Pages: 354
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform on 2012-10-08
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Source: ecopy from Author
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Welcome to my stop on the Dazzle blog tour
Paperback, 354 pagesPublished October 10th 2012
Age Group: YA
Series: Delaney’s Gift #1
Source: ecopy from author
Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Delaney Scott possesses a special gift. Ever since she was a child she has known about her calling and the duty she’s expected to fulfill. However, all Delaney wants is to be normal. That’s why she is drawn to Sam. He can offer her the life she’s always desired. Only Sam has secrets of his own. Secrets that are deadly. Secrets that can change everything.
I love me a book that deals with super powers. And the characters in Dazzle certainly had some cool powers, but there was also a really unique twist. Kind of a paranormal almost dystopian twist in the book. There are two kind of mysterious groups that exist in this world. One “good” and one “bad”(I’m just calling them that for simplicity). If you follow the good one then these tattoos appear on your arms to mark the significant events in your life. It is also a way of signifying who is a follower and who isn’t. The “bad” group is not allowed within the confines of the town, and their followers are marked on their forehead with a brand of fire.
Dazzle follows Delaney and Micah, both of whom have super powers. Micah is super strong and Delaney has visions of things that will happen in the near future. Early on they rescue a girl that also has powers, named Ariel based on one of Delaney’s visions. I thought it was kind of strange that Ariel was the first person Micah and Delaney met that also had powers. People with powers are followers of the good ruler and they are meant to be his warriors if the bad guys rise up. They also have to keep their identities a secret.
Then insert Sam into the story. He wants to become one of the bad guys so he can escape the town and leave his dad. He suspects that Delaney has powers so he tries to get closer to her to find out. I really enjoyed seeing the gradual shift in the way Sam views Delaney. At first, he can’t stand her. And that feeling lasts for a while, which I thought was pretty realistic. He didn’t just wake up one day and decide that he likes her all of a sudden. It was slow and happened over the course of the whole book. I thought it was really well done. I had no problem believing in the depth of their emotions for each other by the end of the book.
Delaney is such a likable girl. She just wanted to be normal. She wanted to have more friends than just Micah, and she wanted to focus on normal things instead of training and keeping her secret all the time. I felt her pain. And while I liked Micah, he got on my nerves sometimes. How dare he not believe Delaney ALL THE TIME. Seriously, she is your best and only friend dude! She has been there for you YOUR WHOLE LIFE. I just didn’t think he was a good friend to her all the time. I really felt for her when she went to Micah and shared her thoughts and theories with him and he just shot her down because he was a silly teenage boy. As you can see, I am slightly team Delaney. I just think she is a cool girl.
There are also plenty of action and twists to keep me entertained with Dazzle. I finished it in one reading because I just couldn’t put it down. There is a cliffhanger ending, and it certainly left me wanting to read more. I don’t know who I felt worse for- Delaney or Sam? Fans of paranormal superpower books need to check out Dazzle and the whole Delaney’s Gift series. I think you will really enjoy it! The romance aspect is great, as is the action and suspenseful plot. This book is an example of multiple plot elements working together in a great way.
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| 4/5 Gavels |
Amber Garza has had a passion for writing since she was a little girl, making books out of notebook paper and staples. As an adult she’s worked hard to make her dream of being published a reality. She writes while listening to music (mostly the Civil Wars), and drinking lots of coffee. Amber lives in California with her amazing husband, and two hilarious children who provide her with enough material to keep her writing for years.
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You had me at paranormal dystopian twist! great review Michelle! I am glad it has plenty of action and a little romance.