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The Starlight Chronicles #1
Slumbering
Sixteen-year-old Hamilton Dinger is an above-average teenager. Hes got the grades for the top of the class, the abilities of a star athlete and Tetris player, and the charisma to get away with anything. Everything seems to be going along perfectly as he enters into tenth grade at Apollo Central High School. Everything, that is, until a meteor crashes into the city, unleashing a whirlwind of evil and awakening a deep, hidden power as the long battle between good and evil continues. Bringing an abrupt halt to the easygoing pace of Hamiltons life, he and his longtime dormant supernatural powers are caught up in the middle of things when his comfort zone is turned into a war zone. On top of everything else, theres the homecoming game, the school play, and the history test to worry about. Can Hamilton overcome his ignorance and narrow-mindedness to see what is truly real? Can he give up his self-proclaimed entitlement to happiness in order to follow the call of a duty he doesnt want? More importantly, will he willingly sacrifice all he has to find out the truth?
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2012
508 people are currently reading
2369 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Johnson
107 books631 followersC. S. Johnson is the award-winning, genre-hopping author of several novels, including sci-fi and fantasy adventures such as the Starlight Chronicles series, the Once Upon a Princess saga, the Divine Space Pirates trilogy, and more. With a gift for sarcasm and an apologetic heart, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family. Find out more at http://www.csjohnson.me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
August 4, 2017
Slumbering (The Starlight Chronicles #1) by C.S. Johnson and narrated by Nicholas Santasier is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. This book is a preteen/teen book and is quite funny in many ways. The main guy of the story, Hamilton, is so incredibly self centered, narrow-minded, obnoxious, entitled (he thinks), and so much better than anyone else that he is so unlikable. The way the author makes him react to situations is so brilliant, I would have never thought of it! It is laughable and in that way he is funny but he doesn't know it. Despite all of these negative qualities, he is super popular and everyone loves him. Of course they do, just ask him! But things go crazy in town. A meteor, evil beings, and then suddenly he has super powers. What will a self serving guy with superpowers do? These superpowers come at the end of the book so the rest is the million other crazy things in his life. Mainly, there is a girl that doesn't understand that she loves him and needs to change for him. He must make her understand that. Oh and the meteor thing, town going to hell and football...The next book I imagine is all about the superpower self centered Hamilton, I am going there next. I saw so little of it here and want to see where that leads. Cute story. Not really an adult read but I think teens will really like the crazy group of teens he hangs with. Most are normal and why then are with him I am not sure. Rude to even his friends. lol
The narrator's voice would be good in other stories but not in this one. I would have preferred a different voice.
The narrator's voice would be good in other stories but not in this one. I would have preferred a different voice.
September 12, 2013
A spectacular experience!
The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering by C S Johnson
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering- is an interesting tale of fantasy which will be super for YA fans.
The reader will be captivated throughout this adventurous story of good verses evil.
This tale will certainly draw in the adult reader as well as the younger ones in this dynamic warrior/warfare novel. Surely, there is a great deal more to satisfy the reader's ache for more of this great author's words!
You are invited into an envelope, a secret place and a great world of The Starlight Chronicles-
so, take your seat and enjoy the ride!
A spectacular experience.
For sure... a big 5*****!!!
The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering by C S Johnson
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering- is an interesting tale of fantasy which will be super for YA fans.
The reader will be captivated throughout this adventurous story of good verses evil.
This tale will certainly draw in the adult reader as well as the younger ones in this dynamic warrior/warfare novel. Surely, there is a great deal more to satisfy the reader's ache for more of this great author's words!
You are invited into an envelope, a secret place and a great world of The Starlight Chronicles-
so, take your seat and enjoy the ride!
A spectacular experience.
For sure... a big 5*****!!!
December 24, 2019
Ever get tired of those typical fantasy stories? You know, normal, but different, plain, but pretty, awkward, but attractive teenaged female heroines whose lives are overturned when the most popular guy in school falls for them?
Yeah, well, I'm tired of those kind of stories too. Which is why I picked up this one.
