Dark Visions: The Strange Power, The Possessed, The Passion by L.J. Smith

Kaitlyn Fairchild has never felt like she belongs. In her hometown, people keep away from her unusually eyes and drawings of horrible scenes that always come true. So when she’s offered the opportunity to leave home and study at the Zetes Institute in California for psychics, she accepts. At least there, she’ll have the chance to meet other people like her and not always be the outcast. And she isn’t disappointed. Studying and living with four fellow teen psychics opens Kait’s world to all new possibilities like friendship and even love. But just as she discovers these joys, she also learns of the true nature of the Institute and what’s been planned for her and her new friends. Kait must figure out who she can trust if she’s to save herself and her friends from ultimate destruction.

Dark Visions contains three juicy paranormal reads bound in one book, and I have to say, I quite enjoyed them. Strange as it is, I have never read anything by Smith prior to this, but Dark Visions has won me over. Smith proves herself a master storyteller, adept at manipulating plot and inter-character connections to create a satisfying and thrilling story. In all three books, there is no shortage of action, deceit, and romantic tension. The numerous twists and turns kept me interested in the story, but the friendship and romance really brought it to life for me because it showed the main characters’ capacities to love. For the most part, the characters were realistic although Gabriel’s deeply conflicted nature was difficult to believe at times. As a whole, the entire supernatural angle of this story was thoroughly exciting and very original, and I loved reading about Kait and her friends’ lives and backgrounds just as much as I did about their psychic adventures. Dark Visions holds a thrilling trio of paranormal action and romance stories sure to enthrall readers.

This novel will be enjoyed by fans of The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, the Midnighters trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, and Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster UK