Some truths can be deadly.
Danielle isn’t mopey or filled with teenage angst. Danielle and her cousin were abducted, drugged, and raped. But her cousin doesn’t remember, and her best friend won’t believe her. Now, her predators have returned, stalking her, harassing her at every turn. Nightmares plague her sleep, pushing her to the brink of exhaustion. Isolated, terrified, and grief-stricken, Danielle is paralyzed, unable to face the unmerciful world around her. Can she awaken her spirit and blossom into a woman of defiance and courage before the darkness eclipses her sanity?
Shattering Truths is a haunting and heartbreaking coming of age story. In the tradition of Judy Blume, and following in the footsteps of Thirteen Reasons Why, author D.K. Sanz doesn’t shy away from exploring the darker side of life that every teenage girl fears. Filled with suspense, a heart wrenching emotional journey, and twists that will leave you breathless, Shattering Truths will take hold of you on page one and never let go.
Trigger Warning: The subject of this book is rape and its aftermath. There are also dark experiences alluding to witchcraft and demon entities.
REVIEWS
Shattering Truths is a most compelling story that weaves family and peer relationships into a fabric of great strength and fragility at the same time. The main character and her cousin are teenage girls on the cusp of adulthood who seem to be over their heads relationally in some ways and who, unwittingly, become engaged in activities that have subsequent emotional repercussions. Family dynamics and interactions between the girls and other characters, many of whom are somewhat older and more mature, are brilliantly presented to the reader by this author. I’m sure my comments thus far regarding the story line of the novel are “preaching to the choir” but I must also praise the author’s writing prowess. I find it difficult to express the depth to which she pierces emotional barriers in order to share the struggles the characters in the book were required to face. I was literally brought to tears on a couple of occasions. I really believe I felt the writer’s extreme range of emotion that she must have had as she was writing this novel. Her profound understanding of human emotion and spirituality are evident in her poetry as well. Basically, a brilliantly written novel by a brilliant writer. I can’t wait to read more from her. – Ken Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written and profound!
This coming of age story is eloquently written and will transport you back in time to 1987 to witness the journey of 16-year-old Dani as she comes to terms with the horrors, joys, and often the shattering realities of growing up. This book has well-rounded characters that are multifaceted, genuine, and believable. It also deals with feelings of self-worth, loyalty, family, and friendship. I would recommend this to every person I know and even those I don’t. It truly is a compelling book that you will not be able to put down after you begin. It flows effortlessly along and leaves you aching for more. I am looking forward to reading more titles from this talented author! – C.L. Cannon
5.0 out of 5 stars The author does a good job of putting the reader into this young girl’s …
Shattering Truths is the story of a teen-aged girl who is a year away from graduating high school and gets date raped by older young men… Her journey into adulthood and how she deals with this troubling event and all the subsequent repercussions is the main thrust of this story… The author does a good job of putting the reader into this young girl’s frame of mind… – Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars A dark, disturbing suspense…
Danielle and her cousin, Angie, are spending the day at the beach. They meet two strangers who convince the two girls to come with them. Drugged and sexually assaulted, Danielle is the only one who remembers. When she tries to convince her cousin what happened to them both, Angie has no recollection and Danielle starts to question her own sanity. Did it really happen or did she imagine the whole nightmarish event? And who is stalking her in the dark sedan? The more she uncovers, the more isolated Danielle feels. She has a choice: sink into a pit of guilt and despair or gather inner strength to deal with what’s happening to her. Which path will she choose?
Shattering Truths is a dark, disturbing suspense that showcases the emotional turmoil a victim of sexual assault feels. I related instantly with Danielle and while she didn’t make the smartest decisions, she’s honestly portrayed. Her family dynamics made me cringe and at times, I wanted to wring their necks. Their lack of support angered me and I think that’s what the author intended.
Well-written with a strong character arc for Danielle, I found the narration a bit shocking. The transitions need to be smoother as I got lost a few times.
While this is a young adult, I know both teens and adults will enjoy this book. Fans of 13 Reasons Why will devour this book!
Favorite Character/Quote: What had those vile creatures unleashed in me? What beast had they awakened? – N. N. Light
5.0 out of 5 stars I would just like to start off by saying how much I love …
I would just like to start off by saying how much I love when an author starts with “Dear Reader,” it gives the reader an opportunity to jump through the mind of the creator and a more in depth view of the world they are about to jump into.
She starts out with, “This story, while not for the faint of heart, is about one young woman’s path to healing from trauma.” Boom, captured my attention instantly and gave me the interest and desire to read on. I obviously don’t want to spoil the book because I highly recommend this good read but make sure you go into this book with an open mind and a strong heart, not everything is as it seems.
A confused teen with a rough past has her conflicts conveying more than it may seem. Love Triangles, teases and mysterious character’s leave the story with your mind wandering.
An abusive, bi-polar family leaves the Danielle with what life has to offer and it’s for her to determine if it’s good or bad. There is some comic relief that shows she is still young and learning about who she is and what she wants to do with her future. Dani moves jobs, boundaries are broken and new friends make her life a little more trouble than she expected. A writer, singer and poet with dreams but her career aspirations are the least of her worries.
I pictured Danielle as someone with social anxiety, she seems confident when in group settings yet has her moments when she is around uncomfortable people. Her dreams left fears in my mind and I certainly could not get some of her thoughts out of my head. The novel was fast paced and had a great couple twists that kept me reading. I was very connected to the main character Danielle, simply because she was a powerful teenage who knows where she stands in the world and will do anything to get where she wants to be.
There is always a twist but never to many to have your mind fixated on one problem than quickly moved to the next. The healing process is never easy but it’s those we trust and those who we tell about what happened is what makes the process go smoothly or just another problem.
I would like to thank this author for the opportunity to review her book, it was truly a novel I will always cherish and always remember. As for the book, Shattering Truths is a great book to read. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. I am a huge fan of books dedicated to finding ones self and this book really took me by surprise with the twists it took. This is a book you NEED to read.
“Kind of a bizarre love story with a few twists…turns into a mystery” – Shattering Truths – Chelsea Girard
Sixteen-year-old Danielle and her cousin Angie spend the day at the beach and meet two guys there who talk them into going back to their place. Danielle recalls later that the two guys had drugged them. There is no other explanation for it from the memories that she has of that night. She remembers screaming, crying, fighting to keep someone off of her. She can’t remember everything for the blackout spells she was having.
Danielle keeps having nightmares of that night to the point where she is not sure if she is losing her mind and with Angie having no memory of the night just adds to her dilemma. Now she keeps seeing a car with one or both of the guys following her around. If they are not following her they’re calling her. Danielle is very afraid as she doesn’t know what they are up to now or what they may do next.
Shattering Truths is about how one girl deals with being attacked and abused and she feels about all of it. Shattering Truths is definitely one book that is going to stay with for a long time to come as I can relate to Danielle on more than one level. There were so many times that I could relate with her on how she feels about life and people. Danielle is one amazing girl.
I would recommend Shattering Truths to anyone who loves a good story. But let me tell you it is a little on the heavy side about being victimized and abused. – Nancy Allen (The Avid Reader)
4.0 out of 5 stars Dark. Dangerous. Debilitating. Determined. Deadly.
Danielle had a traumatic experience or hallucination. She was not sure which until she started to remember. And remembering things was not making life any easier for her. She experienced this with her cousin. But her cousin cannot or will not remember any of the event. The story was wrapped in suspense, confusion, loss, understanding, coping, and so much more. This YA was a serious story put to words and explained in terms that could be felt deep down to your soul. This was a heavy read that involved emotions on various levels, abuse, victimization, stalking, harassment, and memory and mental issues. Don’t take this read lightly. – The Book Junkie
5.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed reading Shattering Truths
I really enjoyed reading Shattering Truths. The author has a way to grab your attention from the first page. This was a nice steady flow paced read that kept me glued to the pages. It had a few twists that I didn’t see coming and it turned out to be a great read.
Danielle was a character that had her plate full but always managed to get back on her feet and I really enjoyed reading about her story. There were at times I felt sorry for her the way her life played out in the story.
I believe people need to read this story it’s a great story of coming of age and you won’t be disappointed if you pick this book up.
I received a ARC of this book from Xpresso Book Tours to give a honest review. All reviews are 100% my own. – Stacey Minter
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read~Excellent writing and story.
Once I began to read it, the characters came to life. The author’s style of writing is so descriptive that it takes you on her adventure encountered so vividly. Her book is very easy reading. I had a difficult time wanting to put it down. It is real and touches so much of teenagers today and what they go through. It is also most enjoyable for adults, bringing them back into the time they were that age, going through much the same. I hated for it to end., only because I am anxious to pick up the author’s next book to continue the journey. A must read for all! The author’s style of writing is truly captivating. – A Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful mosaic of words and story
The author has the ability to turn words in beautiful mosaics of description. This gift shines throughout this emotional story of a girl trying to dig her way out of heartbreak and turmoil while growing up in teenage life. She does a wonderful job developing all of the characters and you become attached to their fates, their losses, their victories.
One can sympathize with the main characters as they try to find their place in this often-chaotic world, struggling with inner and natural desires, looking to set up boundaries to live life with dignity.
It’s a harsh lesson for Danielle. Society is ready to devour her, and she’s confused in how she should respond. – Love Books
EXCERPTS
“The crushing of one’s will didn’t cease with the conquest. Poison oozed from the wound like some fairy tale curse that corrupted your spirit, making it so vile that you couldn’t know or understand your desires.“
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“What had those vile creatures unleashed in me? What beast had they awakened? I think I vowed to kill the beast and bury it so deep in the abyss it would never again rear its ugly head. Part of me did make this promise. The other part embraced an unfolding of life’s inextinguishable flames and the mind’s unspoken bondage.”
*
“We raced up three flights to the gloomy old attic door with its dark rustic stain and antiquated handle. It was slightly ajar, and I could feel the draft now. The first streak of sunlight in that murky chamber came from the small window and the open roof hatch. We hurried along the creaking floors, beneath the angled ceiling, through the room dusty with cobwebs. A scissor stairway led to the horizontally placed roof hatch.”
*
“Her back was turned, but she heard us and turned. I thought she could hear the beating of my heart that thumped so violently.”
D.K. Sanz 