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Pendant Trilogy #1
The Gemstone
One gemstone that changed her life... "Now it was almost before me. My breath quickenned as I struggled to let go of the necklace. I even stood to pull the box with me, but the ribbon of the necklace reddened my wrist like a hot coal and I cried out in pain. Suddenly all I heard was my breath-in, out. The figure moved quicker and quicker, closer and closer.".. "The figure was now above me, drifting over my head, and then it tumbled on me with the force of gravity."
"And then with a whimper, I fell unconcious as darkness surrounded me."
ARICA MILLER is thrilled to begin her sophomore year at Hill Valley Private Arts Academy. Little does she know that the prestigious school holds more hidden secrets than she'd anticipated-especially with the head mistress. After she accidentally comes into contact with a mysterious gemstone necklace, she receives strange hallucinations that connect to her family's past. Arica soon realizes that this is no regular necklace that contains power beyond her knowledge. And that's not all. Her world unwinds as she is absorbed with knowledge of a world of sorcery.
All dating uo to Halloween night, Arica must face suspicious friends, monstrous creatures, and the truth of her family's connection with sorcery. But worst of all, she must face a powerful enemy keen on only one thing: the gemstones.
"And then with a whimper, I fell unconcious as darkness surrounded me."
ARICA MILLER is thrilled to begin her sophomore year at Hill Valley Private Arts Academy. Little does she know that the prestigious school holds more hidden secrets than she'd anticipated-especially with the head mistress. After she accidentally comes into contact with a mysterious gemstone necklace, she receives strange hallucinations that connect to her family's past. Arica soon realizes that this is no regular necklace that contains power beyond her knowledge. And that's not all. Her world unwinds as she is absorbed with knowledge of a world of sorcery.
All dating uo to Halloween night, Arica must face suspicious friends, monstrous creatures, and the truth of her family's connection with sorcery. But worst of all, she must face a powerful enemy keen on only one thing: the gemstones.
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Sarena Nanua
8 books132 followersSarena is the co-author of Sisters of the Snake/Daughters of the Dawn with her twin sister, Sasha Nanua. She loves to read and write YA and MG novels. She graduated from UofT with an HBA.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 15, 2014
One gemstone that changed her life... Now it was almost before me. My breath quickened as I struggled to let go of the necklace. I even stood to pull the box with me, but the ribbon of the necklace reddened my wrist like a hot coal and I cried out in pain. Suddenly all I heard was my breath-in, out. The figure moved quicker and quicker, closer and closer...
The figure was now above me, drifting over my head, and then it tumbled on me with the force of gravity.
And then with a whimper, I fell unconscious as darkness surrounded me.
ARICA MILLER is thrilled to begin her sophomore year at Hill Valley Private Arts Academy. Little does she know that the prestigious school holds more hidden secrets than she'd anticipated-especially with the headmistress. After she accidentally comes into contact with a mysterious gemstone necklace, she receives strange hallucinations that connect to her family's past. Arica soon realizes that this is no regular necklace, but a necklace that contains power beyond her knowledge. And that's not all. Her world unwinds as she is absorbed with knowledge of a world of sorcery.
All dating up to Halloween night, Arica must face suspicious friends, monstrous creatures, and the truth of her family's connection with sorcery. But worst of all, she must face a powerful enemy keen on only one thing: the gemstones.
http://www.booknerdigans.com/wp-conte...
This book though. When I first picked up this book, (as a very pretty paperback, thanks to the publisher!) I knew that it was going to be a really fun read. Why? Well, let's start with that cover. I mean look at that lovely gemstone!!! Just looking at the cover made me want to dive right into it. However after I read the synopsis, I thought to myself "Hmm... This sounds sort of like a fantasy book. I don't usually like fantasy." And that's what I thought wrong. Say what you will about this book, but I will forever stand by my opinion of it being one of the top five fantasy books I've read in 2014. This book had just the prefect amount of almost everything! It was full with action and adventure, secrets, superpowers and of course, humor. I don't think I'll ever look at a mango again without cracking up. If you didn't understand that joke, click the link below to buy yourself a copy of The Gemstone and we can laugh over mangoes forever. This book was such an interesting one to read and I never knew what would happen next. It was like walking through a dim lit room and opening random doors to find treasured hidden past them. This book was a treasure. It's my little crate filled with gold coins and happiness. The Gemstone kept me on the edge of my seat constantly, and yet was extremely satisfying. Except for that ending. I did NOT see that coming and now I'm having a major book hangover. GIVE ME BOOK TWO!!! And now as I am waiting for the second book to come in the mail, I may or may not be planning a little giveaway with Sarena and Sasha. Stay tuned for more info on all that! And while you're waiting, don't forget to order your own copy of The Gemstone! I'm positive you will not regret it!
Link to buy The Gemstone:
http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Produc...
The figure was now above me, drifting over my head, and then it tumbled on me with the force of gravity.
And then with a whimper, I fell unconscious as darkness surrounded me.
ARICA MILLER is thrilled to begin her sophomore year at Hill Valley Private Arts Academy. Little does she know that the prestigious school holds more hidden secrets than she'd anticipated-especially with the headmistress. After she accidentally comes into contact with a mysterious gemstone necklace, she receives strange hallucinations that connect to her family's past. Arica soon realizes that this is no regular necklace, but a necklace that contains power beyond her knowledge. And that's not all. Her world unwinds as she is absorbed with knowledge of a world of sorcery.
All dating up to Halloween night, Arica must face suspicious friends, monstrous creatures, and the truth of her family's connection with sorcery. But worst of all, she must face a powerful enemy keen on only one thing: the gemstones.
http://www.booknerdigans.com/wp-conte...
This book though. When I first picked up this book, (as a very pretty paperback, thanks to the publisher!) I knew that it was going to be a really fun read. Why? Well, let's start with that cover. I mean look at that lovely gemstone!!! Just looking at the cover made me want to dive right into it. However after I read the synopsis, I thought to myself "Hmm... This sounds sort of like a fantasy book. I don't usually like fantasy." And that's what I thought wrong. Say what you will about this book, but I will forever stand by my opinion of it being one of the top five fantasy books I've read in 2014. This book had just the prefect amount of almost everything! It was full with action and adventure, secrets, superpowers and of course, humor. I don't think I'll ever look at a mango again without cracking up. If you didn't understand that joke, click the link below to buy yourself a copy of The Gemstone and we can laugh over mangoes forever. This book was such an interesting one to read and I never knew what would happen next. It was like walking through a dim lit room and opening random doors to find treasured hidden past them. This book was a treasure. It's my little crate filled with gold coins and happiness. The Gemstone kept me on the edge of my seat constantly, and yet was extremely satisfying. Except for that ending. I did NOT see that coming and now I'm having a major book hangover. GIVE ME BOOK TWO!!! And now as I am waiting for the second book to come in the mail, I may or may not be planning a little giveaway with Sarena and Sasha. Stay tuned for more info on all that! And while you're waiting, don't forget to order your own copy of The Gemstone! I'm positive you will not regret it!
Link to buy The Gemstone:
http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Produc...
March 31, 2015
Actual Rating 3.5 Stars
A full review will be up on my blog as well as here :)
A full review will be up on my blog as well as here :)
June 4, 2020
I gave this book 3.75 out of 5 stars
I received this book from the authors who were kind enough to send it to me in exchange for an honest review.
First, thank you to the authors for being soooo patient with me in writing the review. I read this book at the end of December, but with going back to work and being on a hiatus from my blog, I haven't had the chance to write the review.
I thought that the plot was very interesting and reminiscent of the Chosen series and of course some elements of Harry Potter (private school where students have powers)
I really enjoyed the mystery element to the story and how Arica was drawn to find out more about her and her family's past.
However, there were a couple of things that I had an issue with. I liked the plot of the story, but I felt as though the words used to describe and explain events in the story were a little younger than I'm used to reading (YA and NA books). (I am curious about whether this book is middle grade or YA-I will double check with the authors and let you know). The other reason is that I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. One of the most important things for me about reading a story (that I give 4-5 stars) is that I am able to connect with at least one character.
I would still recommend this book because I do think it's a great debut novel by teenage twins (yes, they are teenage authors-which is incredible).
Thank you both again for sending this book to me.
I received this book from the authors who were kind enough to send it to me in exchange for an honest review.
First, thank you to the authors for being soooo patient with me in writing the review. I read this book at the end of December, but with going back to work and being on a hiatus from my blog, I haven't had the chance to write the review.
I thought that the plot was very interesting and reminiscent of the Chosen series and of course some elements of Harry Potter (private school where students have powers)
I really enjoyed the mystery element to the story and how Arica was drawn to find out more about her and her family's past.
However, there were a couple of things that I had an issue with. I liked the plot of the story, but I felt as though the words used to describe and explain events in the story were a little younger than I'm used to reading (YA and NA books). (I am curious about whether this book is middle grade or YA-I will double check with the authors and let you know). The other reason is that I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. One of the most important things for me about reading a story (that I give 4-5 stars) is that I am able to connect with at least one character.
I would still recommend this book because I do think it's a great debut novel by teenage twins (yes, they are teenage authors-which is incredible).
Thank you both again for sending this book to me.
October 17, 2015
I was sent The Gemstone by Sarena and Sasha Nanua to review!
Sarena and Sasha wrote The Gemstone at my age which I was very impressed of. I have always tried to write a whole novel, but it is hard for me to juggle school work and my own writing. Sarena and Sasha have done both! Kudos to them!
I was really into the plot and the fantasy world The Pendant Trilogy was revolved around. However, it was still kind of a slow read because it was easy for me to waver my attention from the book. Even though the plot was very interesting, there was still trouble of getting bored.
It was a fairly well-written book for two teenagers. It was a little blocky and sometimes I felt like everything was just going in a good way. There were little moments of actual trouble. However, with me being the same age, I know the struggle and know the kind of writing they would know at this point in their life. Also, I know the struggle of trying write YA when you are still a YA.
I loved the development of characters. There were lots of details (maybe a little too much), but all in all, it helped me imagine my version of the world.
The Gemstone, the first book in The Pendant Trilogy, was a detailed and fairly written fantasy novel written by two inspiring teenagers. I would recommend this for younger teenagers.
Sarena and Sasha wrote The Gemstone at my age which I was very impressed of. I have always tried to write a whole novel, but it is hard for me to juggle school work and my own writing. Sarena and Sasha have done both! Kudos to them!
I was really into the plot and the fantasy world The Pendant Trilogy was revolved around. However, it was still kind of a slow read because it was easy for me to waver my attention from the book. Even though the plot was very interesting, there was still trouble of getting bored.
It was a fairly well-written book for two teenagers. It was a little blocky and sometimes I felt like everything was just going in a good way. There were little moments of actual trouble. However, with me being the same age, I know the struggle and know the kind of writing they would know at this point in their life. Also, I know the struggle of trying write YA when you are still a YA.
I loved the development of characters. There were lots of details (maybe a little too much), but all in all, it helped me imagine my version of the world.
The Gemstone, the first book in The Pendant Trilogy, was a detailed and fairly written fantasy novel written by two inspiring teenagers. I would recommend this for younger teenagers.
September 27, 2015
Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
5-STARS
The Pendant Trilogy consists of The Gemstone, The King’s Jewel, and The Poisoned Emerald. This is a remarkable series because it is written by teenaged twins who, according to the bio on Amazon, attend high school in Ontario. They should be commended for following their love of reading and writing by publishing a book for other teenagers.
The Gemstone begins with the main character, Arica attending a new private school along with her cousins Janine, Jessica and Joseph. All three possess inherited magical gifts, but only Arica is completely clueless about her magical heritage; her magical background having been concealed by her mother who was intent on protecting her from the dangers of magic. Faced with a headmistress with malevolent intent, and roommates and other peers who may be either friends or foes, Arica and her cousins must survive while protecting heirloom magical gemstone necklaces from theft. During these trials, Arica, who is otherwise a clueless ninth-grader, reluctantly rises to a leadership role and with the help of her cousins and others who become allies slowly learns the truth of her magical inheritance. The same malevolent forces fought by Arica, her cousins and her friends in The Gemstone persist in different threatening forms and hideous activities in The King’s Jewels and The Poisoned Emerald. The authors have left plenty of opportunity to expand the trilogy into multiple volumes.
Written by peers, this is a fine fantasy selection for middle-school and lower high school students. The plot is a simple straight-forward good-v-evil scenario which is sufficiently imaginative to provide good entertainment. While some of the characters and situations may seem elementary or somewhat implausible to adult readers, it should be remembered that these books were not written for adults. The descriptions of objects and locations are rich and detailed; often entertaining in and of themselves. The choice of words and dialog are simple, but seem stilted and awkward, not at all how I would expect ninth-graders to talk in America; however, the authors are Canadian, and the main characters have recently moved from England to Canada to attend a new school, therefore, a British influence accents the dialog.
Overall, I feel The Pendant Trilogy is a great start toward a writing career for the authors, Sarena and Sasha Nanua, and an entertaining fantasy selection for middle-school aged students…perhaps a good Halloween read.
Clabe Polk
5-STARS
The Pendant Trilogy consists of The Gemstone, The King’s Jewel, and The Poisoned Emerald. This is a remarkable series because it is written by teenaged twins who, according to the bio on Amazon, attend high school in Ontario. They should be commended for following their love of reading and writing by publishing a book for other teenagers.
The Gemstone begins with the main character, Arica attending a new private school along with her cousins Janine, Jessica and Joseph. All three possess inherited magical gifts, but only Arica is completely clueless about her magical heritage; her magical background having been concealed by her mother who was intent on protecting her from the dangers of magic. Faced with a headmistress with malevolent intent, and roommates and other peers who may be either friends or foes, Arica and her cousins must survive while protecting heirloom magical gemstone necklaces from theft. During these trials, Arica, who is otherwise a clueless ninth-grader, reluctantly rises to a leadership role and with the help of her cousins and others who become allies slowly learns the truth of her magical inheritance. The same malevolent forces fought by Arica, her cousins and her friends in The Gemstone persist in different threatening forms and hideous activities in The King’s Jewels and The Poisoned Emerald. The authors have left plenty of opportunity to expand the trilogy into multiple volumes.
Written by peers, this is a fine fantasy selection for middle-school and lower high school students. The plot is a simple straight-forward good-v-evil scenario which is sufficiently imaginative to provide good entertainment. While some of the characters and situations may seem elementary or somewhat implausible to adult readers, it should be remembered that these books were not written for adults. The descriptions of objects and locations are rich and detailed; often entertaining in and of themselves. The choice of words and dialog are simple, but seem stilted and awkward, not at all how I would expect ninth-graders to talk in America; however, the authors are Canadian, and the main characters have recently moved from England to Canada to attend a new school, therefore, a British influence accents the dialog.
Overall, I feel The Pendant Trilogy is a great start toward a writing career for the authors, Sarena and Sasha Nanua, and an entertaining fantasy selection for middle-school aged students…perhaps a good Halloween read.
Clabe Polk
October 5, 2014
My actual rating for this book is 3.5 stars, but ofcourse on good reads we cannot put 1/2 stars.
I was sent this book in exchange for a honest review.
I enjoyed this book, the story line was interesting and I wanted carry on reading even if I had to do other things. I do not want to add more about the plot as I do not want to give the book away but the synopsis above pretty much covers it. I liked the main character Arica, she is 15 but she is not made to be too childish which sometimes I find can happen in YA books. Saying that I think she was a bit too accepting of magic, there was no incredulity which I thought would have been the normal reaction as she's knew nothing about magic before. I have to admit there was a bad guy in the book but I spent the entire book trying to work out who else was an accomplice and who was good. The other characters in this book were interesting, I liked Joseph the best.
This is a well written book considering that it is Sarena and Sasha's first book. There was a scene with a mango that made me chuckle out loud, so hats off to the authors for thinking and writing such a enjoyable book. I am not just saying this as they sent me a copy of the book but because I did actually enjoy it, though I will admit this will not be everyone's cup of tea. My niggle with the writing is there can be too much description at points and there are parts that I feel do not add to the story or description so could have been missed out. This does not take too much away from the enjoyment of the book however.
I did think at points in the story that things were too convenient, as the characters needed to discover something or something needed to happen for the story to move on and so it did, but this was just a minor issue and hopefully this will improve with the next book in the series as the story has been established. The book ended on such a big cliffhanger once everything was just getting really interesting. I really want to find out what happens and will at some point soon pick up the next book.
This is a good solid read, so if you enjoy books such a The Summoning or YA books with young character then give this a go :) Do not forget to leave me a comment if you check it out!
Thank you to the lovely Sarena and Sasha for giving this to me to review :)
I was sent this book in exchange for a honest review.
I enjoyed this book, the story line was interesting and I wanted carry on reading even if I had to do other things. I do not want to add more about the plot as I do not want to give the book away but the synopsis above pretty much covers it. I liked the main character Arica, she is 15 but she is not made to be too childish which sometimes I find can happen in YA books. Saying that I think she was a bit too accepting of magic, there was no incredulity which I thought would have been the normal reaction as she's knew nothing about magic before. I have to admit there was a bad guy in the book but I spent the entire book trying to work out who else was an accomplice and who was good. The other characters in this book were interesting, I liked Joseph the best.
This is a well written book considering that it is Sarena and Sasha's first book. There was a scene with a mango that made me chuckle out loud, so hats off to the authors for thinking and writing such a enjoyable book. I am not just saying this as they sent me a copy of the book but because I did actually enjoy it, though I will admit this will not be everyone's cup of tea. My niggle with the writing is there can be too much description at points and there are parts that I feel do not add to the story or description so could have been missed out. This does not take too much away from the enjoyment of the book however.
I did think at points in the story that things were too convenient, as the characters needed to discover something or something needed to happen for the story to move on and so it did, but this was just a minor issue and hopefully this will improve with the next book in the series as the story has been established. The book ended on such a big cliffhanger once everything was just getting really interesting. I really want to find out what happens and will at some point soon pick up the next book.
This is a good solid read, so if you enjoy books such a The Summoning or YA books with young character then give this a go :) Do not forget to leave me a comment if you check it out!
Thank you to the lovely Sarena and Sasha for giving this to me to review :)
February 7, 2015
This book was such a delight to read! I was getting myself into a reading slump and The Gemstone got me out of it. It was written by twins Sarena and Sasha, I personally think that is so cool. To be able to work on something with your sister seems like fun, a headache maybe but fun. They are sweet girls, I've had the pleasure of speaking with them on social media a couple of times.
Arica just started the most prestigious art academy in the country. Her mother gives her a beautiful gemstone necklace before she embarks on a journey into this new unknown school, life is great. It doesn't take long for Arica to learn the magical secrets behind her gemstone and the gemstones that her twin cousins possess. Then everything starts to change and they will all be fighting to keep the gemstones away from the evil sorceress.
The plot was so fun and creative. Even though Arica was only fifteen it felt more like she was in college, I think that was because of the school she was in. I was worried that since she was so young there would be too much "high school" drama but it wasn't like that. None of the characters acted like their age, if I didn't know they were fifteen they could have passed as college kids.
I really enjoyed Arica, Jess, Janine and Josephs characters and the friendship between all of them –I know they were related but you can still be friends with relatives. The mango scene was excellent and had me laughing, loudly. I commend Sarena and Sasha for writing such a great scene and a great book.
I think it was pretty obvious that Ash and her little clan was just not right. I knew there was something up with them immediately –for once my non-existent detective skills were right. I don't want to elaborate on any of them because I don't want to give anything away. That's the only thing wrong with this book, so much happened but it was all so relevant that saying it could give something away. I loved how EVERYTHING was connected, the author duo did an amazing job making everything fit together perfectly.
I can't believe the ending though, holy cliff hanger! I can't wait to get my hands on the second book!
For more of my reviews visit http://www.hyperashley.com/
Arica just started the most prestigious art academy in the country. Her mother gives her a beautiful gemstone necklace before she embarks on a journey into this new unknown school, life is great. It doesn't take long for Arica to learn the magical secrets behind her gemstone and the gemstones that her twin cousins possess. Then everything starts to change and they will all be fighting to keep the gemstones away from the evil sorceress.
The plot was so fun and creative. Even though Arica was only fifteen it felt more like she was in college, I think that was because of the school she was in. I was worried that since she was so young there would be too much "high school" drama but it wasn't like that. None of the characters acted like their age, if I didn't know they were fifteen they could have passed as college kids.
I really enjoyed Arica, Jess, Janine and Josephs characters and the friendship between all of them –I know they were related but you can still be friends with relatives. The mango scene was excellent and had me laughing, loudly. I commend Sarena and Sasha for writing such a great scene and a great book.
I think it was pretty obvious that Ash and her little clan was just not right. I knew there was something up with them immediately –for once my non-existent detective skills were right. I don't want to elaborate on any of them because I don't want to give anything away. That's the only thing wrong with this book, so much happened but it was all so relevant that saying it could give something away. I loved how EVERYTHING was connected, the author duo did an amazing job making everything fit together perfectly.
I can't believe the ending though, holy cliff hanger! I can't wait to get my hands on the second book!
For more of my reviews visit http://www.hyperashley.com/
March 7, 2013
Sarena and Sasha Nanua
· “The Gemstone”
YA paranormal/suspense/adventure
Why has the world suddenly gone totally strange?
From the moment Arica Miller finds an odd necklace in a box stored in her basement, nothing is ever as it was before. Moving to another house and a new school was hard enough. Now she is getting visions, her cousins speak of sorcery, and the headmistress at her new school is eyeing her with more interest than Arica is comfortable with.
Then there’s Ash, Arica’s roommate, and her friends. They seem friendly and harmless enough, but there are times...
As Arica delves deeper into what she has learned from her cousins, and her own magical abilities heighten and mature, she is pulled into a world, and a destiny, much greater than anything she ever dreamed possible.
Stars: 3, with a real possibility of 4 or 5
This was a fantastic book. The plot was well thought-out, the action segued from one scene to another with absolutely effortless movement. I got caught up in the adventure, and found myself really caring about the characters and what happened to them. The only thing keeping this book from a rating of four or even five stars was the need for editing.
I would like to start my critique by saying I do not envy anyone who has to learn English. This is very daunting, because, just like Chinese, it changes from area to area. Indeed, British English and American English are so different in terms and colloquialisms that you almost need a translator to understand what each is saying.
I highly recommend editing by someone who is a native-born English speaker, so that this wonderful story is readily understandable by all English-speaking readers. This is a treasure; I would love to see it really take off.
K.R. Morrison
Author, Be Not Afraid, UnHoly Trinity, and Resurgence: The Rise of Judas
Blog address: kathyree.wordpress.com
juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
· “The Gemstone”
YA paranormal/suspense/adventure
Why has the world suddenly gone totally strange?
From the moment Arica Miller finds an odd necklace in a box stored in her basement, nothing is ever as it was before. Moving to another house and a new school was hard enough. Now she is getting visions, her cousins speak of sorcery, and the headmistress at her new school is eyeing her with more interest than Arica is comfortable with.
Then there’s Ash, Arica’s roommate, and her friends. They seem friendly and harmless enough, but there are times...
As Arica delves deeper into what she has learned from her cousins, and her own magical abilities heighten and mature, she is pulled into a world, and a destiny, much greater than anything she ever dreamed possible.
Stars: 3, with a real possibility of 4 or 5
This was a fantastic book. The plot was well thought-out, the action segued from one scene to another with absolutely effortless movement. I got caught up in the adventure, and found myself really caring about the characters and what happened to them. The only thing keeping this book from a rating of four or even five stars was the need for editing.
I would like to start my critique by saying I do not envy anyone who has to learn English. This is very daunting, because, just like Chinese, it changes from area to area. Indeed, British English and American English are so different in terms and colloquialisms that you almost need a translator to understand what each is saying.
I highly recommend editing by someone who is a native-born English speaker, so that this wonderful story is readily understandable by all English-speaking readers. This is a treasure; I would love to see it really take off.
K.R. Morrison
Author, Be Not Afraid, UnHoly Trinity, and Resurgence: The Rise of Judas
Blog address: kathyree.wordpress.com
juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
January 2, 2013
Oh, I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. I was given a copy of this for an honest review. And honestly, I thought it was great. This was a deviation from the string of paranormal romance and adult contemporary romance books I've been reading lately. And it was a welcome change of pace!!
I do have to say, the book had a very "Harry Potter'ish" type feel...minus the school being for witches and wizards, etc...
We are introduced to Arica Miller who is beginning her sophomore year at a new school, Hill Valley Private Arts Academy. She will be attending with her three cousins, Jessica and Janine (twins), and Joseph. She is given a strange gemstone necklace by her Mother just before starting at Hill Valley. Little does she know what is in store for her because of this necklace..
A great supporting cast that I am sure will play a much larger role as the series continues. Ash, Rowen, Rein, Cale, Geoff, Adam....yep, it's gonna be great.
Without giving too much away - most of the book is setting the tone for an epic last couple of chapters. Everything coming to a head on Halloween Night. And these authors leave us LITERALLY wanting more...one of the best cliffhangers I've come across!!
I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series...for sure!!!
I do have to say, the book had a very "Harry Potter'ish" type feel...minus the school being for witches and wizards, etc...
We are introduced to Arica Miller who is beginning her sophomore year at a new school, Hill Valley Private Arts Academy. She will be attending with her three cousins, Jessica and Janine (twins), and Joseph. She is given a strange gemstone necklace by her Mother just before starting at Hill Valley. Little does she know what is in store for her because of this necklace..
A great supporting cast that I am sure will play a much larger role as the series continues. Ash, Rowen, Rein, Cale, Geoff, Adam....yep, it's gonna be great.
Without giving too much away - most of the book is setting the tone for an epic last couple of chapters. Everything coming to a head on Halloween Night. And these authors leave us LITERALLY wanting more...one of the best cliffhangers I've come across!!
I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series...for sure!!!
January 25, 2016
This book literally took me two days to read and it was the one of the best books I have read in 2014! I cannot wait to get the second book becuase that ending was not acceptable ;). I can't believe it ended that way and I have to figure out what happens next otherwise…
But what I love about this book is that first of all 2 authors wrote this book and I couldn't tell a difference between there writing and they described everything perfectly
But what I love about this book is that first of all 2 authors wrote this book and I couldn't tell a difference between there writing and they described everything perfectly
December 5, 2012
A thrilling read and a fantastic start to what will be an amazing series. Held me captive from the very first page, with interesting characters, and surprising plot twists. Well worth a read, will definately be recommending to all fantasy/magic/sci-fi lovers! Eagerly awaiting the next in the series, these girls are definately the up and coming authors to watch out for!
June 5, 2015
I received an e-copy from the authors in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects any opinions expressed below.
This review is officially posted on Live, Love, Read. http://www.livelovereadya.wordpress.com
My Review:
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was a fun read, one that I easily passed the time away with and that kept me engaged with it throughout the day. I read it in less than 24 hours and am still thinking of it, debating on whether or not I’d like to jump right into the next one. Here’s the layout of my thoughts:
1. This book contains a very unique story line.
I haven’t seen any book with a plot quite like this one. It has a very unique take on magic, sorcerers, and the abilities that come with it. The basics are that there are three gemstones that were stolen from a sorceress many generations ago. Since then, they have been passed down the family line that they now belong to and have given magical powers to the holders of the stones. I haven’t read a book with anything even close to this kind of background story, mixed with magic.
2. The plot twists were predictable, but at the same time, came as a surprise…
Though the sense of foreboding was imminent, I was surprised by how the plot twisted and turned. It was like I knew it was coming, and the plot would still make a twist when I thought it would, but it would add an extra “OOMPH” just for some element of surprise. It left me wanting more and constantly engaged with the book. I was curious as to how this all was going to end, especially if it leads to two more books!
***********************************************************************
There were a few things about this book that I didn’t exactly dislike… but I didn’t necessarily really enjoy them either. The following are a few things I noticed that I’m hoping may be able to help the authors along the way:
1. The language used and the somewhat predictability make this book read more like a middle grade novel.
Many of the words used in this book were easier to read, which is great! We need more books that have a good plot and are easier to read because keeping teens engaged in reading is a challenge for teachers these days. They would be more likely to pick up a book like yours that flows smoothly and does not have as challenging of a vocabulary as we see in many YA books today. However, because of the language used, plus the fact that the main character is only 15, I honestly believe that you might have a little more success if you market this book as a middle grade fantasy!
2. There are a few times the plot skips around or where the conflict is easily solved in order to get to the next part of the story.
This is COMMON in many middle grade novels that I have read. Where there should have been more hesitation or questioning, the characters easily oblige. Where there should have been more hardship, because life really isn’t that easy, the characters get a break and the problem is solved. Nowadays in YA literature, the characters have it REALLY, REALLY hard. The fantasy novels are turning much darker and the favorites contain characters who go through a tremendous amount of anguish and hardship, more than anyone should have to bear. However, in this novel, many of the problems were easily solved for the characters by some fate of circumstance… but that’s not necessarily life of the YA reader. Older teenagers’ lives are ABUNDANT with drama and problems. I remember my years where every single problem seemed like the end of the world, whereas the characters in The Gemstone also seem to think more like middle grade readers because they only have one problem and it’s the conflict within the book.
Overall, great plot and individuality. I truly enjoyed this book and it was a relaxing, fun, entertaining read for me! It’s a perfect debut novel for Sasha and Sarena! I’d give this novel 4 stars! Keep working at it ladies!
This review is officially posted on Live, Love, Read. http://www.livelovereadya.wordpress.com
My Review:
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was a fun read, one that I easily passed the time away with and that kept me engaged with it throughout the day. I read it in less than 24 hours and am still thinking of it, debating on whether or not I’d like to jump right into the next one. Here’s the layout of my thoughts:
1. This book contains a very unique story line.
I haven’t seen any book with a plot quite like this one. It has a very unique take on magic, sorcerers, and the abilities that come with it. The basics are that there are three gemstones that were stolen from a sorceress many generations ago. Since then, they have been passed down the family line that they now belong to and have given magical powers to the holders of the stones. I haven’t read a book with anything even close to this kind of background story, mixed with magic.
2. The plot twists were predictable, but at the same time, came as a surprise…
Though the sense of foreboding was imminent, I was surprised by how the plot twisted and turned. It was like I knew it was coming, and the plot would still make a twist when I thought it would, but it would add an extra “OOMPH” just for some element of surprise. It left me wanting more and constantly engaged with the book. I was curious as to how this all was going to end, especially if it leads to two more books!
***********************************************************************
There were a few things about this book that I didn’t exactly dislike… but I didn’t necessarily really enjoy them either. The following are a few things I noticed that I’m hoping may be able to help the authors along the way:
1. The language used and the somewhat predictability make this book read more like a middle grade novel.
Many of the words used in this book were easier to read, which is great! We need more books that have a good plot and are easier to read because keeping teens engaged in reading is a challenge for teachers these days. They would be more likely to pick up a book like yours that flows smoothly and does not have as challenging of a vocabulary as we see in many YA books today. However, because of the language used, plus the fact that the main character is only 15, I honestly believe that you might have a little more success if you market this book as a middle grade fantasy!
2. There are a few times the plot skips around or where the conflict is easily solved in order to get to the next part of the story.
This is COMMON in many middle grade novels that I have read. Where there should have been more hesitation or questioning, the characters easily oblige. Where there should have been more hardship, because life really isn’t that easy, the characters get a break and the problem is solved. Nowadays in YA literature, the characters have it REALLY, REALLY hard. The fantasy novels are turning much darker and the favorites contain characters who go through a tremendous amount of anguish and hardship, more than anyone should have to bear. However, in this novel, many of the problems were easily solved for the characters by some fate of circumstance… but that’s not necessarily life of the YA reader. Older teenagers’ lives are ABUNDANT with drama and problems. I remember my years where every single problem seemed like the end of the world, whereas the characters in The Gemstone also seem to think more like middle grade readers because they only have one problem and it’s the conflict within the book.
Overall, great plot and individuality. I truly enjoyed this book and it was a relaxing, fun, entertaining read for me! It’s a perfect debut novel for Sasha and Sarena! I’d give this novel 4 stars! Keep working at it ladies!
March 6, 2015
Check out my blog! http://www.livthebooknerd.blogspot.com
(originally posted on blog)
3.5 STARS
Hey guys!