You know the superpopular, egotistical, self-centered jerks who overpopulate fantasy nowadays? Hamilton Dinger is one. And you know what? That is actually viewed as problematic.
I've never read a book with someone like Hamilton as the narrator. I laughed out loud a lot. 5/5 recommended for anyone looking for their next fantasy read 😉
Yeah, well, I'm tired of those kind of stories too. Which is why I picked up this one.
You know the superpopular, egotistical, self-centered jerks who overpopulate fantasy nowadays? Hamilton Dinger is one. And you know what? That is actually viewed as problematic.
I've never read a book with someone like Hamilton as the narrator. I laughed out loud a lot. 5/5 recommended for anyone looking for their next fantasy read 😉
November 11, 2016
A Great (Christ Honoring) Gift for any Avid YA Reader!
When I first saw Slumbering on Amazon, I fell in love with the cover. Instantly I knew I needed it on my shelf. In fact, reading the description was just my GIBC (greedy inner book collector) humoring protocol before snatching a copy.
That being said, I did not fall in love with the prologue as quickly as I did the cover. I was confused about what was going on and found the experience slightly jarring. If this happens to you, you must continue reading. Once you continue, all is explained.
Even though I was originally jarred, having a prologue out of the norm was nice. And let me just say, the prologue is not the only thing in Slumbering you will find out of the norm. This YA does not feature a female lead who feels too plain, falls in love with a handsome jock, and has a best friend who is so much prettier than her (Not that I'm hating!). The main character - are you ready for this?
The main character IS the handsome jock. And he is not humble. He is not considerate. He does not fall for the plain girl who is so much prettier than she realizes. He deems the prettiest girl in school worthy of his affections. [Sing-Song Voice] And he's about to be knocked down a few pegs!!
[Back to regular voice] Normally I don't take the time to highlight this aspect of a story in a review, but, let's face it - I find this aspect hilarious. Wanting to hate a character but being unable to (because you love them) is a very confusing, yet entertaining, mixture of emotions.
There were a few things that I should mention, sometimes I had a hard time with believing characters would make certain choices. I also struggled with picturing some scenes. However, I feel these few things will fade away as the series and characters become more concrete. I also feel like the book is still a great read with these few personal hang-ups I had that other people might not.
I appreciate that C.S. Johnson is bold and out of the box. I appreciate that, with this series, anything could happen. Slumbering did a great job of not only presenting an intriguing story NOW, but also letting me know there is so much MORE story to come!
Very rarely do I come across a self-published series starter that sells me on finishing the series. Slumbering did. Several times I have enjoyed a series starter, considered it worthy of 3-5 stars, and moved on to a different book/series without even considering book 2. Yet, Slumbering (Book one of The Starlight Chronicles) has captured my attention and I'm excited to start book two. And I WILL be starting book two soon, do you know why??
IT'S COMING ON THE TRAIN WITH ME! (Don't know what I'm talking about? Visit my blog! ElleBee.me)
That's right! Check out my TBR(OAT) list! In English that's my "To Be Read On A Train" list.
I'd love to see more people check this adventure out and share their thoughts! Comment on my review or write your own! An honest review is a valuable thing that will make an author's day (sometimes even week)! If you read self-published books, make sure to support the ones you enjoy! Use this Holiday season to spread the word about your authors, give their books as gifts, talk about them at coffee or while Christmas shopping. Oh, OH! I know! Create a list of the top 5 books you'd recommend as gifts this season and post it on Facebook (or your favorite social media platform)! We can call it #ElleBeeChallengedMeToShareMyLoveOfReadingSoHeresMyTopFive LOL!
When I first saw Slumbering on Amazon, I fell in love with the cover. Instantly I knew I needed it on my shelf. In fact, reading the description was just my GIBC (greedy inner book collector) humoring protocol before snatching a copy.
That being said, I did not fall in love with the prologue as quickly as I did the cover. I was confused about what was going on and found the experience slightly jarring. If this happens to you, you must continue reading. Once you continue, all is explained.
