mysterious, creepy and one of those horror movie types that you love to hate.
The writing flows nicely. I love everything I've read from Becca J. Campbell, and this is no different. She always delivers and I can't wait to read more of this new series!
April 2, 2015
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jade is a college student, she is not an ordinary girl. She has the gift of Empathy she feels it is a curse at times. She picks up on other peoples feelings, she is never sure if these feelings are her,s or someone around her. She makes some new friends in college she might even have a young man in her life. Than Ethan who is a psychopath appears. He is obsessed with Jade and she is soon in danger. Jade must learn to use her Emphatic powers to save herself. I Loved the originality of the story , a great mix of drama and suspense, the emotions seemed real to me and the fantasy aspect was great. I highly recommend to all fantasy lovers.
Jade is a college student, she is not an ordinary girl. She has the gift of Empathy she feels it is a curse at times. She picks up on other peoples feelings, she is never sure if these feelings are her,s or someone around her. She makes some new friends in college she might even have a young man in her life. Than Ethan who is a psychopath appears. He is obsessed with Jade and she is soon in danger. Jade must learn to use her Emphatic powers to save herself. I Loved the originality of the story , a great mix of drama and suspense, the emotions seemed real to me and the fantasy aspect was great. I highly recommend to all fantasy lovers.
August 10, 2013
ARC review
I was giving an opportunity to receive an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book and was hooked from the beginning. I found the characters to be original and intriguing. I was not able to know how the book was going to end until the end. Becca's ability to write an interesting and entertaining story is so refreshing and has me already waiting for the next book.
I was giving an opportunity to receive an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book and was hooked from the beginning. I found the characters to be original and intriguing. I was not able to know how the book was going to end until the end. Becca's ability to write an interesting and entertaining story is so refreshing and has me already waiting for the next book.
September 11, 2013
This book was supplied to me as an advanced reader copy by the author for me to review. The first two pages drew me right into the world of Jade and the swirl of everyone's emotions that bombard her as she attempts to go to her first on site college class. She is an Empath who feels everything that everyone else feels as they are feeling it. The author supplies the reader with just enough information as the story goes on to answer a few questions which then leads the reader to create more questions in his or her mind. At times it is a bit frustrating not to have more information readily at hand or more questions answered but it is also a great motivator to read on, what was it that frightened off the bear for example or who is the professor really and how is he going to fit into the rest of the story? There is personal violence against women from the psychopath who is on the hunt as he stalks Jade. The violence is not graphic but the is enough detail that you can easily surmise what happens to the victims. The story is well laid out with a very intriguing and unusual premise of people either being born with or obtaining empathic abilities through accidents. While not being technically Christian fiction, this book did have the characters question God about the purpose for their abilities.
June 4, 2017
*I received a copy of the eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Empath by Becca J. Campbell is a young adult paranormal novel. Jade Campbell is an empath and shares her story and her point of view. She is attending college and living on her own for the first time after a sheltered childhood. This new life is stressful for Jade but she is determined to succeed. Meeting new friends along the way that will provide the support she needs.
Ethan Black shares his point of view in a separate story line. The reader discovers that his character is severely flawed and extremely disturbing. He wants Jade and his world to collide. And that will be the reader’s great fear knowing that the outcome would not be positive for Jade.
It is interesting that the people she meets have special gifts as well. And why have they all met at this particular point in their lives? I found all the gifts a bit overpowering in the novel but perhaps they are necessary for a sequel.
The novel begins slowly but picks up quickly. The author has written a creative story unlike any other I have read. It will be interesting to read her sequels.
Empath by Becca J. Campbell is a young adult paranormal novel. Jade Campbell is an empath and shares her story and her point of view. She is attending college and living on her own for the first time after a sheltered childhood. This new life is stressful for Jade but she is determined to succeed. Meeting new friends along the way that will provide the support she needs.
Ethan Black shares his point of view in a separate story line. The reader discovers that his character is severely flawed and extremely disturbing. He wants Jade and his world to collide. And that will be the reader’s great fear knowing that the outcome would not be positive for Jade.
It is interesting that the people she meets have special gifts as well. And why have they all met at this particular point in their lives? I found all the gifts a bit overpowering in the novel but perhaps they are necessary for a sequel.
The novel begins slowly but picks up quickly. The author has written a creative story unlike any other I have read. It will be interesting to read her sequels.
January 8, 2015
Becca Campbell did a great job with this book. I thought this was a bit of a change for a book. To start with the main character that isn't used to a gift is a new one for me to read. Jade trying to cope with being an impasse was a new one for me. Most book have characters that already know the gift. I'm torn in this book though. I wanted to love it, but I didn't know how. I thought the story was smooth to read. The love triangle was a fell off for me. I really wanted Jade and Cam to be together. I loved Logan character though. I really liked the thought of easy going Cam and the complex Jade. I am very interested in my books to follow. I will be reading the next one about Josh. I recommend this book for anyone that likes smooth reads in the supernatural/paranormal side of things. It's very easy/fast read. I will be reading the rest of the series though. Happy reading!
August 22, 2013
I have read other books by Becca and this is by far the best. She has an amazing talent for writing human emotion!
This is a superbly written story. The reader is immediately pulled into Jade's world and it's difficult to drag yourself out. The characters are realistic and colorful. I found myself feeling along with Jade and rooting for her too!
I also appreciate how well Becca roots God into the story and the character's lives. He's there but not overwhelming.
A dynamite beginning to this series and I can't wait for the next installment!
This is a superbly written story. The reader is immediately pulled into Jade's world and it's difficult to drag yourself out. The characters are realistic and colorful. I found myself feeling along with Jade and rooting for her too!
I also appreciate how well Becca roots God into the story and the character's lives. He's there but not overwhelming.
A dynamite beginning to this series and I can't wait for the next installment!
September 10, 2014
I was attracted to EMPATH by the original concept of supernatural “powers” that are viewed as flaws instead of gifts by the characters. The majority of paranormal books in general concentrate on using special abilities for some greater good or to help others, but in this book, the main character Jade tries to ignore her ability as much as possible. Ever since she can remember, she’s had the ability to feel other people’s emotions and while that sounds interesting, it has forced Jade to live a sheltered life. Her parents figured early on that strong emotions and being around people was difficult for Jade so they home-schooled her and protected her from society as much as possible.
It’s kind of cliché to meet Jade as she tries to integrate herself in college life for the first time, but for some reason, it’s a cliché that I really don’t mind. It works for the story and we learn along with Jade how difficult it is for her to be around so many people. Her ability not only cripples her at first, but makes her almost unable to function and concentrate in her college class. With time, she learns to cope with her ability to a certain degree, but never fully controlling it. Because of her initial inability to control her empathy, Jade comes off as a weak person, a sheltered character. I found it hard to connect with her because her naivety was just a little too much, but with time she grew on me. Especially as she started to make friends with Cam and his sibling. Soon after she meets Cam, Jade discovers that he has his own flaw, but unlike Jade, he has learnt to make the best of it and see it as a gift instead.
One character that remains a mystery, even after finishing the book, is Logan. A professor at Jade’s college, he comes in and saves Jade at the most opportunistic times, whether it’s saving her from failing her first college class or saving her from a more physical threat. We eventually find out that he has his own special ability, and like Jade he sees it more as a curse. His ability has also forced him to live a secluded life, never getting close to anyone in fear of revealing too much about himself.
One thing that wasn’t really explained was how the special abilities came to be. Jade and Logan seemed to have been born with them, or acquired them at a very early age, while Cam developed his after sustaining an injury to his head during a traumatic accident. Hopefully we’ll get more insight about why these young people have these abilities, later in the series.
The antagonist of this story is a little too freaky for me. Personally, I never really like following the antagonist’s point of view in a story because it always seems forced and not quite real. EMPATH is no exception with this irritation, and while it would be difficult to really get an in depth look at the antagonist’s reasons without his point of view, it might have been advantageous to hear about him from a third party or through other means. We first really read about him when Jade overhears a conversation between two college girls discussing a murder, but that’s the only time Jade is made aware of him, and then ultimately forgets about it. Media and news could have built on the thriller/murder mystery aspect of the story, and even if the antagonist’s point of view was necessary, it could have built the suspense if Jade would have been more aware of him in the early parts of the book.
EMPATH will literally take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. At first, it felt like there was too much emphasis on the description of emotions but that was probably done on purpose, for us to really understand what Jade is going through. A decent beginning to a series, the flow of the story was bumpy at the beginning, and some scenes seemed unimportant and irrelevant. I did enjoy the ending and how the author left us with unfinished business, setting us up for a sequel.
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Find this and other reviews on Tynga's Reviews
An electronic advance reader's copy was provided by the author for an honest review
It’s kind of cliché to meet Jade as she tries to integrate herself in college life for the first time, but for some reason, it’s a cliché that I really don’t mind. It works for the story and we learn along with Jade how difficult it is for her to be around so many people. Her ability not only cripples her at first, but makes her almost unable to function and concentrate in her college class. With time, she learns to cope with her ability to a certain degree, but never fully controlling it. Because of her initial inability to control her empathy, Jade comes off as a weak person, a sheltered character. I found it hard to connect with her because her naivety was just a little too much, but with time she grew on me. Especially as she started to make friends with Cam and his sibling. Soon after she meets Cam, Jade discovers that he has his own flaw, but unlike Jade, he has learnt to make the best of it and see it as a gift instead.
One character that remains a mystery, even after finishing the book, is Logan. A professor at Jade’s college, he comes in and saves Jade at the most opportunistic times, whether it’s saving her from failing her first college class or saving her from a more physical threat. We eventually find out that he has his own special ability, and like Jade he sees it more as a curse. His ability has also forced him to live a secluded life, never getting close to anyone in fear of revealing too much about himself.
One thing that wasn’t really explained was how the special abilities came to be. Jade and Logan seemed to have been born with them, or acquired them at a very early age, while Cam developed his after sustaining an injury to his head during a traumatic accident. Hopefully we’ll get more insight about why these young people have these abilities, later in the series.
The antagonist of this story is a little too freaky for me. Personally, I never really like following the antagonist’s point of view in a story because it always seems forced and not quite real. EMPATH is no exception with this irritation, and while it would be difficult to really get an in depth look at the antagonist’s reasons without his point of view, it might have been advantageous to hear about him from a third party or through other means. We first really read about him when Jade overhears a conversation between two college girls discussing a murder, but that’s the only time Jade is made aware of him, and then ultimately forgets about it. Media and news could have built on the thriller/murder mystery aspect of the story, and even if the antagonist’s point of view was necessary, it could have built the suspense if Jade would have been more aware of him in the early parts of the book.
EMPATH will literally take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. At first, it felt like there was too much emphasis on the description of emotions but that was probably done on purpose, for us to really understand what Jade is going through. A decent beginning to a series, the flow of the story was bumpy at the beginning, and some scenes seemed unimportant and irrelevant. I did enjoy the ending and how the author left us with unfinished business, setting us up for a sequel.
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Find this and other reviews on Tynga's Reviews
An electronic advance reader's copy was provided by the author for an honest review
June 11, 2016
From the moment I picked up this book I was looking forward to an interesting paranormal book.
I loved Becca’s writing style from the beginning; however there were a few things that kept bothering me. Becca introduced us to Jade, the Empath; Ethan, a man with supper hearing and who can see in the dark; and Logan, a teacher at Jade’s college.
The climax of this story was over way too soon and I felt cheated out of it. It was a great read, however, I just felt that the kidnapping should have happened earlier in the book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I loved Becca’s writing style from the beginning; however there were a few things that kept bothering me. Becca introduced us to Jade, the Empath; Ethan, a man with supper hearing and who can see in the dark; and Logan, a teacher at Jade’s college.
The climax of this story was over way too soon and I felt cheated out of it. It was a great read, however, I just felt that the kidnapping should have happened earlier in the book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
August 20, 2013
Another winner from Becca J. Campbell! In her latest series, Flawed, her usual flare for suspense and the manipulation of reality manifests itself in the forms of five unique and gripping characters, all of whom possess a certain “flaw” that enhances their life experience—and not always for the better. In Empath, the riveting first installment to the series, we are introduced to Jade, a young woman plagued by the distinctive problem of being highly sensitive to the feelings and emotions of others—to the point that she often loses track of her own personality. In an effort to gain control over this phenomenon, Jade enrolls in on-campus college classes for the first time ever, and strikes up a surprising number of friendships with people who allow her to be herself. Caught in the internal tug of war of emotion, not only with her own feelings for her new friends, but with theirs as well, Jade is unable to track the emotions of the one person who may matter most: the man who is stalking her, intent on torturing and eventually killing her.
Campbell’s signature writing style shines as bright as ever in Empath, allowing the reader to be truly enveloped in Jade’s awkwardness, emotion, and conviction that she must overcome what she calls her “handicap” and have normal relationships with normal people. The story runs a winding course, cutting brutally back and forth between violent scenes that slowly reveal the villain’s intent, and touching moments between Jade and her friends that keep the reader enthralled. Though the killer purports to use people’s fears and weaknesses to destroy them, it is really the interaction between the characters minds and bodies that seems to discuss the relationship between fear and love, strength and weakness, leading the reader to question his own fears, and speculate about what it really means to be strong.
Though it is absolutely thrilling up to the very last page, this book is more than a simple suspense novel. It is a deeper probing into the idea of what makes a person normal, and how perceived abnormalities might actually be a blessing in disguise. Part thriller, part romance, and part superhero creation story, Empath by Becca J. Campbell will frighten, amuse, comfort, and inspire. With Campbell’s easy storytelling style and well-rounded characters, this is the perfect book to read when what you really need is something to devour in the course of a weekend, because it is inevitable that you will.
Bottom Line: A solid, all-encompassing book that engages and thrills. This is a series starter that will leave you thirsting for the next installment!
Side Note: I would rate this book as PG-13. Probably a good read for late middle school, early high school, but definitely not for kids. Just in case you were wondering.
Campbell’s signature writing style shines as bright as ever in Empath, allowing the reader to be truly enveloped in Jade’s awkwardness, emotion, and conviction that she must overcome what she calls her “handicap” and have normal relationships with normal people. The story runs a winding course, cutting brutally back and forth between violent scenes that slowly reveal the villain’s intent, and touching moments between Jade and her friends that keep the reader enthralled. Though the killer purports to use people’s fears and weaknesses to destroy them, it is really the interaction between the characters minds and bodies that seems to discuss the relationship between fear and love, strength and weakness, leading the reader to question his own fears, and speculate about what it really means to be strong.
Though it is absolutely thrilling up to the very last page, this book is more than a simple suspense novel. It is a deeper probing into the idea of what makes a person normal, and how perceived abnormalities might actually be a blessing in disguise. Part thriller, part romance, and part superhero creation story, Empath by Becca J. Campbell will frighten, amuse, comfort, and inspire. With Campbell’s easy storytelling style and well-rounded characters, this is the perfect book to read when what you really need is something to devour in the course of a weekend, because it is inevitable that you will.
Bottom Line: A solid, all-encompassing book that engages and thrills. This is a series starter that will leave you thirsting for the next installment!
Side Note: I would rate this book as PG-13. Probably a good read for late middle school, early high school, but definitely not for kids. Just in case you were wondering.
January 26, 2015
How It Made Me Feel:
I was immensely surprised with this book from the very beginning. From the first sentence, the author drew me into her world and I stayed there until the last period on the last page. I didn't even want it to end! I was hooked, I was emotional, I was eager to get back to the book when something else came up. Becca J. Campbell wove a great storyline with some very detailed characters and set up the start of a series that I, for one, will want to finish. Jade and Logan are two characters that I really enjoyed and loved the way their relationship grew and changed. It was never stagnant and definitely kept me interested. This was not a topic I was familiar with, but I loved the delivery, the story line, and the characters.
What I Thought Worked:
I greatly enjoyed that the book kept me interested from the get go. There wasn't a moment from when I started reading to when I was finished that I thought, " Well, you know, this part isn't interesting, maybe I shouldn't finish it." I never felt that. I loved how fast paced it was but still kept everything neat and tidy and easy to connect. I also enjoyed the depth of character the author had for Logan and Jade. They were extremely dimensional characters for such short development in the amount of pages of the book. Logan was easy to relate to and I found myself a fan of his character as soon as he was introduced.
What I Thought Didn't Work:
Honestly, there wasn't too much in the book that I really did not enjoy. If anything, I wish Cam's character had been a bit more consistent. During some of the readings, it seemed like he was a dimmer version of himself that we had met earlier in the book. But it wasn't anything that distracted me from the overall storyline.
Why It Got That Rating:
I really loved this book. I could relate to the characters, I was enthused and hooked from the beginning, and I was able to read it and be transported into her story. This is definitely a book I would love to add to my physical bookshelf and have the chance to read over and over.
Who Would I Recommend To:
I would recommend to anyone who loves urban fantasy. It was a great story with a great background.
Last Impressions/Remarks:
Though I just finished this book, I'm ready to read it again and enjoy the writing and the characters. It left an impression on me that won't soon go away and I am impressed. :)
I was immensely surprised with this book from the very beginning. From the first sentence, the author drew me into her world and I stayed there until the last period on the last page. I didn't even want it to end! I was hooked, I was emotional, I was eager to get back to the book when something else came up. Becca J. Campbell wove a great storyline with some very detailed characters and set up the start of a series that I, for one, will want to finish. Jade and Logan are two characters that I really enjoyed and loved the way their relationship grew and changed. It was never stagnant and definitely kept me interested. This was not a topic I was familiar with, but I loved the delivery, the story line, and the characters.
What I Thought Worked:
I greatly enjoyed that the book kept me interested from the get go. There wasn't a moment from when I started reading to when I was finished that I thought, " Well, you know, this part isn't interesting, maybe I shouldn't finish it." I never felt that. I loved how fast paced it was but still kept everything neat and tidy and easy to connect. I also enjoyed the depth of character the author had for Logan and Jade. They were extremely dimensional characters for such short development in the amount of pages of the book. Logan was easy to relate to and I found myself a fan of his character as soon as he was introduced.
What I Thought Didn't Work:
Honestly, there wasn't too much in the book that I really did not enjoy. If anything, I wish Cam's character had been a bit more consistent. During some of the readings, it seemed like he was a dimmer version of himself that we had met earlier in the book. But it wasn't anything that distracted me from the overall storyline.
Why It Got That Rating:
I really loved this book. I could relate to the characters, I was enthused and hooked from the beginning, and I was able to read it and be transported into her story. This is definitely a book I would love to add to my physical bookshelf and have the chance to read over and over.
Who Would I Recommend To:
I would recommend to anyone who loves urban fantasy. It was a great story with a great background.
Last Impressions/Remarks:
Though I just finished this book, I'm ready to read it again and enjoy the writing and the characters. It left an impression on me that won't soon go away and I am impressed. :)
September 27, 2013
From my blog, Reading the Alphabet
On the surface, knowing what people are feeling at any given moment sounds pretty neat. Wonder what your date is feeling about you? Easy! Wonder if your boss is in a happy enough mood to discuss that raise? Doable! Only for Jade, empathy doesn’t work like that. It is not some party trick. She not only knows what people are feeling, she feels it to such an extent that they overpower her own emotions. It has been near debilitating for her entire life, so much so that her family has kept her away from much of society…until now when she decides to strike it out on her own and attend summer courses at college. So many emotions at college!
At first, Jade is (understandably) overwhelmed, but she manages and finally begins to make friends when a professor she meets while off-campus offers to help her study and when she is paired up with a friendly and kind guy for her biology lab partner.
As much as I liked Jade and witnessing her grow as a person, I really enjoy the chemistry that both Logan (the professor) and Cam (the lab partner) brought to the story. Both cause quite different reactions in Jade. First there’s Cam, a lovable, adventurous, outdoorsy guy, whose happiness is infectious beyond the pages of the book. He made me smile when he was around. Then there’s Logan, who Jade CAN’T feel. He’s exceptionally good at closing off his feelings, but why? There is a bit of a love triangle in Empath, albeit it’s unconventional because of Jade’s abilities, which makes it so good.
Add to that, a creepy and violent bad guy who is anything but normal, great secondary characters in the form of Cam’s siblings, action, sweet innocent romance, and a story of self-discovery. If it seems like there is a lot going on in the story, you’re right, there is, but Campbell weaves it all together wonderfully.
This was the first book by Becca J. Campbell that I have read, but it certainly will not be the last.
On the surface, knowing what people are feeling at any given moment sounds pretty neat. Wonder what your date is feeling about you? Easy! Wonder if your boss is in a happy enough mood to discuss that raise? Doable! Only for Jade, empathy doesn’t work like that. It is not some party trick. She not only knows what people are feeling, she feels it to such an extent that they overpower her own emotions. It has been near debilitating for her entire life, so much so that her family has kept her away from much of society…until now when she decides to strike it out on her own and attend summer courses at college. So many emotions at college!
At first, Jade is (understandably) overwhelmed, but she manages and finally begins to make friends when a professor she meets while off-campus offers to help her study and when she is paired up with a friendly and kind guy for her biology lab partner.
As much as I liked Jade and witnessing her grow as a person, I really enjoy the chemistry that both Logan (the professor) and Cam (the lab partner) brought to the story. Both cause quite different reactions in Jade. First there’s Cam, a lovable, adventurous, outdoorsy guy, whose happiness is infectious beyond the pages of the book. He made me smile when he was around. Then there’s Logan, who Jade CAN’T feel. He’s exceptionally good at closing off his feelings, but why? There is a bit of a love triangle in Empath, albeit it’s unconventional because of Jade’s abilities, which makes it so good.
Add to that, a creepy and violent bad guy who is anything but normal, great secondary characters in the form of Cam’s siblings, action, sweet innocent romance, and a story of self-discovery. If it seems like there is a lot going on in the story, you’re right, there is, but Campbell weaves it all together wonderfully.
This was the first book by Becca J. Campbell that I have read, but it certainly will not be the last.
September 20, 2013
Becca has a new book out called Empath. She sent me an advance copy in exchange for the review and I was glad to do it. I have to admit that I got into this book with a bit of apprehension because Becca told me that it was so different from her other ones, this one a bit of a romance. Now, for me, I guess I am just a romantic because, the story didn't seem like a romance. Sure, there were elements of romantical ties but it didn't read like a Harlequin romance so I didn't notice. The story itself is really good. No, really good. I venture to say that this is Becca's best work to this point, and I have really liked her other books, especially Foreign Identity.
I got into this book quickly, empathizing with Jade and very curious about the other characters and their flaws. Ethan was wonderfully dark and twisted, more like something I would write. And the whole premise had elements of all of us in it. Being uncomfortable, being able to tell other people's moods, enjoying friends, desperation, and the fight to survive. The settings were vibrant and real, and everything felt authentic, like places I would like to go.
There are always elements of the strange or supernatural in Becca's stories, but these seemed the most likely to be real, and therefore a different story than Foreign Identity or Unmasked Alloy (which I am still waiting for more of that one), or even Gateway to Reality. Notice I didn't say better, they each had their own unique story, I just think that this one is my favorite.
I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading anything that Becca puts out. She likes to do series, so there is always more from these characters, and more to read. Like I said, this is her best work yet, and, if I am going by the progression that I have seen since those first days in the Creative Copy Challenge(I know she was writing before that but that is where I met Becca), the next books will be even better.
I got into this book quickly, empathizing with Jade and very curious about the other characters and their flaws. Ethan was wonderfully dark and twisted, more like something I would write. And the whole premise had elements of all of us in it. Being uncomfortable, being able to tell other people's moods, enjoying friends, desperation, and the fight to survive. The settings were vibrant and real, and everything felt authentic, like places I would like to go.
There are always elements of the strange or supernatural in Becca's stories, but these seemed the most likely to be real, and therefore a different story than Foreign Identity or Unmasked Alloy (which I am still waiting for more of that one), or even Gateway to Reality. Notice I didn't say better, they each had their own unique story, I just think that this one is my favorite.
I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading anything that Becca puts out. She likes to do series, so there is always more from these characters, and more to read. Like I said, this is her best work yet, and, if I am going by the progression that I have seen since those first days in the Creative Copy Challenge(I know she was writing before that but that is where I met Becca), the next books will be even better.
September 11, 2013
I requested Empath on the cover and concept alone—that was all I’d seen and all I needed to see. The first of Campbell’s Flawed series, Empath focuses on the downside of having superpowers, and how often they can create more emotional trauma than handy trick. (It’s not technically a superhero story, but several of the characters have supernatural abilities that would hold their own well in the superhero genre.)
The story begins with Jade, an empath whose ability renders her defenseless in the face of other people’s emotions, to the extent that her parents kept her isolated for her own protection. But, now, she’s off to college and forced to navigate the world of fledgling adulthood and torrential emotions at the same time. To further complicate matters, she finds herself caught between the affections of a young man who can remember anything he sees but gets caught in time loops and a young man with super-strength and a tragic past. What I like about this is how their abilities—strengths and weaknesses—mirror their own spirits (at least, from my perspective; that’s not expressly stated) rather than simply neat abilities.
Things get hairy when another flawed (that’s my term) named Ethan, a psychopath with incredibly sensitive eyesight that requires darkness to function, begins stalking Jade. This is the one part I became a little conflicted on, because, on the one hand, the Ethan scenes are great and lend much to the story, but he’s an entity unknown to the characters, the community, and even to the authorities, despite his active, torturous serial killing. The payoff, however, when the two storylines of Jade and Ethan collide, is very much worth it, and Campbell does work that back out (I can’t go into detail without spoilers). I loved the ending, and I’m looking forward to book two.
The story begins with Jade, an empath whose ability renders her defenseless in the face of other people’s emotions, to the extent that her parents kept her isolated for her own protection. But, now, she’s off to college and forced to navigate the world of fledgling adulthood and torrential emotions at the same time. To further complicate matters, she finds herself caught between the affections of a young man who can remember anything he sees but gets caught in time loops and a young man with super-strength and a tragic past. What I like about this is how their abilities—strengths and weaknesses—mirror their own spirits (at least, from my perspective; that’s not expressly stated) rather than simply neat abilities.
Things get hairy when another flawed (that’s my term) named Ethan, a psychopath with incredibly sensitive eyesight that requires darkness to function, begins stalking Jade. This is the one part I became a little conflicted on, because, on the one hand, the Ethan scenes are great and lend much to the story, but he’s an entity unknown to the characters, the community, and even to the authorities, despite his active, torturous serial killing. The payoff, however, when the two storylines of Jade and Ethan collide, is very much worth it, and Campbell does work that back out (I can’t go into detail without spoilers). I loved the ending, and I’m looking forward to book two.
August 17, 2013
I loved this book! Oh wait, first a disclaimer, I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Becca Campbell for an honest review.
Ok, now, I LOVED this book! There is so much to say about this book but I don't want to give anything away!
First, Jade is a young woman that is an empath. This means she can feel other people's feelings. Only, she has no choice, they are forced upon her wether she wants them or not. She has led a sheltered life, her parents always trying to protect her from the onslaught of feelings from the world. She then decides she wants to attend college and must learn to deal with those emotions and get control over herself.
The beginning of this book was great, with Jade meeting someone else with a "handicap" and seeing how he deals with it. She quickly makes friends and starts to feel "normal".
By the middle of the book, you are introduced to a whole slew of characters with their own unique abilities. At first I was disappointed to see the introduction of these characters, feeling that it took away from the book. Up until then, the book was very believable (although in your mind, you know that it shouldn't be). It wasn't long, however, that the believability came back full force!
At the end if the book, everything comes together, giving an appreciation of each person's uniqueness. I want to tell you so much more about the book but I hate spoiler reviews!
Ms. Campbell did a great job (as usual) with visualization of the scenes and character development. Suspense, romance, friendship, and self discovery. Definitely a 5 star book! Did I mention I LOVED it?
Thanks again for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Ok, now, I LOVED this book! There is so much to say about this book but I don't want to give anything away!
First, Jade is a young woman that is an empath. This means she can feel other people's feelings. Only, she has no choice, they are forced upon her wether she wants them or not. She has led a sheltered life, her parents always trying to protect her from the onslaught of feelings from the world. She then decides she wants to attend college and must learn to deal with those emotions and get control over herself.
The beginning of this book was great, with Jade meeting someone else with a "handicap" and seeing how he deals with it. She quickly makes friends and starts to feel "normal".
By the middle of the book, you are introduced to a whole slew of characters with their own unique abilities. At first I was disappointed to see the introduction of these characters, feeling that it took away from the book. Up until then, the book was very believable (although in your mind, you know that it shouldn't be). It wasn't long, however, that the believability came back full force!
At the end if the book, everything comes together, giving an appreciation of each person's uniqueness. I want to tell you so much more about the book but I hate spoiler reviews!
Ms. Campbell did a great job (as usual) with visualization of the scenes and character development. Suspense, romance, friendship, and self discovery. Definitely a 5 star book! Did I mention I LOVED it?
Thanks again for the opportunity to read and review this book!
September 1, 2014
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The idea of this book is an interesting one, though perhaps one that has been done many times before. When I first began reading, I was preparing myself for another superhero ability book where the hero/heroine becomes an indestructible superhuman. Though I don't mind reading that kind of book, I was pleasantly surprised with how this book differed from that.
Jade is not a superhero; she has fears, concerns and insecurities and all of this is beautifully showcased in a book filled with tangible emotions.
I loved seeing the point of views of the different characters in this book. Seeing the stories all intertwine together, with each character dealing with their own emotions and abilities added a depth to the book I don't think would otherwise have come through. Becca's writing style kept the book at a fast pace and this made for a captivating read. I didn't want to put the book down, the pace kept me entranced through every page.
I loved the way the characters developed as the story evolved; how Jade started to view her ability as a blessing rather than a curse and Cam discovering how to control his ability. I would have liked to see more of Logan's story, perhaps a look into his life and why he had such fears. It was great to read of his and Jade's trust growing, helping Logan with his ability. I would have just liked a bit more background.
All in all, this is a great book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
The idea of this book is an interesting one, though perhaps one that has been done many times before. When I first began reading, I was preparing myself for another superhero ability book where the hero/heroine becomes an indestructible superhuman. Though I don't mind reading that kind of book, I was pleasantly surprised with how this book differed from that.
Jade is not a superhero; she has fears, concerns and insecurities and all of this is beautifully showcased in a book filled with tangible emotions.
I loved seeing the point of views of the different characters in this book. Seeing the stories all intertwine together, with each character dealing with their own emotions and abilities added a depth to the book I don't think would otherwise have come through. Becca's writing style kept the book at a fast pace and this made for a captivating read. I didn't want to put the book down, the pace kept me entranced through every page.
I loved the way the characters developed as the story evolved; how Jade started to view her ability as a blessing rather than a curse and Cam discovering how to control his ability. I would have liked to see more of Logan's story, perhaps a look into his life and why he had such fears. It was great to read of his and Jade's trust growing, helping Logan with his ability. I would have just liked a bit more background.
All in all, this is a great book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
January 26, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal).
What an interesting book! I requested to review this book because I always enjoy reading about a main character that has some type of special “power”. Add to that the fact that empathy has always been one that intrigues me and I knew I just had to read this!
The main character of this book, Jade, has the gift of empathy. She is having a difficult time adjusting to living in the real world; imagine sitting in class and feeling the emotions of EVERY other person in the classroom! I don’t want to give away too much, so I will just say that she manages to make some friends that help her deal with her “handicap”.
The book is written in a narrative style, but the focus of the story line bounces between characters. This could have been confusing, but the author did a great job of making a smooth transition when these changes happened. I never once lost track of whose storyline I was reading. It didn’t hurt that the supporting characters were interesting enough that I am really looking forward to reading the books that tell us their individual stories.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys well written, CLEAN books with well developed characters and a focus on the supernatural.
What an interesting book! I requested to review this book because I always enjoy reading about a main character that has some type of special “power”. Add to that the fact that empathy has always been one that intrigues me and I knew I just had to read this!
The main character of this book, Jade, has the gift of empathy. She is having a difficult time adjusting to living in the real world; imagine sitting in class and feeling the emotions of EVERY other person in the classroom! I don’t want to give away too much, so I will just say that she manages to make some friends that help her deal with her “handicap”.
The book is written in a narrative style, but the focus of the story line bounces between characters. This could have been confusing, but the author did a great job of making a smooth transition when these changes happened. I never once lost track of whose storyline I was reading. It didn’t hurt that the supporting characters were interesting enough that I am really looking forward to reading the books that tell us their individual stories.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys well written, CLEAN books with well developed characters and a focus on the supernatural.
August 17, 2013
I was given the privilege by the author to review the ARC version of Empath.
Empath is an interesting story told from two points of view, Jade and Ethan. I will admit that at times this was confusing, but the author did a good job bringing it together in the end.
Jade has lived a sheltered life because of her special ability. She is an Empath who is continently barraged by others' emotions. This makes it difficult when Jade starts classes at college. Will Jade be able to cope? Ethan has his own handicap/ability. He can't see well during the day but has perfect night vision. Ethan uses this to his advantage for his twisted interests. Jade catches Ethan's attention. Will she fall prey to his sinister plans?
This story was not what I expected. I enjoyed it but at times I felt like I was reading two different stories. It did become clear and I was happy how the author pieced it together. The characters were well developed. I liked Jade. Jade was innocent and inexperienced due to her sheltered life, but she tries hard to persevere. I did not like reading about Ethan. His story disgusted me, but I think that was the author's point. Overall, it was a good story and I would recommend it.
Empath is an interesting story told from two points of view, Jade and Ethan. I will admit that at times this was confusing, but the author did a good job bringing it together in the end.
Jade has lived a sheltered life because of her special ability. She is an Empath who is continently barraged by others' emotions. This makes it difficult when Jade starts classes at college. Will Jade be able to cope? Ethan has his own handicap/ability. He can't see well during the day but has perfect night vision. Ethan uses this to his advantage for his twisted interests. Jade catches Ethan's attention. Will she fall prey to his sinister plans?
This story was not what I expected. I enjoyed it but at times I felt like I was reading two different stories. It did become clear and I was happy how the author pieced it together. The characters were well developed. I liked Jade. Jade was innocent and inexperienced due to her sheltered life, but she tries hard to persevere. I did not like reading about Ethan. His story disgusted me, but I think that was the author's point. Overall, it was a good story and I would recommend it.
August 11, 2013
**Received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for a review**
The story of Jade in Empath has left me reeling. I want more.
The idea is so original, that I was immediately interested in receiving a copy for review, and was so thankful when the author sent it to me. So far, I haven't read books about empathic powers, and I've got to say, it's a really good idea that Becca J. Campbell portrayed really well.
The plot wasn't too fast or too slow, it moved along at an average pace, and picked up at the right moments. Overall, this novel has good pacing and flow, keeping the reader entertained while some of the smaller issues are addressed.
Logan. Oh, Logan. I wanted a bit more of Logan, it seemed like he wasn't featured as much as Cam, but that's just the way the story had to go.
I was intrigued when I first read a tidbit about Ethan, and it had me wondering who he was. The story would've been fine without Ethan, but it made the story that much better.
There's nothing I can say without completely spilling the entire story, because it's one of those stories you want to pass on and have other's read, so you can discuss it together.
I loved the story, loved the idea, and can't wait for the second (even though the first isn't published yet!).
The story of Jade in Empath has left me reeling. I want more.
The idea is so original, that I was immediately interested in receiving a copy for review, and was so thankful when the author sent it to me. So far, I haven't read books about empathic powers, and I've got to say, it's a really good idea that Becca J. Campbell portrayed really well.
The plot wasn't too fast or too slow, it moved along at an average pace, and picked up at the right moments. Overall, this novel has good pacing and flow, keeping the reader entertained while some of the smaller issues are addressed.
Logan. Oh, Logan. I wanted a bit more of Logan, it seemed like he wasn't featured as much as Cam, but that's just the way the story had to go.
I was intrigued when I first read a tidbit about Ethan, and it had me wondering who he was. The story would've been fine without Ethan, but it made the story that much better.
There's nothing I can say without completely spilling the entire story, because it's one of those stories you want to pass on and have other's read, so you can discuss it together.
I loved the story, loved the idea, and can't wait for the second (even though the first isn't published yet!).
March 14, 2015
Empath (Flawed, #1) by Becca J. Campbell
Jade, a college student is not an ordinary young lady. She has a gift of empathy, at times she feels it is a curse. She can pick up on other peoples feelings, so much that she is not certain of her own feelings. She often wonders if they are (the emotions) of those around her.
Now in college she makes some new friends, possibly even a young man in her life. Then Ethan, a psychopath appears. He is obsessed with beautiful Jade, and soon she is in danger. Jade must learn to use her emphatic powers to save herself.
I liked the originality of the story. Using real emotions and fantasy, a fantastic mix to make a fascinating read. Jade is very likable, living a sheltered (home schooled life), we watch her adjust to college life and interacting with her peers. We meet her new friends, see a potential love interest for her as well.
There was a nice mix of drama and suspense to keep me captivated. The impending danger adds spice to the story. Overall I enjoyed Empath and feel that Young Adult, Adults and lovers of fantasy will enjoy this great read.
Jade, a college student is not an ordinary young lady. She has a gift of empathy, at times she feels it is a curse. She can pick up on other peoples feelings, so much that she is not certain of her own feelings. She often wonders if they are (the emotions) of those around her.
Now in college she makes some new friends, possibly even a young man in her life. Then Ethan, a psychopath appears. He is obsessed with beautiful Jade, and soon she is in danger. Jade must learn to use her emphatic powers to save herself.
