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Skin Curse
The Gate Cycle #2
Kristin Jacques
2021 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Skin Curse is book two of The Gate Cycle series by Kristin Jacques, an easy-to-read, gripping fantasy with memorable characters and an exceptional plot. Azzy Brimvine is facing the biggest challenge of her life. After all she has been through, from surviving the snatcher’s caravan and the hungry-eyed monsters, she has to find her brother in the city of Avergard, a city that is treacherous. The voices that have guided her for so long have departed. In the House of Seven Smiles, it is hard to trust anyone, even the mysterious Lord Wallach and the servants. Powerful forces scheme to bring the city to the ground, and in a place where no one can be trusted, she must find her brother and do so fast to save her family before the Gate destroys everything.
The story is set in a world that is filled with mystery and it features a protagonist with a unique mission. Saving her brother and family is Azzy’s primary concern. It sounds so easy, but then the author creates twists in the plot that make the task almost impossible. One of the things I love in a good story is how well the author handles conflict and Kristin Jacques rises to the task, never for a moment disappointing. The protagonist is a female character that is sophisticated, and while she enjoys extraordinary skills, she is blinded by her loyalty and suffers because of people that cannot bet rusted. Skin Curse is fast-paced and written in prose that is beautiful, highly descriptive, and characterized by strong imagery. The depiction of the dark world of Avergard will have fans of fantasy intoxicated. I loved this book!
Skin Curse is book two of The Gate Cycle series by Kristin Jacques, an easy-to-read, gripping fantasy with memorable characters and an exceptional plot. Azzy Brimvine is facing the biggest challenge of her life. After all she has been through, from surviving the snatcher’s caravan and the hungry-eyed monsters, she has to find her brother in the city of Avergard, a city that is treacherous. The voices that have guided her for so long have departed. In the House of Seven Smiles, it is hard to trust anyone, even the mysterious Lord Wallach and the servants. Powerful forces scheme to bring the city to the ground, and in a place where no one can be trusted, she must find her brother and do so fast to save her family before the Gate destroys everything.
The story is set in a world that is filled with mystery and it features a protagonist with a unique mission. Saving her brother and family is Azzy’s primary concern. It sounds so easy, but then the author creates twists in the plot that make the task almost impossible. One of the things I love in a good story is how well the author handles conflict and Kristin Jacques rises to the task, never for a moment disappointing. The protagonist is a female character that is sophisticated, and while she enjoys extraordinary skills, she is blinded by her loyalty and suffers because of people that cannot bet rusted. Skin Curse is fast-paced and written in prose that is beautiful, highly descriptive, and characterized by strong imagery. The depiction of the dark world of Avergard will have fans of fantasy intoxicated. I loved this book!
Recommend this book:
Hall of Skulls
1736771604
Jamie Eubanks
2021 Gold Medal
376 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Grace Masso for Readers' Favorite
Hall of Skulls by Jamie Eubanks is a story that gripped me from the first page and had me turning the pages nonstop, the kind of science fiction that transports the reader into exciting and rich worlds, and, of course, in the company of characters that readers care about. In this case, it is Kai, whose mission is not only to overcome a series of well-calculated, heart-breaking, and insuperable challenges but also to locate his abducted lover and betrothed. To find Asher, he has to walk a difficult and traitorous road and cross paths with the aliens that almost conquered his world thousands of years ago. The Hall of Skulls holds immense power and astonishing secrets, and if only he can unlock its power, perhaps he might find Asher and prove himself a worthy leader of the Mokuteki. But how much fight can he muster for the task ahead?
Jamie Eubanks just blew me away with her novel. The protagonist is a man whose world is changed by the shocking discoveries he makes when he assumes responsibility for his people. While he goes through untold suffering and challenges, he also grows into a great character, each step he takes unveiling a mystery about the world he thought he knew. His encounter with powerful forces catapults him into chaos, allowing him to be transformed through the crucible of pain. The writing is gorgeous, with descriptions that left my mind with powerful images. The plot is cleverly written, the characters exceptional, and the entire writing as atmospheric as anything I would have wanted. I finished the book fast because I just couldn’t wait. Hall of Skulls is one of those books that grab all your attention and keep it until the unexpected end.
Hall of Skulls by Jamie Eubanks is a story that gripped me from the first page and had me turning the pages nonstop, the kind of science fiction that transports the reader into exciting and rich worlds, and, of course, in the company of characters that readers care about. In this case, it is Kai, whose mission is not only to overcome a series of well-calculated, heart-breaking, and insuperable challenges but also to locate his abducted lover and betrothed. To find Asher, he has to walk a difficult and traitorous road and cross paths with the aliens that almost conquered his world thousands of years ago. The Hall of Skulls holds immense power and astonishing secrets, and if only he can unlock its power, perhaps he might find Asher and prove himself a worthy leader of the Mokuteki. But how much fight can he muster for the task ahead?
Jamie Eubanks just blew me away with her novel. The protagonist is a man whose world is changed by the shocking discoveries he makes when he assumes responsibility for his people. While he goes through untold suffering and challenges, he also grows into a great character, each step he takes unveiling a mystery about the world he thought he knew. His encounter with powerful forces catapults him into chaos, allowing him to be transformed through the crucible of pain. The writing is gorgeous, with descriptions that left my mind with powerful images. The plot is cleverly written, the characters exceptional, and the entire writing as atmospheric as anything I would have wanted. I finished the book fast because I just couldn’t wait. Hall of Skulls is one of those books that grab all your attention and keep it until the unexpected end.
Recommend this book:
Ever Alice
HJ Ramsay
2020 Finalist
354 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Ever Alice is a work of fiction in the fantasy and coming of age drama sub-genres and was penned by author H. J. Ramsey. Exploring the world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland and inventing new concepts therein, the author takes us back into the world of Alice at age fifteen, where she finds herself desperate to leave the asylum she’s in. A traumatic choice leads her back to Wonderland, where her new adventures with the White Rabbit and the deadly Queen of Hearts begin again. What results is a rip-roaring adventure tale that has plenty of psychological twists and modern perspectives on the classic tale we know and love.
Author H. J. Ramsey has crafted a wonderful balance between paying homage to the classic tale and conceptual world of Alice In Wonderland, whilst also crafting a more updated viewpoint that brings readers to the story from a new angle. Highly suitable for both teen readers and adult fans alike, this version of Alice is shrewder than before but still has her curiosity and naivety, and she undergoes a firm emotional arc with plenty of growth. Wonderland itself is a well-described masterpiece, filled with excellent details that blend our old concepts with Ramsey’s new and colorful brand of surreal psychology. In what I thought was a unique addition to the narrative, we also get the perspective of Rosamund, Queen of Hearts, which makes for an exciting plot as their two narratives converge. Overall, I would certainly recommend Ever Alice to readers who love the classics and want a high-quality continuation to fall in love with Wonderland all over again.
Ever Alice is a work of fiction in the fantasy and coming of age drama sub-genres and was penned by author H. J. Ramsey. Exploring the world of Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland and inventing new concepts therein, the author takes us back into the world of Alice at age fifteen, where she finds herself desperate to leave the asylum she’s in. A traumatic choice leads her back to Wonderland, where her new adventures with the White Rabbit and the deadly Queen of Hearts begin again. What results is a rip-roaring adventure tale that has plenty of psychological twists and modern perspectives on the classic tale we know and love.
Author H. J. Ramsey has crafted a wonderful balance between paying homage to the classic tale and conceptual world of Alice In Wonderland, whilst also crafting a more updated viewpoint that brings readers to the story from a new angle. Highly suitable for both teen readers and adult fans alike, this version of Alice is shrewder than before but still has her curiosity and naivety, and she undergoes a firm emotional arc with plenty of growth. Wonderland itself is a well-described masterpiece, filled with excellent details that blend our old concepts with Ramsey’s new and colorful brand of surreal psychology. In what I thought was a unique addition to the narrative, we also get the perspective of Rosamund, Queen of Hearts, which makes for an exciting plot as their two narratives converge. Overall, I would certainly recommend Ever Alice to readers who love the classics and want a high-quality continuation to fall in love with Wonderland all over again.
Recommend this book:
Scream of The White Bear
David Clement-Davies
2020 Honorable Mention
609 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Scream of the White Bear by David Clement-Davies is a gripping narrative with strong themes and an irresistible appeal to animal lovers and readers who enjoy tight and beautiful prose. In the frozen North, the Bears are in awe when a cub, Uteq, is born with a mysterious mark and the unique gift of deciphering the deepest fears in others. This is a threat to the Ice World as he evokes legends and may be the Savior that has been spoken of over the ages, or a mark of Evil. Can telling the Great Story, which speaks of the resurrection and even the end of death, stop the Bear brothers from fighting among themselves? Can they combat the Evil that is rising against them?
This is a wonderful story and it begins in an enigmatic way with references to legends. The reader is thrust into the world of the Bears where myth and science coexist. The story features very strong and sophisticated characters and the use of anthropomorphism is ingenious, and readers find themselves easily rooting for characters that are not even human. The prose is crisp and littered with breathtaking imagery; elements of the setting are captured in a unique way and readers can easily imagine the scenes as well as places where the action takes place. And this is from the moment of the gathering of the army of male polar bears, through the wars and the escalating conflict to the enticing denouement. The language is lyrical, the themes realistic, featuring environmental themes, the threat to animals, religion and science, and a strong sense of family. Scream of the White Bear by David Clement-Davies is emotionally rich, a story with elaborately developed themes and characters, and a plot that makes it impossible to put down.
Scream of the White Bear by David Clement-Davies is a gripping narrative with strong themes and an irresistible appeal to animal lovers and readers who enjoy tight and beautiful prose. In the frozen North, the Bears are in awe when a cub, Uteq, is born with a mysterious mark and the unique gift of deciphering the deepest fears in others. This is a threat to the Ice World as he evokes legends and may be the Savior that has been spoken of over the ages, or a mark of Evil. Can telling the Great Story, which speaks of the resurrection and even the end of death, stop the Bear brothers from fighting among themselves? Can they combat the Evil that is rising against them?
This is a wonderful story and it begins in an enigmatic way with references to legends. The reader is thrust into the world of the Bears where myth and science coexist. The story features very strong and sophisticated characters and the use of anthropomorphism is ingenious, and readers find themselves easily rooting for characters that are not even human. The prose is crisp and littered with breathtaking imagery; elements of the setting are captured in a unique way and readers can easily imagine the scenes as well as places where the action takes place. And this is from the moment of the gathering of the army of male polar bears, through the wars and the escalating conflict to the enticing denouement. The language is lyrical, the themes realistic, featuring environmental themes, the threat to animals, religion and science, and a strong sense of family. Scream of the White Bear by David Clement-Davies is emotionally rich, a story with elaborately developed themes and characters, and a plot that makes it impossible to put down.
Recommend this book:
First Earth
Book One in the Arch Mage Series
Cami Murdock Jensen
2020 Bronze Medal
337 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
In First Earth, Agnes is not your average 16-year-old girl. She is a burn victim, her neuropathy is not that great and it seems as if she is the only wizard remaining in her world. She was trying to rebuild her life, one step at a time, but as luck would have it, circumstances made a mess of it once again. An old wizard saved her and “took” her to his planet, believing that she is the one who will save his people. But how can she save someone else’s people when she can barely function herself?
First Earth: Book One in the Arch Mage Series by Cami Murdock Jensen is the perfect young adult novel for readers who want excellent narration, impressive characters, and an incredible storyline. The atmosphere was amazing right from the very beginning, the story built at the right pace, and the momentum was kept steady until the very end. I enjoyed how headstrong, determined and content in her skin Agnes was. She knew her flaws, what needed more attention, and she knew how she could work around it. I enjoyed how cynical yet intelligent she was; she took notice of everything and she worked around it. I also loved how quickly she adapted, considering her circumstances, and how she lived up to the expectations she had for herself and other people’s expectations of her. The narrative was intense, the pace was fast, and the characterization was on point. There wasn’t a point at which I thought it wasn’t working. I simply loved First Earth! Brilliant!
In First Earth, Agnes is not your average 16-year-old girl. She is a burn victim, her neuropathy is not that great and it seems as if she is the only wizard remaining in her world. She was trying to rebuild her life, one step at a time, but as luck would have it, circumstances made a mess of it once again. An old wizard saved her and “took” her to his planet, believing that she is the one who will save his people. But how can she save someone else’s people when she can barely function herself?
First Earth: Book One in the Arch Mage Series by Cami Murdock Jensen is the perfect young adult novel for readers who want excellent narration, impressive characters, and an incredible storyline. The atmosphere was amazing right from the very beginning, the story built at the right pace, and the momentum was kept steady until the very end. I enjoyed how headstrong, determined and content in her skin Agnes was. She knew her flaws, what needed more attention, and she knew how she could work around it. I enjoyed how cynical yet intelligent she was; she took notice of everything and she worked around it. I also loved how quickly she adapted, considering her circumstances, and how she lived up to the expectations she had for herself and other people’s expectations of her. The narrative was intense, the pace was fast, and the characterization was on point. There wasn’t a point at which I thought it wasn’t working. I simply loved First Earth! Brilliant!
Recommend this book:
The Diseased Ones
The Hollis Timewire Series Book 1
Danielle Harrington
2020 Silver Medal
238 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Risah Salazar for Readers' Favorite
Hollis Timewire turns sixteen and this can only mean one thing -- The Test. It's a rite of passage, allowing the young generation to graduate and become part of The Society. The Society does not allow disobedience, nor any other kind of emotion. The citizens need to keep their feelings at bay, or they will be punished. The Test determines if one is either fit or diseased with the biomarker. Messed up with bad blood and in need of cleansing, that's how The Society describes The Diseased Ones. Only one in ten million has the biomarker, so Hollis does not need to worry, right? Wrong.
When her special ability is revealed, she loses everything and is forced to live with the rest of the Diseased Ones -- the people she has been taught to hate all her life. As the fine line between truth and white lies blurs, she finds a new home and learns to control her ability. But when push comes to shove, will Hollis choose her new-found family or will she sacrifice them and her ability to be part of The Society again?
Danielle Harrington's The Diseased Ones is the first installment in The Hollis Timewire series. This YA dystopian tale is as compelling as it is fast-paced. Its relevance is further emphasized by its feminist nature and social themes. Nicely equipped with young love and angst, The Diseased Ones is highly recommended to fans of fantasy, sci-fi, and coming-of-age stories. Themes include genocide, violence, manipulation, and bullying.
Hollis Timewire turns sixteen and this can only mean one thing -- The Test. It's a rite of passage, allowing the young generation to graduate and become part of The Society. The Society does not allow disobedience, nor any other kind of emotion. The citizens need to keep their feelings at bay, or they will be punished. The Test determines if one is either fit or diseased with the biomarker. Messed up with bad blood and in need of cleansing, that's how The Society describes The Diseased Ones. Only one in ten million has the biomarker, so Hollis does not need to worry, right? Wrong.
When her special ability is revealed, she loses everything and is forced to live with the rest of the Diseased Ones -- the people she has been taught to hate all her life. As the fine line between truth and white lies blurs, she finds a new home and learns to control her ability. But when push comes to shove, will Hollis choose her new-found family or will she sacrifice them and her ability to be part of The Society again?
Danielle Harrington's The Diseased Ones is the first installment in The Hollis Timewire series. This YA dystopian tale is as compelling as it is fast-paced. Its relevance is further emphasized by its feminist nature and social themes. Nicely equipped with young love and angst, The Diseased Ones is highly recommended to fans of fantasy, sci-fi, and coming-of-age stories. Themes include genocide, violence, manipulation, and bullying.
Recommend this book:
Marrow Charm
The Gate Cycle
Kristin Jacques
2020 Gold Medal
314 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Marrow Charm by Kristin Jacques is the first book in The Gate Cycle series. Azzy lives in the world Below with her brother Armin and their guardian, but their lives are quickly derailed when the Rot infects everyone, and her family is cast out to the world Above. Her brother and guardian face an uncertain and terrifying future at auction when they’re carted away by the Snatchers. Azzy must face the dangers of Above if she stands a chance at saving them. A witch sends Azzy along a path with the help of a mysterious wolf. As the two fight for their lives, Azzy discovers a fine line between the humans and the creatures, and she’s not sure which is worse.
This dark fantasy adventure from Kristin Jacques is riveting, suspenseful, and surprising as a journey through a deadly world pushes one girl to her limits. The story weaves between two parts with two perspectives that follow the journeys of Azzy and her brother, Armin. Azzy’s story is woven with elements reminiscent of the darker elements of fairytales which are prominent through the mysterious wolf, the witch, and the dangerous use of magic. Through Armin’s perspective, Jacques delves into the more twisted reality of this city where these inhuman lords are bidding on people, and looks closer at the infection that is twisting Armin into something else. The world is a deadly and terrifying place filled with dark and horrific creatures that will haunt your nightmares. Jacques uses these darker elements to delve into a look at the twistedness of humanity.
As Azzy is sent upon the path to find her brother, she gains an ally in Kai, a wolf that crosses her journey in an interesting way. The two have a knack for saving each other and their connection is explored throughout with a slow build-up of their friendship into one of trust and loyalty. Jacques delivers a poignant read with dark themes in Marrow Charm which brings to life stunning descriptions, a terrifying world, and fairytale elements woven into the journey of a girl and a wolf in a fight to save her brother.
Marrow Charm by Kristin Jacques is the first book in The Gate Cycle series. Azzy lives in the world Below with her brother Armin and their guardian, but their lives are quickly derailed when the Rot infects everyone, and her family is cast out to the world Above. Her brother and guardian face an uncertain and terrifying future at auction when they’re carted away by the Snatchers. Azzy must face the dangers of Above if she stands a chance at saving them. A witch sends Azzy along a path with the help of a mysterious wolf. As the two fight for their lives, Azzy discovers a fine line between the humans and the creatures, and she’s not sure which is worse.
This dark fantasy adventure from Kristin Jacques is riveting, suspenseful, and surprising as a journey through a deadly world pushes one girl to her limits. The story weaves between two parts with two perspectives that follow the journeys of Azzy and her brother, Armin. Azzy’s story is woven with elements reminiscent of the darker elements of fairytales which are prominent through the mysterious wolf, the witch, and the dangerous use of magic. Through Armin’s perspective, Jacques delves into the more twisted reality of this city where these inhuman lords are bidding on people, and looks closer at the infection that is twisting Armin into something else. The world is a deadly and terrifying place filled with dark and horrific creatures that will haunt your nightmares. Jacques uses these darker elements to delve into a look at the twistedness of humanity.
As Azzy is sent upon the path to find her brother, she gains an ally in Kai, a wolf that crosses her journey in an interesting way. The two have a knack for saving each other and their connection is explored throughout with a slow build-up of their friendship into one of trust and loyalty. Jacques delivers a poignant read with dark themes in Marrow Charm which brings to life stunning descriptions, a terrifying world, and fairytale elements woven into the journey of a girl and a wolf in a fight to save her brother.
Recommend this book:
What the Tiger Said
Roger Ladd Memmott
2019 Finalist
180 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite
What the Tiger Said is a gem of literary fiction written by Roger Ladd Memmott. Stress is heavily on the word ‘literary’ in this precise description. Not for any false pretensions of affected literariness, but because this short novel, told with the impetus and in-the-moment vividness of a slightly extended short story, is a minor masterpiece of creative writing and uniquely gorgeous, individualistic prose. From the very first sentence, Memmott establishes an immense talent for creating intensely evocative, surrealistic, magical, formidably incredible while impeccably credible, deeply human scenes. The reader awakens to a little girl sitting all alone inside a darkened boxcar home, finishing her apple dinner, listening to the rain outside, knowing that her Paps is once again in jail. Within moments, the reader is immersed in an almost hallucinogenic world of circus-like unreality, homeless figures, errant drifters, a revenant child friend, and a tiger on the loose. “When she looked for her face in the window, it wasn’t her face… She knew it wasn’t her face because she wasn’t grinning, but the face in the window was.”
Thus begins the slightly apocalyptic tale of What the Tiger Said by Roger Ladd Memmott. With allusions both to Little Red Riding Hood and Wonder Woman, our little boxcar girl moves with the introspective power of a simple yet impervious metaphor, manifesting naïve innocence with the willfulness of fate, a determined speck of life amidst the forewarned End-Times. Target of the drifters, befriender of an orangutan escapee – like the tiger – and holder of several golden Tickets to Heaven lifted from the would-be kidnappers, our little girl heads deep into the night for her predestined encounter with a tiger and her own accountability for a death, two fates intertwined in a fiery gem of literary fiction.
What the Tiger Said is a gem of literary fiction written by Roger Ladd Memmott. Stress is heavily on the word ‘literary’ in this precise description. Not for any false pretensions of affected literariness, but because this short novel, told with the impetus and in-the-moment vividness of a slightly extended short story, is a minor masterpiece of creative writing and uniquely gorgeous, individualistic prose. From the very first sentence, Memmott establishes an immense talent for creating intensely evocative, surrealistic, magical, formidably incredible while impeccably credible, deeply human scenes. The reader awakens to a little girl sitting all alone inside a darkened boxcar home, finishing her apple dinner, listening to the rain outside, knowing that her Paps is once again in jail. Within moments, the reader is immersed in an almost hallucinogenic world of circus-like unreality, homeless figures, errant drifters, a revenant child friend, and a tiger on the loose. “When she looked for her face in the window, it wasn’t her face… She knew it wasn’t her face because she wasn’t grinning, but the face in the window was.”
Thus begins the slightly apocalyptic tale of What the Tiger Said by Roger Ladd Memmott. With allusions both to Little Red Riding Hood and Wonder Woman, our little boxcar girl moves with the introspective power of a simple yet impervious metaphor, manifesting naïve innocence with the willfulness of fate, a determined speck of life amidst the forewarned End-Times. Target of the drifters, befriender of an orangutan escapee – like the tiger – and holder of several golden Tickets to Heaven lifted from the would-be kidnappers, our little girl heads deep into the night for her predestined encounter with a tiger and her own accountability for a death, two fates intertwined in a fiery gem of literary fiction.
Recommend this book:
The Stone of Wisdom
Book 4 of the Centaur Chronicles
M.J. Evans
2019 Honorable Mention
272 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite
The Stone of Wisdom begins with Carling and her friends searching for a diamond, the last jewel to complete her Silver Breastplate of Righteousness. Meanwhile, the evil wizard, Xantar, comes back to Crystonia to gather an army to defeat the little half fairy/half human girl. Crystonia is a mysterious land that holds several races of creatures that this young girl must unite in order to rule successfully. Almost two years ago her quest began and although her main objective was to find the missing stones that completed her breastplate, her kindness drew others to her. In completing her mission, Carling found she had endeared herself to the Centaurs, Ogres, Cyclops, fairies, and ice horses that lived within her realm. You will find adventure, courage and wisdom as Carling the Duente completes her quest beside her friends.
M.J. Evans's distinct writing style is very descriptive and gives the reader a vivid mental picture of the scenes within its pages. The Stone of Wisdom is the fourth book in the Centaur Chronicles, but can be read alone since past events are explained. Evans's experience as a teacher is obvious in her writing skill and organized short chapters, making this book a pleasure to read. Aside from the evident pursuit of the jewel, this novel is woven with character traits that accentuate the makings of a person who would be a good friend or leader. The main character had to make hard decisions with her friend, but she also knew when she had to stand alone. I would recommend this novel to young people, but as an adult, I also found it an excellent read.
The Stone of Wisdom begins with Carling and her friends searching for a diamond, the last jewel to complete her Silver Breastplate of Righteousness. Meanwhile, the evil wizard, Xantar, comes back to Crystonia to gather an army to defeat the little half fairy/half human girl. Crystonia is a mysterious land that holds several races of creatures that this young girl must unite in order to rule successfully. Almost two years ago her quest began and although her main objective was to find the missing stones that completed her breastplate, her kindness drew others to her. In completing her mission, Carling found she had endeared herself to the Centaurs, Ogres, Cyclops, fairies, and ice horses that lived within her realm. You will find adventure, courage and wisdom as Carling the Duente completes her quest beside her friends.
M.J. Evans's distinct writing style is very descriptive and gives the reader a vivid mental picture of the scenes within its pages. The Stone of Wisdom is the fourth book in the Centaur Chronicles, but can be read alone since past events are explained. Evans's experience as a teacher is obvious in her writing skill and organized short chapters, making this book a pleasure to read. Aside from the evident pursuit of the jewel, this novel is woven with character traits that accentuate the makings of a person who would be a good friend or leader. The main character had to make hard decisions with her friend, but she also knew when she had to stand alone. I would recommend this novel to young people, but as an adult, I also found it an excellent read.
Recommend this book:
The Engine Woman's Light
Laurel Anne Hill
2019 Honorable Mention
352 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
The Engine Woman's Light by Laurel Anne Hill is a coming of age story with strong characters and an adventure that is as action-packed as it is mesmerizing. It is 1894 and an alternate world in California. Fifteen-year-old Juanita gets a vision in which a long-dead captain entrusts her with the mission to protect the people. She is to prevent people from boarding the trains to an asylum — the only way to stop a sinister plot by the director of the institution. Follow her on a gritty journey as she sets out to fight evil, disrupting the railroad and tapping into her ancestry to find strength and inspiration. But can her world survive the shock of secrets she’ll learn and the moral question of having to kill in order to save the innocent? A tale of love and loss, of loyalty and redemption, filled with mature themes.
Laurel Anne Hill has a great gift for character. I enjoyed the way the protagonist is developed. She is imagined with deep layers of complexity, and this helps a lot with the internal conflict that takes place within her. The themes of love, loss, inhumanity, and many more are skillfully written into the story. The narrative leaves the reader feeling as though they were in a dream world, having an adventure with powerful characters. The story is fast paced, filled with action, and featuring the kind of suspense that gets the reader engrossed in the story, wanting to know what happens next to the characters. The Engine Woman's Light is ingeniously plotted, a gripping story with a setting that reflects the eeriness of a dreamworld.
The Engine Woman's Light by Laurel Anne Hill is a coming of age story with strong characters and an adventure that is as action-packed as it is mesmerizing. It is 1894 and an alternate world in California. Fifteen-year-old Juanita gets a vision in which a long-dead captain entrusts her with the mission to protect the people. She is to prevent people from boarding the trains to an asylum — the only way to stop a sinister plot by the director of the institution. Follow her on a gritty journey as she sets out to fight evil, disrupting the railroad and tapping into her ancestry to find strength and inspiration. But can her world survive the shock of secrets she’ll learn and the moral question of having to kill in order to save the innocent? A tale of love and loss, of loyalty and redemption, filled with mature themes.
Laurel Anne Hill has a great gift for character. I enjoyed the way the protagonist is developed. She is imagined with deep layers of complexity, and this helps a lot with the internal conflict that takes place within her. The themes of love, loss, inhumanity, and many more are skillfully written into the story. The narrative leaves the reader feeling as though they were in a dream world, having an adventure with powerful characters. The story is fast paced, filled with action, and featuring the kind of suspense that gets the reader engrossed in the story, wanting to know what happens next to the characters. The Engine Woman's Light is ingeniously plotted, a gripping story with a setting that reflects the eeriness of a dreamworld.
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