The Human

War of the Seasons #1

by Janine K. Spendlove

Eirnin's silver eyes, now showing hints of bright yellow, widened in astonishment as he stared, transfixed, at the red blood dripping from the wound on Story's foot. "What are you?" ---------- A simple question with a not-so-simple answer for seventeen-year-old Story, who finds herself, a lone human, thrust in the middle of a war between creatures she once thought only existed in faerie tales.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Ebooks, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

386 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 2011

About the author

Janine K. Spendlove is a retired United States Marine Corps KC-130 pilot. In the Science Fiction and Fantasy World she is primarily known for her best-selling trilogy, War of the Seasons and Star Wars: Inbrief. She has several short stories published in various speculative fiction anthologies, to include Time Traveled Tales, Athena’s Daughters, and War Stories. Janine is also a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), Women in Aerospace (WIA), and BroadUniverse (BU). A graduate of Johns Hopkins University: School of International Studies (SAIS) and Brigham Young University (BYU), Janine loves pugs, sewing, and playing Beatles tunes on her guitar. She resides with her family in Northern Virginia and is currently at work on her next novel. Find out more at JanineSpendlove.com.

Reviews

[E.K. Carmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to explain I bought this novel because I met the author and was impressed with her as a person. I wanted to see what kind of a story she would write. I wasn't disappointed.

I'm not a huge fan of YA novels and I thought I was done with fairy tale creatures and storylines, but War of the Seasons: The Human by Janine Spendlove wasn't what I expected. Yes, there are familiar tropes, however, I found the way the author incorporated them and the way she handled the relationships between characters set it apart from similar novels.

In particular, I enjoyed the affectionate, teasing humor between the characters. I'm so tired of the over-abundance of brittle, snarky humor one finds in fiction lately.

I had to laugh when I read in a review somewhere that this novel didn't make you want to slap the two romatic leads. The romance is secondary, but it's amusing and realistic and, thank you, Janine, for not including smoldering, longing, hungering gazes every other chapter. It was refreshing.

Overall, I'm looking forward to reading more of this series and I highly recommend this novel.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a so-so book. There were a few issues I had with it. For example it bothered me that her dryad characters were more like mermaids/sirens then dryads-the authors should have taken some time to research her magical creatures before writing. Also the lead male characters eyes changed colors to indicate his mood, the problem with this was the colors were never consistent so as a reader I never figured out what color related to what mood. And finally the main female character shifts alot, at times she seems like an adult, other times like a child and at the best moment she actually seems like the teenager the author intended her to be.

The second book to this series is to be released this month, i will read it mainly because I am curious to see how the author could possibly continue this story line.

Overall though this was a quick read, nothing memorable but something light and fluffy. I believe its less then $5 in the kindle store so you get what you pay for.

[Jim Bernheimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the interests of full disclosure, I am friends with the author and we run into each other at science fiction/fantasy conventions all over the mid-Atlantic.

It's a solid 4 star Young Adult fantasy offering that doesn't have any strong language, excessive violence, or other graphic content. All in all, it is a well told tale that I enjoyed reading.

I liked her use of faeries as the villains and the well-crafted plot. What kept it from being 5 stars was that there were some instances where the heroine waffled between damsel in distress and "butt kicker." Also, the villain's modus operandi never really changed throughout the story. The heroine showed the ability to evolve, but I didn't get the same thing from the villain.

Again it's a very good story and I hope to start the second book soon.

[Stanley B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written fantasy about seventeen year old Story who recently lost her dad and adopted twin brothers. She decides to explore a cave with her only friend Josh when she falls through a portal and into another world of elves, trolls, and faeries.

Really, this is a romance novel. The bulk of the story is about Story’s developing romantic relationship with an elf named Eirnin. When the quest is met at the end, it comes abruptly in the story. However, the twists made up for the sudden conclusion.

I liked the story because of the twisting plot, characters, and writing style. It was not the typical fantasy adventure.

I bought this book at the Next Chapter Books and Arts store in New Bern, NC. Mary Jo has a wide selection of local authors and I have found, like this author, that many local books are better than popular bestsellers.

I’ll go by the bookstore soon to by the other three books of Ms. Spendlove.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a YA or even a teen novel, and I enjoyed it. There is some action, little violence, and some very sweet romance. There are fairies and elves and gnomes and dryads, and the heroine herself - 'Story' the human. The book moves along pretty fast, but is not hard to follow. There are a few surprises, but I could see where it was going for the most part. It has a "Happily Ever After" ending, with just a hint that there may be some issues ahead, in the next book. Nice read.

[Silver Faerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very engaging and well written book! Sometimes self-published are way better than mainstream and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.

[M.C. Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit I met the author before I read her book; Janine is a fantastic person that I could probably spend over half this post talking about how awesome she is. From talking to her, I knew her book was one of those books that would make it onto my list of “will get my hands on and read”. I didn’t think it would take me as long as it did, but what finally got me to get my hands on a copy of her book was a free Kindle copy that was offered as a Fourth of July special. I jumped on the chance to get the book and then started reading. I hate that life got in the way and delayed my finishing the book until about two months later but it was, simply put, a fantastic read.

When you start The Human, you really don’t know what to expect, it starts off with a girl with purple streaked hair named Story who is going spelunking with her friend Josh as she deals with the pain and loss of losing her entire family (her father and siblings). Not having suffered a similar loss as Story, it was a little hard to relate to her and her feelings, but they did make sense, and the intrigue continued as you learned of Story’s life before she falls down a cave and is knocked out. This is where the true story begins, as everything about the world she knows is turned upside down and she is met with an elf named Eirnin who is nothing but rude to her as she adjusts to a new world, and he discovers that she is a creature he has never seen before.

The simple oddity of the world, with a touch of familiar lore, and a few new twists is enough to keep you going as you learn all about Almera, the world Story has found herself in and is trying to get out of. Yet, the tale is about more than just a girl trying to find her way out of a strange place, as said girl ends up becoming a reluctant heroine as she realizes the people she has gotten to know and even love are in danger unless she helps them. Over all, it is a rather endearing story with a nice fantasy element that welcomes you in with open arms, much like the warmth of a favorite blanket on a cold winter night. As you read, you find yourself immersed in the story and falling in love with the characters much like Story herself, whom you also end up relating to and loving as well. She approaches everything in a perfectly human way and rather well for her age too. She has the perfect balance of being a kid and an adult all at once which is how many seventeen year-olds are.

If there was one complaint I have about the book as a whole, it is the similarity between a lot of words. I commend Janine for coming up with the idea that certain starting sounds dictate gender, importance or meaning, but it could easily get confusing at times, and in the Kindle format it wasn’t overtly easy to keep a finger in the pronunciation guide to help you pronounce and understand better. (This is an aspect where I feel a printed copy is better!) Of course, the inability to reach the pronunciation guide easily was no fault of Janine, but it is something for you to keep in mind when deciding to pick up this book!

Overall, I give this book a 4 star review. I know fantasy is not everyone’s cup of tea but I encourage you non fantasy readers to try the book out! To those who have a love of fantasy, much like me this is a must read, and I feel no fantasy book collection is complete without it. I know it is a book I will be proud to own on my bookshelf in full printed format rather than just hidden away on my Kindle!

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Witchmag's Boekenplank

Finally a book that grabbed my attention! It’s a fresh look on the main character who ends up in a new world, although the beginning reminded me a bit of Alice in Wonderland, minus rabbit ^^ We also have unusual elves, which makes it even more interesting. Although the age difference is something you’ll have to overlook… otherwise it’d be a little creepy

The new world that Janine Spendlove creates is, despite some clichés, breath-taking. Even the situation Story (okay, not a big fan of the name…) finds herself in is a cliché, you know, prophecy, chosen one, saving the day and such, but it’s twisted in such a way that it turned into something new and interesting. And that’s something I love: take all the well-known elements, mix them together and create something new, that’s also familiar. Those are my favorite books to read ^^

Eirnin and Story are great together, exactly how I like my two main characters. At first they can’t stand each other and we have lots and lot of bickering. But they eventually open up and slowly but steadily…. yeah you got what I mean, right? Another plus is Story and her almost complete lack of swooning over Eirnin. It’s a relief to just read about love without anyone turning into an obsessed being / stalker. Story is too down to earth for that. Although she has the tendency to over-think. And I could totally see myself in her, I’m also an over-thinker, so Story and I bonded quite easily ^^

There’s also a time and place for Story to cope with her sorrow, the sorrow for her lost family. As the story continues you can feel how little by little she’s able to cope, to let go. To give it a place. It’s not always handled this gradually and naturally. I’ve read books where this process was herky-jerky. At the start they can’t live without said person and after a couple of crying fits, they are ready to move on with their happy life. That’s not how it works, so this book was a welcome change.

The only part I was not so happy with was the ending. If this book was a stand alone, I wouldn’t have had a problem with it, but this is book is part of a series. Usually there’s a cliffhanger, or at least an attempt at one, at the ending of the book. Just to raise your curiosity for reading the next one. But I didn’t get that feeling at all with The Human. Everything was neatly solved, there were no loose ends and no cliffhanger. Well there’s something you could define as an attempt at one, but that did not appear clearly. And it didn’t raise any curiosity to read the next book. For me this story is finished, even though I quite liked it.

Conclusion: 3 hearts. It’s a refreshing and compelling story. It has some clichés, but they are given a nice, fun twist. It was very nice to read about Eirnin and Story, they have some chemistry there ^^The only thing that I liked less was the ending. It failed to raise any curiosity for the next book. For me this story has ended now.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I had posted this, apparently not. I recently re-read the book in preparation of book 2. I will say the book was just as good the secend time around and was just as difficult to put down.

my review written in 2011
My one line twitter review: "I finished!!! I must say for likely being the only book I will read this year, I know I made the right choice"

A bit more: I originally bought this book for 2 reasons. 1) it's a fantasy novel and I enjoy that. 2) Janine Spendlove is a friend of mine and I was so impressed with her ability to set a goal, set a deadline and then MAKE IT HAPPEN, that I had to buy her book to support her.

Now I suggest you consider getting the book because it is really friggin good! It's a young adult fantasy novel, the first of three(each due to be published in June). If the idea of young adult turns you off, I can assure you this adult brain loved it. I think the YA rating meant no foul language, excessive violence or "adult" situations, plus the main hero was a 17 year old girl. The rating also meant the writing was straight forward. I didn't need to spend hours after reading a chapter to try to figure out what the author was trying to say. When the bulk of your reading is medical textbooks, trust me straight forward escapism books are the best. But Johanna what is it about? I'm honestly reluctant to say much, I love to start a book without reading the back or analyzing the cover, so everything is a surprise. To sum up it's a fantasy adventure involving faeries, elves, gnomes and dryads. Janine Spendlove put a lot of effort into making sure you knew the about the land, the people and their history at the right times without making you feel like you were watching someones summer vacation slide show or a history lecture. I was as curious about the land, as the people being focused on, which is one reason I want read all the books.

[Tina Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a 17 year old girl named "Story". She's angry, furious at the world, thinking about quitting school and missing the direction and stability her father gave her before his and Story's younger siblings were killed in a car accident. She decides to go caving with a friend - the only one that has stood behind her - and ends up falling into another world.

Ailionora is a world of elves (now you know why I was hooked), faeries, gnome's and sirens (dryads). The faeries are bad and there is a war between them and the elves who have lost their immorality and are dying off. The faeries however are immortal also and like to create mischief especially against the other citizens of Ailionora ~ but with "wards" or spells they can be held off so they can't hurt others and are forced to leave others alone.

In The Human, Story is the tool that the elves can use to remove the curse of mortality. The scales are turned and the war begins.