So I was asked by Sarena and Sasha on Instagram to review their books; and they hooked me up with their publishers email..And let me say! They hooked me up! Not only did they send me The Gemstone, they sent me the second and third book in the Pendant Trilogy: The King's Jewel & The Poisoned Emerald. Again! Thank you so much Sasha and Sarena Nanua and thank you iUniverse for sending them to me!
Sasha and Sarena are twin, teen authors from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The Gemstone was their first novel, and they have been writing since they were 9 years old. They love reading in their spare time and their favorite genres are fantasy and science fiction.
The Gemstone is the first in the Pendant Trilogy. The Gemstone is about 15 year old Arica Miller. Arica is beginning her sophomore year at the Hill Valley Private Arts Academy. Hill Valley is a mysterious school...especially Headmistress Lembrose...After encountering a gemstone necklace in her basement, Arica recieves strange hallucinations of her family's past. Arica soon discovers that her necklace contains more power than she can imagine, and she's soon "absorbed with knowledge of a world of sorcery."*
So I went and dived into this right after I finished Alienated and Until Midnight by Melissa Landers, anddd I was in a bit of a book hangover. I pushed on through this and I'm so glad I did! For their first book, this was really good! Props to Sarena and Sasha for an a-okay book!
Now allow me to rag on it a bit..You can tell it's written by amateur writers and its quite obvious that it's their first book. The story doesn't quite flow the way most fantasy books do, but the whole idea is so intriguing and interesting and it made me want to keep reading to know what would happen next. Another thing I saw as I read was that Arica wasn't exactly given the chance to discover things for herself. [SPOILERS COMING UP READ AT YOUR OWN RISK] At certain points throughout the novel, some things happened were written so that it was easy for Arica to figure stuff out yet she didn't figure out who was against her at the end. Arica is also kind of oblivious, I mean seriously! How could she not know that Ash was plotting something against her with Lembrose! She was so obvious!
Notes:
Poor Monika! I hope she's in the next book and is ok!
Oh my gosh I really like Rowen. If he comes out of his magic induced stupor I hope he and Arica become friends..or more than friends
Joseph and the mangoes HA! MAGIC GOALS!
I really like how bookish Joseph is. He cracks me up.
The snake burns that Ash puts on people are like the Deatheater marks in Harry Potter and the drawer thing that the twins and Arica go into is just like a Vanishing Cabinet as well...The spirit of Draco Malfoy is alive within this book!
If you like ..(#).. then you'll love The Gemstone
The Pendragon series (10)
The Harry Potter series (7)
The Maximum Ride series (10)
The Darkest Powers series (3.6)
Thank you again Sasha & Sarena Nanua and iUniverse for sending me The Gemstone, The King's Jewel, and The Poisoned Emerald! I can't wait to finish TKJ & TPE later this week. :) Reviews will be coming soon after I finish them!
Follow Sasha and Sarena on Instagram! @sarenasashabooks
Until later guys!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~
(originally posted on blog)
3.5 STARS
Hey guys!
So I was asked by Sarena and Sasha on Instagram to review their books; and they hooked me up with their publishers email..And let me say! They hooked me up! Not only did they send me The Gemstone, they sent me the second and third book in the Pendant Trilogy: The King's Jewel & The Poisoned Emerald. Again! Thank you so much Sasha and Sarena Nanua and thank you iUniverse for sending them to me!
Sasha and Sarena are twin, teen authors from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The Gemstone was their first novel, and they have been writing since they were 9 years old. They love reading in their spare time and their favorite genres are fantasy and science fiction.
The Gemstone is the first in the Pendant Trilogy. The Gemstone is about 15 year old Arica Miller. Arica is beginning her sophomore year at the Hill Valley Private Arts Academy. Hill Valley is a mysterious school...especially Headmistress Lembrose...After encountering a gemstone necklace in her basement, Arica recieves strange hallucinations of her family's past. Arica soon discovers that her necklace contains more power than she can imagine, and she's soon "absorbed with knowledge of a world of sorcery."*
So I went and dived into this right after I finished Alienated and Until Midnight by Melissa Landers, anddd I was in a bit of a book hangover. I pushed on through this and I'm so glad I did! For their first book, this was really good! Props to Sarena and Sasha for an a-okay book!
Now allow me to rag on it a bit..You can tell it's written by amateur writers and its quite obvious that it's their first book. The story doesn't quite flow the way most fantasy books do, but the whole idea is so intriguing and interesting and it made me want to keep reading to know what would happen next. Another thing I saw as I read was that Arica wasn't exactly given the chance to discover things for herself. [SPOILERS COMING UP READ AT YOUR OWN RISK] At certain points throughout the novel, some things happened were written so that it was easy for Arica to figure stuff out yet she didn't figure out who was against her at the end. Arica is also kind of oblivious, I mean seriously! How could she not know that Ash was plotting something against her with Lembrose! She was so obvious!
Notes:
Poor Monika! I hope she's in the next book and is ok!
Oh my gosh I really like Rowen. If he comes out of his magic induced stupor I hope he and Arica become friends..or more than friends
Joseph and the mangoes HA! MAGIC GOALS!
I really like how bookish Joseph is. He cracks me up.
The snake burns that Ash puts on people are like the Deatheater marks in Harry Potter and the drawer thing that the twins and Arica go into is just like a Vanishing Cabinet as well...The spirit of Draco Malfoy is alive within this book!
If you like ..(#).. then you'll love The Gemstone
The Pendragon series (10)
The Harry Potter series (7)
The Maximum Ride series (10)
The Darkest Powers series (3.6)
Thank you again Sasha & Sarena Nanua and iUniverse for sending me The Gemstone, The King's Jewel, and The Poisoned Emerald! I can't wait to finish TKJ & TPE later this week. :) Reviews will be coming soon after I finish them!
Follow Sasha and Sarena on Instagram! @sarenasashabooks
Until later guys!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~
December 18, 2014
I loved reading The Gemstone! It fitted perfect as an October read that was close to Halloween.
Arica Miller was an interesting character to read about, I loved how much her character developed and became really strong and independent.
The plot was unlike anything I have ever read before and made me not want to stop reading.
The Gemstone overall was a fast paced, exciting read that's full of surprises!
Arica Miller was an interesting character to read about, I loved how much her character developed and became really strong and independent.
The plot was unlike anything I have ever read before and made me not want to stop reading.
The Gemstone overall was a fast paced, exciting read that's full of surprises!
August 30, 2016
Okay well, I love the book but I do have a few complaints. Most things were obvious and you could tell where the story was going (but the things you didn't know were gonna happen, blew up in my face). I really thought the ending was more of a horror movie ending, not the ending of a book, really. And everything usually ended in a happy note which is just...no. But anyway, I liked the book so yea
December 11, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was exciting, interesting, and had me hooked the entire way through. The storyline was fantastic, and the character's were not only relatable but loveable. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a twist of fantasy. Loved it.
September 19, 2012
The Gemstone was amazing! The Girls have written a remarkable story that kept me wanting for more! I cannot wait until the second book is released! Keep up the great work Sarena and Sasha.
November 14, 2020
Fascinating original story, love the cover, gotta read the rest!! Perfect for HP or fantasy lovers!
August 27, 2015
I received a copy of The Pendant Trilogy earlier this month for review. I want to thank the authors for the opportunity to read and review their books.
I’ve never written a book before so I don’t know if it’s easier or harder to have two people writing the same book. I’ve never really thought about it til now. I suppose it could be a bit of both.
I think it took me two chapters to get used to the writing style, not that it’s bad but everyone has a different voice, but once I did I was pretty much hooked. I really liked the story in The Gemstone. I also think it took me that long to get into it because I was struggling through another book at the time which has put me in a reading slump.
I found Arica really reckless at times. She’s meant to keep her gemstone and it’s power a secret but she continues to practice where people, normal non-magical people, would be able to walk in and see. I get it, if I found out I had some kind of power I’d want to practice as much as I could too but there’s clearly at time and place and chemistry class is not it.
Aside from her recklessness I really liked Arica and the twins, Janine and Jessica. I’m not sure why she didn’t go to them sooner with her suspicions though. I wasn’t too sure about Joseph. Not that I suspected him of anything.
I knew something was up with the Sapphires but I wasn’t prepared when the whole story came out. And it was such a good twist with Lembrose, didn’t see that coming either. I love when I read a book and don’t see the ending coming. It doesn’t happen a lot but it definitely did with The Gemstone.
So much happened in this book. So many different things were happening at the same time but in the end it all tied in really well. It was all very well thought out.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book, The King’s Jewel. I might have to put it on my TBR for next month.
If you haven’t read The Gemstone I recommend you get your hands on a copy!
I’ve never written a book before so I don’t know if it’s easier or harder to have two people writing the same book. I’ve never really thought about it til now. I suppose it could be a bit of both.
I think it took me two chapters to get used to the writing style, not that it’s bad but everyone has a different voice, but once I did I was pretty much hooked. I really liked the story in The Gemstone. I also think it took me that long to get into it because I was struggling through another book at the time which has put me in a reading slump.
I found Arica really reckless at times. She’s meant to keep her gemstone and it’s power a secret but she continues to practice where people, normal non-magical people, would be able to walk in and see. I get it, if I found out I had some kind of power I’d want to practice as much as I could too but there’s clearly at time and place and chemistry class is not it.
Aside from her recklessness I really liked Arica and the twins, Janine and Jessica. I’m not sure why she didn’t go to them sooner with her suspicions though. I wasn’t too sure about Joseph. Not that I suspected him of anything.
I knew something was up with the Sapphires but I wasn’t prepared when the whole story came out. And it was such a good twist with Lembrose, didn’t see that coming either. I love when I read a book and don’t see the ending coming. It doesn’t happen a lot but it definitely did with The Gemstone.
So much happened in this book. So many different things were happening at the same time but in the end it all tied in really well. It was all very well thought out.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book, The King’s Jewel. I might have to put it on my TBR for next month.
If you haven’t read The Gemstone I recommend you get your hands on a copy!
Read
May 2, 2015Unfortunately, this was a dnf for me, therefore I didn't give it a rating. I got about halfway through this book and quickly realized that it isn't for me. It wasn't that it's bad; the writing is actually very good, and the plot is interesting. But, this book is marketed as YA, even though the story is more geared towards children. The characters seemed younger than they were supposed to be, and the plot was something I would think younger readers would enjoy. There isn't anything wrong with that, but if it were me, I would market this as middle grade. Though, that is just my opinion, and I am sure that some older readers may love this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
November 1, 2015
First of all, there are some parts where you can really predict what will happen next. You can tell that it is quite predictable. Each character has an important role in everyway.
The authors had sent me the e-copy of this book and that ending really perks up my curiosity of the whole trilogy and it has made me want to know and read more of this trilogy.
This book is well written and it has inspired me to start writing because they have started writing since they were very young.
The authors had sent me the e-copy of this book and that ending really perks up my curiosity of the whole trilogy and it has made me want to know and read more of this trilogy.
This book is well written and it has inspired me to start writing because they have started writing since they were very young.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews