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The Color Theory #1
Vivid
DANGER LURKS BEHIND EVERY COLOR
When Ava Locke was five years old, she began a journey to join the Benefactors—the leaders of the magical continent of Magus. Twelve years later, she unwittingly started down the road to betray them.
On Magus, where colors fuel magical abilities, yellow is banned in an effort to protect people from its mind-controlling capabilities. When a rogue Yellow magic-user named Elm escapes imprisonment, Ava becomes innocently fascinated with his story. Once this mysterious Elm shows up at her school, Ava pushes her interest to the next level by helping him evade the Benefactors. Ava grows increasingly conflicted as her intrigue leads her down a dark road of secrets about her world. As she learns more about Yellow magic’s potential to control its victims, Ava now must question whether her rash decisions are all her own or if someone else is pulling the strings.
When Ava Locke was five years old, she began a journey to join the Benefactors—the leaders of the magical continent of Magus. Twelve years later, she unwittingly started down the road to betray them.
On Magus, where colors fuel magical abilities, yellow is banned in an effort to protect people from its mind-controlling capabilities. When a rogue Yellow magic-user named Elm escapes imprisonment, Ava becomes innocently fascinated with his story. Once this mysterious Elm shows up at her school, Ava pushes her interest to the next level by helping him evade the Benefactors. Ava grows increasingly conflicted as her intrigue leads her down a dark road of secrets about her world. As she learns more about Yellow magic’s potential to control its victims, Ava now must question whether her rash decisions are all her own or if someone else is pulling the strings.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2022
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June 24, 2023
4 stars, personally. Clean, not Christian Fiction. I liked it though!
About this book:
“DANGER LURKS BEHIND EVERY COLOR
When Ava Locke was five years old, she began a journey to join the Benefactors—the leaders of the magical continent of Magus. Twelve years later, she unwittingly started down the road to betray them.
On Magus, where colors fuel magical abilities, yellow is banned in an effort to protect people from its mind-controlling capabilities. When a rogue Yellow magic-user named Elm escapes imprisonment, Ava becomes innocently fascinated with his story. Once this mysterious Elm shows up at her school, Ava pushes her interest to the next level by helping him evade the Benefactors. Ava grows increasingly conflicted as her intrigue leads her down a dark road of secrets about her world. As she learns more about Yellow magic’s potential to control its victims, Ava now must question whether her rash decisions are all her own or if someone else is pulling the strings.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Color Theory” series.
Spiritual Content- A mention of praying that someone doesn’t notice something;
*Note: There are magic and spells in this book: Everyone is classified into a type of color magic (Red, Blue, & Yellow) and have a special stone they wear to be able to draw from it’s power; When all three color magics are used together, it creates White Magic; Those with Yellow magic are able to get into someone’s head and plant suggestions to do something (similar to mind control and are able to permanently destroy someone’s mind) and also do illusions; Because of Yellow magic users’ abilities they have been outlawed/banned; It’s said that any magic can be dangerous and throughout the book, there’s those who use it for good and for evil (and for self-defense and priorly used in a war); Ava casts spells for agility, strength, & healing (for herself and others, up to semi-detailed); A few mentions of Ava wondering if destiny or “the hand of a higher power” is leading her down a certain path (later she wonders if it’s fate, even though she’s never believed in it before, but there has to be “something stronger at work”); A few mentions of someone being called a demon or that a group of people were demonized or considered to be evil; A few mentions of a man being called a devil & evil; A couple mentions of magicians; A mention of Ava feeling “reborn” after healing an injury; A mention of Ava trying to find a “grain of enlightenment” in books about a topic; A mention of a devil-may-care attitude; A mention of playing the devil’s advocate; A mention of Mother Nature.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘hush up’, a ‘shoot’, two ‘blasted’s, two forms of ‘darn’, three ‘drat’s, three forms of ‘idiot’, and ten ‘stupid’s; Eye rolling; Being tortured, Being attacked, Being held hostage, Fighting (including in a test, for self-defense, and fighting against a bear), Injuries, Pain, & Passing out (all up to semi-detailed); Vandalism, Stealing, & Lying (Ava to authority figures and to a school, *Spoiler* ); Throwing up; Ava and some of the other Red Magic students have to cut themselves in a class to be able to learn how to heal (one girl struggles with it and passes out after seeing the blood, it’s said that “only in a healing class would this sort of mutilation ever be condoned”, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Ava wonders if Elm is going to kill her (a few times including a fight scene of him forcing her to hold a knife to her chest and warning her about Yellow magic, up to semi-detailed); *Spoiler* ; Mentions of a war, deaths, violence, & slaughters (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of murders/executions & a body-tearing spell (and someone seeing it happen to loved ones, Ava is shocked to learn about such a spell, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of criminals, crimes, & attacks; Mentions of vandalism & a break-in; Mentions of fighting, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of someone being held hostage for years; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deceit; A few mentions of suicides (some believe they are caused by those with Yellow magic); A few mentions of rumors; A couple mentions of Red Magic users doing dangerous things and their bodies not being able to handle it (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of vomit; A couple mentions of hunting; A mention of a hanging;
*Note: Ava stays with a family on holiday break, but an adult at her school tells her that they’re only taking care of her because she asked (which hurts Ava and she thinks about it again later); It’s said in a book about Yellow magic that for “every good deception, there is an inkling of truth”; Mentions of prejudice towards those with Yellow magic & hatred.
Sexual Content- About seven hand/finger kisses, a cheek kiss, two almost kisses, and two barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth/Heat, Nearness, Smelling, & Butterflies (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to touch (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Elm changes his shirt in front of Ava, so she turns around & contemplates taking a peek or not (she does not, but does blush over it happening); A handful of mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends & dating; A couple mentions of some girls finding Elm (who has Yellow magic) attractive and saying they would be fine if he put them under a spell; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of flirting; A mention of a married couple kissing; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Ava Locke, age 17-18
1st person P.O.V. of Ava
304 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
{Ratings are based on content, not the magic elements as every family has different views on magic in books. Please do note our comment in the {} below on a possible trigger.}
I feel like I start off all of my YA Fantasy reviews with the word “interesting” in the first sentence, so I’ll try to avoid using it in this review. (Even though it fits perfectly.)
I love boarding school/academy books. I’m not sure what it is, but that instantly pulled me into this book and kept my attention. (The name Prism? As a school for learning about color magic? Brilliant. I loved it.)
There was some teen angst in this. That can be a positive or negative note for some. Some days I dislike it and other days I crave an angsty YA book. (Not sure why, actually. Hmm.)
Ava didn’t bother me much, though, I wish she would have thought things and plans through a bit more before jumping in since she didn’t always make the wisest decisions, but she’s seventeen. And it’s a YA book. I kind of expected that and gave her grace in those moments. Though, this was definitely one of those books where I don’t recommend doing what she’s doing because some of it aren’t the best ideas (but they work out fine because it’s fiction), but it was entertaining to read about.
There were a few parts where it felt like “magic” was the answer to how or why something happened, in the sense of things not being explained clearly. But I suppose that’s how it could be? It is magic after all. (The logical side of me wants real answers, though.)
I was a little disappointed that I was able to guess the twists I had heard other rave about, but I’ll chalk it up to reading a lot of dystopian books over the years.
About 50% in, I sent a request for the second book in this series, so needless to say, I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon. I do appreciate that this first book didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but a “there’s more to come” style.
{Trigger Note: There is one scene where those with Red magic have to cut themselves to be able to practice their healing magic. Ava has no problem cutting herself or healing the wound, but another girl struggles with it and Ava does the cutting for her. The girl passes out because of seeing blood and is treated by a Healer.}
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“DANGER LURKS BEHIND EVERY COLOR
When Ava Locke was five years old, she began a journey to join the Benefactors—the leaders of the magical continent of Magus. Twelve years later, she unwittingly started down the road to betray them.
On Magus, where colors fuel magical abilities, yellow is banned in an effort to protect people from its mind-controlling capabilities. When a rogue Yellow magic-user named Elm escapes imprisonment, Ava becomes innocently fascinated with his story. Once this mysterious Elm shows up at her school, Ava pushes her interest to the next level by helping him evade the Benefactors. Ava grows increasingly conflicted as her intrigue leads her down a dark road of secrets about her world. As she learns more about Yellow magic’s potential to control its victims, Ava now must question whether her rash decisions are all her own or if someone else is pulling the strings.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Color Theory” series.
Spiritual Content- A mention of praying that someone doesn’t notice something;
*Note: There are magic and spells in this book: Everyone is classified into a type of color magic (Red, Blue, & Yellow) and have a special stone they wear to be able to draw from it’s power; When all three color magics are used together, it creates White Magic; Those with Yellow magic are able to get into someone’s head and plant suggestions to do something (similar to mind control and are able to permanently destroy someone’s mind) and also do illusions; Because of Yellow magic users’ abilities they have been outlawed/banned; It’s said that any magic can be dangerous and throughout the book, there’s those who use it for good and for evil (and for self-defense and priorly used in a war); Ava casts spells for agility, strength, & healing (for herself and others, up to semi-detailed); A few mentions of Ava wondering if destiny or “the hand of a higher power” is leading her down a certain path (later she wonders if it’s fate, even though she’s never believed in it before, but there has to be “something stronger at work”); A few mentions of someone being called a demon or that a group of people were demonized or considered to be evil; A few mentions of a man being called a devil & evil; A couple mentions of magicians; A mention of Ava feeling “reborn” after healing an injury; A mention of Ava trying to find a “grain of enlightenment” in books about a topic; A mention of a devil-may-care attitude; A mention of playing the devil’s advocate; A mention of Mother Nature.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘hush up’, a ‘shoot’, two ‘blasted’s, two forms of ‘darn’, three ‘drat’s, three forms of ‘idiot’, and ten ‘stupid’s; Eye rolling; Being tortured, Being attacked, Being held hostage, Fighting (including in a test, for self-defense, and fighting against a bear), Injuries, Pain, & Passing out (all up to semi-detailed); Vandalism, Stealing, & Lying (Ava to authority figures and to a school, *Spoiler* ); Throwing up; Ava and some of the other Red Magic students have to cut themselves in a class to be able to learn how to heal (one girl struggles with it and passes out after seeing the blood, it’s said that “only in a healing class would this sort of mutilation ever be condoned”, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Ava wonders if Elm is going to kill her (a few times including a fight scene of him forcing her to hold a knife to her chest and warning her about Yellow magic, up to semi-detailed); *Spoiler* ; Mentions of a war, deaths, violence, & slaughters (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of murders/executions & a body-tearing spell (and someone seeing it happen to loved ones, Ava is shocked to learn about such a spell, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of criminals, crimes, & attacks; Mentions of vandalism & a break-in; Mentions of fighting, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of someone being held hostage for years; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deceit; A few mentions of suicides (some believe they are caused by those with Yellow magic); A few mentions of rumors; A couple mentions of Red Magic users doing dangerous things and their bodies not being able to handle it (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of vomit; A couple mentions of hunting; A mention of a hanging;
*Note: Ava stays with a family on holiday break, but an adult at her school tells her that they’re only taking care of her because she asked (which hurts Ava and she thinks about it again later); It’s said in a book about Yellow magic that for “every good deception, there is an inkling of truth”; Mentions of prejudice towards those with Yellow magic & hatred.
Sexual Content- About seven hand/finger kisses, a cheek kiss, two almost kisses, and two barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth/Heat, Nearness, Smelling, & Butterflies (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to touch (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Elm changes his shirt in front of Ava, so she turns around & contemplates taking a peek or not (she does not, but does blush over it happening); A handful of mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends & dating; A couple mentions of some girls finding Elm (who has Yellow magic) attractive and saying they would be fine if he put them under a spell; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of flirting; A mention of a married couple kissing; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Ava Locke, age 17-18
1st person P.O.V. of Ava
304 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
{Ratings are based on content, not the magic elements as every family has different views on magic in books. Please do note our comment in the {} below on a possible trigger.}
I feel like I start off all of my YA Fantasy reviews with the word “interesting” in the first sentence, so I’ll try to avoid using it in this review. (Even though it fits perfectly.)
I love boarding school/academy books. I’m not sure what it is, but that instantly pulled me into this book and kept my attention. (The name Prism? As a school for learning about color magic? Brilliant. I loved it.)
There was some teen angst in this. That can be a positive or negative note for some. Some days I dislike it and other days I crave an angsty YA book. (Not sure why, actually. Hmm.)
Ava didn’t bother me much, though, I wish she would have thought things and plans through a bit more before jumping in since she didn’t always make the wisest decisions, but she’s seventeen. And it’s a YA book. I kind of expected that and gave her grace in those moments. Though, this was definitely one of those books where I don’t recommend doing what she’s doing because some of it aren’t the best ideas (but they work out fine because it’s fiction), but it was entertaining to read about.
There were a few parts where it felt like “magic” was the answer to how or why something happened, in the sense of things not being explained clearly. But I suppose that’s how it could be? It is magic after all. (The logical side of me wants real answers, though.)
I was a little disappointed that I was able to guess the twists I had heard other rave about, but I’ll chalk it up to reading a lot of dystopian books over the years.
About 50% in, I sent a request for the second book in this series, so needless to say, I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon. I do appreciate that this first book didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but a “there’s more to come” style.
{Trigger Note: There is one scene where those with Red magic have to cut themselves to be able to practice their healing magic. Ava has no problem cutting herself or healing the wound, but another girl struggles with it and Ava does the cutting for her. The girl passes out because of seeing blood and is treated by a Healer.}
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
March 31, 2023
5⭐️
One of the EASIEST 5-star ratings I’ve given in a while!!! I neeeeeed more of this world!
Thank you, Ashley for this incredible GEM of a book!! 😍😍🌼🌼
One of the EASIEST 5-star ratings I’ve given in a while!!! I neeeeeed more of this world!
Thank you, Ashley for this incredible GEM of a book!! 😍😍🌼🌼
March 21, 2024
so, that was... definitely a book.
rtc maybe 💌
rtc maybe 💌
May 26, 2022
I follow Enclave Publishing's newsletter, so I heard of this story as soon as they announced it. To be completely honest, I wasn't interested in this book initially. The very first thing I learned about it was that the story revolves around color magic, which, while that's an interesting concept, that alone wasn't intriguing enough to catch my personal interest. It actually wasn't until I watched a video interview with the author where she answered questions about the characters and the world that I got more interested.
Turns out that the magical continent of Magus, where the main character lives, is actually in an alternate version of our world. In that version of the world, Magus sits where the Bermuda Triangle used to be. Those who lived on this continent started developing magical powers. Color magic, to be specific. While the post-apocalyptic/dystopian element is not immediately evident, that is what this story is, since we eventually learn that the world outside of Magus is not habitable anymore. (Supposedly, anyway. I have suspicions about this that are yet to be confirmed or denied. :p) Magus is led by people called "Benefactors," which, we slowly realize are pretty dystopian in the secrets they hold. Ava herself wants to study to become one of them until she learns that not everything she's been told is true.
This all got me interested enough that I snatched up the audiobook the day it released. As soon as I started it, the story sucked me in! I was so intrigued by this world and the characters that the author has created. She revealed things at just the right times so that we, the readers are learning things right alongside Ava, and become curious and even suspicious just as she does. It was so fascinating to see it all play out. I kept wanting to come back to it again and again to learn what would happen next and get answers to all the questions being raised. I pretty much went through the ringer of emotions, from happiness, to sadness, to fear, to anger, to satisfaction. So much happened and I loved it all, even if I was rather worried for our main couple a few times.
Probably my only real complaint is that Ava's attraction to and emotional involvement with Elm happened before she really knew she could trust him (and before she knew for sure that certain other people were lying to her), so that wasn't the wisest thing it the world. Now, she did *realize* at one point that it wasn't the wisest thing, but it also never truly backfired on her. So, I'll just put that in the "This is fiction, so it worked out, but don't try it at home" category.
This is the first book in a larger story (I don't know if it will be a duology or trilogy, but I know there's more story coming because the author said so) but I honestly felt it did well enough telling a solid snd enjoyable story all on it's own that I'm going to give it 5 stars. Truly, I enjoyed it that much, and I'm definitely interested to know what will come next!
Content Advisory:
Language:
No swears. The only swear replacement I remember is Ava saying "darn it" once.
Sexual:
Nothing truly sexual ever happens. Ava experiences romantic attraction to a boy and vice versa. She is tempted once to peek when he removes his shirt to clean a wound, but doesn't. Much later on, they kiss a few times, which is sweet rather than sensual; and only barely described. There are also several kisses on the hand and some brief instances of innocent flirtation.
Violence:
Chapter 3 starts with a scene where a class of red magic students are learning how to heal wounds. To do this in a controlled environment, the students must cut their own hand with a knife and then heal it. There's minimal mention of blood since the cuts are shallow. While not "violent" it popped into my mind that a scene featuring people cutting themselves intentionally could be triggering to people struggling with self harm. If this scene is indeed triggering for anyone, flip from the very beginning of chapter 3 until you see the little swirl on the page that indicates the start of the next scene, and you will be past it.
Two students have a sparring match where non-life-threatening injuries are allowed. One of them does get cut on the arm with scissors, and they magically throw things at each other
A young man is stated to have a serious wound. There's mention of blood and possibly visible bone.
Ava learns that, during a war in the past, many yellow magic users were "eliminated" (aka, executed in the case of those who actually committed crimes, and murdered in the case of those who were killed just for existing.) There's mention of her seeing video of some of them attached to wires and screaming, but the description doesn't go beyond that.
The majority of violence happens in the last third or so of the story.
Someone has a memory of an innocent young couple being murdered by red magic. It's stated that the couple started to glow red and scream, but the witness's view gets blocked after that, so there's no description of what the magic did to their bodies.
Someone gets hit over the head. (Described.)
Someone gets tortured with magic. Spasms of pain and screaming are described, as are cuts that magically appear on their body. There's mention of a lot of blood.
A very evil person's mind is destroyed by magic. This is not so much "violent" as potentially disturbing. It is stated that the person suddenly begins laughing uncontrollably, so hard and so long that they finally vomit. Then the person witnessing this then faints so there is no further description. It is simply stated after the fact that the evil person won't recover, but there's no detail as to what exactly that means.
A fairly intense fight happens where individuals punch, kick, and scratch each other, and there's a threat of serious magic-induced harm. Someone gets thrown against a wall, punched in the stomach, hit over the head. Hair gets pulled. But it never gets deadly or bloody.
Magic:
As the synopsis states, this is an alternate version of our world where magic exists. Ava reads a book that explains that the place where she lives is a futuristic version of the Bermuda Triangle, and those who lived in that region for a long time eventually gained magical ability. If these people leave the region, they will slowly lose their abilities, but regain them if they go back. Magic users can only use their abilities on other magic users, not on people without magic abilities.
The magic system is color based, meaning that individuals can draw magical power from the color of random objects. Literally ANY object with color, from stones, to kickballs, to flowers, to food, to clothing, to blood etc, etc can be used as a power source via draining it of color. While the usage of magic is called "spells" there are never any words spoken or specific actions described when a character "casts" a spell. It's simply stated that the character cast a certain spell and focused on a certain object to pull the color out of it, and the results of the spell are described. The magic is never related to anything spiritual.
Magic users naturally have the ability to control a certain color. Red magic users are able to do things related to the body, ranging from healing, to increasing strength and speed, etc. They can also do serious bodily harm, like inflicting pain without touching someone, and "body tearing". Blue magic users seem to be able to manipulate objects with their minds, from making them float to building things. Yellow magic users have illusion and the ability to manipulate the thoughts and emotions of others. Yellow magic is considered illegal because of the harm the users might do by controlling people's minds. (The harm red and blue magic users can do is resoundingly ignored by the government, but the morality of this attitude gets grappled with during the story.) White magic happens when all three colors are used at once. The main example we see of that in the story is white magic creating a protective barrier.
