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Toren the Apprentice's Tale

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Have you ever been swept away by a story? If you have, you know the magic of the storyteller--and you know that magic is real. That is seventeen-year-old Toren's magic . . . but is she brave enough to accept the power that lies within her? 
When Toren returns home, her little sister, Noa, is full of questions. Noa demands to know why Toren wakes only at night; what causes her almost constant pain; and above all, why, after completing her apprenticeship, she has decided not to become a wizard. 

To answer, Toren weaves a tale about a journey that leads her to discover the greatest source of magic in her world--herself.TOREN THE APPRENTICE’S TALE is the first book of TOREN THE TELLER’S TALE. The adventure continues in book two, Toren the Teller’s THE TELLER’S TALE is more than an inspirational fantasy. It is a philosophical tale about the enchantment of literature, because in Toren's parallel world there is no greater power than the magic of storytelling.

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2011

4 people want to read

About the author

Shevi Arnold

8 books68 followers
Shevi Arnold writes funny. She can't help it. She's been writing funny since she was a kid, cracking up her class and her teachers with her humorous essays.

In high school she studied sitcoms when she was supposed to be doing her homework, and in college she took a couple of courses in comedy and clowning, as part of her degrees in English Literate and Theater Studies. She just had to find out what made something funny.

Eventually she cracked the code, and that led to jobs as a political cartoonist, a comic-strip magazine editor, and an arts-and-entertainment writer specializing in children's entertainment and, of course, comedy.

But a funny thing happened that put an end to her career as a journalist: she ran into a dead end where her autistic son's education was concerned, so she and her husband decided to leave the city where they had lived to move the family to New Jersey.

A few months later, Shevi asked her husband what she should do.

"What have you always wanted to do?" He asked.

She thought about it for a while. "I've always wanted to write funny stories, fantasy and science fiction for kids and teens."

And so she did. Dan Quixote: Boy of Nuevo Jersey is the first she's published, and more are on the way.

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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Author 6 books20 followers
March 24, 2014
Toren doesn't want to be a wizard, she's a story teller but her brother sells her to Bender, a wizard, to act as his apprentice. Only boys can be wizards, so she gets a haircut and has to pretend. Her first adventure is a camp for story tellers and to learn more about the craft.

Going by the name Tor she also attends the wizard school for boys in Midrosh for a year. There a dragon chose her for a life-long friend and she defeats the evil wizard Mordek leaving her with a bad leg and a boy named Romach determinded to kill the person he knows as Tor. She believes Mordek will return someday, so she studies and practices until she's even teaching the wizard, Bender. Toren yearns to return home. Will she be strong enough to complete her obligations?

I am pleased to say Shevi's going to make this a series. I look forward to reading more from her.
364 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2012
This is a very well done YA Sci Fi Fantasy book. The hero/heroine tells her story as a tale to her sister.. very well written... enjoyable. Reminded me of Tamora Pierce's books....
179 reviews3 followers
April 2, 2013
I won this novel on Library Thing and even though I usually read them in order in which I received them I was asked to read this and write a review with an offer of the second novel. I am really glad I did. This young adult fantasy is well written and quite an adventure. 10 year old Toren is sold to a wizard by her older brother after their parents were killed. Toren learns magic from her new master who knows she is something more than she herself believes. Toren just wants to be a girl but is forced to live as a boy while learning magic against her will. Toren takes her studies seriously and learns but it is with reluctance. Follow her on her journey as she struggles against the power she posses to live the life wants she wants for herself. This was a great way to spend an afternoon in the sun!
311 reviews2 followers
January 21, 2021
I received this book through LibraryThing's Member Giveaway Program.

After 10 year old Toren's parent die, her brother wants to get an apprenticeship to leave the vineyard. Instead he ends up selling Toren to be a wizard's apprentice. Since wizard's are all men, Toren must look and act like a boy. We are taken through her lessons and adventures for the first 2 years of the 7 she is expected to serve.
I liked the story, even if I'm a bit older than the intended target age. It's a sweet story for tweens about courage and perseverance.
The story's ending was rather abrupt, but it left you wanting to read book 2 in the series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews