Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.
After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.
Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.
(From GoodReads)
My Review
Sometimes, I get in book ruts. I feel like I've read the same thing time and again. So when I read the synopsis for Brightest Kind of Darkness, I was thrilled to have something new and intriguing to dig into.
This book has a few valuable assets in it's favor. Starting with the main characters, Nara and Ethan. Separately, they are solid characters. Nara is amiable, resilient and athletic (definitely something I don't see in a lot of YA female characters). The story is told entirely through her point-of-view, so there is instant affinity towards her.
Nara's new friend/classmate/potential boyfriend, Ethan, is an asset to the book as well. He's steadfast, reliable and had the prerequisite handsome and mysterious characteristics. From the start, it is clear Ethan has a troubled past, and a shaky, at best, present. To be with Nara as she peels the layers from his exterior was alternately cool and sad.
The story becomes much more intriguing when Ethan and Nara begin to work together to uncover the truths behind their strange abilities, and how they tie together. I loved their partnership. The lead role alternated consistently between the two, lending a feeling of trust and mutual admiration. Nara never became domineering or unreasonable. Ethan never forced Nara to sit back and let him handle or control the situation.
My one glitch in the story would be the slow revelations. I sort of felt like I was out of the loop in regards to what the big secret was for too long. A lot of the answers to the questions I was asking myself did come. But I found myself growing impatient in the meantime.
All in all, I found Brightest Kind of Darkness to be a genuinely appealing book. Once again, I have to say that I loved the premise. Loved the fact that the story was different from a lot of the books out there. I found reading this book to be time well spent.
Favorite Quote:
"Ethan had this knack for leaving me breathless and teetering. Like a chair tilted on two legs, I was
never sure if I was going to topple over or land on solid ground."
Published June 27th 2011 by Patrice Michelle
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* I received a copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. *
