Jonathan Fore's Blog

On September 1st, Jonathan Fore heard a very odd rumor…  Lexicon Chase and the Riddle Song took 3rd place in Children – Social Issues in the Reader’s Favorite International Novel Award literary contest.  Not only was this a great surprise, being that whole International Award Winning Novelist thing, but it landed in the exact space we were trying to hit, Children Social Issues.

As the readers of Lexicon Chase and the Kingdom of Everhope know, Lexicon Chase (our heroine) is plagued by bullies from all corners of her high school.  This is pretty much the norm growing up.  Most of us have had to face bullies at one time or another.  Some of us have been, perhaps, bullies ourselves?  Setting aside the part where this is part of growing up, part of learning how to socialize with others, and find our own self worth, in today’s world of handheld cameras, video cameras, and the simplistic venue of distribution called the internet and social media, teens today have it pretty hard.

This is one of the primary reasons I wrote the series–not to address, but to help bring the problem to light.  This makes the award all the more meaningful… all the more impactful.

Anyway, I am happy to have won an award, and it is an honor.  I thank all the folks involved with the creation of the Everhope series, and the fine people at Readers’ Favorite.

Jon

Want to be involved with the creative process?  Do you like to read the latest novel even before it’s been released?  Perhaps you have a knack for seeing plot-holes, grammatical inconsistencies, technical blunders–that sort of thing?  Well, Jon has put out an open call for Betas, and you might be the next one!

Betas assist with forging new plots for established characters, monitor and sometimes manage forums, propose ideas for cover-art, and much, much more.  Every author depends on Betas to help with bringing a book home, submitted to publishers, and seeing it in the store.

What does a Beta get for this?  Well, not very much, aside from the undying appreciation of the author, the inside scoop on new creatives, advanced copies of novels before they are available to the general public, and so on.  No author stands alone, and that includes Jon.

If you are interested in becoming one of Jon’s Betas, just use the Contact form, and let us know you would like to be considered!

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Review Rating: 5 stars

I was delighted to return to the wonderful world of Lexicon Chase. I reviewed the first book in the series and I gave it a very high rating. I am happy to report that Lexicon Chase and The Riddle Song keeps up the high standard set in Lexicon Chase and The Scrolls of the Harlequin. Having said that, let me assure readers that this book is a complete story unto itself and you don’t have to read the first book in order to enjoy it or understand what’s going on. But I strongly suggest that you read them both. They are worth it. They are that much fun! Jonathan Fore starts this novel right after the conclusion of the first adventure. That adventure was successful, but did not end in the happily ever after way Lexicon had hoped for.

Everhope is a wonderful magical kingdom, but the magic is still dying. Only three of the scrolls that may be able to save the kingdom were found in the lost library. So after a short period of brooding, Lexicon does what heroines do. She continues the struggle. I love that about her. Another quest is in order and she doesn’t hesitate to take up the struggle again. We have some of the same wonderful characters in Lexicon Chase and The Riddle Song: Maybelle, Lady Grace, Miguel, Barnacle the librarian, and of course, Stephen. The plot is good. The characters are simply great and there are enough new ones to keep the adventure fresh. In short, Jonathan Fore has done it again. I hope he keeps doing it. He may be creating a legend that young girls will be reading and talking about for years to come.

Like to listen to books instead of reading them?  Well, Lexicon Chase and the Scrolls of the Harlequin is now available on Audible and Amazon in a professionally produced audio book.  There’s even a sample available.

Many thanks to Steven Barnett as now all of the characters have voices.  He did an outstanding job interpreting each and every character, and I hope everyone will enjoy his results.

You can learn more about Mr. Barnett on his Facebook page.

Reviewed By Maria Beltran for Readers’ Favorite

Jonathan Fore’s Lexicon Chase and the Scrolls of the Harlequin is an engaging young adult, fantasy and adventure novel. As the story unravels, we get to know fifteen-year-old Lexicon Chase, an awkward young girl who is regularly bullied. From school, she regularly passes by her grandmother’s dilapidated small house on the way to a trailer that she and her mother call home. One day, her grandmother shows her a rose and tells her that at its heart can be found the kingdom of Everhope. Indeed, as Lexi blinks at the rose, she is transported to the kingdom where her grandmother is known as Queen Abigail and she is treated as a princess. Thus begins a charmed life where she gets to wear beautiful gowns, eat the best food, ride the best horses and command the kingdom’s soldiers herself. All is not well in Everhope, however, as Lexi discovers that a druid has put a curse on it. Determined to lift the curse on her doomed kingdom, Lexi will go on a dangerous quest. Will she find what she is looking for?

Lexicon Chase and the Scrolls of the Harlequin is Book One in a series and centers on the life and amazing adventures of Lexi Chase. Obviously, author Jonathan Fore’s imagination knows no bounds and his story is certainly entertaining. Imagine a poor awkward girl of fifteen being transformed into a princess in a wink – then it is just normal that she will get into a lot of trouble in her elegant new role. What makes Lexi’s character endearing is her transformation from a poor bullied kid to a benevolent princess. And while some of her subjects plot her downfall, Princess Lexi goes on a mission to save her kingdom. The characters in this story are well rounded and there is an effort to show something good in all of them, including the villains. And Everhope, Princess Lexi’s new home, is a kingdom populated by knights, druids, unicorns, ogres, fairies, talking butterflies, and ghostly men among others. After reading this book, it will not be surprising if Jonathan Fore’s readers will eagerly look forward to his next edition. I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed by Farah, Age 9

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin is a great book. It’s about a 15-year-old girl named Lexicon Chase. She is often bullied at school. Lexi always rides the school bus with her friend, Thug. After school, she always goes to her grandmother’s house until her mom comes home. One day, her grandmother showed Lexi a magic rose that could take her to a magical world called Everhope. She explained about a magical kingdom. She also told Lexi that she used to be queen of Everhope! Lexi’s grandmother told Lexi that SHE is the new ruler of Everhope for she can no longer be queen. Of course, Lexi didn’t believe a word her grandmother was saying, that is, until she held the rose. Soon enough, she found herself in Everhope.

The first person — or rather — creature that she met, was a Fae. Faes have the body of a butterfly and the face of a human child (which is very creepy, in my opinion). The Fae alerted everyone of Lexi’s arrival in Everhope. Soon enough, she was crowned princess of Everhope. Lexi met lots of people, like Maybell, Chef Cornelius, and Chief Byron. Maybell gave Lexi the grand tour of the castle. Lexi learned that there are lots of words and phrases that Everhopians don’t know like tacos and pizza. There are also lots of things that Everhopians use that Lexi doesn’t know.

Lexi found out the hard way that if she fell asleep in Everhope, she would be transported back home. Since she found that out, she went back and forth all the time. Lexi did lots of crazy things. She even became a soldier!

When Lexi went back home one time, her grandmother was not feeling well. Lexi begged and pleaded for her grandmother to tell her what was wrong. Her grandmother explained about a curse from Everhope that was killing her. Lexi wanted to learn more about the curse, so she decided to find the lost library to find out more. She, and a few others, faced a lot of danger. Meanwhile, Lexi developed a strong friendship with a girl named Milk. Lexi eventually found the library in an unexpected place and went back to the castle. At the end, Lexi decides to do something special for Milk.

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin is a great book for kids who like fantasy, magical places and adventures. It is very weird and funny . Some parts of this book are just unexplainable! I really like this book because it is magical. My favorite part of the book is when Maybell says “By the gods’ blighted butts (which I put as a quote)!” If you are reading this right now, buy this book! You will never regret it!  I give this book 5 stars.

Thanks Farah!  Awesome write-up, little lady!

Lexi Chase’s life drastically changes on the 25th of September when her grandmother’s magical rose transports Lexi to a medieval castle in the Kingdom of Everhope. Used to being the butt of ridicule at her high school, the fifteen-year-old enjoys her new princess role until she learns the horrible truth of a curse that not only affects Everhope, but also the life of her beloved grandmother. Although she is determined to find the hidden tome that will break the curse, Lexi is unaware there is an even greater diabolical plot in the works.

Jonathan Fore’s 6th novel, and the first book of the Lexicon Chase and the Kingdom of Everhope series, takes readers on a fantastical C.S. Lewis-like journey. Laced with a good-versus-evil theme, Fore’s third person narrative features an under-dog whose self worth is directly proportional to her impoverished and dismal life. Indeed, the last thing Lexi expects is a sudden shift to royalty (a definite Narnia feel). Aided by a colorful benevolent and miscreant cast, the coming-of-age development of Fore’s principal character is also surrounded by a host of mythological and mystical beings. Fore includes an interesting mix of faes (fairy-like creatures), elves, ghosts, gibberings, gnolls, as well as a friendly ogre and a unicorn amid an all-things-apothecary-and-magical setting.

While Fore doesn’t incorporate talking beasts, and there is no religious allegory attached to his plot, the mere fact he mixes a present-day youth with her ties to an otherworldly past, and then combines that with all the above-mentioned elements, is enough to give his novel a reminiscent warm-and-fuzzy feel of Narnia. Yet Fore’s writing style is quite unlike Lewis’s old-British vernacular, consistent throughout the Narnia novels. Lexi (who is learning how to be a proper princess), for example, takes her 21st century lingo and actions with her to Everhope, which makes for an interesting, and sometimes hilarious, contrast to language and practices of an archaic society.

Alternating between various unexpected character scenes of both the present and the past, Lexicon Chase and the Scrolls of Harlequin undoubtedly closes with a light cli hanger in preparation for part two of this exciting new series—Lexicon Chase and the Riddle Song—coming in 2016!

Review Rating: 4 stars.

Reviewed By Kim Anisi for Readers’ Favorite

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by Jonathan Fore is the story of Lexicon Chase, also called Lexi. Or Princess. In the beginning, she is nothing but an unpopular girl who gets bullied every day – so much so that one day she can hardly bear it any longer. That is the day when her grandmother shows her how to travel to a different world – a world in which the women of her line are queens and princesses. Lexi feels wonderful in this world; she can finally be who she wants to be without being bullied. However, there are also those who do not want outsiders to be the rulers of the land. There also is a curse and Lexi wants to break it. But for that, she has to find a missing library and she cannot trust everybody.

I enjoyed Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by Jonathan Fore so much that I finished the book in two sittings. I would recommend the book to people who like stories along the lines of unpopular, unhappy, almost suicidal girl finds a way to a magical world and discovers that there is more to her than she ever expected. Yes, there are many stories like that, but Lexicon Chase stands out because the characters are very well developed, and the world is described wonderfully. The author clearly knows how to use adjectives to his advantage, but without using too many of them, or using boring old cliches to describe people and objects. It is just perfect for a reader’s imagination. I like the idea that Lexicon went out to look for a lost library. Kind of fits her name, too. She is a rather likeable character, and I am sure that many readers will fall in love with her.

Reviewed By Ray Simmons for Readers’ Favorite

Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by Jonathan Fore is the perfect fantasy book for young girls. Don’t get me wrong, boys will enjoy it too but certain girls will love it. I liked this series a lot and if it keeps up the fun and excitement in books to come we may have another Harry Potter on our hands. Lexicon Chase starts in a fashion similar to Harry Potter. We have a smart quiet person who is bullied and tormented. It’s impossible for Lexicon to know her worth in our world and one of the most powerful scenes in the story occurs a little after Lexicon’s abrupt arrival in Everhope. Maybell the chambermaid does her makeup and for the very first time in her young life the young Lexicon feels beautiful.

Lexicon is now a princess. Instead of being bullied and teased, now everyone respects or even fears her. It is a big adjustment but Lexicon jumps into her new life of magic, assassins, and a lost library as if she has been given a new lease on life. She dives into her new life and her new kingdom and we get to watch her grow and mature. She has always been a good person, even a great person, but she just couldn’t bloom in our modern, mundane world. The writing is excellent. The morals and lessons are relevant to kids and teenagers everywhere. Jonathan Fore has a sure winner here and I won’t be surprised to see Lexicon on the big screen one day.

Review Rating: 5 stars.

Reviewed By Tracy A. Fischer for Readers’ Favorite

Oh my goodness! I just finished reading a book that I simply will not be able to stop raving about! Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin by debut novelist Jonathan Fore is simply a masterful read in the genre of fantasy for young adults, introducing readers to our protagonist, Lexicon Chase, a young woman trying to figure out life. And what she’s figured out so far is that she’s not too crazy about her particular life. She doesn’t have the best clothes, she doesn’t wear make up, she has no cellphone and no boyfriend. But when her grandmother gives her a special gift, a family heirloom, her life definitely starts to change. When the gift magically transports Lexicon to Everhope, a fantastical kingdom, she realizes that there’s much more to her life, and her family, than she ever thought. Lexicon is destined to be a queen, and living the life of a princess has her quite enamored. But when she realizes that the only way she will reign is to summon a courage she isn’t sure that she has to defeat those who seek to get rid of her, it’s uncertain if her time in Everhope will truly last.

I loved this book. Loved. It. First of all, let’s talk about the author’s choice of the main character’s name. Lexicon Chase. I mean, really, is there a more perfect name than that for such a character? I think not. Lexicon Chase: Scrolls of the Harlequin is a book that grabbed me from the very first page and I simply could not put it down until the end. It was that great! Any reader who loves a great fantasy, young adult or not, should absolutely pick up this book and read it as soon as possible. I was thrilled to see that this book is the first in a planned series. I, for one, will be anxiously waiting for the next book in this series by author Jonathan Fore. If this promising new author continues to write with this level of passion and intensity, I think it likely that we’ll be seeing his name on the bestseller’s lists soon!

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