Dark Visions

Dark Visions: The Strange Power; The Possessed; The Passionby L.J. SmithI will start by admitting that I was very nervous about reading this book. Since I have loved L.J. Smith's Secret Circle trilogy since the dawn of time (or at least it seems that way) and I love her Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valour books, I really, truly did not like the first three Night World books which I bought when they were re-released in one volume.  In fact, I never finished the last story in that book because it was making me angry.** Note, I got that first paragraph written and then left this review for a week, so now it's  been almost 2 weeks since I finished it! Not enough time in the day and a lot of chronic fatigue due to health issues. Sorry! **Dark Visions tells three stories about a group of teens with paranormal powers. Kaitlyn, the main character, can tell the future in her drawings, though not always in time to stop whatever tragedy she's discovered. She's chosen to join a select group of kids her own age with similar powers and offered a chance to learn to control her own powers. She jumps at this chance, tired of being called a witch and having the kids at school keep away from her in fear. Mr. Zetes is the wealthy older man who is funding the Institute - a large purple house used both as labs and the home for Kait's new paranormal family - Rob, the drop-dead gorgeous healer, Anna, the Native American girl who can influence animals, Lee the energetic guy who can move objects with his mind and the dark and dangerous Gabriel.L.J. Smith's books all have an element of romance, thriller and supernatural-ness in them. One of the main aspects of The Secret Circle trilogy I loved was the idea of the Silver Cord which binds the hearts of soul mates together. However, this was repeated so often in the first three Night World books that I was annoyed by it. I was nervous that this soul mate concept was going to feature just as prominently in these books - but happily it did not. Smith managed to write the romance in a very normal, confused teen way as far as I am concerned. I can understand Kaitlyn's confusion over which boy to really give her heart too.Once it is discovered that the Zetes Institute is not quite what they were promised, the teens end up on the run and even make their way all the way to Canada (Yay! Canada!) for part of the second novel. I had a little trouble with the people of the crystal and the fact that this car of teens managed to cross the border with no problems. But then again, this book was written in 1995 and back then, it wasn't as difficult as it is now to cross the border. So I probably wouldn't have thought twice about that scene if I had read the books when they first came out.Over-all, I really enjoyed this book. Once I started it I could not put it down and I am so happy that I was able to gush love all over L.J. Smith once more. I am only sorry I didn't know about these books back when they first were published because I would have picked them up had I seen them. The only L.J. Smith books I stayed away from on purpose were the Vampire Diaries because I have never liked vampires all that much. (And on that note - I did watchj the pilot episode of VD on Thursday night, though I don't think I will be devoting much of my time to it this season. I don't know yet. I'll give it one more try, though it's up against Bones and I am David Yummypants' loyal fan, whether he's a vampire with a soul OR a sort of goofy FBI agent!)