Blue on the Horizon

Legends of the Aurora #1

by Rebecca Ferrell Porter

If only fairies have blue eyes, what does that mean for Gaven?
Banished from troll society for the crime of being born with blue eyes, Gaven has no choice but to apprentice under Azool, the treacherous blue fairy of Torv. Although a lowly troll, magic comes easily to Gaven, and she offers up her yet unborn trollkin to the fairy in exchange for more lessons. Not that it matters. She's hideous. No one is crazy enough to fall in love with a blue-eyed troll.

Then along comes Uredd and his annoying dragon sidekick, and everything changes. Everything.

This humorous coming of age adventure kicks off the award winning Legends of the Aurora trilogy with a twisted fairy tale for all ages.

The Legends of the Aurora trilogy fuses natural phenomena to a veil of magic, and guides you on a fun, action-packed adventure into a wondrous world populated by reinvigorated mythological creatures.
Revised Summer 2015

Genres: Fantasy, Amazon

292 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2013

About the author

Rebecca Ferrell Porter lives in south-central Wisconsin, but she didn't always live there. Sure, she grew up as a wild child running the hills of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, but she left as soon as her pudgy feet could carry her. Not that she hated life in a tiny, artistic community on the edge of world, but it was too isolated to hold her. She calls it her jump-off-the-cliff personality.

Years went by, addresses peeled away, and she found herself a short drive from where it all started. Oh well, she always said she would go home and live off her colorful past. With her inner child still in charge and armed with years of experience fueled by a hungry imagination, Porter has begun her writing career. In a short time, it has blossomed into an award winning fanciful trilogy, numerous locally published essays, and an internationally popular blog.

With a playful imagination and the urge to create, Porter lives with two crazy mutts, a bemused husband, and an overactive imagination.

Reviews

[Wendy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blue on the Horizon (Legends of the Aurora Book # 1) by Rebecca Ferrell Porter

Blue on the Horizon (Legends of the Aurora Book # 1) by Rebecca Ferrell Porteris about the journey that Gaven and Uredd take together and the friends they make along the way. Gaven is a blue eyed troll who’s kin has labeled her an eyesore and a disgrace to her kind. Gaven is made fun of and harassed her entire life and because of this she keeps to herself. All is not lost for Gaven though because Azool, the most feared fairy in the valley, takes an interest in her Gaven becomes Azool’s apprentice. Gaven learns a lot from Azool but is afraid of her.

Uredd of Breen is a troll from the lushest valley and the story of his birth is legendary in Breen. Uredd has decided that he wanted to join his Mother and become a seeker(of treasure,gems,metals). Uredd was training with his mother and fairies who were seated on the backs of dragons came into the Valley of Breen and burnt down everything. The fairies and dragons did not think there were any survivors but they were wrong. Uredd survived and left the valley because his parents were dead along with everyone and everything else. Along the way he found an abandoned baby dragon that he kept and named Stump. As they walked through the woods, Uredd became lost and ended up at the front of the Skummels Mountain. Stump turned himself into a tortoise so he could be carried but he also then could speak with Uredd. Uredd knew the inevitability that they would be captured so he strapped Stump to his back and told the trolls of Skummel that it was his stepping stone. Uredd is the placed in a cell.

Gaven is captured by the the trolls of Skummel and taken to their mountain where she becomes a cook. One day while in the kitchen she meets Uredd who thinks she is the most beautiful thing she has ever seen. Gaven tells him that he should forget about her, that she is cursed.

The King of the trolls has a dinner party for some fairies and it is then when Gaven and Uredd(and Stump, the dragon) escaped from the mountain. They travel back through the forest but Gaven thinks about leaving Uredd and Stump because she doesn’t want them to know she was a changeling.

The Trio end up staying together and have many adventures together. They end up taking a trip oversees with the little girl they met on the farm (Anna). She put them in her suitcase. The trio then takes refuge in a village of trolls that escaped from Skummels Mountain. They build a life with their new friends and family. That’s right; Gaven and Uredd have their own little bundle of joy named Leaf.

Azool comes looking for them however; the village joins together and fights the wicked fairy and Azool gets what is coming to her. Leaf loses someone she loves and Stump reveals who he really is.
Blue on the Horizon (Legends of the Aurora Book # 1) is an amazing read that will take its readers on an incredible adventure that was creative as well as inspired. The book will leave its readers of all ages wanting more.

Rebecca Ferrell Porter has done a brilliant job and giving her readers a peek into the world of trolls and showing that what some may consider a flaw others find beautiful. Porter has written a story that teaches her readers without them realizing it.

The characters are imaginative and resourceful. They are well rounded and full of life. The story illustrates to its readers that everyone “has their secrets” and are not perfect. Through the characters we learn to look past each other’s flaws and find their true beauty.

Blue on the Horizon (Legends of the Aurora Book # 1) is a great adventure from the beginning and starts the series off with a bang. You don’t want to miss reading this book.

*I won this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. In no way has this influenced my rating or opinion of this book.*

4.5 Stars

[Rebecca Porter]

What the author is saying:
At its core, the young adult Legends of the Aurora series is a love letter to the wild beauty of nature. Everyone who yearns for a walk through the woods to quiet the incessant voices of our modern world will find new friends on the pages of this fantasy adventure.

“Although this story is told through the eyes of trolls--and a know-it-all-dragon--the series covers the lifespan of one special human, Anna. I used anecdotes from my actual family history to create Anna and her family. Blue on the Horizon covers Anna's childhood on a remote farm in Norway when she still had the capacity to believe in trolls and dragons. The tale follows her immigration (along with few stowaways) to the United States. It was a time of mystery and wonder with a hefty dash of fear. The world was a huge place then. I wanted to share at least part of the story through Anna's eyes.

"I made a concerted effort to inject humor into the series. There are definately times of tragedy so I wanted the reader to have a respite. I'm finding that women are especially drawn into Gaven's struggles, while men seem to be enriched by the snarky humor. I throughly enjoyed writing both sides, but I worked harder to infuse Gaven's thoughts and words with a "humanity" befitting her character. Simply put, I love them all, but Gaven can still make me cry."

What others are saying:
It speaks of prejudice spewing from fear of difference, control erupting from fear of self, determination swelling from discouragement, salvation achieved through a giving heart. The adventure takes you through rushing streams, meadows, dark woods, crystal caves, and the earth's lullaby.
Linda Bricco Shalk, The Stoughton Press

[Beth ~Book Loving Is My Superpower~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I was gifted a copy of the second book in the series (Cairn) and I didn't want to dive into the middle of the yarn being spun and feeling as if I was missing vital information. It did take longer than normal to finish, mainly due to my inlaws' extended visit, but that in no way was a reflection on the pacing of the book. In actuality the reverse was true. This was a nicely paced tale featuring: various clans of tiny Trolls (with varying phenotypes), Fairies (evil little buggers), Troll/Fairy hybrids (@$$ kicking oddities) and a shape shifting, precognative, magical catalyst of awesomeness Dragon (Stump) who was one of my favorite characters. There was however a slew of editing mistakes but the world building was good enough for my anal retentive mind to not get hung up on the errors. I also love the messages within the book. I was especially moved by the navigation of the Hot Topic of being accepted and appreciating oneself, even being loved and ultimately reveered, when you happen to be very different from the norm. This is definitely aimed for the Middle Grade demographic but I believe it to be a light, fun read for all ages. All in all Blue on the Horizon built a solid foundation for what I assume will continue to be an enjoyable, lighthearted, magical tale.

[Kyle Pfeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win this through Goodreads giveaways.