Spiritual:
The author states in the acknowledgements that she is a Christian, and Enclave is a small press that publishes clean fiction by and for Christians, but while some of their books have explicitly Christian content, some of them are simply clean stories written by Christians. "Vivid" seems to be the latter of these options (though I'll note that it's the first book in a continuing story, so it's possible this could change. If it does, I'll return and edit this review.) The absolute only mention of anything spiritual in the entire story comes during an important life-altering decision-making moment for Ava. In this moment, she says, "Call it fate, or a higher power," but she feels she was intentionally placed by *something* or *someone* on the path she's about to pursue to help an individual and others like him stop being persecuted and killed just for existing.
Turns out that the magical continent of Magus, where the main character lives, is actually in an alternate version of our world. In that version of the world, Magus sits where the Bermuda Triangle used to be. Those who lived on this continent started developing magical powers. Color magic, to be specific. While the post-apocalyptic/dystopian element is not immediately evident, that is what this story is, since we eventually learn that the world outside of Magus is not habitable anymore. (Supposedly, anyway. I have suspicions about this that are yet to be confirmed or denied. :p) Magus is led by people called "Benefactors," which, we slowly realize are pretty dystopian in the secrets they hold. Ava herself wants to study to become one of them until she learns that not everything she's been told is true.
This all got me interested enough that I snatched up the audiobook the day it released. As soon as I started it, the story sucked me in! I was so intrigued by this world and the characters that the author has created. She revealed things at just the right times so that we, the readers are learning things right alongside Ava, and become curious and even suspicious just as she does. It was so fascinating to see it all play out. I kept wanting to come back to it again and again to learn what would happen next and get answers to all the questions being raised. I pretty much went through the ringer of emotions, from happiness, to sadness, to fear, to anger, to satisfaction. So much happened and I loved it all, even if I was rather worried for our main couple a few times.
Probably my only real complaint is that Ava's attraction to and emotional involvement with Elm happened before she really knew she could trust him (and before she knew for sure that certain other people were lying to her), so that wasn't the wisest thing it the world. Now, she did *realize* at one point that it wasn't the wisest thing, but it also never truly backfired on her. So, I'll just put that in the "This is fiction, so it worked out, but don't try it at home" category.
This is the first book in a larger story (I don't know if it will be a duology or trilogy, but I know there's more story coming because the author said so) but I honestly felt it did well enough telling a solid snd enjoyable story all on it's own that I'm going to give it 5 stars. Truly, I enjoyed it that much, and I'm definitely interested to know what will come next!
Content Advisory:
Language:
No swears. The only swear replacement I remember is Ava saying "darn it" once.
Sexual:
Nothing truly sexual ever happens. Ava experiences romantic attraction to a boy and vice versa. She is tempted once to peek when he removes his shirt to clean a wound, but doesn't. Much later on, they kiss a few times, which is sweet rather than sensual; and only barely described. There are also several kisses on the hand and some brief instances of innocent flirtation.
Violence:
Chapter 3 starts with a scene where a class of red magic students are learning how to heal wounds. To do this in a controlled environment, the students must cut their own hand with a knife and then heal it. There's minimal mention of blood since the cuts are shallow. While not "violent" it popped into my mind that a scene featuring people cutting themselves intentionally could be triggering to people struggling with self harm. If this scene is indeed triggering for anyone, flip from the very beginning of chapter 3 until you see the little swirl on the page that indicates the start of the next scene, and you will be past it.
Two students have a sparring match where non-life-threatening injuries are allowed. One of them does get cut on the arm with scissors, and they magically throw things at each other
A young man is stated to have a serious wound. There's mention of blood and possibly visible bone.
Ava learns that, during a war in the past, many yellow magic users were "eliminated" (aka, executed in the case of those who actually committed crimes, and murdered in the case of those who were killed just for existing.) There's mention of her seeing video of some of them attached to wires and screaming, but the description doesn't go beyond that.
The majority of violence happens in the last third or so of the story.
Someone has a memory of an innocent young couple being murdered by red magic. It's stated that the couple started to glow red and scream, but the witness's view gets blocked after that, so there's no description of what the magic did to their bodies.
Someone gets hit over the head. (Described.)
Someone gets tortured with magic. Spasms of pain and screaming are described, as are cuts that magically appear on their body. There's mention of a lot of blood.
A very evil person's mind is destroyed by magic. This is not so much "violent" as potentially disturbing. It is stated that the person suddenly begins laughing uncontrollably, so hard and so long that they finally vomit. Then the person witnessing this then faints so there is no further description. It is simply stated after the fact that the evil person won't recover, but there's no detail as to what exactly that means.
A fairly intense fight happens where individuals punch, kick, and scratch each other, and there's a threat of serious magic-induced harm. Someone gets thrown against a wall, punched in the stomach, hit over the head. Hair gets pulled. But it never gets deadly or bloody.
Magic:
As the synopsis states, this is an alternate version of our world where magic exists. Ava reads a book that explains that the place where she lives is a futuristic version of the Bermuda Triangle, and those who lived in that region for a long time eventually gained magical ability. If these people leave the region, they will slowly lose their abilities, but regain them if they go back. Magic users can only use their abilities on other magic users, not on people without magic abilities.
The magic system is color based, meaning that individuals can draw magical power from the color of random objects. Literally ANY object with color, from stones, to kickballs, to flowers, to food, to clothing, to blood etc, etc can be used as a power source via draining it of color. While the usage of magic is called "spells" there are never any words spoken or specific actions described when a character "casts" a spell. It's simply stated that the character cast a certain spell and focused on a certain object to pull the color out of it, and the results of the spell are described. The magic is never related to anything spiritual.
Magic users naturally have the ability to control a certain color. Red magic users are able to do things related to the body, ranging from healing, to increasing strength and speed, etc. They can also do serious bodily harm, like inflicting pain without touching someone, and "body tearing". Blue magic users seem to be able to manipulate objects with their minds, from making them float to building things. Yellow magic users have illusion and the ability to manipulate the thoughts and emotions of others. Yellow magic is considered illegal because of the harm the users might do by controlling people's minds. (The harm red and blue magic users can do is resoundingly ignored by the government, but the morality of this attitude gets grappled with during the story.) White magic happens when all three colors are used at once. The main example we see of that in the story is white magic creating a protective barrier.
Spiritual:
The author states in the acknowledgements that she is a Christian, and Enclave is a small press that publishes clean fiction by and for Christians, but while some of their books have explicitly Christian content, some of them are simply clean stories written by Christians. "Vivid" seems to be the latter of these options (though I'll note that it's the first book in a continuing story, so it's possible this could change. If it does, I'll return and edit this review.) The absolute only mention of anything spiritual in the entire story comes during an important life-altering decision-making moment for Ava. In this moment, she says, "Call it fate, or a higher power," but she feels she was intentionally placed by *something* or *someone* on the path she's about to pursue to help an individual and others like him stop being persecuted and killed just for existing.
October 13, 2023
Ashley Bustamante mesmerizes readers with her enchanting debut novel, "Vivid: Ashley Bustamante (Color Theory Book 1)," a thrilling exploration of forbidden magic and the perilous path of deception. Set in the magical continent of Magus, where colors hold the key to extraordinary abilities, Bustamante weaves a tapestry of secrets and injustice that will leave readers spellbound.
Ava Locke, a determined young protagonist, embarks on a journey that takes her from innocence to treachery. Fascinated by the forbidden Yellow magic, Ava's curiosity leads her down a dark path as she encounters Elm, a rogue Yellow magic-user. Drawn deeper into his world, Ava becomes entangled in a web of intrigue, questioning the very foundation of her reality.
Bustamante skillfully crafts a vivid and immersive world, where colors ignite fantastical powers and danger lurks around every corner. The author's prose evokes a sense of wonder and excitement, transporting readers into a realm where mysteries abound and alliances are tested. As Ava delves deeper into the secrets of Yellow magic, the lines between right and wrong blur, leaving her torn between her own choices and the manipulation of unseen forces.
"Vivid: Ashley Bustamante (Color Theory Book 1)" is a captivating blend of fantasy and suspense, highlighting the consequences of forbidden knowledge and the complexities of power. Bustamante's meticulous attention to detail and intricate plotting keeps readers on the edge of their seats, yearning for more.
As the first installment of the Color Theory series, this book promises an exhilarating journey ahead. Fans of magic, intrigue, and morally ambiguous characters will be thoroughly engrossed in Bustamante's imaginative world. With danger lurking at every turn and the allure of hidden truths, "Vivid" sets the stage for an epic tale of discovery, betrayal, and the struggle to determine one's own destiny.
Ava Locke, a determined young protagonist, embarks on a journey that takes her from innocence to treachery. Fascinated by the forbidden Yellow magic, Ava's curiosity leads her down a dark path as she encounters Elm, a rogue Yellow magic-user. Drawn deeper into his world, Ava becomes entangled in a web of intrigue, questioning the very foundation of her reality.
Bustamante skillfully crafts a vivid and immersive world, where colors ignite fantastical powers and danger lurks around every corner. The author's prose evokes a sense of wonder and excitement, transporting readers into a realm where mysteries abound and alliances are tested. As Ava delves deeper into the secrets of Yellow magic, the lines between right and wrong blur, leaving her torn between her own choices and the manipulation of unseen forces.
"Vivid: Ashley Bustamante (Color Theory Book 1)" is a captivating blend of fantasy and suspense, highlighting the consequences of forbidden knowledge and the complexities of power. Bustamante's meticulous attention to detail and intricate plotting keeps readers on the edge of their seats, yearning for more.
As the first installment of the Color Theory series, this book promises an exhilarating journey ahead. Fans of magic, intrigue, and morally ambiguous characters will be thoroughly engrossed in Bustamante's imaginative world. With danger lurking at every turn and the allure of hidden truths, "Vivid" sets the stage for an epic tale of discovery, betrayal, and the struggle to determine one's own destiny.
April 8, 2022
Ashley Bustamante’s Vivid is as rich and colorful as its title suggests. The land of Magus blooms to life from page one, drawing you into an addictive world of irresistible—and forbidden—magic. I simply couldn’t put it down. Readers will swoon over this fantastical debut.
April 6, 2022
This is definitely a new favourite! So engaging, vibrant, heart-capturing, epic, and beautiful!
I adored the characters so much. They're all so real and relatable and I love them. Elm is my new book boyfriend and I'm not even ashamed.
There was so much masterful tension throughout this story! The emotional aspect was incredible and the action scenes were simply fantastic. I couldn't stop reading!
I am THOROUGHLY in love with this story!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
I adored the characters so much. They're all so real and relatable and I love them. Elm is my new book boyfriend and I'm not even ashamed.
There was so much masterful tension throughout this story! The emotional aspect was incredible and the action scenes were simply fantastic. I couldn't stop reading!
I am THOROUGHLY in love with this story!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
June 13, 2023
SO GOOD!!!!! The color magic system is sooo cool!!!! This was all so interesting and I wanted answers just as much as Ava 😂 she knew something wasn’t right and she never quit searching for answers! She was so brave and Elm was so funny 🤣 I loved all the sneaking around Ava and Elm did. A lot of things were so mysterious in this book and I loved when everything was revealed. The romance was super cute I hope there’s more of it in Radiant and the ending was reallyyy good but I need more 😭😭
* spoilers *
I didn’t like Selene from the beginning she seemed so strict but after a while it’s pretty obvious she’s evil! Also I can’t believe she had Ava’s parents killed😭 so both her parents were yellow magic users?!🙀I can’t tell if Blake has a crush on Ava or sees her more as a sister but Elms jealousy is so cute 🤣🤣 I really can’t wait to see Ava use her yellow magic more!!
* spoilers *
I didn’t like Selene from the beginning she seemed so strict but after a while it’s pretty obvious she’s evil! Also I can’t believe she had Ava’s parents killed😭 so both her parents were yellow magic users?!🙀I can’t tell if Blake has a crush on Ava or sees her more as a sister but Elms jealousy is so cute 🤣🤣 I really can’t wait to see Ava use her yellow magic more!!
Want to read
May 9, 2022Here's a quiz for Vivid!
https://ashley-bustamante.involve.me/...
I got Shaper...
You are a Shaper!
Shapers use Blue magic and have power to manipulate inanimate objects. Shapers can move things through telekinesis and change the physical properties of an object. You might be a creative artist or a skilled inventor.
Read VIVID to learn more about Shapers and Blue magic!
https://ashley-bustamante.involve.me/...
I got Shaper...
You are a Shaper!
Shapers use Blue magic and have power to manipulate inanimate objects. Shapers can move things through telekinesis and change the physical properties of an object. You might be a creative artist or a skilled inventor.
Read VIVID to learn more about Shapers and Blue magic!
April 8, 2025
3.5⭐️
Really good story, but I would have wanted more descriptive world-building. Other than that, it was a great audiobook.
Really good story, but I would have wanted more descriptive world-building. Other than that, it was a great audiobook.
June 30, 2022
This book! Wow!
What a marvelous debut! I'm not the BIGGEST fan of magical fantasy but this one blew me out of the water! I wasn't sure what the expect, but Ashley delivered more than I could have hoped for!
With enough twists and turns to make me feel a bit motion sick, some plot twists I saw coming (or should I say THOUGHT I saw coming) this book will have you turning pages long into the night!
With a carefully thought out and delivered world building, the laws of the magic in Vivid are so well laid out and described all without taking me out of the story. That tends to be my struggle with these books because the world building can get so heavy I lose interest, but this one held my interest tightly all the way through!
With loveable and relatable characters, motivations that make total sense but are just as maddening and heart-breaking as they should be, on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense makes this a story that I can't WAIT to see continue!
The sequel will be on my auto buy list the minute it comes out! I call encore!
