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Renhala #1
Renhala
Kailey Rooke, timid accountant, dedicated to philanthropic work, finds herself spiraling into a deep depression after she suffers a horrifyingly odd and humiliating assault, to only discover more of these freakish assaults occurring across the globe.
A chance discovery leads Kailey to a meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon, who seems to know too much of Kailey's history for her liking, opens Kailey's eyes to a coexisting realm she never knew Renhala, while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as karmelean, serving as a beacon to the Higher Ones. Kailey slowly starts revealing new talents, and Gunthreon is fascinated with what she starts achieving.
She soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets within herself, and attempts to toughen up, she fuses with an unlikely band of fellow travelers (including a dragon, woodsprite, six-hundred-pound greble, her faithful female canine companion, and a "giver"), falls into an unexpected love triangle, deals with her sexy and flirtatious best friend’s “issues,” and finds the courage to master a new deadly weapon.
On her mission to save Renhala, Kailey will find herself running from life-threatening disasters, such as greble Tartarin, who likes to remind Kailey that when he catches her, he plans on eating her brains with ice cream; she'll run from the deadly small cute bunnies with talons and an undeniable thirst for imposing self-destruction on others. Kailey will also run into the possibility that a centuries-old Renhalan rumor is true, that advanced technology existing in Kailey's realm shortens all life spans.
As blood is shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself, conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily disguised as those she has come to love and trust.
A chance discovery leads Kailey to a meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon, who seems to know too much of Kailey's history for her liking, opens Kailey's eyes to a coexisting realm she never knew Renhala, while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as karmelean, serving as a beacon to the Higher Ones. Kailey slowly starts revealing new talents, and Gunthreon is fascinated with what she starts achieving.
She soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets within herself, and attempts to toughen up, she fuses with an unlikely band of fellow travelers (including a dragon, woodsprite, six-hundred-pound greble, her faithful female canine companion, and a "giver"), falls into an unexpected love triangle, deals with her sexy and flirtatious best friend’s “issues,” and finds the courage to master a new deadly weapon.
On her mission to save Renhala, Kailey will find herself running from life-threatening disasters, such as greble Tartarin, who likes to remind Kailey that when he catches her, he plans on eating her brains with ice cream; she'll run from the deadly small cute bunnies with talons and an undeniable thirst for imposing self-destruction on others. Kailey will also run into the possibility that a centuries-old Renhalan rumor is true, that advanced technology existing in Kailey's realm shortens all life spans.
As blood is shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself, conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily disguised as those she has come to love and trust.
462 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2012
13 people are currently reading
930 people want to read
About the author
Amy Joy Lutchen
3 books247 followersWas born in Chicago and slept in a dresser drawer for the first few weeks of her life, marking her as a future claustrophobe.
She studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (man she grew up quick), where she became a number, but decided it was a good number.
She writes with plenty of snacks in hand, making sure they are not in multiples of three. That number makes her nervous.
Inspired by real-life traumatic experiences and driven by a need for changing the horrific into fantastical, Amy wrote her debut series: the Renhala series. Serving as an outlet during dark times, the Renhala series was written as a small step out of the shadows and a giant step toward empowerment.
She studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (man she grew up quick), where she became a number, but decided it was a good number.
She writes with plenty of snacks in hand, making sure they are not in multiples of three. That number makes her nervous.
Inspired by real-life traumatic experiences and driven by a need for changing the horrific into fantastical, Amy wrote her debut series: the Renhala series. Serving as an outlet during dark times, the Renhala series was written as a small step out of the shadows and a giant step toward empowerment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 27, 2021
** NOW WITH ALL-NEW MUSICAL CONTENT!**
gather round, urban fantasy-romance fans...the rest of you can go do something else. or maybe you should stay, too. because i never would have thought to classify myself as an urban fantasy-romance fan, having never read one, (because i don't think Life Guards in the Hamptons: A Willow Tate Novel counts? ) but i liked this one a lot, so one never knows, does one?
take a risk in 2013.
i'm glad i read this one. it is a fun story with likable characters, good action scenes, and it is genuinely funny in places. i particularly liked the relationship between kailey and her mother; it was touching without being treacly, and even though the book is primarily a fantasy-world adventure story, this relationship definitely stood out for me as the strongest writing. which is probably just my fantasy-inexperience talking; for me it is easier to be affected by things i can hold onto, emotionally, than by things that are more surreal.
so, basic plot-stuff: kailey lives in south side chicago, where she has just survived a brutal assault by a creature not of this world. she is slowly recovering, physically and psychologically, but the world around her is changing. strange creatures are being seen around town, and there have been other attacks on humans. kailey has a terminally sick mother, a high-maintenance best friend named amber, an excellent akita named kioto, and a deep and abiding love of tea.
on an evening out with april, meant to be a "back in the saddle empowerment" outing, kailey meets an old man who gives her a gift. and then things really start rolling.
it turns out, there is another realm, called renhala, and select people are able to travel freely between the two realms. kailey learns that she is one of them, and has many as-yet undeveloped powers. which is an awesome thing to find out after you have been attacked and left for dead. way more empowering that a night out in heels.
but recently, evil elements from renhala have been slipping into our world, and kailey has to discover her powers and fight the bad creatures with the help of some good creatures. including:
a greble, which by its description i kept picturing like this:
a pregnant ceetchan, which is like a raccoon:
because there isn't much that is cuter than a baby raccoon
unless it is bunches of baby raccoons:
a wood sprite named jenna:
and, of course, some handsome gentlemen. you can insert your own images for them.
as far as the baddie things that come creeping, there are meeples, which are like cute little bunnies:
but bunnies who will kill you
and pixies, which are kinda like this:
and mooncats, which are seductive and sexy sentient cats.
so, like, the opposite of that. they can go either way, in terms of whether they will help you or kill you. they are renhala's wild cards.
there are other creatures and humans, as well, but i grow weary of GIS. fun fact: you can GIS any phrase in the world, and the odds are good that one of the results will be angelina jolie.
as for the romance elements... well, i am like a little kid. i am always watching the movies waiting for the close-up makeout scenes to end so we can get back to the killing. this is not an erotica-romance, by the way, so there is less for me to giggle over, but it does have a love triangle, and those of you who like that sort of thing will probably find it very engaging. i will just say that i would definitely have chosen the other fellow. no contest.
so, yeah, for me to have read a 430-page book outside of my genre-preferences, and NOT feel bored or confused at the end of it all, and to feel annoyance at the cliffhanger ending (reader-annoyance, not angry-annoyance), well, that is saying something. if you're looking to get into the genre, or are already into it, check it out. i have no idea how it stacks up against others of its kind, but i enjoyed it, so there's that.
**so, naturally, the fact that kailey is a "karmelean" had me singing this to myself the whole time. and considering one of my first crushes, after admiral ackbar, was on boy george, i think we have figured out why traditional romance novels just don't do it for me.
come to my blog!
gather round, urban fantasy-romance fans...the rest of you can go do something else. or maybe you should stay, too. because i never would have thought to classify myself as an urban fantasy-romance fan, having never read one, (because i don't think Life Guards in the Hamptons: A Willow Tate Novel counts? ) but i liked this one a lot, so one never knows, does one?
take a risk in 2013.
i'm glad i read this one. it is a fun story with likable characters, good action scenes, and it is genuinely funny in places. i particularly liked the relationship between kailey and her mother; it was touching without being treacly, and even though the book is primarily a fantasy-world adventure story, this relationship definitely stood out for me as the strongest writing. which is probably just my fantasy-inexperience talking; for me it is easier to be affected by things i can hold onto, emotionally, than by things that are more surreal.
so, basic plot-stuff: kailey lives in south side chicago, where she has just survived a brutal assault by a creature not of this world. she is slowly recovering, physically and psychologically, but the world around her is changing. strange creatures are being seen around town, and there have been other attacks on humans. kailey has a terminally sick mother, a high-maintenance best friend named amber, an excellent akita named kioto, and a deep and abiding love of tea.
on an evening out with april, meant to be a "back in the saddle empowerment" outing, kailey meets an old man who gives her a gift. and then things really start rolling.
it turns out, there is another realm, called renhala, and select people are able to travel freely between the two realms. kailey learns that she is one of them, and has many as-yet undeveloped powers. which is an awesome thing to find out after you have been attacked and left for dead. way more empowering that a night out in heels.
but recently, evil elements from renhala have been slipping into our world, and kailey has to discover her powers and fight the bad creatures with the help of some good creatures. including:
a greble, which by its description i kept picturing like this:
a pregnant ceetchan, which is like a raccoon:
because there isn't much that is cuter than a baby raccoon
unless it is bunches of baby raccoons:
a wood sprite named jenna:
and, of course, some handsome gentlemen. you can insert your own images for them.
as far as the baddie things that come creeping, there are meeples, which are like cute little bunnies:
but bunnies who will kill you
and pixies, which are kinda like this:
and mooncats, which are seductive and sexy sentient cats.
so, like, the opposite of that. they can go either way, in terms of whether they will help you or kill you. they are renhala's wild cards.
there are other creatures and humans, as well, but i grow weary of GIS. fun fact: you can GIS any phrase in the world, and the odds are good that one of the results will be angelina jolie.
as for the romance elements... well, i am like a little kid. i am always watching the movies waiting for the close-up makeout scenes to end so we can get back to the killing. this is not an erotica-romance, by the way, so there is less for me to giggle over, but it does have a love triangle, and those of you who like that sort of thing will probably find it very engaging. i will just say that i would definitely have chosen the other fellow. no contest.
so, yeah, for me to have read a 430-page book outside of my genre-preferences, and NOT feel bored or confused at the end of it all, and to feel annoyance at the cliffhanger ending (reader-annoyance, not angry-annoyance), well, that is saying something. if you're looking to get into the genre, or are already into it, check it out. i have no idea how it stacks up against others of its kind, but i enjoyed it, so there's that.
**so, naturally, the fact that kailey is a "karmelean" had me singing this to myself the whole time. and considering one of my first crushes, after admiral ackbar, was on boy george, i think we have figured out why traditional romance novels just don't do it for me.
come to my blog!
September 6, 2021
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Amy Joy Lutchen.)
Kailey is having a hard time coming to terms with an assault that has left her traumatised and afraid to leave the house.
Finally deciding to try and get back to normal she goes out with her best friend Amber, and due to a bad cab driver, finds herself at a Chinese restaurant. After finding herself in a strange room at the back of a restaurant, Kailey meets an elderly man called Gunthreon, who draws her into a world she didn’t know existed – Renhala.
Soon Kailey finds that all is not as she thought she knew – crazy people are just people who can see through the veil to Renhala, and something as simple as a pendulum can give answers to things she never even imagined.
All is not well in Renhala though, a special urn is cracking, which means that a magical being called Neda is in danger, and it’s up to Kailey to help put things to rights.
Can Kailey save Renhala? What magical powers does Kailey possess? And who can Kailey trust?
This novel is unique, I can’t say I have ever read anything like this before, and it was good!
I wasn’t sure where this book was going at first. It started off reading a little like an adult/women’s/contemporary/drama sort of story, and then developed into a fantasy, and the best of it was how flawless this transition was! I have read books before which start off reading like a contemporary novel and then seem to switch to fantasy, and some have had real problems where the transition is just unbelievable and awkward, but Renhala did not have any of those problems.
I liked Kailey, she was in a difficult place to start with, but she overcame her fears, and found her confidence again, which was so nice to see. She was compassionate, and showed how much she cared for others, even taking pity on strays.
There were two sort-of love interests, and therefore I suppose this could be described as a love triangle, although there wasn’t much in the way of romance in this book, and so this wasn’t really a major issue. I liked both of the love interests although I think Conner was my favourite. I didn’t quite get why Kailey liked Ladimer. His introduction to the story was a little unusual, and I just didn’t warm to him.
Kailey’s best friend Amber seemed to be a little hot and cold, and Kailey’s mother was ill and needed Kailey to help her at times. Kailey coped with these demands well though, and never resented her mother or Amber for needing her attention at times.
The world of Renhala was an interesting one, and I liked the world building. The creatures were also imaginatively created, and the world of Renhala was certainly different compared to ours.
I liked the storyline, and although this book seemed long (400+pages, but more like 600+ on my kindle fire), it didn’t seem to drag, which was good. I have to admit to getting the characters a little confused when I came back to the book after a day, although I think that this was in part because of the number of different characters and their place in the story – not all of them were human either, so there was also lots of different races and their different attributes too.
I was a little confused by the end of the book, although going searching back through the book helped this a little. I can only assume from the ending though that there will be a sequel to Renhala, as in my opinion the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger!
Overall; a well thought out fantasy story, which is not your average fantasy, and would appeal to people who are not necessarily big fantasy fans.
8 out of 10.
Kailey is having a hard time coming to terms with an assault that has left her traumatised and afraid to leave the house.
Finally deciding to try and get back to normal she goes out with her best friend Amber, and due to a bad cab driver, finds herself at a Chinese restaurant. After finding herself in a strange room at the back of a restaurant, Kailey meets an elderly man called Gunthreon, who draws her into a world she didn’t know existed – Renhala.
Soon Kailey finds that all is not as she thought she knew – crazy people are just people who can see through the veil to Renhala, and something as simple as a pendulum can give answers to things she never even imagined.
All is not well in Renhala though, a special urn is cracking, which means that a magical being called Neda is in danger, and it’s up to Kailey to help put things to rights.
Can Kailey save Renhala? What magical powers does Kailey possess? And who can Kailey trust?
This novel is unique, I can’t say I have ever read anything like this before, and it was good!
I wasn’t sure where this book was going at first. It started off reading a little like an adult/women’s/contemporary/drama sort of story, and then developed into a fantasy, and the best of it was how flawless this transition was! I have read books before which start off reading like a contemporary novel and then seem to switch to fantasy, and some have had real problems where the transition is just unbelievable and awkward, but Renhala did not have any of those problems.
I liked Kailey, she was in a difficult place to start with, but she overcame her fears, and found her confidence again, which was so nice to see. She was compassionate, and showed how much she cared for others, even taking pity on strays.
There were two sort-of love interests, and therefore I suppose this could be described as a love triangle, although there wasn’t much in the way of romance in this book, and so this wasn’t really a major issue. I liked both of the love interests although I think Conner was my favourite. I didn’t quite get why Kailey liked Ladimer. His introduction to the story was a little unusual, and I just didn’t warm to him.
Kailey’s best friend Amber seemed to be a little hot and cold, and Kailey’s mother was ill and needed Kailey to help her at times. Kailey coped with these demands well though, and never resented her mother or Amber for needing her attention at times.
The world of Renhala was an interesting one, and I liked the world building. The creatures were also imaginatively created, and the world of Renhala was certainly different compared to ours.
I liked the storyline, and although this book seemed long (400+pages, but more like 600+ on my kindle fire), it didn’t seem to drag, which was good. I have to admit to getting the characters a little confused when I came back to the book after a day, although I think that this was in part because of the number of different characters and their place in the story – not all of them were human either, so there was also lots of different races and their different attributes too.
I was a little confused by the end of the book, although going searching back through the book helped this a little. I can only assume from the ending though that there will be a sequel to Renhala, as in my opinion the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger!
Overall; a well thought out fantasy story, which is not your average fantasy, and would appeal to people who are not necessarily big fantasy fans.
8 out of 10.
Read
June 29, 2023Renhala, by debut author Amy Joy Lutchen, is an inventive and imaginative fantasy that spans two universes: our own, and an alternative realm known as Renhala. The narrative begins with Kailey, who is recovering from a horrible, bizarre assault which has left her broken. But things take a turn for the weird when she meets a mysterious stranger at a party who reveals to her that she possesses strange powers, somehow connected to the alternative universe known as Renhala. Kailey learns that she is a karmalean, and that she might be the only hope to save both worlds.
The novel is populated by a variety of fantastic characters, from her flirtatious best friend Amber to Bu, an eight-foot, green monster with poor hygiene yet who somehow manages to be adorable. There are killer bunnies, a dragon, and a love triangle. With great world-building, the author weaves an original fantasy tale set in a vividly-imagined alternative realm. This is definitely worth a read for anyone looking for their next fantasy adventure.
The novel is populated by a variety of fantastic characters, from her flirtatious best friend Amber to Bu, an eight-foot, green monster with poor hygiene yet who somehow manages to be adorable. There are killer bunnies, a dragon, and a love triangle. With great world-building, the author weaves an original fantasy tale set in a vividly-imagined alternative realm. This is definitely worth a read for anyone looking for their next fantasy adventure.
October 28, 2012
Review of Renhala by Amy Jo Lutchen
5 Stars
A complex and multileveled contemporary fantasy, with its anchor in our world set in Chicago, “Renhala” keeps readers riveted and easily suspending disbelief while exploring an alternate world, at times lovelier than our own, at times horrifying and dangerous. Young Kailey undergoes a brutal and inexplicable assault, and through it finds that she has unheeded powers and abilities, and so do some of those around her. It is rather as if she looks through a glass table top and sees an entire other world co-existing with her own reality.
Author Amy Jo Lutchen demonstrates an incredible grasp of world-building. There are enough new species, locales, geographies, and cultures involved here to populate five volumes! Yet the tapestry of the two worlds is tautly woven and readily kept in mind as the plot swiftly unfolds.
5 Stars
A complex and multileveled contemporary fantasy, with its anchor in our world set in Chicago, “Renhala” keeps readers riveted and easily suspending disbelief while exploring an alternate world, at times lovelier than our own, at times horrifying and dangerous. Young Kailey undergoes a brutal and inexplicable assault, and through it finds that she has unheeded powers and abilities, and so do some of those around her. It is rather as if she looks through a glass table top and sees an entire other world co-existing with her own reality.
Author Amy Jo Lutchen demonstrates an incredible grasp of world-building. There are enough new species, locales, geographies, and cultures involved here to populate five volumes! Yet the tapestry of the two worlds is tautly woven and readily kept in mind as the plot swiftly unfolds.
February 21, 2013
Kailey is living her life day to day. Then she is attacked by something. Something hideous. Something that is not from Earth. This book follows the aftermath of her attack. Kailey learns that sometimes not is every thing or everyone is who or what they seem to be on the surface. She learns that she is strong, and capable. She learns that her family is a lot bigger and more varied then she could have ever imagined. She learns she has special powers and that she is Karma. She joins the fight to bring balance back to her world and Renhala.
Blunt honesty: Renhala was a tough book for me to get into. The world building is complex here guys and gals. It’s labeled Urban Fantasy but the complexity is like that of a regular old Epic Fantasy. Fantasy is not one of my favorite genres. I like it but I don’t love it.
To be even more honest: Once I hit 30% I was hooked and in LOVE with this story. The characters were awesome, and interesting. There are two drool worthy guys, a kick butt heroine, a sage leader and lots and lots of comedic relief. Action, suspense and possibly even the kitchen are all thrown into the mix, making this story one amazing captivating story that I just could not leave alone. I kept waiting, pacing, hiding to read the next page, the next chapter. I stayed up until 1 am knowing full well I had to work in the morning. I lost sleep for these characters.
The creatures in this book are creepy and creative. Three legged brown fury guys that stink like rotten eggs. Sprites, pixies, dragons all exist with their own special twist. My personal favorite are the Giant fury bunnies. They are gruesome and remorseless killers. After Kailey witnesses brutality at the hands of the bunny she loses it:
This sucks. I think I’m going to throw up,” I say as I bend over dry-heaving. “I’m never watching Bugs Bunny again, ever.
Yeah, I totally loved Kailey’s twisted sense of humor. She and I could be really good friends. Speaking of friends, Kailey’s best friend Amber. Yeah, why was she ever friends with her. The things that come out of this girls mouth made me want to slap my kindle. But Kailey being the good person she is (after all she is Karma) she usually just brushes off Amber’s badattiude with an ‘Oh that’s Amber” excuse. UGH!!!! In one instance Amber is telling Kailey about how she thwarted a mugger with the pepper spray that Kailey had given her earlier in the night.
‘…See what happens when you fight back?’ There’s a long pause.
It’s very obviously a stab at Kailey for not being able to fight off her attacker.
By this time I had really had it with Kailey’s so called friend Amber, after this I just wanted a furry bunny to come rip her head off.
Kailey has no shortage of real friends though. From her mentor Gunthreon, to the two hotties in her life Conner and Ladimer, and a Grebel named Bu, a woodsprite named Jenna and several others. I have to say that the romance in this book is very much backseat to the other troubles in our heroines life, and I am ok with that. She really had a lot on her plate so it was refreshing that she had two guys Conner and Ladimer willing to help her along and be there for her. She enjoys both of their company and by the end of the book I still have no idea which one is the right fit for her.
The ending…what. was. that? Oh I needed more, and this book was long, but by the end I was so hooked I wanted it to keep going. I cannot wait to read the next installment. Thank you Ms. Lutchen for the wild ride with some amazing characters.
Blunt honesty: Renhala was a tough book for me to get into. The world building is complex here guys and gals. It’s labeled Urban Fantasy but the complexity is like that of a regular old Epic Fantasy. Fantasy is not one of my favorite genres. I like it but I don’t love it.
To be even more honest: Once I hit 30% I was hooked and in LOVE with this story. The characters were awesome, and interesting. There are two drool worthy guys, a kick butt heroine, a sage leader and lots and lots of comedic relief. Action, suspense and possibly even the kitchen are all thrown into the mix, making this story one amazing captivating story that I just could not leave alone. I kept waiting, pacing, hiding to read the next page, the next chapter. I stayed up until 1 am knowing full well I had to work in the morning. I lost sleep for these characters.
The creatures in this book are creepy and creative. Three legged brown fury guys that stink like rotten eggs. Sprites, pixies, dragons all exist with their own special twist. My personal favorite are the Giant fury bunnies. They are gruesome and remorseless killers. After Kailey witnesses brutality at the hands of the bunny she loses it:
This sucks. I think I’m going to throw up,” I say as I bend over dry-heaving. “I’m never watching Bugs Bunny again, ever.
Yeah, I totally loved Kailey’s twisted sense of humor. She and I could be really good friends. Speaking of friends, Kailey’s best friend Amber. Yeah, why was she ever friends with her. The things that come out of this girls mouth made me want to slap my kindle. But Kailey being the good person she is (after all she is Karma) she usually just brushes off Amber’s badattiude with an ‘Oh that’s Amber” excuse. UGH!!!! In one instance Amber is telling Kailey about how she thwarted a mugger with the pepper spray that Kailey had given her earlier in the night.
‘…See what happens when you fight back?’ There’s a long pause.
It’s very obviously a stab at Kailey for not being able to fight off her attacker.
By this time I had really had it with Kailey’s so called friend Amber, after this I just wanted a furry bunny to come rip her head off.
Kailey has no shortage of real friends though. From her mentor Gunthreon, to the two hotties in her life Conner and Ladimer, and a Grebel named Bu, a woodsprite named Jenna and several others. I have to say that the romance in this book is very much backseat to the other troubles in our heroines life, and I am ok with that. She really had a lot on her plate so it was refreshing that she had two guys Conner and Ladimer willing to help her along and be there for her. She enjoys both of their company and by the end of the book I still have no idea which one is the right fit for her.
The ending…what. was. that? Oh I needed more, and this book was long, but by the end I was so hooked I wanted it to keep going. I cannot wait to read the next installment. Thank you Ms. Lutchen for the wild ride with some amazing characters.
August 15, 2013
You know those times when I say that I'm torn about a book? Guys, this is going to be one of those times. I honestly didn't know what was happening through big swaths of it -- not in the sense of *what* was happening, but how it all tied in. Yet YET, I was curious enough to keep reading.
Just so we're all clear, I know I have issues about main characters being lied to, important information being kept from them, etc. I KNOW THIS. It irritates me when something that could easily be explained is brushed aside by one or more characters. This happens to Kailey MULTIPLE TIMES during this book. However, that only engendered mild irritation.
My biggest stumbling block was how readily Kailey accepted all the weirdness around her. After being attacked and violated (I assume. At least that's what I took from it.) by something monstrous, she willingly embraces a passel of odd and/or disturbing creatures coming into her life. Her mom, who is watching her break down in a spectacular fashion, never mentions that Oh, maybe these monsters are real and she isn't as batshit crazy as she thinks she is. *cue irritated eyes*
And then there is Amber, Kailey's "best friend", who is SO self-centered it's painful to watch. The way she treats Kailey is awful and I cringed HARD whenever she'd show up. With friends like that... Yeah.
Beyond the characters (which there were more of, mind you, but I'm using my condensing superpower and only touching on a few points), there were a lot of times when the things happening to and around Kailey made no sense to me. While part of this can be explained by the nature of Kailey's power and the nature of the quest she's on (yeah, weird, convenient things happen, I get that.), I had a hard time following along with it all.
Despite all that, I was still intrigued enough to continue the story. By the time the ending came along, I was mentally attempting to tie all the pieces together and figure things out. For the record, I didn't figure it all out. Some events that happened seemed very convenient while other things that seemed monumental weren't explained enough to give them weight.
There's an odd love triangle, odder critters that attach themselves to Kailey, and bad, bad things happening in the world. While the idea was intriguing and I felt compelled to finish the book so I'd know how things turned out, I'm still torn on how I feel.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Just so we're all clear, I know I have issues about main characters being lied to, important information being kept from them, etc. I KNOW THIS. It irritates me when something that could easily be explained is brushed aside by one or more characters. This happens to Kailey MULTIPLE TIMES during this book. However, that only engendered mild irritation.
My biggest stumbling block was how readily Kailey accepted all the weirdness around her. After being attacked and violated (I assume. At least that's what I took from it.) by something monstrous, she willingly embraces a passel of odd and/or disturbing creatures coming into her life. Her mom, who is watching her break down in a spectacular fashion, never mentions that Oh, maybe these monsters are real and she isn't as batshit crazy as she thinks she is. *cue irritated eyes*
And then there is Amber, Kailey's "best friend", who is SO self-centered it's painful to watch. The way she treats Kailey is awful and I cringed HARD whenever she'd show up. With friends like that... Yeah.
Beyond the characters (which there were more of, mind you, but I'm using my condensing superpower and only touching on a few points), there were a lot of times when the things happening to and around Kailey made no sense to me. While part of this can be explained by the nature of Kailey's power and the nature of the quest she's on (yeah, weird, convenient things happen, I get that.), I had a hard time following along with it all.
Despite all that, I was still intrigued enough to continue the story. By the time the ending came along, I was mentally attempting to tie all the pieces together and figure things out. For the record, I didn't figure it all out. Some events that happened seemed very convenient while other things that seemed monumental weren't explained enough to give them weight.
There's an odd love triangle, odder critters that attach themselves to Kailey, and bad, bad things happening in the world. While the idea was intriguing and I felt compelled to finish the book so I'd know how things turned out, I'm still torn on how I feel.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
January 20, 2013
I received Renhala from review in return for an honest review. Kailey has suffered a brutal attack which has left her scared and living at her mother’s house. However her mother isn’t in the best of shape so dealing with Kaileys emotional issues are taking their toll on her health. Ready to start her life again Kailey gets an apartment and moves out again set on changing life. Little does she know that she will change her life in more ways than she can imagine. Unexplained attacks are showing up all across the area, as Renhala inhabits venture into the human world. Kailey meets an elderly man who knows about her past, and shows her the world of Renhala she didn’t know existed. He tells her about her role in saving Renhala from the danger that is putting her world in danger.
Kailey will embark on a danger journey into Renhala to find the Higher Ones and save both worlds before it’s too late. Together Kailey and Gunthreon with are joined by Bu a six-hundred-pound Greble who is a sweetheart unlike the rest of his species. Jenna the woodsprite who can’t be trusted, but sees Kailey as friend joins the group. Conner the handsome traveler who walks in both worlds, that is interested in more than friendship with Kailey. Ladimer a shape-shifter with the ability to heal, he doesn’t trust Conner. Lupa who has a green thumb because she’s connected with nature she’s also sweet on Gunthreon.
Renhala is an epic adventure filled with mystery, danger, adventure, and even romance. When had a hard time putting Renhala down because it’s such a fast paced adventure that leaves you wanting more. I even stayed up late last night just trying to finish so I would know how it ends. The author does an amazing job when it comes to creating a world so unique and exciting. However I don’t know if I would want to go running around Renhala with Meeples on the loose. I love the mix of characters you can’t help connecting to one or two. I found Kailey to be a wonderful main character she has such a special bond with her mother it makes me jealous. Throughout the story I found her easy to connect with she’s not perfect but she tries her best and it’s all I could ask for. I also loved Bu I want my own 600 pound Greble who has a sweet tooth, he has such a big heart he’s a great companion for Kailey. I really loved Renhala everything about the story is just amazing. I’m looking forward to reading more about Kailey’s story.
Kailey will embark on a danger journey into Renhala to find the Higher Ones and save both worlds before it’s too late. Together Kailey and Gunthreon with are joined by Bu a six-hundred-pound Greble who is a sweetheart unlike the rest of his species. Jenna the woodsprite who can’t be trusted, but sees Kailey as friend joins the group. Conner the handsome traveler who walks in both worlds, that is interested in more than friendship with Kailey. Ladimer a shape-shifter with the ability to heal, he doesn’t trust Conner. Lupa who has a green thumb because she’s connected with nature she’s also sweet on Gunthreon.
Renhala is an epic adventure filled with mystery, danger, adventure, and even romance. When had a hard time putting Renhala down because it’s such a fast paced adventure that leaves you wanting more. I even stayed up late last night just trying to finish so I would know how it ends. The author does an amazing job when it comes to creating a world so unique and exciting. However I don’t know if I would want to go running around Renhala with Meeples on the loose. I love the mix of characters you can’t help connecting to one or two. I found Kailey to be a wonderful main character she has such a special bond with her mother it makes me jealous. Throughout the story I found her easy to connect with she’s not perfect but she tries her best and it’s all I could ask for. I also loved Bu I want my own 600 pound Greble who has a sweet tooth, he has such a big heart he’s a great companion for Kailey. I really loved Renhala everything about the story is just amazing. I’m looking forward to reading more about Kailey’s story.
May 26, 2013
I got to be honest, Renhala is such a beauty to read. It has a uniquely enticing plot with interesting characters that I just can't help but to love/hate, depending on their roles of course.
Although I admit the first quarter were a bit dull and flat-out not as adventurous as I expected, despite how relatively fast things were actually progressing. I was in fact bored the first quarter of the book because the whole thing was very vague and doesn't really give out much on what I was to expect. I only went on reading for the selfish reason that I loved Phillip for his mysterious, and wise character.
Then, of course, I just had to take back my words because Renhala is so much more than just Kailey's love triangle. It is action-packed, with a touch of magic and plot twists that I loved so much. Renhala, the alternative world, was also magic itself; the creatures, the views, the peoples, and the cultures (of some sort) were fascinating and well-described I actually suspected its existence.
I liked Kailey ─ I thought she was smart and caring ─ but I didn't really see why she put up with Amber's antics so much since she was treated with lesser respect a bestfriend should receive. I also didn't like how Conner was in the way.. Sure he's nice and sexy and all, but I felt that he wasn't the right guy for Kailey dear.
There are a lot going on this book and it got so long I actually wondered, at some point, if I have unconsciously missed the ending and was actually reading the sequels. Not that I hated it but it dragged out for too long with a lot of flashbacks and a lot of ponderings and what-ifs. This made the book a very long read though the overall effect was very satisfying despite how I felt that it could have been summarized and made it straight to the point, and still be as addictive as it is.
All in all Renhala is a great read. 4 stars!
Although I admit the first quarter were a bit dull and flat-out not as adventurous as I expected, despite how relatively fast things were actually progressing. I was in fact bored the first quarter of the book because the whole thing was very vague and doesn't really give out much on what I was to expect. I only went on reading for the selfish reason that I loved Phillip for his mysterious, and wise character.
Then, of course, I just had to take back my words because Renhala is so much more than just Kailey's love triangle. It is action-packed, with a touch of magic and plot twists that I loved so much. Renhala, the alternative world, was also magic itself; the creatures, the views, the peoples, and the cultures (of some sort) were fascinating and well-described I actually suspected its existence.
I liked Kailey ─ I thought she was smart and caring ─ but I didn't really see why she put up with Amber's antics so much since she was treated with lesser respect a bestfriend should receive. I also didn't like how Conner was in the way.. Sure he's nice and sexy and all, but I felt that he wasn't the right guy for Kailey dear.
There are a lot going on this book and it got so long I actually wondered, at some point, if I have unconsciously missed the ending and was actually reading the sequels. Not that I hated it but it dragged out for too long with a lot of flashbacks and a lot of ponderings and what-ifs. This made the book a very long read though the overall effect was very satisfying despite how I felt that it could have been summarized and made it straight to the point, and still be as addictive as it is.
All in all Renhala is a great read. 4 stars!
November 16, 2012
www.the-book-diaries.blogspot.com
I completely enjoyed the story of Renhala. The creativity it took Amy to create her world is amazing. All of the characters were intriguing and well developed, making you want to know more about them. She took the mother daughter relationship to a whole new level showing such love and devotion between the two. I liked the love triangle that was created between characters, too bad it wasn’t resolved, I am anxious to see who will be the winner. If you’ve read Amy’s blog and saw her inspiration for writing Renhala, you will see how much she has put into this story. It was actually very moving for me to see how Amy used her experiences. I only had two negatives with this story which are minor and maybe my own personal preference. It was long. I am all about a good read even if it’s lengthy and able to hold my attention. There were also few parts where the story slowed for me and I found myself wanting to skip ahead. All in all I would definitely recommend this to other readers who enjoy fantasy fiction. So here’s a little bit about the story, without giving anything away. We meet Kailey, who has just survived a horrible attack. This attack is just the beginning of a chain of events that will uncover the world of Renhala, Kailey’s world. Kailey will befriend a group of people who are pivotal in her survival from someone who wants to keep her from uncovering a plot to takeover Renhala. Along the way, Kailey gets put into the middle of a love triangle between two men, two very different men. Her mixed feelings put strenuous tension within the group, making things difficult for the group. Kailey is fighting to save a world like no other, against creatures only thought up in dreams and fairy tales. In the end Kailey will need to choose to follow the powers of good or give in to the power of evil.
I completely enjoyed the story of Renhala. The creativity it took Amy to create her world is amazing. All of the characters were intriguing and well developed, making you want to know more about them. She took the mother daughter relationship to a whole new level showing such love and devotion between the two. I liked the love triangle that was created between characters, too bad it wasn’t resolved, I am anxious to see who will be the winner. If you’ve read Amy’s blog and saw her inspiration for writing Renhala, you will see how much she has put into this story. It was actually very moving for me to see how Amy used her experiences. I only had two negatives with this story which are minor and maybe my own personal preference. It was long. I am all about a good read even if it’s lengthy and able to hold my attention. There were also few parts where the story slowed for me and I found myself wanting to skip ahead. All in all I would definitely recommend this to other readers who enjoy fantasy fiction. So here’s a little bit about the story, without giving anything away. We meet Kailey, who has just survived a horrible attack. This attack is just the beginning of a chain of events that will uncover the world of Renhala, Kailey’s world. Kailey will befriend a group of people who are pivotal in her survival from someone who wants to keep her from uncovering a plot to takeover Renhala. Along the way, Kailey gets put into the middle of a love triangle between two men, two very different men. Her mixed feelings put strenuous tension within the group, making things difficult for the group. Kailey is fighting to save a world like no other, against creatures only thought up in dreams and fairy tales. In the end Kailey will need to choose to follow the powers of good or give in to the power of evil.
August 28, 2013
My head is spinning from everything in this book. I loved it all! Loved it!
Review soon...
It's hard to write this review because I liked the book so much I just want to tell the whole story! I think I got it now...
It starts with something terrible that happens to the protagonist, Kailey, and she lets out a scream heard round the world. Not only ours but also Renhala. Something is wakened and its not good, both realms are in danger. Our realm is called Abscondia and true to reality we are the realm with all of the technology. Renhala is the opposite of this. They fear technology and want no part of it. They rely more on magic, which obviously is way more cool!
I love the authors imagination as they travel to new areas of the magical Renhala. They meet new creatures along the way and some join them on their journey. There's stinky, gooey, sweet Bu and Jenna the mischievous Woodsprite. Also, Cheeto a pregnant raccoon type animal, giant rabbits, moon cats and more!
There is an interesting love triangle which is by no means the focus of this adventure but is fun to watch unfold.
Neda and Velopa represent the balance of Renhala. I like when Neda talked about everyone's magic and their connection to the earth. She explains that our technology interferes with our ability to connect to everything around us and scrambles our intuition. Intended or not I found an underlying allegory in this story that I connected with.
The story was so well put together considering how much was really going on. We got to know enough about the characters so I didn't lose track of who anyone was. Their personalities all shone through so I connected well with them. There was unexpected surprises, twists and turns and some fun banter between them that had me giggling.
Lastly... where can I get an Everything Bag?! I seriously could use one of those!
Review soon...
It's hard to write this review because I liked the book so much I just want to tell the whole story! I think I got it now...
It starts with something terrible that happens to the protagonist, Kailey, and she lets out a scream heard round the world. Not only ours but also Renhala. Something is wakened and its not good, both realms are in danger. Our realm is called Abscondia and true to reality we are the realm with all of the technology. Renhala is the opposite of this. They fear technology and want no part of it. They rely more on magic, which obviously is way more cool!
I love the authors imagination as they travel to new areas of the magical Renhala. They meet new creatures along the way and some join them on their journey. There's stinky, gooey, sweet Bu and Jenna the mischievous Woodsprite. Also, Cheeto a pregnant raccoon type animal, giant rabbits, moon cats and more!
There is an interesting love triangle which is by no means the focus of this adventure but is fun to watch unfold.
Neda and Velopa represent the balance of Renhala. I like when Neda talked about everyone's magic and their connection to the earth. She explains that our technology interferes with our ability to connect to everything around us and scrambles our intuition. Intended or not I found an underlying allegory in this story that I connected with.
The story was so well put together considering how much was really going on. We got to know enough about the characters so I didn't lose track of who anyone was. Their personalities all shone through so I connected well with them. There was unexpected surprises, twists and turns and some fun banter between them that had me giggling.
Lastly... where can I get an Everything Bag?! I seriously could use one of those!
December 21, 2012
Renhala was not my typical read - but I loved every minute of it! A sweeping fairy-tale like fantasy woven into everyday urban life, Renhala is an intelligently written page turner. The characters are well-developed, the story line sucks you in, and the smart humor interspersed throughout the book will make the 400+ pages fly by. A fantastic read! Can't wait for a sequel! I also think this book would make an AWESOME movie!
June 19, 2013
From http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
At A Glance
Renhala was an odd one for me. The first part was sooo boring, but once things picked up, I was amazed at the vivid imagery and world Lutchen came up with.
The Good
What Renhala offers is amazing fantasy elements and a fantastical world. I don't think I have ever read a book with such creative descriptions of creatures and surroundings. Even when something seemed impossible, Lutchem made it feel possible. In Renhala you meet wood spirits who look like mini people, vicious bunny creatures, pixies who can transform into anyone, cat people, and a big, stinky monster thing with a protective and kind personality. And this is only skimming the surface of all the creatures in this book.
This is an adventure type book, so be ready for thrill ride. While recovering from a brutal attack, Kailey learns that she is has an important part in saving the mystical world of crazy creatures that she is connected too. She is almost killed a million times, but Kailey has a great group of friends who are there with her every step of the way. The start of this book broke my heart. I can't even imagine what Kailey went through when she was being attacked. The memories of the incident haunt her throughout the book. But Kailey grows stronger through her journeys and with the support of her friends. I respected Kailey for taking on such daunting tasks even when she was just learning her powers. I had fun finding out who she really was and how important she was to saving the realm of Renhala.
The love interests were actually pretty fun. Conner is both sweet and passionate. Kailey and him hit is off right away but he gets easily jealous of Ladimer and throws fits sometimes. I thought his pouting was kind of cute. But Ladimer really caught my eye. He is such a mystery. He means more to Kailey then even Kailey knows. His history is complicated and his powers are amazing. There is something very special between Ladimer and Kailey but it seems like something is always holding them back. I really don't know who I want Kailey to end up with.
The secondary characters were just as interesting as the rest: Bu, the large, smelly other realm creature with the heart of gold. Kioto, Kailey's trusty dog. And Gunthreon, the leader of the ragtag crew of travelers. They all made this book more fun to read.
Really, it comes down to the creativity factor. This book is so creative in it's world, history, and characters it's hard for any book to compete. There are so many elements in Renhala that it was almost too much but also just perfect. I also loved the bad guys. I can't say who they all are because it would give a lot away, but some are right under our noses the whole time. The writing was good and the magical feel just gave it enough spice to keep me reading.
The Bad
Renhala was too long and dragged on forever. I was so bored in the beginning. I'd say a little under half way it started picking up, but still it slowed down in certain spots. I found myself putting this book down a lot. Much could have been cut out and this book would have been the stronger for it.
Some of the dialogue and the characters got very crony. I would laugh at how cheesy things got sometimes.
The Snuggly
Love triangle alert. It actually wasn't too bad. I liked both men and I understood Kailey's struggle to choose. And though some hot kisses and more (sexual situations) were shared, I found the romance started to lag the last 1/3 of the book. I wouldn't have minded the lack of romance at the end if the beginning and middle didn't set the precedence of romance being so prominent.
Final Thoughts
I did like Renhala, it just took some time for me to get into it. This book could have been better with a good trimming. But the vivid magical elements made everything not seem as bad. I would recommend this book to people who love fantasy books.
Quotes
At this level, I can see that the fog is about a foot off the ground, so I get on my hands and knees to see if I can see anything. And I do see something--something that could possibly be very big feet, yards in front of me, but I have trouble wrapping my mind around the concept. When I squint, I see three feet--not two, but three brown, dirty, hairy feet, with toenails the size of bear claws.
Now I can hear it clearly.
"Kailey, Kailey, come and play with me. Kailey, Kailey, come and slay with me."
At A Glance
Renhala was an odd one for me. The first part was sooo boring, but once things picked up, I was amazed at the vivid imagery and world Lutchen came up with.
The Good
What Renhala offers is amazing fantasy elements and a fantastical world. I don't think I have ever read a book with such creative descriptions of creatures and surroundings. Even when something seemed impossible, Lutchem made it feel possible. In Renhala you meet wood spirits who look like mini people, vicious bunny creatures, pixies who can transform into anyone, cat people, and a big, stinky monster thing with a protective and kind personality. And this is only skimming the surface of all the creatures in this book.
This is an adventure type book, so be ready for thrill ride. While recovering from a brutal attack, Kailey learns that she is has an important part in saving the mystical world of crazy creatures that she is connected too. She is almost killed a million times, but Kailey has a great group of friends who are there with her every step of the way. The start of this book broke my heart. I can't even imagine what Kailey went through when she was being attacked. The memories of the incident haunt her throughout the book. But Kailey grows stronger through her journeys and with the support of her friends. I respected Kailey for taking on such daunting tasks even when she was just learning her powers. I had fun finding out who she really was and how important she was to saving the realm of Renhala.
The love interests were actually pretty fun. Conner is both sweet and passionate. Kailey and him hit is off right away but he gets easily jealous of Ladimer and throws fits sometimes. I thought his pouting was kind of cute. But Ladimer really caught my eye. He is such a mystery. He means more to Kailey then even Kailey knows. His history is complicated and his powers are amazing. There is something very special between Ladimer and Kailey but it seems like something is always holding them back. I really don't know who I want Kailey to end up with.
The secondary characters were just as interesting as the rest: Bu, the large, smelly other realm creature with the heart of gold. Kioto, Kailey's trusty dog. And Gunthreon, the leader of the ragtag crew of travelers. They all made this book more fun to read.
Really, it comes down to the creativity factor. This book is so creative in it's world, history, and characters it's hard for any book to compete. There are so many elements in Renhala that it was almost too much but also just perfect. I also loved the bad guys. I can't say who they all are because it would give a lot away, but some are right under our noses the whole time. The writing was good and the magical feel just gave it enough spice to keep me reading.
The Bad
Renhala was too long and dragged on forever. I was so bored in the beginning. I'd say a little under half way it started picking up, but still it slowed down in certain spots. I found myself putting this book down a lot. Much could have been cut out and this book would have been the stronger for it.
Some of the dialogue and the characters got very crony. I would laugh at how cheesy things got sometimes.
The Snuggly
Love triangle alert. It actually wasn't too bad. I liked both men and I understood Kailey's struggle to choose. And though some hot kisses and more (sexual situations) were shared, I found the romance started to lag the last 1/3 of the book. I wouldn't have minded the lack of romance at the end if the beginning and middle didn't set the precedence of romance being so prominent.
Final Thoughts
I did like Renhala, it just took some time for me to get into it. This book could have been better with a good trimming. But the vivid magical elements made everything not seem as bad. I would recommend this book to people who love fantasy books.
Quotes
At this level, I can see that the fog is about a foot off the ground, so I get on my hands and knees to see if I can see anything. And I do see something--something that could possibly be very big feet, yards in front of me, but I have trouble wrapping my mind around the concept. When I squint, I see three feet--not two, but three brown, dirty, hairy feet, with toenails the size of bear claws.
Now I can hear it clearly.
"Kailey, Kailey, come and play with me. Kailey, Kailey, come and slay with me."
January 19, 2013
4.5 out of 5 stars!
http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/01...
So, as I’m sure you know, I love to read. I’d like to say that I read a lot of different genres and have a broad spectrum of reading material in my bookcases. Truth is, sadly, I don’t. So, when I was introduced to a book titled Renhala, I read the description and knew it was something I had to read. Fantasy and magic was not something I normally read…no particular reason, really. Holy hell, I am so glad I found this book…. I was hooked on Renhala from the very first page.
We meet Kailey in the beginning recuperating, both physically and mentally, from an attack. An attack that she still can’t make sense of. She’s certain her attacker wasn’t exactly human…but surely she must be mistaken, right? In her quest to return to normalcy, her paths cross with an interesting man named Gunthreon. Gunthreon will show Kailey what her true nature is, and he will introduce her to Renhala…an alternate realm she never knew existed. Now, she not only has to learn all she can about Renhala and the creatures and beings that inhabit it, but that she must aid in saving it. Along the way, Kailey meets some amazing and endearing creatures that she learns not to fear but instead, to love. She also meets two interesting men who will both make a play for her affections.
Kailey is a kick-ass heroine. She is developed so well that I feel like I could pick up the phone and invite her over for a glass of wine. She’s spunky, intelligent and has a dry sense of humor that I absolutely ADORE! I mean really, how can you not love a gal who isn’t above sticking her tongue out at someone when they are acting a fool? She’s snarky but delivers her snark with affection and pulls it off every time. Love her!
This story was amazing. The creatures Ms. Lutchen has created are so vivid in my mind that I feel as though they are right beside me. Her descriptions of the settings, objects, landscapes and characters are truly a gift given to the reader. There are evil creatures called meeples that are described so richly that I won’t soon forget their evilness…even if they do sorta look like fluffy bunnies. The characters the Kailey befriends along the way are creatures I wish were real. My personal favorite is Bu….a big, hairy, smelly, sorta scary beast that has a heart of gold who speaks like a child and will protect Kailey with his own life if it were to come to it. Then there’s Conner and Ladimer, the two men who suddenly appear in her life and who both want a place in her heart. Each of them have amazing qualities that make it so hard for Kailey, as well as the reader, to decide who her choice should be. The relationship that touched me the most, however, was the relationship between Kailey and her mother. I am actually tearing up as I type this recalling their story. It is just beautiful.
All of that being said, what I found most remarkable was the way Ms. Lutchen told the story. Never once did I feel lost and not understanding of what was going on within the story. We learned about Renhala and all of the creatures and problems right along with Kailey. Not only did Gunthreon teach her what everything was along the way, but he taught me as well. I really appreciated that characteristic of the book. Even if I read a section and was starting to feel a “huh?” coming on, it would be within the next sentence that things were explained and the idea became clear. I can only imagine how difficult a task it must be, from a writing standpoint, to be able to accomplish that.
I feel so lucky to have found this book and I hope that even if fantasy isn’t necessarily your thing, you’ll give this book a try. I’m certain you will love Renhala and what Ms. Lutchen has created as much as I did! Thank you, Amy Joy, for sharing the gift of your imagination with us and I will be eagerly (notice I didn’t say patiently haha!) waiting for the next book!
http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/01...
So, as I’m sure you know, I love to read. I’d like to say that I read a lot of different genres and have a broad spectrum of reading material in my bookcases. Truth is, sadly, I don’t. So, when I was introduced to a book titled Renhala, I read the description and knew it was something I had to read. Fantasy and magic was not something I normally read…no particular reason, really. Holy hell, I am so glad I found this book…. I was hooked on Renhala from the very first page.
We meet Kailey in the beginning recuperating, both physically and mentally, from an attack. An attack that she still can’t make sense of. She’s certain her attacker wasn’t exactly human…but surely she must be mistaken, right? In her quest to return to normalcy, her paths cross with an interesting man named Gunthreon. Gunthreon will show Kailey what her true nature is, and he will introduce her to Renhala…an alternate realm she never knew existed. Now, she not only has to learn all she can about Renhala and the creatures and beings that inhabit it, but that she must aid in saving it. Along the way, Kailey meets some amazing and endearing creatures that she learns not to fear but instead, to love. She also meets two interesting men who will both make a play for her affections.
Kailey is a kick-ass heroine. She is developed so well that I feel like I could pick up the phone and invite her over for a glass of wine. She’s spunky, intelligent and has a dry sense of humor that I absolutely ADORE! I mean really, how can you not love a gal who isn’t above sticking her tongue out at someone when they are acting a fool? She’s snarky but delivers her snark with affection and pulls it off every time. Love her!
This story was amazing. The creatures Ms. Lutchen has created are so vivid in my mind that I feel as though they are right beside me. Her descriptions of the settings, objects, landscapes and characters are truly a gift given to the reader. There are evil creatures called meeples that are described so richly that I won’t soon forget their evilness…even if they do sorta look like fluffy bunnies. The characters the Kailey befriends along the way are creatures I wish were real. My personal favorite is Bu….a big, hairy, smelly, sorta scary beast that has a heart of gold who speaks like a child and will protect Kailey with his own life if it were to come to it. Then there’s Conner and Ladimer, the two men who suddenly appear in her life and who both want a place in her heart. Each of them have amazing qualities that make it so hard for Kailey, as well as the reader, to decide who her choice should be. The relationship that touched me the most, however, was the relationship between Kailey and her mother. I am actually tearing up as I type this recalling their story. It is just beautiful.
All of that being said, what I found most remarkable was the way Ms. Lutchen told the story. Never once did I feel lost and not understanding of what was going on within the story. We learned about Renhala and all of the creatures and problems right along with Kailey. Not only did Gunthreon teach her what everything was along the way, but he taught me as well. I really appreciated that characteristic of the book. Even if I read a section and was starting to feel a “huh?” coming on, it would be within the next sentence that things were explained and the idea became clear. I can only imagine how difficult a task it must be, from a writing standpoint, to be able to accomplish that.
I feel so lucky to have found this book and I hope that even if fantasy isn’t necessarily your thing, you’ll give this book a try. I’m certain you will love Renhala and what Ms. Lutchen has created as much as I did! Thank you, Amy Joy, for sharing the gift of your imagination with us and I will be eagerly (notice I didn’t say patiently haha!) waiting for the next book!
June 14, 2013
This review was first posted on Music, Books and Tea
A couple of week’s ago, I listed my top ten bookish resolutions for 2013, and reading more Urban Fantasy was one of them. Renhala fits that bill perfectly, combining action and adventure with a main character who’s learning to stand on her own two feet again after a horrific attack by something that wasn’t exactly human. I’ve been interested in Renhala ever since I saw it on Faye’s blog, and I am so happy to say that Renhala did not disappoint me one bit.
I really liked Kailey. We meet her as she’s recovering from a deep depression, after a nasty attack by something that she knows in her heart of hearts was most definitely not human, despite what everyone else tells her. It takes a lot of courage for someone to return to their normal life after something as soul-destroying as that, but that is exactly what Kailey tries to do, and I really admired her for that. In fact, Kailey really appeared to take everything in her stride, especially when she was first introduced to Renhala by Gunthreon. She was weary, but took the plunge and soon found herself swept up in a bigger adventure than she could ever have imagined. And I also adored the fact that she drank tea and that it was a theme constantly picked up on throughout the book, so much so that it really felt like a part of Kailey. And the relationship between Kailey and her mother was fantastically written. Kailey still needed the comfort her mother provided her throughout the entire book, even as they both fought their own battles. It was sad to see her mother deteriorate throughout the book, especially right at the end. I knew it was coming but I didn’t want it to happen!
The rest of the characters in Renhala were all written really well, and each had something to add to the plot. I loved Conner, especially when he was with Kailey. His soulspeak ability was incredibly interesting, and I didn’t expect it to come from his character when he was first introduced to the story. I had my suspicions about Gunthreon and his intentions, especially towards the end of the story when he disappeared with Lupa. I adored Bu! He was so sweet and kind, and really cared for all of his friends, and even though he was scared to fight, he still did so, because he wanted to help protect his friends. Ladimer was a clever character. He was in love with both Kailey AND her mother and wanted to do right by both of them, although he could be a little whiny at times. Then there was Amber, Kailey’s ‘best friend’. Oh man, I did not like her at all. She treated Kailey like rubbish throughout the entire book, and blamed all her misfortune on Kailey, even when it wasn’t Kailey’s fault. Then when Kailey tries to be more like Amber, and forces herself on a night out, Amber just deserts her for the first guy she sees. Even when her actions were explained at the end, I just could not find a single redeeming quality about her.
The plot took a little while to kick off, but once it did, there was no stopping it. I found all the separate lands within Renhala interesting, although I wished Kailey had appreciated the fact that parts of it were dangerous, and had it not been for Ladimer and Gunthreon, she probably would have ended up dead on several occasions. I also found the ring that Kailey mentioned very interesting, but couldn’t work out the connection with it until it was practically staring me in the face, which is something that I really love in books. I don’t like being able to easily guess parts of the plot, and that’s something Amy Joy Lutchen did really well.
All in all, Renhala was one incredible read! I just could not get enough of this book, especially as it ended on one heck of a cliffhanger that has me desperately hoping there’s a second book in the works! Please?
A couple of week’s ago, I listed my top ten bookish resolutions for 2013, and reading more Urban Fantasy was one of them. Renhala fits that bill perfectly, combining action and adventure with a main character who’s learning to stand on her own two feet again after a horrific attack by something that wasn’t exactly human. I’ve been interested in Renhala ever since I saw it on Faye’s blog, and I am so happy to say that Renhala did not disappoint me one bit.
I really liked Kailey. We meet her as she’s recovering from a deep depression, after a nasty attack by something that she knows in her heart of hearts was most definitely not human, despite what everyone else tells her. It takes a lot of courage for someone to return to their normal life after something as soul-destroying as that, but that is exactly what Kailey tries to do, and I really admired her for that. In fact, Kailey really appeared to take everything in her stride, especially when she was first introduced to Renhala by Gunthreon. She was weary, but took the plunge and soon found herself swept up in a bigger adventure than she could ever have imagined. And I also adored the fact that she drank tea and that it was a theme constantly picked up on throughout the book, so much so that it really felt like a part of Kailey. And the relationship between Kailey and her mother was fantastically written. Kailey still needed the comfort her mother provided her throughout the entire book, even as they both fought their own battles. It was sad to see her mother deteriorate throughout the book, especially right at the end. I knew it was coming but I didn’t want it to happen!
The rest of the characters in Renhala were all written really well, and each had something to add to the plot. I loved Conner, especially when he was with Kailey. His soulspeak ability was incredibly interesting, and I didn’t expect it to come from his character when he was first introduced to the story. I had my suspicions about Gunthreon and his intentions, especially towards the end of the story when he disappeared with Lupa. I adored Bu! He was so sweet and kind, and really cared for all of his friends, and even though he was scared to fight, he still did so, because he wanted to help protect his friends. Ladimer was a clever character. He was in love with both Kailey AND her mother and wanted to do right by both of them, although he could be a little whiny at times. Then there was Amber, Kailey’s ‘best friend’. Oh man, I did not like her at all. She treated Kailey like rubbish throughout the entire book, and blamed all her misfortune on Kailey, even when it wasn’t Kailey’s fault. Then when Kailey tries to be more like Amber, and forces herself on a night out, Amber just deserts her for the first guy she sees. Even when her actions were explained at the end, I just could not find a single redeeming quality about her.
The plot took a little while to kick off, but once it did, there was no stopping it. I found all the separate lands within Renhala interesting, although I wished Kailey had appreciated the fact that parts of it were dangerous, and had it not been for Ladimer and Gunthreon, she probably would have ended up dead on several occasions. I also found the ring that Kailey mentioned very interesting, but couldn’t work out the connection with it until it was practically staring me in the face, which is something that I really love in books. I don’t like being able to easily guess parts of the plot, and that’s something Amy Joy Lutchen did really well.
All in all, Renhala was one incredible read! I just could not get enough of this book, especially as it ended on one heck of a cliffhanger that has me desperately hoping there’s a second book in the works! Please?
February 7, 2013
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: Magic/Romance
RECEIVED: Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
Now this is an Urban Fantasy you don’t want to miss out on! I was seriously brought back to when I first fell in love with Urban Fantasies, reading about complex fantasy worlds, with imaginative characters and a story that is so detailed you feel as if your really there. This story is an adventure that just kept on coming and the surprises were at every turn of the page; I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Renhala follows Kailey Rooke who is trying to get back on her feet after being horribly attacked. With the push of her best friend Amber, she sets out one night and meets a mysterious elderly man who changes her whole life. She is told of a realm and that she is not only apart of it but holds a unique power of Karma. Kailey sets off on many quests to uncover secrets of the other realm as well as trying to save it. With many dangers heading her way, she and her new friends must fight together to save their worlds and stay alive.
Kailey is one heck of a girl, the readers will see her character develop from a scared and sad young woman, to a warrior and devoted friend to many people. For everything that happens to her and all the information she has to take in about herself and the other realm, I don’t know how she kept it all together. She does have her freak out moments; she isn’t perfect and starts to discover her strengths bit by bit, which I felt made her a fantastic protagonist. My favorite tidbit about her character was the relationship she had with her mother, it was sweet and they had such an amazing bond.
The men! I’m very fond of romances in Urban Fantasy books. I adored both love interests, even though I’m not a fan of love triangles. Conner is a sweet man who has an immediate spark with Kailey when they first meet. They do have their ups and downs, but most of the time it’s jealously. I enjoyed their development and how he too has a special gift like Kailey. Ladimer is a very unique character that is super hard to explain without giving too much away. I loved finding out about his history and he is also very protective of Kailey. There does seems to be one man that’s chosen at the end but in series, you never know who she’ll end up with until the very end.
I have some favorite secondary character that I couldn’t get enough of. Let me just say there are lots…and I’m mean lots of characters that get introduced to, this is a longer and very detailed story. My two favorites were Bu and Kioto, Bu is a big, smelly creature from the other realm that I just adored to pieces and Kioto is Kailey Akita who is protective and such a warrior pup. I seriously wished that I had a Bu as a friend, but at least I do have a Kioto but he’s a German shepherd.
Overall, this was an insanely creative first book. The details of the worlds and history, were just amazing, Lutchen must have had to brainstorm like crazy to create such amazing characters, creatures and magic. Kudos to her! The only thing that bothered my through out most of the book was Kailey’s best friend Amber; I don’t know how Kailey even wanted to be friends with her or stayed friend with her. She was a horribly rude and selfish character, but I loved the interesting development with Amber as well. In the end, this is a must read, the romance, magic, and characters that you will love from beginning to end, you will not want to put this book down!
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult book with some sexual content for a mature reader. Fans of Kim Harrisons Hollow series and Rachel Caines Weather Warden series will want to get there hand on Renhala asap!
THEME: Magic/Romance
RECEIVED: Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
Now this is an Urban Fantasy you don’t want to miss out on! I was seriously brought back to when I first fell in love with Urban Fantasies, reading about complex fantasy worlds, with imaginative characters and a story that is so detailed you feel as if your really there. This story is an adventure that just kept on coming and the surprises were at every turn of the page; I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Renhala follows Kailey Rooke who is trying to get back on her feet after being horribly attacked. With the push of her best friend Amber, she sets out one night and meets a mysterious elderly man who changes her whole life. She is told of a realm and that she is not only apart of it but holds a unique power of Karma. Kailey sets off on many quests to uncover secrets of the other realm as well as trying to save it. With many dangers heading her way, she and her new friends must fight together to save their worlds and stay alive.
Kailey is one heck of a girl, the readers will see her character develop from a scared and sad young woman, to a warrior and devoted friend to many people. For everything that happens to her and all the information she has to take in about herself and the other realm, I don’t know how she kept it all together. She does have her freak out moments; she isn’t perfect and starts to discover her strengths bit by bit, which I felt made her a fantastic protagonist. My favorite tidbit about her character was the relationship she had with her mother, it was sweet and they had such an amazing bond.
The men! I’m very fond of romances in Urban Fantasy books. I adored both love interests, even though I’m not a fan of love triangles. Conner is a sweet man who has an immediate spark with Kailey when they first meet. They do have their ups and downs, but most of the time it’s jealously. I enjoyed their development and how he too has a special gift like Kailey. Ladimer is a very unique character that is super hard to explain without giving too much away. I loved finding out about his history and he is also very protective of Kailey. There does seems to be one man that’s chosen at the end but in series, you never know who she’ll end up with until the very end.
I have some favorite secondary character that I couldn’t get enough of. Let me just say there are lots…and I’m mean lots of characters that get introduced to, this is a longer and very detailed story. My two favorites were Bu and Kioto, Bu is a big, smelly creature from the other realm that I just adored to pieces and Kioto is Kailey Akita who is protective and such a warrior pup. I seriously wished that I had a Bu as a friend, but at least I do have a Kioto but he’s a German shepherd.
Overall, this was an insanely creative first book. The details of the worlds and history, were just amazing, Lutchen must have had to brainstorm like crazy to create such amazing characters, creatures and magic. Kudos to her! The only thing that bothered my through out most of the book was Kailey’s best friend Amber; I don’t know how Kailey even wanted to be friends with her or stayed friend with her. She was a horribly rude and selfish character, but I loved the interesting development with Amber as well. In the end, this is a must read, the romance, magic, and characters that you will love from beginning to end, you will not want to put this book down!
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult book with some sexual content for a mature reader. Fans of Kim Harrisons Hollow series and Rachel Caines Weather Warden series will want to get there hand on Renhala asap!
August 24, 2014
I got a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.
Lately I have been reading many books that are quite short and fast paced, I love those kind of books, because I can start a book finish it and then quickly start another book. I didn't realize that sometimes I miss reading books that are a bit longer. When I started this book I was wondering whether to start it now or not, as it was quite long (430 e-book pages). I ended up just starting it and quickly I forgot the number of pages and immensed myself in the world of Renhala.
The book starts off slow paced and a bit confusing. I was actually wondering whether to continue it or not, because I was sure something supernatural was mentioned in the blurb and well I didn't see any hint of that in the first 50 pages. And then suddenly things start making sense, the supernatural is introduced and I was sucked into this story. The story is awesome, it's a bout Kailey and about friendship and love. About good and evil and grey. And so much more.
The characters are loveable! I couldn't wait to read more about them and I especially liked Kailey, she is such a strong girl, but also so normal at times. A few other favourites are: Lupa, Bu, Jenna, Kioto, Greer and Ladimir. Kailey meets so many interesting and nice creatures and I couldn't help but like them all, they all have these characteristics that make them unique. Although I wouldn't mind spending more time reading about all of them and learning more about them. I think the author did an awesome job creating a whole cast of likeable characters.
The evil characters were not as easy to like and I thought it was difficult to really get why they acted like they did. I would've liked a bit more insight in way they did these evil things and who they are.
The world building is also done briliantly. Although after finishing the book I still have so many questions. The author describes the world perfectly, not too much details, but enough to get a good sense of how this world looks. I also loved all the originaly touches, like the life pond and the strange creatures like the Grebles, the Meeples and the Mooncats. I do think that one book is just too less to get to know all of the world and I am would like to learn more about this amazing world.
To conclude: a great story, slower paced and longer than what I usually read, but I loved it! The only minpoints are the fact that the beginning is quite slow and I didn't get a good idea why the evil characters acted like they did. The story was original and interesting, the characters were likeable and the world building was done really well. The story was longer then what I usually read, but I only wished it was even longer, because I already miss reading about Kailey and Renhala.
Lately I have been reading many books that are quite short and fast paced, I love those kind of books, because I can start a book finish it and then quickly start another book. I didn't realize that sometimes I miss reading books that are a bit longer. When I started this book I was wondering whether to start it now or not, as it was quite long (430 e-book pages). I ended up just starting it and quickly I forgot the number of pages and immensed myself in the world of Renhala.
The book starts off slow paced and a bit confusing. I was actually wondering whether to continue it or not, because I was sure something supernatural was mentioned in the blurb and well I didn't see any hint of that in the first 50 pages. And then suddenly things start making sense, the supernatural is introduced and I was sucked into this story. The story is awesome, it's a bout Kailey and about friendship and love. About good and evil and grey. And so much more.
The characters are loveable! I couldn't wait to read more about them and I especially liked Kailey, she is such a strong girl, but also so normal at times. A few other favourites are: Lupa, Bu, Jenna, Kioto, Greer and Ladimir. Kailey meets so many interesting and nice creatures and I couldn't help but like them all, they all have these characteristics that make them unique. Although I wouldn't mind spending more time reading about all of them and learning more about them. I think the author did an awesome job creating a whole cast of likeable characters.
The evil characters were not as easy to like and I thought it was difficult to really get why they acted like they did. I would've liked a bit more insight in way they did these evil things and who they are.
The world building is also done briliantly. Although after finishing the book I still have so many questions. The author describes the world perfectly, not too much details, but enough to get a good sense of how this world looks. I also loved all the originaly touches, like the life pond and the strange creatures like the Grebles, the Meeples and the Mooncats. I do think that one book is just too less to get to know all of the world and I am would like to learn more about this amazing world.
To conclude: a great story, slower paced and longer than what I usually read, but I loved it! The only minpoints are the fact that the beginning is quite slow and I didn't get a good idea why the evil characters acted like they did. The story was original and interesting, the characters were likeable and the world building was done really well. The story was longer then what I usually read, but I only wished it was even longer, because I already miss reading about Kailey and Renhala.
May 21, 2013
Review from Pen and Muse .
Oh, yes! Now I remember why I love urban fantasy. Renhala pretty much sums why entirely. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started reading this. I couldn’t remember what had drawn me to the book, and a reread of the blurb didn’t remind me (possibly because I’ve been reading SO MUCH contemporary lately). So I dove in…and barely came up for air.
If you follow me on Goodreads, you might have noticed that I literally jaw dropped on this book. I couldn’t put the book down so naturally it traveled around the house with me on my iPhone – I walked by a mirror, read a plot twist, and watched my jaw drop and eyes nearly bulge out of my head. Not even kidding guys.
Books that have a physical reaction on me = good.
What happens when the worst night of your life leaves behind a gift? Kailey’s struggling to return to life after being viciously attacked – and soon discovers that her attack woke up dormant powers inside of her. Naturally this gift comes with great responsibility, a quest, and maybe even the potential to save her terminal mother. She sets off on her quest…and has to decide if everyone she knows is who they say they are.
This was a fast and fun read. The light style keeps the pace quick and the reader on their toes. What I’d say stood out the most for me was the characters and the world building. Every single character felt distinct and had a different reaction. Kiota made me give my own pup extra treats. I wanted to hug Bu. I wanted to adopt Jenna. There were enough new elements that I did feel as if I was in another realm, but not so many that I was left confused in the dark. Also…WHO KNEW BUNNIES COULD BE SCARY?
Besides Anya of course. (Buffy reference that makes more sense with the GIF on Pen and Muse)
I will note that because it is fantasy, there were times that I wouldn’t have minded extra description. It’s easy to get swept up in the quick pace, but there were a few images I’d like to have pictured more clearly. This is probably just a me thing though – I tend to like description.
Did I figure out all the plot twists?
No.
Would I read this again?
Yes.
Did I add the sequel to my goodreads list?
You can bet your cheesecake I did.
Also, I’ll take a Connor please. Swoon, swoon, and swoon some more.
Oh, yes! Now I remember why I love urban fantasy. Renhala pretty much sums why entirely. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started reading this. I couldn’t remember what had drawn me to the book, and a reread of the blurb didn’t remind me (possibly because I’ve been reading SO MUCH contemporary lately). So I dove in…and barely came up for air.
If you follow me on Goodreads, you might have noticed that I literally jaw dropped on this book. I couldn’t put the book down so naturally it traveled around the house with me on my iPhone – I walked by a mirror, read a plot twist, and watched my jaw drop and eyes nearly bulge out of my head. Not even kidding guys.
Books that have a physical reaction on me = good.
What happens when the worst night of your life leaves behind a gift? Kailey’s struggling to return to life after being viciously attacked – and soon discovers that her attack woke up dormant powers inside of her. Naturally this gift comes with great responsibility, a quest, and maybe even the potential to save her terminal mother. She sets off on her quest…and has to decide if everyone she knows is who they say they are.
This was a fast and fun read. The light style keeps the pace quick and the reader on their toes. What I’d say stood out the most for me was the characters and the world building. Every single character felt distinct and had a different reaction. Kiota made me give my own pup extra treats. I wanted to hug Bu. I wanted to adopt Jenna. There were enough new elements that I did feel as if I was in another realm, but not so many that I was left confused in the dark. Also…WHO KNEW BUNNIES COULD BE SCARY?
Besides Anya of course. (Buffy reference that makes more sense with the GIF on Pen and Muse)
I will note that because it is fantasy, there were times that I wouldn’t have minded extra description. It’s easy to get swept up in the quick pace, but there were a few images I’d like to have pictured more clearly. This is probably just a me thing though – I tend to like description.
Did I figure out all the plot twists?
No.
Would I read this again?
Yes.
Did I add the sequel to my goodreads list?
You can bet your cheesecake I did.
Also, I’ll take a Connor please. Swoon, swoon, and swoon some more.
July 22, 2013
I couldn't finish this book for the tour I participated in and published an excerpt instead. Now, it's finally time for the real review to be posted. For the excerpt just click here. I know that back then I had about 30% of the book finished and was still impressed with the idea. I was sure I'd give it at least a four-fairy rating. This has changed after having finished the book and I can't make it higher than a 3.5 now.
Just in case you read the epic (!!!!) blurb, you can see that the plot is great, well-developed with lots of new ideas and interesting characters. Yet, there were still some flaws. One of them was that I started to dislike the main character, Kailey. I thought she was pretty selfish and didn't always act in a way that I could understand.
We double-check to make sure we've packed everything, and I say a secret goodbye to my first campsite. Note to self: If this is what camping is like, I don't think I like it.
Uhmm... note to Kailey: you're on a mission to save the world and not on some holiday camping trip where you can bitch about missing luxury and so on.
Kailey's best friend is Amber, a notoric party girl and maneater. Kailey seems to feel inferior in terms of beauty and experience. But still they always stress how meaningful and deep their friendship is. Sorry, but I couldn't feel ANY friendly vibe between those two women. They both seemed completely self-centered to me.
My own anxiety flares up. "What's wrong?" I say, concerned.
His eyes are tearful and he brings his hands to hold mine. "Amber told me what happened to you."
This is another example for inappropriate emotional reactions. Who can adore a man that starts crying when he says something like that?! That just didn't fit. Many emotional scenes seemed to be a bit off, like this one.
The great idea, the plot and characters are enough for a really awesome book. But in the end, it didn't fully convince me. Many plot points were predictable and the only character that I loved was Ladimer. He was great, mysterious, complex and seems to hold many more secrets for the reader (and Kailey) to discover. I can only give it a 3.5 rating because I was much more enthusiastic about it in the beginning and that should count for something, right?
Just in case you read the epic (!!!!) blurb, you can see that the plot is great, well-developed with lots of new ideas and interesting characters. Yet, there were still some flaws. One of them was that I started to dislike the main character, Kailey. I thought she was pretty selfish and didn't always act in a way that I could understand.
We double-check to make sure we've packed everything, and I say a secret goodbye to my first campsite. Note to self: If this is what camping is like, I don't think I like it.
Uhmm... note to Kailey: you're on a mission to save the world and not on some holiday camping trip where you can bitch about missing luxury and so on.
Kailey's best friend is Amber, a notoric party girl and maneater. Kailey seems to feel inferior in terms of beauty and experience. But still they always stress how meaningful and deep their friendship is. Sorry, but I couldn't feel ANY friendly vibe between those two women. They both seemed completely self-centered to me.
My own anxiety flares up. "What's wrong?" I say, concerned.
His eyes are tearful and he brings his hands to hold mine. "Amber told me what happened to you."
This is another example for inappropriate emotional reactions. Who can adore a man that starts crying when he says something like that?! That just didn't fit. Many emotional scenes seemed to be a bit off, like this one.
The great idea, the plot and characters are enough for a really awesome book. But in the end, it didn't fully convince me. Many plot points were predictable and the only character that I loved was Ladimer. He was great, mysterious, complex and seems to hold many more secrets for the reader (and Kailey) to discover. I can only give it a 3.5 rating because I was much more enthusiastic about it in the beginning and that should count for something, right?
May 23, 2013
I was impressed with the details (not too many) and work that went into this urban fantasy book. The world building was top notch for sure.
This book does start of a bit slow for me. I was actually confused as I thought for sure that there was some supernatural in it. It read like a normal non-fantasy book in the beginning. As I only read books that are paranormal/fantasy etc. I almost stopped reading, but went back and read the blurb, and made sure, so then I knew, I just had to keep going. I am glad I did. It was a bit long, but I did enjoy it. It is not a quick read at all. Takes time to get through this book, but enjoyable too.
Kailey is a young, funny, lovable young women, who recently suffered an appalling physical attack. (something that kindof got to me, I am not fond of reading of that kind of stuff, but there is a personal reason for that) She is still depressed after that, which I can understand, its not something easy to come back from. Once she goes to dinner with her friend Amber the rollercoaster ride starts. She finds out about another world called Renhala were traveling to it is done with a single word. So she gets swept up into this fight for her life along with her cool dog Kioto, trying to save Renhala and its people, as well as herself.
I was impressed with the many characters, though It was hard to keep track of them all, I still loved learning of each new one. Like I said, it’s a long book.
I think one of the things I liked the most, is how we get to see Kailey grow from a scared young girl to a warrior, that was nice to see after what had happened to her.
Overall it is a brilliant piece of work for the first book in this journey. The details of the history and the world were amazing.
I really think anyone who enjoys fantasy books at all will really like this one.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I was provided a copy of this book for my honest review.
Also have this posted at my blog:
March 12, 2013
I was given a copy of this book from the author exchange For my honest opinion. Everything your about to read is my full and honest opinion about the book.
First and foremost I have to give the amazing author praise for this book. She has done a remarkable job with creating a amazing book! This book sucked me in from the beginning to the very end! Then when it was over I wanted more, so much more! She has created something new and fresh to urban fantasy books.
So here's the plot:
This book starts off in the aftermath of a girl named Kailey being attacked by someone, or as Kailey calls it "Something"! She swears whatever attacked her was not "all" human! But that can't be right there's only humans on earth, Right??? After the attack Kailey was not taking it well. She spiraled into a deep and dark depression. So after months of countless, sleepless nights, Kailey finally pulls herself together and decides it's time to face the world. So with the help of her best friend Amber they go out one night and that's when Kailey's world changes forever! She is approached by mysterious elderly man that waves Kailey to follow him. She reluctantly does what she's told. But what she's finds when she gets back there is something she never would have imagined, she finds a whole new world, a realm called "Renhala!
That's when Kailey's fun and adventure starts. She's introduced to a world of magic, love, betrayals, and adventure! She discovery's that she has a special gift that she has never known about. A power called Karma. And on top of the new gift she's discovered, she is told that she is the only one that can save "Renhala"!
So with the help of new friends that she meets in "Renhala" she sets out on her quest to save the realm. But things are not easy for Kailey. She not only has to come to terms with her magical powers that she's never known existed, but she also has the stress of having to save "Renhala" from it demise! And if that's not enough she also has to decided which man her heart lies with.
Overall I definitely enjoyed this book and am eager to read the next installment in the series! I gives this magical book an easy 5 stars!
First and foremost I have to give the amazing author praise for this book. She has done a remarkable job with creating a amazing book! This book sucked me in from the beginning to the very end! Then when it was over I wanted more, so much more! She has created something new and fresh to urban fantasy books.
So here's the plot:
This book starts off in the aftermath of a girl named Kailey being attacked by someone, or as Kailey calls it "Something"! She swears whatever attacked her was not "all" human! But that can't be right there's only humans on earth, Right??? After the attack Kailey was not taking it well. She spiraled into a deep and dark depression. So after months of countless, sleepless nights, Kailey finally pulls herself together and decides it's time to face the world. So with the help of her best friend Amber they go out one night and that's when Kailey's world changes forever! She is approached by mysterious elderly man that waves Kailey to follow him. She reluctantly does what she's told. But what she's finds when she gets back there is something she never would have imagined, she finds a whole new world, a realm called "Renhala!
That's when Kailey's fun and adventure starts. She's introduced to a world of magic, love, betrayals, and adventure! She discovery's that she has a special gift that she has never known about. A power called Karma. And on top of the new gift she's discovered, she is told that she is the only one that can save "Renhala"!
So with the help of new friends that she meets in "Renhala" she sets out on her quest to save the realm. But things are not easy for Kailey. She not only has to come to terms with her magical powers that she's never known existed, but she also has the stress of having to save "Renhala" from it demise! And if that's not enough she also has to decided which man her heart lies with.
Overall I definitely enjoyed this book and am eager to read the next installment in the series! I gives this magical book an easy 5 stars!
October 23, 2015
Renhala
is a unique and colorful story with many different characters and creatures. I was intrigued by the story-line and for the simple fact that I have never read and urban fantasy book before. So when the author asked me to read her novel for an honest review in return I happily accepted.
The story is like anything I have read before, making it original. That is no easy task to conquer in storytelling these days. The author has a wild imagination bringing to life characters and a world that easily sweeps you away.
Out of all the relationships in the story, the one with Kailey and her mother is the one I enjoyed the most. For those of us who have been raised by single mothers, it is quite a special bond that ignites when there is only this one person doing anything and everything for you. So I really loved their relationship and how close they were.
There are many different creatures in the book. I personally loved Bu. He was really emotional, but I loved his loyalty and soft heart. The creepiest was the Meeple’s. It will forever make me look at my niece’s bunny in a whole new light.
The things that were a little frustrating for me was that the story took me awhile to get into. It moved a little slow for me in the beginning and dragged a bit in other spots. I also found it to be a bit too long. I’m not a very emotional person so I got a little annoyed with all the crying everyone was doing. It was like someone was always crying or on the verge of tears. But that’s just me being emotionally challenged.
I was pleased to see Kailey being strong and having confidence in herself and her abilities after having her start out in this book so vulnerable and broken. I’m not sure if urban fantasy is for me, but I this was a nice read. I’m sure those who are fans of these types of books will eat it up.
The story is like anything I have read before, making it original. That is no easy task to conquer in storytelling these days. The author has a wild imagination bringing to life characters and a world that easily sweeps you away.
Out of all the relationships in the story, the one with Kailey and her mother is the one I enjoyed the most. For those of us who have been raised by single mothers, it is quite a special bond that ignites when there is only this one person doing anything and everything for you. So I really loved their relationship and how close they were.
There are many different creatures in the book. I personally loved Bu. He was really emotional, but I loved his loyalty and soft heart. The creepiest was the Meeple’s. It will forever make me look at my niece’s bunny in a whole new light.
The things that were a little frustrating for me was that the story took me awhile to get into. It moved a little slow for me in the beginning and dragged a bit in other spots. I also found it to be a bit too long. I’m not a very emotional person so I got a little annoyed with all the crying everyone was doing. It was like someone was always crying or on the verge of tears. But that’s just me being emotionally challenged.
I was pleased to see Kailey being strong and having confidence in herself and her abilities after having her start out in this book so vulnerable and broken. I’m not sure if urban fantasy is for me, but I this was a nice read. I’m sure those who are fans of these types of books will eat it up.
May 17, 2013
This story opens with Kailey, a young woman left damaged by a brutal attack. She struggles to pull her life back together with the help of a strong willed and loving mother, who is very ill. As she works through her issues, she discovers that there may be more basis for her fears than she realized.
She begins to meet interesting characters that seem to know quite a bit about her. She learns that the world as she knows it is actually only one realm in a greater reality involving a fantastical land known as Renhala and that the realms are experiencing odd happenings and dangerous times. When she discovers that her mother has been part of Renhala all along, she allows herself to be pulled completely into the quest to discover what ails the realms. She finds clarity and power along the way, maturing into a stronger person than she thought possible after her ordeal.
The story is unique and extremely imaginative, but was a little confusing at times under the sheer weight of all the unfamiliar fantasy creatures, worlds, powers, etc… The imagery was terrific, but sometimes a little too much of it left the narrative dragging a little. Some parts moved slowly and others, where a little extra explanation would have been helpful, moved too fast for quick comprehension.
Don’t let these minor complaints stop you from reading what is a fabulously original new series. I found the creativity reminiscent of Clive Barker and I have made the same observations about his writing.
In all, a great debut novel. I look forward to the series.
I was provided a copy of this book without charge for an honest review. My opinions are my own and have not been influenced by any payment, agreement or other compensation.
She begins to meet interesting characters that seem to know quite a bit about her. She learns that the world as she knows it is actually only one realm in a greater reality involving a fantastical land known as Renhala and that the realms are experiencing odd happenings and dangerous times. When she discovers that her mother has been part of Renhala all along, she allows herself to be pulled completely into the quest to discover what ails the realms. She finds clarity and power along the way, maturing into a stronger person than she thought possible after her ordeal.
The story is unique and extremely imaginative, but was a little confusing at times under the sheer weight of all the unfamiliar fantasy creatures, worlds, powers, etc… The imagery was terrific, but sometimes a little too much of it left the narrative dragging a little. Some parts moved slowly and others, where a little extra explanation would have been helpful, moved too fast for quick comprehension.
Don’t let these minor complaints stop you from reading what is a fabulously original new series. I found the creativity reminiscent of Clive Barker and I have made the same observations about his writing.
In all, a great debut novel. I look forward to the series.
I was provided a copy of this book without charge for an honest review. My opinions are my own and have not been influenced by any payment, agreement or other compensation.
April 22, 2013
Renhala is an adventure of the epic sort!! It is the kind of sweeping story that is filled with mystery and intrigue, danger and lighthearted moments, and even a bit of romance.
Kailey Rooke, as the lead of the story, is hard not to love. She has been through hell and back after a brutal attack that nearly killed her. You could really feel her fear and her pain as she struggles to take her life back, move out of her mother's home and make a life for herself once again.
The characters in this book are not all human, but together they form a group dynamic that makes for an intense, and fun, read. Bu is a lovable character, an immense creature who, unlike the rest of his species, is sweet and loving and fiercely loyal. Connor and Ladimer make for great love interests and, for most of the book, I couldn't decide which I loved more!
This is a well-paced book with all kinds of quirks and unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. At times the story was intense and serious, but other times there was a sweet touch of whimsy!
Things to love about Renhala...
--The characters. Human or not, there was something about these characters that the reader is truly able to connect to, something I wasn't expecting but that I truly enjoyed.
--The story world. The author created a world that aligned so well with our own that, even though it is fantasy, it felt real. I love fantasy that can feel possible!
My recommendation: Definitely a recommended read!
Kailey Rooke, as the lead of the story, is hard not to love. She has been through hell and back after a brutal attack that nearly killed her. You could really feel her fear and her pain as she struggles to take her life back, move out of her mother's home and make a life for herself once again.
The characters in this book are not all human, but together they form a group dynamic that makes for an intense, and fun, read. Bu is a lovable character, an immense creature who, unlike the rest of his species, is sweet and loving and fiercely loyal. Connor and Ladimer make for great love interests and, for most of the book, I couldn't decide which I loved more!
This is a well-paced book with all kinds of quirks and unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. At times the story was intense and serious, but other times there was a sweet touch of whimsy!
Things to love about Renhala...
--The characters. Human or not, there was something about these characters that the reader is truly able to connect to, something I wasn't expecting but that I truly enjoyed.
--The story world. The author created a world that aligned so well with our own that, even though it is fantasy, it felt real. I love fantasy that can feel possible!
My recommendation: Definitely a recommended read!
February 25, 2013
This book is all about a journey. A journey to save the world, a journey towards self-discovery, and a journey to new love. And with Kailey's humor and zero experience in the dating world, it's quite a fun journey to follow. It's pure fantasy that makes me question how on earth Amy Joy Lutchen came up with these quirky ideas.
Kailey, a timid girl, that doesn't really want to get involved with anything difficult is a fun character to follow. On her journey, she meets some interesting fellows. Gunthreon, an experienced teacher of sorts; Ladimer, a healer who can change his appearance; and Connor, a hunky man who can calm you with the truth. There are various other characters including a nymph with attitude. But I do have to say that I grew to really like Ladimer over all the other guys.
While I really enjoyed this book and felt it flowed really well, I feel like some questions were a bit too nagging for me. For example, what's so important about the ring on the cover? We see it in the book, but I don't think it ever really gets the spotlight. And I felt like Kailey's powers weren't fully explained to my satisfaction. But then again, even in the end, she was still coming to realize her full potential in regards to her power. So, I'm fairly certain these are questions that will be answered at a later time since it looks like a series.
I'd recommend this book for someone who wants some fun laughs, a completely imaginative and new fantasy world, and a good ride for the read...
Kailey, a timid girl, that doesn't really want to get involved with anything difficult is a fun character to follow. On her journey, she meets some interesting fellows. Gunthreon, an experienced teacher of sorts; Ladimer, a healer who can change his appearance; and Connor, a hunky man who can calm you with the truth. There are various other characters including a nymph with attitude. But I do have to say that I grew to really like Ladimer over all the other guys.
While I really enjoyed this book and felt it flowed really well, I feel like some questions were a bit too nagging for me. For example, what's so important about the ring on the cover? We see it in the book, but I don't think it ever really gets the spotlight. And I felt like Kailey's powers weren't fully explained to my satisfaction. But then again, even in the end, she was still coming to realize her full potential in regards to her power. So, I'm fairly certain these are questions that will be answered at a later time since it looks like a series.
I'd recommend this book for someone who wants some fun laughs, a completely imaginative and new fantasy world, and a good ride for the read...
May 18, 2013
Review first published on my blog, Pieces of Whimsy
Renhala is a big book, at least compared to most things I've been reading lately, and it took me a while to get caught up in the story. A lot of things interested me in the beginning, but nothing was quite gripping enough to trap me.
Renhala is set in two realms: ours, where Kailey's story begins, and Renhala, the magical fantasy realm that is intertwined with our own world. Both worlds full of magic and wonder.
There were a lot of fantastic elements in this book, an done that I immediately loved was Kailey's flashbacks to her attack. When small reminders set of her memories and you caught a glimpse of what transpired - I was utterly intrigued! Another great thing was Bu, a creature from Renhala who is completely adorable and lovable. He's so cute, you can't help but love him!
This book felt like it dragged on a bit in the beginning, it's a long book so I didn't expect to jump straight into the action/adventure, but it needed a bit more pizzazz in the beginning to make me yearn for the rest of the book, as it was I just felt a wondering curiosity which I'm glad I acted on.
If you're a lover of urban fantasies I'd definitely recommend this book. I don't love the genre as much as I love classic/epic/whatever-it's-called fantasy, but it's still fantasy and I still enjoyed it.
3.5/5
Renhala is a big book, at least compared to most things I've been reading lately, and it took me a while to get caught up in the story. A lot of things interested me in the beginning, but nothing was quite gripping enough to trap me.
Renhala is set in two realms: ours, where Kailey's story begins, and Renhala, the magical fantasy realm that is intertwined with our own world. Both worlds full of magic and wonder.
There were a lot of fantastic elements in this book, an done that I immediately loved was Kailey's flashbacks to her attack. When small reminders set of her memories and you caught a glimpse of what transpired - I was utterly intrigued! Another great thing was Bu, a creature from Renhala who is completely adorable and lovable. He's so cute, you can't help but love him!
This book felt like it dragged on a bit in the beginning, it's a long book so I didn't expect to jump straight into the action/adventure, but it needed a bit more pizzazz in the beginning to make me yearn for the rest of the book, as it was I just felt a wondering curiosity which I'm glad I acted on.
If you're a lover of urban fantasies I'd definitely recommend this book. I don't love the genre as much as I love classic/epic/whatever-it's-called fantasy, but it's still fantasy and I still enjoyed it.
3.5/5
June 12, 2013
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Kailey is a shy sweet young woman suffering from depression caused by a terrifyingly assault by an unknown creature. A chance encounter leads her to meet Gunthereon, he knows all about her past and sets the stage for an epic adventure in Renhala.
I love fantasy novels. Each book draws you into a unique world beyond your imagination. This book, however, takes you into several realms and a fantastic journey as Kailey fights to save Renhala. This was one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. As you get deeper into the book, Kailey learns more and more about herself and her gift. She begins to toughen up and has a great cast of fellow traveling companions. My favorite character has to be the main character, Kailey. She was just a mild mannered accountant is a charitable organization that had to become strong and confident, showing no fear. This is a book that quickly draws you in and keeps you engaged until the very last page. There is lots of action and adventure, as you learn friends from foes. A must read and definitely in my top ten fantasy novels!
I love fantasy novels. Each book draws you into a unique world beyond your imagination. This book, however, takes you into several realms and a fantastic journey as Kailey fights to save Renhala. This was one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. As you get deeper into the book, Kailey learns more and more about herself and her gift. She begins to toughen up and has a great cast of fellow traveling companions. My favorite character has to be the main character, Kailey. She was just a mild mannered accountant is a charitable organization that had to become strong and confident, showing no fear. This is a book that quickly draws you in and keeps you engaged until the very last page. There is lots of action and adventure, as you learn friends from foes. A must read and definitely in my top ten fantasy novels!
March 19, 2013
I've been on a fantasy kick lately as far as review go. At least it seems that way, LoL.
I love urban fantasy novels. However, this one, because it's so complex, could almost go right into the fantasy category losing the "urban." That's not a negative though in this situation. I loved the creativity & adored the crazy characters that Amy creates in this novel.
You see the female lead, Kailey, grow up in this novel - maybe grow up is the wrong term. She Matures - that's a better way to put it. She changes from a victim of a horrible attack to a strong lead female character. Lately, I've gotten annoyed with most love triangles. But this one, I really liked the men. They're so different and, I have to admit, swoonworthy. I want to know how this works out in the end. I loved the majority of the characters - except Amber >_< Ug that girl got on my nerves.
Overall, really great novel that I think a lot of people would love so the word definitely needs to get out there about this one!
I love urban fantasy novels. However, this one, because it's so complex, could almost go right into the fantasy category losing the "urban." That's not a negative though in this situation. I loved the creativity & adored the crazy characters that Amy creates in this novel.
You see the female lead, Kailey, grow up in this novel - maybe grow up is the wrong term. She Matures - that's a better way to put it. She changes from a victim of a horrible attack to a strong lead female character. Lately, I've gotten annoyed with most love triangles. But this one, I really liked the men. They're so different and, I have to admit, swoonworthy. I want to know how this works out in the end. I loved the majority of the characters - except Amber >_< Ug that girl got on my nerves.
Overall, really great novel that I think a lot of people would love so the word definitely needs to get out there about this one!
October 27, 2013
I'll start off with my usual disclaimer: Not a huge YA fan, not a lover of sci-fi parallel universe type stories (I see a lot of references to this being an UF novel, but with her switching back and forth between earth and Renhala, I think it may straddle multiple genres). That being explained up front, the book was really good- especially for the target genre. As a mature reader, I found some of the simplicity of the story lost my interest a few times, but I enjoyed the writing style and world building. The author's talent kept me reading, even as I struggled with the younger characters (personal preference, not a reflection of the author's talent). This would be a fantastic book for younger readers and people with an interest in the genre. If you follow my reviews because we have similar tastes, you may want to recommend this book to sci-fi readers and YA/NA readers... read the Closer Look for this book if you're not sure of the genre. You'll see what I mean about the great writing style, you'll just need to see if the plot works for your preferred age range.
February 16, 2013
I'd like to thank the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of the book I will admit was confusing as all heck and a little slow. I think maybe opening the book with a flashback to the attack would have drawn the reader in immediately. Overall, the writing was excellent. The story line was a little long. In fact, with a little more detail and a good cliff hanger, this could have easily been broken down into two books. With the story line being so long, there were times when it felt slow and draggy.
The love triangle, did it ever really get resolved? At the very end it did, but I didn't like how Kailey couldn't decide till the very end, she was so wishy-washy about the two guys. I wanted to slap her a few times. On the other hand, I did like how there was no insta-love.
So basically: great writing style, the storyline was long and draggy at times, but, ultimately, a great read.
The beginning of the book I will admit was confusing as all heck and a little slow. I think maybe opening the book with a flashback to the attack would have drawn the reader in immediately. Overall, the writing was excellent. The story line was a little long. In fact, with a little more detail and a good cliff hanger, this could have easily been broken down into two books. With the story line being so long, there were times when it felt slow and draggy.
The love triangle, did it ever really get resolved? At the very end it did, but I didn't like how Kailey couldn't decide till the very end, she was so wishy-washy about the two guys. I wanted to slap her a few times. On the other hand, I did like how there was no insta-love.
So basically: great writing style, the storyline was long and draggy at times, but, ultimately, a great read.
February 13, 2013
This was a very creative book. My creativity level seems quite dull compared to the imagination that would need to be put into a world like Renhala. The author did a great job of seeming this new world into the folds of our own. There was a level of darkness that I enjoyed that really made this stand out as an urban fantasy novel. There were enjoyable twists all along the way and I really like the protagonist; she was different then a lot of characters I've read recently in the way she views and handles events that happen. I really appreciated the relationship she had with her mom, so often it's one where the mom is a bystander in her own life and that wasn't the case here. If it ever goes to print it will be one added to my bookshelf.
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