Review: Shattered Dreams - Ellie James

Shattered Dreams by Ellie James, published by Quercus on 5th July 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Trinity has never known who she really is. Strange dreams haunt her nights, and she has always been able to sense things that others can't. When Jessica, the most popular girl at school, disappears, Trinity realises she will have to draw on her secret abilities to help find her. Soon, Trinity is subject to visions that terrify her and make the police sceptical. As her dreams grow darker and the visions more frightening, Trinity realises she must risk her reputation and her sanity to save a girl who hates her.

Review:
‘Shattered Dreams’ is one of those wonderful books that you start reading not really knowing much about and end up absolutely loving! It got off to a flying start and had me entranced and absorbed the whole way through. It’s earnt a place on my favourites shelf because this is one that I’ll want to pick up to read again and again. It’s the debut young-adult novel of author Ellie James and she’s certainly made her mark on the genre with this fantastic offering.

The beginning of the book sets the pace for a truly thrilling read. It starts with a nerve jangling opening in a spooky, abandoned house in New Orleans. The setting was incredibly atmospheric and I spent most of the first few chapters holding my breath. From then onwards it’s full steam ahead as the story fairly races along at a breakneck speed.

The main character Trinity arrives in New Orleans to live with her Aunt Sara after the death of her grandmother. Trying to fit in with a new group of friends, she’s drawn to the gorgeous Chase but he’s already dating Jessica, one of the most popular girls in school. When Jessica goes missing Trinity is determined to find her whatever the cost may be. My nerves were on edge the whole way through wondering if Jessica was going to be found. The suspense is heightened by some of the events which happen along the way, as we get to know more about Trinity and her ‘gift’. I’m looking forward to seeing Trinity’s family background being explored in more detail as I think there are still a lot of unanswered and intriguing questions to be dealt with.

Ellie James has packed an incredible amount of romance, drama, mystery and excitement into this book. There’s a potential love triangle on the horizon for Trinity and a lot more twists and turns to come in the story yet.

If you are a fan of The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting that you’ll definitely enjoy ‘Shattered Dreams’. I can’t recommend this one highly enough and encourage you to go and get your hands on a copy now!

The sequel ‘Broken Illusions’ is due to be published by Quercus in Spring 2013.