SHATTERED DREAMS, the aptly named first book in Ellie
James's Midnight Dragonfly series will thrill fans of young
adult paranormal romance. Not one of those books where you
know what will happen, if not how, by chapter 5, this book
has a complex plot, realistic characters and maybe more
suspense and intrigue than some will want, but for those who
revel in books that make you quiver with anticipation and
keep you as confused as the heroine, you'll love it.
Trinity Monsour has moved to live with her aunt in New
Orleans after the death of her grandmother. From the
isolated mountain cabin of her childhood to the bustling
city, Trinity finds the transition difficult. She has no
sooner starting making friends then a truth or dare game
goes awry, she starts to see visions and the popular
cheerleader Jessica goes missing.
While Trinity has seen visions in the past, her grandmother
told her not to share them with anyone. But in doing so, her
grandmother also kept Trinity's heritage from her, knowledge
that might have helped her handle the visions better.
Instead she sees images of Jessica in a dark room but when
she offers this information to the police, they assume it's
not from dreams but from her participation in the girl's
disappearance. They think it's revenge for the trick Jessica
played on her during the dare at a local haunted house.
Trinity's visions continue, and she struggles to distinguish
fact from fiction. Confused she doesn't know whom to trust
and fears the worst when Chase, Jessica's ex with whom she's
become close, at first seems to believe her but then turns
away.
What stand out in SHATTERED DREAMS to me the most is that
the reader is as confused as Trinity is trying to determine
what's real and what's not, whom she can turn to. My one
issue is that the romance between Trinity and Chase seems to
happen too quickly to be realistic, but this is a perpetual
peeve of mine and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Overall, I think James has done a masterful job with this
paranormal adventure in my favorite of all cities.
Trinity arrives on her aunt’s doorstep in New Orleans with
virtually no knowledge of her mysterious heritage. She
begins settling into life at a new school and even starts
making friends. But all too quickly her dreams accelerate;
twisted, terrifying visions of a girl locked in a dark room.
And when the head cheerleader, Jessica, goes missing,
Trinity knows she has no choice but to step forward with
what she’s seen.
But people believe that Trinity has information about
Jessica’s disappearance not because of a dream, but because
she is involved. She is kind-of dating Jessica’s
ex-boyfriend, Chase, and Jessica did pull a nasty prank on
Trinity. Revenge seems like the likeliest scenario.
Nothing prepares Trinity for the dark odyssey that ensues
while searching for Jessica, including the surprising
romance she finds with Chase, or the shocking truths she
learns, not just about the girl who has gone missing, but
the past that has been hidden from her.
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