Dark Visions- MC

Today, I’m going to review two series- one manga, one novel. Here I’m reviewing the novel series “Dark Visions” by L.J. Smith. Yes, this is the second time I’ve reviewed her work. There will be more- I <3 her.

There is a lot to be said for her early nineties writing- it’s original and unfettered by the slight “vampire craze” going on right now, so I find it refreshing.

The series is a trilogy (in the edition HagelRat got me, it’s three-in-one. So handy!) following a group of five teenagers who have been selected from across America by a wealthy businessman with an interest in Psychic Research.

Kaitlyn Fairchild, the protagonist, has been targeted by people in her town since she predicted the death of a young boy who was abducted when she was five. She can draw the future, and is taken to sunny California where she meets Anna who can talk to animals, Lewis who can move things with his mind, Rob who heals people, and Gabriel... who I can’t tell you about. Gabriel’s ability is dangerous and his housemates don’t learn about it for a long time. (He was brought out of prison for the research trials.)

Over the course of the three books, there are several surprising character twists and you learn a lot going through.

ILoveGabriel

During the first book, you immediately get the feeling that Mr Zetes, the millionaire who gathered the group together to research, is not to be trusted. What follows is a puzzle which of the other researchers are in league with him- whatever his plan is -and who the teens can trust within their own group. There’s also another group of unknown people trying to contact Kaitlyn, so how do they tie in?

Over the course of the trilogy, the teen-y relationship dilemmas don’t actually seem that ridiculous, which helps me; as someone who was physically sickened by Edward (Twilight) and his overly gushy romance. When the group have to go on the run, the group interaction changes well to accommodate the cramped situation and tensions run believably high.

Smith’s storyline is largely dialogue driven, and it keeps the story fast paced and moving, so that the storyline doesn’t stay in one place long enough to bore younger readers (or those young at heart... hehe).

ILoveGabriel

The tagline on my three-in-one copy is “not all vampires are out for blood” which at first, seems completely and ridiculously irrelevant- this story has NOTHING to do with vampires.

The meaning is... well... read it and find out. :D

The three individual titles are “The Strange Power” in which the group are assembled and learn some dark secrets about Mr Zetes.
TSP is followed by “The Possessed” following the group on the run and as they try to find somewhere safe to hide from the authorities, headed by Mr Zetes.
The final instalment is “The Passion” wherein Kaitlyn takes a little more control of their mission to stop Zetes, and grows as a person.

it has to be said that there is a lot of deception in this series, it’s basically driven by each respective character’s secrets and personal motivations. Kaitlyn deceives pretty much everyone at one point, driven by her belief that it’s for the best.

Then it comes down to her choice romantically between the dark, tortured Gabriel (this stereotype, I don’t usually like... but he can be damn funny at times) and the honest, loyal Rob (I don’t know why I don’t like him much... I think he’d be perfect with Anna though).

Enough fangirly gushing. This series is great but because it doesn’t stay still for too long, one or two subsidiary characters suffer in their potential development. However, although not my favourite of Smith’s books, it’s definitely one of my favourite fantasy books.

Yes HagelRat, you can have it back... but I need my own copy one day xD (avid L.J. Smith collector)

MangaCat out!