Shade (Shade, #1)

May 14, 2012 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paid-full-price, read-in-2010, read-in-2012, signed, books-i-own

This book far exceeded my expectations. I assumed this would be a dark tale of ghosts and what not, with your obligatory love triangle and a heroine without much of a personality. What I got was a dark tale of ghosts and what they could become, Shades. I also got a tragic, vulnerable relationship between a heroine with depth and personality, and an aspiring musician whose parting came too soon. And GOOD LORD, it was heartfelt and it made me cry.

Jeri Smith-Ready could teach an AP course on makin...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-ya, young-adult, all-hallows-eve-2010

Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. Rating 7/10 on the blog.

Nearly sixteen years ago the 'Shift' happened. And every child that has been born since can see and communicate with ghosts. The world is divided into two sub sets, post and pre shifters, those who can see & those who can't.

The Shift has changed everything. Ghosts can now testify in their own murder cases. Certain building & rooms in your house have to be 'black boxed' so that ghosts cannot go into them. Red has become the al...more Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. Rating 7/10 on the blog.

Nearly sixteen years ago the 'Shift' happened. And every child that has been born since can see and communicate with ghosts. The world is divided into two sub sets, post and pre shifters, those who can see & those who can't.

The Shift has changed everything. Ghosts can now testify in their own murder cases. Certain building & rooms in your house have to be 'black boxed' so that ghosts cannot go into them. Red has become the all prevailing fashion statement of the under sixteens. A colour ghosts cannot abide.

Most ghosts are harmless, if not persistently irritating. But there are the ghosts that become Shades - dark, malevolent spirits.

At nearly sixteen years old, Aura is a post-shifter. She's spent her life being able to see, talk to, and wherever possible ignore ghosts. She has an amazing boyfriend - Logan. The night of his seventeenth birthday is supposed to be perfect. That is until it all goes horribly wrong and he tragically dies. Suddenly being able to talk to ghosts takes on a whole new meaning and she prays that Logan will come back to haunt her.

But, as Aura struggles to come to terms with her grief she becomes friends with a new transfer student from Scotland: Zachary. Zachary is kind, understanding and has a rather sexy accent. As her friendship with Zachary grows, she realises that she has to make an impossible decision between the two men in her life. One dead, one alive.

I expected this book to merely be a tragic & haunting, in more ways than one, coming of age love story. But it was more than that and in the final third of the story, the pace changes as we realise a few of the characters have some secrets they haven't been sharing.

I loved the originality of the book, this new ghost ridden world that only children and teens can see was imaginative and interesting. I was intrigued by the mystery of the Shift and what caused it. While we begin to explore the mystery, the story barely scratches the surface so I look forward to discovering more as the series progresses.

This was a surprisingly easy read, and while it was sad and moving, it was written in a way that wasn't over wrought.

VERDICT:

A refreshingly different young adult novel, that is sad and at times intense, but never the less enjoyable. The storyline was developed slowly and the second half certainly has more pace than the first. We're given just a few hints of what is to come in the subsequent books. It doesn't reveal much, but what it does give is just enough to leave you wanting more.
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Jan 26, 2012 Annie Brewer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Recommended to Annie by: Goodreads

Shelves: absolutely-amazingly-awesome, favorite, favorite-authors, irresistable-hot-guys, nook-books

Every now and then there comes a book that will touch your heart all the way to your soul and leave you breathless. Or in this case sobbing til your eyes fall out. Well this one did that for me. Or in this case, had me crying through the entire book. This book hit a little too close to home for me. I feel so numb. I knew this was gonna be a sad story before I even opened it, but I was never prepared for the heartwrenching effect this really had on me, or the fact that I cried through the entire...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Demonic Circus Princess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: EVERYONE WHO EVER LIVED

Recommended to Demonic Circus Princess by: Karma

Shelves: atmosphere, beautiful-cover, best-male-character, better-than-expected, chosen-by-my-amazing-intuition, fangirling, hilarious-as-hell, originality, sounds-like-me, will-never-forget, don-t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover, kick-ass-heroine, moe-moe-moe, so-insanely-in-love-with, warm-fuzzy-feelings

Get ready for some extreme raving/unhealthy obsessing. Enter... IF YOU DARE!! *cue cheesy over used Halloween organ music*

Oh, Jeri Smith-Ready. After reading this book, I have automatically added you to my Exclusive List of Epicly Fantabulous People, even before I knew much about you (of course you proved to be awesome when I did eventually look you up). Because, let's face it: No one can write a book that amazing and not be epic. It's just not possible.

Brief summary(In my own words):
Okay. So in...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Lindsay rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: never-finished

This book is what I would call an 'Awkward Reunion'. Its like meeting someone you haven't seen in a really long time and acting really formal and too sweet with them. I mean, I really tried to like this book. Honestly. But there was just something so...fake about the writing. I felt like Jeri Smith-Ready was trying too hard to sound like a mourning teenager in love who wants to do things her way. She tried to emulate how teenagers act and speak and think but the fact is, people don't act like t...more

This book is what I would call an 'Awkward Reunion'. Its like meeting someone you haven't seen in a really long time and acting really formal and too sweet with them. I mean, I really tried to like this book. Honestly. But there was just something so...fake about the writing. I felt like Jeri Smith-Ready was trying too hard to sound like a mourning teenager in love who wants to do things her way. She tried to emulate how teenagers act and speak and think but the fact is, people don't act like this, at least not so many people. What I'm trying to say is, all the personalities were purely fantasized. Nothing felt realistic about it. And it certainly didn't come out right on paper.

Aura is my primary example of a character gone wrong. No matter what she did, I just couldn't understand what she was about. She was a mystery and not in a good way. Too many mood swings and strange statements made her seem all over the place. Yes, of course she would be all over the place from losing her boyfriend but its the things she would say that put me off. She made teenagers look vain, then strong, then angsty, then obsessive, it was too much. I can't like a character if I can't understand her.

Then there's Logan. Okay, the part where he died was incredibly sad, I'll give him that but his personality is disgusting. Seriously. How can Aura like a guy whose as whiny, bratty and selfish as him? It makes no sense to me. He claims he loves her and wants to make love to her, then gets drunk and goes to do cocaine in the bathroom. WHAT THE HELL??? I swear, there was nothing redeeming about his personality. Every moment when it seemed as if he would end up caring for Aura or his family or something, boom! He'd throw a hissy fit, get jealous, try throw things around...he seemed more like a two year old to me then a caring boyfriend.

There was nothing romantic between them. Once again, I feel as if Smith-Ready forced the romance into the writing. There was either something between Aura and Logan or something between Aura and Zach who by the way is the most random character to ever show up in a book. Seriously, this kid just popped out of nowhere and he's not very realistic either. Honestly, this love triangle thing that writers are obsessed with has got to die. Its getting old, especially when writers can't even it write it correctly.

Overall, as you can see by my rant, I did not like this book. I tried really hard. I honestly did. The style was enough to keep me going almost halfway through the book but not to the end. If all the books in the world were to suddenly spontaneously combust and this would be the only book left, I would be hesitant to pick it up again. There were too many issues with this book so it'll be a long time before I so much as look at the cover.

Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars(less)

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Apr 29, 2010 ~Tina~ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cover-crazz, paranormal-human, young-adult, supernatural, unique, read-2010

(3.5 stars)

Wow! Now this is supernatural on a whole new level!!

Since the Shift, everyone under the age of sixteen can see and talk to ghost who haven't passed over. Aura is one of them, and while it may be slightly annoying, it's something she's learn to deal with.
So what happens when her beloved boyfriend Logan, who got the break of his life on his birthday, suddenly dies and becomes a ghost in all his violet glory?
Aura has to convince him to move on before he becomes a Shade, only she may not...more (3.5 stars)

Wow! Now this is supernatural on a whole new level!!

Since the Shift, everyone under the age of sixteen can see and talk to ghost who haven't passed over. Aura is one of them, and while it may be slightly annoying, it's something she's learn to deal with.
So what happens when her beloved boyfriend Logan, who got the break of his life on his birthday, suddenly dies and becomes a ghost in all his violet glory?
Aura has to convince him to move on before he becomes a Shade, only she may not have the heart to let him go...

After reading SHADE, I felt really...torn. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it and I think that's where the rub comes in. I liked it, a lot, but my expectations were a little to high for this one and while I thought it was amazing, I had a hard time understand some of the terminology, significance of the scene and the actions that the characters portrayed. I didn't quite grasp this at once, so while this was an enjoyable experience, it was also mind baffling to say the least.

The plot was one crazy-brilliant concept to a very unique look at this particular supernatural paranormal and Jeri Smith-Ready completely owned it!
Shades, Shifts, post-shifts, pre-shifts, PSAT's, DMP, MI-X and Obsidian, are only a few terms that will blow your mind in this world. Don't get me wrong here, I thought it was outrageously original and I applaud that, but at the same time I felt like I was walking on fuzzy the entire time I was reading and wished it was delivered a bit more clearly. I understood the initial nature of this book by the very end, but it didn't flow well while reading.
Aura, Logan and Zack were a heartbreaking mix between haunting and longing. They were fleshed out characters who have a tremendous amount of heart and soul.
I love, love, Logan! So tortured and unsure and there was a lot of sweet tender moments that tugged at my heart between him and Aura that made this even more bittersweet! But, while there is a love triangle here, it felt more like a circle going round and round.
The writing is remarkable and I read this in one sitting. I clung to the pages in this wondrous world and even though there are still a lot of unanswered questions I look forward to reading the sequel as soon as it comes out!!!

All in all, I thought that Shade was mind-boggling brilliant, freshly original and masterfully creative. Highly entertaining!
I recommend this for any supernatural lover who is looking for a new twist.

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Dec 09, 2012 Jen (A Reading Daydreamer) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

Prior to starting Shade, the only thing that I had heard about it was "Amazing", or "one of a kind"--things along that line. What could I do? Of course I had to pick it up! I'm always up for a good ghost story, especially with romance involved. I am pleased to say that I enjoyed it, but there was definitely a lot of things I could complain about, such as the love triangle and the characters themselves. However, I loved the plot and creativity of Shade. My conflicting thoughts for Shade equal out...more Prior to starting Shade, the only thing that I had heard about it was "Amazing", or "one of a kind"--things along that line. What could I do? Of course I had to pick it up! I'm always up for a good ghost story, especially with romance involved. I am pleased to say that I enjoyed it, but there was definitely a lot of things I could complain about, such as the love triangle and the characters themselves. However, I loved the plot and creativity of Shade. My conflicting thoughts for Shade equal out for it to be an overall good read.

As I mentioned before, there were definitely things I thoroughly liked in Shade; that is, the creative paranormal aspect, and the plot. Jeri Smith Ready takes the ghost creatures onto a whole new level. In Shade, only people born after the Shift can see the ghosts, and they can turn into Shades: bad ghosts. I thought that was totally original of Jeri and I really appreciated her for trying something new. Likewise, the plot was really fun to read about. I constantly wanted to know more and it keeps the reader entertained and captivated.

On the other hand, there were things that I think could have been better, like the romantic relationships and the characters. Throughout the entire novel, I never understood for a second WHY Aura was so in love with Logan, and vice-versa. There relationship together didn't work very well. It was very quarrelsome and I just did not like it. Moreover, the characters in general didn't stand out. They definitely weren't terrible, but they were just very mediocre. The only exception to that was Zachary, the third person in the love triangle; he was so patient and a gentleman, and he was very lovely.

As a result, Shade was an okay book: very entertaining, but had it's character flaws that derailed it's potential for an awesome ghost story. Still, if you're looking for an exciting, fresh ghost story, Shade would be a great pick!

Audiobook Review: The audio was pretty good for this one! It's acceptable; the only problem I had with the narrator was that she made the male characters (Logan) sound like a 5 year old. If you don't mind your 17 year old male protagonists sounding like a kindergartner, definitely check out the audio!

3.5 Teacups for Shade!

THIS REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON A Reading Daydreamer:
http://a-reading-daydreamer.blogspot....

For more of my reviews, make sure you check out the blog!

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Oct 11, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ghosts, covergasm, creatively-original, deserves-the-hype, faves, heroes-i-adore, made-me-smile, owned-ebooks, love-triangles

This review is also available over at my blog.

________________________

Finally, a book that's hyped for a reason. Kind of.

Going into this book, I didn't expect to be that impressed. The reviews were pretty mixed and it just didn't seem all that interesting. But, I always give into hype and I consider this series to be one of the most hyped YA series' out there, so I gave it a shot. It turned out to be a very entertaining read.

In the world of this book, something happened several years ago called...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone!

In One Word ~ Overwhelming

Honestly, one word could never do SHADE justice. It was also: Astonishing, Shattering, Breathtaking, Beautiful, Funny, and Sad. Does that just about cover it? Not a chance.

I debated writing this review. In some weird way, I wanted to take SHADE and the emotions it drug through me and just hold them tightly to myself, keep it private. Mine. But then I thought about the massive, and I mean MASSIVE amount of conversation that was started on Twitter with me simply saying th...more In One Word ~ Overwhelming

Honestly, one word could never do SHADE justice. It was also: Astonishing, Shattering, Breathtaking, Beautiful, Funny, and Sad. Does that just about cover it? Not a chance.

I debated writing this review. In some weird way, I wanted to take SHADE and the emotions it drug through me and just hold them tightly to myself, keep it private. Mine. But then I thought about the massive, and I mean MASSIVE amount of conversation that was started on Twitter with me simply saying that I was starting SHADE. People I "talk" with on a daily basis, occasionally, and never before responded. We all had this happy, hilarious and passionate conversation. It was about the books, the characters, whose Team we were on (I'm still officially on what Jeri calls "Team ShadeBoys", I love them both), kilts, music, kisses, and tears. When a book can inspire that kind of commitment and intensity, you know that you've come across something that sort of transcends... well, it just transcends being simply a book. I realized that SHADE is the type of book that binds people. People who would have never laughed, or squee'd with happiness or even talked to one another have become linked by their love for this series and the author, Jeri Smith-Ready.

Oh yeah, this was supposed to be a review. I guess I should be writing reviewer-ish stuff, huh? SHADE is full of everything that makes a fabulous book. Engaging, smart, smartass, beautifully infuriating characters. SHADE has a extremely unique, well-developed plot that involves our world, with a slight tweak that seems entirely possible. Like, I was really looking around for violet-hued figures, lurking in the background.

I read SHADE while traveling twelve, count em, twelve hours with my cranky husband and lovable but really whiny kids. I zoomed through this book in about two and a half hours. The tears started leaking as soon as I opened it. I cried the entire time. But don't get me wrong, SHADE is also a super funny book. The dialogue is amazing, so funny and sarcastic, just how I like it.

SHADE gave me a really, really good day. Every time I look at this book, I will remember Logan, Aura, and Zach; crying in a car with a box of tissues on my lap; and my brilliant friends who made me feel as if they were reading it for the first time, with me.

Favorite Quote ~

“Aura," he whispered, "I wish I could wipe away just one of your tears. Then I'd
feel like a person again. Like I'm something more than a bunch of light."(less)

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Jun 07, 2010 Morgan F rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, pulse-it, fantasy, series, its-a-girl, 2010, read-2010, the-afterlife, debut, medium-sized, e-book, paranormal

This book could have very nearly been a disaster. It could have taken the sour young-adult fantasy route that I'm experiencing more and more these days. It even had the dreaded love triangle. But, I was pleasantly surprised in the end.

This books is about a girl, named Aura (the name made me cringe), who can see ghosts. Which is not unusual because everyone born after the Shift can see the violet figures of people who once were. The night of his 17th birthday, Aura's boyfriend, Logan, dies. He is...more

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May 23, 2011 Krys rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medium-length-book, arcs-manuscripts, own, young-adult, first-person-narrative, ghosts-hauntings, urban-dark-fantasy-paranormal, read-in-2010, twins, series-i-love, series

Wow. I'm just...wow. I loved this. It's one of my favourite reads this year... wow... can that be my review? Well, where to start then...

Aura has been fighting with her boyfriend, Logan, since almost losing her virginity to him. She hopes to rectify things with him soon. His band, The Keeley Brothers, is scheduled to perform a show soon where two record execs from rival companies are rumoured to show. Aura plans to smooth things over with him that night and give herself to him. Everything seems...more Wow. I'm just...wow. I loved this. It's one of my favourite reads this year... wow... can that be my review? Well, where to start then...

Aura has been fighting with her boyfriend, Logan, since almost losing her virginity to him. She hopes to rectify things with him soon. His band, The Keeley Brothers, is scheduled to perform a show soon where two record execs from rival companies are rumoured to show. Aura plans to smooth things over with him that night and give herself to him. Everything seems perfect, until Logan accidentally overdoses and dies....and reappears before Aura's eyes as a ghost.

In Shade there are what is known as the pre-shifters and the post-shifters...one can see the dead, and one cannot. Aura is young enough to see the dead. She has helped in her Aunt's law firm for those that wish to testify in trials that will help them move on from our world to the next. She is not afraid of them like the adults are. However, none of that prepares her for the sight of her one true love begging and pleading for forgiveness over the fact that he accidentally killed himself.

I can go on, but I will end up giving away the rest of the book. Rest assured, it's pretty bloody wonderful... how can you go wrong with ghosts, and interrupted love, and old diaries, and star watching, and Irish punk bands, and dreamy Scottish boys, and not letting go, and impossible love triangles, and and and... I loved it. I lapped it all up and held the spoon in my mouth to savour the taste afterwards.

It's pretty much the best thing that has happened to me all day, and I saw a show I've been wanting to see live (for over a decade) for the first time today. The book is better than that. Wow. And that says... what?

I think the strength lies with Jeri Smith-Ready. She's so cheeky and very good at structuring intense plots with some pretty fabulous ideas... I've been a fan of her since reading the WVMP books a while back. This is a sublime effort on her part. A wonderful young adult treat. I fell so in love with all the characters but mostly the three main principles. Aura is the kind of girl I want to drop everything for to go have coffee. Logan, ego and all, had me at hello... but most of all Zachary... the beautiful Scottish boy... patient, but not a saint... I'm mad for Zachary. He's a perfect counterpoint to this whole idea. No matter what Aura gives he gives back with a flourish. I loved the dialogue between them... I loved this book. I have very little to complain about. It was pretty damn wonderful.

5 of 5... did I need to add that?

*endgush*

- review courtesy of www.bibliopunkk.net (less)

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Jul 24, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-arc, bea-2010, books-i-own, signed-books

Shade is one hauntingly awesome debut that will leave you craving the sequel as soon as the last page is read.

I don't really know what to say... I mean it was fabulous, it was one of those 'wow' reads. Where you don't see the last page coming because you just want it to keep on going... where you read the last sentence and immediately need the next novel... 'wow'

I really think Shade, as a paranormal novel, is going to stand out among the throngs of vampire, werewolf, and angel books. Although th...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library, young-adult, 2010-reads, series-fail

4.5 stars

At first I wasn't feeling it. I admit all I kept thinking was: 'This love-triangle better not get on my nerves.' And actually, it did annoy me a bit. Because all of sudden this HOT, new guy is interested in Aura for whatever reason, and Aura's boyfriend seems immature and...pretty stupid. That's why it took me forever to get through the beginning, but once I finally read further, it wasn't that bad. So the love-triangle ended up not bothering me, which was a good thing. ;)

As for everyth...more

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Sep 26, 2011 April rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, ya, own

YA paranormal, I will never quit you no matter how much I may want to. Books like Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready prove YA paranormal to be too legit to quit. By all intents and purposes I shouldn’t have loved Shade as much as I did as it has a love triangle and I hate those. Why did I read it in the first place? Jen at Makeshift Bookmark raved about it and she’s never steered me wrong, so I picked this up and read it in 3 hours during the Dewey 24 Hour Readathon. Smith-Ready’s story captivated me for...more

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May 31, 2010 Vicky N. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

December 28.

3:50 a.m. Local Time

On that day and tour Aura was born, at the exact moment the Shift happen, everyone born after that have the ability to see the dead.

Babies cry unexpectedly and there parents know a ghost is close. Aura has always hated ghosts, but when her boyfriend, Logan, dies she finds herself thanking for the Shift.

I thought Shade was a good book, I was slightly disappointed by the ending, I had heard about it been a cliff-hanger end, but I didn’t found it as much, it was a p...more

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Apr 18, 2011 Yani rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-kindle, own

I started this blog last December, but before that I was so busy with school that I wasn't really reading many blogs either. So I guess around that time the world was buzzing about this book, and oblivious me didn't know anything about it until I got an ARC copy of Shift (book 2). With so many great books in my reading pile I put the ARC aside and thought to myself, "if I don't get to it that's okay." NO definitely not okay!! I am so glad my twitter pals where talking about this book, because it...more

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Aug 10, 2010 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, urban-fantasy

Aura, a post-Shifter, has always thought that her ability to see and speak to ghosts has been nothing more than an inconvenience. But after the death of her boyfriend Logan, Aura has to re-evaluate the connection she has with the dead and must deal with the consequences of losing someone you love.

There a few reasons why this book didn't score the full five stars from me, but I'll get to that later. Let's start with the good stuff.

Aura, to me, is a very real character and it's easy to relate to h...more Aura, a post-Shifter, has always thought that her ability to see and speak to ghosts has been nothing more than an inconvenience. But after the death of her boyfriend Logan, Aura has to re-evaluate the connection she has with the dead and must deal with the consequences of losing someone you love.

There a few reasons why this book didn't score the full five stars from me, but I'll get to that later. Let's start with the good stuff.

Aura, to me, is a very real character and it's easy to relate to her and empathise with the struggles she has trying to deal with Logan's death. Due to the fact she was born after "The Shift", an unexplained event which causes those born after it to be able to communicate with the dead, Aura still interacts with the violet ghost of Logan. But she can't touch him or feel him, and no matter how hard they both pretend, things can never be like they were before. Aura begins to realise this and throughout the book she tries to avoid coming to terms with the fact that continuing her relationship with Logan means she'd be giving up her future. She's upset, she's angry, and she's confused, and we as readers are all these things with her. Smith-Ready does a great job of portraying Aura's feelings without just stating the obvious.

In comes Zachary, the hot, Scottish guy Aura has to work with on her astronomy thesis. Ahhh, Zach. He made this book for me. Really. There’s a bit of mystery surrounding him which we find out about later on in the book. But Zach! He’s sweet and flirty and funny and the banter between him and Aura is hilarious! I found myself smiling at every page that involved them both; I loved reading about them. Zach helps Aura deal with her problems, he understands her and listens to her and makes her laugh, and with him, Aura can almost forget about all her troubles. I like how Smith-Ready reveals the relationship between Zach and his dad too, and we really understand why Zach has to keep so many secrets. I think Zach and Aura make a very good pairing, and I can’t what to see what happens next between them.

And here is where we reach the problem. Logan. Logan, Logan, Logan. I tried to like him, I really did. I mean he just died, right? Cut the guy some slack. But I couldn’t. I really couldn’t. There are things he does in the book are very sweet and he seems like a nice and caring boyfriend, not unwilling to talk about his feelings…but I just feel frustrated by him. It seems like every time Aura is making progress and moving on, he’s there to drag her back down. Maybe I’m being unsympathetic (probably :P), but I don’t like Logan as much as I should. I feel sorry for his family because of the circumstances of his death, but Logan himself can sometimes be pretty selfish in my opinion, and I find it hard to sympathise with him (though I do feel bad for him towards the end). I don’t want his constant presence to mess up Aura’s life, because obviously there is no future with a ghost. I feel like Logan could be more of an interesting, likeable character, instead of just someone who seems obsessed with his band and becoming famous (maybe that's how he's supposed to be, I don’t know, or maybe I just missed his better side). He does seem to love Aura but if you really loved someone that much, wouldn’t you let them go after you died? Would you really expect them to be with you and forgo all the normal things they could have? Logan in the end does redeem himself a little bit and I do like him slightly more. I do also appreciate the difficulty Aura has trying to move on from Logan, because she’s been with him a long time and loves him. It’s hard to get over that in a hurry, or even after years and years, as anyone who has lost someone close to them will know. But I just feel that we as readers aren’t having such a hard time doing so because we don’t really get to see a lot of Logan’s good side. I’m hoping this will get explored more in the second book, Shift, which is due out May 2011.

In conclusion, I really liked Shade and I think Smith-Ready has created an interesting world for her characters. I recommend this book to any supernatural/fantasy over the age of 13 (there are some scenes that I would say are only suitable for more mature teen readers).

Special thanks to The Book Smugglers and Simon & Schuster UK.(less)

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Feb 18, 2012 Kat (Le Pauvre Cœur) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: awesome-cover, amazing-love-interest, f-cking-brilliant, favorites, unique, ghosts, wizard-angst

4.5 STARS!
UPDATE; 2/18/2012 Screw it, I'm giving this five stars.

Everyone born after the Shift can see and hear ghosts. Violet-hued ghosts. When Aura's boyfriend Logan dies on his birthday of alcohol and drug overdose, he comes back as a ghost and they continue to see and talk to each other. But Aura will have to decide if this no-touch, semi-real relationship is really worth it and if it's even possible. Then Aura meets Scottish exchange student Zachary, who just might be her clue to the secre...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Mimi Valentine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pure-awesomeness, reviewed

Rating: 4.5

Jeri jumping jacks, this book was awesome!

I picked it up in recommendation without knowing what to expect. To be honest, neither the cover nor synopsis really caught my eye. But I just adored it.

From the very first page, Shade sucked me into a fascinating world where every child born after the Shift (which occurred sixteen years ago) could see the violet ghosts of those unable to pass on. Every little detail was amazing and believable! Jeri Smith-Ready managed to create one of the mo...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Quick review

Cover: Pretty but too dark
Rating PG-13 for subject matter
Thumbs Up 5 glowing stars
Overall: A story you will be sucked into.
Characters: Fabulous!
Plot: True to teenage life as can be in fiction and not be smutty.
Page Turner: Yes, absolutely.
Series Cont.? Yes, definitely
Recommend Yes.
Book Boyfriend: Zachery

SUMMARY (50 word or less)

This is one of my favorite book and shaping up to be one of my favorite series ever. Jeri Smith-Ready has done an amazing job at creating a story that...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Judith (Judith'sChoiceReads) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-want-to-own, crazy-phenomenal, crazy-romantic, endings-that-suck, fantastic-covers, favorites, good-reads, heroines-with-spunk, hunks-of-the-world, pretty-men, series-i-love, must-haves, unpredictable, read-again, men-i-want-to-steal, broads-of-the-world-united

Goodreads Summary

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been an

...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Mariya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

All I can say right now is WOW. Shade is definitely unlike anything I have ever read before and quite a different take on the supernatural. I just wish I would've picked up this book sooner.

SO this is a story about ghosts and I was greatly surprised because I have never read a book about ghosts before and when ghosts come to mind I think, "boring" and this book was anything but boring. And I am glad Jeri Smith-Ready has proved me wrong.

Since the Shift, everyone under the age of sixteen can see a...more All I can say right now is WOW. Shade is definitely unlike anything I have ever read before and quite a different take on the supernatural. I just wish I would've picked up this book sooner.

SO this is a story about ghosts and I was greatly surprised because I have never read a book about ghosts before and when ghosts come to mind I think, "boring" and this book was anything but boring. And I am glad Jeri Smith-Ready has proved me wrong.

Since the Shift, everyone under the age of sixteen can see and talk to ghost who haven't passed over. Aura is one of them which she doesn't really like that much. Shortly after the beginning of the story her boyfriend, Logan dies and he comes back as a ghost. Aura has thought she has lost her love forever, but now he is is back and Aura wants him to stay with her forever, but she also needs to convince him to pass on or he could become a shade.

I adore Logan. I love him so much. I think he is the guy every girl would love to have as a girlfriend. He is so sweet and caring and you find out each page you read how much he loves Aura. Every chapter I was like, more Logan, please. I was only disappointed by the way Logan died. Are guys really that stupid?

And of course how could any YA be perfect without a love rival? Zachary is a hot scottish man. I honestly was not taken with him til about the mid-end of the book. I don't know, he didn't wow me. I have read the highlanders where there are lovely scottish men and they're accent is done beautifully in there, but as for Zachary is wasn't. I wish the author would've worked on it a bit more. I think his character came out more towards the end for me.

I didn't like that I didn't really understand the terminology. Like what the hell a shade was and why is it that bad for a ghost to turn into one? I was basically lost a lot through the book at certain times.

And I wish some of the secondary characters weren't so heartless towards Aura. Her boyfriend just died, and yes she does need to move on but this was someone she loved greatly and it takes time and she should get to decide how she wants to deal with it. Personally I wanted to yell at a lot of the secondary characters.

All in all this was a nice and quick read. I enjoyed it quite a bit and I am looking forward to read the second in the series, Shift.

More of my reviews at Mystifying Paranormal Reviews
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Apr 30, 2011 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Everyone born after the shift can see ghosts. Aura is unique. She not only can see ghosts but she is their lifeline to the present. This is cool but at the same time it can have its annoying moments like…when ghost appear unexpected and demand your help…or having ghosts yell in your ear, never giving you a minute of peace. Of course, Aura would never trade any of this, when her boyfriend, Logan ends up dead. It is up to Aura to help Logan pass through to the other side.

There is a new boy in tow...more

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Aug 16, 2011 FreakChiq rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pre-2011-release

It was the big finale of the YA Crush Tournament (hosted by The YA Sisterhood) and Jace was up against someone I’ve never heard of before—a Scotsman named Zachary Moore. I was sure the win was already ours. I mean, it’s Jace we’re talking about, and we, Jace fans, love him as much as he loves Clary, if not even more. But what I believed would be an easy-peasy match, turned into an exciting and intense duel that made me really curious. Who is this guy that has so many devoted fans? I needed to fi...more It was the big finale of the YA Crush Tournament (hosted by The YA Sisterhood) and Jace was up against someone I’ve never heard of before—a Scotsman named Zachary Moore. I was sure the win was already ours. I mean, it’s Jace we’re talking about, and we, Jace fans, love him as much as he loves Clary, if not even more. But what I believed would be an easy-peasy match, turned into an exciting and intense duel that made me really curious. Who is this guy that has so many devoted fans? I needed to find out more about him. So I finally picked up Shade.

To be honest, I knew Zach won’t be no Jace even before I began reading. However, Zach has some pretty crush-worthy qualities of his own. I don’t mean just his Scottish accent and his good looks. He’s a guy that knows exactly what he wants and is not afraid to go for it. I really, truly liked that about him. And I swear a piece of me fell in love with him when he explained to Aura why “I Will Possess Your Heart” is his favorite song. So yeah, getting to know Zachary Moore was totally worth it! But Shade has a lot more to offer than just the handsome Scotsman.

True, there are a lot of Guy/Girl-sees-ghosts stories out there, but most of them (at least the ones I’ve read) have something, a unique-ish approach or a clever twist, that makes them stand out. Shade has the Shift. The Shift is an event that occurred during winter solstice 16 years ago, one minute before Aura was born. Nobody knows what caused it or why ever since then the post-Shift born can hear and see ghosts. But Aura is determined to find out the truth. She has a feeling megaliths (like Stonehenge) have something to do with it. I really enjoyed reading about the stones and their possible connection to the Shift. But this is by far not the only mystery that will grab your attention and keep you hooked to the end.

If you like good paranormal stories that have a great premise, wonderful characters and big mysteries that will keep you guessing, you should totally give Shade a try. But be prepared for a HUGE cliffhanger.(less)

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Jun 22, 2010 K rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library, i-bought-it

The world after the Shift is full of ghosts, a branch of the military dedicated to enforcing order on them, and Shades (malevolent spirits not seen, but felt). This is the new reality, but what caused it? The Shift happened the moment of Aura’s birth, something she’s always been curious about. Why did this happen? How? And now everyone else seems to know more than they’re telling her.

When all post-Shifters can interact with the dead, dead doesn’t really mean gone. How’s that for a generational g...more

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May 22, 2010 Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-it, favourite-epic, paranormal, signed, ghosts, general-fantasy, cliffhanger-ending, read-more-than-once, mature-ya, hardcover, fictional-crush, fav-author, double

LOVED IT!!!

An intriguing and a literally haunting story involving 16 year old Aura Salvatore, who is of a generation known as "post-shifters". Almost seventeen years ago, a strange and mysterious phenomenon occurred... referred to as the Shift. Everyone that was born after the Shift is able to see ghosts -- violet hued images of the departed.

Aura's rocker boyfriend is Logan Keeley -- frontman of a small-time rock band known as the Keeley Brothers -- which also includes his two older siblings....more
LOVED IT!!!

An intriguing and a literally haunting story involving 16 year old Aura Salvatore, who is of a generation known as "post-shifters". Almost seventeen years ago, a strange and mysterious phenomenon occurred... referred to as the Shift. Everyone that was born after the Shift is able to see ghosts -- violet hued images of the departed.

Aura's rocker boyfriend is Logan Keeley -- frontman of a small-time rock band known as the Keeley Brothers -- which also includes his two older siblings. Aura is madly in love with him, and he is in love with her, in his own way. They fight, they make-up, they have their insecurities, and Logan gets lost in his music... but Aura stays loyal to him regardless. They have a long history -- growing up together, from which evolved their romantic relationship. They are each other's first love.

On Logan's 17th birthday, The Keeley Brothers are noticed by two record labels wanting to sign them on. It's already hinted that Logan likes to drink... so in his celebratory fashion... gets hammered. A "special night" was also planned between them that evening, but something goes horribly wrong... resulting in Logan's death.

However, their relationship doesn't end with his death. Because Aura can see ghosts they attempt to continue their relationship beyond the grave. She can see and talk with him... but she cannot feel his touch or warmth. But at least, it's something... neither want to let go.

Along comes Zachary, a new, sweet and considerably handsome Scottish student, who is able to finagle his way into working on a school thesis with Aura on megaliths. There's a reason why Aura chose this topic; she believes there is a possible connection between the megaliths, the Shift, and her birth, through some vague personal papers left behind by her mother before she died (when Aura was very young). Aura also learns that she was the very first person born AFTER the Shift occurred... another piece to the puzzle.

Zachary has is own reasons for getting to know Aura and has a secret of his own that connects them both. He is there for her when Logan dies... but the growing attraction between them offsets the lack of certainty, and futureless relationship, she has with Logan.

The story pretty much deals with Aura's hurdles in carrying on a relationship with her dead boyfriend... the decisions she has to make between being selfish and keeping Logan with her versus being selfless and letting him pass on and allowing herself to move on with her own life (that might include Zachary - who is waiting in the wings).

I liked Aura's character... she was real and relatable but like many teenage girls, she has her insecurities and is confused by her feelings. I sympathized with her issues... it's hard to let go of all you've ever known, even if you know what, and WHO, is best for you. Logan is sweet, but quite irresponsible and reckless (as evidence by how he died) and is a ghost -- whereas Zachary is very much alive, gorgeous, smart, incredibly patient and just GETS Aura -- not to mention they do seem to have a supernatural connection. To me, there really is no choice but I can understand why she's having difficulties figuring out what she wants. The other problem is timing... the longer Logan hangs around in his ghost form... the more likely he will become angry and bitter and go Shade -- a term referred to those ghosts who linger too long and are unable to ever move on to Heaven and peace.

One thing I was hoping for was a real explanation of why this "Shift" occurred... but I suspect that is wrapped up in the overall plot that will span the trilogy, and will slowly be revealed as Aura unravels the mystery of it.

It wasn't a story full of real action... but there were some really exciting and intense plot twists and turns... and wonderfully romantic moments with both boys... and kept me turning pages as quickly as I could. There was some language and an intimate scene, although I felt it wasn't done distastefully. There is a cliffhanger, which I have a love/hate relationship with... I loved it because it was sort of cool... but I hated it because there is such a long wait for the sequel, Shift, for which I cannot wait!!(less)

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May 30, 2011 Smash added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: YA Paranormal/Fantasy Fans, Ghost Story Geeks

Shelves: ya-fantasy, read-2011, book-reviews, favorites, review-request-complete, read-own-hardcopy

Read this review at Smash Attack Reads: http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/...

Set in modern times, the world has experienced the “Shift.” Anyone born after it is able to see and communicate with ghosts that remain in limbo. The Shift is not explained because the cause is unknown. In fact, uncovering the mystery becomes a major part of the series. Ghosts have become so commonplace that there are even lawyers who represent those who seek justice in order to move on. And that is where we meet our...more Read this review at Smash Attack Reads: http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/...

Set in modern times, the world has experienced the “Shift.” Anyone born after it is able to see and communicate with ghosts that remain in limbo. The Shift is not explained because the cause is unknown. In fact, uncovering the mystery becomes a major part of the series. Ghosts have become so commonplace that there are even lawyers who represent those who seek justice in order to move on. And that is where we meet our protagonist, Aura. Aura works part-time for her aunt and godmother as a translator for ghosts. In fact, it’s quite common for post-Shifters to translate for ghosts during trials. All in the name of justice.

Aura is a pretty interesting young lady. I find her quite compassionate, fair, devoutly loyal to those she loves and extremely patient. Aura is quite in love with her boyfriend, Logan, an Irish youth who is extremely devoted to the punk band he’s formed with his siblings. I’d say he’s pretty self-absorbed and addicted to the idea of fame, however, he doesn’t come across as an asshole, ever. Unfortunately for him, he kicks the bucket near the beginning of the book. It’s quite a devastating moment and I really enjoyed how the author wrote it. It made me gasp! Of course, Aura was born after the Shift, so Logan is still around, in his new violet, ethereal form. Talk about an endless heartbreak. :/

In walks Zachary, in all his hottie Scottish glory, whose father was relocated to town for business. Zach is a pre-Shifter, and cannot see ghosts, but he certainly notices a beautiful, intelligent, passionate young lady when he sees one. He’s assigned to assist Aura in a research project that she’s doing. It’s a project that becomes very integral to the story, and slowly uncovers a connection between Aura and Zach that they never could have imagined.

The love triangle has been beat into the ground, and many of us are yearning for a new spin on romantic tension. This books brings that new spin, and I was pleasantly surprised at the greatness of it. This was my first book by the author. Brooke at Brooke Reviews let me borrow her WVMP books forever ago, and I need to pick them up and read them now. I was quite impressed with the author’s writing style, imagination and ability to tell a good story.(less)

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Sep 11, 2010 Janina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, paranormal, death-loss-grief, romance, read-in-2010, beware-love-triangle, given-away, cliffhanger, better-than-expected, i-see-dead-people, series-lost-interest

This book is definitely among the better paranormal YA books I’ve read this year.

The world building was great, especially since the author didn’t feel the need to explain every small detail – no matter how unimportant - right at the beginning, but left the reader to make his own assumptions. I dislike nothing more than being given all the explanations to why a certain aspect or ability is like it is and how it works exactly on the first twenty pages.

And although I hate the fact the almost every...more

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May 30, 2011 Kendra /Books Complete Me rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 28, 2011 Jenna rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book even though the plot was fantastic was an absolutely disgusting book. The language was absolutely horrible and there were several sexual scenes through out the book. This book was and is listed as a teen book and I thoroughly disagree! As a teen myself, I found this book to be down right disgusting and shouldn't be in the teen section, it should be in the adult section. As a teen I want to read about love and adventures but the sexual scenes in this book took that "love" way too far. I...more

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