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 auntβs 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 sheβs seen.
But people believe that Trinity has information about
Jessicaβs disappearance not because of a dream, but because
she is involved. She is kind-of dating Jessicaβs
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.
No excerpt available.
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