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Makai Series #1
Descendant
For 15 years, Tristan has tried to cope with hearing the thoughts of others. But that was child's play compared to what he must do now. When an old woman appears with a murderer hot on her trail, Tristan is thrust into a world of trickery and manipulation.
With secret societies tracking his every move, Tristan must find the possessed emerald he was destined to protect and learn to control powers he never knew he had. Only, Tristan never was any good at doing what he was supposed to and the consequences for screwing up now could cost him everything he's grown to love.
With secret societies tracking his every move, Tristan must find the possessed emerald he was destined to protect and learn to control powers he never knew he had. Only, Tristan never was any good at doing what he was supposed to and the consequences for screwing up now could cost him everything he's grown to love.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
330 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2013
7 people are currently reading
1076 people want to read
About the author
Toni Kerr
7 books10 followersToni Kerr lives with her husband, two dangerously creative children, and a fabulous Australian Shepherd in the Pacific Northwest. She loves the outdoors, horses, the high desert, Photoshop, music, salty things, and writing in the wee hours of morning when all is silent.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 21, 2014
Reviewer: Tina
Disclosure: This ebook was provided by the author in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
This is the first book in this series and it took me on a adventure I wasn't expecting. It takes you to the world that has fairies and dragons but they live among the humans and no human knows about them.
Tristan, one of the main characters, doesn't know what is going on with him because he doesn't know what he really is. Even by the end of this book, he doesn't know half of what he is capable to do. Dorian, she is different and has only lived on her island. She can do amazing things but I believe she has more that she doesn't know about herself that will come up in the next book in this series.
This début novel really moved along and kept me interested from the beginning to the end. There is a lot that has to be explained so this is a long novel, but needs to be, because this author is setting us up for something big that will come in the future.
I loved all the characters in this story except the bad guys, but who really can love a bad guy? Some of the characters still have secrets which we probably find out in the next book. The author can't tell us all the secrets they have in the first book. Got to keep us hanging for the next one, and yes, this book ends with so many questions which makes me want the next book now.
I truly enjoyed reading this amazing story and being apart of the journey these characters went on. The writing style to me was excellent and I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I just found a new author, I will add to follow in the future.
Disclosure: This ebook was provided by the author in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
This is the first book in this series and it took me on a adventure I wasn't expecting. It takes you to the world that has fairies and dragons but they live among the humans and no human knows about them.
Tristan, one of the main characters, doesn't know what is going on with him because he doesn't know what he really is. Even by the end of this book, he doesn't know half of what he is capable to do. Dorian, she is different and has only lived on her island. She can do amazing things but I believe she has more that she doesn't know about herself that will come up in the next book in this series.
This début novel really moved along and kept me interested from the beginning to the end. There is a lot that has to be explained so this is a long novel, but needs to be, because this author is setting us up for something big that will come in the future.
I loved all the characters in this story except the bad guys, but who really can love a bad guy? Some of the characters still have secrets which we probably find out in the next book. The author can't tell us all the secrets they have in the first book. Got to keep us hanging for the next one, and yes, this book ends with so many questions which makes me want the next book now.
I truly enjoyed reading this amazing story and being apart of the journey these characters went on. The writing style to me was excellent and I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I just found a new author, I will add to follow in the future.
June 9, 2015
This series has a lot of potential and was decent for a first book. I won't lie-- it's not the best debut novel that I've ever read but it's by far not the worst either.
Things I loved about the book:
--hints at a unique dragon mythology
I love dragons and while the mythology that has so far been presented in the series isn't wholly original (I was reminded of Seraphina) it's one that I have yet to see in any other books.
--the idea of plants having thoughts, feelings, and personalities
Many of my favorite parts in the book involved the plants and their conversations. I loved learning little things about their personalities like the honeysuckle are some of the worst gossips and chamomile are the most peaceful.
--secret societies
Every series needs a secret socity or two right?
--different races of magical beings
I like reading books that focus on one race (ie. just faeries, dragons, etc.) but I love it even more when they can be woven together.
Things I didn't love:
--The pacing
There were times where the story would be going at a decent pace and everything was fine and dandy but then things would start happening and then all hell broke loose. The ending bothered me the most of all because it was rushed more than any other part of the book and felt very unrefined.
--Dorian
Don't even get me started on Dorian. I really tried to like her character but even for a sixteen year old (I think that's how old she's supposed to be) she kind of acted like a two year old. Some might describe her as hot-headed and stubborn but I call it throwing a temper tantrum (and I would know because I've thrown a few in my day) and it seems like that's all she ever did in the book.
--Set-up
--Chemistry
--Convenience
Conclusion
There were some issues with the story but all in all do not discount this book. I feel that there are a lot of things that I want the answer to and I'm looking forward to finding them out in the second book. There's a little something for every fantasy lover and it's refreshing to have a YA book focus on a guy for a change.
Things I loved about the book:
--hints at a unique dragon mythology
I love dragons and while the mythology that has so far been presented in the series isn't wholly original (I was reminded of Seraphina) it's one that I have yet to see in any other books.
--the idea of plants having thoughts, feelings, and personalities
Many of my favorite parts in the book involved the plants and their conversations. I loved learning little things about their personalities like the honeysuckle are some of the worst gossips and chamomile are the most peaceful.
--secret societies
Every series needs a secret socity or two right?
--different races of magical beings
I like reading books that focus on one race (ie. just faeries, dragons, etc.) but I love it even more when they can be woven together.
Things I didn't love:
--The pacing
There were times where the story would be going at a decent pace and everything was fine and dandy but then things would start happening and then all hell broke loose. The ending bothered me the most of all because it was rushed more than any other part of the book and felt very unrefined.
--Dorian
Don't even get me started on Dorian. I really tried to like her character but even for a sixteen year old (I think that's how old she's supposed to be) she kind of acted like a two year old. Some might describe her as hot-headed and stubborn but I call it throwing a temper tantrum (and I would know because I've thrown a few in my day) and it seems like that's all she ever did in the book.
--Set-up
--Chemistry
--Convenience
Conclusion
There were some issues with the story but all in all do not discount this book. I feel that there are a lot of things that I want the answer to and I'm looking forward to finding them out in the second book. There's a little something for every fantasy lover and it's refreshing to have a YA book focus on a guy for a change.
April 28, 2014
These are my own opinions and I received no compensation for this review...
Tristan is not your typical fifteen year old boy, his reality is that of living with a trailer trash drugged up single mum, and if dealing with trying to fit in at school isn't hard enough, he has to work as well, while trying to work out what people are actually saying amongst the constant chatter of everyone's thoughts and it's driving him crazy. In the end he decides to put an end to it... But fate intervenes and suddenly Tristan is responsible for a magical gemstone and secret map.
This is where it gets a bit confusing for Tristan and the reader, he and the situation he ends up in is suddenly being managed and he ends up seemingly off the hook but stuck back in the beat up trailer park with days if not weeks unaccounted for....
And then his mum and deadbeat boyfriend turn up! And boy does she show her true colours.
From this point the plot just kept getting more and more complicated, Tristan is on his way to who knows where, he ends up penniless but neither he nor the reader know how, so even though he is given alternative paths he chooses to become a stowaway on a ship.
Where he ends up, begins a journey for him to finally get some answers, but even that is complicated by wariness and jealousy.
Tristan is a great main character, he takes everything dished out but still gets back up and try's again. Plus, he is still willing to trust, to see the good in a person.
Then there is the mythology, which seemed fairly original. However you don't get enough information to fully decide this and it was frustrating that the supporting characters showed a lack of compassion towards Tristan's ignorance to what he was and in helping him to see what he was capable of, deciding that he was too much a liability to be helped... Thank god for Gram!
The island and the different types of mythical beings was a nice touch, Dorian is a young girl who able to speak to plants, and there is a blossoming (if one sided) attraction going on with Tristan to her. Throw in mysterious guardians and magical groups who are supposedly watching from afar but refusing to help Tristan and you get a bit frustrated in what is happening within the plot.
The author has tried to pack a lot into this book, and that may be the problem to why it gets a bit confusing, if it had either contained less but with more detail it may have made it easier for me to keep track of what was going on. I felt that with all what was going on and with characters that seemed flat, or I may have just got swamped with everything going on but it was frustrating to say the least. It was like I had partial amnesia, as if I should have a piece of information that would help me understand what the heck was going on... And maybe this is the authors intension?? After all that's exactly how Tristan has felt his whole life, out of place, confused and bombarded with information?
I struggled with Dorian. She at first seemed a nice character, her compassion with the plants and her gram had me warming up to her and thinking she will be a good guide for Tristan to learn about who and what he is, but she turned into a jealous shrew, with constant temper tantrums, or her jealously over how the plants react to Tristan. The few times she starts to treat Tristan with a bit of kindness end as quickly as they had begun.
In one way I wondered what he saw in her and why he kept going back to Dorian for more of her abuse. But then I thought about the treatment he had from his mum... I guess some readers will think Tristan weak for taking it, but being constantly abused by his sole carer for his whole life would possibly account for him ignoring her attitude to him, striving to make her see him in a different light?
Don't get me wrong, this book was an entertaining read, but just as I thought things would start falling into place the plot then jumps and you are left once again confused and left a little in the dark, it felt a bit rushed, particularly at the end. I feel as if the end should have been a few chapters ahead, in the end you are left with a load more questions and needing book 2 to find out if they will be answered.
If you are willing to be immersed into a world where the plot and pace can be erratic, but where the mystery and potential keep you intrigued then this book is for you.
It's a fantasy that is suitable for 15 and above, as there is a few violent scenes, Hopefully the next instalment will resolve some of the issues mentioned above, making for a very exciting and entertaining read.
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
March 6, 2014
I would like to thank both The Cover Contessa and Toni Kerr for the opportunity to read Ms. Kerr's book in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this ebook for free that has not influenced my review in any way.
Tristan is a decent protagonist. A fifteen year old boy who is ripped from his reality into the unknown, yet he manages, mostly, to keep his head above water. He is able to hear the thoughts of everyone around him and it's driving him crazy. Like high school isn't hard enough, the poor kid is continually bombarded with a barrage of other people's thoughts and emotions. And there is no break in sight for him, which is why he made his plan; to escape his alcoholic mother, their trashed trailer, the incessant noise from his classmates. But as often happens to the best laid plans something went sideways, and suddenly Tristan is responsible for a magical gemstone and secret map. Oh yeah, he's also whisked away after a terrible thing happens. But he has no idea who did the whisking, where he is, or why. From here things just keep getting more and more tangled up, without sufficient explanation for Tristan, or the reader, to understand what's happening.
Things I liked about this book:
Tristan is a great protagonist, rolling with the blows and still getting right back up and trying again. Plus, he is emotionally accessible, not something I tend to expect from a 15-year old boy. His attraction to Dorian is as mysterious as it is entertaining. Then there is the mysterious dragon mythology, which has potential to be original, or at least fairly original. However the verdict is still out on that as we are never given enough information to understand the mythology.
The intermingling of the different types of magical beings is nice, as I enjoy books that aren't focused solely upon one mystical species. Throw in a secret society or two and you really start to mix things up.
And last, but certainly not least, are the plants and their distinct personalities. The plants are characters in their own right, with thoughts and emotions, and even family traits. For example, periwinkles are known to be quite mischievous at times, chamomile is the most peaceful, and the huckleberries like to make things exciting just so they can have something to say.
Things that didn't work for me:
This book manages to pack an awful lot between the covers, possibly too much. It might have felt like a more solid read for me if it had either contained less but with more detail, or been broken into two books, again allowing for more detail in areas.
At times I felt overwhelmed by characters that weren't fully developed, or at least not based upon the information I was given. They may well be extremely well developed, but the paucity of detail surrounding some was frustrating to say the least.
