Teen patron said that she LOVED this book! She felt that the main character's good intentions did not come to fruition - and that this component felt like real life. I'm thrilled that we have a book in this Fantasy genre that kids rave about. ( )

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did! Hunger games combined with demons and other realms. Cera doesn’t know if she’s crazy or if everything she experiences is real. When she’s pulled into a new world, she is still torn by who she discovers she is. She questions her self a lot, but with her new family by her side, she will be able to find a way to stop Sage and save everyone. ( )

As a homeschooling mom, I am always on the lookout for new books for our family, and this Young Adult fantasy novel did not disappoint. The characters and the plot were both well-written. I really appreciated Ceramic as a character.

This book is the first in a series and I look forward to reading more of this series. The idea of messages coming through words of classic literature caught my attention. Perhaps, that is because I love reading.
So check out this book for yourself.

I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review. ( )

This story is an interesting look at a world where a seventeen year old girl has gifts she can’t explain. Her mother knows what’s going on with her daughter but is keeping it from her. Every time Cera has a vision it comes true. I though it was strange that her mother wanted to run each time Cera had these visions.
Cera suddenly is thrust into a dark world that is different from anything she has ever witnessed. These people know she has a gift but I think Cera was fighting it a bit. She wanted to be something she was not gifted as and I wanted her to embrace what was placed in her trust. This poem kept coming up in the story called Paradise Lost by John Milton. I needed to know what this poem was about so I looked it up. I know it was important to this story and my curiosity had me finding the answer. The poem is about the The Fall of Man. It deals with the disobedience of Adam and Eve. The poet wanted to show how man fell and disobeyed God. It opened the door for satan to come in.
After learning this I had to know why Cera kept repeating this poem and what significance it was to her and her vision. The author really grabbed my attention with this mystery of a poem and I couldn’t wait to see where the story would travel to. Cera is in for the fight of her life as her visions become clearer and she has to act on them. The full meaning of the poem will come to light and it brings Cera peace and also knowledge that she will be hunted by those who want to stop her from seeing visions and stopping destruction. There is definitely a spiritual warfare going on and and her friends are in the middle of a battle that has been going on for centuries. The story kinda kept me wondering what happens next so I hope the next book comes out very soon.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

“Hesperian is the closest to family I’ve ever felt. I want to do whatever it takes to keep them safe. No matter the cost.”

Sandra Fernandez Rhoads’ “Mortal Sight” is a fantastic example of why as readers we should step out of our comfort zones once in a while and try something new. Fantasy is not one of my preferred genres, generally speaking, although I will say that this year it is starting to grow on me a bit after reading several incredible books, and when I realized that this particular story is urban fantasy, I confess that I groaned. I am all country; the city holds no appeal for me whatsoever, and now I was faced with a tale that was not only metropolitan but also fantasy? As far as I can recall, this is the first work of urban fantasy that I’ve ever read, and to my surprise, I not only enjoyed it, I loved it!

Had I not known that this was a debut novel, I never would have guessed. Rhoads captures the emotional angst of teenagerhood and builds a fascinating and unique world, a second realm where evil creatures roam. “Mortal Sight” is narrated by main character Cera Marlowe, about to turn 17 at the book’s opening, whose mother keeps her away from people and moves them annually. When Cera runs into Maddox one fateful day, the truth about who and what she is changes her life forever, demonstrating that we all have gifts and talents, whether we realize it or not. Each person has their own skills, and as this novel teaches, we need to use the gifts we’ve been given and not be jealous of or covet what others have.

While not overtly Christian, “Mortal Sight” is a clean young-adult novel that is also fitting for older readers as well. John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” figures prominently in this story, forming a foundation for Rhoads to build upon her in her own twenty-first century way. There is a very clear connection to spiritual warfare and what we see and what we do not. I was engrossed from the very first page and did not want to put this book down! I recommend it to those looking for a clean book that will keep you captivated from the very first page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )