Blur by Steven James | RE: View + Winner

When reality becomes unclear, Daniel Byers starts to question everything. Emily Jackson's body was found at Lake Algonquin and something strange started to happen to Daniel when he attended her funeral. He saw her, or a vision of her, and his world began to blur. Now, he's focused on why he saw her and what it may mean. As Daniel and his friends look into Emily's death, they start to believe that it may be more than an accident.

I enjoyed the beginning to this young adult trilogy created from the mind of talented author Steven James. Mystery surrounds the death of the introverted high school student, Emily Jackson, and things become increasingly more unclear as the book progresses and Daniel starts to see things that aren't there. Or are they? 

I like the approach James took to this book and the thought provoking questions he brings up about reality, spirituality, and where they meet. I feel as if James really captured the mind and actions of a teen boy living with his father, going to high school, and hanging out with his friends. 

I will say, however, that I expected...more? More action, more suspense, and more of a cohesiveness to the writing. I love other books I've read by Steven James and this seem to not quite make the bar set by his other books. Some portions felt repetitive and at times I felt the writing was almost too simple. 

That said, I'd still definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy young adult literature. James brings up some amazing points and deals with them in a practical, not-preachy way. It would be a good book for "actual" young adults to read (versus adults who enjoy young adult literature) and could open up doors for great conversation with teens.

Purchase Blur (Blur Trilogy)

Book Description
(from Amazon)

The isolated town of Beldon, Wisconsin, is shocked when a high school freshman’s body is found in Lake Algonquin. Just like everyone in the community, sixteen-year-old Daniel Byers believes that Emily Jackson’s death was accidental. But at her funeral, when he has a terrifying vision of her, his world begins to rip apart at the seams.

Convinced that Emily’s appearance was more than just a mere hallucination, Daniel begins to look carefully into her death, even as he increasingly loses the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality.

What’s real? What’s not? Where does reality end and madness begin?

As Daniel struggles to find the truth, his world begins to crumble around him as he slips further and further into his own private blurred reality.

Full of mind-bending twists and turns, Blur launches a new trilogy of young adult thrillers from Steven James, a master of suspense.

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own. 

Last week I had the privileged to have author James Burd Brewster on the blog and he was gracious enough to offer up a few giveaways of his children's books! We have two winners today...

Kara Peck and Chickie Brewer

Congrats!!! I'll get in contact with you soon to arrange for you to receive your books! 

And remember readers, I've still got my *BIG* End-of-Summer GIVEAWAY going as well! Check out my Facebook Page or visit this post to entree for a chance to win one of 5 prizes (including signed copies of some of my favorite books from this summer's reading!).