Empath is the first installment of The Flawed series. It was an enjoyable story about people with special abilities that aren’t to the extreme of most books these days. The characters in the book are human with, what Jade calls, “a handicap.” Jade, the main character, is an Empath — someone who can pick up on the emotions of people around her... ( )

Empath by Becca Campbell hooked me from the opening pages. I was quickly drawn into Jade’s world and the characters became my friends too…most of them.

Jade walked into the classroom and it confirmed her reason for online classes. The feelings bombarded her…anger, attraction, excitement. She struggled to maintain a calm appearance. Were they her feelings, or someone else’s?

‘She believed in God…Why had he given her this FLAW?’

Everything changed for her when she met Logan. He calmed her.

Logan, is a professor at the college she was attending and he is a loner, for reasons of his own. He knew he should stay away from her, but we know how that goes. Becca Campbell’s writing drew me to him immediately. There is something special about him and I was as drawn to him as Jade was. She wondered…is he special too, is this the beginning of something wonderful for her, could she have a relationship?

Ethan…Becca draws a vivid picture of him in my mind. I do love a good villain and Ethan fits that picture perfectly. He is a psychopath, feels no fear and has powers of his own. He collects snakes and they are his tools of torture. Serial killers collect trophies and his are especially heinous. His thoughts and fantasies are EVIL, and they are about Jade. He MUST have her.

Cam, poor Cam. He has a huge crush on Jade and I wonder what will become of him. Since a snowboarding accident, he has blackouts that cause a sense of deja vu. I love that Becca describes his senses in depth…every sight, sound and smell, no matter how small.

Jade has more friends with unique powers of their own and they all hold a special place in her world. Why were they chosen? Maybe they weren’t FLAWS. Maybe they were gifts.

When Jade meets ‘Bigfoot’ I was not surprised. I expected it and had hoped it would happen. I think I know his name. Will I be right? We will have to wait and see.

I like how the romance is slow developing, subtle. Do you remember your first love…the butterflies in your stomach, the heat of a blush rising to the surface of your face, the excitement of even a glimpse of him/her, the teasing and playfulness of a conversation? It reads like real life and that makes the story even more believable. The triangle is not really a triangle, but Cam feels like it is.

I guess you can tell I fell in love with the characters. They may be young, but the danger surrounds them as they go about the normal business of life. I usually write more about the action in a novel and the characters just happen to be in the way. Not so with Empath. I am now heavily involved in their lives and will see it through to the end.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Empath by Becca Cambell.

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While the total antithesis of the kind of careless, heartless individual we all love to hate, being an empath for Jade is actually a curse; a curse from which her parents did everything they could to prevent her from suffering. Empaths are those individuals who are strong receivers of the emotions and feelings everyone around them has, which can definitely become overwhelming. Image if you will the kind of feelings and emotions you get when someone dear to you has died. Now multiple that by a hundred; no make it by a thousand and you’ll begin to realize why she considers it to be actually a curse.

Luckily for Jade her parents made sure to keep her as isolated as possible growing up as a child; but at the same time they unfortunately they didn’t do anything in preparing her for the time she might leave the nest to go to college. There, she now needs to learn how to set up some sort of protective barrier from the emotions and feeling those around have. Instead of merely feeling other people’s emotions these emotions are ruling her as she becomes their emotions.

Once Jade started going to class the multitude of emotions from her classmates: nervousness, excitement, rage, fear and frustration made her relatively helpless since she hadn’t developed any sort of barrier to shield herself. Luckily she was able to gather some classmates to help her gather the knowledge she needed to begin to protect herself.

All is comparatively fine, fine that is until a psychopath, named Ethan, develops a fascination for Jade and the feeling of fear she’s constantly emitting because of the lack of control over that emotion. You wind up with a showdown, either Ethan will possess Jade or Jade must use the empathic curse she was born with to overcome him.

This book is full of emotions and is a captivating, fast paced read due to the practically flawless writing of the author for which I given the author 5 STARS. ( )

Empath (Flawed, #1) by Becca J. Campbell

Jade, a college student is not an ordinary young lady. She has a gift of empathy, at times she feels it is a curse. She can pick up on other peoples feelings, so much that she is not certain of her own feelings. She often wonders if they are (the emotions) of those around her.

Now in college she makes some new friends, possibly even a young man in her life. Then Ethan, a psychopath appears. He is obsessed with beautiful Jade, and soon she is in danger. Jade must learn to use her emphatic powers to save herself.

I liked the originality of the story. Using real emotions and fantasy, a fantastic mix to make a fascinating read. Jade is very likable, living a sheltered (home schooled life), we watch her adjust to college life and interacting with her peers. We meet her new friends, see a potential love interest for her as well.

There was a nice mix of drama and suspense to keep me captivated. The impending danger adds spice to the story. Overall I enjoyed Empath and feel that Young Adult, Adults and lovers of fantasy will enjoy this great read. ( )

I have read other books by Becca and this is by far the best. She has an amazing talent for writing human emotion!

This is a superbly written story. The reader is immediately pulled into Jade's world and it's difficult to drag yourself out. The characters are realistic and colorful. I found myself feeling along with Jade and rooting for her too!

I also appreciate how well Becca roots God into the story and the character's lives. He's there but not overwhelming.
A dynamite beginning to this series and I can't wait for the next installment! ( )