Fluorescence: Fire Starter

By: P. Anastasia

Narrated by: P. Anastasia

Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Book 1 of the tetralogy. Sci-fi that isn't just for boys! A riveting paranormal romance, Fluorescence is engaging and unabashed - a coming-of-age urban fantasy unlike any other.

It lives in her bloodstream. It's unpredictable and could flare up anytime, exposing her secret. Alice was a normal teenager until a dying race of aliens chose her and a handful of others to preserve bioluminescent DNA known as Fluorescence. Now she and the others must hide their condition from the rest of the world, while trying to learn the truth behind the living light.

In a unique genre all its own, Fluorescence is a striking blend of audacious young love, fantasy, and sci-fi.

Each full-length novel in the series is narrated by a different character, driving the story forward in a new and exciting way. It evolves from a quiet beginning into a gripping saga exploring the real-life limitations encountered while harboring a volatile secret.

Novels in the complete Fluorescence series:

• Book 1: Fire Starter
• Book 2: Contagious
• Book 3: Fallout
• Book 4: Lost Souls

©2014 P. Anastasia (P)2016 P. Anastasia

Teenagers and bright lights

This book is interesting and I loved it. The cute boyfriend was so strong and caring.

Good real life Sci-Fi storyline

What did you like best about this story?

This book has a very interesting storyline that is different from most sci-fi stories that I have read. It is unpredictable but in a good way. I can usually pick out the plot but this one kept me guessing.

What does P. Anastasia bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The author does an awesome job of narrating her own book. It makes it a little more personable. She is a talented writer and also has a very pleasant voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Oh, the kiss! I was very shocked here. Normally, I am not into romance stories. But, Anastasia does a wonderful job describing and narrating this part. The other thing was how riding a motorcycle was described. Very detailed and interesting.

Any additional comments?

Not exactly sure what was the intended audience for the book. I felt at times it was for teenage girls. But, really I think anyone would enjoy the book. I did.

This is science fiction with a lot of heart.

What impressed me most was the depth of the characters. Sure there is the mystery of the colorful glow that came out of nowhere to upend Alice's world, but the writer made me care about her and her friends as much as the sci-fi elements. There is plenty of high school drama that somehow managed not to bore me. I could totally see this as a series on the CW network (and, for the record, they have all of the best series on TV these days). I'm a little older than the targeted demographic, and was concerned that I'd find the usual whiny teens who acted unrealistically—but that was not the case.

I listened to the audiobook and was left wanting more when I finally heard the words “The End”. Speaking of the audiobook, this one was read by the author. That can be a mixed bag. Sure, the author knows the story and characters better than some random narrator, but narrators are usually actors who can bring the characters to life more successfully. Well, in this case I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the acting by the author. She really brought the characters to life with not only unique voices, but lots of nuance. And her delivery had a lot of emotion, never losing her energy. The fast paced scenes were frantic and helped you experience the stress the characters were under.

A good story and a good delivery make this one a winner.

YA Sci-fi that even a fantasy fan will love

Any additional comments?

While I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I began listening to Fluorescence: Fire Starter, I can honestly say that I was not disappointed by what I found. Usually science fiction isn't exactly my cup of tea, though I'm not rigidly opposed to it. I just prefer more of a magical, fantasy type story. But this title definitely has an intriguing concept and has me wondering what will happen next, especially with the bit of a bombshell that drops at the end. ((Don't worry, no spoilers here.))

Overall, the concept of the aliens and their struggle to save their own race by manipulating humans is one that I am anxious to learn more about... Because let's face it. That can't possibly end well for the humans, right? I want to know what they're really up to, which of course means I'm going to have to continue reading the series. And I am happy to do so after this first installment.

I will admit. There were a few occasions where I rolled my eyes because the characters were being “dumb kids” but... That's because they ARE dumb kids. I think that's a sign of a job well done. The characters were believable to the point that my reaction was to think they were being silly teenagers instead of just not being able to accept what they were doing or thinking. Especially the points where they were letting their raging hormones drive them-- which I'll take this moment to point out that the book is actually rather clean with a bit of mild language and a heavy makeout session being as far as anything really got.

I listened to the entire book in one evening and was a little surprised when it finished and I realized how much time I had let slip away from me. I fully intend to queue up the second installment to download overnight so that I can start it after my morning chores tomorrow.


Oh, and a note about the author's performance of narrating the audiobook for Fire Starter... I think she does an amazing job. And if you think this one was well-read, than you should definitely also check out her book titled “Dark Diary” because it is even more phenomenal.

Great book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! I've recommended this a few times already and my friends have all enjoyed it

What other book might you compare Fluorescence: Fire Starter to and why?

These books are in a category by themselves. It is sci-fi for all ages, told from the perspective of a teenager.

Which character – as performed by P. Anastasia – was your favorite?

I like Karina's valley-girl sound. Since she sounds like an airhead, people don't expect much out of her, but she's deceptively clever.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The end left me in shock! Had to pick up the next book right away!