Illuminated (Illuminated #1)
In this coming-of-age YA contemporary fantasy, a teenage girl has her life turned upside down when her family is breaking apart, and she discovers her supernatural powers. There’s no time to deal with it, however, as she’s targeted by a dangerous power-siphoner.
Nikki Chase, a 16-year-old striver, feels like her life is falling apart around her. Her parents’ marriage seems in trouble, her best friend prefers to spend time with the popular girl, and she’s quite certain she’s on the verge of a psychosis. After all, normal people don’t see colors around people or hear voices, right?
When a volunteering assignment leads her to a mental hospital, Nikki is determined to figure out what’s going on with her—and if perhaps she belongs in that facility. What she discovers is nothing she expected: Lorene, a volunteer, tells Nikki she’s not crazy but, in fact, has the power to influence people’s thoughts and beliefs. However, someone has been sucking the power out of people just like her, leaving them behind as an empty shell. Desperate for help and someone to trust, Nikki teams up with Lorene to discover who is behind the siphoning. But can she stop them before she becomes a victim? And can she do so without becoming addicted to the power herself?
Fans of suspenseful contemporary fantasy will love this YA coming-of-age fantasy thriller book about coping with difficult emotions, navigating relationships with family and friends, and the addictive quality of power.
Reviews
Starred review on Reedsy Discovery and Glued to Book
“I would have happily read this novel for the drama in Nikki’s personal life alone. Psychic powers and a truly wicked villain like the Siphoner are just the icing on the cake.” – Independent Book Review
“Illuminated was a fast-paced book! The mystery really pulls you in and keeps you engaged.” – Amani Salahudeen, Reedsy Discovery reviewer
“Illuminated has many twists that kept the pages turning. They had me racing to the end to see how it all turned out.” – Nancy Allen, Bookblogger, The Avid Reader
“The whole concept of Nikki’s powers is one I haven’t come across before. … The possibilities for villains and heroes with such powers are almost endless, and it made for a very interesting story.” – Beatrice Rivers, Bookblogger, Candlelight Reading
“Amazing writing, fascinating characters, a riddle to solve, and solace. I was captivated by the story from the first page and continued reading all the way through.” – Trishita Das, Bookstagram Influencer Book_withqoutes, Goodreads Reviewer top 10
“This was a fun fantasy thriller that hooked me from the start!” – Sofia, Bookstagrammer _visubooks_