Content: minor violence and blood. Not gory at all imho. One of the plot twists was a little shocking, but even with the shock it was handled with tact. The romance was sweet and totally clean with a few kisses here and there and a growing attraction that I was cheering for the whole way!
What a marvelous debut! I'm not the BIGGEST fan of magical fantasy but this one blew me out of the water! I wasn't sure what the expect, but Ashley delivered more than I could have hoped for!
With enough twists and turns to make me feel a bit motion sick, some plot twists I saw coming (or should I say THOUGHT I saw coming) this book will have you turning pages long into the night!
With a carefully thought out and delivered world building, the laws of the magic in Vivid are so well laid out and described all without taking me out of the story. That tends to be my struggle with these books because the world building can get so heavy I lose interest, but this one held my interest tightly all the way through!
With loveable and relatable characters, motivations that make total sense but are just as maddening and heart-breaking as they should be, on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense makes this a story that I can't WAIT to see continue!
The sequel will be on my auto buy list the minute it comes out! I call encore!
Content: minor violence and blood. Not gory at all imho. One of the plot twists was a little shocking, but even with the shock it was handled with tact. The romance was sweet and totally clean with a few kisses here and there and a growing attraction that I was cheering for the whole way!
April 16, 2023
Y'all. I loved this book so much. The magic system was fun and Elm is a new favorite character. Ava didn't always make the wisest decisions, but what can you expect from a teenager? The romance was sooooo cute, I loved every moment of it ❤️❤️❤️
October 18, 2025
Just have to say that ending 🤫 literally satisfied my dystopian taste. Loved Elm he was adorbs! The plot wasn’t super amazing it was your typical dystopian but it still felt jaw dropping and amazing throughout. I enjoyed the color thoughts of being able to draw power from anything of a certain color. Super cool! I was hooked throughout and can’t wait to read more about Elm and Ava in the future. Also I feel like there might have been mental and spiritual health hints throughout as well which was nice to see.
Also kind of happy I was right about my theories lol
Anywho byeeee 👋
Also kind of happy I was right about my theories lol
Anywho byeeee 👋
March 8, 2022
I loved this book! And I’m looking forward to reading book two!
Within the pages of Vivid, we find a color-based magic system, a world where the color yellow has been outlawed, and so much intrigue—especially surrounding escaped yellow magic user Elm.
Vivid kept me questioning everything about the world of Magus right along with main character Ava. When Ava, a red magic student, begins to seek knowledge about yellow magic and the war that killed her parents, she ends up with way more questions than answers.
Why was Yellow magic outlawed? Were all Yellow magic users evil-doers as the Benefactors claim? What happened to all the Yellows? These are just a few of the questions Ava is trying to find answers to.
Vivid is a fantastical story that shows us the importance of seeking truth, learning to discern lies, and standing up for what is right. I highly recommend it!
4.5/5 stars
I received an ebook ARC of Vivid from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my honest thoughts about this book.
Within the pages of Vivid, we find a color-based magic system, a world where the color yellow has been outlawed, and so much intrigue—especially surrounding escaped yellow magic user Elm.
Vivid kept me questioning everything about the world of Magus right along with main character Ava. When Ava, a red magic student, begins to seek knowledge about yellow magic and the war that killed her parents, she ends up with way more questions than answers.
Why was Yellow magic outlawed? Were all Yellow magic users evil-doers as the Benefactors claim? What happened to all the Yellows? These are just a few of the questions Ava is trying to find answers to.
Vivid is a fantastical story that shows us the importance of seeking truth, learning to discern lies, and standing up for what is right. I highly recommend it!
4.5/5 stars
I received an ebook ARC of Vivid from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my honest thoughts about this book.
July 25, 2023
This was soooooo good!!! I was intrigued the whole time, needing to know what was gonna happen. It's definitely YA, but it still kept me thoroughly entertained. This story was giving a mix of Fawkes with the color magic and the giver with the politics. I could see the faith elements woven in as well, which I loved, and I can't wait to read the next one! Definitely let off on a cliffhanger...
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
April 15, 2022
I received this book for free from the publisher. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
Vivid by Ashley Bustamante, book one in the Color Theory series from Enclave Escape, is a timely story that is as enchanting as it is powerful. Full of whimsy and magic, Vivid is a colorful tale that combines the academic, dystopian, and fantasy genres to create something reminescent of Wonderland, Oz, and the Winx Club (for us 90s babies). It is a exciting story from beginning to end, a fast-paced and easy read that is as appropiate for all ages as it is entertaining.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to ask question.”
I felt drawn to Vivid for so many reasons as I read the story. I kept thinking about it and eager to get back to it, and not just because I wanted to know what would happen next! (Now that is rare for me!) Ashley Bustamante has truly created a captivating world that stands out as being entirely unique (reminding me of Caraval by Stephanie Garber at times) while still being so familiar it could be our own world. And it so many ways, it was! I truly appreciated her abliity to marry vibrant creativity with realism in the world of Magnus.
The characters were another draw for me. I related to Ava so much, especially with her desire to achieve and make her superiors proud of her (that dreaded people-pleasing!), which is so strong it causes her to sometimes doubt her gut. While at times it was frustrating for her to constantly wonder if she should trust Elm or Selene, it was also relatable because I saw myself in that struggle. Whether Ashley intended it or not, she represented what gaslighting feels like extremely accurately, building compassion for Ava in the struggle to discern the truth and hopeful satisfication when the lies are exposed.
Elm was also a truly fun character, and very instrumental in pulling Ava out of her usual routine simply because he is so unpredictable! He reminded me a little bit of Legend (seriously Caraval fans need to check this one out!) with his wild and whimsical magic. I was always pleasantly surprised by his “pranks”, but also appreciated that he was self-aware of his own weaknesses and flaws. His relationship with Ava was the most adorable thing ever, but also really helped the pacing of the story from getting to heavy too soon.
“Either outcome would result in a world without Ava. And who, dear Ava, could ever possibly want that?”
Vivid also has some very fun twists and turns, starting off with a bang right at the beginning! The tension was handled perfectly with carefully rising stakes, so that you can never fully relax but you also have room to breathe.
And at the core, Vivid is a story about bigotry, discernment, and truth. Being able to separate the truth from the lies can be tricky at times, but things are not always what they seem, and discernment is a valuable tool. Sometimes we have to be willing to give up what we know to discover what is actually true, and nothing is more important than the truth: the truth about the world, the truth about others, and the truth about ourselves.
Overall, this book definitely deserves all five stars! Vivid has a whimsical world filled with fantastic characters (and an adorable romance), placed in an exciting plot that all contribute to a heartfelt story. Looking for something fresh to read next? Grab Vivid!
Vivid by Ashley Bustamante, book one in the Color Theory series from Enclave Escape, is a timely story that is as enchanting as it is powerful. Full of whimsy and magic, Vivid is a colorful tale that combines the academic, dystopian, and fantasy genres to create something reminescent of Wonderland, Oz, and the Winx Club (for us 90s babies). It is a exciting story from beginning to end, a fast-paced and easy read that is as appropiate for all ages as it is entertaining.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to ask question.”
I felt drawn to Vivid for so many reasons as I read the story. I kept thinking about it and eager to get back to it, and not just because I wanted to know what would happen next! (Now that is rare for me!) Ashley Bustamante has truly created a captivating world that stands out as being entirely unique (reminding me of Caraval by Stephanie Garber at times) while still being so familiar it could be our own world. And it so many ways, it was! I truly appreciated her abliity to marry vibrant creativity with realism in the world of Magnus.
The characters were another draw for me. I related to Ava so much, especially with her desire to achieve and make her superiors proud of her (that dreaded people-pleasing!), which is so strong it causes her to sometimes doubt her gut. While at times it was frustrating for her to constantly wonder if she should trust Elm or Selene, it was also relatable because I saw myself in that struggle. Whether Ashley intended it or not, she represented what gaslighting feels like extremely accurately, building compassion for Ava in the struggle to discern the truth and hopeful satisfication when the lies are exposed.
Elm was also a truly fun character, and very instrumental in pulling Ava out of her usual routine simply because he is so unpredictable! He reminded me a little bit of Legend (seriously Caraval fans need to check this one out!) with his wild and whimsical magic. I was always pleasantly surprised by his “pranks”, but also appreciated that he was self-aware of his own weaknesses and flaws. His relationship with Ava was the most adorable thing ever, but also really helped the pacing of the story from getting to heavy too soon.
“Either outcome would result in a world without Ava. And who, dear Ava, could ever possibly want that?”
Vivid also has some very fun twists and turns, starting off with a bang right at the beginning! The tension was handled perfectly with carefully rising stakes, so that you can never fully relax but you also have room to breathe.
And at the core, Vivid is a story about bigotry, discernment, and truth. Being able to separate the truth from the lies can be tricky at times, but things are not always what they seem, and discernment is a valuable tool. Sometimes we have to be willing to give up what we know to discover what is actually true, and nothing is more important than the truth: the truth about the world, the truth about others, and the truth about ourselves.
Overall, this book definitely deserves all five stars! Vivid has a whimsical world filled with fantastic characters (and an adorable romance), placed in an exciting plot that all contribute to a heartfelt story. Looking for something fresh to read next? Grab Vivid!
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October 13, 2025
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Hmm…okay, let’s see if I can put all my thoughts down here in a way that makes sense. First, I’ll say that this reminded me of The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella and The Story Peddler by Lindsay A Franklin. The cover is absolutely STUNNING! I really wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t. I did like it. But I was confused (and still am confused…haha) for most of the book. I didn’t really understand it all and I know that it’s only book one. Ava was kinda annoying and I found myself wanting to yell at her for being so naive and stupid at times. Elm was interesting. Every time I saw his name, I thought of Elmer’s Glue. 😭😂 I wasn’t sure what I thought of him at first, but he definitely grew on me. Their love story was sweet and I was rooting for them as the book went on. The magic was really cool and interesting even if I didn’t understand it all. There was quite a few mentions of blood and cutting yourself which I didn’t really enjoy reading about. I’m not sure if I’m going to continue the series or not. 🤷🏼♀️
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Hmm…okay, let’s see if I can put all my thoughts down here in a way that makes sense. First, I’ll say that this reminded me of The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella and The Story Peddler by Lindsay A Franklin. The cover is absolutely STUNNING! I really wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t. I did like it. But I was confused (and still am confused…haha) for most of the book. I didn’t really understand it all and I know that it’s only book one. Ava was kinda annoying and I found myself wanting to yell at her for being so naive and stupid at times. Elm was interesting. Every time I saw his name, I thought of Elmer’s Glue. 😭😂 I wasn’t sure what I thought of him at first, but he definitely grew on me. Their love story was sweet and I was rooting for them as the book went on. The magic was really cool and interesting even if I didn’t understand it all. There was quite a few mentions of blood and cutting yourself which I didn’t really enjoy reading about. I’m not sure if I’m going to continue the series or not. 🤷🏼♀️
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May 26, 2022
“How do you keep a Mentalist out of your head? How do you evict them when they creep in and seize control?”
5 beautiful, bright, vivid yellow stars.
Right from the opening line, I was drawn deep into the world of Magus and didn’t want to leave it. I didn’t have a ton of expectations going into this book. Mostly, I got sucked right in by that cover. But I have to say my very minimal expectations were exceeded.
This was more of a dystopian, I would say, and I haven’t read a YA dystopian in years. The worldbuilding was fascinating, and towards the end this book just got crazy intense and I was frantically flipping pages to see what would happen.
There were a couple of minor reveals where I was kind of like “wait, was I not supposed to already know this very obvious thing?!”, but there were others that I didn’t expect at all, so yay!
I’m not usually the type to swoon over men in books, but y’all, Elm was just too much.
In the best way. The romance element of this book ended up being a bigger deal than I anticipated, but it totally worked. It was also totally clean and just very morally positive.
I will say that this is more of a clean fantasy than something you would easily pinpoint as specifically Christian, but that didn’t take away from the story. I tend to really enjoy the books that Enclave Escape puts out, and this was no exception.
I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel, but the book also ended on a very satisfying note.
Check out my blog for more book reviews. :)
5 beautiful, bright, vivid yellow stars.
Right from the opening line, I was drawn deep into the world of Magus and didn’t want to leave it. I didn’t have a ton of expectations going into this book. Mostly, I got sucked right in by that cover. But I have to say my very minimal expectations were exceeded.
This was more of a dystopian, I would say, and I haven’t read a YA dystopian in years. The worldbuilding was fascinating, and towards the end this book just got crazy intense and I was frantically flipping pages to see what would happen.
There were a couple of minor reveals where I was kind of like “wait, was I not supposed to already know this very obvious thing?!”, but there were others that I didn’t expect at all, so yay!
I’m not usually the type to swoon over men in books, but y’all, Elm was just too much.
In the best way. The romance element of this book ended up being a bigger deal than I anticipated, but it totally worked. It was also totally clean and just very morally positive.
I will say that this is more of a clean fantasy than something you would easily pinpoint as specifically Christian, but that didn’t take away from the story. I tend to really enjoy the books that Enclave Escape puts out, and this was no exception.
I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel, but the book also ended on a very satisfying note.
Check out my blog for more book reviews. :)
April 30, 2023
4.5 ✨
Why did I wait so long to start this book?! It was absolutely fabulous and I read it pretty much in one day. If I had to pick some comp titles, I’d say it’s the Giver meets Harry Potter in an epic dystopian novel!
It does take a bit to get started, but once you’re in the world of Magnus, you get sucked right along on the adventures of Ava and Elm!
I cannot wait for Radiant to release May 9th! I’m excited for the next installment of the Color Theory series!
Why did I wait so long to start this book?! It was absolutely fabulous and I read it pretty much in one day. If I had to pick some comp titles, I’d say it’s the Giver meets Harry Potter in an epic dystopian novel!
It does take a bit to get started, but once you’re in the world of Magnus, you get sucked right along on the adventures of Ava and Elm!
I cannot wait for Radiant to release May 9th! I’m excited for the next installment of the Color Theory series!
January 5, 2023
I’m in love with Elm. The end.
May 18, 2024
I don’t feel like I fully grasped the stakes until I was too far in to really be fully invested, but the ending was fantastic and I will definitely be reading the sequel.
April 23, 2023
I'm really loving the Christian fantasy books that have been coming out lately, I really need to read more.
Vivid has a touch of romance and a really interesting dystopian fantasy element. Color magic is used by all in the community, red and blue are taught by yellow is forbidden and is not taught anymore. A person using yellow magic attracts the eye of one of the elite students, but can she trust this stranger?
Vivid has a touch of romance and a really interesting dystopian fantasy element. Color magic is used by all in the community, red and blue are taught by yellow is forbidden and is not taught anymore. A person using yellow magic attracts the eye of one of the elite students, but can she trust this stranger?
October 30, 2024
Absolutely amazing! Everything I love in a story! I love me a good dystopian book and this DEFINITELY delivered. 😍
I loved all the main characters, even the villains because they were so well done. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book!!! Do yourself a favor and read this book!
I loved all the main characters, even the villains because they were so well done. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book!!! Do yourself a favor and read this book!
Read
May 2, 2023Welp, I read it. 🫤
June 27, 2023
Since this weekend I have a Kobo and access to Kobo Plus. Don't get me wrong, I still love my Kindle, but since Kindle Unlimited isn't available in the Netherlands I also really wanted that Kobo. Especially to read books like this one. Published by a publisher I love. With a cover that's just breathtaking beautiful, but a concept that might or might not work for me depending on the execution. At least now I could try and it only cost me a few hours of my time.
I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book. I do recognize the theme the author is working with. I recognize the real life inspiration for this world, this magic system and this story. I'm really happy that this theme is explained and shown in a fantasy setting like this. I'm just not entirely sure if the writing style and the story telling style fits the main character of the story. And that's mostly because the writing feels a little childish.
And that mostly makes the heroine sound really really young. I get the impression from the story that she's somewhere between 16 and 18 (there is a birthday celebrated, but I can't remember which one), but she sounds like a 12-14 year old on the brink of puberty. Don't get me wrong. I think YA has deviated quite far from the original target audience by making the heroines older and sound and act like grown-ups, but in this case the age and the sound don't match.
And that's a pity, because if the heroine had been younger, 14 for example, I think I would have experienced this book differently. I would have understood her personality better, I would have loved the slow build up and the slow reveals and answers. Now I mostly see the potential and I am curious about the sequel, but I do also know that I will not buy a physical copy of this book. I'm okay with reading it digitally. And that doesn't happen that often.
I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book. I do recognize the theme the author is working with. I recognize the real life inspiration for this world, this magic system and this story. I'm really happy that this theme is explained and shown in a fantasy setting like this. I'm just not entirely sure if the writing style and the story telling style fits the main character of the story. And that's mostly because the writing feels a little childish.
And that mostly makes the heroine sound really really young. I get the impression from the story that she's somewhere between 16 and 18 (there is a birthday celebrated, but I can't remember which one), but she sounds like a 12-14 year old on the brink of puberty. Don't get me wrong. I think YA has deviated quite far from the original target audience by making the heroines older and sound and act like grown-ups, but in this case the age and the sound don't match.
And that's a pity, because if the heroine had been younger, 14 for example, I think I would have experienced this book differently. I would have understood her personality better, I would have loved the slow build up and the slow reveals and answers. Now I mostly see the potential and I am curious about the sequel, but I do also know that I will not buy a physical copy of this book. I'm okay with reading it digitally. And that doesn't happen that often.
May 5, 2022
Vivid first captured my attention with an original, fascinating premise: a young girl coming of age in a world divided into different colors of magic: Augmentor Red, Shaper Blue, and Mentalist Yellow. But it was Bustamante’s brilliant cast of characters—led by the determined Ava Locke and the unforgettable, charming Elm Ridley—as well as her exquisite worldbuilding, snappy dialogue, and fast-moving plot, which sucked me into the story and wouldn’t let go. With echoes of Divergent, Inception, and The Story Peddler, this first installment of The Color Theory series is sure to leave readers begging for more!
July 17, 2022
The imagery was pretty good in this book. The writing was well done. However, the plot was dull. 75% of the book was just the main character wondering if she could trust Elm. Even when action would happen, we never even got a glimpse of what was going on and why it was happening. All explanations were reserved for the end, and that bugged me. I would have liked more bread crumbs along the way.
June 2, 2023
This was an incredible story, and I loved every bit of it! The color magic was fascinating, and the plot and intrigue built so steadily that, by the last few chapters, I couldn't put the book down at all. Ava and Elm were wonderfully done; their scenes together were probably my most favorite thing about this entire book. <3 Can't wait for the next installment of this series!
~I received an early copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to leave a positive review.~
Reread March 2023 - Definitely just as good the second time around. <3 Also, would absolutely recommend the audio version because the narrator is fantastic!
Reread June 2023 - Another audio listen bc I just couldn’t not, lol
~I received an early copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to leave a positive review.~
Reread March 2023 - Definitely just as good the second time around. <3 Also, would absolutely recommend the audio version because the narrator is fantastic!
Reread June 2023 - Another audio listen bc I just couldn’t not, lol
February 9, 2024
Vivid includes a colorful cast in this character-driven narrative with a unique magic system centered on primary colors.
There’s a mysterious air in regard to figuring out who can and cannot be trusted. This is absolutely perfect for readers who love an underdog story with truths being uncovered and shared. Layers of lies and corruption and twists and turns begging to be deciphered to learn who really is the good guy! Though not a thriller or mystery in the traditional sense, this fantasy will keep readers interested start to finish.
There is a secondary romance thread with a vague hint of a shadow of a love triangle but the romance is not the primary focus. Looking forward to book 2 which I suspect will be more plot/action oriented!
There’s a mysterious air in regard to figuring out who can and cannot be trusted. This is absolutely perfect for readers who love an underdog story with truths being uncovered and shared. Layers of lies and corruption and twists and turns begging to be deciphered to learn who really is the good guy! Though not a thriller or mystery in the traditional sense, this fantasy will keep readers interested start to finish.
There is a secondary romance thread with a vague hint of a shadow of a love triangle but the romance is not the primary focus. Looking forward to book 2 which I suspect will be more plot/action oriented!
December 11, 2025
An absolutely fantastic read! I love Ashley's creativity and ability to weave a strong story with such loveable characters.
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