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The Colliding Line #1
Mortal Sight
When Worlds Collide, Shadow Wrestles Light
Seventeen-year-old Cera Marlowe wants a normal life; one where she and her mom can stop skipping town every time a disturbing vision strikes. But when a girl she knows is murdered by a monster she can't explain, Cera's world turns upside down.
Suddenly thrown into an ancient supernatural battle, Cera discovers she's not alone in her gifting and vows to use her visions to save lives. But why does John Milton's poem Paradise Lost keep interrupting her thoughts?
In a race against time and a war against unearthly creatures, will decoding messages embedded in the works of classic literature be enough to stop the bloodshed and protect those she loves?
Seventeen-year-old Cera Marlowe wants a normal life; one where she and her mom can stop skipping town every time a disturbing vision strikes. But when a girl she knows is murdered by a monster she can't explain, Cera's world turns upside down.
Suddenly thrown into an ancient supernatural battle, Cera discovers she's not alone in her gifting and vows to use her visions to save lives. But why does John Milton's poem Paradise Lost keep interrupting her thoughts?
In a race against time and a war against unearthly creatures, will decoding messages embedded in the works of classic literature be enough to stop the bloodshed and protect those she loves?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
11 people are currently reading
886 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
July 22, 2021
Yes!
The best way I can describe this book is if you mix Mortal Instruments and Shatter Me.
LET ME ELABORATE…
1. MORTAL INSTRUMENTS
- Secret magical world hidden in plain sight
- MC not knowing her connection to the world and finds out throughout book
2. Shatter Me
-MC goes to train with others like her and tries to figure out her magic
- A group of them break away and try to create their own group to stop world ending
- the romance in this book and book two are very similar to Juliette, Warner and Adam.
It had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails trying to figure out who was evil and who was good.
The best way I can describe this book is if you mix Mortal Instruments and Shatter Me.
LET ME ELABORATE…
1. MORTAL INSTRUMENTS
- Secret magical world hidden in plain sight
- MC not knowing her connection to the world and finds out throughout book
2. Shatter Me
-MC goes to train with others like her and tries to figure out her magic
- A group of them break away and try to create their own group to stop world ending
- the romance in this book and book two are very similar to Juliette, Warner and Adam.
It had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails trying to figure out who was evil and who was good.
April 11, 2020
This book is so intense and epic! The tension never lets up and the stakes just kept getting higher. I couldn’t put it down!
I had high hopes for this book, and it absolutely met them. I loved every moment, and I already can’t wait for the next book!
The characters are masterful. I was so drawn into the story by Cera’s narrating and was fully emotionally engaged. Each character is so unique and has their own personality and motives and so many deep layers. It’s truly like getting to know a real person chapter by chapter as more of who they are inside is revealed.
I really loved the ending of the character arcs and relationships in this book. Obviously it’s not the end, because this is just book one, but it tied up so well and so different than a cliche YA urban fantasy. I appreciated how fresh it was, while still being familiar to everything I love about this genre.
The intensity never let up in this whole story. Even in the moments of pause and breath, there’s smaller conflict, and the haunting danger looming on the horizon. The action scenes were so intense and epic. I loved every heart-stopping second.
Content:
Overall, this book is a killer!! Such an engaging, intense read.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
I had high hopes for this book, and it absolutely met them. I loved every moment, and I already can’t wait for the next book!
The characters are masterful. I was so drawn into the story by Cera’s narrating and was fully emotionally engaged. Each character is so unique and has their own personality and motives and so many deep layers. It’s truly like getting to know a real person chapter by chapter as more of who they are inside is revealed.
I really loved the ending of the character arcs and relationships in this book. Obviously it’s not the end, because this is just book one, but it tied up so well and so different than a cliche YA urban fantasy. I appreciated how fresh it was, while still being familiar to everything I love about this genre.
The intensity never let up in this whole story. Even in the moments of pause and breath, there’s smaller conflict, and the haunting danger looming on the horizon. The action scenes were so intense and epic. I loved every heart-stopping second.
Content:
Overall, this book is a killer!! Such an engaging, intense read.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
July 25, 2021
4.5 Stars
Wow! What a hidden gem this book was. I ended up reading this within a few hours and need to get the second book in the series.
The only downfall to the book is Cera herself...she can be annoying at times but I am hoping her character matures and develops in the second book.
Wow! What a hidden gem this book was. I ended up reading this within a few hours and need to get the second book in the series.
The only downfall to the book is Cera herself...she can be annoying at times but I am hoping her character matures and develops in the second book.
October 19, 2020
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did! Hunger games combined with demons and other realms. Cera doesn’t know if she’s crazy or if everything she experiences is real. When she’s pulled into a new world, she is still torn by who she discovers she is. She questions her self a lot, but with her new family by her side, she will be able to find a way to stop Sage and save everyone.
July 31, 2020
Review to come...
December 1, 2021
Really a 3.5 star. I have to say this is a wonderful dystopian book, but my problem is I don't like dystopian books, so this book was as well as could have gone for me. The story of a 16 year old soon 17 hiding with her Mother, when the truth comes out about her. She has special gifts to protect society from attacks from creatures that are out to destroy humanity. As she tries to discover how she fits into this new society she starts to learn some alarming truths about herself, but all she knows she wants to destroy the beast that are killing those she loves. Can she destroy them without her being destroyed in the process. Really its a good book, I find dystopian boring because they have a lot of detail that, truth be told, I don't care much about, like in this book how everyone smells. I could really care less about that I want action not a smelling lesson. But in general it was a good book. I now have to read book 2 to see how it turns out. They got me!!!!! But for all your dystopian fans out there this book would definitely be for you!!
June 13, 2020
Unsure how I feel about it at the moment. Premise was super interesting and it definitely kept me turning pages. Just some tropes that I hate came into play - namely any other teenage girl being needlessly b**chy to the MC, and the MC only getting along with guys. Really only started to get more invested in the last 30 or so pages. Enough that I'm interested in continuing the series, because I was finally able to get behind some of the characters, and the plot really picked up.
It kind of gave me Mortal Instruments vibes for some reason, even though I've only read one of those books.
I'd recommend for teens who want a clean, urban fantasy!
It kind of gave me Mortal Instruments vibes for some reason, even though I've only read one of those books.
I'd recommend for teens who want a clean, urban fantasy!
November 1, 2020
I loved this book so much and can't wait for the next one!
December 4, 2020
Come see this review and more at my blog, The Scribe Owl!
Thank you to YA Bound Book Tours for a review copy in exchange for a blog tour and honest review!
3.5/5 stars
Mortal Sight was a action-packed read from cover to cover! I was honestly just expecting yet another urban paranormal fantasy that feels a little too much like a Cassandra Clare book, but this one managed to completely surprise me by not applying a lot of annoying and overused tropes!
All Cera wants is a normal life, where she isn't forced by her mom to skip town every time a disturbing vision strikes in the form of a "panic attack". But that wouldn't make a very good story, would it? So her friend is murdered by a monster that shouldn't exist, catapulting Cera into a world of monsters and strangely gifted people that are really good at art for some reason.
As I said, I was pretty sure this was going to be a riot of tropes. To be fair, there were a few annoying ones, but it's near impossible to write a book without touching on at least one of them! For instance, the whole "parent not telling their kid about stuff to 'protect them'" thing is super annoying and overused.
On the flip side, the magic system was pretty interesting. I use the term "magic system" loosely in this case because it isn't so much magic as it is just pretty cool traits. All of the Awakened can see the monsters roving around, and the Awakened are split up into different groups based on their "Bents", which are basically just the traits they have. There are five Bents: Healers, Guardians, Blades, Caretakers, and Seers. I haven't seen that done before, so I really enjoyed the new aspect of it!
There were a few things that annoyed me, though one of my biggest peeves was all the Milton quotes. I probably would have liked them if I'd read Paradise Lost, but I haven't. I understand using them a little, but they were overused. She used them well, putting them in exactly the right places to match the storyline, but it was just too much.
I enjoyed most of the characters! Cera was a pretty cool MC, and pretty easy to follow too. I understood all of her motivations and she made sense to me as a character. But then after that it gets a little iffy. Our love interest is a little one-dimensional--actually, I can say that for most characters. I'd be nice if they were interesting outside of their one trait--whether it be the drama or the romance-- and be interesting on their own.
The only character that seemed inconsistent to be was Devon. I actually ended up really liking him at the end of the book (at least more than Maddox, our kind of annoying love interest), but he didn't seem like the same person the whole way through. Most of our cast is seventeen and he's twenty-one, making him just a little older than the rest of them. In the beginning, it felt more like he was almost a... father figure? He was authoritative and seemed so much older than his age. Around two-thirds of the way through, he started acting his age and I was able to connect with him. I wish he just stayed consistently good!
I've been trying to pin down what the writing style reminds me of for a while, and I think I've finally got it! Do any of you know Angelfall by Susan Ee? That's what is reminds me of. That kind of humorous writing that sounds very personal and real. A bunch of first-person books can sound impersonal and distant, but Mortal Sight (and Angelfall) did a good job of making Cera's voice sound very authentic.
I'm so glad I got to read this book! Once again, thanks to YA Book Tours for this review copy! I had a blast with it. I'd recommend it, and I can't wait for the second book to come out!
Thank you to YA Bound Book Tours for a review copy in exchange for a blog tour and honest review!
3.5/5 stars
Mortal Sight was a action-packed read from cover to cover! I was honestly just expecting yet another urban paranormal fantasy that feels a little too much like a Cassandra Clare book, but this one managed to completely surprise me by not applying a lot of annoying and overused tropes!
All Cera wants is a normal life, where she isn't forced by her mom to skip town every time a disturbing vision strikes in the form of a "panic attack". But that wouldn't make a very good story, would it? So her friend is murdered by a monster that shouldn't exist, catapulting Cera into a world of monsters and strangely gifted people that are really good at art for some reason.
As I said, I was pretty sure this was going to be a riot of tropes. To be fair, there were a few annoying ones, but it's near impossible to write a book without touching on at least one of them! For instance, the whole "parent not telling their kid about stuff to 'protect them'" thing is super annoying and overused.
On the flip side, the magic system was pretty interesting. I use the term "magic system" loosely in this case because it isn't so much magic as it is just pretty cool traits. All of the Awakened can see the monsters roving around, and the Awakened are split up into different groups based on their "Bents", which are basically just the traits they have. There are five Bents: Healers, Guardians, Blades, Caretakers, and Seers. I haven't seen that done before, so I really enjoyed the new aspect of it!
There were a few things that annoyed me, though one of my biggest peeves was all the Milton quotes. I probably would have liked them if I'd read Paradise Lost, but I haven't. I understand using them a little, but they were overused. She used them well, putting them in exactly the right places to match the storyline, but it was just too much.
I enjoyed most of the characters! Cera was a pretty cool MC, and pretty easy to follow too. I understood all of her motivations and she made sense to me as a character. But then after that it gets a little iffy. Our love interest is a little one-dimensional--actually, I can say that for most characters. I'd be nice if they were interesting outside of their one trait--whether it be the drama or the romance-- and be interesting on their own.
The only character that seemed inconsistent to be was Devon. I actually ended up really liking him at the end of the book (at least more than Maddox, our kind of annoying love interest), but he didn't seem like the same person the whole way through. Most of our cast is seventeen and he's twenty-one, making him just a little older than the rest of them. In the beginning, it felt more like he was almost a... father figure? He was authoritative and seemed so much older than his age. Around two-thirds of the way through, he started acting his age and I was able to connect with him. I wish he just stayed consistently good!
I've been trying to pin down what the writing style reminds me of for a while, and I think I've finally got it! Do any of you know Angelfall by Susan Ee? That's what is reminds me of. That kind of humorous writing that sounds very personal and real. A bunch of first-person books can sound impersonal and distant, but Mortal Sight (and Angelfall) did a good job of making Cera's voice sound very authentic.
I'm so glad I got to read this book! Once again, thanks to YA Book Tours for this review copy! I had a blast with it. I'd recommend it, and I can't wait for the second book to come out!
August 15, 2021
WOW! I just finished reading Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads and if I could give it 10 stars, I would! I absolutely loved it!
First, there are the art references. I happen to sorta kinda love art history—my college minor was art—so that really drew me in. Having art knowledge, however, is not crucial to understanding and enjoying this story.
Then there’s Milton’s Paradise Lost. Although I’m not as familiar with it as I am with Dante’s writings, I appreciated how the author uses the poem within the story. In fact, it’s my opinion that the way the poem is used is rather brilliant!
But what I liked most about this book was probably the pacing. Most of the books I read have a sort of plodding pace that gradually speeds up when we come to the story’s climax. With Mortal Sight, it’s like we hit the ground running and barely pause to breathe between the various action scenes. And yet, it never felt overly rushed either. Because of this, I didn’t want to put the book down!
An impressive debut! I cannot wait to read the next book!
First, there are the art references. I happen to sorta kinda love art history—my college minor was art—so that really drew me in. Having art knowledge, however, is not crucial to understanding and enjoying this story.
Then there’s Milton’s Paradise Lost. Although I’m not as familiar with it as I am with Dante’s writings, I appreciated how the author uses the poem within the story. In fact, it’s my opinion that the way the poem is used is rather brilliant!
But what I liked most about this book was probably the pacing. Most of the books I read have a sort of plodding pace that gradually speeds up when we come to the story’s climax. With Mortal Sight, it’s like we hit the ground running and barely pause to breathe between the various action scenes. And yet, it never felt overly rushed either. Because of this, I didn’t want to put the book down!
An impressive debut! I cannot wait to read the next book!
November 8, 2020
Review to come! :)
May 7, 2020
3.5 Stars
MORTAL SIGHT is a thrilling ride from beginning to end! A teen comes into her own and awakens to a world full of demons and a battle against darkness that she is unknowingly right in the middle of. Recommended to YA paranormal fantasy fans.
I really liked Cera at the beginning. She just wants a normal life with friends, a job, and to stay in the same place longer than a year. Her mom has moved them every year around her birthday since she was seven years old and at the beginning of this story she's approaching her 17th birthday. She also has what she calls panic attacks around her birthday and once she has one, they always move. You can tell there's something going on, something that moves in the shadows out of the corners of Cera's eyes, but she doesn't find out what until a bit later in the story. I also really liked Maddox as well as some of the other characters.
The world is a bit like other stories in the sense that it feels like demons battling angels, except this world is also a little different. There's a second plane that regular humans, or "Commons," can's see but the "Awakened" can. I thought this aspect of the storybook world, and having individuals with different talents in five main areas (healing, fighting, protecting, seeing, and caring) was interesting. I liked that the author made it her own so I didn't feel like I was reading something I'd read before—there was enough of a twist that it worked. There was definitely a lot of learning about the world and about the awakened while the intensity ramps up to the climatic end.
There were also some things that didn't work for me. One of my pet peeves is when a parent doesn't tell their child about anything, leaving them in the dark thinking they're protecting them. It's used too much and it's a hard sell when I feel it is so unrealistic since when demons and others are possibly out to kill your child I feel having them informed is better than blindly sending them out to face it all on their own, which is the case here. That didn't really work for me. I also had issues with the love triangle (or maybe more of a square?) that was going on. One guy supposedly liked a girl who was with another guy, but I got no inkling of that until another character states it. I should have seen something of that without the author having to blatantly spell it out for readers. It also felt a bit unnecessary. Then Cera started to annoy me because she just rushes into everything without thought of her actions and she became a bit one-dimensional. Then supposedly most of the characters are all about the same age, but they act like they're different ages... and then they don't. I just didn't feel like they were completely consistent. I felt like the characters needed more fleshing out and the story needed more development. Having said all that, I am intrigued to see what happens next. I was worried this would be too much allegory and not enough fantasy and that wasn't the case.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, I enjoyed reading this story. If you like motley crews, a bit of romance, some teen drama, and good versus evil in an interesting paranormal fantasy way, then give this one a try.
Content: Some violence, but would consider this clean.
Source: I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
MORTAL SIGHT is a thrilling ride from beginning to end! A teen comes into her own and awakens to a world full of demons and a battle against darkness that she is unknowingly right in the middle of. Recommended to YA paranormal fantasy fans.
I really liked Cera at the beginning. She just wants a normal life with friends, a job, and to stay in the same place longer than a year. Her mom has moved them every year around her birthday since she was seven years old and at the beginning of this story she's approaching her 17th birthday. She also has what she calls panic attacks around her birthday and once she has one, they always move. You can tell there's something going on, something that moves in the shadows out of the corners of Cera's eyes, but she doesn't find out what until a bit later in the story. I also really liked Maddox as well as some of the other characters.
The world is a bit like other stories in the sense that it feels like demons battling angels, except this world is also a little different. There's a second plane that regular humans, or "Commons," can's see but the "Awakened" can. I thought this aspect of the storybook world, and having individuals with different talents in five main areas (healing, fighting, protecting, seeing, and caring) was interesting. I liked that the author made it her own so I didn't feel like I was reading something I'd read before—there was enough of a twist that it worked. There was definitely a lot of learning about the world and about the awakened while the intensity ramps up to the climatic end.
There were also some things that didn't work for me. One of my pet peeves is when a parent doesn't tell their child about anything, leaving them in the dark thinking they're protecting them. It's used too much and it's a hard sell when I feel it is so unrealistic since when demons and others are possibly out to kill your child I feel having them informed is better than blindly sending them out to face it all on their own, which is the case here. That didn't really work for me. I also had issues with the love triangle (or maybe more of a square?) that was going on. One guy supposedly liked a girl who was with another guy, but I got no inkling of that until another character states it. I should have seen something of that without the author having to blatantly spell it out for readers. It also felt a bit unnecessary. Then Cera started to annoy me because she just rushes into everything without thought of her actions and she became a bit one-dimensional. Then supposedly most of the characters are all about the same age, but they act like they're different ages... and then they don't. I just didn't feel like they were completely consistent. I felt like the characters needed more fleshing out and the story needed more development. Having said all that, I am intrigued to see what happens next. I was worried this would be too much allegory and not enough fantasy and that wasn't the case.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, I enjoyed reading this story. If you like motley crews, a bit of romance, some teen drama, and good versus evil in an interesting paranormal fantasy way, then give this one a try.
Content: Some violence, but would consider this clean.
Source: I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
April 11, 2023
4.5
What I loved:
Paradise Lost
Cera
Maddox
Emotional highs
What I disliked:
Some battle scenes were a bit hard to follow
Whatever that love triangle/drama was supposed to be
What I loved:
Paradise Lost
Cera
Maddox
Emotional highs
What I disliked:
Some battle scenes were a bit hard to follow
Whatever that love triangle/drama was supposed to be
December 10, 2020
I flew through the majority of this book in two days. I’m not usually that fast of a reader but the writing itself isn’t overly complicated. There’s no over flowing prose or flowery descriptions here. I do have to say though, I’m not used to such a casual writing style so there were times that I was a little annoyed. I like the main character. She has flaws, she’s fairly relatable and she’s fierce. The only concern I had for her was her treatment of females her own age, mainly Harper. The rivalry was not needed and only took away from the story.
That leads into the side characters. I was having trouble pinning their age. At some moments, they seemed much older only to find out they’re all around Cera’s age. The only exceptions were Harper (who acted like a brat for the majority of the book) and Juniper who genuinely acted young. I liked the majority of them though (although I’m having some difficulty seeing why so many girls fight over Maddox he doesn’t strike me as that impressive).
That leads into the side characters. I was having trouble pinning their age. At some moments, they seemed much older only to find out they’re all around Cera’s age. The only exceptions were Harper (who acted like a brat for the majority of the book) and Juniper who genuinely acted young. I liked the majority of them though (although I’m having some difficulty seeing why so many girls fight over Maddox he doesn’t strike me as that impressive).
March 14, 2021
This book inspired me to write the review in poem form....here goes:
A tale of seeing what others deem invisible,
A story of Darkness near,
A story of finding your way
A character who some may see themselves in, a heroin seeking one thing and finding another.
Grasp ahold of destiny, learn to embrace who you are,
You are now a part of something bigger.
An enemy that is powerful and relentless, it leaves you giving shadows a second glance.
A portion of me wonders.... is this fantasy I am reading or reality with a different garment on.
Sometimes it is the truth concealed in fiction that speaks the loudest.
Highly recommended for lovers of YA fantasy with a supernatural twist.
A tale of seeing what others deem invisible,
A story of Darkness near,
A story of finding your way
A character who some may see themselves in, a heroin seeking one thing and finding another.
Grasp ahold of destiny, learn to embrace who you are,
You are now a part of something bigger.
An enemy that is powerful and relentless, it leaves you giving shadows a second glance.
A portion of me wonders.... is this fantasy I am reading or reality with a different garment on.
Sometimes it is the truth concealed in fiction that speaks the loudest.
Highly recommended for lovers of YA fantasy with a supernatural twist.
June 24, 2025
OH MY GOODNESS! RTC. WHAT A BOOK!
December 6, 2020
ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my rating or review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
4 satisfied stars!
This book was both unique and cliche, an accomplishment on it’s own. On one hand, I loved the way that this book analysed John Milton’s poem ‘Paradise Lost’, it was like being back in my favourite class at school – literature! I really loved the snippets of poetry and the way they slid into the storyline, and I actually found the fantasy aspect and storyline pretty unique, which was good!
However, I almost couldn’t handle the cliches in the book. The classic bitchy, blonde, mean girl, the surfer-boy love interest, the dumb heroine who’s determined to fight. These things really wore down on me, and I got quite exasperated throughout the story. I just wish we’d ditch the bitchy-blonde character in YA books!
However, that was pretty much my only complaint! This novel was interesting and addictive enough to captivate me for a day, and I finished it in less than 12 hours, despite my other commitments that day. I also really liked some of the characters, stereotypical though they may be. Gladys was such a sweetheart and I actually did like Harper’s character development (mainly towards the end). And of course, Pop! My favourite character!
“Pop might be some crotchety old man everyone at Hesperian avoids, but not me. I love him."
You and me both, Cera honey! Pop was hilarious and didn’t give a crap about anyone, and I loved it. If only we had more Pop!
All in all this was pretty good, and it was definitely entertaining enough to hold my attention for a bit. I’m happy! Thanks a lot to the author and YA Bound Book Tours for the ARC :))
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
4 satisfied stars!
This book was both unique and cliche, an accomplishment on it’s own. On one hand, I loved the way that this book analysed John Milton’s poem ‘Paradise Lost’, it was like being back in my favourite class at school – literature! I really loved the snippets of poetry and the way they slid into the storyline, and I actually found the fantasy aspect and storyline pretty unique, which was good!
However, I almost couldn’t handle the cliches in the book. The classic bitchy, blonde, mean girl, the surfer-boy love interest, the dumb heroine who’s determined to fight. These things really wore down on me, and I got quite exasperated throughout the story. I just wish we’d ditch the bitchy-blonde character in YA books!
However, that was pretty much my only complaint! This novel was interesting and addictive enough to captivate me for a day, and I finished it in less than 12 hours, despite my other commitments that day. I also really liked some of the characters, stereotypical though they may be. Gladys was such a sweetheart and I actually did like Harper’s character development (mainly towards the end). And of course, Pop! My favourite character!
“Pop might be some crotchety old man everyone at Hesperian avoids, but not me. I love him."
You and me both, Cera honey! Pop was hilarious and didn’t give a crap about anyone, and I loved it. If only we had more Pop!
All in all this was pretty good, and it was definitely entertaining enough to hold my attention for a bit. I’m happy! Thanks a lot to the author and YA Bound Book Tours for the ARC :))
March 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this one. It’s well written and doesn’t lack depth. I enjoyed all the characters, they felt real and the storyline is interesting! I didn’t want to put the book down, I had to know what would happen next!Cera, the MC is rather impulsive and immature in her decisions, which was frustrating at times, but I’m hoping this was done on purpose and she will mature in book 2. I would definitely recommend this one!
May 19, 2020
Full disclosure, the author is a friend of mine from college. However, I haven’t been asked to review the book, and I wasn’t given a copy.
I wouldn’t consider myself a connoisseur of the YA dystopian genre (although I’ve read a few), but to me, linking the arts to abilities seems like a new twist. The characters are diverse without seeming forced. They feel really relatable. There’s a tension in the second half of the book that really made me not want to put it down. There are times when I wish concepts were explained a little sooner, but the reader is discovering this world along with the narrator, so we can only find out things when she does. I am really looking forward to the second book in the series.
And I am so proud of Sandra! 💗
I wouldn’t consider myself a connoisseur of the YA dystopian genre (although I’ve read a few), but to me, linking the arts to abilities seems like a new twist. The characters are diverse without seeming forced. They feel really relatable. There’s a tension in the second half of the book that really made me not want to put it down. There are times when I wish concepts were explained a little sooner, but the reader is discovering this world along with the narrator, so we can only find out things when she does. I am really looking forward to the second book in the series.
And I am so proud of Sandra! 💗
April 23, 2023
Don’t judge this book by its cover. The inside is a wild ride and I loved it. The twists and turns were so good and I was so intrigued by the combination of Milton’s work, paradise lost. If you like hunger games, race to witch mountain, chuck black’s warriors of the realm books, and the iron giant, this book has the aesthetic of each that pulls you in with a firm grip. Can’t wait to read book 2!
April 22, 2020
Could not put this down! For fans of the Hunger Games and other engrossing adventure/dystopian YA fiction, this novel will especially inspire those creative souls who long to play their part in a bigger story and to find their tribe. Cannot wait for the next one in the series!
September 7, 2024
Woah… that was intense! But thoroughly intriguing!
I have so many questions about who the Sage is and how this whole “second realm” functions, so I’m really hoping that those questions will be answered in book two. Although the action was a little more intense than I usually enjoy, it was so thoroughly intriguing that I could not put it down!
I am looking forward to book 2!
I have so many questions about who the Sage is and how this whole “second realm” functions, so I’m really hoping that those questions will be answered in book two. Although the action was a little more intense than I usually enjoy, it was so thoroughly intriguing that I could not put it down!
I am looking forward to book 2!
February 7, 2022
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
August 31, 2022
I am speechless…. This book had at the edge of my seat! I even stayed up late to keep reading, this book was a wonderful surprise💖 My first 5 star of the year
May 26, 2022
I raced through that; it was so good, well written, well paced. I came to the book excited about the artist community that the characters are a part of, but also concerned that the plot would be too dark. While it is darker than my usual fair, it was handled well and didn’t get scary or too morbid. I’m excited to see what happens in the second half of the duology.
February 6, 2023
I didn't like the jealous-over-a-boy teenage girl drama that was happening there for a while, or that the main character girl kept ignoring everyone's instructions and going off to do her own thing and causing problems, but other than that, I enjoyed the book and plan to read the next one.
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April 14, 2021Rhoads’s writing is vivid and clear, making fantastical adventures believable, almost palpable; and she threads together Cera’s ordinary teenage angst with self-preservation, fierce revenge and even first love.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/04/12/vivid...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/04/12/vivid...
May 20, 2021
Wow! I never imagined Christian and Fantasy would go together, or that I would find a gem of a book like this. This book is so much like Red Queen, the Clockwork Angel series, and all my personal favorites! This book is just so good. I have to finish paradise lost now and read this book. Omg, it's so good I recommend it to everyone! Sandra Fernandez Rhoads you are now and forever one of my literary heroes! Thank you for bringing Cera into my life!!
January 25, 2021
Dark and light collide
I have loved this story, how the darkness threatens the light, the love of art and creativity, and the hope that perhaps goodness will prevail. Sandra draws you into a world colored with creativity and yet plagued by darkness. I’m anxiously waiting for her second book to this story and am eager to follow these characters that I have grown to love.
I have loved this story, how the darkness threatens the light, the love of art and creativity, and the hope that perhaps goodness will prevail. Sandra draws you into a world colored with creativity and yet plagued by darkness. I’m anxiously waiting for her second book to this story and am eager to follow these characters that I have grown to love.
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