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Thyla #1
Thyla
"My name is Tessa. I am strong. I am brave. I do not cry. These are the only things I know for certain. I was found in the outback, ragged as a wild thing. I have no memory; not even of how I got the long slashes across my back. They make me frightened of what I might remember. The policewoman, Connolly, found me; and placed me; in a boarding school and told me about her daughter, Cat, who went missing in the outback. I think there is a connection between Cat, me, and the strange things going on at this school. If I can learn Cat's story, I might discover my own and stop it happening again."
A thrilling paranormal tale of shapeshifting, a centuries-old war, and finding out who you really are when your memories betray you.
A thrilling paranormal tale of shapeshifting, a centuries-old war, and finding out who you really are when your memories betray you.
279 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2011
7 people are currently reading
2028 people want to read
About the author
Kate Gordon
30 books128 followersKate Gordon grew up in a small town by the sea in Tasmania. She is the author of numerous award-winning picture-books and novels for younger readers, including Aster’s Good, Right Things, published by Yellow Brick Books in November, 2020, which won the CBCA Book of the Year for younger readers in 2021, and was shortlisted in the Tasmanian Literary Awards in 2022. The companion novels, Xavier in the Meantime and Indigo in the Storm were published in 2021 and 2023. Whalesong was published by Yellow Brick Books in 2022, following Kate’s residency at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania. Kate continues to write novels and picture books from a cottage overlooking the river and the mountain on the Eastern Shore of Hobart. She has two daughters, an elderly cat and a very silly labradoodle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 2, 2011
That's it! I'm moving to Australia!
Oooh, boy. You truly can’t go wrong with Aussie YA authors! I’ve read some awful books lately and by the time I picked up Thyla, I was becoming quite desperate. Kate Gordon saved my life, or at the very least the rest of my vacation.
Amazing writing. And I mean AMAZING writing! Not as good as Raw Blue, but close enough. Gordon has this way of making you picture everything in your head without being overly descriptive. In fact, her writing is not descriptive at all. If anything, it’s pretty simplistic. The woman knows how to write dialogues and she’s very good at paying attention to details.
What would you do if you woke up in the bush one day, badly injured and with a complete memory loss? How would you explain to your new classmates that you have no idea if you like waffles or that you don’t really know whether you have a boyfriend or not? Tessa doesn’t know what a TV is, she can’t remember what food she likes and her period completely freaks her out. She only knows her name and that she does not cry. Ever.
'How can you have never seen a TV?' you asked. Then, when you saw I was becoming more and more distressed by the tiny people in the small black box, you said, 'It's nothing to be scared of, Tess. You're right. It's just moving photographs. It's pretty boring, actually.'
Originality is this novel’s strong point. I can’t remember the last time a YA paranormal surprised me completely. New names, new creatures, new situations – Kate Gordon did it all. There were some minor things that were predictable, but the most important parts were utterly surprising. Thyla is not a story you will easily forget.
The only thing that bothered me was the unresolved ending. It wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger but I kept hoping that one more chapter will magically show up and make me feel better. There will be a second book, but not until 2012, and that’s a really, really long time. I hate it when authors do that.
That said, this book is definitely worth reading. Highly recommended!
Oooh, boy. You truly can’t go wrong with Aussie YA authors! I’ve read some awful books lately and by the time I picked up Thyla, I was becoming quite desperate. Kate Gordon saved my life, or at the very least the rest of my vacation.
Amazing writing. And I mean AMAZING writing! Not as good as Raw Blue, but close enough. Gordon has this way of making you picture everything in your head without being overly descriptive. In fact, her writing is not descriptive at all. If anything, it’s pretty simplistic. The woman knows how to write dialogues and she’s very good at paying attention to details.
What would you do if you woke up in the bush one day, badly injured and with a complete memory loss? How would you explain to your new classmates that you have no idea if you like waffles or that you don’t really know whether you have a boyfriend or not? Tessa doesn’t know what a TV is, she can’t remember what food she likes and her period completely freaks her out. She only knows her name and that she does not cry. Ever.
'How can you have never seen a TV?' you asked. Then, when you saw I was becoming more and more distressed by the tiny people in the small black box, you said, 'It's nothing to be scared of, Tess. You're right. It's just moving photographs. It's pretty boring, actually.'
Originality is this novel’s strong point. I can’t remember the last time a YA paranormal surprised me completely. New names, new creatures, new situations – Kate Gordon did it all. There were some minor things that were predictable, but the most important parts were utterly surprising. Thyla is not a story you will easily forget.
The only thing that bothered me was the unresolved ending. It wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger but I kept hoping that one more chapter will magically show up and make me feel better. There will be a second book, but not until 2012, and that’s a really, really long time. I hate it when authors do that.
That said, this book is definitely worth reading. Highly recommended!
Read
June 25, 2012This review contains photos of mentioned locations as a gift to international readers.
My review is split in to five sections: Writing, Plot, Worldbuilding, Characters, and X-Factor. Each section comprises of either half or one star, except X-Factor which can utilise two whole stars.
I’ve read some other reviews of this book, and like my friend Shirley Marr, I agree this book should probably be rated in two separate halves . The first half is pretty damned awesome: Tessa has amnesia, and the things she does remember suggests she’s from another time. The second half is much less awesome, where Tessa finally figures out what she is and embraces her true nature.
Writing 1
The writing in this is pretty good. It’s second person point of view, for the most part, although because it’s Tessa writing down her story the second often drifts away into first person. It’s not technically, purely second person because of this. It’s more like first person with references to a second person. I also really enjoyed Tessa’s ‘awakening’, I suppose. Her re-learning little things that she’s forgotten such as OMG WAFFLES ARE AMAZEBALLS. That was fun. Overall the writing was clean and elegant, with recurring motifs such as I am Tessa. I am brave. I do not cry. It’s a powerful message that recurs in the book as Tessa tries to gather her lost memories.
Editing errors:
Call me pedantic, call me what you will, I really don’t give a flying. This is a book about my city with local characters written by a semi-local. I don’t know Gordon’s background, only that she grew up on the north-west coast and now lives on the east coast, but if she went to university she probably – like the majority of Tasmanians who stay in the state of a tertiary education – went to the south for her further education. There aren’t really many reasons why these errors should be in the book. The only reason I can think is that it was either changed to appeal to an American audience, or the editor made some changes that Gordon missed because I can’t imagine a local referring to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens as the ‘botanic gardens’.
See? It says it right there in the name, and I have never ever heard of them referred to as simply ‘botanic’. I may be obsessing over a tiny little ‘al’ but really, locals would never make that mistake.
The other error is one of the other students calling Scottsdale High School ‘Scottsdale Public’ like an American school. That’s not how we refer to our schools. This grated on me as well, as if it was trying to appeal to an American audience but the book’s not even for sale in America, so I couldn’t figure out WHY.
The final error is one of the students referring to her education achievement certificate as a ‘diploma’. In Tasmania, you don’t get diplomas at high school, you get them at University (they’re less intense than degrees). We get a Tasmanian Certificate of Education at the completion of college (two seniors years before university) and a Higher School Certificate at the completion of high school, which is four years previous to the college years. A diploma is a foreign concept. It shouldn’t be in this book.
The magical hat incident:
Page 116:
Page 131:
I don’t even need to make a comment about that.
Plot .5
First half 1
Second half 0
The plot was decent and quite strong in the first half of the book. It followed the mystery of Tessa trying to figure out who she is and remember things after her ‘incident’ – her being found in the bush, unconscious, dirty, with hair in rat’s tails and mysterious stripey scars on her back.
In the second half, once Tessa figured out her secret (LONG after I had) I didn’t enjoy the story very much. Tessa turns into another character, not like the amnesia girl at all. She blurts her secret to her friend, whom she thinks might be an enemy, but does it anyway because she thinks her friend-maybe-enemy is ‘different’, like her. I didn’t like Tessa’s incessant need to eavesdrop info-dumping sessions and then not be able to put one and one together. I didn’t really like how her random memories would pop into her head and play back like a film, taking over her whole life at that point in time, because that’s not how memories actually work. Then the end was all kinds of cliffhangery which I didn’t like. I didn’t feel satisfied about the conclusion.
The blurb promised more of a mystery to do with Cat as well, which totally didn’t happen.
Worldbuilding 1
I loved the worldbuilding. It almost made perfect sense. Of course the Diemens would follow convict women halfway across the globe to a small town hardly anyone has heard of. The world was injected with enough real-life landmarks to make it almost believable. I didn’t like the idea of an all-girls’ school built next to the brewery, but I liked the idea of the school. I quite liked Tessa’s backstory, just not how it was revealed.
Characters .5
Overall, I generally liked Tessa, even when she exhibited very typical YA heroine empty-headed ‘sense’. She was curious, and although I think her actions pushed by patience I understand the need for her to react the way she did. The story needed conflict, and that was the best way to inject it. It doesn’t endear me to Tessa, but it does push the story along.
And also… Tessa does cry. On more than one occasion, tears come to her eyes. She just pushes it away. She’s not an unfeeling robot who never has tears come to her eyes. So the whole ‘I am Tessa, I am brave, I do not cry’ was weird. All the same, I liked the way Tessa was built and for the most part I enjoyed reading about her.
X Factor 0
This book should be getting at least one star for X Factor because it’s set in my home state with landmarks I totally squeed over. I dragged my photographer partner out to take photos for this review, to demonstrate some of the real landmarks mentioned:
Taroona High School
Yep, that’s ocean right outside the back door (well technically a river), and I fondly recall the time we convinced our maths teacher to let us go down to the beach to watch the dolphins and humpback whales swim up the river.
Mures Seafood Restaurant
Cascade Brewery, where the school is supposed to be built next to... but um… who would build a school next to a brewery?
The Female Factory
Also bonus! This is a quern-stone we found while exploring the Female Factory site. It’s used to grind grain. Isn’t that awesome?
Mount Wellington
Note – this photo was taken a few years ago when I lived at the base of the mountain, literally a two minute walk from the Female Factory. That’s snow, which is a rare occurrence in the city but quite common on the mountain from about May-September, although it has been known to snow in March (end of summer) and October (spring). I’m pretty sure it even freak snowed in December once.
The Cenotaph
This book didn’t have an X Factor for me. The emotional response was purely because I grew up in the same city as Tessa, and that’s extremely rare in not only YA literature but also literature of Australia. The second half of the book let me down too much for me to recall anything I may have been excited over in the first half.
Overall
This is a strong paranormal novel consisting of several familiar tropes. Its strength is its location and the unique take on not only Australian wildlife but particularly those extinct or near extinct Tasmanian animals. Gordon is a clear and concise writer who utilises familiar themes and motifs to continue the narrative thread. The failure of the second half of this novel will not detract from readers who enjoy a good paranormal story utilising an amnesiac heroine.
Overall rating: 3 stars.
My review is split in to five sections: Writing, Plot, Worldbuilding, Characters, and X-Factor. Each section comprises of either half or one star, except X-Factor which can utilise two whole stars.
I’ve read some other reviews of this book, and like my friend Shirley Marr, I agree this book should probably be rated in two separate halves . The first half is pretty damned awesome: Tessa has amnesia, and the things she does remember suggests she’s from another time. The second half is much less awesome, where Tessa finally figures out what she is and embraces her true nature.
Writing 1
The writing in this is pretty good. It’s second person point of view, for the most part, although because it’s Tessa writing down her story the second often drifts away into first person. It’s not technically, purely second person because of this. It’s more like first person with references to a second person. I also really enjoyed Tessa’s ‘awakening’, I suppose. Her re-learning little things that she’s forgotten such as OMG WAFFLES ARE AMAZEBALLS. That was fun. Overall the writing was clean and elegant, with recurring motifs such as I am Tessa. I am brave. I do not cry. It’s a powerful message that recurs in the book as Tessa tries to gather her lost memories.
Editing errors:
Call me pedantic, call me what you will, I really don’t give a flying. This is a book about my city with local characters written by a semi-local. I don’t know Gordon’s background, only that she grew up on the north-west coast and now lives on the east coast, but if she went to university she probably – like the majority of Tasmanians who stay in the state of a tertiary education – went to the south for her further education. There aren’t really many reasons why these errors should be in the book. The only reason I can think is that it was either changed to appeal to an American audience, or the editor made some changes that Gordon missed because I can’t imagine a local referring to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens as the ‘botanic gardens’.
See? It says it right there in the name, and I have never ever heard of them referred to as simply ‘botanic’. I may be obsessing over a tiny little ‘al’ but really, locals would never make that mistake.
The other error is one of the other students calling Scottsdale High School ‘Scottsdale Public’ like an American school. That’s not how we refer to our schools. This grated on me as well, as if it was trying to appeal to an American audience but the book’s not even for sale in America, so I couldn’t figure out WHY.
The final error is one of the students referring to her education achievement certificate as a ‘diploma’. In Tasmania, you don’t get diplomas at high school, you get them at University (they’re less intense than degrees). We get a Tasmanian Certificate of Education at the completion of college (two seniors years before university) and a Higher School Certificate at the completion of high school, which is four years previous to the college years. A diploma is a foreign concept. It shouldn’t be in this book.
The magical hat incident:
Page 116:
“I pulled the hat out now and pushed it roughly on to my head, then strode towards the door.”
Page 131:
“I reached in my bag and pulled out Laurel’s woollen beanie, the beanie I never got to wear.”
I don’t even need to make a comment about that.
Plot .5
First half 1
Second half 0
The plot was decent and quite strong in the first half of the book. It followed the mystery of Tessa trying to figure out who she is and remember things after her ‘incident’ – her being found in the bush, unconscious, dirty, with hair in rat’s tails and mysterious stripey scars on her back.
In the second half, once Tessa figured out her secret (LONG after I had) I didn’t enjoy the story very much. Tessa turns into another character, not like the amnesia girl at all. She blurts her secret to her friend, whom she thinks might be an enemy, but does it anyway because she thinks her friend-maybe-enemy is ‘different’, like her. I didn’t like Tessa’s incessant need to eavesdrop info-dumping sessions and then not be able to put one and one together. I didn’t really like how her random memories would pop into her head and play back like a film, taking over her whole life at that point in time, because that’s not how memories actually work. Then the end was all kinds of cliffhangery which I didn’t like. I didn’t feel satisfied about the conclusion.
The blurb promised more of a mystery to do with Cat as well, which totally didn’t happen.
Worldbuilding 1
I loved the worldbuilding. It almost made perfect sense. Of course the Diemens would follow convict women halfway across the globe to a small town hardly anyone has heard of. The world was injected with enough real-life landmarks to make it almost believable. I didn’t like the idea of an all-girls’ school built next to the brewery, but I liked the idea of the school. I quite liked Tessa’s backstory, just not how it was revealed.
Characters .5
Overall, I generally liked Tessa, even when she exhibited very typical YA heroine empty-headed ‘sense’. She was curious, and although I think her actions pushed by patience I understand the need for her to react the way she did. The story needed conflict, and that was the best way to inject it. It doesn’t endear me to Tessa, but it does push the story along.
And also… Tessa does cry. On more than one occasion, tears come to her eyes. She just pushes it away. She’s not an unfeeling robot who never has tears come to her eyes. So the whole ‘I am Tessa, I am brave, I do not cry’ was weird. All the same, I liked the way Tessa was built and for the most part I enjoyed reading about her.
X Factor 0
This book should be getting at least one star for X Factor because it’s set in my home state with landmarks I totally squeed over. I dragged my photographer partner out to take photos for this review, to demonstrate some of the real landmarks mentioned:
Taroona High School
Yep, that’s ocean right outside the back door (well technically a river), and I fondly recall the time we convinced our maths teacher to let us go down to the beach to watch the dolphins and humpback whales swim up the river.
Mures Seafood Restaurant
Cascade Brewery, where the school is supposed to be built next to... but um… who would build a school next to a brewery?
The Female Factory
Also bonus! This is a quern-stone we found while exploring the Female Factory site. It’s used to grind grain. Isn’t that awesome?
Mount Wellington
Note – this photo was taken a few years ago when I lived at the base of the mountain, literally a two minute walk from the Female Factory. That’s snow, which is a rare occurrence in the city but quite common on the mountain from about May-September, although it has been known to snow in March (end of summer) and October (spring). I’m pretty sure it even freak snowed in December once.
The Cenotaph
This book didn’t have an X Factor for me. The emotional response was purely because I grew up in the same city as Tessa, and that’s extremely rare in not only YA literature but also literature of Australia. The second half of the book let me down too much for me to recall anything I may have been excited over in the first half.
Overall
This is a strong paranormal novel consisting of several familiar tropes. Its strength is its location and the unique take on not only Australian wildlife but particularly those extinct or near extinct Tasmanian animals. Gordon is a clear and concise writer who utilises familiar themes and motifs to continue the narrative thread. The failure of the second half of this novel will not detract from readers who enjoy a good paranormal story utilising an amnesiac heroine.
Overall rating: 3 stars.
August 22, 2011
Thanks Maja for your great review of this that led me to try out the works of an Aussie author. I really enjoyed it.
Tessa, found in a bush and brought to a hospital, wakes up with absolutely no memory but her name. And I mean, NO memory. Of anything. The tiny people in the TV scare her! So she gets sent to this school… with this missing girl... duh duh duuuuuuuuuh.
What a great author. The writing is so wonderfully simple that it's easy to get lost in Tessa's words. The prose is truly unique. I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character is talking directly to me. Of course she's not - she's writing her story to her guardian, but it's a great way to narrate. It gets you feeling like you're part of the story. Part of her life.
I loved Tessa, the protagonist. She's so loveable and innocent, but you also know that there are mind blowing secrets that are hidden behind that wall in her memory. There is definitely a lot of intrigue and although you might think you have it all figured out, you don't. Another aspect I loved in the book, probably what I liked best actually, was the humour. It made me laugh quite often due to Tessa's ignorance. I mean the girl didn't remember what waffles were! It was all so amusing and cleverly fabricated.
So yeah, as my first Aussie book, I'm quite impressed. Really, other than the location, it isn't terribly different from american books - don't go comparing them like US vs Japanese horror movies - it just has this originality that stems from actual ingenuity, and not just "writing with the hype" to make fast money. (I mean, let's face it, who hasn't milked the Twilight cow?). That leaves us with a billion similar B-rated books that just… lack. And I'll admit that I do read most of them and they're still enjoyable for the most part, but this was straight-out original and just lovely, plain lovely. This will not be my last Aussie book.
Tessa, found in a bush and brought to a hospital, wakes up with absolutely no memory but her name. And I mean, NO memory. Of anything. The tiny people in the TV scare her! So she gets sent to this school… with this missing girl... duh duh duuuuuuuuuh.
What a great author. The writing is so wonderfully simple that it's easy to get lost in Tessa's words. The prose is truly unique. I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character is talking directly to me. Of course she's not - she's writing her story to her guardian, but it's a great way to narrate. It gets you feeling like you're part of the story. Part of her life.
I loved Tessa, the protagonist. She's so loveable and innocent, but you also know that there are mind blowing secrets that are hidden behind that wall in her memory. There is definitely a lot of intrigue and although you might think you have it all figured out, you don't. Another aspect I loved in the book, probably what I liked best actually, was the humour. It made me laugh quite often due to Tessa's ignorance. I mean the girl didn't remember what waffles were! It was all so amusing and cleverly fabricated.
So yeah, as my first Aussie book, I'm quite impressed. Really, other than the location, it isn't terribly different from american books - don't go comparing them like US vs Japanese horror movies - it just has this originality that stems from actual ingenuity, and not just "writing with the hype" to make fast money. (I mean, let's face it, who hasn't milked the Twilight cow?). That leaves us with a billion similar B-rated books that just… lack. And I'll admit that I do read most of them and they're still enjoyable for the most part, but this was straight-out original and just lovely, plain lovely. This will not be my last Aussie book.
March 6, 2013
This is the book I'm hosting for the Traveling Book at YA-MA!
Full Review Soon.
"...It's very easy to piss her off."
"Piss her off?"
I hadn't heard that expression before. I mean, I had heard the words 'piss' used as another word for urination, but I assumed (and hoped) that Rhiannah wasn't talking about urination. That would be rather odd.
And unsanitary.
Full Review Soon.
August 29, 2011
I am not particularly keen on this. Mainly, because it appears to be a bit younger than I prefer my YA. The premise is good - a girl wakes up in a hospital not remembering who she is, and the memories she does retain seem to have a disconnect with the present time. However the conflicts and the character so far have been of a middle school variety. Same goes for the writing style.
July 7, 2011
This novel's mystery had me hooked from the first page. Actually I think I was hooked from the moment I read the back of the book and the acknowledgements at the beginning and the story did not disappoint. In fact I was so hooked that I finished this story in less than a day and after reading some during my lunch break, seriously thought about not going back to work and finishing the story there and then instead.
Read the rest of my review at : http://sapphireddragon.blogspot.com/2...
Read the rest of my review at : http://sapphireddragon.blogspot.com/2...
September 26, 2023
This was a delightfully unexpected find. I had not heard of the author nor the series, but I got it on speculation and was really happy with it.
The author is, by now an established author, but this book is from 2011 and was only her second published novel. As the author is Tasmanian, this was set in Tasmania (Tassie, to us Aussies) and did a really good job of using the uniqueness of Hobart and it's environs as a setting. I could have done with a bit more of the bush settings, but that is neither here nor there and I never had time to get bored during this engrossing story.
We start with Tessa waking up in hospital, she knows her name but not much else. She has had some kind of accident and has lost her memory. To us, the readers, it is obvious that she is from another era, but this is not obvious to her so we follow her journey of self discovery as she is helped along by a policewoman, Connolly. Tessa gets placed in a prestigious boarding school, on a scholarship and there she starts learning more about herself and her background.
The narration of the book is interesting; when Tessa was in hospital, not knowing herself, she was given a notebook by the police woman Connolly. The narrative is phrased as if she is writing in the notebook TO Connolly herself. I enjoyed this style of narration, it was unusual but it worked well for me in this story.
The author is, by now an established author, but this book is from 2011 and was only her second published novel. As the author is Tasmanian, this was set in Tasmania (Tassie, to us Aussies) and did a really good job of using the uniqueness of Hobart and it's environs as a setting. I could have done with a bit more of the bush settings, but that is neither here nor there and I never had time to get bored during this engrossing story.
We start with Tessa waking up in hospital, she knows her name but not much else. She has had some kind of accident and has lost her memory. To us, the readers, it is obvious that she is from another era, but this is not obvious to her so we follow her journey of self discovery as she is helped along by a policewoman, Connolly. Tessa gets placed in a prestigious boarding school, on a scholarship and there she starts learning more about herself and her background.
The narration of the book is interesting; when Tessa was in hospital, not knowing herself, she was given a notebook by the police woman Connolly. The narrative is phrased as if she is writing in the notebook TO Connolly herself. I enjoyed this style of narration, it was unusual but it worked well for me in this story.
March 13, 2011
Tasmania's forests have a history of being battlegrounds. In recent times the timber men have diced with the environmentalists over their bounty - is it for the present generation or for those of the future. As in this fine novel, in the island's real life conflict there is an uneasy truce, a tenuous 'treaty' having emerged. In the early days though of colonisation there was a similar, unwritten truce between the invaders,the first Tasmanians and the fringe-dwellers, belonging to neither group, upon whom the early white settlement's survival depended. As history panned out for the island that all went badly belly-up, and blood was let in the bush again. In this fictional tale though the fringe dwellers have much stronger powers and the intent of one 'clan' is not for the good of the island! They must be prevented from embarking on their evil course of action, and into this potential maelstrom steps Tessa who possesses secrets - secrets that she cannot quite remember. Thyla's third battle for Tasmania is also to be fought out in the forests. Under ancient trees that were more than saplings in Biblical times skulk/patrol the forces of good and evil, forces that we mere mortals only receive glimpses of - 'tiger' sightings.
What a rattling good yarn this is - possessing all the potential of the iconic 'Tomorrow' series with the additional spiciness of a 'Being Human' or 'True Blood'. Written in a very accessible language that its target audience will appreciate and latch on to, for this reader an added joy were the well-known settings in and around Hobart. The back-stories that set up the present day scenario are redolent of the island's savage and gothic history. Gordon has researched well - and will hopefully cause young minds to delve as well.
Cascade Falls, the imaginary Hobart school where some of the 'action' takes place mirrors most schools in this day and age with cliques of students, particularly of female variety, up to their continual insidious 'mind games' that are real life soap operas. But in this school the cliques go deeper, back one hundred and sixty years in time to the grit, grime and Flash Mob of the ghost-ridden remains of an actual historical Female Factory, just down the road from the school.
Despite girls taking the main roles in Thyla, it should appeal to both sexes and would be great as a 'read out loud' or class set in any secondary school.
The bush is all pervading in Tasmania, particularly in the form of its ancient forests, in the way it fingers into our cities and towns, as exemplified by Hobart, and into the souls of all true Tasmanians. This book is reflective of that. Tessa with her coterie of friends and sinister enemies is a heroine for the ages and I eagerly look forward to more battles in forest clearings in, hopefully, a long series of sequels. 'Vulpi' cannot come quickly enough
What a rattling good yarn this is - possessing all the potential of the iconic 'Tomorrow' series with the additional spiciness of a 'Being Human' or 'True Blood'. Written in a very accessible language that its target audience will appreciate and latch on to, for this reader an added joy were the well-known settings in and around Hobart. The back-stories that set up the present day scenario are redolent of the island's savage and gothic history. Gordon has researched well - and will hopefully cause young minds to delve as well.
Cascade Falls, the imaginary Hobart school where some of the 'action' takes place mirrors most schools in this day and age with cliques of students, particularly of female variety, up to their continual insidious 'mind games' that are real life soap operas. But in this school the cliques go deeper, back one hundred and sixty years in time to the grit, grime and Flash Mob of the ghost-ridden remains of an actual historical Female Factory, just down the road from the school.
Despite girls taking the main roles in Thyla, it should appeal to both sexes and would be great as a 'read out loud' or class set in any secondary school.
The bush is all pervading in Tasmania, particularly in the form of its ancient forests, in the way it fingers into our cities and towns, as exemplified by Hobart, and into the souls of all true Tasmanians. This book is reflective of that. Tessa with her coterie of friends and sinister enemies is a heroine for the ages and I eagerly look forward to more battles in forest clearings in, hopefully, a long series of sequels. 'Vulpi' cannot come quickly enough
July 6, 2011
My name is Tessa. I am strong. I am brave. I do not cry. These are the only things I know for certain..
Thyla may be the third book of YA in two weeks that touches on memory (either forgetting or being forgotten.) The first half is Tessa piecing things together. She is discovered in the bush, sort of adopted by this policewoman, and then sent to a boarding school. Her inability to remember and her numerous questions about what she didn't know had me divided. Sure, I found her refreshing at first; Tessa was like a blank slate and she wasn't ashamed to ask questions. But the way she worded her questions only made her stand out more, made her sound old. And it goes on and on like that; for the first half (third ?) of the book, it’s Tessa trying to fit in and piece her memory together, but I’m nitpicking, because that aside one's got to admire at how she tried to fit in.
You only get to experience the paranormal, later in the book. And it’s this bit that engaged my interest. Gordon’s are a different type of Were with their own mythology. On one hand there are the Thyla (tigers?) on the other, the Sarco (Tasmanian devils?) Natural enemies of each other, they are forced to team up against what appear to be a common “vampire” enemy. What’s interesting is how they came to find themselves in that position because that’s where the history of the place comes a little bit into play. For an outsider (me), things were a bit hard to piece together, but once done, I thought, “That was different.”
I think it would be fair to say that there are two stories in this one. One (the first half really) is of Tessa not remembering. The second is on the Thyla, the Sarco and another kind of "vampire" enemy. It’s the connection between the two that’s the mystery. Add the fact that there’s a teensy bit of forbidden romance somewhere in the book, well, you get a little bit of everything
In a word? Interesting… I’d say it’s a 3
Thyla may be the third book of YA in two weeks that touches on memory (either forgetting or being forgotten.) The first half is Tessa piecing things together. She is discovered in the bush, sort of adopted by this policewoman, and then sent to a boarding school. Her inability to remember and her numerous questions about what she didn't know had me divided. Sure, I found her refreshing at first; Tessa was like a blank slate and she wasn't ashamed to ask questions. But the way she worded her questions only made her stand out more, made her sound old. And it goes on and on like that; for the first half (third ?) of the book, it’s Tessa trying to fit in and piece her memory together, but I’m nitpicking, because that aside one's got to admire at how she tried to fit in.
You only get to experience the paranormal, later in the book. And it’s this bit that engaged my interest. Gordon’s are a different type of Were with their own mythology. On one hand there are the Thyla (tigers?) on the other, the Sarco (Tasmanian devils?) Natural enemies of each other, they are forced to team up against what appear to be a common “vampire” enemy. What’s interesting is how they came to find themselves in that position because that’s where the history of the place comes a little bit into play. For an outsider (me), things were a bit hard to piece together, but once done, I thought, “That was different.”
I think it would be fair to say that there are two stories in this one. One (the first half really) is of Tessa not remembering. The second is on the Thyla, the Sarco and another kind of "vampire" enemy. It’s the connection between the two that’s the mystery. Add the fact that there’s a teensy bit of forbidden romance somewhere in the book, well, you get a little bit of everything
In a word? Interesting… I’d say it’s a 3
August 1, 2013
2.5 stars
Maybe, just maaaaybe I'll bump it up to 3 stars
This book was recommended to me quite a long time ago by a friend that, sadly, decided to delete her GR account a few months back. She loved this book and since we agreed almost on everything, I got myself a copy. But then I forgot about it, until now. The thing is that I, for some reason, thought the book was a horror novel, and I went into it with that idea in my head, which probably has a lot to do with the low rating, because a horror story this book is not.
I really loved the first couple of chapters. I found the second person style of narration fascinating because I can't remember any book being narrated like that, and the mystery surrounding Tessa was engaging. Once Tessa gets to the school, well, that's where the story lost its strength for me. Mean-girl silliness, nagging about insecurities and this one gorgeous boy, although they were admittedly not all that prevalent in the story, they did irritated me a bit and brought back to memory almost every other YA paranormal romance to mind. There was a lot of potential with many characters that I felt was wasted, and, though the history behind the story was interesting, the telling of it relied on repetitive plot devices like class conferences, old diaries, overhearing of oddly specific conversations and dialogues that had a very strange timing. The paranormal aspect behind this one is interesting and definitely original, but I'm not sure it is enough to make me want to take on the sequel.
Maybe, just maaaaybe I'll bump it up to 3 stars
This book was recommended to me quite a long time ago by a friend that, sadly, decided to delete her GR account a few months back. She loved this book and since we agreed almost on everything, I got myself a copy. But then I forgot about it, until now. The thing is that I, for some reason, thought the book was a horror novel, and I went into it with that idea in my head, which probably has a lot to do with the low rating, because a horror story this book is not.
I really loved the first couple of chapters. I found the second person style of narration fascinating because I can't remember any book being narrated like that, and the mystery surrounding Tessa was engaging. Once Tessa gets to the school, well, that's where the story lost its strength for me. Mean-girl silliness, nagging about insecurities and this one gorgeous boy, although they were admittedly not all that prevalent in the story, they did irritated me a bit and brought back to memory almost every other YA paranormal romance to mind. There was a lot of potential with many characters that I felt was wasted, and, though the history behind the story was interesting, the telling of it relied on repetitive plot devices like class conferences, old diaries, overhearing of oddly specific conversations and dialogues that had a very strange timing. The paranormal aspect behind this one is interesting and definitely original, but I'm not sure it is enough to make me want to take on the sequel.
May 20, 2011
When you place a girl, who only days earlier was found wild and battered in the bush, a girl who doesn't even know what waffles are and who is irrationally afraid of the television, amongst a group of spoiled and stuck up daughters of the wealthy in an exclusive all girls boarding school, is it really any wonder that she doesn't quite fit in?
The world has changed, what Tessa remembers does not match what is before her. How is it she is able to remember names and dates from the past but nothing from the present? But it is more then just facts she is remembering, it is memories of a life lived long ago. But what has any of that to do with where she came from and how she came to be alone in the bush with such injuries?
Thyla is about a girl desperate to remember who she is, but the more she remembers the harder she is finding it to not believe she is crazy. On the surface this is a mystery filled with lost memories, dark secrets, heartbreak and loss; a tale of Tasmania's unique fauna, Australia's convict history and the supernatural. But at its core this is the story of Tessa, a girl who is discovering her identity, forming friendships and falling in love. Definitely one to read.
The world has changed, what Tessa remembers does not match what is before her. How is it she is able to remember names and dates from the past but nothing from the present? But it is more then just facts she is remembering, it is memories of a life lived long ago. But what has any of that to do with where she came from and how she came to be alone in the bush with such injuries?
Thyla is about a girl desperate to remember who she is, but the more she remembers the harder she is finding it to not believe she is crazy. On the surface this is a mystery filled with lost memories, dark secrets, heartbreak and loss; a tale of Tasmania's unique fauna, Australia's convict history and the supernatural. But at its core this is the story of Tessa, a girl who is discovering her identity, forming friendships and falling in love. Definitely one to read.
September 29, 2017
Thyla is an utterly unique work of paranormal YA fantasy.
Set between contemporary and convict-era Tasmania - it interweaves a centuries-long feud between the immortal, inhuman, female-killing, blood-drinking, heart-eating Diemens and the native-to-Tasmania Thyla (were-tigers) and Sarcos (were-devils).
Found alone, defenceless and amnesiac in the unforgiving bush, Tessa is taken by kind-hearted policewoman Connolly, to Cascade Falls school where she suffers strange dreams, jumps at shadows and smells more keenly, hears more powerfully and detests the heat that everyone else loves.
Tessa's memories are 'gone' - just as people are inexplicably 'gone' from in and around Cascade Falls; swallowed up without trace by the bush "like leaves, blown quietly away by the summer breeze." (p.57)
The mythology - of the Diemens, the Thyla and the Sarco - is complex and original, down to the silver fangs of the Diemens and how their blood runs black and burns into the ground like acid, and how the Sarco and the Thyla have to put aside centuries of warfare and antipathy to fight their mutual extinction.
An entirely original and literary take on the undead, Thyla is also feminist and anti-fascist without being shouty or obvious about it. Violence against women - whether in the convict-era or now - is something to be stopped in its tracks. All lives, even the lives of convict women, were and are valuable.
Thyla has been on my radar for a criminally long time, and I'm racing out next week to get Vulpi. Cannot wait to be back in Tessa's world, reading with a racing heart.
Set between contemporary and convict-era Tasmania - it interweaves a centuries-long feud between the immortal, inhuman, female-killing, blood-drinking, heart-eating Diemens and the native-to-Tasmania Thyla (were-tigers) and Sarcos (were-devils).
Found alone, defenceless and amnesiac in the unforgiving bush, Tessa is taken by kind-hearted policewoman Connolly, to Cascade Falls school where she suffers strange dreams, jumps at shadows and smells more keenly, hears more powerfully and detests the heat that everyone else loves.
Tessa's memories are 'gone' - just as people are inexplicably 'gone' from in and around Cascade Falls; swallowed up without trace by the bush "like leaves, blown quietly away by the summer breeze." (p.57)
The mythology - of the Diemens, the Thyla and the Sarco - is complex and original, down to the silver fangs of the Diemens and how their blood runs black and burns into the ground like acid, and how the Sarco and the Thyla have to put aside centuries of warfare and antipathy to fight their mutual extinction.
An entirely original and literary take on the undead, Thyla is also feminist and anti-fascist without being shouty or obvious about it. Violence against women - whether in the convict-era or now - is something to be stopped in its tracks. All lives, even the lives of convict women, were and are valuable.
Thyla has been on my radar for a criminally long time, and I'm racing out next week to get Vulpi. Cannot wait to be back in Tessa's world, reading with a racing heart.
November 11, 2018
Different to most other YA books out there. Enjoyable and pure escapism. For those who want a deeper message it also carefully teaches us to work with others who may be different. Those we should trust may not look like us but we may have the same values and a potential for real friendship.
Tessa may have lost her memory but she has not lost her instinct for choosing good "people". Hope to find the next in series soon.
Tessa may have lost her memory but she has not lost her instinct for choosing good "people". Hope to find the next in series soon.
July 27, 2015
What I loved about Thyla: Tessa is a wonderful and innocent and inadvertently hilarious protagonist (she is terribly old-fashioned, for reasons which quickly become clear, despite the novel being set in the present. Her experience of eating waffles for the first time was very funny). The historical aspects are incorporated brilliantly, and the setting (the creepy boarding school, Tasmanian wilderness) is atmospheric and tense and all of those other good things in a mystery. I loved the supporting characters that were the 'outcasts' of the school, and the way in which it was written - using second person, as though written from Tessa to the police officer that rescued her, Connolly (who is also the mother of the missing girl, Cat).
What I didn't love about Thyla: My issues with this novel are the same as my issues with paranormal series generally, and it's difficult to list them without spoiling it for you - towards the end, the mystery is explained, and the novel shifts genre entirely. A lot of information is packed in near the end, and despite the Tasmanian flavour of the paranormal aspect (I am very awkwardly avoiding a spoiler), it becomes a little generic paranormal-romance - battle scene, infodump (I do love the backstory, but it all comes at once), requisite romance. It's clear it's an introduction to the series, setting up the world and the players within it.
I love the mix of historical and paranormal, and Thyla is certainly unique from other paranormal romances, and beautifully written. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre. I'm interested to read the sequels and see how the paranormal aspects are handled from here on in.
What I didn't love about Thyla: My issues with this novel are the same as my issues with paranormal series generally, and it's difficult to list them without spoiling it for you - towards the end, the mystery is explained, and the novel shifts genre entirely. A lot of information is packed in near the end, and despite the Tasmanian flavour of the paranormal aspect (I am very awkwardly avoiding a spoiler), it becomes a little generic paranormal-romance - battle scene, infodump (I do love the backstory, but it all comes at once), requisite romance. It's clear it's an introduction to the series, setting up the world and the players within it.
I love the mix of historical and paranormal, and Thyla is certainly unique from other paranormal romances, and beautifully written. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre. I'm interested to read the sequels and see how the paranormal aspects are handled from here on in.
February 25, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! The whole concept was interesting, and it was absolutely not one I had come across before. This is a rarity, when one reads as much YA as I do. Tessa wakes up with no memories, except her name and a small list of likes and dislikes. There is a single police woman who is kind to her (although carrying her own personal grief) and arranges for her to attend a local boarding school. There are some awesome characters, and the mystery grows. I really enjoyed the journey to this point, and I will be finding a way to read the next book.
It was odd, finding this book. I know what's on the shelves at Big W pretty well, but this one was in the wrong section and then didn't scan. It is a 2011 book, so it hadn't floated around the store that long surely? Anyway I was glad to read it however it got there, and if you're thinking of trying it then I definitely recommend it!
It was odd, finding this book. I know what's on the shelves at Big W pretty well, but this one was in the wrong section and then didn't scan. It is a 2011 book, so it hadn't floated around the store that long surely? Anyway I was glad to read it however it got there, and if you're thinking of trying it then I definitely recommend it!
May 20, 2011
At first the cover kinda creeped me out. :) But overall the story was really good. The blurb also attracted my attention (how 'she was found in the woods with just a name'). WHOOOOO. mysterious. :P I want to read the second book now.
November 14, 2023
3.5-4 stars
I picked this book up at the op shop because the cover looked interesting, but when I read the story I was sort of hooked but read it until the end. The story was set in Tasmania and Tessa was found in bush land with a massive scar on her back and little memory did she have about everything what's going on. The only thing that got me hooked was I'm a big fan of shape shifting and paranormal which was contained in the story. But for me it was sort of average story but I liked some parts in the story, especially it was set in Australia.
I picked this book up at the op shop because the cover looked interesting, but when I read the story I was sort of hooked but read it until the end. The story was set in Tasmania and Tessa was found in bush land with a massive scar on her back and little memory did she have about everything what's going on. The only thing that got me hooked was I'm a big fan of shape shifting and paranormal which was contained in the story. But for me it was sort of average story but I liked some parts in the story, especially it was set in Australia.
March 10, 2019
This was really good. It was funky! I really liked reading a book set in a place I know so well. Plus, being set in the old convict buildings added a spooky feel to the story! I like the characters. Thyla is actually pretty like able and I liked Rhiannah a lot. This is an enjoyable read!
July 7, 2020
⭐️ 3.5/5
Quick, easy and interesting read.
A really cool world built up in the depths of the Tasmanian forests and bush lands.
The story is well written, but everything else is a little basic (not that it’s a bad thing!).
An easy refresher in between heavier novels.
Quick, easy and interesting read.
A really cool world built up in the depths of the Tasmanian forests and bush lands.
The story is well written, but everything else is a little basic (not that it’s a bad thing!).
An easy refresher in between heavier novels.
October 19, 2020
The first three quarters of the book is completely different to the last quarter, which felt rushed and unfinished. The writing style was good (minus the overuse of the phrase ‘mate’, which in reality Aussies do NOT use that often). Not my favourite, but in no way the worst.
July 3, 2025
I love this book, this is one of my go to reads. I read it in highschool and always go back to it. This is a good read, I will always recommend for first time readers when it comes to supernatural themes.
November 23, 2023
this bitch a werewolf???????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2011
Thyla is Kate Gordon's second novel, but her first in the Paranormal YA genre. Now I know that some readers have just turned away at the mention of paranormal and YA in the same sentence.
Bare with me.
Thyla is a refreshing take on the genre, uniquely Australian and not infiltrated by any moralising subtext. There’s a touch of teenage romance but essentially it’s a high school, mystery adventure tale with a female protagonist sans any sparkly supernaturals.
The Story
Tessa is found collapsed and alone in Tasmanian bush land. She wakes in a hospital bed, with little to no memory other than her name, and no idea how she got the scars across her back. She’s placed into Cascade Falls, a private all girls school at the behest of a mysterious benefactor. Her only friend is the policewoman Connolly, who has lost her own daughter only recently.
As the story unfolds Tessa becomes aware that things at Cascade Falls aren’t all that they seem. On the surface it’s the typical boarding school experience, bitchy cliques – the popular girls vs the ferals. Tessa falls in with the ferals, who are more easy going and accepting. It soon becomes apparent, however, that the ferals aren’t your average teenage girls, and neither is Tessa. Battling inconvenient amnesia and tribal conflicts, Tessa begins to slowly piece together her life and her supernatural origins, just in time to combat the sinister Diemens.
Australian History on the sly.
I like Gordon’s choice to set this book in an Australian context, I love her use of early Australian convict history which I think really beds down the narrative and gives it an honest Australian flavour. There’s passing mentions of institutions and places that are real, buildings whose original purpose may now be lost or at least unknown to 21st century teens – an invitation to interested readers to check out history in their own backyard (presuming of course they are Australian)
I also like her use of Australian animals for the were-creatures; notably the Thyla (Tasmanian tigers) and the Sarco (Tasmanian devils), tribal enemies until the Diemens(hinted at vampires) arrived at point of colonisation. It’s a refreshing departure from regular European Vampire/Werewolf mythology which would have been an easy road to tread.
There’s a nice little bit of world building that encompasses a narrative of colonisation- the Thyla’s and Sarco’s remember a time when humans and they lived together in peace, before settlement and before the Diemens. It would have been easy to have tapped into the earlier gothic traditions but I am glad Gordon didn’t, its nice to think that we have home grown were-creatures with a separate mythology.
No Vampire Hunks
One thing that niggled at me with Twilight was the sinister implications behind the attraction of a 100 year old vampire to a teenage girl. In Thyla, the romance (what little there is), is much better handled in terms of power dynamics. Tessa might be an immortal teen but at least she’s attracted to other immortal teens.
Narrative mode
I found the narrative mode interesting-Tessa as the narrator (first person), directed at the character Connolly. This can be a tricky mode to write in and get the balance right – nothing worse than being caught in a boring characters head. Thankfully Gordon handles it well giving the reader an intimate account of Tessa’s adventures.
Recommendations
At only 279 pages and with an uncomplicated style it was a quick enjoyable read for me. I’d recommend it for ages 13 + and both genders, and while it does feature Tessa having her first period - certain to register as “too much info” for young male readers. It also features well described conflict, bloodshed and death for the action fans. I’d suggest it for those readers who want an original take on the Vampire/Werewolf myth.
Bare with me.
Thyla is a refreshing take on the genre, uniquely Australian and not infiltrated by any moralising subtext. There’s a touch of teenage romance but essentially it’s a high school, mystery adventure tale with a female protagonist sans any sparkly supernaturals.
The Story
Tessa is found collapsed and alone in Tasmanian bush land. She wakes in a hospital bed, with little to no memory other than her name, and no idea how she got the scars across her back. She’s placed into Cascade Falls, a private all girls school at the behest of a mysterious benefactor. Her only friend is the policewoman Connolly, who has lost her own daughter only recently.
As the story unfolds Tessa becomes aware that things at Cascade Falls aren’t all that they seem. On the surface it’s the typical boarding school experience, bitchy cliques – the popular girls vs the ferals. Tessa falls in with the ferals, who are more easy going and accepting. It soon becomes apparent, however, that the ferals aren’t your average teenage girls, and neither is Tessa. Battling inconvenient amnesia and tribal conflicts, Tessa begins to slowly piece together her life and her supernatural origins, just in time to combat the sinister Diemens.
Australian History on the sly.
I like Gordon’s choice to set this book in an Australian context, I love her use of early Australian convict history which I think really beds down the narrative and gives it an honest Australian flavour. There’s passing mentions of institutions and places that are real, buildings whose original purpose may now be lost or at least unknown to 21st century teens – an invitation to interested readers to check out history in their own backyard (presuming of course they are Australian)
I also like her use of Australian animals for the were-creatures; notably the Thyla (Tasmanian tigers) and the Sarco (Tasmanian devils), tribal enemies until the Diemens(hinted at vampires) arrived at point of colonisation. It’s a refreshing departure from regular European Vampire/Werewolf mythology which would have been an easy road to tread.
There’s a nice little bit of world building that encompasses a narrative of colonisation- the Thyla’s and Sarco’s remember a time when humans and they lived together in peace, before settlement and before the Diemens. It would have been easy to have tapped into the earlier gothic traditions but I am glad Gordon didn’t, its nice to think that we have home grown were-creatures with a separate mythology.
No Vampire Hunks
One thing that niggled at me with Twilight was the sinister implications behind the attraction of a 100 year old vampire to a teenage girl. In Thyla, the romance (what little there is), is much better handled in terms of power dynamics. Tessa might be an immortal teen but at least she’s attracted to other immortal teens.
Narrative mode
I found the narrative mode interesting-Tessa as the narrator (first person), directed at the character Connolly. This can be a tricky mode to write in and get the balance right – nothing worse than being caught in a boring characters head. Thankfully Gordon handles it well giving the reader an intimate account of Tessa’s adventures.
Recommendations
At only 279 pages and with an uncomplicated style it was a quick enjoyable read for me. I’d recommend it for ages 13 + and both genders, and while it does feature Tessa having her first period - certain to register as “too much info” for young male readers. It also features well described conflict, bloodshed and death for the action fans. I’d suggest it for those readers who want an original take on the Vampire/Werewolf myth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2014
Thyla is weird and confusing. I had no idea what to make of it as I was reading, and it took me quite a while to settle on a rating. On one hand, it's utterly unique and the mythology (that I could understand) was interesting. Plus it was written as a second person narrative, which I'm always excited to stumble upon. But, there was a steady wave of questions generated and absolutely no answers until the info-dump of a finish. Even then, I still had questions! Thyla starts out with Tessa being brought to the hospital after being found out in the bush. She has no memories except for her name, and few random words here and there. Physically, she was fine, so she was released and sent away to a prestigious boarding school. Not the best decision.
Tessa was an interesting character. Her amnesia brought about a lot of interesting reactions from her as she navigates her first day of school. Many of those reactions were quite animalistic, but since the description for Thyla mentions shapeshifting, we already know one thing about Tess that she doesn't. There were also several laughs as she hears slang and discovers waffles, and some awkward scenes like when she starts her period in class. However, as we get closer to the end, her lack of memories does get a bit annoying. I needed to know what the heck was going on, since evidently none of the other characters cared to explain!
Even though it took way too long to be revealed, I did really like the shapeshifters in Thyla. These aren't your typical wolves or panthers or whatever. Tessa and some of the other characters turned into a different kind of animal. In fact, there's two warring species. They're really cool and I don't want to spoil it! But just think about cat or dog like things that you may find in Australia...
My only real issue with Thyla is that it's majorly confusing at times. Tess is our narrator but she has no clue what's going on herself, and her random memories don't make much sense at first. A lot of things are explained in the closing chapters, but I don't think it was explained all that well. There is one kind of major thing that kept nagging at me, which is in regards to Tessa speaking in old timey English. This is kind of explained, as one of the twists, but then again, it doesn't really. And why exactly are these two species fighting?! It seemed like they had a common enemy, and yet, they're going after each other? I just don't get.
I did like Thyla but I wish the plot and the world building had been clearer. I'm also kind of bummed that the next book isn't about Tessa. Her story didn't feel complete to me. There was some forbidden romancing going on toward the end, but that got resolved quickly and neatly. I just need more!
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Tessa was an interesting character. Her amnesia brought about a lot of interesting reactions from her as she navigates her first day of school. Many of those reactions were quite animalistic, but since the description for Thyla mentions shapeshifting, we already know one thing about Tess that she doesn't. There were also several laughs as she hears slang and discovers waffles, and some awkward scenes like when she starts her period in class. However, as we get closer to the end, her lack of memories does get a bit annoying. I needed to know what the heck was going on, since evidently none of the other characters cared to explain!
Even though it took way too long to be revealed, I did really like the shapeshifters in Thyla. These aren't your typical wolves or panthers or whatever. Tessa and some of the other characters turned into a different kind of animal. In fact, there's two warring species. They're really cool and I don't want to spoil it! But just think about cat or dog like things that you may find in Australia...
My only real issue with Thyla is that it's majorly confusing at times. Tess is our narrator but she has no clue what's going on herself, and her random memories don't make much sense at first. A lot of things are explained in the closing chapters, but I don't think it was explained all that well. There is one kind of major thing that kept nagging at me, which is in regards to Tessa speaking in old timey English. This is kind of explained, as one of the twists, but then again, it doesn't really. And why exactly are these two species fighting?! It seemed like they had a common enemy, and yet, they're going after each other? I just don't get.
I did like Thyla but I wish the plot and the world building had been clearer. I'm also kind of bummed that the next book isn't about Tessa. Her story didn't feel complete to me. There was some forbidden romancing going on toward the end, but that got resolved quickly and neatly. I just need more!
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
May 5, 2012
Tessa woke up without a single memory of who she was. No family, no identity. The only truth she knew deep into the marrow of her bones is that she’s a strong person, incapable of tears and she's fearless. Little by little, snaps of recollections come back to her as she’s thrust into a mysterious world inside and outside of the boarding school she was forced into – a school, which held more memories of who she was than she cared to remember.
The synopsis wasn’t very forthcoming; I had no clue what I was getting into when I started reading. As a result, I was overly anxious for the mystery to unfold and Kate Gordon took her sweet old time revealing what kind of paranormal creatures she has on the offing. She took lycanthrope and spun with a bit creepier factor than normal. It was definitely different. I think that having the setting somewhere much novel (novel to me, anyway) added to the mystery. Port Arthur (Van Diemen’s Land), Tasmania was a penal colony and the hardened British and Irish criminals’ destination back in the days. You can just imagine how Gordon wove this history into her novel.
It took almost the entirety of the book for the revelation to come; most of the story really focused on Tessa’s memory recovery. It was a jigsaw puzzle – intricate but very slow in giving pieces of clues away. Lucky for me, the book isn’t really hefty. While the writing flowed smoothly, I was encumbered with the unhurried speed of the plot. And I understand that the primary reason was because it’s the initial offering of the series, ergo, the author spent some time with the set up. I also think that because this story was told in a journal entry form, the sparse dialogues contributed to the tedium.
VERDICT: This is my first Australian paranormal that I managed to finish. To be honest, this is probably far more superior to the other shape-shifting books on my shelves. But a story needs to grab me right off the bat and hold my interest for the entirety of the novel. Unfortunately, this book didn’t.
The synopsis wasn’t very forthcoming; I had no clue what I was getting into when I started reading. As a result, I was overly anxious for the mystery to unfold and Kate Gordon took her sweet old time revealing what kind of paranormal creatures she has on the offing. She took lycanthrope and spun with a bit creepier factor than normal. It was definitely different. I think that having the setting somewhere much novel (novel to me, anyway) added to the mystery. Port Arthur (Van Diemen’s Land), Tasmania was a penal colony and the hardened British and Irish criminals’ destination back in the days. You can just imagine how Gordon wove this history into her novel.
It took almost the entirety of the book for the revelation to come; most of the story really focused on Tessa’s memory recovery. It was a jigsaw puzzle – intricate but very slow in giving pieces of clues away. Lucky for me, the book isn’t really hefty. While the writing flowed smoothly, I was encumbered with the unhurried speed of the plot. And I understand that the primary reason was because it’s the initial offering of the series, ergo, the author spent some time with the set up. I also think that because this story was told in a journal entry form, the sparse dialogues contributed to the tedium.
VERDICT: This is my first Australian paranormal that I managed to finish. To be honest, this is probably far more superior to the other shape-shifting books on my shelves. But a story needs to grab me right off the bat and hold my interest for the entirety of the novel. Unfortunately, this book didn’t.
April 3, 2013
It seems that I have been reading a lot of introductory books lately. And this is definitely one of them.
Summmary
Tessa wakes up in a hospital with no memory of her past and mysterious scars on her back. Connolly a police officer is there when she wakes up. She helps Tessa adjust and try to get her memory back. When she leaves the hospital they send her to a boarding school where there is more mystery. Something strange is happening and it involves Tessa and Connolly's missing daughter Cat. Tessa is determined to find out and find Cat.
Thoughts
I didn't feel like much happened in Thyla. It was obvious to me that she was something else. Something paranormal. The explanation of what she turned out to be was a bit confusing and didn't give me a clear picture. It was also confusing between the different races. Sacros, Thylas, Diemens, and Vulpi. Nothing felt like it had a clear distinction to me. The whole plot fell flat. There was a bit of action that was fun but not amazing. Some of the structure felt awkward and some of the plot obvious. There was a couple of spots where I was like, really, you really said that? I'm not a fan of journal/diary formats and this one was a bit more annoying with the use of you. Like a journal mixed with a letter and I did not like it. On to the things I liked. It was original, even if the description was a bit confusing. The memory loss and scars were the only things that kept me intrigued. The use of her etiquette to add to the fact there was something off about her was a good touch. Overall I'd give this book 2.5, the half star for the original concept. It could have been great if the execution was better. I don't know if I'll continue the series. But the history is pulling at my curiousity a little.
Summmary
Tessa wakes up in a hospital with no memory of her past and mysterious scars on her back. Connolly a police officer is there when she wakes up. She helps Tessa adjust and try to get her memory back. When she leaves the hospital they send her to a boarding school where there is more mystery. Something strange is happening and it involves Tessa and Connolly's missing daughter Cat. Tessa is determined to find out and find Cat.
Thoughts
I didn't feel like much happened in Thyla. It was obvious to me that she was something else. Something paranormal. The explanation of what she turned out to be was a bit confusing and didn't give me a clear picture. It was also confusing between the different races. Sacros, Thylas, Diemens, and Vulpi. Nothing felt like it had a clear distinction to me. The whole plot fell flat. There was a bit of action that was fun but not amazing. Some of the structure felt awkward and some of the plot obvious. There was a couple of spots where I was like, really, you really said that? I'm not a fan of journal/diary formats and this one was a bit more annoying with the use of you. Like a journal mixed with a letter and I did not like it. On to the things I liked. It was original, even if the description was a bit confusing. The memory loss and scars were the only things that kept me intrigued. The use of her etiquette to add to the fact there was something off about her was a good touch. Overall I'd give this book 2.5, the half star for the original concept. It could have been great if the execution was better. I don't know if I'll continue the series. But the history is pulling at my curiousity a little.
July 20, 2011
Thyla
30
MAY
Kate Gordon
Random House
My name is Tessa. I am strong.
I am brave. I do not cry.
These are the only things I know for certain.
Thyla takes you somewhere mysterious. Somewhere dark and uncertain. Somewhere you find you are unable to stop yourself, you have to devour more.
What do you think of when you think of Tasmania? I am betting you don’t find yourself in the world of Thyla. Mixed up in the history of convicts, tigers and devils you find a secret world. It is right in front of you but superbly hidden. Who is Tessa? The girl is found frightened and alone in the mountains behind Hobart. She can’t remember anything. She is badly scarred. She longs to break free into the night and let her wild urges take her. Run free, her instincts pull at her. Run into the night.
Be drawn into the dark as Tessa’s story unfolds.
Thyla is a page-turner from start to finish. If I had any expectations at the start of Thyla they were gone promptly. Thlya is not the expected, it is brilliantly original, fantastically tied in with history and seamlessly spellbinding. Fantastic characters, some that you love, some you hate, all you can feel. It hurt to put it down and I am still suffering the withdrawals. Kate Gordon I beg you please don’t keep us waiting too long for Vulpi the sequel to Thyla.
Warning: Addictive.
A Bug in a Book recommended read.
Angela Hall
Kate Gordon
30
MAY
Kate Gordon
Random House
My name is Tessa. I am strong.
I am brave. I do not cry.
These are the only things I know for certain.
Thyla takes you somewhere mysterious. Somewhere dark and uncertain. Somewhere you find you are unable to stop yourself, you have to devour more.
What do you think of when you think of Tasmania? I am betting you don’t find yourself in the world of Thyla. Mixed up in the history of convicts, tigers and devils you find a secret world. It is right in front of you but superbly hidden. Who is Tessa? The girl is found frightened and alone in the mountains behind Hobart. She can’t remember anything. She is badly scarred. She longs to break free into the night and let her wild urges take her. Run free, her instincts pull at her. Run into the night.
Be drawn into the dark as Tessa’s story unfolds.
Thyla is a page-turner from start to finish. If I had any expectations at the start of Thyla they were gone promptly. Thlya is not the expected, it is brilliantly original, fantastically tied in with history and seamlessly spellbinding. Fantastic characters, some that you love, some you hate, all you can feel. It hurt to put it down and I am still suffering the withdrawals. Kate Gordon I beg you please don’t keep us waiting too long for Vulpi the sequel to Thyla.
Warning: Addictive.
A Bug in a Book recommended read.
Angela Hall
Kate Gordon
May 13, 2013
This is really 2.5 stars:
I must say, my feelings toward this book were totally flip-floppy the entire time I was reading it. The only way I can explain my final thoughts are wishy washy. I started out super confused, and completely turned off be the narration and the main character, Tess. My feelings about this didn't really change. The diary point of view became increasingly annoying as time went on, and I felt myself getting so fed up with Tess and her choices that I didn't want to keep reading. Yet, I did keep reading. Why? Because the plot was so ridiculously interesting to me. Here is a girl, someone who is clearly very intelligent, old-fashioned seeming, and obviously not human, that woke up in the bush one day and couldn't remember anything before that very moment. I had already figured out what was going on with her on page 15. That's a testament to how unoriginal the author was with her writing. The descriptions were so.... vague and boring. Almost like she was too lazy to actually creatively come up with anything on her own. She gave us as little information as she possibly could, which was quite little. Come the end of the book I still had no idea what actually happened with Tess, Connolly, or Cat. While she tried to explain away Tessa's memory loss, it was such a cop out. I was quite disappointed with the entire thing.
I must say, the cliff-hangers were wonderful, as were the length of the chapters. I've noticed, when chapters are shorter I tend to read longer. I also liked that she used actual land
You can find the rest of my review on my blog Drunk On Pop by clicking here: http://drunkonpop.com/2013/05/13/revi...
I must say, my feelings toward this book were totally flip-floppy the entire time I was reading it. The only way I can explain my final thoughts are wishy washy. I started out super confused, and completely turned off be the narration and the main character, Tess. My feelings about this didn't really change. The diary point of view became increasingly annoying as time went on, and I felt myself getting so fed up with Tess and her choices that I didn't want to keep reading. Yet, I did keep reading. Why? Because the plot was so ridiculously interesting to me. Here is a girl, someone who is clearly very intelligent, old-fashioned seeming, and obviously not human, that woke up in the bush one day and couldn't remember anything before that very moment. I had already figured out what was going on with her on page 15. That's a testament to how unoriginal the author was with her writing. The descriptions were so.... vague and boring. Almost like she was too lazy to actually creatively come up with anything on her own. She gave us as little information as she possibly could, which was quite little. Come the end of the book I still had no idea what actually happened with Tess, Connolly, or Cat. While she tried to explain away Tessa's memory loss, it was such a cop out. I was quite disappointed with the entire thing.
I must say, the cliff-hangers were wonderful, as were the length of the chapters. I've noticed, when chapters are shorter I tend to read longer. I also liked that she used actual land
You can find the rest of my review on my blog Drunk On Pop by clicking here: http://drunkonpop.com/2013/05/13/revi...
April 12, 2012
To declare my bias: Kate Gordon and I were at school together and I consider her a friend. I don't read a lot of YA fiction or fantasy, so I don't have a lot to compare her writing to.
I felt as though a chunk in the middle had been editted out of this novel. I felt as though the narrative jumped from "teenage girl found, weird scars, only knows her name" to "supernatural girl warrior" with something missing in between.
It also seemed the battle scenes- generally crucial to fantasy fiction- were underwritten. I'm not sure if this was -again- over zealous editting, or squeamishness in consideration of the audience. Which doesn't really ring true, as I know that Kate has a lot of respect for the YA market.
I like novels with strong women, and Thyla has those in spades... but they are realistic women, who make mistakes and learn-- or not.
I guess what I feel for Thyla is that it could have been a longer novel in it's own right, rather than the first in a trilogy... but then it would have been too long to be YA fiction and landed itself in adult fantasy... but then the protaginist would be female which seems to be a novelty in fantasy fiction... Hmmm... I might edit this review more later.
Generally a sound novel, but I think it wanted to be something other than it was. I could be entirely wrong, but that's how it felt when I reflect critically.
I felt as though a chunk in the middle had been editted out of this novel. I felt as though the narrative jumped from "teenage girl found, weird scars, only knows her name" to "supernatural girl warrior" with something missing in between.
It also seemed the battle scenes- generally crucial to fantasy fiction- were underwritten. I'm not sure if this was -again- over zealous editting, or squeamishness in consideration of the audience. Which doesn't really ring true, as I know that Kate has a lot of respect for the YA market.
I like novels with strong women, and Thyla has those in spades... but they are realistic women, who make mistakes and learn-- or not.
I guess what I feel for Thyla is that it could have been a longer novel in it's own right, rather than the first in a trilogy... but then it would have been too long to be YA fiction and landed itself in adult fantasy... but then the protaginist would be female which seems to be a novelty in fantasy fiction... Hmmm... I might edit this review more later.
Generally a sound novel, but I think it wanted to be something other than it was. I could be entirely wrong, but that's how it felt when I reflect critically.
September 11, 2014
Well, well, well...
The first chapter alone deserve 5 stars. Loved it. The incipit was perfect and the author did a very good job on presenting her main character. On the contrary, the cover is really, really bad. It doesn't attract me at all.
Then I started to read for real. The diary form that Tessa uses at the beginning was OK and I found myself missing it later in the book, where all the messages to Connolly have almost disappeared. I really like all the doubts Tess has on the language her friends uses, especially when she doesn't recognize the slang words she's not familiar with. And being a foody myself, it was entertaining to watch as Tess was introduce to a all new kind of food by Rhiannah.
As pointed out by other people, maybe the author could have explained something more about the differences between Sarcos and Thyla. But maybe she's done it in the second book of the series, Vulpi, but I'm not sure that I will actually read that.
One funny thing. Perrin, Sara and all of them long for England, or at least the England in which Victoria was queen. And it feels funny for me. I mean, they're a colony. They're culture and nature has been almost wiped out by their fatherland and still they long for it. ^__^
The first chapter alone deserve 5 stars. Loved it. The incipit was perfect and the author did a very good job on presenting her main character. On the contrary, the cover is really, really bad. It doesn't attract me at all.
Then I started to read for real. The diary form that Tessa uses at the beginning was OK and I found myself missing it later in the book, where all the messages to Connolly have almost disappeared. I really like all the doubts Tess has on the language her friends uses, especially when she doesn't recognize the slang words she's not familiar with. And being a foody myself, it was entertaining to watch as Tess was introduce to a all new kind of food by Rhiannah.
As pointed out by other people, maybe the author could have explained something more about the differences between Sarcos and Thyla. But maybe she's done it in the second book of the series, Vulpi, but I'm not sure that I will actually read that.
One funny thing. Perrin, Sara and all of them long for England, or at least the England in which Victoria was queen. And it feels funny for me. I mean, they're a colony. They're culture and nature has been almost wiped out by their fatherland and still they long for it. ^__^
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