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Starjumper Legacy #1
The Crystal Key
On Allie Bennett's thirteenth birthday, one special gift will unlock the gateway to an adventure that will span the galaxy, and throw her into a war decades in the making. Abandoned by her parents and adopted at a young age, Allie was working hard at living a normal life, until one special birthday gift from her missing mother changed everything and left her stranded, lost and alone on the wrong side of the galaxy. Fighting to survive in an alien world, Allie desperately hopes for rescue from her best friend Dav. When she learns the truth behind Dav's real purpose however, she finds that even the closest of friends can be far more, or less, than they seem. Betrayed at every turn, tangled in a web of secrets drawing ever tighter around her, hunted by a brutal tyrant, Allie holds in her hands the key to saving not only her own world, but the entire galaxy. All Allie wants is to go home. That and pass Algebra, though that might be too much to hope for. Instead, she must become something thought lost forever; a hero with an ancient legacy... a Starjumper.
- GenresScience Fiction
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 22, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Christopher Bailey.)
“You have the crystal key and can make it work.”
This was an okay YA sci-fi story, but I found the pace a little slow.
Allie coped pretty well during this book considering what she went through. Ending up on another planet and having no idea what is going on sounds pretty stressful to me, and she coped a lot better than I would have!
The storyline in this book was about a crystal key which Allie’s biological mother had left for her, and the Allie ending up on another planet just by using said key, we then got a bit of adventure, and a couple of boys racing across the galaxy trying to rescue her. For me the pace seemed a little slow and the story seemed to drag a bit for me, but considering how much action there was this was probably more me than the book.
The ending to this was satisfactory, although its obvious that there will be further adventures for this bunch.
6 out of 10
“You have the crystal key and can make it work.”
This was an okay YA sci-fi story, but I found the pace a little slow.
Allie coped pretty well during this book considering what she went through. Ending up on another planet and having no idea what is going on sounds pretty stressful to me, and she coped a lot better than I would have!
The storyline in this book was about a crystal key which Allie’s biological mother had left for her, and the Allie ending up on another planet just by using said key, we then got a bit of adventure, and a couple of boys racing across the galaxy trying to rescue her. For me the pace seemed a little slow and the story seemed to drag a bit for me, but considering how much action there was this was probably more me than the book.
The ending to this was satisfactory, although its obvious that there will be further adventures for this bunch.
6 out of 10
December 10, 2015
*Find this originally posted here on my blog!*
The Crystal Key fell right in the middle for me.
The Crystal Key is the first in a series that follows the story of Allie Bennett. She receives this mysterious gift from her adoptive mother. Her best friend (who also is her secret crush), Dav, and his brother seem to also know more than they let on. Unbeknownst to Allie, she holds the gift that will introduce her to a whole other world more intricate and complex than she could ever imagine.
This beginning novel of Bailey's series wasn't amazing, but not bad either. For me, the pros and cons equaled each other out. The main character, Allie, was only thirteen in this novel, so she came out more juvenile than I normally read. She complained about a lot more trivial things than I anticipated and focused more on her issues than the whole entire galaxy. There was this one scene where Allie puts her needs before literally everyone else's in the galaxy, and I just couldn't believe that she would do that. I guess her self preservation instinct is more prevalent than mine?
However, there were some scenes that made me want to keep on reading! The last half of the novel was much more stronger than the first half. There were some major battle like scenes that took place that kept me on the edge of my seat. One of my favorite things about the novel was the diversity in character personalities and types of being.
Being in astronomy class right now, there were several times where I was just geeking out about stuff. Vehicles moving faster than the speed of light? Wormholes? Other planets that humans could live on? Other sentient life? My inner (it's not so inner) geek was freaking out. I just kept thinking, "This would be so amazing if we had this!"
My biggest complaint is that I just didn't connect to the characters that much. I found them to be a bit 'blah' most of the time and the only thing I was semi-passionate about was the budding realtionship between Dev and Allie. I don't necessarily know if it was just me as a reader, or the book in general.
I'm still on the fence with continuing this series. I am interested in seeing where the plot goes, but the question that remains is how am I going to get the book.
With that, I give this book
3 out of 5 Stars!
Favorite Quote
"He promptly decided that humans had no right to judge another person based on skin coloring until they had seen someone walk by with infrared skin and ultraviolet hair so bright that it was physically painful to directly look at."
