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Spectrum
You see colors. I feel them.
In the beginning, my world was colored with the blue of love and the yellow of a curious place where rules didn’t matter, time was just an idea, and loss was something we got to forget.
I’m different than most people you meet. I’m a synesthete, which means that I hear and feel emotions in color. Black is chaos, orange is rebellion, and red is deception.
Three years ago, the accident warped all the colors. In a moment of pitch black, I lost everything but the new life growing inside me. He’d come into this world with a color all his own and we’d been fine, maybe even happy. Then I met Ben and I began to see a new shade of blue . It was the beginnings of Indigo, with a touch of gray that feels like rain on asphalt, a fresh start.
But Ben was also hiding something. There was too much red in that cloud of blue.
In the beginning, my world was colored with the blue of love and the yellow of a curious place where rules didn’t matter, time was just an idea, and loss was something we got to forget.
I’m different than most people you meet. I’m a synesthete, which means that I hear and feel emotions in color. Black is chaos, orange is rebellion, and red is deception.
Three years ago, the accident warped all the colors. In a moment of pitch black, I lost everything but the new life growing inside me. He’d come into this world with a color all his own and we’d been fine, maybe even happy. Then I met Ben and I began to see a new shade of blue . It was the beginnings of Indigo, with a touch of gray that feels like rain on asphalt, a fresh start.
But Ben was also hiding something. There was too much red in that cloud of blue.
- GenresFiction
100 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2015
4 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Kay Kadinger
1 book6 followersKay Kadinger - The Pen Name
Why the pen name? I usually write in the category of Young Adults and one of my jobs as an author is to speak at schools. I wrestled with whether or not to use a pen name or just let my work be my work, but out of respect for my younger audience (and their parents) I have decided to use a pen name to make it clear the different genres. Just so we're all on the same page, Kay will write about adult topics and have adult scenes within her stories.
Kelly Van Hull, which is my other name will write Young Adult fiction and promises to keep it clean, mostly.
In a perfect world, I will find an audience that will enjoy both, but for now, I'm really ecstatic to share with you Spectrum, which is most certainly not for the younger reader.
Enjoy,
Kelly Van Hull
Author of Tent City and Red River
Why the pen name? I usually write in the category of Young Adults and one of my jobs as an author is to speak at schools. I wrestled with whether or not to use a pen name or just let my work be my work, but out of respect for my younger audience (and their parents) I have decided to use a pen name to make it clear the different genres. Just so we're all on the same page, Kay will write about adult topics and have adult scenes within her stories.
Kelly Van Hull, which is my other name will write Young Adult fiction and promises to keep it clean, mostly.
In a perfect world, I will find an audience that will enjoy both, but for now, I'm really ecstatic to share with you Spectrum, which is most certainly not for the younger reader.
Enjoy,
Kelly Van Hull
Author of Tent City and Red River
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 14, 2015
Different.Fresh.Elegant.
I loved this book. The idea the loss and emotion has a color made so much sense to me, it seemed like every page or two I was taking my own memories and seeing them again, but this time, in a color.
You don't get free passes in life unless there's a reason. Spectrum asks and answers a question that we all have thought. What happens if you get to explore the one that never happened? What happens if you were meant to be there?
It's sad, and sweet, and beautiful.
I loved this book. The idea the loss and emotion has a color made so much sense to me, it seemed like every page or two I was taking my own memories and seeing them again, but this time, in a color.
You don't get free passes in life unless there's a reason. Spectrum asks and answers a question that we all have thought. What happens if you get to explore the one that never happened? What happens if you were meant to be there?
It's sad, and sweet, and beautiful.
September 13, 2015
I loved Spectrum! This is not your typical romance story. It is an exquisitely written novella, alternately humorous, poignant, and downright sizzling. If you enjoy a fast-paced tale that keeps you turning the pages, heartbreakingly real characters and a twist that leave you breathless, this is the book for you. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Kudos to the author. Here’s hoping for more!
August 19, 2015
Spectrum wow a powerful novella!
This is a very powerful novella. I couldn't put it down. I had never heard of this illness where you feel in colors before,
This is a very powerful novella. I couldn't put it down. I had never heard of this illness where you feel in colors before,
February 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this novella. It's kind of poetry within prose. The author's voice is so fascinating and beautiful to read. It was really enjoyable.
The only thing I didn't love is how out-of-left-field the big reveal toward the end was. I don't remember much, if any, real buildup to that which was disappointing. I could have used more.
Other than that, this was just the right length with just the right amount of character development.
The only thing I didn't love is how out-of-left-field the big reveal toward the end was. I don't remember much, if any, real buildup to that which was disappointing. I could have used more.
Other than that, this was just the right length with just the right amount of character development.
October 20, 2021
I love reading about Synesthesia. This was just a little short story, but it could have used a lot more colors.
July 30, 2020
This novella was very sweet, sad and sentimental and I enjoyed reading about synesthesia as I’ve not heard or read much about it before.
It fascinated me that the protagonist in this story could put different colours to different emotions and she could tell what people meant even if they didn’t say anything purely on the colours they exuded.
The flashbacks throughout the story were great and essential to the overall story but unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy the ‘twist’ at the end as I just felt as though it came out of nowhere and didn’t really fit with the rest of the novel.
The characters were interesting and there was enough development in them to understand why they are the way they are and why they took certain actions.
All in all, a very nice short read that I would definitely recommend.
August 19, 2015
This is the first book I’ve read by this author.
Spectrum – Sam hears and feels colors in everyday things. Each color has its own meaning. She’s also tied to a past she can’t let go of. Ben wants to be a part of her life but has a secret that might derail them before they ever start.
Sorry, no spoilers!
I found this to be an interesting read. While the background information for the colors was limited in the beginning, it gave you just enough information to unfold the story nicely so that you didn’t feel confused. Not only were we in the present, we were given flashbacks that were essential. The flashbacks allowed us to see why Sam is the way she is emotionally which is the bigger part of the story. Sam’s a little withdrawn and wants more for her life. Her biggest question is can she give more of herself emotionally without losing herself and can she let go of the past to move forward.
Spectrum was nicely written and kept me intrigued. The pop culture references were hilarious and a big part of the evolution of the story.
I couldn’t put it down and I’m hoping the author has more in store for the characters.
Would I read it again – yes.
Would I recommend it – definitely.
Spectrum – Sam hears and feels colors in everyday things. Each color has its own meaning. She’s also tied to a past she can’t let go of. Ben wants to be a part of her life but has a secret that might derail them before they ever start.
Sorry, no spoilers!
I found this to be an interesting read. While the background information for the colors was limited in the beginning, it gave you just enough information to unfold the story nicely so that you didn’t feel confused. Not only were we in the present, we were given flashbacks that were essential. The flashbacks allowed us to see why Sam is the way she is emotionally which is the bigger part of the story. Sam’s a little withdrawn and wants more for her life. Her biggest question is can she give more of herself emotionally without losing herself and can she let go of the past to move forward.
Spectrum was nicely written and kept me intrigued. The pop culture references were hilarious and a big part of the evolution of the story.
I couldn’t put it down and I’m hoping the author has more in store for the characters.
Would I read it again – yes.
Would I recommend it – definitely.
October 2, 2015
Beautifully written. I read this novella in the span of a few hours. I couldn't put it down. Kay did a masterful job of incorporating the 'disorder' the main character has. I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book because I don't normally read romantic stories, but I was not disappointed. This is definitely worth a read for an interesting and unique love story.
August 18, 2015
WOW! after reading this book, i'm at a loss for words. Its a short book, wish it was longer, but it leaves you in tears, was not expecting the way things went. very good book that i would recommend to anyone.
August 25, 2015
I loved this story. It was so fresh and unique. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Kadinger's writing style was imaginative and flowed well in her scenes and character building. What a great story! I totally recommend giving it a try!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews