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The Color of Light  By  cover art

The Color of Light

By: Helen Maryles Shankman
Narrated by: Simon Slater,Jennifer Ikeda
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Publisher's summary

At the American Academy of Classical Art, popular opinion has it that the school's handsome and mysterious founder, Raphael Sinclair, is a vampire. It is a rumor Rafe does nothing to dispel.

Scholarship student Tessa Moss has long dreamed of the chance to study at Rafe's Academy. But she is floundering amidst the ups and downs of a relationship with egotistical art star Lucian Swain.

Then, one of Tessa's sketches catches Rafe's attention: a drawing of a young woman in 1930s clothing who is covering the eyes of a child. The suitcase at her feet says Wizotsky. Sofia Wizotsky, the love of Rafe's life, was lost during the Holocaust. Or was she? Rafe suspects Tessa may be the key to discovering what really happened.

As Rafe finds excuses to interact with Tessa, they quickly discover they cannot deny their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction forbidden by the Academy Board and disapproved of by anyone familiar with Rafe's playboy reputation and Tessa's softhearted innocence. But what if fate has other plans for Tessa and Rafe? What if they break all rules to succumb to a passion that defies history?

©2013 Helen Maryles Shankman (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Color of Light

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

UGH... Will the Heroine Ever Grow Up?

I really wanted to like this book. From the summary it seemed to have everthing I would like and it was read by one of my absolute favorites Jennifer Ikeda. I finally had to call it quits at the start of book 2. More than 10 hours into the book I just could not stomach the 10+ hours left. The storyline dragged and I was so tired of Tessa. I kept waiting for the moment she finally showed some emotional growth or had an epiphany and grew a backbone. But it hadn't happened by the time I stopped listening. And Raphael was neither likable or unlikeable, just kind of "blah". Don't waste your time.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • BG
  • 05-12-14

stories in stories

If you could sum up The Color of Light in three words, what would they be?

three words are: past and present story lines, wonderful vampire, a little too long. I was surprised I liked the book. I purchased it to hear Simon Slater. Other than Bram Stroker's Dracula, I have never had an interest in vampire stories. Because I studied art, I loved the author's setting of art school studio classes & art analysis; though frequently the students' conversations was somewhat boring--very adolescent for mid-twenty year old supposedly serious artists (except for the wonderful great prank).

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Color of Light?

The second part of the story is the best of the author's writing. Rafe's life narrated by Simon Slater. The historic horror and sadness the Jews in Poland suffered; the description of the love and suffering of Rafe for Sophia was boundless. I was taken aback. Could be me but I wasn’t clear about Tessa's family generational ties to Sophia. Could use more time, clarity and detail on this very interesting aspect of the book. It did seem a bit too long, I would have changed the ending.

What about Simon Slater and Jennifer Ikeda ’s performance did you like?

I love audible books, the next thing to seeing a play, a good narrator is so entertaining. I would listen to anything narrated by Simon Slater. He is fabulous. Simon Slater's voice brings the Rafe to life. hmmm.. Even if you have never been there, you will feel it. As always, his treatment of the other characters is perfect with maybe a need for a little more American girl in Tessa. He does a great German Rudi. Jennifer Ikeda was very good. Her Tessa voice is very believable, clear and pleasant. She was a good choice for the beginning of the book.

If you could take any character from The Color of Light out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Of course, I would take Rafe to dinner, if he would promise not to have me for dinner.

Any additional comments?

Yes, Simon Slater is incorrectly introduced as Simon Slate. Rather insulting.. Correction should have been made. And btw another mistake, rather important, thank god for us North Americans, Rommel was in North Africa, not North America.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

A vampire romance novel

What disappointed you about The Color of Light?

I have read a couple of Vampire romance novels that were actually intertaining. But this one had weak characters causing there on fate.

Would you ever listen to anything by Helen Maryles Shankman again?

No

Did Simon Slater and Jennifer Ikeda do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The outline of the story had interesting possibilities. But how it was fleshed out was very disappointing.

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Awful narration

Hated having the middle of the narration taken over by s different narrator. It completely took away from the entire experience for me

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Boring/ infuriating.

What a waste of time. The main character is immature and useless. The other is selfish and exhausting. The man who read in Rafe’s POV is the worst narrator I’ve ever listened to and had to skip through it I couldn’t stand his voice.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved!!!

I’ve never read a book with a vampire. It was so good. I’m afraid I’m hooked.!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a long book that I unexpectedly was not eager to finish it osince there was no sequel. Jennifer Ikeda’s narration is always so musical and sincere. Simon Slater did a great job narrating, I would have preferred to have his voice like Ikeda did it in the rest of the book. A great read!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Ugh....

Quiet possibly the most boring book ever written. It seemed the author didn’t know where to take her story- so it was all over the place. The only redeeming quality was the narration by Jennifer Ikeda. Shortly after Simon Slater took over I called it quits. It sounded as if he kept running out of breath and was gasping. 👎🏻

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

unexpected treasure

When I downloaded this title I wasn't sure what I was expecting. "The Color of Light" became a wonderful tale of the past and the present and the future . Shankman combined a tragic period in history and the Paranormal in a fluid way. Both narrators did a very good job giving the story life.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

So boring!!!

I gave this audiobook a try because I absolutely love the narrator Jennifer Ikeda. However, the wonderful narration could not keep me interested in hearing more of the story. It was mind-numbingly boring. I love vampire books but the characters for me never developed into anything interesting. The storyline dragged so much that I just gave up and return this audiobook.

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