Publisher: Page Street Kids

Publication Date: 11/5/19

Pages: 320

Source: publisher in exchange for honest review

Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

After an attack on earth, all reflective surfaces become weapons to release monsters, causing a planet-wide ban on mirrors. Despite the danger, the demand rises, and 17-year-old Marty Callahan becomes a distributor in an illegal mirror trade―until he’s caught by the mayor's son, whose slate is far from clean. Both of them are exiled for their crimes to one of the many abandoned cities overrun by fog. But they soon realize their thoughts influence their surroundings and their deepest fears begin to manifest. With fast pacing and riveting characters, this is a book that you’ll finish in one sitting.

Months ago, the Beings invaded the Earth. They rose up out of mirrors, any reflective surfaces, and quickly became everyone’s worst nightmare. Fog shrouded the land and the only parcel of property that was saved from the invasion were a few select cities, including the island that Marty resides on. His one goal is to work to get off the island, to be reunited with his brother who lives an ocean away (or he did, before the invasion). Marty sells black market goods, mainly mirrors in hopes of buying passage off the island. However, when he is caught and exiled, Marty discovers that the invasion is not what it seems. He has two options: save himself or save the world and he’s really not sure which he’ll choose. Refraction is a mind-blowing adventure that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

• Like with most books, I went in knowing very little. Before reading, I read the tagline on the back about the darkness coming out of the mirrors and killing loads of people. That sounded similar to one of my favorite horror movies of all time, Mirrors, so I knew I had to read this one. As much as I would have loved a book that just featured monsters coming out of mirrors, Refraction takes it several steps further. The world building becomes so convoluted that readers truly have to suspend their disbelief. Monsters coming out of mirrors becomes an alien takeover that reside in fog and reflective surfaces. It sounds like a mashup between both Mirrors and The Mist. 
• It's not a secret that I rarely read science fiction. Books about aliens and space travel are just not for me. And if you had told me Refraction was about aliens making first contact, I probably would have never picked it up. However, despite having aliens, Refraction is a gem. I didn’t want the book to end, it was so good! Since the story is so fast paced, it is easy to finish the book in one sitting. Yet, all I wanted to do was drag it out as long as possible, to continue being in the world that Naomi Hughes created for just a little longer. The plot is absolutely marvelous. It is so unique, creating a page turner you've never experienced before. At first you think the story is going one way but then it flips upside down and completely throws you. It’s genius.

• The writing is phenomenal. Hughes shines through her fantastic action scenes that read like a Hollywood blockbuster. I can't wait to read more from her!
• Refraction follows Marty, a black-market dealer, selling reflective goods, and also struggling with his OCD. He is a good guy and it didn’t take much for readers to fall for him, even if the island had him pegged as a criminal. Right off, his motives and his actions speak so loudly that readers are immediately interested in knowing more and watching him grow from page one.
• Diversity is rather rare in the science fiction genre so it was such a great surprise to find own voices OCD representation in Refraction. 
• Refraction is a high stakes adventure that gets your heart pumping full speed. When it isn’t throwing so many action sequences at you that you think you might faint (you know, in a good way), it focuses on family and friendship. The bond between brothers is extremely strong in the book. The way each character is willing to do anything for their brother will connect with a lot of people. It is so precious; it just melts your heart. 
• I want to say that the ending felt rushed but that's not entirely true. I just didn’t want the book to end so any ending felt too soon for me. The writing, the action, the story: everything worked together so seamlessly. I loved it all!

Refraction by Naomi Hughes is a wild rollercoaster of corkscrews and loop de loops. The story, through suspending your disbelief a bit, does work out amazingly in the end. The action sequences are phenomenal. Coupled with fantastic writing and great own voices representation, Refraction needs to be the next book on your to read list.