Distant Memories – J. L. Keathley

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

About to turn sixteen, Jade was looking forward to getting her first car and a little more freedom. Life, however, had a different path in mind. A thirst for blood and newfound fangs exposed a secret world to her… a world hidden from humanity. To leave behind everything she knew and enter The Shadow Realm, she must embark on a fateful journey to uncover the truth about the past, and understand her strange dreams. Daring efforts to unravel her destiny will reveal new powers, new friends, and very real enemies.

The cover of this book is simple, yet hold so much meaning to an important aspect of the story. In some cases, a simpler cover is the better option…this is one of them.

I really wanted to love this story. The idea is amazing! Though, when I began reading, the writing felt very flat. There were so many instances where the author could have shown the reader things rather than simply telling them about it. The book seemed condensed, there were many places where dialogue could have been used or more detail could have been added…but sadly wasn’t. The overall sentence structure made it difficult for me to read at times. I initially had this rated at 2 books…but reading another review changed my mind. The sentence structure could be intentional, depicting how a 16-year-old girl may write in a journal. I also came across spelling, grammar, and punctuational errors…taking away from my focus on the story. The author has assured me they are being corrected and an updated version will be published.  For the errors being corrected and the possibility of purposeful sentence structure, I added a book to my rating.

The characters had great potential, but I did not feel any connection to them. During the story there was no emotion…things were done matter of factly. I want to know how the main character feels, what they are thinking. I need some basis to connect with a character and feel invested in them. As it is now, this story lacks that ability.

For the reasons mentioned above, it feels this story was rushed through editing to be published. It has such great potential but needs some more work. It could be polished and worked on…turned into a great debut novel.

It was not all bad though! I loved the portrayal of the shadow realm. The unique twists on mythical beings were nice. I really enjoyed the backgrounds she gave for each species. There is a hidden mystery about a crescent moon that I solved before it was explained to the reader. It was one of those “I knew it!” moments. I was so happy!This is a coming of age novel that encompasses loss, friendship, fear, and love. There is a budding romance on the edge of this novel…waiting to be written about in the next book. Overall, I did enjoy the idea of this book, it was just difficult to read through at times. I wanted so much more than the book provided. I wanted to be immersed in this realm…but wasn’t. I wanted to feel for the characters…but didn’t. I want more depth to a story and its characters. In the end, I can at least say I enjoyed the book and the theory behind the story.  I will look forward to the sequel…this one leaves off in a perfect spot for one. I hope the sequel is of a better quality.