Prism (The Color Alchemist)

I wish review system was more inclusive as 5 stars to me should be perfection but 4 stars just isn’t fair to give either this is a really intriguing fun book I couldn’t put it down,read it in a day and a half may fun elements plots and characters, was talentedly written and it far exceeded any expectation I had for someone’s first book. I can see this being a big hit with young adults or anyone enjoying the genre I think I enjoy it even more then I did the Hunger Games which was hugely successful and intriguing and well plotted and appealing to many ages, it reminds me some of that series but is deffinetly an original story and can stand completely on its own accord. I’m impressed really fun to get taken in by a book you can’t put down!

Prism by Nina Walker is a beautifully written first installment that combines the Dystopia genre with Young Adult Fantasy. It's intricately unique in it's execution and has one of the most original magic systems that I've ever read. If you follow my blog or what I read you know I pretty much live in the fantasy world, so I've seen plenty of different magic systems. Walker drives her book's momentum with an ingenious plot-line, and her characters are raw enough where you root for them all the way through. In a genre rife with copy-cats and not so beautifully executed YA fantasy novel tropes, Prism stands alone. The  idea of color being the source to ones power and seeing it's limitations by having some barely or never seen used was pure genius.

Jessa Loxley is just your run of the mill kind of girl, ordinary in her humble beginnings until she discovers that she in fact has an extroadinary power. This catapults her life down a tumultuous journey of self-discovery, romance, and power. Jessa is able to access the coveted color of Red which is one of the hardest and most powerful colors that any alchemist can posess. Each color has its own magical uses and can be used in a variety of ways. It also was interesting to see that no two users seemed the same. Even if you had an affinity to a certain color, there were depths to what you could do with that color and not everyone could do those things.

Jessa's ability to access the color red makes her a target by the King and his right hand, Faulk. Alchemist are discovered young and taken away from their family in order to be train by elite alchemists. It is considered treason if a person or family hides a known family member's ability, and you can go straight to jail. Jessa's discovery of magic happens in public, which causes Faulk to take action against her and her family. Before Jessa can be at the mercy of those who seek her ability, Crown Prince Lucas swoops in to save her. He advocates for her and does his best to convince Faulk that she needs to be trained instead of jailed. It's not until the King is made aware of this discovery that Jessa's significance is solified. The King is hungry for more power and has been searching for someone who can access Red. I won't go into the details but the ability to have somone at his disposal who can access red can make the King ever more powerful.

Prince Lucas has motives of his own and plots against his father,  but he doesn't let Jessa know initially. This creates some amazing tension in the story, and allows for a lot of anghst that young readers will want to devour. As Jessa becomes more entangled in the alchemist world and those who wish to use her, she begins to realize that her power can transform her from a pawn into a major player in this game of conquest.

Nina Walker creates a world that's quite literally colorful and unique. Driven by a diverse and animated set of characters, as a reader we find ourselves drawn to their trials and tribulations. Prism executes a complex magic system that is expertly explained and Walker drives the book forward with unexpected twists and character motives. We are made to understand that Jessa must do everything in her power to grab the rights to her life, because there are those in her world that would use her ability to utilize red for their nefarious plans. This was a brilliant debut by Nina Walker which will leave readers scrambling for the next installment.

From start to finish I was hooked. As a K-8 teacher I've always enjoyed YA literature and this book did not disappoint. The characters are developed well and easy to connect with. The story line is fascinating, fun and makes you want to keep reading. I can't wait to share this book and I can't wait to read the next one!

This was an enjoyable read that explores a different facet of magic than most YA books I've read--color alchemy. I thought this premise was unique and the characters interesting. I thought the characters displayed more naivete than I would have expected, considering the dystopian world in which they lived, but the ending of the book suggests that A LOT more is about to happen!

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up! Intrigue, fun fresh magic system, romance...you won't be disappointed!

I'm a sucker for anything supernatural, whether it's fairy related, ghosts, witches, or just magic in general. And this book did not disappoint! It's a new take on magic, with the characters being able to manipulate colors to perform their magic in a dystopian type society. I also like it how in these dystopian books, the author gives ideas of where these places are located in our time and world. Same thing was done with Hunger Games and Divergent. The characters were very easy to relate to and I was sucked into the story from the first page. For a first time, self published author, I could not be more please and excited to see what comes next!

Pulls you in and keeps you entertained from beginning to end. Very original and unique. A colorful artistic journey. Love it and can't wait to read the next one!

I really enjoyed Prism! I love Dystopia books, and I think that adding alchemy to it just made it even better. There were things that really made me think of The Selection series, but at the same time it was uniquely it's own. I can't wait to read the next book!

Fantastic book! Great storyline. Very descriptive writing with unexpected twists. Could hardly put it down. Can’t wait for the next book!!

I've always been fascinated by colors and how color plays a role in mood and behavior. I wish there was a little more detail on how color alchemy works. There was a lot of sorrow and drama, but I remember being that dramatic as a teen. I'm excited to read the next book.