If you're looking for a good book, don't waste your time - this is neither a book nor good.
It is wonderful, and it is art.
The pages are Rebecca's canvas and the brush is her mind, and with it she draws a portrait of two trolls, and the love they share.
This is a young adults book, but I'm twenty one and I enjoyed it. I appraise the chapter setup - it strongly resembles A Song Of Ice And Fire - though this book isn't sad, nor is it as long and tedious to read. Quite the opposite, really. I finished it in three days, never growing bored and never wanting it to just end.

The book left me with a vibrant taste, as I closed the pages, and I would like to see what Rebecca has in store for the next one.

[Fontaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and poorly written

Besides the glaring grammatical errors and typos, this book was just tedious to read and nonsensical. Not in the fantasy sense, but just that none of the book made sense. I started this book several times without ever getting drawn in, and when I finally forced myself to finish it I spent the whole time saying "what? Where on earth is this coming from?" Honestly, if my 11 year old had written this, I would be proud of his first attempt at a story but it was a major dud for me having ready any other book in my life.

[L.Logan Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very unique view on trolls,faries etc...,

This wàs an unique story told through the even more unique point if view of trolls. Coherent and thoughtful, interesting lead characters that the are not the normal bigger than life characterss. Instead the author uses flawed broken characters to come together and over come the monumental task before them.

[MA Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

With a totally different view of fairies, trolls and others, this is an intriguing story. Best of all is the cooperation among many types working together. If only we humans could do so well.

[Theron T Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tale!

I loved this story. The characters were well thought out, with personality and substance. The story line as consistent and exciting. I highly recommend this book.

[L.S. Palafox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really fantastic.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fantasy

Loved it, well written and kept you guessing , unexpected turns , great story telling , love every page , if you want read a book that's a bit different this is it .

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging

I loved this book. It was cute and exciting. Great for me and my students. I'll be reading more from this author. Thank you.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recently entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:

FEEDBACK

Author: Rebecca Porter
Title: Blue on the Horizon

COVER: 4/10
This was by far the weakest part of the book. The young readers felt it was professional-looking and the lettering was simple to read, but they felt it did not represent the genre or the plot. One reader put, ‘The cover looks OK but I thought it was a travel book or, even worse, a romance. But it has nothing to do with trolls.’

CONTENT 9/10
Our young readers very much enjoyed this book. They loved the way the author switched the trolls from being stereotypical bad guys to good guys. One reader put, ‘Trolls seem to get a bad rap in books and films. But this book was different. Gaven, a troll, is the hero. I think that’s cool.’
The readers also thought the plot was interesting and the story had a good message for young readers. One reader put in his feedback, ‘I think the author is trying to tell readers that everybody is different and that we must work together. I think that’s a very good message.’
A few of the younger readers felt the book was a little too long but they still enjoyed it. ‘I liked all the magic. It was really entertaining.’

EDITING 9/10
In general, the readers discovered no punctuation, spelling or grammatical errors other than in the blurb where two words are mixed up. One reader put, ‘This book is really well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The pacing was good too. But I was a bit surprised to see the huge error in the blurb on Amazon. Of human a settlement SHOULD READ of a human settlement.’

STYLE 8/10
The young readers (and teachers) very much liked the style of this story. They liked the fun, lively speech and the easy to read prose. One teacher put in her feedback, ‘Although dialogue heavy, this is a beautifully written novel. I enjoyed it very much and so did the six students in my class who read it. I think this fantasy novel would probably work well for young and old.’


STATS
Of the 17 readers:
15 disliked the cover.
5 felt the best part was the way a troll was the hero in the story.
3 felt the best part was the plot.
4 felt the best part was the style of writing.
17 would like to read another book by this author.

‘A fun, magical adventure with a strong moral undertone. Highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Awards

[Jason Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free paperback copy of this book through the First Reads program. I thank the author for providing me with a copy of her novel.

The storytelling in Blue on the Horizon is magical. Porter creates characters and settings that are both instantly recognizable and intriguingly different. I will confess that this book caused me several periods of adjustment as I discovered that the story was not what I had anticipated -- the book reads younger than I had thought (a good mid-grade/early YA read as there are strong messages of acceptance and anti-bullying, and the characters -- even the adults -- come across as younger/juvenile) and the plot wandered to places that were at times wholly unbelievable.

The writing suffered from some issues -- multiple, unintended shifts from third person to first person, questionable word choices, a sprinkling of words that were missing altogether, and a general rushed-to-publication feel. However, these issues are nothing that a solid editing couldn't fix. Also, there are points in the narrative where the credibility of the events is taken to the very breaking point, and this reader was prone to setting the book aside from the sheer unlikeliness of events... there IS such a thing as TOO much serendipity. Finally, there is little in the way of mounting tension in the narrative, and the climax felt too perfect, happened too quickly, and was somewhat anticlimactic.

All in all, the storytelling is what carries this book forward, coupled with the quirky recasting of familiar tropes into something less recognizable, but definitely fun. Ms. Porter crafts an interesting story populated by likable characters such as Gavin, Uredd, Stump the tortoise/dragon (it's a long story), and Leaf -- the "ugly" trollkin. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the work of Roald Dahl or C.S. Lewis.

I liked the storytelling and the characters in this book, but the weaknesses of writing, grammar, and situations inhibit me from giving it full marks. I do look forward to what Ms. Porter will pen next.

[E.M. Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Blue on the Horizon' is a vibrant and beautiful fantasy teeming with fairies, dragons and trolls.

Author Rebecca Ferrell Porter has created a fantastic world that is believable and skilfully crafted. Her characters are distinctive and original. Azool, the vicious blue-eyes fairy is a formidable and memorable villain, who steals many scenes. I love her nasty ways and cruel personality and the way she provides a strong contrast to the heroic trolls, Gaven, Uredd and Leaf. Stump the tortoise/baby dragon is also a favourite and his conversations with Uredd are entertaining.

The overall story is built beautifully and the magical elements, the descriptions, colour and mechanics are a highlight. The lifestyle and cultures of the troll tribes are also fascinating—especially the clothing, pottery and amber glasses. I also enjoyed the trolls’ interaction with humans and goats.

Themes such as ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’; prejudice, bullying, love and happiness are explored in the story and handled very well.

I'm very curious to read the next book in the series, especially to learn about the destinies of Leaf and Troika. I highly recommend 'Blue on the Horizon'.

[Tequila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the wonderful world of mystical creatures that Porter created. This is to story of two trolls, Unredd and Gaven, Unredd the last of his village after a terrible attack from the fairies and Gaven, an outcast because of her fairy blue eyes. Both save each other in different ways and show others what true love, devotion, and hard work can do. There is a cast of amazing and not so normal characters that will melt your heart and make you feel a connection with them. If you're a lover of trolls, fairies, dragons, and magic, then you will love this book.

[Mystipul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was very enjoyable to read. The adventures of Graven and Uredd as they travel to escape the blue fairy and to find out what their true destiny is. They have many adventures along the way and endure hardship and losses. They learn the life lessons that they need to survive when they end up far from where they started from. This story moved along at a fairly fast pace and there was always surprises lurking on the next page. I look forward to the next story where you hope the baby dragon finally gets his wings and flies!

[Beth Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a diehard reader for over 3 and a half decades it's very rare for me to find a story that is so creative and original that I get pulled in before the end of the first chapter. This is that book. These characters are really brought to life in this story. Such an imaginative story. It truly is a great book. I'll be starting the 2nd book in this series right away.

[Toni L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

humans, dragons, fairies, trolls, OH MY. What
a great series so far. On to the 2nd book. Hope it is as good as the first.

[Zanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book great deal. I personally understand what they going through being outcast because of one or a couple of physical differences from everybody else.

[bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star

A story I could mostly get lost in. Ending does a good bit of setup but doesn't feel as much left hanging as many.