17 year old Iris Kohl could see light beings and shadows since her 14th birthday. Enter a teacher Mr Delaney and a classmate Kyra and the shadows seemed to disappear. My first book by Dusty Crabtree saw me extremely excited with the blurb. I loved the fact that the synopsis promised me that Iris would learn to be a hero.
The book started slow with Iris traversing the landmines of school with studies, shadows and dating. She saw dark beings everywhere, and I understood her feelings of fear and avoidance initially. She even ran away when the shadowy beings attached themselves to her family. That I didn’t understand or like. One fights for the family in my books!!
This was a slow burn book where her characterization was the same till 90% of the book, wrapped in insecurity, quaking in fear till the angel showed her the truth. I liked the concept of the book, it had the beginnings of a good story. But the repetitive feelings which Iris kept saying and repetitive scenes of her running away made me skim read to the end which was enlightening. Hopefully the next book is better.
This was one heck of a ride, with the main character, Iris Kohl, leading the reigns of the plot. Here her powers were well developed, and it kept on improving and becoming stronger. I loved the way she annihilated the dark demon-y shadows.
This book saw the entire gang, teacher/guide Gregory, friends Kyra and Lexi, boyfriend Patrick all fighting the good fight against evil Lucas and Donovan. The plot read fast and straight. Dusty Crabtree was clear in her writing. There was romance and friendship along with action
The scenes were slightly repetitive as it was the same routine they did every night, go out and kill the dark shadows. The villains were just caricatures who appeared in corner, glowering at the group. Iris was still very immature, I was unable to like her completely.
Overall an enjoyable book based on a good theme good vs evil, angels vs demons.
I downloaded a digital copy of both books in the series from Kindle Unlimited, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be read here
Dusty Crabtree loves a good story, but she also loves young people. These two loves are evident in all parts of her life. She has been a high school English teacher since 2006 and a creative writing teacher since 2014. She’s also been a youth sponsor at her local church off and on for as long as she’s been teaching. She feels very blessed with the amazing opportunities she has to develop meaningful relationships with teens on a daily basis. With her love of reading in the mix, becoming an author of young adult books was just a natural development of those two passions in her life. She lives with her husband, Clayton, and two daughters in Yukon, Oklahoma, where they often serve their community as foster parents.
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15733491-shadow-eyes
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34533934-luminous-spirits
33 Responses
first one in list want to read , its online copy is avail
?
Yes both books are available on kindle unlimited amazon
Thanks maa’aam , will try to read in short time
Yes!!! Fight for your family!!! Great review, Shalini!!!
Thanks Mackie.. You sound more enthusiastic than my review.. 😂 😂 I should quote you… Reaction to my review by Mackie😂
“One fights for the family in my books!!”… In books you read? Books you write? Or just in you opinion? Ha ha!
I actually had an argument about this after watching a horror movie, recently. I said that if some psychopath had me in a house and someone with me had a chance to get out…. They should GET THE F@*# OUT!! What would be the sense of both of us dying?? So, if in this case, she couldn’t immediately help with the shadows, I actually think the smartest thing to do would be to run away. I think it would be what her family wanted as well. She shouldn’t needlessly throw herself into the situation just because it’s her family and they need help… Maybe I’m just selfish.. But, I feel that she has the right to think of her own self-preservation. She can run away and think about the situation. Maybe coming back with a fresh perspective and a safer way to help.
I can understand that self preservation, here she saw her family deteriorating but she wanted to escape it all. She didn’t want to grow up.. At one point of time, her sister was dying, and she didn’t want to take her to the hospital…
When a main character has the power to save, she saw others saving, instead of asking for help or learning from them, she ran away… It is very difficult to like such a main character
In life too, sadness and grief and depression gets us, but if we see someone in the family or friends needing our help or just wants us to be there, shouldn’t we be there, even if we are hurting too? If we run away everytime, we won’t have friends or family standing with us… At least I think so…
Well, in the case of taking someone to the hospital, that’s understandable! That’s something easy that will help, and it’s just silly NOT to do it. I was only talking about life threatening situations. I wouldn’t want someone I love to risk their life for me. It would just be silly, and make me angry.
But, if I’m very sick and have to get to the hospital is just standing there crying saying they can’t or won’t do it?? Well, that would be weird…
Yea in this too, saw the dark shadow attacking family and being scared of her, which I thought would have led her to do more research and try to help, she just closed her eyes and lived her life and her family kept going into depression… Ah well, I wouldn’t do that and neither would you… You would have screamed BOO and scared them away😂😂💖💖
Terrific reviews, Shalini! Happy it picked up with the second book! ♥️
I agree… It was quite a different read 💕
… Of course I have no idea what was going on in the book at this point… I’m just apparently in a devil’s advocate kind of mood today. 😅
i couldn’t help but think about the last scene in the movie “ghost”.
That’s great… I forgot about ghost… I need to see the movie again💕
Interesting book 😍
True… ❤️
I love your declaration, “One fights for the family in my books!” 😂 What a great review! I love reading your stuff. 😊
Aww honey, you give me so much support that my heart bursts💕
Aw I’m so glad!! You do great reviews, someone has to tell you! I’m glad to be the one to do it 😊
💕💖
Glad this was such a wild ride. Shame it felt a bit immature and repetitive at times. great review!
Thank you so much ❤️
Fantastic review, not sure about this book though? LOL💕💕
Hahaha thanks not for everybody that’s for sure…
Great review Shalini! Hoping your next book is a fantastic 5 star!! 🌟💜💕
It will be starting Christmas Reads from 21st
Sorry this one didn’t meet your expectations Shalini. Hoping the next book will be better. Great review.
I am reading Christmas books… So loving them
Great review Shalini – and I love your holiday tree as well.
Awww you noticed… I am trying something different 🤭❤️❤️
Nice reviews, Shalini. I too would have issues with repetitiveness. Rare are authors who know how to use repetition right, if you ask me. 🙂
I would love new scenes in a fantasy where the powers grow rather than the same old…