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Translucent #1
Translucent
When a meteorite falls near her campsite in the San Rafael Wilderness, troubled teen Leona Hewitt ventures down into the crater looking for a souvenir. What she discovers changes her life.
Contained in the meteorite is a sticky, mucous-like fluid that bends light, cannot itself be seen, and seems to grow in the presence of living tissue. It’s drawn to her.
But when a government team arrives in hazmat suits and cordons off the meteorite impact site, Leona questions her decision to take it home with her. For one thing, there are rumors of an extraterrestrial threat.
For another, it has been speaking to her.
It wants to be worn . . . stretched on like a second skin. It’s seeking out her weaknesses, exploiting her deepest fear—that the only boy she’s ever loved will unearth the vile secret in her past and see her as a monster. Now it promises salvation.
It can make her invisible.
Contained in the meteorite is a sticky, mucous-like fluid that bends light, cannot itself be seen, and seems to grow in the presence of living tissue. It’s drawn to her.
But when a government team arrives in hazmat suits and cordons off the meteorite impact site, Leona questions her decision to take it home with her. For one thing, there are rumors of an extraterrestrial threat.
For another, it has been speaking to her.
It wants to be worn . . . stretched on like a second skin. It’s seeking out her weaknesses, exploiting her deepest fear—that the only boy she’s ever loved will unearth the vile secret in her past and see her as a monster. Now it promises salvation.
It can make her invisible.
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 17, 2018
The sticky membrane clamped over my nose and mouth, and for a panicked few seconds, I choked on it. Then it expanded into my lungs and fused to my skin, became one with my body. It was now my skin.
No, Leona, said the voice in my head.
You're now my skin.
What an incredible, unique premise for a YA book. Translucent combines elements of several genres; the story reads like a murder mystery/thriller with young characters and a very dark, eerie sci-fi undercurrent. This combination could have failed spectacularly, but Dan Rix pulls it all together very well. He keeps the YA melodrama to a minimum while playing up the sci-fi mystery.
The story centers on Leona Hewitt, a high school sophomore whose life is haunted by a single, earth-shattering mistake she made several months ago. She finds a meteorite that secretes strange material which can make things - and people - invisible. It also triggers a possessive obsession in Leona and begins to whisper things in her mind. Trying to juggle her guilt, keeping a huge secret, and the eerie alien material spreading through the town, Leona starts to fall apart.
The main character is a slight bit TSTL. She can't keep a secret to save her life, even though in this book her whole life depends on her ability to keep a secret.
But Leona's flaws were easy to overlook, given all the interesting plotlines and excitement. Her viewpoint was gripping because of how guilt-ridden and damaged she is.
I raised my gaze to the mirror, and for the first time in two and a half months, I didn't flinch away.Even if Leona has her moments of idiocy, that's just part of being a normal shithead high schooler. She's darker and more complex than your average YA protagonist.
I had no reflection.
So overall, I just loved Translucent. It's a quick read, you will blow through this book in two hours or less once it hooks you in. Would recommend it to anyone who's tired of the same old premises, tropes, and characters and wants something original.
Want to read
October 28, 2015Dude, I did a double take when I saw the cover of this book which I think is a splitting image of Shattered Blue.
uhh, Both covers are gorgeous, but seriously did they use the same model or what?
uhh, Both covers are gorgeous, but seriously did they use the same model or what?
March 23, 2015
Even if this is meant to be a science fiction novel and aliens and dark matter are an important part of the book. This is a story about GUILT , the kind of consuming guilt that Leona and Megan feel because of a reckless mistake they had made and tried to cover up.
"You want to know what it feels like?It feels like I'm dead inside . Like I'm hollow. That's what it feels like for me, and that's how it's always going to feel."-Leona says.
At the beginning I liked Leona and Megan, but then they started annoying me, making me angry, infuriating me.I could not believe my eyes when I read what those two were getting away with. Both of them were incredibly selfish, insensitive and stupid at the same time; a stupidity that seemed to be contagious to other characters. I wanted them to confess, to pay for it .They were cowards who wanted to go on with their lives regardless of what they had done. They seemed to be suffering ,and they were to a certain extent, but nothing compared with the suffering they had caused .
But then Leona
The subplot about the aliens gets more complicated and plays a very relevant part in the way the novel finally unfolds, although there are times when it seemed irrelevant to me in comparison with the main plot. At the very end there is an unexpected
When I was reading I couldn't tell whether the book was well written or not, I was too irate to judge, I just had to keep on reading .After I finished , I realised that it was indeed a page-turner that will appeal to many YA readers who like sci-fi, paranormal phenomena and atonement.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
"You want to know what it feels like?It feels like I'm dead inside . Like I'm hollow. That's what it feels like for me, and that's how it's always going to feel."-Leona says.
At the beginning I liked Leona and Megan, but then they started annoying me, making me angry, infuriating me.I could not believe my eyes when I read what those two were getting away with. Both of them were incredibly selfish, insensitive and stupid at the same time; a stupidity that seemed to be contagious to other characters. I wanted them to confess, to pay for it .They were cowards who wanted to go on with their lives regardless of what they had done. They seemed to be suffering ,and they were to a certain extent, but nothing compared with the suffering they had caused .
But then Leona
The subplot about the aliens gets more complicated and plays a very relevant part in the way the novel finally unfolds, although there are times when it seemed irrelevant to me in comparison with the main plot. At the very end there is an unexpected
When I was reading I couldn't tell whether the book was well written or not, I was too irate to judge, I just had to keep on reading .After I finished , I realised that it was indeed a page-turner that will appeal to many YA readers who like sci-fi, paranormal phenomena and atonement.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
February 27, 2015
***Since my copy of this book is an ARC, I cannot speak of any errors I may have or may not have found***
While I've heard of Mr. Rix and his work before (I've been on his mailing list for a long time), I'd never gotten the chance to actually read anything by him before. I'm glad this book was my first glimpse into the worlds he weaves.
Translucent follows Leona Hewitt, a teenager with a few secrets that alter her life forever. It also gives the reader in depth glances into the lives of her friends, Megan and Emory. Leona's secrets affect them too.
