Review: Fascinating, unusual and touching story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 14, 2013
In Splintered Energy we are introduced to an interesting cast of characters and the premise of the series, which is fractured light entering humans and starting their long odyssey to reunite and return to their true form.The main strength of this book for me comes from the depiction and development of these characters. It is done in such a vivid and interesting way, through their particular and distinct ways of thinking and speaking, their particular reactions and actions, that each character was perfectly defined and different, making them memorable and impossible to confuse with each other. I love a book where I know from the first words in each scene whose point of view it is because of their particular `voice'.The premise is equally interesting, the light splintering into its rainbow of colors and each one having specific antagonistic or complementary relations with certain hues. The book is not science fiction but rather fantasy, speculative fiction based on this fascinating `what if'. The splintering of light into colors which have personalities and can take over human bodies is placed in a pseudo-scientific context which gives it a gritty air - although it must be said that all other realistic aspects of the story are obviously well-researched and scientifically correct.The struggle of each color to comprehend the world it has been thrown into, to understand humans and their strange habits and emotions, to fit in while searching for the others of their kind - it was all beautifully done. The tension ran high throughout the book, conflicts both internal and external driving the characters all the way to the end. The action sequences were frequent and exciting and the emotional turmoil of the protagonists touching.This author's writing style is quite unique, and I admit this was one of the reasons I enjoyed this book: its uniqueness. The language structure can be complex and occasionally a bit daunting, but the story is well worth it.In conclusion, I highly recommend Splintered Energy to fans of speculative fiction (especially of urban fantasy with an original twist) and to all those interested in good suspense, fast-paced action and psychological drama. This is an author who does not pull her punches and delivers a fascinating, unusual and touching story.4.5 stars.