Have you guys heard of this book? What are some of your favorite books set in space?
Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!
Happy Reading!
Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!
Want to read a little bit of The Crystal Key? Check out the little blurb I featured in my Friday 56 post a week or so back!
The Crystal Key fell right in the middle for me.
The Crystal Key is the first in a series that follows the story of Allie Bennett. She receives this mysterious gift from her adoptive mother. Her best friend (who also is her secret crush), Dav, and his brother seem to also know more than they let on. Unbeknownst to Allie, she holds the gift that will introduce her to a whole other world more intricate and complex than she could ever imagine.
This beginning novel of Bailey's series wasn't amazing, but not bad either. For me, the pros and cons equaled each other out. The main character, Allie, was only thirteen in this novel, so she came out more juvenile than I normally read. She complained about a lot more trivial things than I anticipated and focused more on her issues than the whole entire galaxy. There was this one scene where Allie puts her needs before literally everyone else's in the galaxy, and I just couldn't believe that she would do that. I guess her self preservation instinct is more prevalent than mine?
However, there were some scenes that made me want to keep on reading! The last half of the novel was much more stronger than the first half. There were some major battle like scenes that took place that kept me on the edge of my seat. One of my favorite things about the novel was the diversity in character personalities and types of being.
Being in astronomy class right now, there were several times where I was just geeking out about stuff. Vehicles moving faster than the speed of light? Wormholes? Other planets that humans could live on? Other sentient life? My inner (it's not so inner) geek was freaking out. I just kept thinking, "This would be so amazing if we had this!"
My biggest complaint is that I just didn't connect to the characters that much. I found them to be a bit 'blah' most of the time and the only thing I was semi-passionate about was the budding realtionship between Dev and Allie. I don't necessarily know if it was just me as a reader, or the book in general.
I'm still on the fence with continuing this series. I am interested in seeing where the plot goes, but the question that remains is how am I going to get the book.
With that, I give this book
3 out of 5 Stars!
Favorite Quote
"He promptly decided that humans had no right to judge another person based on skin coloring until they had seen someone walk by with infrared skin and ultraviolet hair so bright that it was physically painful to directly look at."
Have you guys heard of this book? What are some of your favorite books set in space?
Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!
Happy Reading!
Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!
Want to read a little bit of The Crystal Key? Check out the little blurb I featured in my Friday 56 post a week or so back!
January 24, 2016
I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating: 3.75
This was an interesting read. There were parts that I enjoyed more than others. I thought the plot line could have been more tighter.
Allie was a strong character. I thought there should have been more information about Dav, Artus and Raith. I loved Tic, she was a good character.
This book was a great debut to the series. It was filled with action, and suspense. I liked the sci-if element in this book as well. Can't wait to read the second book. Overall, a great read.
Actual Rating: 3.75
This was an interesting read. There were parts that I enjoyed more than others. I thought the plot line could have been more tighter.
Allie was a strong character. I thought there should have been more information about Dav, Artus and Raith. I loved Tic, she was a good character.
This book was a great debut to the series. It was filled with action, and suspense. I liked the sci-if element in this book as well. Can't wait to read the second book. Overall, a great read.
December 18, 2014
I am a self-described “voracious” reader of books. My personal library of books that I own numbers over 400 and the list of books I have read numbers well over 3,000. So believe me when I tell you, this is a fantastic book! The initial premise, like many of my favorite books, involves someone from our normal, everyday world being thrust into a world completely outside of their experience, much like Harry Potter, or the Guardians of the Flame. Surrounded by unexpected friends and faced with a overwhelmingly powerful enemy it definitely sets the tone for the creation of a hero of legend, much like the Wheel of Time, or A Wizard in Rhyme. Because of that it is fun to watch the characters develop as the book progresses. Each of them trying to make sense of what is happening and working together to help each of them survive. The action is fast paced and detailed, but even at its most intense there is enough humor to have me laughing out loud and disturbing my co-workers while I read during my lunch break. I have read a lot of books in my life, and I can easily say that this book is one of the most engaging, amusing, and fun books I have ever read. So much so, that I hound the author almost daily, asking when he will finish the second book in the series. This book is a must read for teenagers and adults alike!