I do want to caution you about only letting older kids read this book. It's not the violence and I didn't notice any bad language in the book - but there is some heavy petting and certain thoughts rolling through Story's mind and you can guess what those are. There is no action though - so if your younger kids 13+ do pick up the book don't panic. This is definitely a book for older teens and adults.

I am very much looking forward to reading Book 2 The Half Blood. The final draft is in the final stages and we can look forward to this new installment in War of the Seasons. I did ask the author how long this series is going to be and she thinks it will be a trilogy with several short stories throughout. So you can expect to enjoy this series for a while. =D

I was given a copy of War of the Seasons, The Human by the author Janine Spendlove to read and review. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Thanks Janine!

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Human is about a 17 year old named Story, who has lost her family and has been spending some time driving away her friends. While spelunking with her remaining friend she goes through a portal and comes out into a world where the once immortal race of elves is slowly dying away and as a human she holds the key to ending their curse.

The story aside, the book is about a lonely and somewhat socio-phobic young adult thrust into a fantastic setting. And while physically competent as a young adult (she is a spelunker, and good with a knife and bow), the people she meets in this new world are wise to the ways of the world, cunning and remorseless. And her wits are not helpful and her people skills are not much better in this setting. So The Human is her learning how to deal with others instead of being the outcast teenager she was. She learns (mostly by mistakes) about reading people, of considering the motivations of others, of having trust betrayed, and trust rewarded. She has relationships that are purely manipulative, some that are genuine care, some that are sacrificial, and even one that is without any agenda. And as she goes from an isolated teenager into a young adult with a range of relationships, her view of the world and her place in it grows.

There is a romance in the book with the female protagonist. But I appreciate the fact that she had a chance to become competent as a person (both in skills and how she related towards others) and other aspects of her growth were more important than the relationship for most of the book. And that this growth is what made her attractive to the other person in the end.

This was an engrossing story. I liked following the main character's growth as a person, and how it fits in with the overall story. I'm looking forward to the other books in this series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The crux of the story is that the elves have been suffering for hundreds of years under an evil enchantment that will eventually kill their entire race. Story may just be that one long-prophesied hero to save them all. Hence the fun and sometimes intense adventure that Janine Spendlove has given us. The main characters have some depth, each having suffered heartaches, losses, and disappointments. The underlying plot kept my attention and the book moving forward, even when there were a few places where redundant dialogue slowed it down. The side characters and evil-doers were a delight to read, often providing words of wisdom, humor, and being available to hate freely.

Even Story manages to sabotage herself more than once through her lack of trust, but that makes her all the more interesting as a main character. She is flawed, in a foreign place, and making mistakes. I like that. Story deeply misses her human family and her reminisces of her father and the younger twins’ antics were a very nice touch to the tale. I had mixed feeling about the ending, as I felt that it was too easy for Story, who was suddenly, unexpectedly given the ability to do what needed to be done. However, with one monumental task complete, the world is not suddenly all rosy and delights (which I appreciate in my fiction). Spendlove sets us up quite well for the next in the series.

[Betty Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished "War of the Seasons: The Human" by Janine Spendlove.

This novel contains many of the fantasy motifs we are all familiar with: elves, trolls, fairies, and dryads, though no dragons or cauldron-stirring wizards. However, Janine puts her own unique spin on the old fantasy tropes. Long story short: We humans, in our folk tales, got a lot of the details wrong.

The main character is Story, a teenage girl who falls down a mysterious crevice while spelunking and finds herself in a magical land where elves and various other magical races are real but your regular garden variety Homo sapiens does not exist – until she arrives. She brings with her lot of baggage – her resentments of a mother who disappeared in her infancy, and her grief at the more recent loss of her father and a pair of younger twin siblings in an accident. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, she wants to go home, even though -- unlike Dorothy -- she has no family to go back to.

How she gets home is the unexpected surprise of the novel. The characterization of Story, the swift pacing, and the careful attention to the details of her imaginary world are the greatest strengths of the tale. I would gladly recommend this book to any fan of fantasy fiction.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and lonely after the deaths of her father and younger siblings, Story finds herself visiting one of her childhood romps, a cave she used to visit with her family. In a headstrong moment, she forgets the cardinal rules of spelunking and falls down into a deep chasm. Finding a way out, she finds herself in Ailionara, a world in which elves, gnomes, faeries, and dryads are real...and humans are myth.

Janine K. Spendlove's War of the Seasons: The Human brings a lovely blend of Celtic lore and YA fantasy while full of beautiful Celtic names. The reluctant heroine provides a nice change to traditional masculine leads in the genre, with a romance that is only a tertiary line, as opposed to love struck girl mooning over a mythological man. While a bit flat at first, Story's character grows as the book gains momentum, driving the reader to the finish. If you like books such as Inheritance Cycle (Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, Inheritance) and Progeny: The Children of the White Lions, you won't want to miss checking out this up-and-coming author who only promises to be better with the next book in the series.

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the author.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janine Spendlove is a master at building on the kernels of myth and legend we are all vaguely (or not so vaguely) familiar with and making them her own. I finished this book in little over a day and was very glad that I already had the second one queued up.

Two points that I found particularly strong in this novel were the originality in the small details, such as the treatment of the elves' eyes (no...I will not explain. Pick up the book and see what I mean.) and the cultural background.

One of the flaws was the repetition of certain background details or character reaction to them. I felt this was a bit overdone. I would have been happier if the cultural differences were highlighted in a variety of ways instead of continually through just one or two characteristics that are still playing through book two.

From the very beginning I found myself engaged with these characters and I can't wait to see where the series will take us. The War of Seasons is a rich, elegant universe that begs to be explored.

[Lia Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a YA fantasy and though some of the elements of the world, like elves or fairies are quite common in fantasy, the author manages to give them a new twist (apparently we humans had contact with them, but got a lot about them wrong!).

I especially liked the heroine, Story, who is spunky yet at times also endearingly vulnerable and not without flaws. Also since she’s a present-day American, she looks at the world she’s fallen into with modern eyes. This can be really funny, for example when she thinks the dryads as a race all suffer from ADHD or compares the book’s villain to that of a James Bond movie.

Some of the names can be a bit confusing, for all the Elven names sound very similar. In the end I just concentrated on keeping the main ones straight, especially Eirnin (who, as one of the characters in the book remarks, is very much ‘a keeper’!).

However, that’s a minor niggle and I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who wants a brief escape from the everyday world (or perhaps not so brief, as there are follow-on novels).

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

What if humans were "make-believe" and elves, dryads, and gnomes were real? Somehow this fantasy creature called "human" has arrived in this realm to deliver the elven race from extinction.

While I enjoyed the book, the one thing that bothered me was that Story, the human, was supposedly 17 years old. This was brought up numerous times. However, she never thought, spoke, or acted like any 17 year old that I knew (and I'm a high school teacher). If her age was never mentioned, I would have considered her mid-twenties. I guess that is the only part of the story that bothered me. Actually really putting a "youngish" age on her really was more detrimental to the story than not even giving her an age.

On the whole, though, it was a good book and I look forward to reading the next one.

[Cindy Young-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story is a seventeen-year-old girl who falls in a cave while spelunking and finds herself in Ailionora, where elves and faeries are real and a human girl is the outsider. I loved the world that Janine Spendlove created. Her take on elves, faeries, gnomes, and dryads was a refreshing change. Story was a likable protagonist who has suffered her own trauma and learns to love and trust as she takes on an exciting and sometimes dangerous quest. Story's relationship with Eirnin was sweet and I liked the bantering between them. The other characters intrigued me as well and provided a good interaction with this fantastical world. And yes, I also adored the Faery Prince. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Samuel Lubell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I thought I would. It is about a girl from our world, Story, who is accidentally transported to a magic world where she becomes the fulfillment of a prophecy to return immortality to the elves. Strong points include Story's initial refusal to believe in the magic and a charming half-elf half-siren. A problem is that while Story bickers at first with Eirnin, the first elf she meets, the two fall in love too easily and, by the end, dominates too much of their interaction at the expense of characterization. And there is one totally unnecessary huge coincidence that links Story to this world more than she needs to be and undermines the choice she makes at the end.

