Editorial Reviews

Review

"In Seeing with Your Eyes Closed (Energy's Magic, Book One) by D.R. Kiss, 14-year-old Gabrielle 'Gabby' McKenna has been taught by her Auntie M about yoga, chakras, and meditation. She's about to discover more regarding the magic of energy when Auntie M sends her a moonstone pendulum. Unfortunately, a strange student in her school named Aristea Weaver has somehow manipulated her into joining a group to build a maze for a Halloween party. Gabby will soon find out that Aristea and her group have sinister intentions.At the very start, the holistic way of life that the young character leads is easily discernible and is a main element in the story concept. I wish I had the same pendulum as Gabby since I can be indecisive for a long time in certain matters. Gabby's dislike towards her grandmother attitude is funny and understandable, especially when the protagonist is a 14-year-old teen. The build up of the plot is somewhat slow, but there are solid messages about body image, an unhealthy level of self-consciousness, friendship, peer pressure and other social issues that teens usually have to face in their lives. It is a first for me to read about Reiki teaching in a YA story. I also don't know any teens that are interested in yoga or meditation, as the teens in my family and friends' circle certainly don't have the same approach to life like Gabby and her aunt. However, all in all, Seeing with Your Eyes Closed is a different but solid, clean read for its intended audience." - Reviewed By Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

"Seeing with Your Eyes Closed is Book One of the Energy's Magic series. Author D.R. Kiss creates an exciting, well-paced drama with a lot of action that will be very appealing to teenagers. A 14-year-old girl named Gabrielle has powers she doesn't fully understand--she is able to see the colorful energy readings that come off people. Gabby has never thought much about this ability although her aunt, an energy worker, often counsels and meditates with her. But when three strange girls start seeking her out at school, Gabby makes bad decisions and suddenly loses control of her life. When a misunderstanding with her friend April spirals out of control, and kids at the school are becoming heartbroken and sick right and left, Gabby learns the astonishing truth and has to protect the school from dark energy.
D.R. Kiss's book is a great read. Expert writing joined up with themes about accountability, good decision-making, and healing meditation are woven into an entertaining plot. Seeing with Your Eyes Closed moves along like a popular teen TV show, part vampire intrigue, part friendship drama, and part romantic comedy. It's laced with fun quotations at the beginning of each chapter to highlight the experiences of the characters as they grow to empowerment, not through self, but through a community of positive energy practices. Gabrielle is a strongly developed and sympathetic protagonist, a real person with flaws, strengths, crushes, mistakes, and deep feelings. Her quirky grandmother--far wiser than she appears--brought a fun touch and tough April was the perfect sidekick to Gabby's more sensitive, idealistic personality. This book is quite addictive and after reading it you'll want to read it over again!"-Reviewed By Sarah Scheele for Readers' Favorite

"I am 58 years old. But I must admit that I still enjoy books about teenagers. I loved them when I was a teenager and I love them just as much today. Seeing with Your Eyes Closed by D.R. Kiss is about magic and young people. It is a great Young Adult novel and I have already recommended it to several of my students and young friends. I like that the magic in Seeing with Your Eyes closed is based on principles and practices from yoga and other Eastern practices. I always like books based on a world with magic in it to give us a reasonable framework and explanation for that magic, and D.R. Kiss does a great job of that in this book.The magical framework is good in Seeing with Your Eyes Closed, but it is not the book's strongest point. I think that would be the characters. Gabby, her friends, her family, and her town give us an ideal and charming version of American life in a small town. All D.R. Kiss had to do to make an exciting story was add the evil vampires. The plot and characters fitted together perfectly. Gabby is as good a female protagonist as Katniss from The Hunger Games. I liked this book and I think everyone else, but especially young girls, will like it too. This is the first book in a series called Energy's Magic. This series has the potential for bestseller status and even a series of movies." - Reviewed By Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

About the Author

D.R. Kiss comes from the world of computers and analytical thinking and discovered the world of energy through her experience with reiki. She works with light and other energy techniques and can truly see with her eyes closed. She wrote this book to share her unique perspective, adding humor to science and presenting her knowledge in a way that will benefit readers of all ages. Allow this story to bring a little more light into your world.