This book is absolutely amazing. I'm not a big fan of science fiction, but this book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The storyline is so well plotted and developed as are the characters. The story-line is unique and original, I've read a lot of sci-fi (just cause I'm not a big fan doesn't mean I won't read it) and watched a lot of movies and I've never seen this particular scenario played out like this before The reader won't be able to help but fall into this world head first. There's enough spine-tingling things going on to get the heart thumping and the adrenaline flowing, and enough emotions running rampant that the reader will feel like they are watching the scenes unfold like some invisible specter.
I highly recommend this book to any lover of science fiction, especially the kind of aliens, this is sure to be a favorite by many lovers of the genre.
For you cliffhanger haters, be warned there IS a cliffhanger ending that is the lead in to the next book. I, for one, happen to love a good cliffhanger >~.^<
I look forward to the second book in this series, and anything else Mr. Rix decides to toss my way.
I give this book 5 of 5 paws.
While I've heard of Mr. Rix and his work before (I've been on his mailing list for a long time), I'd never gotten the chance to actually read anything by him before. I'm glad this book was my first glimpse into the worlds he weaves.
Translucent follows Leona Hewitt, a teenager with a few secrets that alter her life forever. It also gives the reader in depth glances into the lives of her friends, Megan and Emory. Leona's secrets affect them too.
This book is absolutely amazing. I'm not a big fan of science fiction, but this book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The storyline is so well plotted and developed as are the characters. The story-line is unique and original, I've read a lot of sci-fi (just cause I'm not a big fan doesn't mean I won't read it) and watched a lot of movies and I've never seen this particular scenario played out like this before The reader won't be able to help but fall into this world head first. There's enough spine-tingling things going on to get the heart thumping and the adrenaline flowing, and enough emotions running rampant that the reader will feel like they are watching the scenes unfold like some invisible specter.
I highly recommend this book to any lover of science fiction, especially the kind of aliens, this is sure to be a favorite by many lovers of the genre.
For you cliffhanger haters, be warned there IS a cliffhanger ending that is the lead in to the next book. I, for one, happen to love a good cliffhanger >~.^<
I look forward to the second book in this series, and anything else Mr. Rix decides to toss my way.
I give this book 5 of 5 paws.
September 7, 2015
E.P.I.C. That is all.
August 29, 2017
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
Yeah so I'm leaving this one at a 2-star rating. To say it wasn't my cup of tea is an understatement. The blurb doesn't really give much away but this is the perfect book to freak you out when it comes to being worried about someone being in your house. Whilst I was hooked on the mystery of what on earth the main character had done to cause her so much anxiety and the mystery of this meteorite - a lot happened and nothing, literally, was resolved. I'm creeped out on level ten and strongly do not recommend to anyone who doesn't like creepy horror. Even if it's not intended as horror. *shudders*
Translucent
Ho-ho, so let’s begin the real body of this review. Nothing gets my goat like a book that miss-promotes itself. I believe there is an actual word for that but miss-promotes will do. Why doth my goat be got so badly? Because horror has unwillingly been foisted upon me and I do not appreciate it. It makes me as uncomfortable as the word foisted.
I’m going to promise that this review won’t be horrendously negative but I must get this off my chest so that I can move on with me life. Do forgive me, but also grab a biscuit and maybe tea (or something more adventurous like mango juice) and enjoy this ventilation of angst (and no I will not stop using words wrong).
Translucent is a story about a teen who is more than averagelyf**ked up. From page one until about page 150 (there are approximately 200 pages in this book) mysterious references are made to an event that happened earlier in the year such as: WE SAID WE WOULDN’T TALK ABOUT IT/I CAN’T LOOK ANYONE IN THE EYE/I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID THAT.
Eventually we find out what has happened but in the meantime we concern ourselves with a different plot line. In the middle of the night two girls, Megan and Leona, best friends who fight like a married couple, see a shooting star streak from the heavens and crash-land alarmingly close to them. They do the only thing one would do in this situation: investigate. Upon discovering the crater, Leona (the main character) climbs into it and takes a bit of the meteorite that had broken off (burning her fingers in the process because ouch). Suddenly, special forces descend from the heaven out of what one calls helicopters and zone off the area. The girls slink away and take the meteorite as a keepsake.
Time passes. The gist of the story is that these girls are already freakishly paranoid by the mysterious event that Must Not Be Named and the rock starts to secrete a fluid. Which is kinda gross. In keeping with the title, we discover soon enough that yes, this fluid can make them invisible. A great game to distract them from their moderate-to-severe paranoia/anxiety/stupidity.
You would have thought that was enough of a plot line, right? Yes. But alas, a girl has been killed and when we start to do hypothetical maths along the lines of Leona + paranoia + reluctance-to-drive-car + dead girl + particularly-freaked-by-girl's-brother = they probably ran over the girl. That was my theory in any case. So, meteorite lands, girls have potentially have killed someone, and then a lot of doors mysteriously open and more people die. And that’s my summary of this book.
Horrific Stuff
I just wasn’t anticipating where this book was actually going to go. It had a fabulous cover and that makes me really sad that I didn’t 100% love it. Good covers obviously herald the Best Books Ever, but not in this case. I don’t deal with horror very well, I’ve never managed to sit the whole way through King Kong. The fact that the girls are immature and using the fluid that makes them invisible (which they decide is Dark Matter) to do irresponsible things (such as creeping into people’s houses) and then the book swings from full-blown sci-fi to full-blown paranormal/spooky didn’t sit well with me.
So for the sake of other fellow horror-hating friends out there, let me run down what you’re going to encounter within these 200 pages and then you can prepare yourself:
- Ghosts.
- Ghosts writing messages in fogged up mirrors whilst you’re in the shower.
- People standing invisible in your bedroom watching you.
- People pretending to be ghosts and messing with others.
- Decomposing bodies.
- Well, just one decomposing body.
- 100% tension of OHGODWHATSGOINGTOHAPPEN
- Several doors opening that we swore we left shut.
The problem that I had with this book was then that it was so bloody addictive to read that I had to know what was going to happen. I flew through this book. It’s ridiculously addictive and has you turning the pages like crazy. But also nothing was resolved. Like, literally, nothing is resolved in this book. The only thing that changes from page 1 to page 200 is that we learn exactly what the girls did and why they’re paranoid. I would have liked closure on at least one of the other 600 plot lines.
