foxy_roxy's review
5.0
There is something about Dystopian stories that just call to me. I absolutely loved reading Blind the Eyes by K.A. Wiggins. I loved that it gave me a taste of just what I like.
The story revolves around Seventeen-year-old Cole and all that she has to go through in order to survive the life that she has been dealt with. This was most definitely a book that I thoroughly enjoyed in every way. From the world development – which was astounding, to the character development. And the way in which each character grew and fought to survive.
I loved learning and getting immersed in this world and feeling like I was living and experiencing everything that Cole was going through. I'm glad that I was able to experience this author and her unique writing style. This was a definite 5 Star Book!
The story revolves around Seventeen-year-old Cole and all that she has to go through in order to survive the life that she has been dealt with. This was most definitely a book that I thoroughly enjoyed in every way. From the world development – which was astounding, to the character development. And the way in which each character grew and fought to survive.
I loved learning and getting immersed in this world and feeling like I was living and experiencing everything that Cole was going through. I'm glad that I was able to experience this author and her unique writing style. This was a definite 5 Star Book!
adventureinlit's review
5.0
To start off - I had no idea going into this book that it was a Part I of a series! Now I have to wait until next year to read the next installment which I most certainly will be doing.
When I first started reading this book I had a really hard time grasping onto what was taking place. Wiggins writes the entire story in a "dream-like" descriptive state. You'll understand why here in a moment. There is very little description about the surroundings, with most of the emphasis on thoughts, feelings and only on the immediate interactions.
Cole is a drone worker in a place called Refuge. Everyone in Refuge is conditioned not to have emotions, feelings or even to dream about things. They are told that these dream monsters, the Mara, will eat them if they dream. So, Cole, who is a security technician in Refuge, finds herself tasked to investigate a situation on Floor 16, which is entirely unheard of for someone in her position. As she investigates the floor she finds a body consumed by the Mara. Superior level investigators arrive on the scene looking for her and she escapes into a hallway. As she tries to outrun these men she finds the hidden secrets behind Refuge and the power she has that can save people from the Mara.
Most of the story is spent in suspended animation, a vivid dreamscape sequence of places like Freedom where they dress in vivacious costumes, drink gold flakes and party until they are completely spent. The way Wiggins writes about how the Mara infiltrate dreams and horrifyingly kill those that are dreaming had me in awe.
Wiggins is a truly unique writer that can transport a story into not only a fantasy world, but one that is real in its essence and darkly satisfying at the same time.
Throughout the story, Cole is constantly battling information. She learns something new, challenges the information and over time learns she is far stronger and intelligent than she ever cared to give herself credit for. Oh and did I mention her kick-ass ghost that haunts her? Cadence is her ghost, a subconscious voice that speaks to her, mostly annoying her, but also helping her disseminate information.
I can't wait to read the next installment!
P.S. I highly recommend listening to some appropriate music while reading this book. It assists in creating a feel and ambience for these places you'll be reading about. I found Apocolyptica and dark EDM music to provide the proper setting for me.
When I first started reading this book I had a really hard time grasping onto what was taking place. Wiggins writes the entire story in a "dream-like" descriptive state. You'll understand why here in a moment. There is very little description about the surroundings, with most of the emphasis on thoughts, feelings and only on the immediate interactions.
Cole is a drone worker in a place called Refuge. Everyone in Refuge is conditioned not to have emotions, feelings or even to dream about things. They are told that these dream monsters, the Mara, will eat them if they dream. So, Cole, who is a security technician in Refuge, finds herself tasked to investigate a situation on Floor 16, which is entirely unheard of for someone in her position. As she investigates the floor she finds a body consumed by the Mara. Superior level investigators arrive on the scene looking for her and she escapes into a hallway. As she tries to outrun these men she finds the hidden secrets behind Refuge and the power she has that can save people from the Mara.
Most of the story is spent in suspended animation, a vivid dreamscape sequence of places like Freedom where they dress in vivacious costumes, drink gold flakes and party until they are completely spent. The way Wiggins writes about how the Mara infiltrate dreams and horrifyingly kill those that are dreaming had me in awe.
Wiggins is a truly unique writer that can transport a story into not only a fantasy world, but one that is real in its essence and darkly satisfying at the same time.
Throughout the story, Cole is constantly battling information. She learns something new, challenges the information and over time learns she is far stronger and intelligent than she ever cared to give herself credit for. Oh and did I mention her kick-ass ghost that haunts her? Cadence is her ghost, a subconscious voice that speaks to her, mostly annoying her, but also helping her disseminate information.
I can't wait to read the next installment!
P.S. I highly recommend listening to some appropriate music while reading this book. It assists in creating a feel and ambience for these places you'll be reading about. I found Apocolyptica and dark EDM music to provide the proper setting for me.
faithtrustpixiedust's review
5.0
Actual rating: 4.5
I received a digital review copy from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is in no way influenced by the author, publisher, or distributor.
For fans of Divergent and This Savage Song, Blind the Eyes is a fantasy dystopian post-apocalyptic adventure of dreams, choice, and desire, and the nightmares that feed on us.
The Writing and Worldbuilding
Our protagonist is a shy, hardworking girl just trying to get through probation, so she can become a real worker and earn the golden band that will protect her dreams from the Mara, sinister shadowy creatures who lurk in the darkness of your desires and pose a very real physical threat, but before she can get that, she has to learn to deal with her ghost, Cadence. But then her world completely changes when she finds a dead body and is, strangely, drawn to it, sending her into a world of dreams and nightmares. Now she has to find an ally, someone powerful and capable, to stop the darkness and get the people of Refuge to safety, but she's learning new things about herself and her world, and she doesn't quite know who or what she can trust.
The first few chapters of this were somewhat difficult to get into, and I found myself somewhat confused at first, but once I got into it, I was totally hooked. The writing style is pretty unique, relying heavily on poetic-type prose and metaphorical imagery, which sometimes made what was actually happening a little unclear, but overall was excellent and made for a beautifully told story.
I loved how the world felt very real and unique despite the common aspects it shares with many other YA dystopias and urban fantasies. When it had a chance to break the mold, it did. There are hints of a love triangle, but the story is not very focused on romance, so it didn't bother me at all. The atmosphere was really tangible too, which added a level of realism to this fantastical adventure.
I loved the symbolism, motifs, and themes in this. The similarities and differences between grey Refuge, the oppressive society Cole serves, and the hedonistic, colorful Freedom were masterfully crafted.
The plot twists and character deaths were shocking and effective, and with each chapter, I felt more and more drawn in. I truly enjoyed this.
The Characters
Cole: Cole's arc in this is wonderful, and I sincerely loved her and cared for her as a protagonist. She is caring and clumsy, and more than she seems.
Cadence: Cole's ghost, Cadence, is an imaginative yet determined girl who just wants Cole to think clearly and do what's right for everyone, not just herself. She was honestly so funny sometimes with her snarky commentary, especially about Ravel and Ange, but she proved to be a sincere and wonderful character, who I really cared about.
Ravel: Ravel is honestly so great as a character. He's basically a morally dubious fairy prince who isn't a fairy but is kind of a prince. He's charming, but manipulative, and craves control in all things, a desire that he indulges in Freedom, his little party city, and in his vision of Victoire, his dream of who and what Cole should be.
Ange: She isn't touched on too much in the book, but is definitely an important player in the plot, and will play a key role in the sequel, I'm sure. She's strong and sassy, and fights for what she believes in, despite the cost.
Serovate: His introduction could have been done a tad better, but I did really enjoy his character and the intensity he brought to the story. He was honestly a surprise, and I was really happy with where his character went in the story.
Ash: He was probably the weakest character, but he also wasn't really focused on a whole lot. I liked what he represented in the story though. He was the mcguffin for the most part.
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed this, which is great, because the cover is freaking gorgeous. I am eagerly awaiting the second book, which comes out next year, and I will get my hands on the prequel novella you can get by signing up for the newsletter on K.A. Wiggin's website ASAP.
I received a digital review copy from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is in no way influenced by the author, publisher, or distributor.
For fans of Divergent and This Savage Song, Blind the Eyes is a fantasy dystopian post-apocalyptic adventure of dreams, choice, and desire, and the nightmares that feed on us.
It had been a dream, and dreams lie. Dreams cannot be trusted. Dreams lure you in with promises of your heart's desire, of everything you hope for, of fantasy and fiction made flesh. And then as soon as you reach for paradise, they turn and crush you.
The Writing and Worldbuilding
Our protagonist is a shy, hardworking girl just trying to get through probation, so she can become a real worker and earn the golden band that will protect her dreams from the Mara, sinister shadowy creatures who lurk in the darkness of your desires and pose a very real physical threat, but before she can get that, she has to learn to deal with her ghost, Cadence. But then her world completely changes when she finds a dead body and is, strangely, drawn to it, sending her into a world of dreams and nightmares. Now she has to find an ally, someone powerful and capable, to stop the darkness and get the people of Refuge to safety, but she's learning new things about herself and her world, and she doesn't quite know who or what she can trust.
The first few chapters of this were somewhat difficult to get into, and I found myself somewhat confused at first, but once I got into it, I was totally hooked. The writing style is pretty unique, relying heavily on poetic-type prose and metaphorical imagery, which sometimes made what was actually happening a little unclear, but overall was excellent and made for a beautifully told story.
I loved how the world felt very real and unique despite the common aspects it shares with many other YA dystopias and urban fantasies. When it had a chance to break the mold, it did. There are hints of a love triangle, but the story is not very focused on romance, so it didn't bother me at all. The atmosphere was really tangible too, which added a level of realism to this fantastical adventure.
I loved the symbolism, motifs, and themes in this. The similarities and differences between grey Refuge, the oppressive society Cole serves, and the hedonistic, colorful Freedom were masterfully crafted.
The plot twists and character deaths were shocking and effective, and with each chapter, I felt more and more drawn in. I truly enjoyed this.
"It's okay to want things, Cole. It's okay to go after them, too."
The Characters
Cole: Cole's arc in this is wonderful, and I sincerely loved her and cared for her as a protagonist. She is caring and clumsy, and more than she seems.
"We’re strong, Cole. You just have to stop believing that all your strengths are wrong. Fight back. Stop waiting. Stop looking for someone else to save us. We’re enough, right now, just as we are."
Cadence: Cole's ghost, Cadence, is an imaginative yet determined girl who just wants Cole to think clearly and do what's right for everyone, not just herself. She was honestly so funny sometimes with her snarky commentary, especially about Ravel and Ange, but she proved to be a sincere and wonderful character, who I really cared about.
"Not safe," I say, wondering if only using very short, clumsy sentences is what he means by being special.
Ravel: Ravel is honestly so great as a character. He's basically a morally dubious fairy prince who isn't a fairy but is kind of a prince. He's charming, but manipulative, and craves control in all things, a desire that he indulges in Freedom, his little party city, and in his vision of Victoire, his dream of who and what Cole should be.
I close my eyes. Golden light shines through my eyelids in wavering patterns of red and yellow. Figures dance and sway in the light, dark eyes flashing. I feel Victoire’s eagerness rise as if it were my own. It ebbs almost in the same instant. What do I care for the pulse of a beat, for the eyes of many, for the touch of heat and sweat? That is Victoire’s passion, not mine. I will not succumb. I am not Ravel’s dream of me.
Ange: She isn't touched on too much in the book, but is definitely an important player in the plot, and will play a key role in the sequel, I'm sure. She's strong and sassy, and fights for what she believes in, despite the cost.
Too many children have suffered. Too many families have been broken. Too many girls have grown up alone. Or not at all. I won’t let them ruin anyone else.
Serovate: His introduction could have been done a tad better, but I did really enjoy his character and the intensity he brought to the story. He was honestly a surprise, and I was really happy with where his character went in the story.
Ash: He was probably the weakest character, but he also wasn't really focused on a whole lot. I liked what he represented in the story though. He was the mcguffin for the most part.
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed this, which is great, because the cover is freaking gorgeous. I am eagerly awaiting the second book, which comes out next year, and I will get my hands on the prequel novella you can get by signing up for the newsletter on K.A. Wiggin's website ASAP.
Failure. An echo of the Mara’s voice—or maybe it’s my own—hisses in my ear. No. Not a failure, but . . . not quite finished. I am enough—for now. But I could be more. I want to be more.
zaqlovesbooks's review
5.0
First thanks to the author for giving me a chance to review this . Even though it did take a while...
bookalong's review
4.0
What a spellbinding fantasy!
Ok so I loved the premis for this one. The storyline is complex and cryptic but this made it very enthralling to me. I enjoyed the characters, especially Cole. And the writing was beautiful, what a great debut! Cant wait for more from this author a fellow Canadian!
For more of my book content check out
instagram.com/bookalong
Ok so I loved the premis for this one. The storyline is complex and cryptic but this made it very enthralling to me. I enjoyed the characters, especially Cole. And the writing was beautiful, what a great debut! Cant wait for more from this author a fellow Canadian!
For more of my book content check out
instagram.com/bookalong
arthistorygirl's review
4.0
Blind the Eyes by K.A. Wiggins is the first book in the Threads of Dreams series. This is a YA fantasy novel. I had not read a book by this author before but glad that I have. The book drew me into a different world where I wanted to follow the story. The main characters Cole and Mara are pretty interesting and helped to draw me into the story. One is a girl who is finding her strength and her half dead ghost. There are adventures, challenges, and more. The story draws references to Poe and other writers of the past. I look forward to reading more in this series and introducing girls to the story.
katie_83's review
4.0
Blind The Eyes
By K. A. Wiggins
4 stars
First of I have to say I absolutely love the cover for this book! There is just something about it that drew me to it straight away. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but I couldn’t help myself with this one! This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will admit it’s not my usual genre but I thought I would give it a read. I cannot fault the writing, the way in which the author wrote this book was just beautiful. Her words flowed seamlessly and that made it easy to read. I did find myself a little confused with the storyline at times despite that wonderful writing so whilst the authors writing flowed well the storyline wasn’t quite as seamless.
I did like the characters and their uniqueness; I will say that about the storyline too it’s unlike anything I have read before.
I believe this is the author’s debut novel and she should be proud of the book and characters she has created. I will definitely be looking for more of her work in the near future and look forward to seeing how she develops as an author! This is definitely a good 4 star read!
By K. A. Wiggins
4 stars
First of I have to say I absolutely love the cover for this book! There is just something about it that drew me to it straight away. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but I couldn’t help myself with this one! This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will admit it’s not my usual genre but I thought I would give it a read. I cannot fault the writing, the way in which the author wrote this book was just beautiful. Her words flowed seamlessly and that made it easy to read. I did find myself a little confused with the storyline at times despite that wonderful writing so whilst the authors writing flowed well the storyline wasn’t quite as seamless.
I did like the characters and their uniqueness; I will say that about the storyline too it’s unlike anything I have read before.
I believe this is the author’s debut novel and she should be proud of the book and characters she has created. I will definitely be looking for more of her work in the near future and look forward to seeing how she develops as an author! This is definitely a good 4 star read!
fish3718's review
4.0
Blind the Eyes by K.A. Wiggins an young adult Dystopian Story. K. A. Wiggins does an amazing job of tell the story where you can actually believe everything that is happening is real. Her illustration is remarkable. For me, I could envision where the story was and how it was evolving in the book. The characters were complex and able to fall into their struggles as you were yourself dealing with everything you are reading. This story has everything that you would want in a fantasy story. There are twists and turns and you are blindsided
bwagner's review
4.0
This is my first book by this author, I highly suggest reading it. I enjoyed how she took a paranormal story and add some humor to it among a few other things. I also enjoyed the different characters and the journey of twists and turns they took me on. This book is about hopes and dreams and things not being as they seem. About secrets being exposed that could change things. The characters come alive in nightmares and fight to survive in them. They kept the story engaging and reading.
angelahayes's review
4.0
4 Stars
Blind the Eyes is the first book in the Threads of Dreams Series by K.A Wiggins. This is a wonderfully imaginative and original YA fantasy. It has paranormal elements, as well as post-apocalyptic touches, and a distinct dystopian feel. There is humour, drama and a touch of darkness to the story- which added an extra layer of interest. The author has a definite poetic/lyrical to her writing which gave the story a bit more of an impact on the reader. There were a lot of characters and the story has a lot happening in it. The book is intricately detailed, descriptive and quite complex. Ms. Wiggins continues to weave her world throughout the story. But, because of all these factors, there were some parts that did feel a little busy, or somewhat rushed.
I was intrigued by this adventure and thought this was a great introduction to Ms. Wiggins work, and a creative way to start a new series. I would read the next book/s, to see where the author takes us.
Thank you, Ms. Wiggins!
Blind the Eyes is the first book in the Threads of Dreams Series by K.A Wiggins. This is a wonderfully imaginative and original YA fantasy. It has paranormal elements, as well as post-apocalyptic touches, and a distinct dystopian feel. There is humour, drama and a touch of darkness to the story- which added an extra layer of interest. The author has a definite poetic/lyrical to her writing which gave the story a bit more of an impact on the reader. There were a lot of characters and the story has a lot happening in it. The book is intricately detailed, descriptive and quite complex. Ms. Wiggins continues to weave her world throughout the story. But, because of all these factors, there were some parts that did feel a little busy, or somewhat rushed.
I was intrigued by this adventure and thought this was a great introduction to Ms. Wiggins work, and a creative way to start a new series. I would read the next book/s, to see where the author takes us.
Thank you, Ms. Wiggins!