November 22, 2015
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
I didn't love Allie, but she was a pretty strong character.
This was an okay read, but there were times where it lost my interest slightly, and made me feel a bit bored.
Overall, An okay read.
I didn't love Allie, but she was a pretty strong character.
This was an okay read, but there were times where it lost my interest slightly, and made me feel a bit bored.
Overall, An okay read.
November 26, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Christopher Bailey.)
“You have the crystal key and can make it work.”
Starjumper Legacy: The Crystal Key
I can honestly say that this book has tweaked my interest for the YA/Sci-fi genres. It somewhat had a slow pace beginning, but after the first twist. It started getting better with "the what's, the where's and the ways". Couldn't help but being intrigued.
The main character, Allie Bennett just a brand new thirteen. She was force into sometime that she knew nothing about. Something bigger then the world she grew up in. Allie has moments where she has to decide where certain things that can alter the universe. She has the support from her friends, for whatever lays ahead. Allie Bennett has great potential of being a legacy. A Starjumper.
“You have the crystal key and can make it work.”
Starjumper Legacy: The Crystal Key
I can honestly say that this book has tweaked my interest for the YA/Sci-fi genres. It somewhat had a slow pace beginning, but after the first twist. It started getting better with "the what's, the where's and the ways". Couldn't help but being intrigued.
The main character, Allie Bennett just a brand new thirteen. She was force into sometime that she knew nothing about. Something bigger then the world she grew up in. Allie has moments where she has to decide where certain things that can alter the universe. She has the support from her friends, for whatever lays ahead. Allie Bennett has great potential of being a legacy. A Starjumper.
January 22, 2019
I have had the Starjumper Legacy books on my TBR list and literally on my book shelf for the last year. Why in the world did I wait so long!?! These books are amazing! Christopher Bailey is my new favorite author. I read this book and the subsequent books within a week of each other, consuming them all so quickly, sacrificing sleep and food just to finish. Now I am recommending this series to friends and family and even putting it on my "to-gift to others" list for this coming year. (Even though Amazon won't ship the first two books for 1-2 months, so weird. I'll just have to look into other book sellers.) I think everyone should own these books. Best books I've read in 2019!
April 3, 2016
Title: The Crystal Key
Author: Christopher Bailey
Publisher: Phase Publishing LLC
ISBN: 9780989973410
Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/starj...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Starjumper Legacy 1
On Allie Bennett's thirteenth birthday, one special gift will unlock the gateway to an adventure that will span the galaxy, and throw her into a war decades in the making. Abandoned by her parents and adopted at a young age, Allie was working hard at living a normal life, until one special birthday gift from her missing mother changed everything and left her stranded, lost and alone on the wrong side of the galaxy. Fighting to survive in an alien world, Allie desperately hopes for rescue from her best friend Dav. When she learns the truth behind Dav's real purpose however, she finds that even the closest of friends can be far more, or less, than they seem. Betrayed at every turn, tangled in a web of secrets drawing ever tighter around her, hunted by a brutal tyrant, Allie holds in her hands the key to saving not only her own world, but the entire galaxy. All Allie wants is to go home. That and pass Algebra, though that might be too much to hope for. Instead, she must become something thought lost forever; a hero with an ancient legacy... a Starjumper
Summary:
At first look, Allie was like any other kid in her school with the same problems and issues, but on her thirteenth birthday everything changed. Allie received a gift that her birth mother gave to her friend Katherine to hole until Allie turned thirteen. Allie couldn't wait to show the box to Dav, but she was puzzled by his reaction. There was more to Dav than she knew and that became apparent when he and his brother Atrus were forced to spring into action to protect Allie when forces from space arrived to capture or kill her. The secret of Allie's birth, Dav's identity, and the threat to Allie's life take her on a journey that will change everyone's lives that it touches. This incredible story was just the beginning of what Looks to be an incredible Sci-fi series. I can't wait to read The Vanishing Sun the next book in the Starjumper Legacy series!
Author: Christopher Bailey
Publisher: Phase Publishing LLC
ISBN: 9780989973410
Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/starj...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Starjumper Legacy 1
On Allie Bennett's thirteenth birthday, one special gift will unlock the gateway to an adventure that will span the galaxy, and throw her into a war decades in the making. Abandoned by her parents and adopted at a young age, Allie was working hard at living a normal life, until one special birthday gift from her missing mother changed everything and left her stranded, lost and alone on the wrong side of the galaxy. Fighting to survive in an alien world, Allie desperately hopes for rescue from her best friend Dav. When she learns the truth behind Dav's real purpose however, she finds that even the closest of friends can be far more, or less, than they seem. Betrayed at every turn, tangled in a web of secrets drawing ever tighter around her, hunted by a brutal tyrant, Allie holds in her hands the key to saving not only her own world, but the entire galaxy. All Allie wants is to go home. That and pass Algebra, though that might be too much to hope for. Instead, she must become something thought lost forever; a hero with an ancient legacy... a Starjumper
Summary:
At first look, Allie was like any other kid in her school with the same problems and issues, but on her thirteenth birthday everything changed. Allie received a gift that her birth mother gave to her friend Katherine to hole until Allie turned thirteen. Allie couldn't wait to show the box to Dav, but she was puzzled by his reaction. There was more to Dav than she knew and that became apparent when he and his brother Atrus were forced to spring into action to protect Allie when forces from space arrived to capture or kill her. The secret of Allie's birth, Dav's identity, and the threat to Allie's life take her on a journey that will change everyone's lives that it touches. This incredible story was just the beginning of what Looks to be an incredible Sci-fi series. I can't wait to read The Vanishing Sun the next book in the Starjumper Legacy series!
July 7, 2020
NOTE: I received this book for free on a read-to-review basis. This did not influence my opinion.
The plot was a tad bit unbelievable at times , but the characters were pretty realistic, even if they were drawn a bit more like 8-year-olds than 13-year-olds. I also really liked how the romance didn't overwhelm the actual plot. Overall: pretty good read. Enjoyable enough for me to want to read the sequel, but it's not a book that would make me want scream "Christopher Bailey is awesome!" everywhere *cough* Melina Marchetta *cough*.
Yes, for those of you who are wondering, I am going to mention Marchetta in every single one of my reviews until every one of my friends reads her books. Don't believe me? Just you watch...
The plot was a tad bit unbelievable at times , but the characters were pretty realistic, even if they were drawn a bit more like 8-year-olds than 13-year-olds. I also really liked how the romance didn't overwhelm the actual plot. Overall: pretty good read. Enjoyable enough for me to want to read the sequel, but it's not a book that would make me want scream "Christopher Bailey is awesome!" everywhere *cough* Melina Marchetta *cough*.
Yes, for those of you who are wondering, I am going to mention Marchetta in every single one of my reviews until every one of my friends reads her books. Don't believe me? Just you watch...
June 19, 2016
(Note: I recieved a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to author Christopher Bailey)
Actual rating: 3.5*
It took me way too long to finish this book, not because I didn't likr it but because I had to clean my phone and it deleted the file, which put me off from reading anything in e-format for a while.
This was a nice read. The characters were more-less likeable and the plot was really interesting.
Our main character is 13 years old and she acts like one, which is a good thing but it can get pretty annoying sometimes.
The only problem I had with this book was its slow pace. It took me a while to get into the story, which is sad. I might have enjoyed it more.
Actual rating: 3.5*
It took me way too long to finish this book, not because I didn't likr it but because I had to clean my phone and it deleted the file, which put me off from reading anything in e-format for a while.
This was a nice read. The characters were more-less likeable and the plot was really interesting.
Our main character is 13 years old and she acts like one, which is a good thing but it can get pretty annoying sometimes.
The only problem I had with this book was its slow pace. It took me a while to get into the story, which is sad. I might have enjoyed it more.
January 15, 2019
Interesting concept of other worlds, android with human emotions, and an innate power to use the crystal to jump to other places. You get to see the politics behind what is going on and the creatures. . Clean, some fighting but nothing graphic. I enjoyed the next in the series more as the universe expanded. (good for 11 AND UP)
January 19, 2022
A bit too YA for me, I couldn't finish it. A bit of SF and fantasy mix that's probably pretty good for much younger readers than myself.
February 3, 2016
This is an excellent YA sci-fi/fantasy story, read a bit like Harry Potter meets Star Wars. Fun for kids and adults alike, a good book to read alongside your kid.
January 14, 2024
A fun and unique sci-fi with in-depth world-building and a full cast of interesting characters.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews