The Gift (Enhanced Ebook Edition)
Andrea J. Buchanan
Publisher: Open Road Media
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1453220232
ISBN-13: 978-1453220238
Kindle ASIN: B006X7ZU2C
This reviews the media-added ebook version of a tale originally released by Open Road Media last year, in which a young woman named Daisy discovers she has electrically charged powers. Managing those powers and keeping them secret has ended up getting her in trouble and shuttled from school to school. Being asked by one of her teachers to help out a fellow student named Vivi forces her hand, as Vivi claims to have a guardian angel who feeds of Daisy’s energy. Eventually Daisy’s best friend gets pulled in, as well as the teacher’s assistant Kevin, to who Daisy finds herself mysteriously attracted. What follows is a mystery of dreams, past lives, and breaking free to build one’s own future. There are really two strong plots here – Daisy, Vivi, Danielle and the past lives dreams mysteries is one, and a girl with electrical powers struggling to have a boyfriend and a normal life as the other. Daisy’s powers, while part of what it takes to get the past lives story moving, feels forced at points though overall its a fun journey.
The multimedia additions to the ebook include a diary from Danielle’s POV, lyrics for the two songs that character Kevin has written in the book (along with posts to YouTube videos of the songs from the book written composed by Fredrik Larsson, also known as FreddeGredde), and an illustrated version of the past life story as drawn by Alexis Seabrook. The illustrated story brings together pieces of art scattered throughout the actual novel and fills in the gaps nicely, and is the best part of the additions. The idea of adding the videos and the songs fits the plot as the YouTube videos are mentioned in the book as well. Though the different point of view of Danielle is worth a read, to just present it in another bright pink handwritten looking font feels a bit gimmicky. The extras felt as if they would have been a much tighter presentation if just the videos and illustrated story.
Book Description from the Publisher, Open Road Media
High school sophomore Daisy Jones is just trying to get by unnoticed. It doesn’t help that she’s the new girl at school, lives in a trailer park, and doesn’t even own a cell phone. But there’s a good reason for all that: Daisy has a secret, unpredictable power—one only her best friend, Danielle, knows about.
Despite her “gift” (or is it a curse?), Daisy’s doing a good job of fitting in—and a cute senior named Kevin even seems interested in her! But when Daisy tries to help Vivi, a mysterious classmate in a crisis, she soon discovers that her new friend has a secret of her own. Now Daisy and her friends must deal with chilling dreams and messages from the beyond. Can Daisy channel the power she’s always tried to hide—before it’s too late?
Disclosure: A free copy of this book was furnished by the publisher for review by the publisher, but providing a copy did not guarantee a review. This information is provided per the regulations of the Federal Trade Commission.