I struggled to care about Dorian. She was not a particularly like able character. I tried to keep in mind the fact that she's supposedly never been off the island but that still didn't justify her constant temper tantrums, or her jealously over how the plants react to Tristan. The few times she starts to treat Tristan like another human end as quickly as they begin, leaving me wondering if Tristan is perhaps more shallow than I originally thought, seeing as he keeps going back to Dorian for more of her abuse. Even after everything Tristan does for Dorian she still always believes the worst about him without even granting him the chance to explain what she thinks she saw
Don't get me wrong, this was certainly an entertaining read, but in places it felt rushed, particularly at the end. I feel as if the ending was more of a draft version, rather than how the published version should read.
Ultimate takeaway:
If you are willing to be potentially confused by some pop-by characters whose roles aren't sufficiently explained, and can deal with some erratic pacing, then this book is most certainly worth the time. It is a solid debut in a new series, and I fully anticipate the next installment to have tweaked some of the issues mentioned above, making for a very exciting and entertaining read.
For 15 years, Tristan has tried to cope with hearing the thoughts of others. But that was child's play compared to what he must do now. When an old woman appears with a murderer hot on her trail, Tristan is thrust into a world of trickery and manipulation.
With secret societies tracking his every move, Tristan must find the possessed emerald he was destined to protect and learn to control powers he never knew he had. Only, Tristan never was any good at doing what he was supposed to and the consequences for screwing up now could cost him everything he's grown to love.
Tristan is a decent protagonist. A fifteen year old boy who is ripped from his reality into the unknown, yet he manages, mostly, to keep his head above water. He is able to hear the thoughts of everyone around him and it's driving him crazy. Like high school isn't hard enough, the poor kid is continually bombarded with a barrage of other people's thoughts and emotions. And there is no break in sight for him, which is why he made his plan; to escape his alcoholic mother, their trashed trailer, the incessant noise from his classmates. But as often happens to the best laid plans something went sideways, and suddenly Tristan is responsible for a magical gemstone and secret map. Oh yeah, he's also whisked away after a terrible thing happens. But he has no idea who did the whisking, where he is, or why. From here things just keep getting more and more tangled up, without sufficient explanation for Tristan, or the reader, to understand what's happening.
Things I liked about this book:
Tristan is a great protagonist, rolling with the blows and still getting right back up and trying again. Plus, he is emotionally accessible, not something I tend to expect from a 15-year old boy. His attraction to Dorian is as mysterious as it is entertaining. Then there is the mysterious dragon mythology, which has potential to be original, or at least fairly original. However the verdict is still out on that as we are never given enough information to understand the mythology.
The intermingling of the different types of magical beings is nice, as I enjoy books that aren't focused solely upon one mystical species. Throw in a secret society or two and you really start to mix things up.
And last, but certainly not least, are the plants and their distinct personalities. The plants are characters in their own right, with thoughts and emotions, and even family traits. For example, periwinkles are known to be quite mischievous at times, chamomile is the most peaceful, and the huckleberries like to make things exciting just so they can have something to say.
Things that didn't work for me:
This book manages to pack an awful lot between the covers, possibly too much. It might have felt like a more solid read for me if it had either contained less but with more detail, or been broken into two books, again allowing for more detail in areas.
At times I felt overwhelmed by characters that weren't fully developed, or at least not based upon the information I was given. They may well be extremely well developed, but the paucity of detail surrounding some was frustrating to say the least.
I struggled to care about Dorian. She was not a particularly like able character. I tried to keep in mind the fact that she's supposedly never been off the island but that still didn't justify her constant temper tantrums, or her jealously over how the plants react to Tristan. The few times she starts to treat Tristan like another human end as quickly as they begin, leaving me wondering if Tristan is perhaps more shallow than I originally thought, seeing as he keeps going back to Dorian for more of her abuse. Even after everything Tristan does for Dorian she still always believes the worst about him without even granting him the chance to explain what she thinks she saw
Don't get me wrong, this was certainly an entertaining read, but in places it felt rushed, particularly at the end. I feel as if the ending was more of a draft version, rather than how the published version should read.
Ultimate takeaway:
If you are willing to be potentially confused by some pop-by characters whose roles aren't sufficiently explained, and can deal with some erratic pacing, then this book is most certainly worth the time. It is a solid debut in a new series, and I fully anticipate the next installment to have tweaked some of the issues mentioned above, making for a very exciting and entertaining read.
April 7, 2014
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for letting me read it!
I debated for a long time what to rate this book. Sometimes I liked it a bit more than others, and by the end we had a bit of a lukewarm relationship. I didn't hate it, but I'll be honest, I spent most of the book feeling really confused. The writing was fine, but the plot, organization and general structure of the story left me a little uncertain.
I understand that sometimes as a reader, you're meant to feel the characters disjointedness. When they don't know what's happening, you're not necessarily going to. But this whole book felt like constant unanswered questions, and I found it hard to keep going at points. For me, I need to go into a new world with a rule book: here are dragons, dragons can do this. There was no rule book here. It was just lots of mystery, and it all leads into book two.
This world was just really outlandish, and while I love originality, I didn't feel like everything was really explained. Why can Dorian talk to plants? Is just this island special? Can other people in the world do these things? What are these secret societies? What's with the emerald and the map? What happened to the quest? I'm okay with a few things being left for sequels to keep the reader going, but by the time the book was over, it still felt like nothing was answered. There were just loose ends hanging everywhere, and when I was connecting dots, I wasn't even sure if they were the right ones.
On top of that, Tristan keeps doing all kinds of new things, but we never revisit the older abilities he displays. The book starts with him hearing peoples thoughts, but that pretty much goes away about midway through the book, as the 'newer and shinier' powers come into action. It felt a bit like a superpower roulette, you just never knew what would show up next.
The older abilities weren't really expanded upon either, we just sort of migrate onward in the story. I felt like the author was really trying to maintain a sense of mystery about who Tristan was and what his role in this world really is, but I needed more than what was provided. When I reach the end of the book, I want to feel satisfied. I felt a little starved with this one.
The dragon element was different, but at the same time disappointing. Theoretically, Tristan may be part dragon, but at this point in the story it felt like dragons were their own unique race with the dragon name slapped onto them. I didn't feel anything really dragon-like in this story.
Most of the chapters were really short. The time Tristan spent on the beach felt like it was chopped up unnecessarily.Dorian's viewpoint sort of vanishes near the end of the book. I'm not really sure why.
Sequential books could prove promising, but I don't really feel that desperation to know what comes next. You know that feeling when someone tells you they'll pick you up by 5 and you look at the clock at 8, gradually coming to terms with the fact they aren't showing up? That was me during the last few pages of the book. I just felt like I got let down, waiting around for something that never showed.
I debated for a long time what to rate this book. Sometimes I liked it a bit more than others, and by the end we had a bit of a lukewarm relationship. I didn't hate it, but I'll be honest, I spent most of the book feeling really confused. The writing was fine, but the plot, organization and general structure of the story left me a little uncertain.
I understand that sometimes as a reader, you're meant to feel the characters disjointedness. When they don't know what's happening, you're not necessarily going to. But this whole book felt like constant unanswered questions, and I found it hard to keep going at points. For me, I need to go into a new world with a rule book: here are dragons, dragons can do this. There was no rule book here. It was just lots of mystery, and it all leads into book two.
This world was just really outlandish, and while I love originality, I didn't feel like everything was really explained. Why can Dorian talk to plants? Is just this island special? Can other people in the world do these things? What are these secret societies? What's with the emerald and the map? What happened to the quest? I'm okay with a few things being left for sequels to keep the reader going, but by the time the book was over, it still felt like nothing was answered. There were just loose ends hanging everywhere, and when I was connecting dots, I wasn't even sure if they were the right ones.
On top of that, Tristan keeps doing all kinds of new things, but we never revisit the older abilities he displays. The book starts with him hearing peoples thoughts, but that pretty much goes away about midway through the book, as the 'newer and shinier' powers come into action. It felt a bit like a superpower roulette, you just never knew what would show up next.
The older abilities weren't really expanded upon either, we just sort of migrate onward in the story. I felt like the author was really trying to maintain a sense of mystery about who Tristan was and what his role in this world really is, but I needed more than what was provided. When I reach the end of the book, I want to feel satisfied. I felt a little starved with this one.
