Ignite the Shadows Ingrid Seymour *Review & Giveaway with Xpresso Book Tours*

Click on the banner to check out the other stops!

Ignite The Shadows by Ingrid Seymour

(Ignite The Shadows #1)

Published by: HarperVoyager

Publication date: April 23rd 2015

Genres: Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

*I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest and fair review*

Review

After devouring the first installment of the Morphid Chronicles, I had high expectations for Ignite the Shadows—because Wow. The MORPHID CHRONICLES (jaw-dropping, seriously. I loved it. You can check out my review of Keeper here)....which is probably why I was in such a state of upheaval for the first eighth of the story.

I'll be frank: I was so excited to get started I forgot to re-read the synopsis before I dove in ^_^', and because of this, I had little to no idea what was going on with Marci for the first five or so chapters. It was frustrating. So...read that synopsis, and keep in mind that Marci is infected, and the shadows are real! 

You're going to love this book.

World

Ingrid Seymour has a knack for creating believable, uber-cool and uber-creative 'species'. I was really impressed by the level of scientific explanation given for the Shadows' existence, especially because she integrated it with somewhat fantastical elements. Get excited. It's stellar :).

Characters

In the beginning of the story, Marci wasn't very likeable. Sure, she could hack—cool. Karate skills? Way cool. But her attitude problem, combined with her occasional bouts of irrationality (emotionally contradictory), got under my skin. As I got to know her, though, she really grew on me, and by the end, I loved her. She was unreasonable at times, but she had a lot of spirit.

As for the other characters, well...sometimes they left me scratching my head. I had trouble understanding most of their personalities and motives, never really sure if they were acting. This was especially true of Luke (sure that was intentional, so ok), James (ridiculously tight-lipped level: secret agent), and Aydan (bi-polar?). While a brilliant way to showcase Marci's lack of trust in others—and create suspense/sustain tension—it was grating at times.

Plot

There were moments I flipped pages madly and moments where I meandered, but overall, I really enjoyed the story and I think you will, too. Two things I want to highlight: choices and secret-keeping.

You always have a choice. Yet Marci frequently employs “what choice do I have” thinking to justify her next step(s).

Used once or twice, I guess I could see it, but Marci used it so many times it became an excuse rather than a legitimate plot device. I'm not saying the circumstances weren't tense or serious or undemanding of attention and/or action; it was that her justification of her own involvement, when prefaced with this statement, became questionable. Almost as if it undermined the events themselves, if that makes sense.

For curious people who NEED to know why *raises hand*, Ignite the Shadows is somewhat unkind. As the story progresses and more information is laid out it gets better, but I had some serious struggles with the answer withholding. If I was in Marci's shoes, I don't know that I could've trusted James. Kudos to her for braving the open sea during a storm...and kudos to you if you can make it through without berating Marci in your mind (or aloud).

Overall

Ingrid Seymour is incredibly  talented. I'll be snatching up her work in the future; she's secured a spot on my list of favorite YA Urban Fantasy authors :)!

Final Verdict: 

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Marci Guerrero is one of the best teen hackers in Seattle. However, she’d give up all her talents to know she isn’t crazy.

Marci feels possessed by what she perceives as shadowy spectres that take control of her body and make her do crazy things. While spying on the clandestine group known as IgNiTe, she’s confronted by the leader, James McCray. His presence stirs the spectres inside her brain into a maddening frenzy. Her symptoms and ability to control them don’t go unnoticed by James, who soon recruits her and shows her the awful truth.

Half of the world’s population is infected by sentient parasites. They bind themselves to the human brain and replace the pathways for all thoughts and actions. The creatures then morph their hosts into grotesque monsters with extraordinary strengths. Winged, clawed, fanged half-humans become living nightmares. Now Marci wishes she was crazy, because the truth is worse.

She’s infected.

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon |

About the Author

Ingrid Seymour is the author of IGNITE THE SHADOWS (Harper Voyager, April 23rd, 2015). When she’s not writing books, she spends her time working as a software engineer, cooking exotic recipes, hanging out with her family and working out. She writes young adult and new adult fiction in a variety of genres, including Sci-Fi, urban fantasy, romance, paranormal and horror.

Her favorite outings involve a trip to the library or bookstore where she immediately gravitates toward the YA section. She’s an avid reader and fangirl of many amazing books. She is a dreamer and a fighter who believes perseverance and hard work can make dreams come true.

She lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband, two kids and a cat named Mimi.

**Interested in learning more about Ingrid? Check out today's tour stops: a guest post on A Book Addict's Book Shelves and an interview on Got Nikki?

| Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

| Website |

Giveaway Time (:

IGNITE THE SHADOWS ebook + $25 Amazon Gift Card

INTL. Must be 13+ to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway