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The Between #1
Between
Vivian Maylor can't sleep. Maybe it's because she just broke up with her boyfriend and moved to a new town, or it could be the stress of her new job at the hospital. But perhaps it's because her dreams have started to bleed through into her waking hours.
All of her life Vivian has rejected her mother's insane ramblings about Dreamworlds for concrete science and fact, until an emergency room patient ranting about dragons spontaneously combusts before her eyes--forcing Viv to consider the idea that her visions of mythical beasts might be real.
And when a chance encounter leads her to a man she knows only from her dreams, Vivian finds herself falling into a world that seems strange and familiar all at once--a world where the line between dream and reality is hard to determine, and hard to control...
All of her life Vivian has rejected her mother's insane ramblings about Dreamworlds for concrete science and fact, until an emergency room patient ranting about dragons spontaneously combusts before her eyes--forcing Viv to consider the idea that her visions of mythical beasts might be real.
And when a chance encounter leads her to a man she knows only from her dreams, Vivian finds herself falling into a world that seems strange and familiar all at once--a world where the line between dream and reality is hard to determine, and hard to control...
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2013
29 people are currently reading
2183 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Schafer
22 books217 followersKerry Schafer (aka Kerry Anne King) is the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of thirteen novels. An incorrigible genre hopper, Kerry has written fantasy, paranormal mystery and book club fiction. Known for her lyrical writing and memorable characters, Kerry weaves deep emotional insights, humor, and often a touch of magic into all of her tales. Her most recent writing venture is an amateur sleuth novel, Party Planning Can Be Murder, releasing in March of 2025.
In addition to writing, Kerry co-hosts the One Happy Thing podcast with bestselling authors Jennifer Moorman and Maddie Dawson and runs Author Genie, where she provides virtual assistant services to fellow authors.
Kerry lives in a small town in northeastern Washington with her real-life Viking and a crew of neurotic rescue animals—two dogs and four cats—whose favorite pastime is interrupting her writing.
In addition to writing, Kerry co-hosts the One Happy Thing podcast with bestselling authors Jennifer Moorman and Maddie Dawson and runs Author Genie, where she provides virtual assistant services to fellow authors.
Kerry lives in a small town in northeastern Washington with her real-life Viking and a crew of neurotic rescue animals—two dogs and four cats—whose favorite pastime is interrupting her writing.
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February 13, 2013Between is a truly unique Fantasy, set mostly in a world between the dreams and reality. The author does a wonderful job in creating both the dream land and the in between. I read she is a mental health counsellor and I can totally believe it.
Did I like the book? Here comes the difficulty. I realize this is really good and probably deserves the 5 glowing stars that ATUF has given. Unfortunately I couldn't find any real pleasure in reading it.
Partly because it's really set in dreamland and you feel it (good, isn't it?) The problem was for me that the heroine got trapped in dreams as a dreamer, non a dreamweaver. She was subject to them. So the book has the claustrophobic sense of some nightmares. In no way horror, but close enough. And here it's my main problem: the heroine.
I doubt I can think of a fictional woman I detested more. She is worthless. She makes mistake upon mistake, she has to be saved every few pages. She truly does nothing good. I appreciate a simply human woman (she is not), but what I like of humanity is the "possibility" of going beyond one's limit. She is not even able of being selfish (which would be the opposite). She stares, trembles, make me think of a deer caught in the light or a trembling rabbit (and this is an offence to the lovely creatures).
Even taking into account her story and the lack of training I simply can't accept her. The scene in the dungeon was the last WTF moment. She brings the world to destruction (literally) on a refusal based on nothing The only reason the world IS NOT destroyed is because somebody saves her and somebody else compels her to do the only thing that can save the world (sorry, I'm trying to avoid spoilers...)
Three final points: the pace was terribly slow, the villain was God-like in powers and the rape + a second attempted one.
Pace: perfect for a dream/nightmare, but it was killing me.
Villain: why create such an impossible situation? She is literally undefeatable. She simply wins every time. No one is able to resist her. Meh.
Rapes: sorry, I'm not a prude and I do not go against it for the sake of it. But really I do not understand why it was there. Nor I appreciate the lack of consequences. You do not survive a rape without them. It didn't give "depth" to the male character (who by the way was really one dimensional).
Would I recommend the book? No if you are an action-minded reader. If you love old French movies with dream sequences go for it!
I'll be waiting for her next series. :)
Did I like the book? Here comes the difficulty. I realize this is really good and probably deserves the 5 glowing stars that ATUF has given. Unfortunately I couldn't find any real pleasure in reading it.
Partly because it's really set in dreamland and you feel it (good, isn't it?) The problem was for me that the heroine got trapped in dreams as a dreamer, non a dreamweaver. She was subject to them. So the book has the claustrophobic sense of some nightmares. In no way horror, but close enough. And here it's my main problem: the heroine.
I doubt I can think of a fictional woman I detested more. She is worthless. She makes mistake upon mistake, she has to be saved every few pages. She truly does nothing good. I appreciate a simply human woman (she is not), but what I like of humanity is the "possibility" of going beyond one's limit. She is not even able of being selfish (which would be the opposite). She stares, trembles, make me think of a deer caught in the light or a trembling rabbit (and this is an offence to the lovely creatures).
Even taking into account her story and the lack of training I simply can't accept her. The scene in the dungeon was the last WTF moment. She brings the world to destruction (literally) on a refusal based on nothing The only reason the world IS NOT destroyed is because somebody saves her and somebody else compels her to do the only thing that can save the world (sorry, I'm trying to avoid spoilers...)
Three final points: the pace was terribly slow, the villain was God-like in powers and the rape + a second attempted one.
Pace: perfect for a dream/nightmare, but it was killing me.
Villain: why create such an impossible situation? She is literally undefeatable. She simply wins every time. No one is able to resist her. Meh.
Rapes: sorry, I'm not a prude and I do not go against it for the sake of it. But really I do not understand why it was there. Nor I appreciate the lack of consequences. You do not survive a rape without them. It didn't give "depth" to the male character (who by the way was really one dimensional).
Would I recommend the book? No if you are an action-minded reader. If you love old French movies with dream sequences go for it!
I'll be waiting for her next series. :)
February 27, 2013
This book was a hot mess. I hate to be so unkind, but it's just the truth. The premise sounded great. Hell, there's a dragon on the cover. I love dragons. But it was just a disaster.
OK. The book started out as advertised. We're even introduced to a sexy potential love interest. Not only does Vivian recognize Zee from her dreams, the enigmatic bookstore owner recognizes her the same way. In fact, he's been painting her image for years. There's a mysterious, villainous woman who is trying to steal objects that are part of Vivian's birthright. All this, as Vivian begins to get clues to the mysteries of her past and her family heritage.
But it all starts to go really wonky when Vivian starts passing between worlds. There is a dreaming world, a waking world and a between (which apparently is where all the bad stuff happens.) In addition, there are two versions of multiple people --a dream version and an awake version, I guess. This all got so confusing. We follow Vivian as she passes between worlds and meets other versions of Zee and her smarmy ex-boyfriend Jared. Zee is still named Zee, but Jared is named Gareth. Why, I don't know. Both men have dreamed of her. But if you dream in the dream world, are your dreams the awake world? Is there another version of Vivian? Or is she the same Vivian when she dreams? Are the two Zee's different versions of the same man? What about Jared/ Gareth?
How real is the between? There is this ongoing thing about Vivian knowing whether she was awake or asleep by seeing if she is wearing her necklace. But it really didn't help me understand. People are injured and killed in the real world by what happens in the between. Vivian is worn out by her exertions there, but that makes me question --if you are made exhausted by your sleep, how do you rest? Are we back to dreaming in the dream world? It makes my head hurt.
And then, there's the rape. I honestly don't know if that happened in the dream world or the between. If it was "real" or not. But the physical trauma followed Vivian out of the "dream." So who raped her? Was it Jared? A dream Jared? One different from Gareth? Is he responsible? All of this just sort of gets swept away, and barely acknowledged. But the main character was raped. Wasn't she? It doesn't seem like a small question.
None of this even touches on the larger story surrounding the Queen and her endgame. She was so one dimensional in her evil plan. And the ending? No romantic HEA, though I don't entirely understand why. It seems like the door is open for more story, but no way am I going to touch a book two.
Rating: D
*ARC Provided by Ace
OK. The book started out as advertised. We're even introduced to a sexy potential love interest. Not only does Vivian recognize Zee from her dreams, the enigmatic bookstore owner recognizes her the same way. In fact, he's been painting her image for years. There's a mysterious, villainous woman who is trying to steal objects that are part of Vivian's birthright. All this, as Vivian begins to get clues to the mysteries of her past and her family heritage.
But it all starts to go really wonky when Vivian starts passing between worlds. There is a dreaming world, a waking world and a between (which apparently is where all the bad stuff happens.) In addition, there are two versions of multiple people --a dream version and an awake version, I guess. This all got so confusing. We follow Vivian as she passes between worlds and meets other versions of Zee and her smarmy ex-boyfriend Jared. Zee is still named Zee, but Jared is named Gareth. Why, I don't know. Both men have dreamed of her. But if you dream in the dream world, are your dreams the awake world? Is there another version of Vivian? Or is she the same Vivian when she dreams? Are the two Zee's different versions of the same man? What about Jared/ Gareth?
How real is the between? There is this ongoing thing about Vivian knowing whether she was awake or asleep by seeing if she is wearing her necklace. But it really didn't help me understand. People are injured and killed in the real world by what happens in the between. Vivian is worn out by her exertions there, but that makes me question --if you are made exhausted by your sleep, how do you rest? Are we back to dreaming in the dream world? It makes my head hurt.
And then, there's the rape. I honestly don't know if that happened in the dream world or the between. If it was "real" or not. But the physical trauma followed Vivian out of the "dream." So who raped her? Was it Jared? A dream Jared? One different from Gareth? Is he responsible? All of this just sort of gets swept away, and barely acknowledged. But the main character was raped. Wasn't she? It doesn't seem like a small question.
None of this even touches on the larger story surrounding the Queen and her endgame. She was so one dimensional in her evil plan. And the ending? No romantic HEA, though I don't entirely understand why. It seems like the door is open for more story, but no way am I going to touch a book two.
Rating: D
*ARC Provided by Ace
December 7, 2012
Kerry Schafer's BETWEEN offers a new and exciting take on fantasy fiction, with an intricate plot and rapid pacing that keeps the pages turning from start to finish. From the moment a teenager shows up in a small-town E.R. with dragon-inflicted burns to the exciting (and literally world-shattering) final scenes, BETWEEN combines humor, action, and an unusual take on fantasy themes.
One issue I've had with a lot of modern fantasy is the tendency to re-work traditional themes in expected ways. Kerry Schafer breaks that mold, which makes BETWEEN both unusual and a compelling read. Her characters are complex and three-dimensional, and the romantic elements balance well with the action (A note: I prefer a read that's heavy on action and lighter-handed with romance).
My favorite character has to be Poe, the protagonist's penguin totem/sidekick. He's a real penguin (no talking animals here) and, for me, he stole the show. Dragons and penguins? What's not to love!
The book also offers a welcome touch of ironic humor. By way of example, one of my absolute favorite lines: "She was going to die in the Between, naked, carrying a penguin."
It's hard for me to find a fantasy novel I'm willing to give even four stars, let alone 5, but this one belongs in that category. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes fantasy, dragons, or penguins.
*A disclaimer: Kerry Schafer is a friend of mine. I met her as a result of her writing (via the Debutante Ball) but we became friends before her novel was published. (Note that this book is shelved in "Books By Friends".) I read BETWEEN before publication, via an ARC I received from Penguin Group. That said, I will be buying several copies of this book to give to friends, and my personal friendship with Kerry did not impact this review. I'd be giving exactly the same review to this book if I didn't know her.
One issue I've had with a lot of modern fantasy is the tendency to re-work traditional themes in expected ways. Kerry Schafer breaks that mold, which makes BETWEEN both unusual and a compelling read. Her characters are complex and three-dimensional, and the romantic elements balance well with the action (A note: I prefer a read that's heavy on action and lighter-handed with romance).
My favorite character has to be Poe, the protagonist's penguin totem/sidekick. He's a real penguin (no talking animals here) and, for me, he stole the show. Dragons and penguins? What's not to love!
The book also offers a welcome touch of ironic humor. By way of example, one of my absolute favorite lines: "She was going to die in the Between, naked, carrying a penguin."
It's hard for me to find a fantasy novel I'm willing to give even four stars, let alone 5, but this one belongs in that category. I highly recommend it for anyone who likes fantasy, dragons, or penguins.
*A disclaimer: Kerry Schafer is a friend of mine. I met her as a result of her writing (via the Debutante Ball) but we became friends before her novel was published. (Note that this book is shelved in "Books By Friends".) I read BETWEEN before publication, via an ARC I received from Penguin Group. That said, I will be buying several copies of this book to give to friends, and my personal friendship with Kerry did not impact this review. I'd be giving exactly the same review to this book if I didn't know her.
January 18, 2013
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
Going without sleep isn't the smartest choice for an ER doctor, but closing her eyes isn't an option for Vivian Maylor. Whenever she sleeps, the dreaming world starts to seep into her waking one, making horrific things a reality. She's terrified that she's following her insane mother's footsteps. But all of that changes when a patient starts screaming about Dragons and then literally turns to ash before her eyes. She realizes that her dreams may actually be a reality, one she may not be able to escape from.
Getting to my style issues that didn't quite jive with BETWEEN: I'm a huge fan of Urban Fantasy, but not so much of pure fantasy. I like a bit of fantasy and paranormal mixed with a modern world in my books rather than a completely made up world. The reasoning behind that is that Urban Fantasies tend to have a good mix of normal and paranormal, whereas in High Fantasy, the world behind the story, and all of its "rules" can become overwhelming. I have to admit that there were several times while reading BETWEEN where I found myself lost in the descriptions or explanations, especially as I started to skim over the lengthy ones. I realize that the description does talk about the Dreamworlds, but I honestly wasn't expecting the very large majority of the book to take place in one of those worlds. I had thought there would have been more of a mix, or some traveling back and forth, rather than Vivian pretty much staying put once she got to this other world. So, I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed once I realize what pattern the book would follow.
Unfortunately, I just couldn't seem to connect with the characters in BETWEEN. Perhaps it's because I was already stumbling over the complicated world, but I just couldn't seem to really get into anything that was happening with the characters. Even worse, there were confusing elements of duplicate characters. Even after finishing this book, I'm still not sure what was going on there as it wasn't really explained at all. In fact, despite my stating about the lengthy descriptions, I still don't have much of a clue about what is really going on with the characters or the world, especially Vivian. She was thrown into this world like a fish out of water. It was sink or swim, and despite the ending I'm honestly not sure which one she did.
This was a very difficult review for me to write, as my issues with the book were more due to a stylistic preference rather than any real fault with the book. These situations are very frustrating for me as I don't want to give a book a poor rating just because it wasn't in my preferred style range, but I also cannot give it a higher rating because that wouldn't be honest. Unfortunately, I was frustrated more than not while reading this book, which just didn't make the book very enjoyable for me, and leaves me with no choice but to give a lower rating. While BETWEEN didn't really work for me, I think there still is a really good framework there, and Fantasy fans should be more than pleased with this new series.
Going without sleep isn't the smartest choice for an ER doctor, but closing her eyes isn't an option for Vivian Maylor. Whenever she sleeps, the dreaming world starts to seep into her waking one, making horrific things a reality. She's terrified that she's following her insane mother's footsteps. But all of that changes when a patient starts screaming about Dragons and then literally turns to ash before her eyes. She realizes that her dreams may actually be a reality, one she may not be able to escape from.
Getting to my style issues that didn't quite jive with BETWEEN: I'm a huge fan of Urban Fantasy, but not so much of pure fantasy. I like a bit of fantasy and paranormal mixed with a modern world in my books rather than a completely made up world. The reasoning behind that is that Urban Fantasies tend to have a good mix of normal and paranormal, whereas in High Fantasy, the world behind the story, and all of its "rules" can become overwhelming. I have to admit that there were several times while reading BETWEEN where I found myself lost in the descriptions or explanations, especially as I started to skim over the lengthy ones. I realize that the description does talk about the Dreamworlds, but I honestly wasn't expecting the very large majority of the book to take place in one of those worlds. I had thought there would have been more of a mix, or some traveling back and forth, rather than Vivian pretty much staying put once she got to this other world. So, I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed once I realize what pattern the book would follow.
Unfortunately, I just couldn't seem to connect with the characters in BETWEEN. Perhaps it's because I was already stumbling over the complicated world, but I just couldn't seem to really get into anything that was happening with the characters. Even worse, there were confusing elements of duplicate characters. Even after finishing this book, I'm still not sure what was going on there as it wasn't really explained at all. In fact, despite my stating about the lengthy descriptions, I still don't have much of a clue about what is really going on with the characters or the world, especially Vivian. She was thrown into this world like a fish out of water. It was sink or swim, and despite the ending I'm honestly not sure which one she did.
This was a very difficult review for me to write, as my issues with the book were more due to a stylistic preference rather than any real fault with the book. These situations are very frustrating for me as I don't want to give a book a poor rating just because it wasn't in my preferred style range, but I also cannot give it a higher rating because that wouldn't be honest. Unfortunately, I was frustrated more than not while reading this book, which just didn't make the book very enjoyable for me, and leaves me with no choice but to give a lower rating. While BETWEEN didn't really work for me, I think there still is a really good framework there, and Fantasy fans should be more than pleased with this new series.
February 13, 2013
I hate to give a DNF review to Between by Kerry Schafer. I love finding new authors to read, the cover art is pretty (check out the subtle scales on her shoulder!), and the premise sounded great. Unfortunately, I only got about halfway through the book before setting it aside.
Schafer’s heroine, Vivian, has always had strange dreams, and now those dreams are affecting reality, for her and everyone around her. She’s an ER doctor, and one of her patients dies after an attack by dragons — dragons that come from the Between, which is the realm that lies between the waking world and the dreaming one.
Meanwhile, her mother (who lost her grip on sanity because she slipped too easily between the worlds) has gone missing from the institution in which she lives, and her grandfather has died and left her some strange objects and cryptic information. And the handsome man she just met seems to know her… from his dreams…
I liked Vivian when she was doing her job at the hospital, but after that I found that she didn’t grab me as a character. Schafer weighs the character down with trauma: she had to raise herself from an early age because of her mother’s mental illness; she has an abusive ex-boyfriend; she is gratuitously raped partway through the book; even the dent in her apartment door is from a previous tenant’s domestic abuse. Everything in Vivian’s life is sad, and this evokes sympathy but can be a bit overwhelming. And it doesn’t make up for other issues with her character; she seems to be pushed along by the plot rather than driving it.
The romance is also lackluster. We are given hints that Vivian and the male lead, Zee, have a romantic relationship in the dream world that will eventually be echoed in the real world too. I felt it was told more than shown, however, and their connection doesn’t really come through the page, especially since they don’t actually spend much “screen time” together. Zee’s chemistry with the villainess, Jehenna, is livelier.
The third and biggest issue is the plot itself. I typed and deleted several attempts to summarize the plot in this review, and I had a great deal of trouble trying to distill it down to a synopsis. It’s meandering and often confusing. Halfway through the book, I don’t feel like I have a grasp yet of the plot’s direction or what Vivian’s and Zee’s eventual goals will be. There’s a lot of chasing and a lot of shifting between worlds, and multiple keys and spheres to keep track of. It’s actually a pretty good approximation of dream logic, so I have to say Schafer did a good job of making the book feel like one of the most surreal dreams you’ve ever had.
However, as a structure for a novel, it didn’t really work for me. I was often confused by, or uninterested in, some of the plotlines and scenes. Finally I lost interest in the novel as a whole, and realized I didn’t want to read any more of Between. That said, the book might click better with a different reader. Kerry Schafer’s prose is well written and her imagination is vast, and I would definitely try anything else she chooses to write.
www.fantasyliterature.com
Schafer’s heroine, Vivian, has always had strange dreams, and now those dreams are affecting reality, for her and everyone around her. She’s an ER doctor, and one of her patients dies after an attack by dragons — dragons that come from the Between, which is the realm that lies between the waking world and the dreaming one.
Meanwhile, her mother (who lost her grip on sanity because she slipped too easily between the worlds) has gone missing from the institution in which she lives, and her grandfather has died and left her some strange objects and cryptic information. And the handsome man she just met seems to know her… from his dreams…
I liked Vivian when she was doing her job at the hospital, but after that I found that she didn’t grab me as a character. Schafer weighs the character down with trauma: she had to raise herself from an early age because of her mother’s mental illness; she has an abusive ex-boyfriend; she is gratuitously raped partway through the book; even the dent in her apartment door is from a previous tenant’s domestic abuse. Everything in Vivian’s life is sad, and this evokes sympathy but can be a bit overwhelming. And it doesn’t make up for other issues with her character; she seems to be pushed along by the plot rather than driving it.
The romance is also lackluster. We are given hints that Vivian and the male lead, Zee, have a romantic relationship in the dream world that will eventually be echoed in the real world too. I felt it was told more than shown, however, and their connection doesn’t really come through the page, especially since they don’t actually spend much “screen time” together. Zee’s chemistry with the villainess, Jehenna, is livelier.
The third and biggest issue is the plot itself. I typed and deleted several attempts to summarize the plot in this review, and I had a great deal of trouble trying to distill it down to a synopsis. It’s meandering and often confusing. Halfway through the book, I don’t feel like I have a grasp yet of the plot’s direction or what Vivian’s and Zee’s eventual goals will be. There’s a lot of chasing and a lot of shifting between worlds, and multiple keys and spheres to keep track of. It’s actually a pretty good approximation of dream logic, so I have to say Schafer did a good job of making the book feel like one of the most surreal dreams you’ve ever had.
However, as a structure for a novel, it didn’t really work for me. I was often confused by, or uninterested in, some of the plotlines and scenes. Finally I lost interest in the novel as a whole, and realized I didn’t want to read any more of Between. That said, the book might click better with a different reader. Kerry Schafer’s prose is well written and her imagination is vast, and I would definitely try anything else she chooses to write.
www.fantasyliterature.com
August 16, 2014
This review was posted at Under the Covers
“Oh my! Look at the pretty cover!” Yes, I have the attention span of a kitten sometimes and it takes something like this beautiful cover to catch my eye. And although I think it’s beautiful and eye catching, I think it may be just a tad misleading. First because I thought this was a young adult book (that’s what the cover looks like) and it’s not. Then I’ve seen this book classified as urban fantasy, which technically is, and it really didn’t get there for me either. So I’m putting this on my Fantasy shelf because it read mostly like a fantasy story.
The premise of this book is extremely interesting. There’s a dreamworld, a wakeworld and the Between. Vivian, our heroine, doesn’t know anything about it or that she has the ability to move between those worlds by having a sphere. And she might be a bit more than that. But all of this doesn’t come into her life until her grandfather dies, leaves her clues as to what she is and what she needs to protect and is chased by a bad guy….errrr girl.
In what most people consider an urban fantasy series, I usually expect to find a strong heroine lead character. One of the things that disappointed me about this story was Vivian. She’s a doctor, so you think she should be smart. But she is the less kick butt heroine I’ve read in a while. She went through this book letting this happen to her (and there were some quite uncomfortable at that). I was hoping that by the middle of the book she would get the hang of things and start understanding what was happening and fighting back, but that really didn’t come until the end.
I guess I shouldn’t ask so much of her. I was quite a bit confused myself by the world jumping we had in the book. The transitions between Dreamworld, Between and Wakeworld were a bit vague and I found it hard to keep up on which world we were in until a little while in. I hate having to re-read paragraphs to figure out what just happened.
Two characters I really loved were Zee (the hero) and Poe (the penguin sidekick). Although I liked Wakeworld Zee the most, and we don’t get to see a lot of him, even his “other” self was a strong hero, willing to die to help Vivian out of the situations she found herself in. And Poe was just funny and cute. I can even give an honorable mention to Jehena, yes the bad girl of the story was pretty kick ass and I might’ve been rooting for her at times.
Another thing I liked about the story was that there are dragons in this world, and they’re not necessarily the hot, good guys. They were mostly trying to eat Vivian. Great twist on a character we often read about in books as the opposite.
That being said, although I think this series has a lot of untouched potential because all the key elements are there and the originality of the story was amazing, I was overall a bit disappointed. This being Kerry’s debut novel, I will probably continue to read the series to see how the author settles into her writing style and develops what could be an interesting series.
*ARC provided by publisher
“Oh my! Look at the pretty cover!” Yes, I have the attention span of a kitten sometimes and it takes something like this beautiful cover to catch my eye. And although I think it’s beautiful and eye catching, I think it may be just a tad misleading. First because I thought this was a young adult book (that’s what the cover looks like) and it’s not. Then I’ve seen this book classified as urban fantasy, which technically is, and it really didn’t get there for me either. So I’m putting this on my Fantasy shelf because it read mostly like a fantasy story.
The premise of this book is extremely interesting. There’s a dreamworld, a wakeworld and the Between. Vivian, our heroine, doesn’t know anything about it or that she has the ability to move between those worlds by having a sphere. And she might be a bit more than that. But all of this doesn’t come into her life until her grandfather dies, leaves her clues as to what she is and what she needs to protect and is chased by a bad guy….errrr girl.
In what most people consider an urban fantasy series, I usually expect to find a strong heroine lead character. One of the things that disappointed me about this story was Vivian. She’s a doctor, so you think she should be smart. But she is the less kick butt heroine I’ve read in a while. She went through this book letting this happen to her (and there were some quite uncomfortable at that). I was hoping that by the middle of the book she would get the hang of things and start understanding what was happening and fighting back, but that really didn’t come until the end.
I guess I shouldn’t ask so much of her. I was quite a bit confused myself by the world jumping we had in the book. The transitions between Dreamworld, Between and Wakeworld were a bit vague and I found it hard to keep up on which world we were in until a little while in. I hate having to re-read paragraphs to figure out what just happened.
Two characters I really loved were Zee (the hero) and Poe (the penguin sidekick). Although I liked Wakeworld Zee the most, and we don’t get to see a lot of him, even his “other” self was a strong hero, willing to die to help Vivian out of the situations she found herself in. And Poe was just funny and cute. I can even give an honorable mention to Jehena, yes the bad girl of the story was pretty kick ass and I might’ve been rooting for her at times.
Another thing I liked about the story was that there are dragons in this world, and they’re not necessarily the hot, good guys. They were mostly trying to eat Vivian. Great twist on a character we often read about in books as the opposite.
That being said, although I think this series has a lot of untouched potential because all the key elements are there and the originality of the story was amazing, I was overall a bit disappointed. This being Kerry’s debut novel, I will probably continue to read the series to see how the author settles into her writing style and develops what could be an interesting series.
*ARC provided by publisher
January 24, 2013
Ever read a book that's left you scratching your head, wondering what you just read? BETWEEN is all that, and so much more. I feel like my review is going to sound confused at best. If it does, that is because this book left me so bewildered I still don't understand half of what I read one week later.
It started off well enough. There was an interesting heroine, an interesting back story, and the pacing was nice and even. Then we meet the hero(?) of the book, and things started to get a little trippy. Instant attraction, whispers of a past together, even though the two never met in that reality. Why wouldn't they have met in the same reality? Well, apparently, there are three different realms in this world: dreaming, waking, and the between. Interesting concept, right?
I remember thinking to myself: wow, this is so unique, what an awesome book! But then we shift. When Vivian comes to understand that she is some sort of Dreamshifter (I think that's what she was called), instead of becoming a badass heroine who takes her powers and destiny into her own hands, she seems to just drift. Vivian is wishy-washy at best. There is nothing about her personality that stood out, and I found myself growing more and more frustrated as things grew more and more confusing.
My biggest issue, however, despite the poor explanations of the different realms and where Vivian was traveling next, was the rape. I'm not sure which realm Vivian was raped in. It wasn't even that descriptive (I would have DNFed if it was), but it did not further the plot in any way. It sort of just happened, and she enters another realm 3/4 of the way into it, feels sore, and that's the end of it. No emotional reaction, no evolution of her as a character.
I am not okay with this, and I cannot figure out why authors think it is okay incorporating such a delicate subject in such tasteless ways that do not further the plot.
To make things worse, when Vivian meets the man who raped her in one world in the Between, he is dominating and arrogant, and you pretty much get the vibe that he will try to rape her again in this world. And how does Vivian react? Well... she doesn't. She just continues drifting, lets him manhandle her, and that's it.
Adding to the confusion of what realm Vivian is in is the addition of the same character, but as different characters. You have the real world versions, then in the Between, you have the "dreaming" versions of these characters. Vivian is confused, and that confusion was amplified for me as I struggled to understand just what was happening.
It's not often that I rate a book with 1 star. Even less that I have such an intense dislike for something I've read. If the rape was not included in this story, it would not have been memorable for me; since it was, I can't help but feel a little angry every time I recall this story.
Final verdict? Avoid this one unless you want to torture yourself trying to figure everything out. And watch out for the rapey scenes.
It started off well enough. There was an interesting heroine, an interesting back story, and the pacing was nice and even. Then we meet the hero(?) of the book, and things started to get a little trippy. Instant attraction, whispers of a past together, even though the two never met in that reality. Why wouldn't they have met in the same reality? Well, apparently, there are three different realms in this world: dreaming, waking, and the between. Interesting concept, right?
I remember thinking to myself: wow, this is so unique, what an awesome book! But then we shift. When Vivian comes to understand that she is some sort of Dreamshifter (I think that's what she was called), instead of becoming a badass heroine who takes her powers and destiny into her own hands, she seems to just drift. Vivian is wishy-washy at best. There is nothing about her personality that stood out, and I found myself growing more and more frustrated as things grew more and more confusing.
My biggest issue, however, despite the poor explanations of the different realms and where Vivian was traveling next, was the rape. I'm not sure which realm Vivian was raped in. It wasn't even that descriptive (I would have DNFed if it was), but it did not further the plot in any way. It sort of just happened, and she enters another realm 3/4 of the way into it, feels sore, and that's the end of it. No emotional reaction, no evolution of her as a character.
I am not okay with this, and I cannot figure out why authors think it is okay incorporating such a delicate subject in such tasteless ways that do not further the plot.
To make things worse, when Vivian meets the man who raped her in one world in the Between, he is dominating and arrogant, and you pretty much get the vibe that he will try to rape her again in this world. And how does Vivian react? Well... she doesn't. She just continues drifting, lets him manhandle her, and that's it.
Adding to the confusion of what realm Vivian is in is the addition of the same character, but as different characters. You have the real world versions, then in the Between, you have the "dreaming" versions of these characters. Vivian is confused, and that confusion was amplified for me as I struggled to understand just what was happening.
It's not often that I rate a book with 1 star. Even less that I have such an intense dislike for something I've read. If the rape was not included in this story, it would not have been memorable for me; since it was, I can't help but feel a little angry every time I recall this story.
Final verdict? Avoid this one unless you want to torture yourself trying to figure everything out. And watch out for the rapey scenes.
January 26, 2013
Dreams can be a tricky sort of magic. So much of their power is plugged directly into the disorientation and internal logic of the dreamer, reading any sort of narrative built on top of that fluid and arbitrary base can be alienating. Kerry Schafer, however, takes the best of the mystery and humor of a dream state to enrich the mechanics of magic in her world. I laughed, my heart raced, and I finished BETWEEN more than a little bit in love with Schafer, Vivian, and a penguin named Poe.
I spent awhile looking for Schafer's other pen names or prior books, it's hard to believe BETWEEN is a debut effort. This story is rock solid. Action flows beautifully, characters are introduced and grow in believable ways. Vivian and Zee are wonderfully believable as they try to reconcile their "real life" with the influences that seep in from their dreams. There were several surprises for me as the story progressed, as hints of past events and dreams were matched with present day characters, and all of these revelations felt well structured and natural.
And it is that natural flow that was the most impressive element of BETWEEN. This is a familiar Urban Fantasy structure. The main character discovers a hidden heritage, there's a beautiful man who has loved long before they met, she has a preternaturally smart pet, a crazy mother and mysterious grandfather. None of these elements on their own are entirely new, but the elegance and magic with which Schafer writes them is a welcome surprise. And nothing in this story is included "just because", each piece is tied together mindfully and specifically. Take Poe, Vivian's penguin side-kick. While he certainly brought most of the comic relief, he was also integral to bringing those splashes of dreaming disorientation to a fantasy plot. Schafer is a comedic genius to realize that nothing says "This is a weird dream" like having a silent, deadpan penguin overseeing a scene.
I never expect a series to sweep me off my feet in the first book, which makes it all the sweeter when it happens. BETWEEN is the best of what Urban Fantasy can offer. Adventure, danger, and our familiar world threaded with dreams, magic, and unlikely penguins. BETWEEN has already found it's way to my favorites shelf, with room for anything else Schafer has to offer.
Full review to follow.
Sexual Content: Violent sexual assault and rape.
I spent awhile looking for Schafer's other pen names or prior books, it's hard to believe BETWEEN is a debut effort. This story is rock solid. Action flows beautifully, characters are introduced and grow in believable ways. Vivian and Zee are wonderfully believable as they try to reconcile their "real life" with the influences that seep in from their dreams. There were several surprises for me as the story progressed, as hints of past events and dreams were matched with present day characters, and all of these revelations felt well structured and natural.
And it is that natural flow that was the most impressive element of BETWEEN. This is a familiar Urban Fantasy structure. The main character discovers a hidden heritage, there's a beautiful man who has loved long before they met, she has a preternaturally smart pet, a crazy mother and mysterious grandfather. None of these elements on their own are entirely new, but the elegance and magic with which Schafer writes them is a welcome surprise. And nothing in this story is included "just because", each piece is tied together mindfully and specifically. Take Poe, Vivian's penguin side-kick. While he certainly brought most of the comic relief, he was also integral to bringing those splashes of dreaming disorientation to a fantasy plot. Schafer is a comedic genius to realize that nothing says "This is a weird dream" like having a silent, deadpan penguin overseeing a scene.
I never expect a series to sweep me off my feet in the first book, which makes it all the sweeter when it happens. BETWEEN is the best of what Urban Fantasy can offer. Adventure, danger, and our familiar world threaded with dreams, magic, and unlikely penguins. BETWEEN has already found it's way to my favorites shelf, with room for anything else Schafer has to offer.
Full review to follow.
Sexual Content: Violent sexual assault and rape.
January 29, 2013
Objectively,his book really deserves more than 2 stars, but two stars means it was ok, and that's all it was for me. I like my urban fantasy a bit more straightforward and Between is more fantasy than anything else. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
January 1, 2013
Definitely one of the most interesting fantasy books I have read in a long while—in a very good way.
As someone who loves readying fantasy I know the genre pretty well and I have never come across something quite like this. The story was compelling, surprising, rather horrifying and positively gruesome at times and lots of fun to read.
Dragons, dreams, princes, evil Queens, magic, warriors—Between has it all. The story stars with our heroin, Vivian who is working a shift at the E.R. when a teenage boy is brought in with severe burn wounds that Vivian immediately recognizes as having come from a dragon. Here is where the pretty disgusting bit starts (for the faint hearted, do not worry. Between isn’t a gory book. It just has it’s moments. They fit the story well and it’s just a book. You’ll probably be OK haha :p)--but disguisting because the boy's skin just melts away.
Normally I wouldn’t think twice about these kind of moments but they were written so vividly—as was the entire book—that I couldn’t help but see everything that happened to Vivian very clearly and realistically in my mind. I love it when a book just grabs you right out of your seat and drags you into a world of wonder, and this is definitely that kind of book.
There was one character in the book that I, when I first read about him, viewed as weird and negative (because it stood out and didn’t seem to fit) but he very soon melted my heart and I started to love the little guy: Poe, a penguin—yep you heard me. Penguin. The cutest, smartest, bravest little penguin I have ever read about (although to be fair I haven’t read that many books with penguins in them. Still.)
Another character, Zee, I couldn't resist: a painter and bookshop owner by day and a warrior in his dreams at night.
Did I also mention that this book is filled with dragons? Not the cute be-my-best-friend-and-we-will-ride-the-skies-together kind of dragon that you find in a lot of books these days, but old-fashioned really nasty I’ll-bite-your-head-off-and-toast-you-for-dinner kind of dragons.
Other than that I have to say that I really like the humour, eventually had to laugh real hard about the fact that Vivian seems to spend about 20% of the book completely naked and found the whole Wakeworld / Dreamworld / Between was very interesting and I loved reading all about it and how Vivian handles the fact that these worlds exists and that she can movie between them.
In short a book that I would definitely recommend, especially if you are interested in dreams, penguins or just want something different for a change.
As someone who loves readying fantasy I know the genre pretty well and I have never come across something quite like this. The story was compelling, surprising, rather horrifying and positively gruesome at times and lots of fun to read.
Dragons, dreams, princes, evil Queens, magic, warriors—Between has it all. The story stars with our heroin, Vivian who is working a shift at the E.R. when a teenage boy is brought in with severe burn wounds that Vivian immediately recognizes as having come from a dragon. Here is where the pretty disgusting bit starts (for the faint hearted, do not worry. Between isn’t a gory book. It just has it’s moments. They fit the story well and it’s just a book. You’ll probably be OK haha :p)--but disguisting because the boy's skin just melts away.
Normally I wouldn’t think twice about these kind of moments but they were written so vividly—as was the entire book—that I couldn’t help but see everything that happened to Vivian very clearly and realistically in my mind. I love it when a book just grabs you right out of your seat and drags you into a world of wonder, and this is definitely that kind of book.
There was one character in the book that I, when I first read about him, viewed as weird and negative (because it stood out and didn’t seem to fit) but he very soon melted my heart and I started to love the little guy: Poe, a penguin—yep you heard me. Penguin. The cutest, smartest, bravest little penguin I have ever read about (although to be fair I haven’t read that many books with penguins in them. Still.)
Another character, Zee, I couldn't resist: a painter and bookshop owner by day and a warrior in his dreams at night.
Did I also mention that this book is filled with dragons? Not the cute be-my-best-friend-and-we-will-ride-the-skies-together kind of dragon that you find in a lot of books these days, but old-fashioned really nasty I’ll-bite-your-head-off-and-toast-you-for-dinner kind of dragons.
Other than that I have to say that I really like the humour, eventually had to laugh real hard about the fact that Vivian seems to spend about 20% of the book completely naked and found the whole Wakeworld / Dreamworld / Between was very interesting and I loved reading all about it and how Vivian handles the fact that these worlds exists and that she can movie between them.
In short a book that I would definitely recommend, especially if you are interested in dreams, penguins or just want something different for a change.
January 28, 2013
Complete Review on blog: http://www.arathewriter.com/2013/01/b...
Kerry Schafer's debut fantasy novel, Between has the potential to bridge the non-fantasy reader to this genre.
Fantasy readers know exactly what they're getting into: a vivid world, full of imagination, creativity and a whirlwind of action, romance and betrayals.
Non-fantasy readers are okay with all of that, but the common complaint goes something like this: "Fantasy novels are long and start slow. I need a map to follow the story. I need a decoder ring to follow the powers of each character and a family tree to track the kings, the goblins, etc etc etc."
There is some truth to that. Fantasy novels are longer because one of the main characters in the story is the story world. If done well, the world will be unique and by definition, the author will have to explain the rules of the new world.
Aspiring Fantasy novelists will do well to study Between. The story starts fast. The characters are rendered completely but throughout the novel. The back story is kept in the back, but the threads that we need to understand come at you in a clean concise way. The world is developed in a digestible manner. You are not given a straw and asked to drink from the fire-hydrant.
The story is creative, deep. The characters are powerful and beautifully flawed. The world is rich and vibrant and the enemy formidable.
Not all is great, I am saddened to say. The story is a trilogy, which means that I have to wait forever to read part II, much less Part III. The waiting is not good, but what awaits in the next installments is sure to be beautifully crafted.
Finally, a word on the book cover. Having a face on the cover is always tricky. The reader's imagination is seldom the same as the publisher's. Without the context of the story and the main character, an objective person would say that the book cover is pretty. But as you read the novel, the cover converts to perfection.
I highly recommend Between, by Kerry Schafer.
Kerry Schafer's debut fantasy novel, Between has the potential to bridge the non-fantasy reader to this genre.
Fantasy readers know exactly what they're getting into: a vivid world, full of imagination, creativity and a whirlwind of action, romance and betrayals.
Non-fantasy readers are okay with all of that, but the common complaint goes something like this: "Fantasy novels are long and start slow. I need a map to follow the story. I need a decoder ring to follow the powers of each character and a family tree to track the kings, the goblins, etc etc etc."
There is some truth to that. Fantasy novels are longer because one of the main characters in the story is the story world. If done well, the world will be unique and by definition, the author will have to explain the rules of the new world.
Aspiring Fantasy novelists will do well to study Between. The story starts fast. The characters are rendered completely but throughout the novel. The back story is kept in the back, but the threads that we need to understand come at you in a clean concise way. The world is developed in a digestible manner. You are not given a straw and asked to drink from the fire-hydrant.
The story is creative, deep. The characters are powerful and beautifully flawed. The world is rich and vibrant and the enemy formidable.
Not all is great, I am saddened to say. The story is a trilogy, which means that I have to wait forever to read part II, much less Part III. The waiting is not good, but what awaits in the next installments is sure to be beautifully crafted.
Finally, a word on the book cover. Having a face on the cover is always tricky. The reader's imagination is seldom the same as the publisher's. Without the context of the story and the main character, an objective person would say that the book cover is pretty. But as you read the novel, the cover converts to perfection.
I highly recommend Between, by Kerry Schafer.
January 31, 2013
I gave it 2.5/5 stars
Vivian is an ER doctor who is dealing with some weird things. She has always known she was different but when someone in the ER dies from burning from the inside out after explaining things she saw in her dreams she is sent into a spiral where she learns more about herself and her destiny.
I had no issues with Vivian as a character. She was real feeling and easy to follow. I had some problems with the whole dream/wake version of Warlord/Zee and their relationship with Vivian. It just didn't grab me, I couldn't connect to it. How can you fall for one version and when that version isn't there be ok with the other? The ex and his dream self, wow. There were some scenes with him i didn't really feel were needed or made big enough of an impact on emotions as they should have on Vivian. Poe the penguin totem animal was interesting. He "helps" Vivian search for the key and gets her in a bit of trouble at points along the way. He was an entertaining sidekick.
The world of BETWEEN was unique, the details that went into making the Dreamworld sometimes became a bit overwhelming but It was still easy to imagine it. There was a nice pace from beginning to end and plenty of action to satisfy. The finished result after all was said and done was satisfying but leaves you with some unanswered questions. Unfortunately I will not go out of my way to continue reading the series but I am a bit curious as to what will happen next. Id suggest reading an excerpt or grabbing a copy from the library before committing to purchasing it for your book shelf.
Vivian is an ER doctor who is dealing with some weird things. She has always known she was different but when someone in the ER dies from burning from the inside out after explaining things she saw in her dreams she is sent into a spiral where she learns more about herself and her destiny.
I had no issues with Vivian as a character. She was real feeling and easy to follow. I had some problems with the whole dream/wake version of Warlord/Zee and their relationship with Vivian. It just didn't grab me, I couldn't connect to it. How can you fall for one version and when that version isn't there be ok with the other? The ex and his dream self, wow. There were some scenes with him i didn't really feel were needed or made big enough of an impact on emotions as they should have on Vivian. Poe the penguin totem animal was interesting. He "helps" Vivian search for the key and gets her in a bit of trouble at points along the way. He was an entertaining sidekick.
The world of BETWEEN was unique, the details that went into making the Dreamworld sometimes became a bit overwhelming but It was still easy to imagine it. There was a nice pace from beginning to end and plenty of action to satisfy. The finished result after all was said and done was satisfying but leaves you with some unanswered questions. Unfortunately I will not go out of my way to continue reading the series but I am a bit curious as to what will happen next. Id suggest reading an excerpt or grabbing a copy from the library before committing to purchasing it for your book shelf.
February 4, 2013
I really tried to like this book, but the truth is- it just went off on a tangent that I couldn't follow. It had a beginning that I was on board with: a character who seemed to be strong.
She seemed self-sufficient [spoiler alert] ... she had become a doctor, had basically raised herself from the age of 7 when it was obvious her single mother could manage the job, and left an overbearing boyfriend to strike it on her own. The shifts of reality versus dreamscapes seemed haunting and fantastic, and I was ready for a whirlwind of a ride.
And then things just fell apart halfway through the story. The threads of the story I was coming to enjoy just shredded apart in front of my eyes- she suddenly got a plucky animal sidekick who jumped from reality to the dreamworld along with her and I couldn't tell if he was supposed to be comic relief or not.
Her exboyfriend suddenly becomes a dream-rapist and she just shrugs this off, and our love interest hero- who I thought was going to be a strong counterpoint for her in the story- is barely in the tale. He's off in reality, while she's running around by herself in the dreamworld. And I might've been okay with that- if she were at least standing up for herself in the dream world, but instead of the strong woman we were introduced to, she's just melting apart and even sympathetic towards her constantly reappearing ex-boyfriend/rapist!
I just couldn't continue- even though it typically irritates me not to find out what happens in a story. Ugh.
She seemed self-sufficient [spoiler alert] ... she had become a doctor, had basically raised herself from the age of 7 when it was obvious her single mother could manage the job, and left an overbearing boyfriend to strike it on her own. The shifts of reality versus dreamscapes seemed haunting and fantastic, and I was ready for a whirlwind of a ride.
And then things just fell apart halfway through the story. The threads of the story I was coming to enjoy just shredded apart in front of my eyes- she suddenly got a plucky animal sidekick who jumped from reality to the dreamworld along with her and I couldn't tell if he was supposed to be comic relief or not.
Her exboyfriend suddenly becomes a dream-rapist and she just shrugs this off, and our love interest hero- who I thought was going to be a strong counterpoint for her in the story- is barely in the tale. He's off in reality, while she's running around by herself in the dreamworld. And I might've been okay with that- if she were at least standing up for herself in the dream world, but instead of the strong woman we were introduced to, she's just melting apart and even sympathetic towards her constantly reappearing ex-boyfriend/rapist!
I just couldn't continue- even though it typically irritates me not to find out what happens in a story. Ugh.
January 13, 2013
If Alice fell down the rabbit hole, Vivian dreamed her way into the dragon world. As a doctor Vivian is someone who relies on science and the tangible. Vivian begins to witness the impossible in the emergency room while she is wide awake. She witness things straight out of nightmares. Soon the impossible takes her away from the conformity she has known and trusted and thrusts her into an entirely different world filled with the unknown.
The unknown world Vivian is thrown into is a dark and scary fairy tale gone horribly wrong. It is complete with mythical creatures, castle, prince, and evil witch. All of this is written in vivid detail. Vivian is not the typical heroine. She makes many mistakes. Her sidekick is a penguin and her hero is as unlikely as she is. I liked this about her though. Her bumbles made her seem so real. She was not perfect in knowing how to solve every problem. As the series continues she is going to be putting a lot of pieces back into their appropriate places.
I loved the tight wrap up at the end. While I was left wanting to know more I didn’t feel that I was missing anything. Vivian now has to clean up the mess that was made due to her lack of training. She has learned where she came from and what she is. She has learned what she has the power to do and of the legacy that she has to protect. She now has to embrace this new responsibility and learn as she goes.
The unknown world Vivian is thrown into is a dark and scary fairy tale gone horribly wrong. It is complete with mythical creatures, castle, prince, and evil witch. All of this is written in vivid detail. Vivian is not the typical heroine. She makes many mistakes. Her sidekick is a penguin and her hero is as unlikely as she is. I liked this about her though. Her bumbles made her seem so real. She was not perfect in knowing how to solve every problem. As the series continues she is going to be putting a lot of pieces back into their appropriate places.
I loved the tight wrap up at the end. While I was left wanting to know more I didn’t feel that I was missing anything. Vivian now has to clean up the mess that was made due to her lack of training. She has learned where she came from and what she is. She has learned what she has the power to do and of the legacy that she has to protect. She now has to embrace this new responsibility and learn as she goes.
July 25, 2023
This started out nicely, with an interesting idea and jumping right into the action. Unfortunately, it started to dissolve into chaos, with random things happening that weren't well explained, and the various worlds or dreams were confusing and difficult to tell where the characters actually were.
There's also an SA scene that blindsided me and I didn't like how it was handled afterwards. The main character sort of moves on from it and the perpetrator doesn't see real consequences. Maybe the trauma comes up again in the sequel and is better dealt with, but I'm not happy with things in this installment.
The ending left me with several questions still and I don't care to continue on for answers.
There's also an SA scene that blindsided me and I didn't like how it was handled afterwards. The main character sort of moves on from it and the perpetrator doesn't see real consequences. Maybe the trauma comes up again in the sequel and is better dealt with, but I'm not happy with things in this installment.
The ending left me with several questions still and I don't care to continue on for answers.
July 28, 2023
This sounded great but went down quickly. The books jumped around too much to make sense, the main character was a pushover to all the men around her and there was a very unnecessary rape scene in the book I didn't see coming. I will not be continuing the series
January 21, 2013
Vivian is working at a hospital when some strange stuff starts to happen. Her dreams are getting more intense and then she meets a book shop owner who happens to be someone she dreams about. On top of that he loans her books, and one of them has her on the cover. Right after this she finds out her kind of estranged grandfather has passed away, and that he was much more than he seemed. His legacy is passed down to her, but with it comes an evil sorceress who will stop at nothing to get her hands on a ‘key.’
Between is the debut novel of author Kerry Schafer.
The story takes place in three places. The first is ‘Wakeworld,’ our world. Vivian doesn’t spend much time in Wakeworld, but Zee, the man she dreams about does. Then there is ‘Dreamworld.’ Dreamworld is the world of dreams. Vivian inherits little crystal balls, each one a dream. With the tiny crystal balls, she doesn’t have to open any doors to get into dreams, all she has to do is look into them. Then there is ‘Between,’ where most of the novel takes place. Between is the line between awake and asleep. In the Between is a kingdom where the sorceress happens to live. The worlds and how they are put together are what makes Between unique.
Vivian’s story kicks off when she learns of her grandfather’s death and is given a quest, to destroy the key. She has no idea what the key in this case may be, but she does know she must travel to Between. Vivian is medical professional, something parent throughout the novel, but lacks common sense. Before she is given her quest she is given a book that fills in so many of her future questions, but it takes her almost the whole book to figure it out. This made her, for me, seem dense. She doesn’t pick up on clues even though a part of her purpose is to put things together. I also felt as if she picks and chooses when to be courageous. One moment she running into certain death and destruction, in the next she is frozen in fear.
A part from Vivian I deeply enjoyed all the other characters. The sorceress is wonderfully bad! Zee is not your average hero, and was a taste of something different. My favorite character by far is Poe, the penguin that hangs out with Vivian. He adds some giggles into the pages.
Despite my drawbacks with Vivian, the story keeps its pace, and is made for page flipping. It seems set up to be an urban fantasy, but really most of the novel is set in a kingdom with dragons. It’s one of those where characters are put into another world. The other world in Between is where it’s set a part. The story quickly grows intense.
I was a little disappointed with the ending for two reasons. The first was lack of description for how an end was obtained, and Vivian not asking the right questions. She seems to ignore huge facts that bugged me. Luckily this is the first novel, and I look forward to seeing where Schafer will take the characters from this point.
- Beth
Between is the debut novel of author Kerry Schafer.
The story takes place in three places. The first is ‘Wakeworld,’ our world. Vivian doesn’t spend much time in Wakeworld, but Zee, the man she dreams about does. Then there is ‘Dreamworld.’ Dreamworld is the world of dreams. Vivian inherits little crystal balls, each one a dream. With the tiny crystal balls, she doesn’t have to open any doors to get into dreams, all she has to do is look into them. Then there is ‘Between,’ where most of the novel takes place. Between is the line between awake and asleep. In the Between is a kingdom where the sorceress happens to live. The worlds and how they are put together are what makes Between unique.
Vivian’s story kicks off when she learns of her grandfather’s death and is given a quest, to destroy the key. She has no idea what the key in this case may be, but she does know she must travel to Between. Vivian is medical professional, something parent throughout the novel, but lacks common sense. Before she is given her quest she is given a book that fills in so many of her future questions, but it takes her almost the whole book to figure it out. This made her, for me, seem dense. She doesn’t pick up on clues even though a part of her purpose is to put things together. I also felt as if she picks and chooses when to be courageous. One moment she running into certain death and destruction, in the next she is frozen in fear.
A part from Vivian I deeply enjoyed all the other characters. The sorceress is wonderfully bad! Zee is not your average hero, and was a taste of something different. My favorite character by far is Poe, the penguin that hangs out with Vivian. He adds some giggles into the pages.
Despite my drawbacks with Vivian, the story keeps its pace, and is made for page flipping. It seems set up to be an urban fantasy, but really most of the novel is set in a kingdom with dragons. It’s one of those where characters are put into another world. The other world in Between is where it’s set a part. The story quickly grows intense.
I was a little disappointed with the ending for two reasons. The first was lack of description for how an end was obtained, and Vivian not asking the right questions. She seems to ignore huge facts that bugged me. Luckily this is the first novel, and I look forward to seeing where Schafer will take the characters from this point.
- Beth
February 19, 2013
Dreams can be a tricky sort of magic. So much of their power is comes from the disorientation and internal logic of the dreamer, reading any sort of narrative built on top of that fluid and arbitrary base can be alienating. Kerry Schafer, however, takes the best of the mystery and humor of a dream-state to enrich the mechanics of magic in her world. I laughed, my heart raced, and I finished BETWEEN more than a little bit in love with Schafer, Vivian, and a penguin named Poe.
I spent awhile looking for Schafer’s other pen names or prior books, because it’s hard to believe BETWEEN is a debut effort. This story is rock solid. Action flows beautifully, characters are introduced and grow in believable ways. Vivian and Zee are wonderfully believable as they try to reconcile their “real life” with the influences that seep in from their dreams. There were several surprises for me as the story progressed, as hints of past events and dreams were matched with present day characters, and all of these revelations felt well structured and natural. Vivian’s ex-boyfriend, Jared, is the violent bogey man that haunts her dreamscape, and my only caution would be to readers who are sensitive to sexual violence. I didn’t like Jared. I looked forward to his defeat or comeuppance or demise, but my dislike for him didn’t dominate the narrative or overwhelm my affection for other parts of the story.
Urban Fantasy fans will be able to pick out several familiar plot points in BETWEEN. The main character discovers a hidden heritage, there’s a beautiful man who has loved her long before they met, she has a preternaturally smart pet, a crazy mother and mysterious grandfather. None of these elements on their own are entirely new, but the elegance and magic with which Schafer writes them is a welcome surprise. And nothing in this story is included “just because”, each piece is tied together mindfully and specifically. Take Poe, Vivian’s penguin side-kick. While he certainly brought most of the comic relief, he was also integral to bringing those splashes of dreaming disorientation to a fantasy plot. Schafer is a comedic genius to realize that nothing says “This is a weird dream,” like having a silent, deadpan penguin standing in the corner.
I never expect a series to sweep me off my feet in the first book, which makes it all the sweeter when it happens. BETWEEN is the best of what Urban Fantasy can offer, rife with adventure, danger, and our familiar world threaded with dreams. For the magic and romance (and unlikely penguins), BETWEEN has already found it’s way to my favorites shelf. I can’t wait to read what Schafer comes up with next.
Sexual Content: Violent sexual assault and rape.
I spent awhile looking for Schafer’s other pen names or prior books, because it’s hard to believe BETWEEN is a debut effort. This story is rock solid. Action flows beautifully, characters are introduced and grow in believable ways. Vivian and Zee are wonderfully believable as they try to reconcile their “real life” with the influences that seep in from their dreams. There were several surprises for me as the story progressed, as hints of past events and dreams were matched with present day characters, and all of these revelations felt well structured and natural. Vivian’s ex-boyfriend, Jared, is the violent bogey man that haunts her dreamscape, and my only caution would be to readers who are sensitive to sexual violence. I didn’t like Jared. I looked forward to his defeat or comeuppance or demise, but my dislike for him didn’t dominate the narrative or overwhelm my affection for other parts of the story.
Urban Fantasy fans will be able to pick out several familiar plot points in BETWEEN. The main character discovers a hidden heritage, there’s a beautiful man who has loved her long before they met, she has a preternaturally smart pet, a crazy mother and mysterious grandfather. None of these elements on their own are entirely new, but the elegance and magic with which Schafer writes them is a welcome surprise. And nothing in this story is included “just because”, each piece is tied together mindfully and specifically. Take Poe, Vivian’s penguin side-kick. While he certainly brought most of the comic relief, he was also integral to bringing those splashes of dreaming disorientation to a fantasy plot. Schafer is a comedic genius to realize that nothing says “This is a weird dream,” like having a silent, deadpan penguin standing in the corner.
I never expect a series to sweep me off my feet in the first book, which makes it all the sweeter when it happens. BETWEEN is the best of what Urban Fantasy can offer, rife with adventure, danger, and our familiar world threaded with dreams. For the magic and romance (and unlikely penguins), BETWEEN has already found it’s way to my favorites shelf. I can’t wait to read what Schafer comes up with next.
Sexual Content: Violent sexual assault and rape.
June 12, 2013
Originally posted at: Girls on YA Books
Where to begin....Well, first off this was my first adult fantasy book. I have read different adult books but nothing with the fantasy aspect to it. Even if I had I would have to imagine that after this book, it would be like reading adult fantasy all over again for the first time. It was that good and that standout. I will admit that I was a bit confused the first couple of chapters just trying to get into the rhythm of Kerry's writing and trying to distinguish what was dreams and what wasn't. Especially when Vivian entered the Dreamworld. I was a bit confused on whether she was there or just dreaming which in a sense I guess she was?? I don't know, maybe I am still a bit confused on how exactly it all works ;)
Once I got into the swing of Kerry's writing I had to admire it. The way she describes the Dreamworld and paints the big picture was spectacular! I could see what she wanted me to see and what I saw, was incredible! I think the plot and characters were also very nicely written. The fact that she didn't do much research other than for the dragons for this book is impressive (how do I know? I interviewed her, check it out in the interviews if you want to know more).
I thoroughly enjoyed Between. It was unique and magical. I can't wait to read what happens next! The ending was dramatic and left me wanting the next one. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I liked it more than I thought I would! If you like fantasy, family drama ;), and cute little penguins...you will enjoy this book. Ok, so that seems unfair. This book isn't just family drama and penguins. It is so much more. It is action, adventure, love, loss, self-discovery, intense, magical, spectacular and amazing! The characters, side and villains, only make the book more attractive. Between has lots of things that just draw you in. It took me awhile to get into it but it wasn't because of lack of interest. Once I was finally able to sit down and get into it fully I didn't want to put it down. It had this quality that transfixed you. I do suggest this book. If you haven't read adult before I think this would be a good starter. It has enough magic and other things going on to distract you from the age factor. There is one scene in the book that may be a little unsuitable for readers 13 and younger but even that part wasn't graphic. It had enough to know what was happening but it didn't go into detail. Parental and self discretion is what I suggest.
~Rating:
4 of 5 stars!
Where to begin....Well, first off this was my first adult fantasy book. I have read different adult books but nothing with the fantasy aspect to it. Even if I had I would have to imagine that after this book, it would be like reading adult fantasy all over again for the first time. It was that good and that standout. I will admit that I was a bit confused the first couple of chapters just trying to get into the rhythm of Kerry's writing and trying to distinguish what was dreams and what wasn't. Especially when Vivian entered the Dreamworld. I was a bit confused on whether she was there or just dreaming which in a sense I guess she was?? I don't know, maybe I am still a bit confused on how exactly it all works ;)
Once I got into the swing of Kerry's writing I had to admire it. The way she describes the Dreamworld and paints the big picture was spectacular! I could see what she wanted me to see and what I saw, was incredible! I think the plot and characters were also very nicely written. The fact that she didn't do much research other than for the dragons for this book is impressive (how do I know? I interviewed her, check it out in the interviews if you want to know more).
I thoroughly enjoyed Between. It was unique and magical. I can't wait to read what happens next! The ending was dramatic and left me wanting the next one. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I liked it more than I thought I would! If you like fantasy, family drama ;), and cute little penguins...you will enjoy this book. Ok, so that seems unfair. This book isn't just family drama and penguins. It is so much more. It is action, adventure, love, loss, self-discovery, intense, magical, spectacular and amazing! The characters, side and villains, only make the book more attractive. Between has lots of things that just draw you in. It took me awhile to get into it but it wasn't because of lack of interest. Once I was finally able to sit down and get into it fully I didn't want to put it down. It had this quality that transfixed you. I do suggest this book. If you haven't read adult before I think this would be a good starter. It has enough magic and other things going on to distract you from the age factor. There is one scene in the book that may be a little unsuitable for readers 13 and younger but even that part wasn't graphic. It had enough to know what was happening but it didn't go into detail. Parental and self discretion is what I suggest.
~Rating:
4 of 5 stars!
January 23, 2014
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
"Always guard against the dreamworld, you never know what might come through."
Between has been sitting on my shelves since I won this book from a fellow blogger last year. Since I also have it's sequel, Wakeworld, in my hands thanks to Kerry sharing a copy with me, I thought I would finally get caught up on some back reading. Between is a fairly strong beginning to a series with world building that I found appealing because of dragons, sorceresses, Dreamworlds, Wakeworlds, and the Between, along with a protagonist that isn't a wilting flower by any means even though she is far from perfect.
The premise of Between is interesting to me in that our protagonist Dr. Vivian Maylor has lived her entire life worrying about falling into the same darkness that has landed her own mother Isobel in a Family home for the insane. Experiencing days without getting much sleep because her dreams are vivid, realistic, and bloody, she discovers that her dreams are more realistic than she could ever imagined when patients show unusual before dying. Is she really experiencing these dreams, or is she close to having a psychotic breakdown as her mother had?
With the help from the mysterious Ezekiel who has been dreaming about Vivian for many years, she learns that the dreams are aren't just a figment of her imagination, and that her life is about to change in many different ways. Vivian is known as a Dreamshifter, and is supposedly the last one in existence. It is up to her to figure out what is happening in the Between, and Dreamworld and fix it before the Wakeworld is changed forever thanks to the Dream Weaver Queen of Surmise.
There is only one real complaint that I have about this story and that is the actions of one Jared/Gareth towards Vivian. I'm like a parrot in that I repeat myself over and over again, but, I HATE RAPE scenes! I want them gone from books, movies, TV, and never to return again in my lifetime. I want to enjoy a story without feeling my insides being torn away and having vivid reenactment of my own experiences. I know this is particularly selfish of my but it is my sanity that I would love to protect since we only get one go around in this life experience thing.
Between is a very vivid and entertaining story with a nearly indestructible villain and a possible romantic connection that isn't pushed together to get more readers to read the story. I can't wait to read Wakeworld and see where Shaefer takes her characters from here.
Released: January 29th 2013 by Ace
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
"Always guard against the dreamworld, you never know what might come through."
Between has been sitting on my shelves since I won this book from a fellow blogger last year. Since I also have it's sequel, Wakeworld, in my hands thanks to Kerry sharing a copy with me, I thought I would finally get caught up on some back reading. Between is a fairly strong beginning to a series with world building that I found appealing because of dragons, sorceresses, Dreamworlds, Wakeworlds, and the Between, along with a protagonist that isn't a wilting flower by any means even though she is far from perfect.
The premise of Between is interesting to me in that our protagonist Dr. Vivian Maylor has lived her entire life worrying about falling into the same darkness that has landed her own mother Isobel in a Family home for the insane. Experiencing days without getting much sleep because her dreams are vivid, realistic, and bloody, she discovers that her dreams are more realistic than she could ever imagined when patients show unusual before dying. Is she really experiencing these dreams, or is she close to having a psychotic breakdown as her mother had?
With the help from the mysterious Ezekiel who has been dreaming about Vivian for many years, she learns that the dreams are aren't just a figment of her imagination, and that her life is about to change in many different ways. Vivian is known as a Dreamshifter, and is supposedly the last one in existence. It is up to her to figure out what is happening in the Between, and Dreamworld and fix it before the Wakeworld is changed forever thanks to the Dream Weaver Queen of Surmise.
There is only one real complaint that I have about this story and that is the actions of one Jared/Gareth towards Vivian. I'm like a parrot in that I repeat myself over and over again, but, I HATE RAPE scenes! I want them gone from books, movies, TV, and never to return again in my lifetime. I want to enjoy a story without feeling my insides being torn away and having vivid reenactment of my own experiences. I know this is particularly selfish of my but it is my sanity that I would love to protect since we only get one go around in this life experience thing.
Between is a very vivid and entertaining story with a nearly indestructible villain and a possible romantic connection that isn't pushed together to get more readers to read the story. I can't wait to read Wakeworld and see where Shaefer takes her characters from here.
Released: January 29th 2013 by Ace
October 28, 2014
Mesmerizing Mixture of Horror, Magic, and Romance
I've always loved paranormal romance, but this book cannot be contained into just one category. Between is a terrific book. Vivian, the main character, but not the least of all the interesting characters throughout this book, resists her bloodline as sorceress and dragon. Her mother, Isobel, is constantly traveling in between worlds to get to her true love, Landon. The evil sorceress, Johanna, was a great villain-lethal and unmerciful. Of course, the highlight for me, was the side-romance of Vivian and Zee. He is introduced as a bookstore owner and artist, but Oh Wow!--How 'more than meets the eye' is revealed, easy going Zee proclaims his right as Warlord. He is scared from head to toe, and absolutely bad-ass and charming. And what woman wouldn't want a flawed and tortured man with a heart of gold to slay a dragon for her! Oh, but Vivian can handle a dragon on her own...and that is all I'll say. One of my favorite side-characters was Poe the penguin-he was so cute, and very protective of Vivian. I loved this book.
For the sake of readers who have a queasy stomach when it comes to gore, I will put this disclaimer: this story does include some graphic gore--but I felt it was weaved in a way that enhanced the story, overall. Also, if you are a survivor of rape, this book may contain 'triggers'--the attempted rape scene in this book, is in a dream, and be assured the man attempting the heinous 'dream act' does not get away with it. Those things being said, I certainly do not discourage anyone from giving this book a chance. The world the author built was amazing, dark, and effective. The characters were always revealing layers of themselves, throughout the story. It was a wonderful fantasy fiction novel, overall.
Laurie Kozlowski
www.bookescapereviews.wordpress.com
I've always loved paranormal romance, but this book cannot be contained into just one category. Between is a terrific book. Vivian, the main character, but not the least of all the interesting characters throughout this book, resists her bloodline as sorceress and dragon. Her mother, Isobel, is constantly traveling in between worlds to get to her true love, Landon. The evil sorceress, Johanna, was a great villain-lethal and unmerciful. Of course, the highlight for me, was the side-romance of Vivian and Zee. He is introduced as a bookstore owner and artist, but Oh Wow!--How 'more than meets the eye' is revealed, easy going Zee proclaims his right as Warlord. He is scared from head to toe, and absolutely bad-ass and charming. And what woman wouldn't want a flawed and tortured man with a heart of gold to slay a dragon for her! Oh, but Vivian can handle a dragon on her own...and that is all I'll say. One of my favorite side-characters was Poe the penguin-he was so cute, and very protective of Vivian. I loved this book.
For the sake of readers who have a queasy stomach when it comes to gore, I will put this disclaimer: this story does include some graphic gore--but I felt it was weaved in a way that enhanced the story, overall. Also, if you are a survivor of rape, this book may contain 'triggers'--the attempted rape scene in this book, is in a dream, and be assured the man attempting the heinous 'dream act' does not get away with it. Those things being said, I certainly do not discourage anyone from giving this book a chance. The world the author built was amazing, dark, and effective. The characters were always revealing layers of themselves, throughout the story. It was a wonderful fantasy fiction novel, overall.
Laurie Kozlowski
www.bookescapereviews.wordpress.com
March 22, 2013
I am inclined to say I liked this book but I agree with some of the complaints other reviewers mentioned. (ie. the two versions of people and sleeping when you're in the dreamworld.) I liked the fantasy feel of it and I liked the main characters, but I found that I had issues with the whole grand scheme thing her grandfather put into place. It really had too many variables in it that could have gone wrong. And I can't help thinking he was a really bad father to Isobel. I mean besides making her crazy he then pretty much abandoned her with a small child. I get he couldn't risk teaching Vivian and making her go crazy too, but seriously, he was counting on a crazy woman to raise a child alone. It's pretty much a miracle Vivian lived to adulthood. I find it unlikely given her childhood she would have been able to become a doctor too. I mean, doing well in school is more than just being smart, it takes time and let's be honest money. How was her mother supporting them? I guess that aspect of it felt not as well reasoned. Given how old he was and how much time he had to plan everything you'd think he would have come up with a better plan. That being said I did really enjoy the story and the way Vivian grew throughout. I liked the dynamic between her and Zee. I'm curious to see what happens in the next one. I think I also have to mention that I agree with other reviewers about the rape. It happens in Jareds' dream but for Vivian it is real. She does do some flinching from Gareth later but overall I think it wasn't really dealt with. There was a lot going on so maybe Vivian didn't really get a chance to process and it'll be more thoroughly explored later on. But to me it felt dismissed a little too easily.
March 1, 2013
Poe is my hero. (Hey, penguins rock! Poe is the best sidekick penguin I've ever read.) And the rest of the story is totally worthy of his awesomeness. :)
October 8, 2013
excellent
April 25, 2015
1 star for the dragons. Anything involving dragons deserves at least one star.
June 18, 2017
Dreams can be a tricky sort of magic. So much of their power is comes from the disorientation and internal logic of the dreamer, reading any sort of narrative built on top of that fluid and arbitrary base can be alienating. Kerry Schafer, however, takes the best of the mystery and humor of a dream-state to enrich the mechanics of magic in her world. I laughed, my heart raced, and I finished
BETWEEN
more than a little bit in love with Schafer, Vivian, and a penguin named Poe.
I spent awhile looking for Schafer’s other pen names or prior books, because it’s hard to believe BETWEEN is a debut effort. This story is rock solid. Action flows beautifully, characters are introduced and grow in believable ways. Vivian and Zee are wonderfully believable as they try to reconcile their “real life” with the influences that seep in from their dreams. There were several surprises for me as the story progressed, as hints of past events and dreams were matched with present day characters, and all of these revelations felt well structured and natural. Vivian’s ex-boyfriend, Jared, is the violent bogey man that haunts her dreamscape, and my only caution would be to readers who are sensitive to sexual violence. I didn’t like Jared. I looked forward to his defeat or comeuppance or demise, but my dislike for him didn’t dominate the narrative or overwhelm my affection for other parts of the story.
Urban Fantasy fans will be able to pick out several familiar plot points in BETWEEN . The main character discovers a hidden heritage, there’s a beautiful man who has loved her long before they met, she has a preternaturally smart pet, a crazy mother and mysterious grandfather. None of these elements on their own are entirely new, but the elegance and magic with which Schafer writes them is a welcome surprise. And nothing in this story is included “just because”, each piece is tied together mindfully and specifically. Take Poe, Vivian’s penguin side-kick. While he certainly brought most of the comic relief, he was also integral to bringing those splashes of dreaming disorientation to a fantasy plot. Schafer is a comedic genius to realize that nothing says “This is a weird dream,” like having a silent, deadpan penguin standing in the corner.
I never expect a series to sweep me off my feet in the first book, which makes it all the sweeter when it happens. BETWEEN is the best of what Urban Fantasy can offer, rife with adventure, danger, and our familiar world threaded with dreams. For the magic and romance (and unlikely penguins), BETWEEN has already found it’s way to my favorites shelf. I can’t wait to read what Schafer comes up with next.
I spent awhile looking for Schafer’s other pen names or prior books, because it’s hard to believe BETWEEN is a debut effort. This story is rock solid. Action flows beautifully, characters are introduced and grow in believable ways. Vivian and Zee are wonderfully believable as they try to reconcile their “real life” with the influences that seep in from their dreams. There were several surprises for me as the story progressed, as hints of past events and dreams were matched with present day characters, and all of these revelations felt well structured and natural. Vivian’s ex-boyfriend, Jared, is the violent bogey man that haunts her dreamscape, and my only caution would be to readers who are sensitive to sexual violence. I didn’t like Jared. I looked forward to his defeat or comeuppance or demise, but my dislike for him didn’t dominate the narrative or overwhelm my affection for other parts of the story.
Urban Fantasy fans will be able to pick out several familiar plot points in BETWEEN . The main character discovers a hidden heritage, there’s a beautiful man who has loved her long before they met, she has a preternaturally smart pet, a crazy mother and mysterious grandfather. None of these elements on their own are entirely new, but the elegance and magic with which Schafer writes them is a welcome surprise. And nothing in this story is included “just because”, each piece is tied together mindfully and specifically. Take Poe, Vivian’s penguin side-kick. While he certainly brought most of the comic relief, he was also integral to bringing those splashes of dreaming disorientation to a fantasy plot. Schafer is a comedic genius to realize that nothing says “This is a weird dream,” like having a silent, deadpan penguin standing in the corner.
I never expect a series to sweep me off my feet in the first book, which makes it all the sweeter when it happens. BETWEEN is the best of what Urban Fantasy can offer, rife with adventure, danger, and our familiar world threaded with dreams. For the magic and romance (and unlikely penguins), BETWEEN has already found it’s way to my favorites shelf. I can’t wait to read what Schafer comes up with next.
February 4, 2023
I don’t normally read fantasy books, but I do like Kerry Anne King novels so I decided to take a leap and see what her dragon books are like. Very enjoyable, as it turns out. Definitely a page turner. I enjoyed traveling with Vivian between everyday reality and the dream realm as she comes into her power.
February 12, 2023
I have to agree with others that this book was all over the place. However it was still a good story. I enjoyed it even tho it’s not my typical genre to read. I would be interested in seeing how the next one goes.
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy
July 30, 2017
slow start, gained momentum at the conclusion
April 30, 2020
Very intriguing book...I'm interested in reading the rest of series.
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