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Sophia: Within
Only time will tell if Sophia, Alec and the world are ready to accept the mission that has been passed down for many generations. This is more than a story of reincarnation. This is a story that never ended following the reign of the Greek gods.
What has been hidden for thousands of years is about to surface in a small New England town. The impact on this rural village is ageless, but only the chosen time travelers know what is happening, the reason it is happening and how to control the outcome.
The Men of Ages have walked the Earth unnoticed since the time of Greek mythology and have kept their ancient war alive by transporting the lead warrior in a most unusual time machine. There is only one way to stop the cataclysmic demise of the human race and Sophia is the answer. But, Sophia is a teenage girl faced with many human and nonhuman desires that create a tortuous path from antiquity to the present day. Love conquers all; or, so it seems.
What has been hidden for thousands of years is about to surface in a small New England town. The impact on this rural village is ageless, but only the chosen time travelers know what is happening, the reason it is happening and how to control the outcome.
The Men of Ages have walked the Earth unnoticed since the time of Greek mythology and have kept their ancient war alive by transporting the lead warrior in a most unusual time machine. There is only one way to stop the cataclysmic demise of the human race and Sophia is the answer. But, Sophia is a teenage girl faced with many human and nonhuman desires that create a tortuous path from antiquity to the present day. Love conquers all; or, so it seems.
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2013
1 person is currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 19, 2013
So, I received a copy of this from the author in order to do a review over it.
I initially became interested in this book because of the Greek Mythology aspect, because I love Greek Mythology. However, as I came to find out, a lot of this book disappointed me. With characters named Orpheus and Iris, I kind of expected them to be like the Greek gods and goddesses. But they really weren't. The only thing they really had was the name.
Also, it was pretty obvious that this was the author's first attempt at writing a book. I don't mean that negatively, just an observation. Like, the climax of the story hit about 80% through the book. And then the falling action lasted FOREVER. I got bored. Actually, I was kind of bored throughout most of the story. Alec had all the answers, but he'd parcel out the answers as he felt like it. Drop a few and then go, "That's enough for now. I'll do the same thing tomorrow and the day after, and the day after that." (Not a direct quote. Just what I got from subtext.)
There were also a lot of errors that I thought a copy editor could have fixed. Like "lose" was constantly and consistently spelled "loose". Every time. And quotation marks were missing all over the place. You'd know it was dialogue, but there was no punctuation to tell you that.
And oh yeah, the narration constantly changed without warning. Most of the story is from Sophia's perspective, but it would just as quickly change to follow a paragraph or two from Dennis's, Alec's, or any number of other characters. It drove me crazy because I would read most of the paragraph before I figured out it wasn't Sophia. Then I'd have to reread it and by the time I got to the next page, we were back to Sophia. No warning, nothing. It made the story feel really choppy.
There were some redeeming qualities about the story though. The whole nymph plot line was usually pretty interesting. And the beginning was a lot of fun to get into. But there were a whole lot of problems in this book, problems that either could have been fixed easily or with a little more experience.
I initially became interested in this book because of the Greek Mythology aspect, because I love Greek Mythology. However, as I came to find out, a lot of this book disappointed me. With characters named Orpheus and Iris, I kind of expected them to be like the Greek gods and goddesses. But they really weren't. The only thing they really had was the name.
Also, it was pretty obvious that this was the author's first attempt at writing a book. I don't mean that negatively, just an observation. Like, the climax of the story hit about 80% through the book. And then the falling action lasted FOREVER. I got bored. Actually, I was kind of bored throughout most of the story. Alec had all the answers, but he'd parcel out the answers as he felt like it. Drop a few and then go, "That's enough for now. I'll do the same thing tomorrow and the day after, and the day after that." (Not a direct quote. Just what I got from subtext.)
There were also a lot of errors that I thought a copy editor could have fixed. Like "lose" was constantly and consistently spelled "loose". Every time. And quotation marks were missing all over the place. You'd know it was dialogue, but there was no punctuation to tell you that.
And oh yeah, the narration constantly changed without warning. Most of the story is from Sophia's perspective, but it would just as quickly change to follow a paragraph or two from Dennis's, Alec's, or any number of other characters. It drove me crazy because I would read most of the paragraph before I figured out it wasn't Sophia. Then I'd have to reread it and by the time I got to the next page, we were back to Sophia. No warning, nothing. It made the story feel really choppy.
There were some redeeming qualities about the story though. The whole nymph plot line was usually pretty interesting. And the beginning was a lot of fun to get into. But there were a whole lot of problems in this book, problems that either could have been fixed easily or with a little more experience.
February 24, 2016
Check out my original review on my blog: Readiculously Peachy
My Review:
Despite being on my impossibly long hiatus, I continued to read books. I had so many books to choose from but one synopsis which really reeled me in was that of Sophia: Within. It tickled my paranormal, romantic and YA fancy, so I immediately decided to plunge into the story. Being on hiatus can sometimes make you forget the reasons why you blog or read... but once I got into this book I instantly remembered why I love reading and realized this story was right up my street!
The book starts off very mysterious, where we meet a little boy and girl in a strange and ominous surrounding. Despite them being in their child state, the reader quickly finds out that they are far too intelligent and mature for their age, and they seem to know each other from a different life time. The reader is left with intense curiosity and with a million question marks when the boy tells the girl that he needs to leave as she is not ready to take on the mission which is destined to be hers passed on from many generations. He promises to come back when the time is right and when she is ready to take on her role, power and mission. Sophia does not understand and is eventually left alone in her confusion and misery.
Time is sped up, and Sophia is now in her teen years, with no recollection of that one night with the boy she was with. She seems to be as normal as any teenage girl could be, with her own teenage issues, the only fact being that her father died when she was at a very young age. Her mother has never been the same, and it has always been her brother and herself trying to help their mother through these difficult times which seemed to enhance even more during Christmas time.
In school, unlike her brother, Sophia is not considered the popular or unique girl. She doesn't feel like she stands out from the crowd or is worthy of the attention from anybody, especially from a boy. Thankfully for her brother's popular and social status, Sophia is not taunted by her distant and unsocial behavior. She is left alone, a stranger to everyone and everyone a stranger to her, until one day she meets a boy named Alec. She feels this unearthly connection with him and feels like she has definitely met him before.
After this encounter, Sophie comes to the realization that she has indeed met Alec before and that his sudden appearance in her life is no coincidence. She learns more about who she is and that she is tied to the Greek gods and mythologies. She is far more crucial to the world than she could ever imagine to be and danger is right at her doorstep ready to to take her in, unless she comes to the realization who she really is and the powers which are hers for the taking.
She tapes in the powers which were always destined to be hers, trained and guided by Alec and his family who were destined to protect Sophia. Danger lurks in close corners, and Sophie realizes that she does not have much time to waste to learn her powers and her mission, as demonic figures and creatures stand at bay to stop her from completing her mission.
I truly did enjoy reading this book. I found the characters very likable and enjoyable to follow throughout the story. The author did such a good job at creating the setting of the story, knowing exactly how to transfer the mood of the story to something morbid and ominous, and then to something hopeful and emotional.
I do have to say it is kind of your typical YA paranormal romance book: girl doesn't know she’s special, finds out she’s special by meeting a very mysterious hunk, and fights evil to save herself, her loved ones and.. the world. But luckily... I am very into that type of story so of course I thoroughly enjoyed it through and through.
I must give this book kudos on its fantastic reading pace and originality on the type of characters and specific conflicts Sophia runs into. And I especially loved how the story was integrated with Greek mythology!
I therefore give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The characters were amusing, very likable and addicting to follow throughout; the story line had a good pace and it continuously kept me on the edge of my seat, clinging to my kindle for dear life till the very end!
My Review:
Despite being on my impossibly long hiatus, I continued to read books. I had so many books to choose from but one synopsis which really reeled me in was that of Sophia: Within. It tickled my paranormal, romantic and YA fancy, so I immediately decided to plunge into the story. Being on hiatus can sometimes make you forget the reasons why you blog or read... but once I got into this book I instantly remembered why I love reading and realized this story was right up my street!
The book starts off very mysterious, where we meet a little boy and girl in a strange and ominous surrounding. Despite them being in their child state, the reader quickly finds out that they are far too intelligent and mature for their age, and they seem to know each other from a different life time. The reader is left with intense curiosity and with a million question marks when the boy tells the girl that he needs to leave as she is not ready to take on the mission which is destined to be hers passed on from many generations. He promises to come back when the time is right and when she is ready to take on her role, power and mission. Sophia does not understand and is eventually left alone in her confusion and misery.
Time is sped up, and Sophia is now in her teen years, with no recollection of that one night with the boy she was with. She seems to be as normal as any teenage girl could be, with her own teenage issues, the only fact being that her father died when she was at a very young age. Her mother has never been the same, and it has always been her brother and herself trying to help their mother through these difficult times which seemed to enhance even more during Christmas time.
In school, unlike her brother, Sophia is not considered the popular or unique girl. She doesn't feel like she stands out from the crowd or is worthy of the attention from anybody, especially from a boy. Thankfully for her brother's popular and social status, Sophia is not taunted by her distant and unsocial behavior. She is left alone, a stranger to everyone and everyone a stranger to her, until one day she meets a boy named Alec. She feels this unearthly connection with him and feels like she has definitely met him before.
After this encounter, Sophie comes to the realization that she has indeed met Alec before and that his sudden appearance in her life is no coincidence. She learns more about who she is and that she is tied to the Greek gods and mythologies. She is far more crucial to the world than she could ever imagine to be and danger is right at her doorstep ready to to take her in, unless she comes to the realization who she really is and the powers which are hers for the taking.
She tapes in the powers which were always destined to be hers, trained and guided by Alec and his family who were destined to protect Sophia. Danger lurks in close corners, and Sophie realizes that she does not have much time to waste to learn her powers and her mission, as demonic figures and creatures stand at bay to stop her from completing her mission.
I truly did enjoy reading this book. I found the characters very likable and enjoyable to follow throughout the story. The author did such a good job at creating the setting of the story, knowing exactly how to transfer the mood of the story to something morbid and ominous, and then to something hopeful and emotional.
I do have to say it is kind of your typical YA paranormal romance book: girl doesn't know she’s special, finds out she’s special by meeting a very mysterious hunk, and fights evil to save herself, her loved ones and.. the world. But luckily... I am very into that type of story so of course I thoroughly enjoyed it through and through.
I must give this book kudos on its fantastic reading pace and originality on the type of characters and specific conflicts Sophia runs into. And I especially loved how the story was integrated with Greek mythology!
I therefore give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The characters were amusing, very likable and addicting to follow throughout; the story line had a good pace and it continuously kept me on the edge of my seat, clinging to my kindle for dear life till the very end!
May 11, 2013
Beneath the Moon and Stars review
Greek mythology is one of my favorites. I've never really read a nymph story. I thought this had s really cool concept. The characters mainly Sophia lacked just a bit.
This tells the story of Sophia. A boy named Alec comes into her life and tells her she's in danger. He explains to her that she is a bearer of a nymph and many want to get that nymph out of her. Slowly Sophia starts to remember her past and must rely on Alec to teach her how to protect herself. All the while the world around her is falling apart and she must find a way to stop it.
Sophia lacked as a character for me. I can totally understand not having confidence but questioning constantly how anyone could ever like you is too much. She did get better throughout the story which made me very happy. Now Alec, I really enjoyed. He was so sweet! It was obvious he really cared for Sophia. I loved how he protected her. His family made for some amazing secondary characters. One thing I really liked about this story was how important family was. Sometimes that can left out but it plays a huge role in this story.
This had a lot of back story. It did help me connect with the story but it made it hard to keep up at times. I loved all the Greek aspects of the story. I loved how it was fast paced and action filled. I liked that I didn't know where the story was going. This had some really great aspects. I had trouble putting it down. It was a very enjoyable read for me. I'm excited to see where the story continues. If your a fan of Greek mythology this is for you!
Greek mythology is one of my favorites. I've never really read a nymph story. I thought this had s really cool concept. The characters mainly Sophia lacked just a bit.
This tells the story of Sophia. A boy named Alec comes into her life and tells her she's in danger. He explains to her that she is a bearer of a nymph and many want to get that nymph out of her. Slowly Sophia starts to remember her past and must rely on Alec to teach her how to protect herself. All the while the world around her is falling apart and she must find a way to stop it.
Sophia lacked as a character for me. I can totally understand not having confidence but questioning constantly how anyone could ever like you is too much. She did get better throughout the story which made me very happy. Now Alec, I really enjoyed. He was so sweet! It was obvious he really cared for Sophia. I loved how he protected her. His family made for some amazing secondary characters. One thing I really liked about this story was how important family was. Sometimes that can left out but it plays a huge role in this story.
This had a lot of back story. It did help me connect with the story but it made it hard to keep up at times. I loved all the Greek aspects of the story. I loved how it was fast paced and action filled. I liked that I didn't know where the story was going. This had some really great aspects. I had trouble putting it down. It was a very enjoyable read for me. I'm excited to see where the story continues. If your a fan of Greek mythology this is for you!
August 11, 2013
Greek Mythology is something that fascinates me deeply. There are so many tales of the creatures, gods, and what not that roam the world of these tales I grew up listening to as a child. The synopsis of this read captured my interest and I was excited to see where the book leads.
The idea behind the story proved interesting. I think the author brought a different view point of Greek mythology out in this book that readers will come to enjoy. I think with the main character having a secret become known and having her go on the run from people who want to bring harm to her brought a feeling of suspense to the book that had me on my toes.