The dragon element was different, but at the same time disappointing. Theoretically, Tristan may be part dragon, but at this point in the story it felt like dragons were their own unique race with the dragon name slapped onto them. I didn't feel anything really dragon-like in this story.
Most of the chapters were really short. The time Tristan spent on the beach felt like it was chopped up unnecessarily.Dorian's viewpoint sort of vanishes near the end of the book. I'm not really sure why.
Sequential books could prove promising, but I don't really feel that desperation to know what comes next. You know that feeling when someone tells you they'll pick you up by 5 and you look at the clock at 8, gradually coming to terms with the fact they aren't showing up? That was me during the last few pages of the book. I just felt like I got let down, waiting around for something that never showed.
June 19, 2014
This is the first book in this series and it took me on a adventure I wasn't expecting. It takes you to the world that has fairies and dragons but they live among the humans and no human knows about them. Tristan, one of the main characters doesn't know what is going on with him because he doesn't know what he really is. Even by the end of this book he doesn't know half of what he is capable to do. Dorian, she is different and has only lived on her island. She can do amazing things but I believe she has more that she doesn't know about herself that will come up in the next book in this series. This debut novel really moved along and kept me interested from the beginning to the end. There is a lot that has to be explained so this is a long novel but needs to be because this author is setting us up for something big that will come in the future. I loved all the characters in this story except the bad guys, but who really can love a bad guy. Some of the characters still have secrets which we probably find out in the next book. The author can't tell us all the secrets they have in the first book. Got to keep us hanging for the next one and yes this book ends with so many questions which makes me want the next book now. I truly enjoyed reading this amazing story and being apart of the journey this characters went on. The writing style to me was excellent and I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I just found a new author, I will add to follow in the future.
June 20, 2014
I really, really liked this book!!! It was exciting and fun to read! It kept you on your toes ready to find out what would happen next! I was taking any chance I could to read it! I have read books with the similar part of a boy being taken from his average life and going on an adventure, but this book was unique with the interesting and attention grabbing experiences the boy faces along the way. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a little bit of mystery, and mythical, and magical fun. I’m excited to read the second book!! (I'm 16 years old and I posted this review on my mom's account.)
May 12, 2014
This is my favorite book so far this year. The prose and the story had a nice flow. The story is a mix of Avatar and the Hobbit with a dab of paranormal. A bit of romance and a healthy dollop of mystery are the finishing touches to this literary entrée. Bon appetit!
March 14, 2018
I first read a prequel to the Secrets of the Makai Series in The Playlist Anthology. After that short story, where I enjoyed learning about Tristan, I knew I had to pick up this book. It is also a book being carried in the bookstore I work at and I like to know the books I carry.
It has a similar feel to Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, while remaining unique. I enjoyed the characters greatly, especially Tristan. I enjoyed the twists and turns, the ongoing action that kept the book exciting all the way through, and the short chapters. It is the perfect book to give to a reluctant reader, in particular, for these reasons.
I'm definitely interested in continuing the series and reading what happens next. Though the book does leave off with a bit of cliff hanger, I felt the book itself was a rather complete story on it's own.
Definitely a great read I will be recommending!
It has a similar feel to Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, while remaining unique. I enjoyed the characters greatly, especially Tristan. I enjoyed the twists and turns, the ongoing action that kept the book exciting all the way through, and the short chapters. It is the perfect book to give to a reluctant reader, in particular, for these reasons.
I'm definitely interested in continuing the series and reading what happens next. Though the book does leave off with a bit of cliff hanger, I felt the book itself was a rather complete story on it's own.
Definitely a great read I will be recommending!
October 2, 2014
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Imagine that you’re telepathic. You hear the thoughts and voices of other people in your head all the time and you have no idea why. Are you crazy? Fifteen-year-old Tristan thinks he is, and when the pills he steals from his drug-addicted mother stop keeping the voices at bay, he plans a permanent escape from the insanity.