I liked the originality of the story. Using real emotions and fantasy, a fantastic mix to make a fascinating read. Jade is very likable, living a sheltered (home schooled life), we watch her adjust to college life and interacting with her peers. We meet her new friends, see a potential love interest for her as well.
There was a nice mix of drama and suspense to keep me captivated. The impending danger adds spice to the story. Overall I enjoyed Empath and feel that Young Adult, Adults and lovers of fantasy will enjoy this great read.
August 10, 2013
Jade wants to be normal. She wants to feel her own feelings but instead she is constantly bombarded by the emotions of others. Her sheltered childhood has left her unprepared for life as a college student and daily interaction with people, including the boy that likes her and the professor that she wishes did.
While she is busy with her own challenges, someone is stalking her. Someone that has deep secrets and will stop at nothing to get what he most desires.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to review and I am so glad that I did. It kept me turning pages long after I should have been sleeping. The way the secrets were sprinkled throughout the story made it impossible to put down. I have read a lot of paranormal books but not any similar to this one. My only complaint was that the ending lacked the drama that I was hoping for after so many suspenseful pages. Overall, I loved this book and I will definitely be reading the next one in the series when it comes out.
While she is busy with her own challenges, someone is stalking her. Someone that has deep secrets and will stop at nothing to get what he most desires.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to review and I am so glad that I did. It kept me turning pages long after I should have been sleeping. The way the secrets were sprinkled throughout the story made it impossible to put down. I have read a lot of paranormal books but not any similar to this one. My only complaint was that the ending lacked the drama that I was hoping for after so many suspenseful pages. Overall, I loved this book and I will definitely be reading the next one in the series when it comes out.
January 8, 2015
I always enjoy when I come across a book that sets itself apart from others. This is a fun story about people discovering and more importantly dealing with their gifts. The plot is rather intriguing and has a good overall pace. The story is split between the main characters.
I admit in this one I was always looking forward to hear more of Ethan. For some reason he intrigued me the most, even though he is the villain. Logan was probably my second favorite in this book. Jade was a little flat at first but as she learnt to deal with the cards she was dealt I felt more of a connection to her. Overall the author took a good amount of writing to develop well rounded characters. They are a nice mix that plays very well together.
This being part of a series still has a closed end for Logan and Jade. Much more is ahead for Cam, Chloe and Josh and it seems more new characters in the next book. I would definitely read more books from this author and this series.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of paranormal)
I admit in this one I was always looking forward to hear more of Ethan. For some reason he intrigued me the most, even though he is the villain. Logan was probably my second favorite in this book. Jade was a little flat at first but as she learnt to deal with the cards she was dealt I felt more of a connection to her. Overall the author took a good amount of writing to develop well rounded characters. They are a nice mix that plays very well together.
This being part of a series still has a closed end for Logan and Jade. Much more is ahead for Cam, Chloe and Josh and it seems more new characters in the next book. I would definitely read more books from this author and this series.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of paranormal)
August 19, 2013
Romantic and suspenseful with a supernatural twist!!
This book was about a young woman named Jade who was trying to live a normal life while hiding a secret, she's an empath. Jade is not only able to feel others emotions but they can consume her own. Becca's groundbreaking novel is both entertaining and suspenseful. She takes her readers on a wild ride as you are introduced to a whole cast of amazing characters who each have their own unique and abnormal ability.
I think one of the most interesting part of this book is that the character's abilities are not the central focus of the overall piece. These characters are just trying to live their lives day by day like any other human being. Their abilities are not seen as gifts, which is also a unique idea. In most novels I read abilities such as Jade's are seen as superpowers and their owners live amazing and unreal lives. That isn't true for this story and that's what makes it so real.
This book was about a young woman named Jade who was trying to live a normal life while hiding a secret, she's an empath. Jade is not only able to feel others emotions but they can consume her own. Becca's groundbreaking novel is both entertaining and suspenseful. She takes her readers on a wild ride as you are introduced to a whole cast of amazing characters who each have their own unique and abnormal ability.
I think one of the most interesting part of this book is that the character's abilities are not the central focus of the overall piece. These characters are just trying to live their lives day by day like any other human being. Their abilities are not seen as gifts, which is also a unique idea. In most novels I read abilities such as Jade's are seen as superpowers and their owners live amazing and unreal lives. That isn't true for this story and that's what makes it so real.
August 20, 2013
Empath by Becca J. Campbell is a great example of how to write an excellent adventure thriller. It has all the parts necessary to grab you by the seat of your pants and keep you glued to the book and this is exactly what it did to me.
The author did an excellent job of storytelling. She was able to weave a tail of intrigue and mystery involving, murder, heroes with special gifts, and action packed adventure. The book was easy to follow even with all the twist and turns. I soon found myself totally involved in the story.
Becca J. Campbell did a great job of developing characters that were both believable and real to life. It was easy to identify in the heroes and the heroine of the story. I was able to follow each character and grow close to them as the story progress.
I really like reading Empath by Becca J. Campbell and I highly recommend it to all readers.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
The author did an excellent job of storytelling. She was able to weave a tail of intrigue and mystery involving, murder, heroes with special gifts, and action packed adventure. The book was easy to follow even with all the twist and turns. I soon found myself totally involved in the story.
Becca J. Campbell did a great job of developing characters that were both believable and real to life. It was easy to identify in the heroes and the heroine of the story. I was able to follow each character and grow close to them as the story progress.
I really like reading Empath by Becca J. Campbell and I highly recommend it to all readers.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
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