Book Description
Love ties them together.
Death can't tear them apart.
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.
Book 1 in The Shade Series
Review:
SHADE is a character driven ghost story with all the emotional resonance and bittersweet romance to make this impressive YA debut a must read for book lovers of all ages.
Author words:
16-year-old Aura can see ghosts. Then again, so can everyone around the world who was born after her. In fact, they have a word for the moment of her birth: the Shift. Aura suspects that the Shift might be connected to her missing mystery dad and an event that happened at Newgrange tomb in Ireland a year before her birth. Ghosts can be annoying at their best. At their worst, as dark, powerful "shades," they can be deadly. So Aura's major goal in life is to undo the Shift and make the ghosts go away. And then, her boyfriend dies and becomes a ghost. -Jeri Smith-Ready
In a lot of ways SHADE feels like two separate yet complimentary stories. The first is about Aura and her tragic love story with her long time love Logan both before and after his death. How can she love a ghost when he will never change, never touch, and never let her go? But how can she let him go, when she knows that doing so could destroy him?
The second story is about Aura, Scottish exchange student Zachary and their dangerous quest to unravel the mystery of the Shift before the authorities can stop them. The two stories are woven together and will be sure to keep you turning pages long into the night. And I can already see the Team Logan/Team Zachary feud beginning.
SHADE has managed to tell a heart achingly beautiful story. The supernatural elements are incorporated so fluidly that it was easy to forget that we don't all live in the post Shift world with Aura. The sequel, Shift, will be released May 2011. I cannot wait!
YA Warning: Pervasive profanity. Pervasive alcohol consumption. Drug abuse. Drug overdose.
Sexual Content: (YA titles receive a more thorough breakdown) Kissing. References to sex. Scene of sensuality. Mutual masturbation.
My Rating (out of 5):
Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.
Click HERE to read an excerpt of SHADE
Product Details
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 309 pages
- Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 4, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1416994068
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This sounds like an interesting novel, and I'm looking out for it at the book-stores ... the only reason I may hesitate to buy it, is because I've heard that it has made quite a few people cry :((( I'm over depressing books these days ... there've been far too many on my radar :o
ReplyDeleteOHH I soooo want to read this one...I cant wait to finially get my hands on it! Wonderful review!
ReplyDeleteI won a copy of this in a giveaway, and I'm really excited to read it! It sounds so interesting, and the cover's gorgeous! :) Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteBella - There are some bittersweet parts, but the end is wonderful. Try it :)
ReplyDeleteBook Crazy Jenn - SHADE is the kind of book that lingers. I'm still thinking about it!
Natalie - Lucky you! The cover doesn't even do it justice. I think you'll love it.
The book sounds amazing! I haven't been a big fan of YA, but can see this one has appeal!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
CJ- This is definitely a book that is mature enough for older audiences. You'll be on the hunt for more good YA next. I suggest Maggie Stiefvater.
ReplyDelete