Lightpoints

by Peter Kassan

What if you suddenly discovered you had a sense—and powers—that almost no one else in the world did? When Amanda Lindner Nichols, a 24-year-old graphic artist living with her husband in Queens, New York, is revived from a near-death experience, she discovers she perceives everyone around her as points of light—but not with her eyes. She soon learns she can not only perceive the life energy of others, but she can give and take it. With the help of others like her, she brings her husband Chris to the brink of death and back to bestow on him the same remarkable faculty, and they're the happiest they've been. But not for long. All over the world, people who've been revived from their own near-death experience at just the right moment discover themselves with these same unusual powers. They find ways to use them—some for good and some for evil. When Amanda and Chris encounter a ruthless group of gangsters with the same faculty, tragedy follows—and Amanda faces the greatest challenge of her life.

206 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2013

Reviews

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review has been cross-posted on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!

Lightpoints is a unique and interesting story about people who have been revived from Near Death Experiences (or NDE’s) who awake with a sixth sense and are able to perceive others emotions in the form of lightpoints. It follows Amanda’s experience as she adjusts to life after being targeted by a random attacker and nearly dying. She learns about other people like her and about how this phenomenon has occurred.

The NDE experience is well documented as the author describes how people experience out of body sensations, see their life flicker before their eyes, and see the light. From the experience itself to the aftermath, such as needing a support group to deal with residual feelings, to how different people reacted to the experience, addiction and depression, was really interesting. This level of detail was carried through to explaining how the lightpoints came about and what different people are doing with their newfound power. There is a strong focus on follow through, and I really appreciated that.

While most of the novel follows Amanda and her discovery of her power and experiences, her perspective is interchanged with snippets of other people like her and what they are doing with their power (mostly those who are using it for evil). A mob leader called Herrera is the secondary character featured, and their story lines end up crossing eventually into a finale. This finale was meant to be shocking, but I don’t think the level of emotion was communicated well with the authors dry, detailed style of writing.

Halfway through the novel I began to lose interest as the focus shifted to Amanda’s boyfriend Chris suddenly wanting to experience the lightpoints for himself and deciding he was going to go through some near death experiences to achieve that. Despite witnessing the risks, Amanda and him choose to go forward with it anyway just so they could reconnect as a couple. While it was part I’ll have what she’s having, I attributed most of it to plain and simple jealousy and stupidity; I have no idea why anyone in their right mind will willingly choose to nearly die and be revived again, week after week, especially after being warned of the dire risks.

Overall, a unique concept explored in detail, only hindered by dry, detached writing and a weak plot. There were also some strange scenes that erred on the side of uncomfortable such as people taking advantage of others sexually, so this would be for mature audiences only.

I received an eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The sense made her feel different from everyone else, estranged from them. She felt as if she were living in a different, parallel universe, like a ghost. It filled her with a gnawing loneliness.'

Plot

Amanda Nicols is a 24 year-old graphic artist living with her husband in Queens,New York. When Amanda is attacked and revived from a near-death experience, she finds that she has a new sense; she perceives everyone around her as points of light. After meeting others like her, and telling her husband about her new sense, the couple decide to bring Chris to the brink of death and revive him, so that he can be like her too.

However, not everybody with this gift has good intentions; some have found ways to use it to their benefit. When Amanda and Chris are confronted by a group of gangsters with the gift, Amanda will face the toughest challenge of her life.

My thoughts

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I liked the sound of this book when I read the synopsis, since it seems like such a different concept. I've never read a book with people having near-death experiences and coming back with a new sense, so this really appealed to me as something new and refreshing to read. The Author has not only created an intriguing story with Amanda, but he's also created other sides to the story with characters in different places using the same gift for different reasons. It's really interesting to see how different types of people decide to use this new found gift, and it definitely reflects the diversity of the human race; highlighting the fact that there is both good and evil in the world. Some people use their gift for good; they use it to help people. Others use it for bad; using it to their advantage or to cause pain to others.

I was happy for Amanda when she found others like her. The fact that she nearly died is bad enough, but coming back with a new and overwhelming sense must have been terrifying, especially living in a big place like New York, with so many people living close by. It's great when she meets people with the sense, as she has somebody else's experiences to compare hers with and it must have been a relief not to feel alone.

There were a few spelling mistakes, as well as other mistakes, such as character names being mixed up, but this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. There wasn't enough mistakes to ruin the book at all, I just got confused with some of them and had to go back a few pages to make sure I didn't misread before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It has a unique concept that I've never seen anywhere else, and it was executed very well. It was great to see different sides of the story; getting an insight into other people with the sense and how they choose to use it. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a new and refreshing read.

[Alexia Chantel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever been intrigued by near death experiences or wondered about the tunnel with a light at the end? Lightpoints is an interesting take on what could happen if you do take this journey, and it is not all angels and clouds.

The main, or one of the main, characters is Amanda who you meet as she is stabbed to death. You travel with her as she leaves her body and then pulled back to life, bringing a new ability with her. This ability drives the story, how she handles the stress of learning how to live with being different and her husband’s reaction to her revelation. Their love is strong, tragic, and in the end you and Amanda get what you want.

Lightpoints has action and excitement to go along with an entertaining idea. The main characters, Amanda and Chris, dominate most of the story line with others introduced and dispersed throughout. If the flow had been planned out differently the transitions and how the characters are tied together may have been easier to follow, though you can see what the author was working towards.

There is an intriguing story here, you just need to read past the first few pages. After nearly putting this book down the reward was a thought provoking story. The writing started out flat but picked up, though the need for deeper description stays with you. Some technical issues and the abrupt ending knocked the rating down.

2.5/3 Stars


*I received a copy from the author in return for an honest review.

[Kirstie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This story is fantastic. I was really drawn in by the concept Mr Kassan developed for this book. I have a very keen interest in the afterlife, energy and the infinite possibilities of the human mind...and Mr Kassan has totally embraced all of these and mixed them up in a cluster of characters.

The story predominately is about Amanda who is attacked in the subway, has a near death experience caused by her injury. When she wakes up her senses are heightened and she finds herself uniquely being able to perceive people's energy.

Amanda finds this life altering experience all very overwhelming to start with, until she meets people who share her ability. Amanda goes through the story having to deal with things she never concerned herself with before, and even faces ethical decisions that test her boundaries and those love of those she cares about.

This is a very thought provoking book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The premise of the story certainly left me thinking a whole lot of what ifs! I just hope that this is not the end of Lightpoints - but just the beginning of a series of amazing books that encourages its reader to expand their mind and consider the impossible!

A definite to add to your To Read List!

[Sienna Logan (Lost to Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

For more of my reviews visit http://losttobooks.blogspot.com

It was the description of the book that intrigued me into accepting the request. I mean death, paranormal, powers, romance and ruthless gangsters sounds interesting right? I couldn't ask for more from a book really, however for me this book was disappointing in the execution and in all honesty was slightly boring.

The book started off well. It had fast-paced action and hooked me into reading more as I was intrigued to find out what was happening. At first I thought the book was going to be told from 2 peoples POV as the chapters do switch between Amanda and Herrera at the start and if it remained like that I think it would have been OK. However, the author introduces many people who have had NDEs (Near Death Experience) throughout and beside the one chapter we hear about them they are never mentioned again so in my opinion it felt pointless and added nothing. Most of the story focuses on Amanda and Chris but I didn't feel there was much of a story there which is why the author needed to add extra characters to fill out the book. Everything just felt really messy and choppy as it constantly jumps from one person to the next.

With an average chapter standing at 2 pages you do fly through them at a quick pace but this also caused a problem as there was hardly any detail and absolutely no character backgrounds which stopped me from engaging with any of them. I just didn't care about their lives and once a chapter ended I had forgotten about them. For me the author stated everything rather than described it which left the writing very stiff and awkward, especially the speech.

I liked the initial concept of people coming back and having NDEs, I just think the plot and structure needs more work. The description promises a lot more than the book delivers and as for ruthless gangs? Well they didn't seem that ruthless. Yes they kill people but as a reader I wanted more detail, longer chapters and more background info. They came into play more towards the end but even that was concluded abruptly and in all honesty the ending didn't satisfy me in the slightest, it just didn't make sense for Amanda to go from one extreme to the other - which again I think is a problem caused by the lack of detail.

I did get more into this book when there were a succession of chapters on Amanda and Chris as it was easier to follow and flowed better. However, I did cringe repeatedly at the romance. This might be a personal preference as I hate the word "babe" and it is used excessively but everything did feel wooden. Beside that these chapters did feel repetitive with the "A week later" becoming the common way to start the chapter. It just felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again - I wanted more but like I said before I don't feel there was much of a story there.

Overall this book has an interesting concept about death and NDEs but for me I just found myself bored and hoping for more. Personally I feel it needs more detail to fill it out rather than stating everything and to either get rid of the extra characters or somehow link them all so you don't forget about them and aid the flow of the book as it wouldn't be so sudden.

[Brandee (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars**

Lightpoints is an intriguing look at how differently people react to, view and use a 'talent' given to them following a Near Death Experience (NDE). The majority of the cast of characters has experienced an NDE, and an Out-of-Body Experience as well. Once revived, they can perceive, or 'sense' the energy, or lightpoints, of everyone around them. As this sense is explored, they discover they can also give and take energy.

Mr. Kassan spins many threads in this story, but not all are woven together. We are introduced to several characters and groups of characters who have the sense. I can only surmise these characters' significance was to reinforce the differences in how people of varying circumstances, be it social, religious, etc., handle having this ability. Of course, Mr. Kassan may also intend on giving these characters their own stories - I rather hope he does. However, Lightpoints revolves mainly around Amanda Nichols and her husband, Chris, and Carlos Herrera. It is through the telling and the intersecting of their stories that Mr. Kassan illustrates the disparity between humans with this ability.

The sense, as I said, is the ability to perceive the energy emitted by a human. Through this sense, a person can identify much about other people, such as whether a person is cheerful or agitated. Once the sense is honed, they can even sense a person's nature. It seems as though a person's use of their sense is dependent upon their moral compass. Amanda, for instance, explores her sense gradually, and uses it to accomplish good. Carlos Herrera, on the other hand, only seeks ways to use it for personal gain.

Amanda is an incredibly strong and resilient young woman. It was fascinating to watch as she navigated life with her new sense. It was also fulfilling to see she and Chris connect on a completely different level, once they both are sensitives. She had begun to withdraw from him and couldn't share her new ability. However, things decline rapidly when Herrera finds them. He's out to collect sensitives, trying to create a way to use the sense against his enemies.

Lightpoints is a very cerebral read. There is some action and suspense, especially towards the end, but it's not a book that had my heart pounding. However, I was so intrigued by the notion of this sense and the power it encompassed, I was captivated. Lightpoints is very well written and beautifully rendered. My only real concerns are that I would have liked to have had the multiple threads woven together, and although I understand Amanda's actions at the end of the book, I felt her actions didn't quite mesh with her nature. Perhaps Mr. Kassan was making the point that despite being a good person, one never knows what they're capable of until tested by dire circumstances.

As I'm writing this review, I continue to wonder about Amanda, Lisa and their support group of friends, as well as other characters introduced. I do hope this isn't the end of the line. If it is, Mr. Kassan has certainly provided an interesting topic to ponder.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
3rd Person POV(with multiple character viewpoints)

This is the story of Amanda, a young woman who has a near-death experience(NDE) & awakens with a strange new sense that allows her to give take & sense energy from others. She can see others energies from miles away like looking up at the stars on a clear night or at a skyline of a major city. Some points close & bright others fade in the distance in relation to how close/far away ppl are.

It's also tells the story of a business man & gangster, Herrera, who has the same sort of near death experience except he uses the faculty of seeing and using ppl's Lightpoints for a very different and sinister reason. A very good antagonist for this particular plot line!

Tho at first it's disorienting as Amanda gets use to her new faculty, but her life isn't the same as before & it is evident to her husband Chris. Who senses her distance & reluctance for intimacy. Even a kiss from Amanda has the potential to kill. Among the main plot & that of the story of Herrera, there are small blips of other ppl's stories who have the ability to see lightpoints & what they can do.. These were not needed as eventually the story tells you everything in the end. Everything Kind of gets to that I don't want to put the book down after she meets Lisa. I won't say more and spoil things but it wasn't until then that the book sped up its pace. Although Chris's part after this gets somewhat repetitive it's tolerable.

The climax & conclusion of the book is only a few pages long(or a couple of really short chapters) & then still the book just ends.. It was so abrupt! I wanted to keep going & find out more of what happened afterward. An epilogue would have been effective here. I feel the author could have developed the ending more & it would have turned from good to amazing!

It had/has the potential to be a great book! The idea was there, & so was that spark of creativity that you need for every good book!

The most disappointing thing about the book was there so many grammatical errors,& missing or double words, that it became a real distraction & made it hard to read.(I had to read slower)

The author has a way of telling the story that at first seems very confusing(especially at the beginning) but eventually everything starts pulling together rather nicely about halfway thru. The plot & idea of this book were very interesting an it had me intrigued from the very beginning!!

Overall this is an enjoyable story with some interesting ideas. I would recommend it to fans of darker paranormal novels.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of the story is appealing and original. There were some really interesting parts. Amanda’s OBE (out of body experience) was really detailed and amazing. Reading along while Amanda learned about and grew to understand more about her new faculty (ability to see the life energy of people, a.k.a. “lightpoints”) and the flow of energy was intriguing and kept the story moving. The descriptions of Chris’ paintings of his OBE sound beautiful. Then there were parts, like when they tried to bestow the “faculty” upon Chris, that became redundant and boring. While the author added bits and pieces to each chapter and each trial to demonstrate the progress being made in the experiment, it didn’t really hold my attention. Also, by the point I was a little over halfway through, there still weren’t any major conflicts, although I guessed it would manifest when Herrera’s thugs crossed paths with Amanda and accurately deduced there would be some kind of battle-for-the-life-energy between the two sides.

Also, the writing feels detached and clinical – like the author was trying to state simply the facts – no emotion, no passion. Because of that, Lightpoints is a very quick read with short, crisp chapters. Sometimes it seemed like I was reading a detailed outline of ideas for each chapter – at least that’s what it seems like when you’re reading from Herrera’s POV. It’s the equivalent of looking at an ice sculpture that has had the main shape given to it, but still has rough or unfinished edges waiting to be smoothed out. If the sculpture stopped carving at that moment, then you’d get the general, overall picture. But if he continues and adds little embellishments, tiny details, and a little polish to smooth the edges, then it becomes an ice sculpture that can take your breath away – and if it wasn’t made of ice, you’d swear it was real!

