The Shadowed Onyx by Nicole O'Dell

About the Book

Seventeen-year-old Joy Christianson is the life of the party. But when her best friend commits suicide, Joy's already wavering faith slips completely out of reach-and darkness and depression lay claim to her soul. A group of "friends" lead her to the Onyx, meant to help her let go of the past and bring her into harmony with reality, and Joy finds herself embarking on an ominous journey of witchcraft. Caught in a world of evil and shadows, Joy isn't so sure there's a way out and soon finds herself at a crossroads. Will Joy find the hope and light her heart longs for? Or will her dejected soul remain forever in the shadows?

My Thoughts

Once again Nicole O'Dell tactfully dealt with a difficult subject. Witchcraft is something most people either don't believe exists or try to ignore. But it is very real and not something to be ignored or taken lightly. Nicole did a great job of showing just how easy it can be to get drawn into this evil practice and how hard it is to escape once you are trapped. Everything was well done, the plot, characters, and the message. I love how this author presents these hard to talk about subjects in a way that clearly depicts them but keeps it to a place where a more sightly younger audience can still read them.

About the Author

Youth-culture expert, Nicole O'Dell, resides in Paxton, Illinois, with her husband and six children--the youngest of which are toddler triplets. She's the founder of Choose NOW Ministries (www.choose-now.com), dedicated to battling peer pressure and guiding teens through tough issues while helping parents encourage good decisions, and host of Choose NOW Radio: Parent Talk and Teen Talk (www.choosenowradio.com), where "It's all about choices!" On air, O'Dell covers peer pressure, dating, purity, drugs, alcohol, modesty, popularity, and anything else that comes up along the way. Nicole writes and speaks to preteens, teenagers, and parents about how to prepare for life's tough choices.