It’s scary. I know I don’t have anything close to a threshold for horror but damn, you try sleeping after reading a book about people dying and people sneaking into your house invisible to do whatever. About doors open that were definitely closed and poking around graveyards. Somebody desperately needs to amend the blurb; describing Leona as a “troubled teen” is not a sufficient umbrella for what is actually going on here.
Spoilers
So go on then, let’s hear my thoughts on those aspects:
Characters
Just to quickly go over these two: I didn’t like them. Leona was ridiculous. I get that if you were in that situation maybe things would be hard like they are for her. But the way she handles everything was immature and stupid. If you’re that mentally unstable and have a rock that talks to your mind, you should probably seek help.
Megan was unfathomably horrible. What kind of friend exacerbates their friend’s fragile mental state like that?
Emory was weird. He was manipulative and scarily irrational. Was anyone else concerned with how the last portion of the book went for him? Who even does that?
Summary
So look, this wasn’t for me. This is what any review from me would look like if I read horror. I’m just mad that this book doesn’t hint at how horrible the plot gets before you read it. I wouldn’t have touched it with a ten foot pole if I’d known how badly that was going to escalate. If you like horror and ghosts and disgusting stuff, maybe you’ll enjoy it. It’s written quite fine and the plot is catching if lacking in any resolutions. Two stars for keeping me hooked enough to get to the end and enjoying it a tiny bit. But for the most part, it’s a big, fat NOPE from me.
Happy reading!
Yeah so I'm leaving this one at a 2-star rating. To say it wasn't my cup of tea is an understatement. The blurb doesn't really give much away but this is the perfect book to freak you out when it comes to being worried about someone being in your house. Whilst I was hooked on the mystery of what on earth the main character had done to cause her so much anxiety and the mystery of this meteorite - a lot happened and nothing, literally, was resolved. I'm creeped out on level ten and strongly do not recommend to anyone who doesn't like creepy horror. Even if it's not intended as horror. *shudders*
Translucent
Ho-ho, so let’s begin the real body of this review. Nothing gets my goat like a book that miss-promotes itself. I believe there is an actual word for that but miss-promotes will do. Why doth my goat be got so badly? Because horror has unwillingly been foisted upon me and I do not appreciate it. It makes me as uncomfortable as the word foisted.
I’m going to promise that this review won’t be horrendously negative but I must get this off my chest so that I can move on with me life. Do forgive me, but also grab a biscuit and maybe tea (or something more adventurous like mango juice) and enjoy this ventilation of angst (and no I will not stop using words wrong).
Translucent is a story about a teen who is more than averagely
Eventually we find out what has happened but in the meantime we concern ourselves with a different plot line. In the middle of the night two girls, Megan and Leona, best friends who fight like a married couple, see a shooting star streak from the heavens and crash-land alarmingly close to them. They do the only thing one would do in this situation: investigate. Upon discovering the crater, Leona (the main character) climbs into it and takes a bit of the meteorite that had broken off (burning her fingers in the process because ouch). Suddenly, special forces descend from the heaven out of what one calls helicopters and zone off the area. The girls slink away and take the meteorite as a keepsake.
Time passes. The gist of the story is that these girls are already freakishly paranoid by the mysterious event that Must Not Be Named and the rock starts to secrete a fluid. Which is kinda gross. In keeping with the title, we discover soon enough that yes, this fluid can make them invisible. A great game to distract them from their moderate-to-severe paranoia/anxiety/stupidity.
You would have thought that was enough of a plot line, right? Yes. But alas, a girl has been killed and when we start to do hypothetical maths along the lines of Leona + paranoia + reluctance-to-drive-car + dead girl + particularly-freaked-by-girl's-brother = they probably ran over the girl. That was my theory in any case. So, meteorite lands, girls have potentially have killed someone, and then a lot of doors mysteriously open and more people die. And that’s my summary of this book.
Horrific Stuff
I just wasn’t anticipating where this book was actually going to go. It had a fabulous cover and that makes me really sad that I didn’t 100% love it. Good covers obviously herald the Best Books Ever, but not in this case. I don’t deal with horror very well, I’ve never managed to sit the whole way through King Kong. The fact that the girls are immature and using the fluid that makes them invisible (which they decide is Dark Matter) to do irresponsible things (such as creeping into people’s houses) and then the book swings from full-blown sci-fi to full-blown paranormal/spooky didn’t sit well with me.
So for the sake of other fellow horror-hating friends out there, let me run down what you’re going to encounter within these 200 pages and then you can prepare yourself:
- Ghosts.
- Ghosts writing messages in fogged up mirrors whilst you’re in the shower.
- People standing invisible in your bedroom watching you.
- People pretending to be ghosts and messing with others.
- Decomposing bodies.
- Well, just one decomposing body.
- 100% tension of OHGODWHATSGOINGTOHAPPEN
- Several doors opening that we swore we left shut.
The problem that I had with this book was then that it was so bloody addictive to read that I had to know what was going to happen. I flew through this book. It’s ridiculously addictive and has you turning the pages like crazy. But also nothing was resolved. Like, literally, nothing is resolved in this book. The only thing that changes from page 1 to page 200 is that we learn exactly what the girls did and why they’re paranoid. I would have liked closure on at least one of the other 600 plot lines.
It’s scary. I know I don’t have anything close to a threshold for horror but damn, you try sleeping after reading a book about people dying and people sneaking into your house invisible to do whatever. About doors open that were definitely closed and poking around graveyards. Somebody desperately needs to amend the blurb; describing Leona as a “troubled teen” is not a sufficient umbrella for what is actually going on here.
Spoilers
So go on then, let’s hear my thoughts on those aspects:
Characters
Just to quickly go over these two: I didn’t like them. Leona was ridiculous. I get that if you were in that situation maybe things would be hard like they are for her. But the way she handles everything was immature and stupid. If you’re that mentally unstable and have a rock that talks to your mind, you should probably seek help.
Megan was unfathomably horrible. What kind of friend exacerbates their friend’s fragile mental state like that?
Emory was weird. He was manipulative and scarily irrational. Was anyone else concerned with how the last portion of the book went for him? Who even does that?
Summary
So look, this wasn’t for me. This is what any review from me would look like if I read horror. I’m just mad that this book doesn’t hint at how horrible the plot gets before you read it. I wouldn’t have touched it with a ten foot pole if I’d known how badly that was going to escalate. If you like horror and ghosts and disgusting stuff, maybe you’ll enjoy it. It’s written quite fine and the plot is catching if lacking in any resolutions. Two stars for keeping me hooked enough to get to the end and enjoying it a tiny bit. But for the most part, it’s a big, fat NOPE from me.
Happy reading!
February 19, 2016
A great little science fiction read. It starts off cliché, and the protagonist, Leona, annoyed me many times. But the concept of the mythology is very interesting. ‘Translucent’ has been a great introduction into Dan Rix and his writing.
I must admit, the cover is what attracted me to this book – and don’t get confused – there is another novel by Lauren Bird Horowitz with a very similar cover. (Why do publishers do that?) But once I read the blurb, the addition of sci-fi and an alien substance that you can wear –ding- I’m sold and this title was instantly added to my cart for checkout.
Our protagonist Leona. While I loved reading her story and the narrative style, I did not agree with many of her decisions. I understood her reasoning, but her actions had me shaking my head many times – but hey, it made good reading. We see some kind of arc and character development for her, (and then everything is left up in the air.) Leona, is tormented with guilt. With a fantastic back story which is unravelled throughout the course of the novel, you are able to see this history influencing many of her decisions. Even though she is not my favourite character, she is definitely well written.
Megan (the best friend) felt like my best mate. She embodied all the idiocy that we had in high school. And, while not the voice of reason, was genuinely looking out for both her and Leona. I was a little disappointed that her story line had dropped away towards the end. Without Megan ‘Translucent’ would have been considerably less entertaining.
Emory, Leona’s love interest, felt the least convincing character – I felt there was not a lot that justified his actions. Was he sad? Was he a bad boy? Why was he so predatory with Leona? I wanted more insight into his psyche in order to relate to him. Maybe we’ll get more in the following books, maybe we won’t. But I’m on the fence with Emory.
While there is resolution at the conclusion of ‘Translucent,’ I wanted more of a solid ending (though I do like a good cliff-hanger). There was a bit too much left hanging for me to feel totally satisfied – even if it is the first in a series– it’s the first in a four book series (at the time this review is being published.). It was as successful as many other debut novels. But I nonetheless was hooked, and really enjoyed the experience, devouring the novel in a day. I’m planning on reading ‘Of Starlight’ in the next few weeks and see if Dan Rix is going to hook me as another must have author.
It’s something I would recommend, but don’t expect amazing things; though the whole dark matter-invisibility thing is cool.
I must admit, the cover is what attracted me to this book – and don’t get confused – there is another novel by Lauren Bird Horowitz with a very similar cover. (Why do publishers do that?) But once I read the blurb, the addition of sci-fi and an alien substance that you can wear –ding- I’m sold and this title was instantly added to my cart for checkout.
Our protagonist Leona. While I loved reading her story and the narrative style, I did not agree with many of her decisions. I understood her reasoning, but her actions had me shaking my head many times – but hey, it made good reading. We see some kind of arc and character development for her, (and then everything is left up in the air.) Leona, is tormented with guilt. With a fantastic back story which is unravelled throughout the course of the novel, you are able to see this history influencing many of her decisions. Even though she is not my favourite character, she is definitely well written.
Megan (the best friend) felt like my best mate. She embodied all the idiocy that we had in high school. And, while not the voice of reason, was genuinely looking out for both her and Leona. I was a little disappointed that her story line had dropped away towards the end. Without Megan ‘Translucent’ would have been considerably less entertaining.
Emory, Leona’s love interest, felt the least convincing character – I felt there was not a lot that justified his actions. Was he sad? Was he a bad boy? Why was he so predatory with Leona? I wanted more insight into his psyche in order to relate to him. Maybe we’ll get more in the following books, maybe we won’t. But I’m on the fence with Emory.
While there is resolution at the conclusion of ‘Translucent,’ I wanted more of a solid ending (though I do like a good cliff-hanger). There was a bit too much left hanging for me to feel totally satisfied – even if it is the first in a series– it’s the first in a four book series (at the time this review is being published.). It was as successful as many other debut novels. But I nonetheless was hooked, and really enjoyed the experience, devouring the novel in a day. I’m planning on reading ‘Of Starlight’ in the next few weeks and see if Dan Rix is going to hook me as another must have author.
It’s something I would recommend, but don’t expect amazing things; though the whole dark matter-invisibility thing is cool.
April 2, 2022
Leona has a dark secret, and only her best friend knows about it. Her best friend was there with her when it happened, and they've never told a soul. While camping in the wilderness, a meteorite fell to earth, landing near them. Leona went into the crater and retrieved a small fragment of the meteorite.
But was it a meteorite? And why does it feel wet and sticky?
This is a YA novel that ends with a cliffhanger. The e-book is no longer available, but I was able to find a download of it. Dan Rix had some amazing books before they became unavailable. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them.
The writing was great, but the character development of Leona and her friend as well as the relationship between them needed more work. Some of the decisions Leona made were questionable and uncharacteristic for a teenager. They wouldn't tell an authority figure about the meteorite they found in the forest. They would immediately pick up that there was something strange going on, and they'd want to keep it a secret until they figure it out. There were several places in the book that Leona didn't behave like a typical teen.
I also wasn't a fan of the story. I felt like it needed a lot of work. I'm trying to round up all of Dan Rix's novels that I'm missing since he has quite a few I really enjoyed, but this is a series I won't be continuing.
But was it a meteorite? And why does it feel wet and sticky?
This is a YA novel that ends with a cliffhanger. The e-book is no longer available, but I was able to find a download of it. Dan Rix had some amazing books before they became unavailable. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them.
The writing was great, but the character development of Leona and her friend as well as the relationship between them needed more work. Some of the decisions Leona made were questionable and uncharacteristic for a teenager. They wouldn't tell an authority figure about the meteorite they found in the forest. They would immediately pick up that there was something strange going on, and they'd want to keep it a secret until they figure it out. There were several places in the book that Leona didn't behave like a typical teen.
I also wasn't a fan of the story. I felt like it needed a lot of work. I'm trying to round up all of Dan Rix's novels that I'm missing since he has quite a few I really enjoyed, but this is a series I won't be continuing.
March 18, 2018
Young adult science fiction, well done. The author was able to capture the extreme emotions and insecurities of two young girls who not only did something awful by accident, now they have exposed themselves to something very alien. As the story unwinds, it's hard to tell if this 'essence' is alive or not. Lots of subplots going on in the background. Made for a good read. Curious enough now to want to read the next one.
July 14, 2018
Very unique story but very boring also. None of the characters were interesting or developed very well.
January 23, 2016
Imagine a substance that when stretched over an object (or a person) will render it (s/he) invisible. That alone was enough incentive for me to buy this book. I’ve always been fascinated with the concept of invisibility, particularly how individual authors would deal with the specifics and the physics of it. If someone’s invisible but their clothes aren’t, what happens? What happens when the person eats; can the food still be seen? How can an invisible person see if the light passes right through their retinas? Intriguing questions to ponder. So how did author Dan Rix handle them? How did he handle the story?
In a word, brilliantly.
Main character and first-person narrator Leona Hewitt starts the story on a night out camping with her best friend Megan. There’s definitely some tension in the air between them, but a meteor soaring through the air and crashing nearby captures their attention. Leona steps into the crater and retrieves a strange meteorite, almost as if it was calling to her. The rock secretes an oily substance that eventually becomes somewhat sticky, and they ultimately learn it has much more…interesting properties. More on that later.
Meanwhile, Leona and Megan are harboring a terrible secret. An astute reader will quickly figure out the basics of the tragedy, but the details are slowly revealed, which is something the author handled quite effectively. Leona feels tremendous guilt for what happened—that clearly came through in the narration—but as I learned more about the incident, my opinion of her actions waffled. At times, I understood her as a regular naïve teenager in over her head. Other times, I found her and Megan’s actions completely irresponsible. But she wrestled with her conscience, and as that became an underlying theme of the book—more on that later—her inner conflict became more real.
Not too long after the camping trip, the military shows up to ask Leona questions about the incident, to decontaminate her and her room, and to confiscate the meteorite and any residue it may have. Leona suspects that something more is going on with them, and she’s already hiding one secret that she’s afraid will come to light, so she doesn’t tell them the exact truth. They didn’t get all the substance they were collecting, and Leona wants to keep some.
Leona and Megan bring some of the substance to the graduate student older sister of one of Megan’s friends. The physics teacher in me was completed engaged and enraptured by discussion of the refractive index of the material and the theory that it’s dark matter—the hypothetical invisible matter that comprises a majority of the matter in the universe. Whether or not that’s what the material turns out to be in the later books in the story, I applaud the author for enough of a plausible explanation that has enough correct physics and fits the needs of the story.
The girls learn that the substance can be stretched and wrapped around things, both inorganic and organic, and before long, they’re using it on themselves. The scene when Leona first becomes completely invisible is vividly and viscerally described. It’s a slow process, and watching it happen is both horrifying and fascinating to her—and reading about it is is just as horrifying and fascinating.
Invisibility can help Leona disappear and hide from her secret. Invisibility can help Leona figure out what the military might be up to. Invisibility can help Leona keep an eye on brooding senior boy Emory Lacroix, who is intertwined in some of the subplots in this book. Though she can’t bring herself to reveal her secret, invisibility might be a path to redemption. Invisibility could become like an addiction, and Leona could find herself compelled to be that way often.
The dark matter wrapping itself around Leona and rendering her invisible works on a deep, symbolic level. We wear our baggage like a second skin, and sometimes if we don’t reveal our inner dark side, it can consume us. Or maybe we need to escape from it and not be seen. But the invisibility is also a great story device. Its extraterrestrial origin makes it both extraordinary and sinister, and I found myself unable to put the book down. The plot threads weave together like invisible tendrils twisting and turning, and though I sometimes figured some things out mere pages before Leona did, there were still several unexpected twists and turns.
And the ending? OH MY! I’ve commented in a previous review how cliffhangers must be earned by first closing some story or character arc. No problem there—I felt there was more than satisfactory wrapping up of the primary conflict. Then the final moment came, juxtaposed with what preceded it, and my mind was blown. I've already started reading book two, Of Starlight, and no substance from the stars can make book one's FIVE STAR review invisible.
In a word, brilliantly.
Main character and first-person narrator Leona Hewitt starts the story on a night out camping with her best friend Megan. There’s definitely some tension in the air between them, but a meteor soaring through the air and crashing nearby captures their attention. Leona steps into the crater and retrieves a strange meteorite, almost as if it was calling to her. The rock secretes an oily substance that eventually becomes somewhat sticky, and they ultimately learn it has much more…interesting properties. More on that later.
Meanwhile, Leona and Megan are harboring a terrible secret. An astute reader will quickly figure out the basics of the tragedy, but the details are slowly revealed, which is something the author handled quite effectively. Leona feels tremendous guilt for what happened—that clearly came through in the narration—but as I learned more about the incident, my opinion of her actions waffled. At times, I understood her as a regular naïve teenager in over her head. Other times, I found her and Megan’s actions completely irresponsible. But she wrestled with her conscience, and as that became an underlying theme of the book—more on that later—her inner conflict became more real.
Not too long after the camping trip, the military shows up to ask Leona questions about the incident, to decontaminate her and her room, and to confiscate the meteorite and any residue it may have. Leona suspects that something more is going on with them, and she’s already hiding one secret that she’s afraid will come to light, so she doesn’t tell them the exact truth. They didn’t get all the substance they were collecting, and Leona wants to keep some.
Leona and Megan bring some of the substance to the graduate student older sister of one of Megan’s friends. The physics teacher in me was completed engaged and enraptured by discussion of the refractive index of the material and the theory that it’s dark matter—the hypothetical invisible matter that comprises a majority of the matter in the universe. Whether or not that’s what the material turns out to be in the later books in the story, I applaud the author for enough of a plausible explanation that has enough correct physics and fits the needs of the story.
The girls learn that the substance can be stretched and wrapped around things, both inorganic and organic, and before long, they’re using it on themselves. The scene when Leona first becomes completely invisible is vividly and viscerally described. It’s a slow process, and watching it happen is both horrifying and fascinating to her—and reading about it is is just as horrifying and fascinating.
Invisibility can help Leona disappear and hide from her secret. Invisibility can help Leona figure out what the military might be up to. Invisibility can help Leona keep an eye on brooding senior boy Emory Lacroix, who is intertwined in some of the subplots in this book. Though she can’t bring herself to reveal her secret, invisibility might be a path to redemption. Invisibility could become like an addiction, and Leona could find herself compelled to be that way often.
The dark matter wrapping itself around Leona and rendering her invisible works on a deep, symbolic level. We wear our baggage like a second skin, and sometimes if we don’t reveal our inner dark side, it can consume us. Or maybe we need to escape from it and not be seen. But the invisibility is also a great story device. Its extraterrestrial origin makes it both extraordinary and sinister, and I found myself unable to put the book down. The plot threads weave together like invisible tendrils twisting and turning, and though I sometimes figured some things out mere pages before Leona did, there were still several unexpected twists and turns.
And the ending? OH MY! I’ve commented in a previous review how cliffhangers must be earned by first closing some story or character arc. No problem there—I felt there was more than satisfactory wrapping up of the primary conflict. Then the final moment came, juxtaposed with what preceded it, and my mind was blown. I've already started reading book two, Of Starlight, and no substance from the stars can make book one's FIVE STAR review invisible.
August 17, 2015
I had so much I wanted to say about Translucent, and how Dan Rix is an amazing author, but I saw Summer Jane's review on amazon, and freaked out...that's exactly how I felt!! Soooo goood!
Translucent is a thrilling adventure that had me on the edge of my seat at times but never feels rushed or cliche and it's definitely not dull in any way. At all.
Okay, so, you know how many, many books in this genre have fallen prey to the "insta-love" or "this thing that is happening is magical or scientific, but we're not going to explain it and we don't have to, just accept that it's magical and move on" tropes? Translucent doesn't have either one of those things. The story is haunting, gripping, and you really, reeeeeeally want to understand what's really happening underneath the surface. At times I thought I knew what was going on, but couldn't quite put my finger on it and I was really pleasantly surprised by that. I really, really loathe how so many authors today seem to drop heavy clues along the way of their "mystery" and you've figured out in chapter 6 what's going to happen in chapter 38 and it's just annoying because I want to be taken on that characters journey. Discover it with them. Dan Rix does exactly that.
Also, can I just say that I also really just adore how the main character in the book isn't some amazing person with an amazing destiny and journey because she was created by a special star and she, and only she, is the only person who can stop the world from coming to a horrible, crumbling end? Yeah, I really adored that. I could feel her hesitation, her fear, her frustration. Not to say at times I didn't want to slap some sense into her, but the point is: I can easily see a real person making these decisions. She wasn't some girl who always made the right choices or someone who was the savior of the world but "just didn't know it or believe it yet!", and that truly (TRULY, people!) made me happy.
I don't know how he wrote from the point of view of a teenage girl so well, but he did/does and it's fantastic. There's just enough science-y jargon to make it believable (I won't do any spoilers) but some of the things I was sitting there going, "Well, for sci-fi, this honestly doesn't seem that far fetched. Actually, it seems pretty downright scary."
So, if you're looking for a read to suck you in and take you on an adventure, you're headed in the right direction. Be warned, though. There are parts of this book that are really quite dark and sad. The mystery uncovers as you read on through the second book and a lot more things come to light. It's well, well worth it. Now I'm just waiting on book 3. I MIGHT DIE WAITING. So, you know, if I do, someone please read book 3 at my grave because I REALLY NEED TO KNOW.
Translucent is a thrilling adventure that had me on the edge of my seat at times but never feels rushed or cliche and it's definitely not dull in any way. At all.
Okay, so, you know how many, many books in this genre have fallen prey to the "insta-love" or "this thing that is happening is magical or scientific, but we're not going to explain it and we don't have to, just accept that it's magical and move on" tropes? Translucent doesn't have either one of those things. The story is haunting, gripping, and you really, reeeeeeally want to understand what's really happening underneath the surface. At times I thought I knew what was going on, but couldn't quite put my finger on it and I was really pleasantly surprised by that. I really, really loathe how so many authors today seem to drop heavy clues along the way of their "mystery" and you've figured out in chapter 6 what's going to happen in chapter 38 and it's just annoying because I want to be taken on that characters journey. Discover it with them. Dan Rix does exactly that.
Also, can I just say that I also really just adore how the main character in the book isn't some amazing person with an amazing destiny and journey because she was created by a special star and she, and only she, is the only person who can stop the world from coming to a horrible, crumbling end? Yeah, I really adored that. I could feel her hesitation, her fear, her frustration. Not to say at times I didn't want to slap some sense into her, but the point is: I can easily see a real person making these decisions. She wasn't some girl who always made the right choices or someone who was the savior of the world but "just didn't know it or believe it yet!", and that truly (TRULY, people!) made me happy.
I don't know how he wrote from the point of view of a teenage girl so well, but he did/does and it's fantastic. There's just enough science-y jargon to make it believable (I won't do any spoilers) but some of the things I was sitting there going, "Well, for sci-fi, this honestly doesn't seem that far fetched. Actually, it seems pretty downright scary."
So, if you're looking for a read to suck you in and take you on an adventure, you're headed in the right direction. Be warned, though. There are parts of this book that are really quite dark and sad. The mystery uncovers as you read on through the second book and a lot more things come to light. It's well, well worth it. Now I'm just waiting on book 3. I MIGHT DIE WAITING. So, you know, if I do, someone please read book 3 at my grave because I REALLY NEED TO KNOW.
July 9, 2015
After reading Mr. Rix's novel Broken Symmetry, I immediately subscribed to his mailing list. It then led me one evening to actually read my email and come across an opprotunity to recieve an ACR copy of his new novel, Translucent, in exchange for an honest review. So let's get into it.
The story is set in Santa Barbara and told by teenager Leona Hewitt who, at the start of the story, already has a huge problem causing some tension between her and her best friend Megan. First off, I loved the way this dark secret was revealed piece by piece instead of all at once or in a prologue like other stories might have, it keeps you wanting to read just to find out what it was. My first thought was Pretty Little Liars and the Jenna Thing, but that's not really fair to always draw back to PLL.
I'll admit, I questioned Leona's actions and more times than none I found myself asking what the hell she was doing but hey, that's teenagers for you. For some odd reason, I wanted her to stop trying to be a matyr and get away with what she had done, but I suppose it is good she did the right thing.
Another thing I really enjoyed about the books I've read so far of Rix's, is how the romance isn't over the top, the main focus or cringeworthy. I might've missed something in Translucent however, because I feel the two main characters romance was very rushed, if not unneeded, and threw the male's (Emory Lacroix) character halfway out the window. One minute he's dark, brooding
All in all, I really did enjoy the book. The sci-fi explainations don't go way over your head, the dialogue between charcaters earned a couple heartfelt laughs, and the sheer mystery of the whole story will keep you wanting to read on. The ending (warning, major cliffhanger guys) set up an undeniable craving for the next book in the series which I look forward to reading.
The story is set in Santa Barbara and told by teenager Leona Hewitt who, at the start of the story, already has a huge problem causing some tension between her and her best friend Megan. First off, I loved the way this dark secret was revealed piece by piece instead of all at once or in a prologue like other stories might have, it keeps you wanting to read just to find out what it was. My first thought was Pretty Little Liars and the Jenna Thing, but that's not really fair to always draw back to PLL.
I'll admit, I questioned Leona's actions and more times than none I found myself asking what the hell she was doing but hey, that's teenagers for you. For some odd reason, I wanted her to stop trying to be a matyr and get away with what she had done, but I suppose it is good she did the right thing.
Another thing I really enjoyed about the books I've read so far of Rix's, is how the romance isn't over the top, the main focus or cringeworthy. I might've missed something in Translucent however, because I feel the two main characters romance was very rushed, if not unneeded, and threw the male's (Emory Lacroix) character halfway out the window. One minute he's dark, brooding
All in all, I really did enjoy the book. The sci-fi explainations don't go way over your head, the dialogue between charcaters earned a couple heartfelt laughs, and the sheer mystery of the whole story will keep you wanting to read on. The ending (warning, major cliffhanger guys) set up an undeniable craving for the next book in the series which I look forward to reading.
June 23, 2016
(I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways. Review may contain spoilers.)
Translucent tells the story of Leona and Megan, two teenage girls who find a meteorite in the woods. The girls discover a substance on the meteorite that gives them the power of invisibility, which naturally they use to get themselves into and out of various sticky situations. Meanwhile, the girls are wracked with guilt over something terrible that they did at the beginning of the summer...
I really liked the way these two separate threads of story were woven together. The guilt over what happened eats away at Leona and drives the two friends apart. Then they gain this ability to become invisible, which seems to cause more problems than it solves. I actually thought that the way the invisibility was handled was fairly realistic (such as the fact that people can still hear you when you're invisible!) The sense of mystery and tension continues throughout the book, always making you want to know more.
There were some aspects of the book that I found quite frustrating. At some points we have otherwise intelligent characters acting unnecessarily stupid in order to advance the plot (looking at you, Sarah the grad student!). The love interest (?) Emory is thoroughly repulsive, the other guy Andrew is a close second, and the two of them together seem poised to form an unnecessary love triangle which I hope doesn't actually happen. And the story doesn't end so much as it just...stops, with no resolution and very few answers to all of the questions raised.
The non-ending of Translucent seems like a cheap way to get people to read the next book in the series, but I must admit that it worked, for me at least. I am engrossed enough in the mystery of the meteorite that I want to read on and find out more, and look forward to enjoying more of the genuinely tense writing. Final rating: 3.5/5
Translucent tells the story of Leona and Megan, two teenage girls who find a meteorite in the woods. The girls discover a substance on the meteorite that gives them the power of invisibility, which naturally they use to get themselves into and out of various sticky situations. Meanwhile, the girls are wracked with guilt over something terrible that they did at the beginning of the summer...
I really liked the way these two separate threads of story were woven together. The guilt over what happened eats away at Leona and drives the two friends apart. Then they gain this ability to become invisible, which seems to cause more problems than it solves. I actually thought that the way the invisibility was handled was fairly realistic (such as the fact that people can still hear you when you're invisible!) The sense of mystery and tension continues throughout the book, always making you want to know more.
There were some aspects of the book that I found quite frustrating. At some points we have otherwise intelligent characters acting unnecessarily stupid in order to advance the plot (looking at you, Sarah the grad student!). The love interest (?) Emory is thoroughly repulsive, the other guy Andrew is a close second, and the two of them together seem poised to form an unnecessary love triangle which I hope doesn't actually happen. And the story doesn't end so much as it just...stops, with no resolution and very few answers to all of the questions raised.
The non-ending of Translucent seems like a cheap way to get people to read the next book in the series, but I must admit that it worked, for me at least. I am engrossed enough in the mystery of the meteorite that I want to read on and find out more, and look forward to enjoying more of the genuinely tense writing. Final rating: 3.5/5
March 30, 2015
Leona Hewitt has secrets to hide and the strange meteorite she and her best friend, Megan, found in the San Rafael Wilderness is just one of them. The longer Leona holds on to the little rock, the more possessive she is about it. And then she realises that the strange gooey stuff that rolls off the rock can make her invisible.
As much as I love Dan Rix (his writing, I mean), I have to say that this one didn't quite cut it for me. Maybe because Leona Hewitt is the kind of girl that I avoid in real life. Maybe because this alien-type premise doesn't always do it for me. But hey, it's a Rix, right?
It felt like there was too much build up over "the secret" (I know what you did last summer, anybody?). After a while, I was like, just tell me already and stop hinting. You know, because this is just a little too much. It also segues off into something vaguely like a ghost story towards the end, and I really don't like ghost stories (A little of a Pretty Little Liars premise going on there, I think - not that I ever watched the whole series, only the first one or two shows.)
Still, I'm curious to know what happens in the next book. Because I still think it's highly unlikely it's going to be a ghost story.
*I received a free copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review
As much as I love Dan Rix (his writing, I mean), I have to say that this one didn't quite cut it for me. Maybe because Leona Hewitt is the kind of girl that I avoid in real life. Maybe because this alien-type premise doesn't always do it for me. But hey, it's a Rix, right?
