I've blocked this for what might be very mild spoilers. Better to be safe than sorry! I was very impressed with Farsighted. I saw the buzz on the Facebook and Twitter groups, and watched the trailer, and knew I was going to be reading this book just as soon as I got a chance I love the cover; it sums up the entire story in a single picture (though I 'saw' Alex as being younger)
This is the story of a teenager, born blind, but with powerful second sight. He stars to gets visions of the future. one of them that appare to herald a horrible death for Simmi, his first real friend, and someone he would like to have a deeper relationship with.
I enjoyed Alex very much. I have not read a lot of male POV books, so this was unique, simply in that regard. Couple tat with the character being blind, it was an altogether interesting plot.
Alex wasn't always on my 'good side' throughout the book. He had some very typical teenage anger, resentment, a chip on his shoulder in regards to his father and sometimes his lot in life, being an 'outsider' wherever he went. All understandable.
Alex also had a violent streak, and he tended to lash out, physically, at classmates and even at women a few times. During these times, I got upset - since Alex is well over six feet tall and should known his strength and not to hit females - but then, I found my second reaction to justify his anger, even blow off his actions because of his disability. Both of these responses were wrong, taken what going on with him in the story. But I really enjoy a character that can elicit strong and new instincts in me while I'm reading.
Simmi and Sharpi were great as the two friends with their own 'gifts'. One pf them accept her skills, the other fights it at every turn - but, we found out, it's for good reason. I enjoyed their friendship, and there was the slightest bit of a love triangle - something I'm more than used to in traditional YA, but with a male character front and center, the dynamics played differently, and I enjoyed it.
I also appreciated the way the mom and dad were portrayed. Often relegated to cardboard characters in YA, Alex's parents not only had vibrant personalities, but their own issues to deal with, as well. Dad, in particular, had some secrets up his sleeves that gave his actions earlier in the story a base of understanding.
The end was a build up to the final showdown between what Alex feels is the 'bag guy' in his vision, the one to harm Simmi. Won't give away any spoilers on this subject, except to say there is far more too Dax that Alex could see.
Finally, since I know some friends that are blind, and going blind, this story appealed to me on that level. There were many little details tossed it that rang true, and I imagine it took a great deal of concentration to write a book where the main character must describe his world through things other than visions. The author did a phenomenal job here.
Farsight was a page turner (clicker, as I read it on my kindle app for phone) and each time I had to put it aside to deal with life, I was thrilled to come back to the characters I'd grown to love.
Very well done, highly recommended, five stars!
