Synopsis (from Goodreads):
The first novel from iconic X-Files star Gillian Anderson and New York Times bestselling author Jeff Rovin: a science fiction thriller of epic proportions.
Renowned child psychologist Caitlin O’Hara is a single mom trying to juggle her job, her son, and a lackluster dating life. Her world is suddenly upturned when Maanik, the daughter of India’s ambassador to the United Nations, starts speaking in tongues and having violent visions. Caitlin is sure that her fits have something to do with the recent assassination attempt on her father—a shooting that has escalated nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan to dangerous levels—but when teenagers around the world start having similar outbursts, Caitlin begins to think that there’s a more sinister force at work.
In Haiti, a student claws at her throat, drowning on dry land. In Iran, a boy suddenly and inexplicably sets himself on fire. Animals, too, are acting irrationally, from rats in New York City to birds in South America to ordinary house pets. With Asia on the cusp of nuclear war, Caitlin must race across the globe to uncover the mystical links among these seemingly unrelated incidents in order to save her patient—and perhaps the world.
Renowned child psychologist Caitlin O’Hara is a single mom trying to juggle her job, her son, and a lackluster dating life. Her world is suddenly upturned when Maanik, the daughter of India’s ambassador to the United Nations, starts speaking in tongues and having violent visions. Caitlin is sure that her fits have something to do with the recent assassination attempt on her father—a shooting that has escalated nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan to dangerous levels—but when teenagers around the world start having similar outbursts, Caitlin begins to think that there’s a more sinister force at work.
In Haiti, a student claws at her throat, drowning on dry land. In Iran, a boy suddenly and inexplicably sets himself on fire. Animals, too, are acting irrationally, from rats in New York City to birds in South America to ordinary house pets. With Asia on the cusp of nuclear war, Caitlin must race across the globe to uncover the mystical links among these seemingly unrelated incidents in order to save her patient—and perhaps the world.
My Thoughts:
I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive when I was asked to review this book. I mean, I loved the X-Files when I was growing up so I certainly knew who Gillian Anderson was but I am not a huge science fiction fan. However, I found this book to be more of a thriller than science fiction. I was happy to find out that not only did I enjoy this book but I really didn't want to put it down.
The book starts off with Maanik, a young girl who's father is the Indian Ambassador to the United Nations. Maanik and her father experience a harrowing event and, although Maanik is shaken up, she appears to be fine. That is, she if fine until she ends up in strange fits in the middle of her class. She is scratching herself, talking in tongues and not responding to her parents. Ben, who works with Maanik's father as a translator at the UN, calls in Caitlin to help. Caitlin is a psychiatrist but even she has not seen anything quite like this.
Caitlin travels from Haiti to Iraq, talking to other people who have experienced the same kind of episodes. She meets and receives (some) answers from a High Priestess and a Hindu Priest. As Caitlin and Ben dig deeper, the discover that Maanik and the other two people are experiencing something from another time and place.
This book completely surprised me by gripping me at page one and keeping me wanting more until the very end. I was caught up in the tensions between Pakistan and India and stress that Maanik's father, as well as Ben, were dealing with and the helplessness of Maanik's mother and even Caitlin at points. The mystery surrounding Maanik's "episodes" kept me reading to try to figure out what was going on with her. Now I am anxiously looking forward to reading the next book in the Earthend Saga!
Now for the fun part...If you would like to win a copy of this book, please fill out the rafflecopter below. A winner will be chosen on Saturday, November 15, 2014 and Simon & Schuster will send a copy straight to the winner.
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Vision of Fire on Simon & Schuster's Website
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