BLOG TOUR STOP~ SCHASM by Shari J Ryan
Synopsis
When reality utterly fails you, there is always the comfort of the land of dreams. Chloe Valcourt, a tormented nineteen-year-old young woman, has for twelve years hovered between a daily life dominated by an abusive mother and an imagined alternate world that exists only in her mind’s eye. Can she keep track of which is real—and whether or not she is real, too? Schasm is the mind-bending young adult romance by Shari J. Ryan that mines the heart of darkness, where one young woman seeks light in her own shimmering daydreams.
A psychological condition has captured the body, mind, and soul of Chloe, and thrust her into the hands of probing doctors at the continued mercy of her tyrannical mother. As she struggles to break free of the grim life into which she was born, she continues to suffer the daily assaults from her mother and the dispiriting weakness of her dejected father. When Chloe unexpectedly finds herself drawn into a new, warm life abundant in love and romance with a kindhearted man named Alex, the escape at last gives her a happiness that she's never been allowed to feel. However, when hidden truths reveal a life that she cannot remember, Chloe finds herself lost between what is real and what isn't.
Blending extreme daydreaming, alternating realities, and multiple personalities, Schasm is a gripping tale that treads the thin line between a harrowing reality and the captivating terrain of an imagined world. As Chloe plays too close to the edge of insanity, her multiple realities clash, leaving her to question everything, including her own existence. Anyone who relishes a flight of fancy with richly drawn characters and surprising twists of plot will be immersed in the strange new world of Schasm, where nothing is at it seems.
Excerpt:
“Chloe, are you awake?” she yells up the stairs. “Do I need to come up there?”
“Yes, Mother,” I shout back. “I woke up at seven o’clock on the dot, just like I do every morning.”
My parents have made it clear that I have been a burden on them ever since I turned seven years old. Oddly enough, it was around the same time when I was diagnosed with this so-called condition.
My parents and doctors apparently think I have some kind of psychological anomaly that can be compared to schizophrenia. Although from my perspective, my symptoms don’t even come close to the symptoms of schizophrenia. So really, I don’t think they have any idea what’s up with me.
The doctors are good at always reminding me that my circumstances could be a lot worse than they are, and I should be thankful that they aren’t. But thankful or not, the doctors have still made it clear to my parents that I’m incapable of taking care of myself, and that’s the real kicker.
My capabilities have never bothered me like they bother my parents. Actually, I don’t even think anything is wrong with me, except for the fact that I’m not as normal as everyone else. And because I’ve been going to the same doctor since I was seven years old, second opinions aren’t an option when it comes to my mother. One person says I have an incurable condition, and that’s the word we’re evidently going to rely on forever. Well, that’s only until I figure out how to escape for good.
My skills are actually pretty useful in life. If I had to categorize my own condition, I’d place it under daydreaming. But I guess it’s more like extreme daydreaming, or mind-drifting as I call it. When I dream or drift, I find myself somewhere else better than where I am right now, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
However, I don’t think it’s the extreme daydreaming that threw my parents and doctors for a loop. They became overly concerned when I tried to convince them that I was able to inhabit a different kind of life within my mental escapes. I guess I just didn’t think it was a big deal to have this ability, but clearly they did.
Because of this, my parents will always treat my condition as if it will ruin my life. Along with that, they think they’re doing right by me by allowing me to live at home, rather than forcing me to live at the asylum. Am I supposed to appreciate them for that? Yeah, it’s great that they haven’t decided to send me off…yet. But they still treat me like a sick patient, just the same as the doctors do. So what’s the difference? They’ve even turned our house into a prison in an attempt to keep me from the outside world. My mother acts like I’m a threat to people, yet I’ve never hurt anyone. If anything, I can’t trust anyone in or outside of this house.
I’d like to think that I’m a pretty normal nineteen-year-old girl, but I guess the word normal goes away when you have capabilities that others don’t. I just wish I could have the chance to experience what life has to offer. But sadly, none of that is possible while I’m essentially handcuffed to my bedroom door and only let out for meals and doctors’ appointments. I’ll never have the opportunity to get out of here and take care of myself. Regardless of the fact that I’m of legal age to be on my own, I’ve been told that if I leave here, I will automatically become a ward of the state. I would officially become institutionalized, probably for life.
Finally taking the plunge, I shove my feet onto the arctic floor. It’s so cold! It’s even colder than it was yesterday. Who needs coffee? The chill from the floor sparks up to my neck, and it feels like electrical currents are bolting through my body, causing every strand of hair to stand at attention. I hate this place!
Afraid to see the mess caused by the static electricity, I sit down at the vanity that was given to me on my seventh birthday, and I look in the mirror to see the dreadful disarray that I have to deal with for the day. As usual, I notice the gray rings around my bulging eyes, which accent my perfectly monochromatic complexion. The only color that exists on my face is the redness of my dried and chapped lips. I snarl at my own reflection. I ruffle my fingers through my hair and push it all up in a pile on top of my head, while trying to figure out what to do with it. Although I guess it really doesn’t matter, because according to my mother, there’s no reason to get all dolled up just do go down to the asylum where my doctors await me.
Review
Schasm will certainly keep you on the edge on your seat.
Chloe is diagnosed to have an illness, however, this illness is yet to be named. It's not quite schizophrenia, but that is exactly how her mother looks at it. She cannot do anything except go from home to the hospital and back. Her mother is abusive and her father has even had to deal with her mother's abusiveness. Her father has tried to be the barrier between the two. With a life like this does Chloe stand a chance at normalcy? When it all seems to be finally piecing together, will this book throw you for another tail spin?
Chloe written from Chloe's POV. Chloe isn't a naive character, but she also doesn't see a way out. If she tries to leave, she may just become a permanent resident at the hospital. This is a book that you really would want to pay good attention to, but realize not everything is as it seems. It is well written, even if at times you brain may be spinning. Definitely a good read!
Rated 4 out of 5 stars by Alyssa
Schasm will certainly keep you on the edge on your seat.
Chloe is diagnosed to have an illness, however, this illness is yet to be named. It's not quite schizophrenia, but that is exactly how her mother looks at it. She cannot do anything except go from home to the hospital and back. Her mother is abusive and her father has even had to deal with her mother's abusiveness. Her father has tried to be the barrier between the two. With a life like this does Chloe stand a chance at normalcy? When it all seems to be finally piecing together, will this book throw you for another tail spin?
Chloe written from Chloe's POV. Chloe isn't a naive character, but she also doesn't see a way out. If she tries to leave, she may just become a permanent resident at the hospital. This is a book that you really would want to pay good attention to, but realize not everything is as it seems. It is well written, even if at times you brain may be spinning. Definitely a good read!
Rated 4 out of 5 stars by Alyssa
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Shari J. Ryan
Shari J. Ryan has always dreamt of becoming an author and finally decided it was time to pursue her lifelong aspiration by writing her debut young adult novel, Schasm. She has long nurtured a passion for art, reading, and writing, and those hobbies have become a mental escape from her busy life. In the past year, she has put her heart and soul into the creation of her novel, which has taught her that it is never too late and nothing is too hard. The author graduated with a bachelors of science degree from Johnson & Wales University and has written hundreds of articles for various online publications. She is married with two sons.
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Giveaway
TOUR WIDE
SIGNED copy of Schasm by Shari J. Ryan
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