Now as for characters, I don’t know if girls are always doing this by why do you constantly question the idea of someone liking you? I could understand it for a little bit but for someone to do it constantly it was getting somewhat aggravating for me. But seriously girls if you are like this…just take things one day at a time. With Alec, this is what made me confused me with Sophia questioning. He is such a sweet guy that I feel that any person would want to date him.
Jordana Lizama writes a spectacular masterpiece that brings a diverse tale to the Greek world. I recommend this book to all Greek lovers in hope that you will find the same joy I did in the book that I did.
I give it 4 bites!
The idea behind the story proved interesting. I think the author brought a different view point of Greek mythology out in this book that readers will come to enjoy. I think with the main character having a secret become known and having her go on the run from people who want to bring harm to her brought a feeling of suspense to the book that had me on my toes.
Now as for characters, I don’t know if girls are always doing this by why do you constantly question the idea of someone liking you? I could understand it for a little bit but for someone to do it constantly it was getting somewhat aggravating for me. But seriously girls if you are like this…just take things one day at a time. With Alec, this is what made me confused me with Sophia questioning. He is such a sweet guy that I feel that any person would want to date him.
Jordana Lizama writes a spectacular masterpiece that brings a diverse tale to the Greek world. I recommend this book to all Greek lovers in hope that you will find the same joy I did in the book that I did.
I give it 4 bites!
July 27, 2013
n Sophia Within, Sophia is a relatively quiet girl who seems to lack confidence in herself. She keeps her head down, studies to get good grades and pretty much just tries to float through high school unnoticed. Her daydreaming does seem to get her in trouble quite a bit though, which lands her in detention. That’s where she meets Alec, the strange boy who seems to know more about Sophia than she does herself.
Sophia soon discovers that Alec can read her mind. She also discovers a lot more from him. For instance, she finds out that she carries a nymph within her and that she is part of an epic battle that’s as old as the Greek gods themselves. How can one quiet human girl protect the being she carries inside as well as all of humanity? With the help of a cute guy, of course!
I love the idea behind Sophia Within. It’s such an interesting plot that really hasn’t been done yet. It’s originality is what drew me to the story. While there were some elements that I can’t say I loved- like how Alec doled out tiny bits of information at an infuriatingly slow pace, and how Sophia pretty much believed in him the moment they met- it was a fun afternoon read.
Sophia soon discovers that Alec can read her mind. She also discovers a lot more from him. For instance, she finds out that she carries a nymph within her and that she is part of an epic battle that’s as old as the Greek gods themselves. How can one quiet human girl protect the being she carries inside as well as all of humanity? With the help of a cute guy, of course!
I love the idea behind Sophia Within. It’s such an interesting plot that really hasn’t been done yet. It’s originality is what drew me to the story. While there were some elements that I can’t say I loved- like how Alec doled out tiny bits of information at an infuriatingly slow pace, and how Sophia pretty much believed in him the moment they met- it was a fun afternoon read.
May 11, 2013
There were things I liked and didn't like about this book. I liked the whole concept of the book. I don't know nearly as much about Greek mythology as I would like to, so I'm always interested in books that are related to that. I'm also a sucker for YA romances and this definitely had all of the elements of a good romance. I just had trouble with some of the writing and the way everything was presented. I felt like the book could have been a lot shorter if a lot of unnecessary things had been cut out. I got frustrated with Alec because he never seemed to share any answers, even though he knew them all. I felt like he was just holding in all of this information just so there could be some suspense and drama. Read the rest of this review here: Paperbacks and Frosting
April 21, 2013
Sophia: Within (Jordana Lizama)
Sophia lives with her Mother & Brother (Dennis)in a Small town. She is a very quiet and plain girl with little friends. Then one day a new boy Alec, shows up in class. Soon they become friends.
She finds out that Alec is not what he seems to be. Actually she finds out things are not what they appear to be. The Men of Ages have been around for ages unnoticed and unseen. There has been a war brewing among the Greek God's and the fate of society leads to one young girl.
Fast paced fun fantasy read. I find that Adults as well as Y/A readers will enjoy Sophias' adventure. I look forward forward to more work by Jordan Lizama.
Sophia lives with her Mother & Brother (Dennis)in a Small town. She is a very quiet and plain girl with little friends. Then one day a new boy Alec, shows up in class. Soon they become friends.
She finds out that Alec is not what he seems to be. Actually she finds out things are not what they appear to be. The Men of Ages have been around for ages unnoticed and unseen. There has been a war brewing among the Greek God's and the fate of society leads to one young girl.
Fast paced fun fantasy read. I find that Adults as well as Y/A readers will enjoy Sophias' adventure. I look forward forward to more work by Jordan Lizama.
September 6, 2013
Another Greek mythology great. Very original story. Characters lacking in some parts. Hope there's a sequel.
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