It felt like there was too much build up over "the secret" (I know what you did last summer, anybody?). After a while, I was like, just tell me already and stop hinting. You know, because this is just a little too much. It also segues off into something vaguely like a ghost story towards the end, and I really don't like ghost stories (A little of a Pretty Little Liars premise going on there, I think - not that I ever watched the whole series, only the first one or two shows.)
Still, I'm curious to know what happens in the next book. Because I still think it's highly unlikely it's going to be a ghost story.
*I received a free copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review
November 8, 2016
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway and the following is my review of: Translucent by Dan Rix. This is an incredibly fascinating book especially for teen readers. Leona and her best friend are camping in the San Rafael Mountains near their homes in California. They wanted to be alone to talk over a tragedy that had occurred involving them. But, that night a meteorite hit earth less than half a mile from where they were camping! Leona went down into the whole and grabbed a piece of the meteorite. Before they were away from the hole , they heard helicopters coming. Hiding they watched as it looked like a hazmat crew descended from the coptors. It wasn't hazmat people, though, it was the Government. Were they in trouble for going near and into the meteorite hole? What about the other tragedy that involved them; what's all that about? And what about the missing girl, Ashley Lacroix, who has a sleepwalking problem? Where could she possibly be? As if Leona doesn't have enough problems on her hand, now she is beginning to feel a strange attachment to the piece of meteorite. She can't go anywhere without it or she begins to fell.....strangely anxious! This all happens at the beginning of this great novel. A perfectly wonderful read for 13 years and up. This is Book One and Book Two is: Of Starlight. VERY ENTERTAINING!
July 20, 2015
I got this book free from a goodreads giveaway.
It took me a while to get into. At first I thought I wasn't going to like it at all. But once I got about 5 chapters in I couldn't stop. The characters are really typical teenagers but the all around concept keeps it interesting. I don't know if it was the story that kept me reading or the way it was written. I'd finish a chapter and go "Okay just one more and then I'm going to sleep" and before I knew it I was at the end of the book. I will definitely be looking up the second one.
It took me a while to get into. At first I thought I wasn't going to like it at all. But once I got about 5 chapters in I couldn't stop. The characters are really typical teenagers but the all around concept keeps it interesting. I don't know if it was the story that kept me reading or the way it was written. I'd finish a chapter and go "Okay just one more and then I'm going to sleep" and before I knew it I was at the end of the book. I will definitely be looking up the second one.
November 18, 2015
A highly unusual storyline and well written. The book opens up with two bits of information: an asteroid crashes near a camp site, and the two girls who witness the crash have a dark secret of their own. From there on, the intensity ratchets up as the story toggles between the secret of the girls and the secret of the asteroid. I highly recommend this series. Warning: if you are one of those people who get all uppity about cliff-hanger endings, you have two choices: don't read the first book or buy the whole series at once. I'd recommend the second action.
April 13, 2015
Mind bender
Dan Rix has created an unbelievably twisted tale that has even my scientist brain thinking "what if". I was able to read a pre-release of the second book in this series and man, hold on to you seats folks! This ride gets crazy! I cannot wait for the third book to be written (and I typically get board after the first two books in a series), so if you want to read a little sci-for al la classic X-Files, Translucent is the way to go!
Dan Rix has created an unbelievably twisted tale that has even my scientist brain thinking "what if". I was able to read a pre-release of the second book in this series and man, hold on to you seats folks! This ride gets crazy! I cannot wait for the third book to be written (and I typically get board after the first two books in a series), so if you want to read a little sci-for al la classic X-Files, Translucent is the way to go!
September 7, 2015
This picks up slow with a few misused words (a "by" that should be "my", both are glaring on pages 1 and 9), but from there it picks up into a story that's both decent, and original; and one that never fully settles; making me wonder which direction both of the sequels will go. It was completely different from most other novels in the genre; and allowed you to pass through the story fairly quickly. Overall, it was worth the read.
December 12, 2015
I received Translucent for free through a Goodreads giveaway.
And it was awesome.
The story follows two friends who share the burden of a secret. It seems it will tear apart their friendship or already has. Things start to pick up for the two girls once an asteroid hits their nearby camping spot and an intense adventure unfurls.
I loved the writing style and the characters. I was surprised and taken with the story line. I'm looking forward to checking out the next book in the series.
And it was awesome.
The story follows two friends who share the burden of a secret. It seems it will tear apart their friendship or already has. Things start to pick up for the two girls once an asteroid hits their nearby camping spot and an intense adventure unfurls.
I loved the writing style and the characters. I was surprised and taken with the story line. I'm looking forward to checking out the next book in the series.
Read
November 3, 2015I received this book off of the Goodreads Giveaways. First of all, the cover was very eye-catching, which was what prompted me into entering the giveaway in the first place. The book is very well thought out and the plot is well developed, as are the characters. The novel was highly interesting and I am sure to go in for a second read!
August 28, 2015
I read this book like an anxiety attack. Everything was all over the place, the thoughts of the main character was filled with so much guilt and anxiety, I could barely detect the plot. This wasn't something good as a light read. Would never recommend.
April 3, 2015
Despite a supremely, superbly annoying ending, this had proper thrillingly terrifying scenes for the unwary teen. Recommended, if you've got the next one to hand - it's one of those that needs the follow-on so you can... er... follow on.
Want to read
January 13, 2016
VS.
Cover Battle!
May 25, 2015
This was a good book. It's different from any story I've read & that's harder for me to find these days. When you think you know where the story's going from the beginning, as in the case with this book, it's nice to be surprised.
July 13, 2016
I read a bit over half of this book and just could not finish it. I hated the two female characters. They are the type of girls I would have punched in the throat when I was in high school. I thought this would be a good read, but I was way wrong.
June 17, 2016
This book was written amazingly. Some books you can predict what is going to happen next, not with this book. it had me on the edge of my seat. i thouroghly enjoyed it. I am currently reading the second book, in this series.
March 31, 2015
Not a bad book but a little to dark for my tastes.
April 2, 2015
Another great book by Dan Rix. Just the right amount of suspense to keep me going, to wonder what is going to happen next.
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