Dark Visions: The Strange Power / The Possessed / The Passion
by L. J. Smith
Dark Visions (Collections and Selections — 1-3)
On This Page
Description
Kaitlyn Fairchild and her psychically gifted companions are pursued by the evil Mr. Zetes, who is determined to capture their souls.Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
(Lol, do you guys like how I'm just randomly doing a bunch of book thought blogs? I'm being a book omnmonmoner right now.)
So, as opposed to doing these books one at a time, I thought that I would just wait until I finished the trilogy and write up my thoughts on them as a whole. Let me start off by saying that L.J. Smith is one of my favorite authors. Honestly, as a teenager I read The Forbidden Game Trilogy over and over again until I wore my book out. It was fun, after not having read her for a few years to take a step back and read some of her books again.
Let me start out by saying that I really do love the plotline of these books. Without ruining anything for anyone (because I know quite a few people probably haven't read these show more books, so I won't be so spoiler-y here). It's got a great pace, especially if you purchase the 3-in-1 collection so you can sit down and take it all as one bigger book as opposed to 3 much shorter ones. The pacing is done really well. To give you a nice, brief overview of the story.... let's see.
In book one, The Strange Power, we meet our central characters. Kaitlyn Fairchild is a teenager who sees the future via her drawings. She is, of course, beautiful but an outcast amongst her community. She is approached by a woman named Joyce Piper who wants to take her to the Zetes Institution, a place where she can learn to use and control her powers. Of course, she goes (because how fun would the book have been if she'd just said no and stayed home?), and meets the other characters in our little storyline. Rob, the 'good guy' character of the book who is a healer. Anna, her dark haired friend who can communicate with animals, and Lewis, who has PK.
And then, of course, there is Gabriel Wolfe.
He's your typical bad boy, but he has such a good story behind his actions. Again, trying not to give away too much here.
The Institute is run by a man names Mr. Zetes, whose motives are figured out later to be something not so pure as simply helping them to discover their powers. The events after they find this out and decide to do something about it span over the next two books (The Possessed, The Passion). To sum it up... we have an amazing fight, wonderful romance, betrayal, sabotage and a very spicy love triangle!
>_> There, heh. I think that was a good little summary going on here. Honestly, this book is full of enough twists to make it interesting, even if it is a little bit of a generic teenage SP book.
The only thing that I wish is that, perhaps, the books had been a little longer so that L.J. Smith could have explored and developed her characters to a fuller extent. I think that's the trouble with some of the shorter teen books - authors are forced to rush themselves to get to the end of their story without the novel becoming so lengthy that it isn't appealing to the targeted group anymore. However, there's enough spice and life in the characters that the book is still wonderful.
Maybe it's just me, a fan of the series, wanting more?
Still, I'd really say they're excellent books to read - give it a 9/10 easily. :3 Go pick them up (or buy them on ebay for 5 bucks like I did.)
(Full Review can be found http://wp.me/p4eQRH-U here) show less
So, as opposed to doing these books one at a time, I thought that I would just wait until I finished the trilogy and write up my thoughts on them as a whole. Let me start off by saying that L.J. Smith is one of my favorite authors. Honestly, as a teenager I read The Forbidden Game Trilogy over and over again until I wore my book out. It was fun, after not having read her for a few years to take a step back and read some of her books again.
Let me start out by saying that I really do love the plotline of these books. Without ruining anything for anyone (because I know quite a few people probably haven't read these show more books, so I won't be so spoiler-y here). It's got a great pace, especially if you purchase the 3-in-1 collection so you can sit down and take it all as one bigger book as opposed to 3 much shorter ones. The pacing is done really well. To give you a nice, brief overview of the story.... let's see.
In book one, The Strange Power, we meet our central characters. Kaitlyn Fairchild is a teenager who sees the future via her drawings. She is, of course, beautiful but an outcast amongst her community. She is approached by a woman named Joyce Piper who wants to take her to the Zetes Institution, a place where she can learn to use and control her powers. Of course, she goes (because how fun would the book have been if she'd just said no and stayed home?), and meets the other characters in our little storyline. Rob, the 'good guy' character of the book who is a healer. Anna, her dark haired friend who can communicate with animals, and Lewis, who has PK.
And then, of course, there is Gabriel Wolfe.
He's your typical bad boy, but he has such a good story behind his actions. Again, trying not to give away too much here.
The Institute is run by a man names Mr. Zetes, whose motives are figured out later to be something not so pure as simply helping them to discover their powers. The events after they find this out and decide to do something about it span over the next two books (The Possessed, The Passion). To sum it up... we have an amazing fight, wonderful romance, betrayal, sabotage and a very spicy love triangle!
>_> There, heh. I think that was a good little summary going on here. Honestly, this book is full of enough twists to make it interesting, even if it is a little bit of a generic teenage SP book.
The only thing that I wish is that, perhaps, the books had been a little longer so that L.J. Smith could have explored and developed her characters to a fuller extent. I think that's the trouble with some of the shorter teen books - authors are forced to rush themselves to get to the end of their story without the novel becoming so lengthy that it isn't appealing to the targeted group anymore. However, there's enough spice and life in the characters that the book is still wonderful.
Maybe it's just me, a fan of the series, wanting more?
Still, I'd really say they're excellent books to read - give it a 9/10 easily. :3 Go pick them up (or buy them on ebay for 5 bucks like I did.)
(Full Review can be found http://wp.me/p4eQRH-U here) show less
This is the third L.J. Smith series I've read and I am seeing the pattern here. Young girl with paranormal powers falls in love with - no - finds eternal, all-consuming, soul-mate in the guise of a noble, handsome, well-intentioned boy only to have her world rocked when she meets another otherwordly beautiful angsty boy tortured by his past, and his prediliction to giving in to the dark side of his nature.
Okay - what could be better than that? The author really has a talent for bringing to life these sexy bad boys, and building up the tension between them, even as the girl fights her own growing attraction for the darkness in these boys she is trying to save.
This book didn't engage me as much as The Forbidden Game, or the Vampire show more Diaries series, but it was still fast-paced and she created interesting moral dilemmas for the characters to overcome.
And now, as a native Oregonian, I have to go off on a rant. Her depiction of the Oregon Coast as they fled up the coast highway in their flight to find the white house in their vision quest irked me. Yeah, okay, the ocean is cold, and fierce, and grey, and filled with dangerous undertows as the waves crash against the foresty black rock cliffs, but if she had only been to the coast on the one day each year that it actually is sunny, she would have had a totally different impression. It's really quite beautiful when the sun comes out for that hour or two. show less
Okay - what could be better than that? The author really has a talent for bringing to life these sexy bad boys, and building up the tension between them, even as the girl fights her own growing attraction for the darkness in these boys she is trying to save.
This book didn't engage me as much as The Forbidden Game, or the Vampire show more Diaries series, but it was still fast-paced and she created interesting moral dilemmas for the characters to overcome.
And now, as a native Oregonian, I have to go off on a rant. Her depiction of the Oregon Coast as they fled up the coast highway in their flight to find the white house in their vision quest irked me. Yeah, okay, the ocean is cold, and fierce, and grey, and filled with dangerous undertows as the waves crash against the foresty black rock cliffs, but if she had only been to the coast on the one day each year that it actually is sunny, she would have had a totally different impression. It's really quite beautiful when the sun comes out for that hour or two. show less
'Dark Visions' is a book I could have plowed through in a long weekend if I had the drive and energy to commit to this 700 page saga that follows Kaitlyn Fairchild and friends up the coast of North America on a road trip to find themselves. Only instead of some sort of post High School coming of age tale you get 5 teenagers on the run from adults trying to exploit their psychic powers. 'Dark Visions' is composed of three novels, 'The Strange Power','The Possessed' and 'The Passion' and came out well before my time of reading YA Paranormal, I think I was 10 when the trilogy was first released and it totally glows with it's era.
Honestly, the writing wasn't horrible and was easy to read and follow, like I said, if I had the drive, I could show more have gotten through this in a long weekend. It's good fluff to fill a few afternoons if you like ya paranormal romance. The characters were alright, the plot moved along well enough and a love triangle that didn't annoy the ever living pants off me. It had it's perfect fairy tale ending. The groups telepathic web was used well through out the book and was one of the redeeming features for me.
The Cover: So 'Dark Visions' is a trilogy under one revamped cover, one that follows the tradition of black, lots of it, with the profile of Kaitlyn bathed in light. The print is pink, a nice change from the norm. In fact, I find the whole cover a vast improvement from the ones the individual books were released with in the mid nineties. I can deal with the girl on the cover looking nothing like the Kait Fairchild I imagined from the text because if there is any real tragedy it was the covers from before. Google them, you'll see, they embody the nineties all too well.
The Characters: Aside from Gabriel and Kait, I felt as if Rob, Anna and Lewis were just static and stock characters. They were only valuable when the plot needed to move forward, key moments like crossing the boarder or finding a house via bird were Lewis and Anna's shining moments. Rob, I felt, could have been so much stronger but only served as a foil for Gabriels dark and brooding presence, another love interest for Kait. Descriptions for Rob and Gabriel wore me thin. I grew tired of how golden and and sweet as a lightly toasted marshmallow roasted to perfection Rob was, just as much as I rolled my eyes at how dark and pale Gabriel looked, a fallen angel.
He Said, She Said: The pairings were to be expected because L.J. Smith clearly sets it up from the get go that Choice A is Rob, Choice B is Gabriel. Honestly, Gabriel and Kait ending up as the books Alpha pairing was my favorite choice given Rob's development as a character. It's the 'everyone finds true love in the end' that left the funny taste in my mouth. I never once thought of Anna and Rob being the Beta Couple, but it's how it turns out. The two didn't really even have shining moments and I didn't or wouldn't suspect that they had a 'thing' for each other until the third book when they hugged and had an awkward moment that followed. It just seemed forced and tacked on.
Take a Look Through My Eyes: 'Dark Visions' does 3rd person point of view and follows Kait around most of the time. From time to time, it switches to Gabriel for a few pages, but not a whole lot gets revealed through him aside from his attraction to Kait, so for me, Gabriels' POV seemed almost useless to telling the story and perhaps could have been left out entirely as I was able to pick up on his attraction to Kait well enough without him saying so on his own. In 'The Passion', we follow Rob around for a few pages and were able to get a better grasp on his crush on Anna, which I wasn't aware of until that moment, sans the one moment they had gotten food for the group and came back laughing in high spirits, but that's neither here or there.
I'd recommend 'Dark Visions'' to anyone who's grown tired or needs a break from all the Vampires and Werewolves, or to anyone who enjoyed L.J. Smith's other works like 'The Vampire Diaries' or 'Night World'. show less
Honestly, the writing wasn't horrible and was easy to read and follow, like I said, if I had the drive, I could show more have gotten through this in a long weekend. It's good fluff to fill a few afternoons if you like ya paranormal romance. The characters were alright, the plot moved along well enough and a love triangle that didn't annoy the ever living pants off me. It had it's perfect fairy tale ending. The groups telepathic web was used well through out the book and was one of the redeeming features for me.
The Cover: So 'Dark Visions' is a trilogy under one revamped cover, one that follows the tradition of black, lots of it, with the profile of Kaitlyn bathed in light. The print is pink, a nice change from the norm. In fact, I find the whole cover a vast improvement from the ones the individual books were released with in the mid nineties. I can deal with the girl on the cover looking nothing like the Kait Fairchild I imagined from the text because if there is any real tragedy it was the covers from before. Google them, you'll see, they embody the nineties all too well.
The Characters: Aside from Gabriel and Kait, I felt as if Rob, Anna and Lewis were just static and stock characters. They were only valuable when the plot needed to move forward, key moments like crossing the boarder or finding a house via bird were Lewis and Anna's shining moments. Rob, I felt, could have been so much stronger but only served as a foil for Gabriels dark and brooding presence, another love interest for Kait. Descriptions for Rob and Gabriel wore me thin. I grew tired of how golden and and sweet as a lightly toasted marshmallow roasted to perfection Rob was, just as much as I rolled my eyes at how dark and pale Gabriel looked, a fallen angel.
He Said, She Said: The pairings were to be expected because L.J. Smith clearly sets it up from the get go that Choice A is Rob, Choice B is Gabriel. Honestly, Gabriel and Kait ending up as the books Alpha pairing was my favorite choice given Rob's development as a character. It's the 'everyone finds true love in the end' that left the funny taste in my mouth. I never once thought of Anna and Rob being the Beta Couple, but it's how it turns out. The two didn't really even have shining moments and I didn't or wouldn't suspect that they had a 'thing' for each other until the third book when they hugged and had an awkward moment that followed. It just seemed forced and tacked on.
Take a Look Through My Eyes: 'Dark Visions' does 3rd person point of view and follows Kait around most of the time. From time to time, it switches to Gabriel for a few pages, but not a whole lot gets revealed through him aside from his attraction to Kait, so for me, Gabriels' POV seemed almost useless to telling the story and perhaps could have been left out entirely as I was able to pick up on his attraction to Kait well enough without him saying so on his own. In 'The Passion', we follow Rob around for a few pages and were able to get a better grasp on his crush on Anna, which I wasn't aware of until that moment, sans the one moment they had gotten food for the group and came back laughing in high spirits, but that's neither here or there.
I'd recommend 'Dark Visions'' to anyone who's grown tired or needs a break from all the Vampires and Werewolves, or to anyone who enjoyed L.J. Smith's other works like 'The Vampire Diaries' or 'Night World'. show less
Kait is tired of being an outsider so she agrees to part of a research program, for a chance to get out of her small town and learn to control her powers. Unfortunately Kait and her new friends learn that the program is not all that it seems.
I liked the plot but the only characters the author really developed were Kait and Gabriel. Ray was slightly more developed then Anna and Lewis but only slightly. I liked Gabriel and Kate but I really liked Anna and Lewis and wished they had been a more developed. They seemed like they had a lot of potential to be interesting characters.
The book is a good paranormal read but there isn't a lot of depth here and it really isn't incredibly original. Many of L.J. Smith's are really very similar.
I liked the plot but the only characters the author really developed were Kait and Gabriel. Ray was slightly more developed then Anna and Lewis but only slightly. I liked Gabriel and Kate but I really liked Anna and Lewis and wished they had been a more developed. They seemed like they had a lot of potential to be interesting characters.
The book is a good paranormal read but there isn't a lot of depth here and it really isn't incredibly original. Many of L.J. Smith's are really very similar.
Kait is tired of being an outsider so she agrees to part of a research program, for a chance to get out of her small town and learn to control her powers. Unfortunately Kait and her new friends learn that the program is not all that it seems.
I liked the plot but the only characters the author really developed were Kait and Gabriel. Ray was slightly more developed then Anna and Lewis but only slightly. I liked Gabriel and Kate but I really liked Anna and Lewis and wished they had been a more developed. They seemed like they had a lot of potential to be interesting characters.
The book is a good paranormal read but there isn't a lot of depth here and it really isn't incredibly original. Many of L.J. Smith's are really very similar.
I liked the plot but the only characters the author really developed were Kait and Gabriel. Ray was slightly more developed then Anna and Lewis but only slightly. I liked Gabriel and Kate but I really liked Anna and Lewis and wished they had been a more developed. They seemed like they had a lot of potential to be interesting characters.
The book is a good paranormal read but there isn't a lot of depth here and it really isn't incredibly original. Many of L.J. Smith's are really very similar.
Summary:
In this trilogy of "The Strange Power", "The Possessed", and "The Passion" leads the reader on a journey as lead character Kaitlyn and her friends, all with psychic powers, escape from a school everyone thinks it is to teach them how to use their powers. The owner of the school tries to use as powerful crystal on the students amplifying their powers and turning them evil for his use. During the many twist and turns the teens become homeless and receive help in strange ways from the evil doctors daughter and a cult of crystal worshipers. In the end a friend the teens thought they lost to the dark side saves them all from becoming evil with a shard of a crystal from the cult people, thus destroying the evil doctors show more crystal.
Personal Reaction:
I loved this series when I first read it because I am drawn to fantasy books that make you think there might be unknown abilities of the mind. These books open up a world of possibilities and what if which keep you reading on the edge of your seat. I also enjoyed the good versus evil tug of war and how the teens make stand their ground against the adults for what's good.
Classroom Extension:
1. I think this would be good read for junior high/ middle school in class readings and would spark classroom discussions of good versus evil and standing up for what you believe in, even to adults.
2. I would have my students do some creative writing of their own and have them write a short story that fits into the fantasy genre. show less
In this trilogy of "The Strange Power", "The Possessed", and "The Passion" leads the reader on a journey as lead character Kaitlyn and her friends, all with psychic powers, escape from a school everyone thinks it is to teach them how to use their powers. The owner of the school tries to use as powerful crystal on the students amplifying their powers and turning them evil for his use. During the many twist and turns the teens become homeless and receive help in strange ways from the evil doctors daughter and a cult of crystal worshipers. In the end a friend the teens thought they lost to the dark side saves them all from becoming evil with a shard of a crystal from the cult people, thus destroying the evil doctors show more crystal.
Personal Reaction:
I loved this series when I first read it because I am drawn to fantasy books that make you think there might be unknown abilities of the mind. These books open up a world of possibilities and what if which keep you reading on the edge of your seat. I also enjoyed the good versus evil tug of war and how the teens make stand their ground against the adults for what's good.
Classroom Extension:
1. I think this would be good read for junior high/ middle school in class readings and would spark classroom discussions of good versus evil and standing up for what you believe in, even to adults.
2. I would have my students do some creative writing of their own and have them write a short story that fits into the fantasy genre. show less
This book is a recipe for trite stereotypes and weak writing. That Kaitlyn and Gabriel ended up together while discarding Rob like a used tissue was BULLSHIT.
I ABSOLUTELY HATE WHEN AN AUTHOR PAIRS EVERYONE TOGETHER. FUCK THAT NOISE.
You disappoint me, LJ Smith. Finish the last book of Night World already.
I ABSOLUTELY HATE WHEN AN AUTHOR PAIRS EVERYONE TOGETHER. FUCK THAT NOISE.
You disappoint me, LJ Smith. Finish the last book of Night World already.
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
97+ Works 50,618 Members
Series
Work Relationships
Contains
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Dark Visions: The Strange Power / The Possessed / The Passion
- Original title
- Dark Visions
- Original publication date
- 1994
- People/Characters
- Kaitlyn Fairchild
- Important places
- California, USA
- Dedication
- [The Strange Power] For Max, who brought sunshine
[The Possessed] For Rosemary Schmitt, with thanks for all her good wishes and support
[The Passion] For Pat McDonald, editor extraordinaire, whose keen insight helped shape my visions, and whose boundless patience allowed me to perfect them. - First words
- [The Strange Power] You don't invite the local witch to parties.
[The Possessed] "Hurry!" Kaitlyn gasped as she reached the top of the staircase.
[The Passion] A dog barked, shattering the midnight silence. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)[The Strange Power] And when she looked into Rob's golden eyes, she knew that it was going to be all right.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)[The Possessed] As a ray of sun broke through the clouds, it flashed like diamond.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)[The Passion] "That's it! Hold that smile!" Lewis shouted, and snapped their picture.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Teen, Young Adult, Fantasy
- DDC/MDS
- 813.54 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PZ7 .S6537 .D — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 1,721
- Popularity
- 12,851
- Reviews
- 16
- Rating
- (3.92)
- Languages
- English, French, Polish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 5