[Jon Allanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. It reminded me a great deal of how I felt reading stories like Piers Anthony's Xanth series (especially the early ones, like Spell for Chameleon and Source of Magic), or Raymond Feist's Faerie Tale. I love the world that Spendlove has created here, and can't wait to explore more of it in subsequent novels and short stories. Her elves are unique, while still being the enchanted creatures I wanted them to be. I particularly liked their clan system, as that seemed very original to me. And, hopefully I'll encounter Adair again, as that dryad was quite entertaining. Overall, if you are looking for engaging YA fantasy lit, I certainly recommend this.

[Pam · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot and setting are good. Not great, but good. The characterization is poor, with a complete cast of unsympathetic, insipid humans, elves, and the rest.

Big Shiny Robot has a blurb on the back about a "love story that doesn't actually make you want to gag," so I will never be able to take a Big Shiny Robot recommendation seriously again. The romance is nauseating, overplayed, and worse than anything I've ever accidentally watched on TV. Anything. Seriously. Once I was sick and accidentally watched soap operas for an hour. It's that bad.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I'm ready to return to Ailionora as soon as the next book is ready! This was a super fun read, with really great characters and a wonderful world! I would love to say more-but I want to leave the story and characters a mystery to be discovered!

I enjoyed immensely exploring the new world with our heroine Story, and the twists an turns along the way had me guessing what would be coming next!

I recommend this lovely book heartily!

[Jordan F · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all you lovers of fantasy out there, even if you're not into "YA lit" (that term in itself is so debatable), I would recommend this! It's a quick read, and makes for a good, relaxing, and engaging time. You will fall in love with the reluctant heroine, Story, a believable heroine in a world of faeries, dryads, elves, and selkies that is, surprisingly enough, not so very unlike our own. Read this! You won't be disappointed.

[CJ Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The story is a wonderful blend of adventure, fantasy and even a little romance. It's fun and light-hearted at times, and other times deep and heartfelt. It's a beautiful story about love and loss and learning to to be happy again. After meeting the author and hearing the origins of this book, I knew she had really put herself into writing this novel and it shows. It's a fantastic debut novel and I can't wait to read more about Ailionora.

[Meridel Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy the trope of a modern person falling into a fantasy world, and this book is no exception. Story is believable and interesting, if a little limited in scope. The world of Alionora is lovely, but I have just one complaint: "dryads" are, categorically, tied to trees. The water-breathing, interestingly-colored elfin creatures Spendlove keeps referring to in this book? Those are not dryads. It bugged me everytime the word was used. Grar.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I got this (and the sequels) as part of the Kickstarter for the third book, and my true interest was for a stretch goal short story to be written by Cleolinda Jones, set in this universe. So going in I had no expectations and no idea about what I was in for. So, getting an interesting, charming, and engaging story was a really great bonus. I'm looking forward to starting the next book... probably tonight!

[Elaine]

My friend's daughter wrote this book and self published. I was able to download my copy for free. I don't feel right about writing a review on it, since I am so biased. I can say that writing a book is a mammoth undertaking. Big kudos to Spendlove in her writing debut! I wish her much success in her writing career!

[Latasha Carrasquillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the world building. Story was a great heroine. She accepted her situations and moved forward she wasn't twiddling her thumbs. The book flowed nicely kept a good pace action and I was totally intrigued. Just downloaded the second book can't wait to see what's next.

[Bryan Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really am not the biggest fan of YA fiction, but Spendlove's War of the Seasons dragged me right in. The writing is sharp, the characters are fun, and you can tell she's going to age like a fine wine. I can't wait for the second act of this trilogy. I need it now.