Tristan’s plan doesn't work. An old woman stops him from self-harm, and charges him with a task. She gives him a seemingly blank piece of paper, calls it a map, and makes him swear to protect a magical gem. Scared and confused, his world dissolves into murder, magic, and a journey into a secret world that seems bent on destroying him.
Descendant is the first novel of the Secrets of the Makai series. Since this is the first in the series, I was looking forward to meeting new people, going to interesting places and new adventures. I was enchanted by many things, and let down by others.
I’ll start with the good stuff. The mythology brewing in the pages of this book is interesting. Magic lives here. Telepathy, telekinesis, instantaneous teleportation and even astral travel are used to great effect here. Every living thing, including plants and trees, are woven into an imaginative world that includes a hidden island with magical inhabitants, secret societies, and legends of dragons. I was particularly charmed by the sentience of the plant life, translated by the one person who can hear their conversations.
Tristan is a sympathetic character who is resourceful, intelligent and likeable. Neglected by his mother, he is lost, confused and conflicted. When his world twists beyond recognition he follows his instincts -- and a mysterious falcon -- to survive. His story is engaging and kept my interest when the pace of the novel slowed to a crawl.
Dorian, the supporting character, is a nasty piece of work. She’s certainly loving and concerned towards her mentor, Gram, but with anyone else she’s selfish, stubborn, antagonistic and jealous. After several chapters of her acting like an insufferable know-it-all, I had no sympathy for her whatsoever. Tristan’s attraction to her is improbable. I can’t understand why he’d have feelings for a girl who treats him with such contempt.
There are problems with the book. While I understand that this is a YA novel, the adult characters have no weight or authority. Essentially, the teen characters can throw hissy fits of “I don’t have to if I don’t want to” and there are little, if any, repercussions from the authority figures. Their roles seem to be limited to cleaning up the aftermath of Tristan and Dorian’s actions.
I was particularly frustrated by the lack of information about the major players. The bad guy has no clear motive for what he is doing. There’s no hint to the identities of the (possibly) supernatural guides who may be influencing the situation. We are given a world of magic and dragons without any substance. World building is more than just putting up a façade and asking us to play along -- readers need something that will launch the imagination. While Tristan doesn't understand what is going on around him, there’s no reason readers should be similarly confused.
Tristan blunders along blindly without any assistance, and it makes no sense. Something terrible has happened, and a youth with dangerous and untrained magical powers is involved. Who in their right mind would say, “Let’s watch him and see what he does next.” and then let him go? When he finally gets help, Tristan gains confidence and skill, and his discovery of his power and what he can do with it is the best part of the novel.
The end of the novel is unsatisfying. Other than mentioning dead dragons and musing that some humans may have dragon lineage, there is absolutely nothing more offered about the dragons. The mysterious Makai--the source of the series, no less--are barely active in the narrative, acting as observers who don’t really get involved until the last minute. The people who are part of the Makai feel more like plot devices than characters. At the end of the last chapter, I am left with questions that aren't compelling enough to inspire me to keep reading the series.
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Imagine that you’re telepathic. You hear the thoughts and voices of other people in your head all the time and you have no idea why. Are you crazy? Fifteen-year-old Tristan thinks he is, and when the pills he steals from his drug-addicted mother stop keeping the voices at bay, he plans a permanent escape from the insanity.
Tristan’s plan doesn't work. An old woman stops him from self-harm, and charges him with a task. She gives him a seemingly blank piece of paper, calls it a map, and makes him swear to protect a magical gem. Scared and confused, his world dissolves into murder, magic, and a journey into a secret world that seems bent on destroying him.
Descendant is the first novel of the Secrets of the Makai series. Since this is the first in the series, I was looking forward to meeting new people, going to interesting places and new adventures. I was enchanted by many things, and let down by others.
I’ll start with the good stuff. The mythology brewing in the pages of this book is interesting. Magic lives here. Telepathy, telekinesis, instantaneous teleportation and even astral travel are used to great effect here. Every living thing, including plants and trees, are woven into an imaginative world that includes a hidden island with magical inhabitants, secret societies, and legends of dragons. I was particularly charmed by the sentience of the plant life, translated by the one person who can hear their conversations.
Tristan is a sympathetic character who is resourceful, intelligent and likeable. Neglected by his mother, he is lost, confused and conflicted. When his world twists beyond recognition he follows his instincts -- and a mysterious falcon -- to survive. His story is engaging and kept my interest when the pace of the novel slowed to a crawl.
Dorian, the supporting character, is a nasty piece of work. She’s certainly loving and concerned towards her mentor, Gram, but with anyone else she’s selfish, stubborn, antagonistic and jealous. After several chapters of her acting like an insufferable know-it-all, I had no sympathy for her whatsoever. Tristan’s attraction to her is improbable. I can’t understand why he’d have feelings for a girl who treats him with such contempt.
There are problems with the book. While I understand that this is a YA novel, the adult characters have no weight or authority. Essentially, the teen characters can throw hissy fits of “I don’t have to if I don’t want to” and there are little, if any, repercussions from the authority figures. Their roles seem to be limited to cleaning up the aftermath of Tristan and Dorian’s actions.
I was particularly frustrated by the lack of information about the major players. The bad guy has no clear motive for what he is doing. There’s no hint to the identities of the (possibly) supernatural guides who may be influencing the situation. We are given a world of magic and dragons without any substance. World building is more than just putting up a façade and asking us to play along -- readers need something that will launch the imagination. While Tristan doesn't understand what is going on around him, there’s no reason readers should be similarly confused.
Tristan blunders along blindly without any assistance, and it makes no sense. Something terrible has happened, and a youth with dangerous and untrained magical powers is involved. Who in their right mind would say, “Let’s watch him and see what he does next.” and then let him go? When he finally gets help, Tristan gains confidence and skill, and his discovery of his power and what he can do with it is the best part of the novel.
The end of the novel is unsatisfying. Other than mentioning dead dragons and musing that some humans may have dragon lineage, there is absolutely nothing more offered about the dragons. The mysterious Makai--the source of the series, no less--are barely active in the narrative, acting as observers who don’t really get involved until the last minute. The people who are part of the Makai feel more like plot devices than characters. At the end of the last chapter, I am left with questions that aren't compelling enough to inspire me to keep reading the series.
www.bookie-monster.com
May 13, 2014
I love this book! Filled with action, mystery, complex characters and an intriguing plot, this book leaves you wanting more. I especially appreciate the effort Ms. Kerr makes to get the reader to empathize with both Tristan and Dorian. By creating time jumps and a lack of information it makes the reader become an active and engaged reader, a trait which many books lack. Ms. Kerr expertly captures Tristan's frustration, triumphs, and confusion while keeping the humor alive so readers actually FEEL what the characters are feeling. This is also very evident in the character Dorian, whose whiplash mood swings capture the essence of teenage girls (some teenage girls, anyway) need to feel unique and wanted. This book is a wonderful first novel in a series that I am excited to read.
July 28, 2014
This book was a very good start to a new series. I will admit, at the beginning I was convinced I would not like it. However I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The reason why it is four stars is that even a third of the way though the book, I was somewhat confused. However soon after that, the pace picked up and everything started to connect. The plot was well thought out, and the characters actually developed thorughout the book (THANK YOU). Overall I would say to read it. I received this book from the author in a goodreads giveaway. I will definitely read the next in series!
November 29, 2014
It wasn't an easy read initially as the beginning was about Tristan, a kid who is confused at whatever is going on around him so similarly I had a lot of confusion reading it too. It is only till about 25% down the road when things cleared up and I had the ahhh moment. From there onward, it was a great trip of action adventure. I enjoyed the story tremendously. I really recommend this to fantasy lover especially those who likes dragon story.
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August 9, 2014I was sent a copy of this to review and I honestly feel so guilty because I just couldn't get into it, consequently I didn't finish it. I didn't enjoy the beginning because I don't think the characters and plot were introduced well enough, therefore I didn't feel like continuing it.
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September 3, 2014
Interesting world & characters. Many unexpected surprises.
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