Overall rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Appropriate for ages 14 & up.


I received a free eBook of Lightpoints from Goodreads-Making Connections in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny Twist · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story opens when Amanda Nichols is attacked by a knife-wielding psychopath in Grand Central Station.
The description of the young girl’s attempt to hold on to her life as the crowds gather around her is chilling and the reader is gripped from the very first page. As she begins to lose her fight, Angela finds herself undergoing a typical out-of-body experience, floating up to the roof of the station and looking down at her own body and the crowd gathered around her. Then she is pulled away into a long dark tunnel where she meets many of the people she has known and loved who are now dead. At last she sees the light at the end of the tunnel and reaches up to touch it . . .
So far this is a description of well-documented phenomena – OBE (out-of-body experience) and NDE (near-death experience).
But what happens to Amanda next is not typical. She finds herself suddenly dragged back into her earthly body and she wakes up changed. She is able to see the essence of all the people around her. She sees these auras as light points. It is a frightening and overwhelming phenomenon. And before too long she finds she is not alone . . .

Peter Kassan is something of a find. In my opinion ‘Lightpoints’ is an exceptional first novel (although I was not surprised to find he has been writing all his life. This is his first published work of fiction).
He writes in a fluent, uncluttered style. The plot is well-paced. His characterisation is good. But what really stands out is the originality of his ideas.
I also like the way he explores how different characters would exploit their unusual talent which soon manifests itself as not only the ability to see other people’s essence, but to affect them for good or evil. One group brings about cures for mental patients by concentrating their minds in prayer. Another uses it to kill people. Yet another – but I will leave it there. Buy the book. Read it for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

[Christopher Carrolli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda walks out into the New York Street and is viciously attacked. She nearly loses her life as she hovers over her body and is drawn toward the light. Then, she's revived, pulled back away from the light, but when she wakes, she's in possession of a gift that many acquire after a near death experience.
Amanda now perceives everyone around her as a "lightpoint." She's acquired the ability to see,and perceive the life energy of those around her.
Peter Kassan has created a fast paced, page turning, thriller that cannot be put down for a moment! He takes us on a journey with Amanda as she discovers her new ability, as well as around the world to discover new and different characters that share Amanda's ability. Some of them are good people, but some of them are far more sinister, including a mobster whose utilizes the ability for his own maleviolent purposes.
The suspense in Peter Kassan's book is overwhelming. It keeps you squirming, reading, and routing for the main character every step of the way. Kassan has developed a story that makes one seriously think about life after death, and the ensuing attributes that may follow one who has lived to tell of the light.
We follow Amanda through to the very end as she confronts the danger that has since followed her, and when she does, Kassan brings us through to a highly climactic ending! A definite must for paranormal lovers. Though the book ends the story, the reader can't help but want more of "Lightpoints!"

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a really good premise.
It tells us the story of Amanda. One day she is almost murdered in Grand Central Station by an escaped from a mental hospital and almost dies. In fact, she actually dies for several minutes until the paramedics are able to reanimate her again.
After she suffers the NDE (near death experience), she realizes that something changed. She is now able to see the energy of people as lightpoints. She can sense her traits, her personality, she can see if their energies collide and if they are good or bad people. People like her (Yes, she finds out that are many people who also suffered NDEs and are just like her) also can “suck” or give others people energy.
And if there are people who use that for good… others, like in all situations, use that for bad and for their own power and personal pleasure.

The story is very well achieved and is reading effortless. The writing is appealing and the characters are nicely done.
It gets a little slow in the middle and there are too many parallel stories that sometimes turns a little confusing, but other than that… no complaints!
An easy reading! :)

[Kelly Smith Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I’m reading a quick synopsis of a new novel someone wants me to review, there are a few things I look for, one of the main ones being originality. I want to be delivered a delicacy that I have not yet sampled, so to speak, and when I read the blurb about Peter Kassan’s urban fantasy novel Lightpoints, I was intrigued.

Upon reading it, I found a murder, out of body experience and near death experience within the first three pages, where a young woman named Amanda Nichols is stabbed in Grand Central station and wakes to find that she can now see people’s “lightpoints”, the little bit in their foreheads that represents the individual’s energy sequence. She calls it the “faculty” and it helps her sense if a person is good or bad, patient or rushed, healthy or ill. She wonders if everyone who had had an OBE and then an NDE have the same faculty, so she goes to a hospital support group for those who have been to the other side and lived to tell about it. While there, she meets a woman named Lisa during her second session, the only woman in the group who is like her. Lisa invites Amanda to join her “special” group, full of people Lisa has met who are now able to see and sense other humans’ energy frequencies.

Throughout the book, we are taken on journeys through many people’s lives who have the “faculty”; including a man who kills the people from whom he “steals” energy through a kiss because he has become addicted to the high it gives him.

There is also a man in Atlantic City, New Jersey, who runs a large crime organization. After he is shot, he gets the “faculty” and wonders how best to exploit his new ability for maximun income and influence. After he kills his mistress (by accident, I will say), he realizes he can use it to make people do his bidding and even pass out for a little while.

While the reader wonders what he will do as he begins to gather more and more people who have this same sense, they are shocked when Amanda tells her husband, Chris, about her ability, something Lisa said she should not do if she wants the relationship to last. But when Chris decides he wants to be closer to Amanda and asks her to make him have a near death experience so he can have the “faculty” like her, I don’t think I could’ve been more shocked!

While I have read people describe this novel as erotica, I am not sure I agree. Yes, there are erotic elements in Peter Kassan’s debut novel, but they pale in comparison to the scientific and even spiritual elements that make up most of the story. I like that he used physical sexual intercourse and also energy exchange as a form of arousal. Rarely is energy exchange written about in modern fiction, as people usually veer towards typical sexual acts or, less frequently, blood play. Energy exchange can be quite a sexual and spiritual high and I loved that someone finally wrote about it in a modern, everyday context.

Another thing I loved was the prayer group who healed depressed people with their positive energy. I won’t say more, but as a sufferer of depression, PTSD and other mental illnesses, I know how energy effects those ailments and can heal them. Again, it was great to have a modern writer bring these things to light.

My only discrepancy with this book was very minor in detail but I feel I must mention it if this is going to be a honest review. Repeatedly it is mentioned that the people affected with the “faculty” are not vampires because they are not immortal. There are actual scientific studies written about “energy vampires” and “psychic vampires”: beings who can sense and feed off of energy, as well as send their own to help and/or influence people. While the characters in the book do not need energy to survive as energy vamps do, everything else is similar to what it is said energy vampires are capable of doing. (I won’t start a debate on if they’re real or not, as everyone has their own opinions on that.) But I just wanted to point out a small factual flaw: energy vampires are not immortal, only “regular” (i.e. blood-sucking) vampires are in the common mythology.

All-in-all, this is a great novel that does not need vampires, werewolves or even ghosts to be sensational and be considered paranormal. Mr. Kassan writes beautifully and fluidly and he created a cast of realistic characters going through some very out-there, yet realistic issues.I loved this book and will be re-reading it again!

4/5–great work, especially for a debut novel!When I’m reading a quick synopsis of a new novel someone wants me to review, there are a few things I look for, one of the main ones being originality. I want to be delivered a delicacy that I have not yet sampled, so to speak, and when I read the blurb about Peter Kassan’s urban fantasy novel Lightpoints, I was intrigued.

Upon reading it, I found a murder, out of body experience and near death experience within the first three pages, where a young woman named Amanda Nichols is stabbed in Grand Central station and wakes to find that she can now see people’s “lightpoints”, the little bit in their foreheads that represents the individual’s energy sequence. She calls it the “faculty” and it helps her sense if a person is good or bad, patient or rushed, healthy or ill. She wonders if everyone who had had an OBE and then an NDE have the same faculty, so she goes to a hospital support group for those who have been to the other side and lived to tell about it. While there, she meets a woman named Lisa during her second session, the only woman in the group who is like her. Lisa invites Amanda to join her “special” group, full of people Lisa has met who are now able to see and sense other humans’ energy frequencies.

Throughout the book, we are taken on journeys through many people’s lives who have the “faculty”; including a man who kills the people from whom he “steals” energy through a kiss because he has become addicted to the high it gives him.

There is also a man in Atlantic City, New Jersey, who runs a large crime organization. After he is shot, he gets the “faculty” and wonders how best to exploit his new ability for maximun income and influence. After he kills his mistress (by accident, I will say), he realizes he can use it to make people do his bidding and even pass out for a little while.

While the reader wonders what he will do as he begins to gather more and more people who have this same sense, they are shocked when Amanda tells her husband, Chris, about her ability, something Lisa said she should not do if she wants the relationship to last. But when Chris decides he wants to be closer to Amanda and asks her to make him have a near death experience so he can have the “faculty” like her, I don’t think I could’ve been more shocked!

While I have read people describe this novel as erotica, I am not sure I agree. Yes, there are erotic elements in Peter Kassan’s debut novel, but they pale in comparison to the scientific and even spiritual elements that make up most of the story. I like that he used physical sexual intercourse and also energy exchange as a form of arousal. Rarely is energy exchange written about in modern fiction, as people usually veer towards typical sexual acts or, less frequently, blood play. Energy exchange can be quite a sexual and spiritual high and I loved that someone finally wrote about it in a modern, everyday context.

Another thing I loved was the prayer group who healed depressed people with their positive energy. I won’t say more, but as a sufferer of depression, PTSD and other mental illnesses, I know how energy effects those ailments and can heal them. Again, it was great to have a modern writer bring these things to light.

My only discrepancy with this book was very minor in detail but I feel I must mention it if this is going to be a honest review. Repeatedly it is mentioned that the people affected with the “faculty” are not vampires because they are not immortal. There are actual scientific studies written about “energy vampires” and “psychic vampires”: beings who can sense and feed off of energy, as well as send their own to help and/or influence people. While the characters in the book do not need energy to survive as energy vamps do, everything else is similar to what it is said energy vampires are capable of doing. (I won’t start a debate on if they’re real or not, as everyone has their own opinions on that.) But I just wanted to point out a small factual flaw: energy vampires are not immortal, only “regular” (i.e. blood-sucking) vampires are in the common mythology.

All-in-all, this is a great novel that does not need vampires, werewolves or even ghosts to be sensational and be considered paranormal. Mr. Kassan writes beautifully and fluidly and he created a cast of realistic characters going through some very out-there, yet realistic issues.I loved this book and will be re-reading it again!

4/5–great work, especially for a debut novel!

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lightpoints: Peter Kassan

Imagine being able to sense the presence of others and having the ability to determine what kind of person they are. When you face death head on and find yourself within an experience that takes you out of your body and moving towards a tunnel of light, it’s called a Near Death Experience. Many people have recounted their brush with death knowing that for a limited time they are were thought to have gone to their eternal rest. There are many types of experiences that have been recorded and some might include two elements where others more. There are fifteen common characteristics attributed to NDE. The most common is the sense of finding yourself outside of your body and moving through a darkness or a tunnel. Some find their feelings and emotions sharpened and enhanced while others experience darkness or extreme light. Imagine seeing a spiritual realm, your relatives and friends that passed away, religious figures or having increased awareness or knowledge of nature and the universe? What about feeling more connected, reviewing your life within the short time span of your journey or evening sensing your future and receiving messages about your life’s purpose? Experiences vary, residuals are different as we learn more about NDE and meet many whom have experienced it, find themselves searching for others like them and realize that there is something powerful out there that has changed them, allowed them to see more clearer and feel the energy of Lightpoints of others. Lightpoints: Peter Kassen enter this new world and find out if you are one of them.

Leaving her father giving him a kiss goodbye, twenty four year old Amanda Nichols heads for Grand Central Station and the train ride home. Living in Queens, New York with her husband Chris, what happens as she enters the station will change her life forever. Attacked in the subway, on death’s door she experiences injuries that would ordinarily be more than just life threatening. But, when revived, returning from the light Amanda makes a startling recovery but within the confines of her hospital room something happens that alerts her that she is no longer the same person she was before and upon reflection she relates her feelings, her new found “lightpoints,” her heightened sense of awareness of people, their aura and their inner sense to one man that would change it all. Meeting Dr. Wagner she enters a support group that focuses on people that had NDE. But, there is much more as we meet several others living in different places who use their experiences on a whole different level and for different reasons. Life changing experiences, life altering are just the tip of the iceberg when we learn the magnitude of the power, the fierceness of the energy level and how some use it to destroy, kill and then bring others back. Good vs. Evil: some want to help others while some want to profit! How do you discern whether to use this power and or not? Lightpoints connect with the energy of the other person. Sometimes she as well as others can feel the energy emitted by many or just a few from across a room, a closed door, the room next door or just hearing a voice.

Carlos Herrera is a crime boss who is gunned down and finds himself a changed and more powerful man after his NDE. Eliminating the competition and those that harmed him he sends out warning to the rival gang about what will happen if they do not join forces with him. Hector has other plans for his power as we learn when he visits his girlfriend, Rosa. The power of a KISS can be deadly. The stronger the intensity the more likely the victim will succumb to death. But, if done right they will enter a trance and be revived never being the wiser. Herrara is dangerous. Using his powers over and over again some die and some don’t.

Angel Rios started a prayer group on Thursday nights and realized that within this group they all had a special link and power. Wanting to reach out to others he attempts to by starting with his brother Julio who had a traumatic experience. The power of prayer can generate an energy within the person receiving it that can change their lives even if they are not in the same room. When Angel realizes the power it had over his brother he and his group to decide to help the depressed, needy and poor residing in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. Hearing Angel and listening to the prayers as he and the rest of the members of his prayer circle miraculously help a man named Enrique, the author brings to light the power of religion, believing and faith. But, some use their powers to harm others as we learn about a man who runs a place for men to unleash their passions but some do more than that. Just how these incidents connect as Chris questions Amanda when situations arise that make you wonder if she has more than just this power to sense a person’s energy but a touch of sixth sense too. Saving someone that construction workers did not see, call 911 when she senses her father in trouble brings to the forefront another realm of this new sight she and others have. But, what happens next when she decides to explain it to Chris, bring him to near death and have him join her group?

As Herrera searches for more candidates to join his group Chris and Amanda decide to explore another avenue. The author takes readers through the process of a NDE as Amanda tries to take Chris into the fold one step at a time risking his life each time an attempt to change his energy and make him like her takes place. With the aid of Lisa and her cardiologist boyfriend, John, we learn the method, hear the fears and learn from Chris what he experiences. But, how will this end and what about the others: Herrera, Pavel, Prevada and Angel who also want to use the power but for different reasons. Can she give him the same faculties as she has?

Things take a different turn when Chris immerses himself in his art and painting and creates each step of the transformation in his work. But, although he and Amanda are happy and enjoy their newfound energy and way of life, things change, he goes too far when he attempts an OBE and then something changes. As Herrera sends his men to New York their paths cross with both Amanda and Chris. But, Herrera has only one thing in mind and that is to enlarge his group of sensitives in order take the energy of those who defy him. What happens when Chris is approached will change it all? What Amanda does when confronted and faced with danger and Herrera you just won’t believe? Revenge, anger, retribution and murder: Just who wins? Just who pays more than the ultimate price for becoming something they are not? Two young people who discover what they think is special, head toward the light, think they are invincible and one who will learn a lesson never they will never forget. Author Peter Kassan takes readers inside the minds of Amanda, Chris, Lisa, John and many others whose goal it is to employ these powers in order to live what they think is a happier life? An ending that is quite compelling and a story that has potential for more to come. Lightpoints: Don’t get to close to the light! Don’t Touch! Headstrong, impulsive, hard to control at times and definitely has her own way of doing things, Amanda Nichols is a strong character with strong convictions of what she feels is right or wrong. NDE: Would you do what Amanda did? What is next for her and the rest? Let’s hope there’s a sequel.

Fran Lewis: Reviewer

[Caroline Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lightpoints is a magical, mesmerising and surreal sci-fi. It is also very spiritual and wondrous, with near-death experiences (NDE’s) and out-of-body experiences (OBE’s) being described in brilliant detail, allowing the reader to imagine even the smallest of details whilst the victim is in this state. Peter Kassan introduces the concept of the ‘lightpoints’ well, intriguing the reader from the very beginning and ultimately gripping the reader’s attention to the very last page.

The drama and tension begins as 24 year old, Amanda Lindner Nichols, is stabbed at Grand Central Station. Amanda experiences a near-death experience and doesn’t regain her consciousness until later in the hospital. The reader is then taken on a mesmerising journey with Amanda as, when she wakes up, she discovers that she has some unusual qualities – she can now see people’s lightpoints! All of their energy, along with their approximity and emotive state, is clear to her.

Although quite confusing and strange for Amanda she tries to keep her new sense to herself, without wanting to alarm her family. This did prove difficult, especially with her husband, Chris. I felt a little sorry for Chris as he is shut out a little from Amanda and during intimate moments she rarely kisses him. However, once he is aware of Amanda’s abilities he wants to be like her and have the sense himself.

Throughout Lightpoints, Peter Kassan tells the story of the nicer and the darker sides of being a sensitive. For example, when Amanda becomes acquainted with Lisa she realises that Lisa looks out for new sensitives and reaches out to them, allowing them to talk over their new senses and to not feel so alone. But the reader also discovers that some people use their new ability for evil by sucking the life from other sensitives, or even taking as much energy from them as necessary in order for the individual to carry out actions that they would never consent to, before giving them back their energy.

I really liked the style of writing and the tension when the darker side was mentioned, i.e. with the gangsters – as they were trying to reach any sensitive they could find ask them to work with them. If the approached sensitive refused then their end would be met.

Here is an example of the darker side of some sensitives and the tension Peter Kassan builds up. Inside a parking garage two gangsters are trying to convince another sensitive to join them. The guy is in his car, at the wheel ready to leave when they approach him. The guy shows no interest in their offer and so they know what they are expected to do. Besides, he’s not only turned them down but he is also a witness who could identify them:-

‘They heard footsteps, and they both dropped to the asphalt until the footsteps receded. When it was silent again, Stanley reached through the window with his gloved hand. He pushed the guy’s head back, pinched his nose and put his palm over his mouth.’

This is powerful, eerie and violent. Amanda’s experience and relationship with Lisa and John is a complete contrast to this darker side.

I loved following the story of Amanda, her husband, Chris, and Lisa and John (sensitives). I didn’t see how some of the other characters fitted in to the story, although there were some great examples of how the light could be used for evil purposes. As the story continued the reader begins to guess that Amanda was to come into contact with some of the other sensitives mentioned.

I found some areas of the story, in particular the process of Chris trying to become a sensitive, to be a little repetitive. I could understand why as it was used to build up momentum and tension, however once the first and certainly the second process was mentioned then shorter descriptions for the subsequent processes would have been sufficient in my opinion.

It also didn’t become obvious until a good way through the story that the good and evil were to encounter each other. This led to a small moment where I wondered what the point was of explaining the evil sides to the reader but it does become clear and the story finishes with a surprising dramatic end.

I enjoyed ‘Lightpoints’ with its captivating concept and storyline. I would be interested in reading a sequel, either with the same characters or even with fresh characters and maybe set in a different part of the world. There were some characters mentioned that didn’t seem to fit in to the main plot but used as examples of the darker side. Maybe these characters could be revisited in any follow-up novels so that the reader can follow their story.

Lightpoints is the first book of its kind that I have read and it really leaves an impact, making the reader think about mortality, the spirit world and what truly does happen when we meet our end. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

Lightpoints was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

[Bj Gaskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather interesting look in to near-death experiences. I enjoyed the story-line,  although it now has me worrying about the people around me...

Wholly Boogers!!!! What if they can really do that stuff???

The main character is Amanda. She was stabbed and lived to tell about her near-death experience. She takes her experience with a different view. She doesn't harbor ill will to those around her...

.

Unlike.....

Mr Herrera, now there's a piece of work! What a major a$$! Instead of taking his new found sense and using it for good. He's all to eager to see what he can get out of it.Getting Tim and Stanley to work for him was beyond evil. Then when people refused to join his little "Special Force" team...URGH!

I really loved how Mr. Kassen had people all over the world have little tidbits of what and how the new after near-death experience sense worked. It was way better than our main character playing trial and error.I also really enjoyed Lisa and John. It was a real comforting knowledge that Amanda and Chris were in good hands.

I loved that Amanda loved Chris as much as she did. I was kinda shocked at the over all outcome. Although I was really glad how Amanda took things into her own hands and showed Mr. Herrera who he really was messing with.

[Tara Hall]

I was give a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

This book was not for me, which is why there is no rating attached to this review. I do not believe in lowering the ranking of a work when other readers found it very much to their liking, as was the case with this work. However, since I was asked to review, my opinions of the book are below.

This book was well-edited, with very few typos. It explores Near Death Experiences, or NDE for short. Initially, we follow the experiences of Amanda, who has a NDE. Afterwards, she not only has the extrasensory ability to see all other humans as "lightpoints" but also discovers that she can suck this life energy out of them at will with a kiss, or bestow energy to them in time of need: a life energy vampire, so to speak.
(To be clear, those that have this power don't HAVE to "feed" on the life force of others, but the rush is very similar to orgasm in the way its described, so I believe the comparison to be a fair one. Also, several of the evil characters kill many people (mostly women during sexual intercourse) in the book because of how good it feels to drain them of life energy).

The idea of a "life energy vampire" was a very interesting concept, which is why I initially agreed to review this work. To my disappointment, this imaginative concept was not expanded upon. Instead, entire chapters of the book are devoted to others who had NDE and now are using the powers for good or evil...then they are never mentioned again in the book at all. In my opinion, these should have either been edited out or made to connect with the main plot and characters in some substantial way. Also Amanda's story becomes less about her and more about her husband Chris halfway through the book. Chris wants to have the ability to see the lightpoints and all that entails, so Amanda works with a friend (a fellow NDE with the power) to keep killing and reviving Chris in an attempt to get him to see the lightpoints, too. This is where the book entirely lost me. Both Chris and Amanda came off as teens more than adults in this entire story, forging ahead recklessly with little thought to the consequences. Some of this might also have been Chris calling Amanda "babe" as his preferred form of endearment in just about every other sentence he uttered, which really got on my nerves. The character that was easiest to understand was the villain Herrera, who sought to not only exploit his power to serve his gangster ends, but also led him to employ two other sensitives Tim and Stanley to increase his power to the point he didn't have to touch the intended victims at all. I hoped at the end this deadly duo would take out Chris and Amanda, when finally they crossed paths. But to my surprise, there was a nice twist at the end, with a much more ruthless Amanda rising to the challenge.

[Francine Soleil · Rating 4 out of 5]

originally posted here: http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...

When the author first contacted me to review this book, I looked it up on Goodreads and thought that it looked interesting. He also seemed like a pretty cool person to talk to. And I was pretty much right. The whole concept of the lightpoints is really interesting.

When a person dies and is resuscitated at just the right moment, they gain a new sense. They are able to feel people’s energies as lightpoints, and they are able to control these energies. I won’t talk about that much because I think reading the book would give a better understanding of the whole concept. I like how Peter Kassan explained the different traits of this sense by showing different people from all over the world with different experiences in how they are able to use it. Although I think it would have been better if the unimportant people were only given one chapters or less each.

The story revolves around Amanda Nichols. After being stabbed on the shoulder and saved by the paramedics, she wakes up with the strange feeling of having the sense. It changed her and she had a hard time coping with it. Fortunately, she was found by Lisa, someone who has had the sense for a really long time and has been helping others like them. Lisa becomes her friend and guides her along the way.

Amanda’s husband, Chris, reminds me of some humanities teachers. Well, he is an artist and teacher so I think that means something. I imagine him as someone all grungy with movements and speaking like he’s high even though he’s not. I mostly see it from the way he talks. Although I think what people, including Amanda and me, see most in him is his gift for painting.

Just about the same time that Amanda acquires her gift, a gang leader also did and has thought of nothing but to exploit it and others who have the same talent. And he will stop at nothing to achieve what he wants. I’ll admit that I was freaking out near the end, yet I feel like it ended too fast.

OVERALL, I like the characters and the story as a whole. I like the whole idea of the lightpoints and its different facets. I just really wish there was more to this book. Lightpoints would greatly benefit from a good editor because most of it is already really good. It just needs a little more push in my honest opinion in terms of the story, sentence construction, and proofreading. I enjoyed this nonetheless and I would recommend this to people who are interested in science fiction.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lightpoints has one of the most interesting premises I've seen in a while. I don't take on many review requests these days, but I accepted this one because it seemed so different from anything else I'd read -- and I was right!

What I Liked About Lightpoints
-The idea of "touching the light at the end of the tunnel" and then coming back to life with a special ability to sense other people around you as lightpoints is really fascinating, and I think this was well-explored in the book.
-The story followed Amanda as a main character and Herrera as a secondary-main character. Interspersed among their chapters were additional characters with "the sense," and I really enjoyed getting to see glimpses of how other people might interpret and use this gift all over the world.
-This book raised a lot of great questions about life after death, human existence, and what people are willing to do for their lives and the lives of those they love. I got several great discussion topics to share with my husband from the situations that arose in this book.
-The story was fast-paced and kept me reading way past my bedtime. I was eager to know more, and the reading was mostly pretty easy.


What I Didn't Like About Lightpoints
-The story was sometimes SO quickly paced that it felt like things were just... too easy, or there wasn't enough conflict at times.
-Even though there were a lot of existential dilemmas and questions being raised, it sometimes seemed as if these things weren't being taken seriously enough. Like, people who make a pronouncement but then not always stick to their convictions.
-The excessive use of... I don't even know what to call it. Amanda's husband said "babe" at the end of every sentence. Herrera said "mi amigo" at the end of every sentence. Those really could have been cut down by about 90% and it would have been much better.
-Speaking of Amanda's husband, he was the hardest for me to connect with, aside from the artist side of him. He just seemed flippant and like he didn't care about her much. I mean, they're in a life-or-death situation and he says to her, "Love you, babe." Ugh.


Final Thoughts
I think this is another example of a pretty typical indie book: great idea, decently executed, but had the potential to be even better. If you're in the mood for an interesting sci-fi story and can tune out a million "babe"s and "mi amigo"s, then give Lightpoints a shot.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lightpoints was an interesting read for sure! I definitely enjoyed it, especially since it was so unique. I liked the idea behind the story, this ability that I want to call super natural but it isn't really, I guess. But I don't think it's an ability I would ever want to have myself, it sounds overwhelming and like it would take over your life.

Amanda faces death and lives to tell the tale, but she definitely does not come back the same woman. She comes back with the ability to sense all other people as these points of light in her head. Although it gets a little confusing there and it's kind of hard to imagine what the author is describing. They are always referred to as points of light but we are also told they aren't literally points of light and they don't actually see anything. I can understand it, but I can't really envision what it would be like and I wish that had of been a little clearer. But I definitely liked the idea behind it, it was something totally new and it kept me interested and it made for a good read watching her adapt to her new life, how her new ability grew and changed and what she did to cope with her new life.

The other thing that I really liked about this book, was the little side stories. Amanda isn't the only person who finds themselves burdened with this new faculty. Every other chapter or so we get to read about these other people and what they are doing with their abilities. It was incredibly interesting and the diversity it added to the story was fantastic. We got to see how the exact same abilities could be used for good and bad, and how the exact same thing happening to lots of people can bring about so many different results. I think those little side stories made the book, I really do. I often found myself enjoying them more than Amanda's chapters. It got even better when the stories started to intertwine and Amanda finds herself dealing with someone who feels the need to make the most of their ability in a really bad way.

I would recommend this book, it was an light easy read that was very interesting and unique. I did find it a little repetitive at times and maybe sometimes it was a little slow getting to the point, but overall it was a very decent read and I think you should give it a go.

[Tabitha · Rating 2 out of 5]

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Lightpoints was one of those novels that’s hard to review in the fact that it presented a fascinating idea, it just wasn’t executed properly. I loved the idea of lightpoints and near death experiences being related and how those two elements worked together. However, dull writing and two dimensional characters brought the story down from how great it could have been.

I really did love the idea behind the novel; original and exciting there were a lot of places Kassan could have gone with the idea. Kassan did a great job explaining each of the characters near death experiences (NDE’s) and demonstrating the impact such experiences had on the characters lives. While I was fascinated in the beginning I started to loose interest as the novel went on, I found myself frustrated with Chris’s desire to see the lightpoints and the ending just felt a little too easy.

Amanda and Chris were average characters, there wasn’t anything that really stood out to me but there wasn’t anything that really made me hate them either. Even though I didn’t support it, I could understand why Chris also wanted to see the lightpoints and why he thought it was important. I just didn’t support why a person would want to go through multiple near death experiences for the mere experience of seeing lightpoints, no matter how much it would impact a relationship.

The largest reason I had a hard time getting into this novel was the writing. Lifeless and bland I felt highly disconnected from the characters and the plot because the writing just didn’t pull me in the way it was supposed to. Also the constantly changing perspectives, to characters who could see the lightpoints but had no value to the story, was frustrating. I’ll admit, some of the other characters were interesting to read about but, they just didn’t help the story move forward. Throughout the novel I was waiting for all the characters to finally start coming together and have a plot start emerging, but that never really happened.

Overall Lightpoints presented an interesting idea but it just wasn’t fleshed out all the way. With a little editing Lightpoints could be a great novel, it just wasn’t my cup of tea this time around.

[Mary Kirkland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can read most genres of books but it's been a while since I read a book like this one. I haven't really given any thought to near death experiences or what happens when you die. Would you see the bright white light? The tunnel where all your family and friends are supposed to meet you and usher you across to the other side? In this book we get an in depth look at what one author thinks it might be like to have a near death experience and come back...back with with an unusual power. Some use their power for good and some use their new power for bad, very bad.

We meet a lot of different characters who all have had near death experiences and get together to help each other out like a support group would. I liked the inter-dimensional side of this story, learning about so many other people that have to face the same sort of challenges after having a near death experience. Lightpoints is an eye opening read, with accounts from several different people and their experiences with near death experiences. The author made me want to read what the next person had to share and read what their experience had been, as well as follow the main story of Amanda and Chris.

I'm not religious and was happy to see that this wasn't filled with religious quotes, bible thumping or trying to shove the belief that touching the light at the end of the tunnel is like touching god. There were a few religious characters that believed the new gift they brought back with them was a gift from god and they had to pray in order to use their new gifts for good, but what little religious reference there was made it easy to read it and move on ahead to the other story lines.

I really thought I knew how this book was going to end but I was totally surprised to read what the author came up with. I loved the ending of this book.

If you like near death experiences, bad guys, good guys, a slight paranormal feel and a little romance throw in for good measure, you're gonna love this book.

Now if I can just find a near death experience book that takes a look at people who have been to hell and come back. Maybe I've just given Mr. Peter Kassan an idea for his next book?

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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An engrossing and well-written story about Near-Death-Experience (NDE) and a clever play on the premise of 'what if the people who came back from death gained inexplicable powers?'

First off, this book has really great premise! I love the idea of being able to read people's auras or lightpoints even they were a few blocks away. This kind of ability is certainly helpful in so many situations, as demonstrated by Amanda's experiences.

Also, I love how Amanda chose to gradually investigate about her newly acquired sense, rather completely shirk it off because it made her different. She chose to see it as a gift rather than as a curse and I really applaud her for that.

Secondly, I really appreciate that there was a gradual experimentation by different people of what they can do with their new abilities. The explanation of NDE and OBE (Out-of-Body-Experience) was quite vivid that I can clearly imagine it happening.

Story-wise, it was a little dragging. The book allotted quite a lot in explaining and gradually demonstrating the use of powers acquired by people who experienced NDE. At the same time, the story also humanized the characters because they feel emotions such as depression and loneliness after feeling different. Also, I like how the book also showed that the ability cannot be solely explained by one religion as it is also manifested in others.

The ending was quite unexpected though. Personally, Amanda appeared to me as level-headed. She grew up in a loving environment and had a loving husband. I didn't expect her to go on a rampage for revenge, but if I were her, I would have done the same. Sometimes, revenge is the only way to exact justice. Especially since in this story, there was no way for Amanda to get justice through the usual means.

All in all, this one was definitely engrossing. It was a little bit dragging but it was definitely worth reading.

[Kaleena Melotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kassan's book opens on Amanda, the main character, in Grand Central Station when suddenly she realizes something very serious has happened and she is no longer in her body. With a gripping opening, I was glued to this book from the first page. It's an in depth look on what may happen when you have a near-death experience (NDE) and an out-of-body experience (OBE).

Being ripped from the light and brought back to this world, Amanda has gained a new sense of perception. Lightpoints. Seeing peoples energies... giving and taking energy... Does everyone have this ability? On the whole, Amanda's journey to fully discover and hone her newfound ability while trying to navigate her marriage and find more people like her, is a very captivating and intriguing story. I found myself flipping pages to find out what would happen next.

However, there were others in this book who also have the same ability to perceive Lightpoints. Another character is Herrera. He uses his ability in an entirely different manner, and his story also had me flipping pages. He is a strong male leader who is skillful at using his ability to get what he wants. And, if you're not with him, you're against him...

A few smaller characters were touched upon for a chapter or two, and we never saw them again. I feel those characters could have been left out, while further fleshing out the storylines of Amanda and Herrera.

The ending is spectacular. I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, and was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. (I enjoy when the author throws a twist out there - it's so boring to know what's going to happen before it does.)

Overall, this book was a unique and fantastic read that I got swept up in despite a few chapters that I thought were unnecessary. The descriptions of NDEs and OBEs are thought-provoking and really lit up my imagination. It was very much unlike the things I usually read and it was wonderful.

[Tori Ridgewood · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a near-death experience, you find yourself suddenly able to sense the energies of other people around you. Not only that but you're able to manipulate it, draining and giving energy at will. What do you do with this power?

Peter Kassan explores this idea with a great deal of insight and detail in Lightpoints. He draws on different religious and cultural perspectives to explore and explain the "special sauce", how it affects relationships, and how it can be a corruptive influence on those without conscience.

I liked reading this. I found it had a very formal style in both narrative and dialogue that occasionally had me feeling as though I were reading an essay. I liked it when the terminology about the psychic ability changed as different perspectives and experiences were brought in -- new vocabulary relieved the repetitiveness of certain terms. It's a slow boil, quietly ominous, the plot points disturbing and menacing even with the moments of brightness when the focus was on Amanda -- the sense of foreboding created by Kassan overshadowed even that clarity found by the protagonist. The final confrontation between good and evil was incredible, but it was over too quickly. I would have liked to have seen, somehow, an effort by different groups of sensitives to connect, somehow. Like the prayer group making an impact on the psychiatric patients through their collective good intentions…if that phenomenon was in the news, it would have been excellent to see Amanda and Lisa and their friends journey to visit and share their knowledge with them. But maybe that's part of the point -- that the faculty of sensitive awareness is too dangerous when in the wrong hands, in a large group of people.

Even though this is fiction, it reads realistically. It's believable, both in character development and plot. I could see the visuals clearly, and I was disappointed when it ended.

[Bookish Satty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from the author and publisher, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.
Firstly I would like to thank Peter Kassan, author of Lightpoints for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.
Here we are introduced to Amanda and we find her in a dangerous situation where a psychopath stabs her and she is left dying at Grand Central station but she miraculously survives and after a small out of body experience her soul is drawn back in to her body but when she wakes up she finds about a new ability that she has been gifted with. She can see the life form of the living as light points and not only that she can give and take away those life forms as well. This ability surfaces when a person goes through near death experience but not all those people who have developed this ability wants to use it for greater good rather they want to destroy everything and rule over the world. After doing a near death experiment with her husband Amanda helps him to develop the same ability and soon they are threatened by the evil ones. Will they survive this grave danger?
This was an engaging read for me and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the fresh concept and the perfect presentation of it through enriched words. The vivid descriptions of the near death experience scenes and the out of body experience scenes were remarkably well-written and it made the read intriguing. The mystery made the read even more interesting and kept me hooked in the story. Over all this was a very well-written, fast-paced, descriptive and well planned out story which will definitely win hearts. The characterization seemed a bit sketchy and sometimes the dialogues confused me but I liked Amanda’s character though I should mention that Amanda’ s character was also underdeveloped to a certain extent. Other than this I liked the story very much and I bet that you guys will love it as well.

[Fiona Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to dive into Lightpoints by Peter Kassan this weekend while camping. Peter was nice enough to point out that the book would make great summer reading, and he was exactly right. While I was dodging massive amounts of mosquitoes, I was able to inhale this book in less than a day.

Lightpoints starts with the story of Amanda, who was stabbed by a newly-released mental patient in the subway terminal. Amanda experience a NDE or Near Death Experience and saw that she was dying. As people gather around her body to try to save her, Amanda sees people from her past that had died and they're very welcoming to her. She then sees the light and yearns to go towards it. As soon as she is ready to go through the light, she's brought back by a defibrillator. While she's recovering in the hospital, she notices she has a new faculty. She sees what she calls people's "lightpoints", or what I would call auras. She sees the hostility between her husband and her father in their lightpoints, and sees her mother's concern, worry and fear. Amanda now has to learn how to live with this new faculty, and discover what it can do.

Peter Kassan does an excellent job of describing other people that have this faculty after NDE and he does it in a fashion where you don't get bored with the main characters. What the people have discovered with this new sense, as it were, is that it can help or hurt others. Peter's seamless narrative transfers smoothly from the guy who can't get enough of the awesome power of sex, to the prayer group that just wants to help, to the gangster that has a master plan.

I won't go too much further into the book, but I can say that Mr. Kassan has the ability to tell a story about things that may or may not exist, and make them real to the reader.

I highly recommend this book, especially for a summer read.

[Ruth B · Rating 3 out of 5]

After experiencing a near-death experience (NDE) Amanda can sense people's energies. Now, she doesn’t feel like herself anymore, life seems different as well as everyone around her. After meeting with a support group she meets Lisa and somehow she starts to feel back on her track.

This book has a mix of topics, being NDE the first one and the different consequences it may have on people. Also I think is a book about the kind of person we can be if we were given an extraordinary ability. So you could say that is a book a story about good and evil somehow.

The book intercalates Amanda’s story and a few others too. This is great because we get to see what other around the world do with the same ability as her.

The author writes with simple words, the explanations are easy to understand and the descriptions are good enough to let us picture the world as the characters see it.

Amanda and Chris are nice characters, I think you can get to know who they are and also we can learn thing from their past (at least how they met). However, I didn’t like some of the choices they made but mainly because the arguments for them were not valid. And besides Chris seems younger than her even though he is not.

After reading the blurb I was expecting more action. I kept turning the pages, waiting for the paths of Amanda and dangerous people came to a common point but it came to late for me. The book lacks of more action; I would have enjoyed more danger or more encounters with risky situations.

Overall, Lightpoints is a fast book because is easy to read and quite engaging. If you like this topic you should give it a go.

*** I received a copy from the author in exchange of an honest review. ***

[Amber Garr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a very intriguing concept - Near Death Experiences and the after effects of dealing with such an event. Most of the story focuses on Amanda and Herrera - two people who had NDEs and came back with the ability to absorb (and give) their life force from others. And two people who had a completely different way of dealing with their gift. While Amanda struggles with accepting the change, Herrera embraces it and uses his new talents to support his nefarious business dealings. As a character, there is absolutely nothing to like about Herrera - but every book needs its villain. Amanda is more likeable and reasonable, despite all of the hardships she faces. As a whole, this book read well, although the consistent use of "faculty" to describe their gift, had me thinking about academia every time (a side effect from my real-life career no doubt)! I also think the story could have been told without about a third of the book. At times, the author jumps around to different characters and different stories that weren't really relevant to the main plot points. That being said, I found myself guessing what was going to happen next and was anxious to see how all of the stories would come together at the end.

The Good: A different type of story with two solid main characters that demonstrate the different ways people would react to having such a gift in their hands.

The Issue: The ending. I waited and waited for all of the stories to come together, and when Amanda and Herrera's did, it felt rushed and slightly out of character. I would have liked to see more emphasis on joining the plots together earlier and following the outcome after Amanda's confrontation.

The Rating: 3.5 - 4 stars. Intriguing storyline that will keep you guessing.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has me straddling a fence. On the one hand, it’s an original idea, totally unlike any other book I’ve read, and it’s a concept that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. Amanda has an unfortunate brush with death, leaving her with a unique ability to see people’s life force emanating from their bodies. More than that, she finds that she is now able to give or take that energy. It ignited my imagination, and gripped me with its possibilities.

On the other hand, it is seriously lacking in some first person POV. There is a great balance of characters, all discovering what it means to have the “sense” while making different choices on what to do with it, but Amanda is the main character. I really wished that her story was told in first person, so that it would have been easier to connect with her. Instead of relating to her, I saw her as the “info dump”, where the reader was given all of the facts they needed to make sense of the story. Many of her chapters were repetitive and factual, where I would have preferred them to be more emotional, especially considering everything that happens to her. I should have been moved by her story, instead of just intrigued.

Which brings me to the ending of the story. It read like a chapter break, and I’m not sure if there is supposed to be a sequel. With all the side stories, I want to know what happened with them. There are still so many possibilities being left unexplored, so many religious and philosophical questions raised, with very little debate. And so I find myself on a fence, wishing it had been more, while dying to know more.

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[B at Spare Time Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get to meet quite a few characters in this book. It mostly focus's on Amanda and her husband Chris I have always been fascinated by near-death experiences. Working in healthcare I have heard a few of these stories myself. So I was instantly drawn to this book. After a near-death experience herself, Amanda, starts to realize that she has an interesting gift. She can sense if you will, peoples light or their life energy. She soon learns she can give it and take it. As you can imagine, this gift could be used for good and evil. Amanda soon learns that she is not alone in this. Other people also have this gift. Unfortunately for Amanda and Chris things take a turn for the dangerous. Can they survive this? Will they be able to live with their gifts?

I thought Amanda and Chris were a pretty average couple. Not perfect but, they worked. After Amanda realized her gift there was a bit of disconnect with them. The support group was a good idea. After such a traumatic experience I don't blame her for seeking help. I mean getting stabbed and nearly dying is enough to make anyone lose it. It is at this group that she meets others who also see these "lightpoints". She also learns of others who use this power for evil things.

Betrayal, murder, and secrets. Lightpoints will take you on a mysterious and action packed ride. I found it very fresh and new with what is out there. I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of it. Like I said this kind of thing interests me just because of the experiences that I have heard of. This was a fun and fast read and I would definitely recommend it!