I Like These Books: Shade by Jeri Smith

Shade (Shade #1) by Jeri Smith - Ready
336 Pages (Paperback)
Simon Pulse
May 4, 2010

*Thanks to Simon Pulse and Big Honcho Media for sending me a copy to review

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

(From Goodreads)

Wow. I have heard so much about this series, and it has been on my to-read list since I first heard about it. I was so happy to finally read it, and boy did I like it.

Shade follows Aura, a girl born in the first minute after the Shift took place. The Shift is the mysterious event that caused each new child to be born with the ability to see, hear and interact with ghosts. No one knows why the Shift took place, but most people like Aura wish it never did. She is harassed by ghosts in any place that isn't blackboxed (repels ghosts) and doesn't see anything good in her ability. That is until her boyfriend, Logan, dies tragically just minutes after his birthday. Suddenly her ability is the only thing that keeps their connection alive, even though Logan is no longer. Soon Aura finds herself stuck in between the past and present, and worrying about her future.

Filled with twists, complications and a fast-paced plot, Shade is the start to a trilogy you don't want to miss.

Literally from the first page, this novel grabbed my attention and held it way past the very last page. I loved all the characters, they were each likable, entertaining and different in their own way. Even Logan, who royally pissed me off some times (Team Zachary all the way!), I accepted as a great character.

I also really enjoyed the plot. It was paced perfectly: not too fast, but not too slow. It was also different from your run of the mill ghost story. Although there are ghosts in this story, I wouldn't classify it has a traditional "paranormal" novel. I don't know how to truly express what I mean, other than to say it was seemed very realistic and it wasn't a "scary" ghost story. I also appreciated how the author wove in elements about megalith structures (such as Newgrange and Stonehedge) into the fantastical plot. That was something fun, new and surprisingly, pretty educational.

I'm not going to spoil anything here, but Oh. My. Ending! Can you say cliffhanger? It was so freaking good. I was dying for the next book, Shift (lucky for me, I already had it on stand by). So here's a word of advice- have Shift handy when you finish Shade because there is no way you will be able to function regularly without the next installment in this trilogy. Needless to say, I would definitely recommend this one!