Even though I was originally jarred, having a prologue out of the norm was nice. And let me just say, the prologue is not the only thing in Slumbering you will find out of the norm. This YA does not feature a female lead who feels too plain, falls in love with a handsome jock, and has a best friend who is so much prettier than her (Not that I'm hating!). The main character - are you ready for this?
The main character IS the handsome jock. And he is not humble. He is not considerate. He does not fall for the plain girl who is so much prettier than she realizes. He deems the prettiest girl in school worthy of his affections. [Sing-Song Voice] And he's about to be knocked down a few pegs!!
[Back to regular voice] Normally I don't take the time to highlight this aspect of a story in a review, but, let's face it - I find this aspect hilarious. Wanting to hate a character but being unable to (because you love them) is a very confusing, yet entertaining, mixture of emotions.
There were a few things that I should mention, sometimes I had a hard time with believing characters would make certain choices. I also struggled with picturing some scenes. However, I feel these few things will fade away as the series and characters become more concrete. I also feel like the book is still a great read with these few personal hang-ups I had that other people might not.
I appreciate that C.S. Johnson is bold and out of the box. I appreciate that, with this series, anything could happen. Slumbering did a great job of not only presenting an intriguing story NOW, but also letting me know there is so much MORE story to come!
Very rarely do I come across a self-published series starter that sells me on finishing the series. Slumbering did. Several times I have enjoyed a series starter, considered it worthy of 3-5 stars, and moved on to a different book/series without even considering book 2. Yet, Slumbering (Book one of The Starlight Chronicles) has captured my attention and I'm excited to start book two. And I WILL be starting book two soon, do you know why??
IT'S COMING ON THE TRAIN WITH ME! (Don't know what I'm talking about? Visit my blog! ElleBee.me)
That's right! Check out my TBR(OAT) list! In English that's my "To Be Read On A Train" list.
I'd love to see more people check this adventure out and share their thoughts! Comment on my review or write your own! An honest review is a valuable thing that will make an author's day (sometimes even week)! If you read self-published books, make sure to support the ones you enjoy! Use this Holiday season to spread the word about your authors, give their books as gifts, talk about them at coffee or while Christmas shopping. Oh, OH! I know! Create a list of the top 5 books you'd recommend as gifts this season and post it on Facebook (or your favorite social media platform)! We can call it #ElleBeeChallengedMeToShareMyLoveOfReadingSoHeresMyTopFive LOL!
September 4, 2018
Hamilton Dinger is a popular student that only thinks of himself and what he can gain from others around him. When a meteor strikes his hometown and Hamilton is hailed as a hero. Hamilton becomes even more full of himself. Yet something else happened, he can see things that no one else can. Then Hamilton comes face to face with the reality that monsters are real. He denies that he has a gift to protect the people he cares about. Can Hamilton get past his ego? Will he accept his gifts? Your answers await you in Slumbering.
May 31, 2018
This book has been in my TBR pile for months and finally had the chance to read it...didn't like Hamilton at all for the first few chapters, he is so egotistical it's comical. However, he kept implying how his life changes and I wanted to know more. I even admire how much he likes this one girl enough to save her life twice, as selfish as he is, I was surprised he did that much.
Then the meteorite hits and everything changes. Hamilton starts having weird dreams that are very realistic, he starts noticing differences around him, and he starts feeling differently. When monsters invade his high school the opening night of an important play, he gets a few more revelations.
Also really enjoyed the scenes with Rachel and her diner.
A great, clean story...one of redemption and fighting monsters that want to take over Earth and get revenge. LOOVED Elysian the most, definitely want to read more about him!
Then the meteorite hits and everything changes. Hamilton starts having weird dreams that are very realistic, he starts noticing differences around him, and he starts feeling differently. When monsters invade his high school the opening night of an important play, he gets a few more revelations.
Also really enjoyed the scenes with Rachel and her diner.
A great, clean story...one of redemption and fighting monsters that want to take over Earth and get revenge. LOOVED Elysian the most, definitely want to read more about him!
December 8, 2013
A Wingdinger of a Story
The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering, by C. S. Johnson, is the first volume in a series geared toward YA readers.
The story opens with a shadow monster over Apollo City, on Lake Erie in Northern Ohio. Wingdinger, a superhero with a pet dragon as his sidekick, is experiencing a normal day of fighting monsters. The monster loves cruel humor, and has been dubbed The Jester by the media.
Wingdinger doesn’t have the market cornered on superhero work. White-winged Starry Night, who berates Wingdinger for getting in her way as she saves the Wingdinger's behind, thinks she can save the city without any help.
Wingdinger’s alter ego, Hamilton Dinger, is a tenth grader who loves gaming. Dinger is convinced Tetris holds the ultimate meaning in his life:
“I’d played the game for years, and it was the key to unlocking the secret of all life – that we were all just players, some of us winners, a lot more of us losers. That there was nothing more to life than filling it with fun, and working to fit all of the pieces of life together cohesively, in order to claim glory and the right to brag. It was a beautiful, meaningless thing, personifying my preferred existence. Plus having the title of Tetris King was a nice touch (I’d thought ‘Tetris Emperor’ was a bit much.)”
While going through the usual trials and tribulations of a sixteen-year-old guy, including friendships, relationships with girls, and exams, Dinger must also save the city from malevolent, evil forces.
The well-written and beautifully plotted book captures the angst of teenage years along with the battle between good evil. I found the pacing to be just right. The story also contains humor, as well as a heart.
If you need a gift idea for a hard-to-buy-for teen, then The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering, by C. S. Johnson, would be perfect!
The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering, by C. S. Johnson, is the first volume in a series geared toward YA readers.
The story opens with a shadow monster over Apollo City, on Lake Erie in Northern Ohio. Wingdinger, a superhero with a pet dragon as his sidekick, is experiencing a normal day of fighting monsters. The monster loves cruel humor, and has been dubbed The Jester by the media.
Wingdinger doesn’t have the market cornered on superhero work. White-winged Starry Night, who berates Wingdinger for getting in her way as she saves the Wingdinger's behind, thinks she can save the city without any help.
Wingdinger’s alter ego, Hamilton Dinger, is a tenth grader who loves gaming. Dinger is convinced Tetris holds the ultimate meaning in his life:
“I’d played the game for years, and it was the key to unlocking the secret of all life – that we were all just players, some of us winners, a lot more of us losers. That there was nothing more to life than filling it with fun, and working to fit all of the pieces of life together cohesively, in order to claim glory and the right to brag. It was a beautiful, meaningless thing, personifying my preferred existence. Plus having the title of Tetris King was a nice touch (I’d thought ‘Tetris Emperor’ was a bit much.)”
While going through the usual trials and tribulations of a sixteen-year-old guy, including friendships, relationships with girls, and exams, Dinger must also save the city from malevolent, evil forces.
The well-written and beautifully plotted book captures the angst of teenage years along with the battle between good evil. I found the pacing to be just right. The story also contains humor, as well as a heart.
If you need a gift idea for a hard-to-buy-for teen, then The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering, by C. S. Johnson, would be perfect!
October 14, 2013
The Starlight Chronicles is a great example of Young adult fantasy. A mixture of other worldly concepts blended with a view into the mundane life of a teenager. Hamilton Dinger’s world revolves around him. Computer games, football, and girls, nothing else seems to matter to him. As long as he stays part of the popular crowd and enjoys himself he doesn't see what else life has to offer and he is quite happy with that. Then something happens to rock his world and the world of everyone around him. Circumstances thrust him into a new direction where he is no longer at the centre.
A wonderful Y.A story that gives you a taster of what’s to come in the first chapter and then draws you into the background of the main character, telling the story of how he became the person he is when we are first introduced to him. Superheroes, aliens, spiritual and fantasy elements mixed into a bowl with real, lifelike characters. This is a book not to be missed.
A wonderful Y.A story that gives you a taster of what’s to come in the first chapter and then draws you into the background of the main character, telling the story of how he became the person he is when we are first introduced to him. Superheroes, aliens, spiritual and fantasy elements mixed into a bowl with real, lifelike characters. This is a book not to be missed.
August 31, 2017
I received a copy of Slumbering in exchange for an honest review.
Slumbering is an uniquely, original, YA epic fantasy about a teenage boy that learns he was once a warrior for a Star Prince and at some point was sent to earth where he became human until his powers unlocked. As such, this story is about his "acceptance " of responsibility for his role to fight off evil demons and protect his friends and community (the latter more so out of obligation than desire).
Even though I have given the book 5 stars, I absolutely cannot stand Hamilton Dinger. He makes the story hard to get into because he is so narcissistic it makes the story as a whole almost unbearable. Dinger thinks he is God's gift to humanity (even though he would not agree that he was God's gift...just a gift to everyone through nature ). So why the 5 stars? Because I couldn't put it down and I found myself secretly hoping he gets it together and stops being such an asshat.
The book is a fairly quick read and flows well. It is also a completely original epic fantasy YA, which is hard to come by these days. It offers a unique story that is intriguing and will spark curiosity for the rest of the series and intrigue as to how this war will ultimately go down.
As much as I can't stand Dinger, I am hoping he has a lot of character development that makes him a more likable super hero. It is entirely unfortunate that a jerk like him gets something so awesome and he continues to be arrogant. We all know what happens to arrogant superheroes.
The bulk of this story is to set up the characters in the story line, introduce some of the demons and what their end game is, as well as, portray Dinger as a jerk. Honestly, I don't feel sorry for anything that happens to Dinger.
If you are curious about this book and would be interested in reading it for yourself (which I recommend) you can check it out on Amazon
Keep posted as I am currently listening to the next installment of the story!
Slumbering is an uniquely, original, YA epic fantasy about a teenage boy that learns he was once a warrior for a Star Prince and at some point was sent to earth where he became human until his powers unlocked. As such, this story is about his "acceptance " of responsibility for his role to fight off evil demons and protect his friends and community (the latter more so out of obligation than desire).
Even though I have given the book 5 stars, I absolutely cannot stand Hamilton Dinger. He makes the story hard to get into because he is so narcissistic it makes the story as a whole almost unbearable. Dinger thinks he is God's gift to humanity (even though he would not agree that he was God's gift...just a gift to everyone through nature ). So why the 5 stars? Because I couldn't put it down and I found myself secretly hoping he gets it together and stops being such an asshat.
The book is a fairly quick read and flows well. It is also a completely original epic fantasy YA, which is hard to come by these days. It offers a unique story that is intriguing and will spark curiosity for the rest of the series and intrigue as to how this war will ultimately go down.
As much as I can't stand Dinger, I am hoping he has a lot of character development that makes him a more likable super hero. It is entirely unfortunate that a jerk like him gets something so awesome and he continues to be arrogant. We all know what happens to arrogant superheroes.
The bulk of this story is to set up the characters in the story line, introduce some of the demons and what their end game is, as well as, portray Dinger as a jerk. Honestly, I don't feel sorry for anything that happens to Dinger.
If you are curious about this book and would be interested in reading it for yourself (which I recommend) you can check it out on Amazon
Keep posted as I am currently listening to the next installment of the story!
March 21, 2019
Fun unique twist to the superhero theme. A good representation of what it would be like if a jock teenager suddenly became a hero. It's fast-paced and easy reading. Moving on to book 2.
October 4, 2013
The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering by C.S. Johnson is not the kind of book I normally choose to read. My favorite writer is Arthur Schopenhauer, the father of philosophical pessimism. So when I realized that this book was filled with 'humor' of all things, I was a bit worried. But as I read, I was amazed to find that the book was actually, truly funny.
The story largely takes place in the main character's high school, which definitely brought back a lot of memories. It will feel nostalgic to anyone who can still remember the experience of high school. The narrative is told from the perspective of a popular football player, and it is quite hilarious to listen to the sort of things that come out of his self-centered mind.
The story focuses heavily on the main character's gradual personal growth, and Johnson does an excellent job of making this process as enjoyable as it is realistic. All of the characters behave naturally; their fears and motivations are things we can all relate to.
The writing was excellent. Particularly interesting was a tendency the author had to pass suddenly to present tense verbs when describing the heat of an action sequence. This was a bit surprising to me at first, but I thought it was done really, really well. It really sort of made you feel like you were watching or experiencing the action, rather than just hearing it described afterwards.
The book has a lot of character; the main character is lovable, despite being absolutely self-absorbed. His struggles feel real, the questions he wrestles with are very well portrayed. Some of the things one of his friends has to say about relationships are quite profound. As someone who takes a considerable interest in moral philosophy, I found this very refreshing.
The book has some very subtle Christian themes, and I thought the way they were presented was very unique. They were central to the story, but they were kept just out of sight where the parallels would not distract from the ability of the reader to enjoy the story without feeling like they were being preached to. This is a pretty significant accomplishment in my opinion, since the book very definitely has a great deal of good things to say. The spiritual themes were very subtle and undistracting but also very strong. To me this is a sign that the author has really thought all these things through.
The book was realistic, but also very clean (a difficult balance in a story set in high school). It is definitely a great book for teens and young adults. The story was very well rounded; it starts and ends with a lot of action, and keeps you interested through the whole story. But for all this the story itself seems to be just beginning. I will definitely be looking out for the sequels.
The story largely takes place in the main character's high school, which definitely brought back a lot of memories. It will feel nostalgic to anyone who can still remember the experience of high school. The narrative is told from the perspective of a popular football player, and it is quite hilarious to listen to the sort of things that come out of his self-centered mind.
The story focuses heavily on the main character's gradual personal growth, and Johnson does an excellent job of making this process as enjoyable as it is realistic. All of the characters behave naturally; their fears and motivations are things we can all relate to.
The writing was excellent. Particularly interesting was a tendency the author had to pass suddenly to present tense verbs when describing the heat of an action sequence. This was a bit surprising to me at first, but I thought it was done really, really well. It really sort of made you feel like you were watching or experiencing the action, rather than just hearing it described afterwards.
The book has a lot of character; the main character is lovable, despite being absolutely self-absorbed. His struggles feel real, the questions he wrestles with are very well portrayed. Some of the things one of his friends has to say about relationships are quite profound. As someone who takes a considerable interest in moral philosophy, I found this very refreshing.
The book has some very subtle Christian themes, and I thought the way they were presented was very unique. They were central to the story, but they were kept just out of sight where the parallels would not distract from the ability of the reader to enjoy the story without feeling like they were being preached to. This is a pretty significant accomplishment in my opinion, since the book very definitely has a great deal of good things to say. The spiritual themes were very subtle and undistracting but also very strong. To me this is a sign that the author has really thought all these things through.
The book was realistic, but also very clean (a difficult balance in a story set in high school). It is definitely a great book for teens and young adults. The story was very well rounded; it starts and ends with a lot of action, and keeps you interested through the whole story. But for all this the story itself seems to be just beginning. I will definitely be looking out for the sequels.
February 1, 2014
The story takes you to another place, another time and even another dimension, yet you never leave the same town, people and normal day events.
I have to admit, the story has you wondering at times what exactly the overall summation of the events that are happening really means. You can follow it easy enough, but you can't quite piece it all together until near the end. Then, as I am sure the author intended, you get the picture, well at least you think you do. To a degree, there are purposely placed suggestions that you need, at least I did, answers to which I am sure will be addressed in a sequel. And those suggestions are revealing in more ways than one which actually keeps you guessing if your conclusions are correct.
The characters are normal teenagers, the lead being extremely self centered and narcissistic, but that truly isn't farfetched in real life. They have regular activities, social interactions and concerns (maybe dramas would be a better word, considering), but what they seem to ignore mostly because they don't want to deal with an issue that doesn't benefit them, as usual, are little and sometimes even big differences from the norm. This actually keeps you rooted to the age of these kids though, not expecting them to act like adults, or should I say mature adults.
The settings that change the norm are creative and interesting from the 'unknown invading the quiet small town' view. What actually happened though was not completely revealed. Of course it was stated what happened, but it's what occurred afterwards that clued you in to the fact that the simplistic answer was not the complete one. And then other clues were dropped throughout the story that kept you wondering what was really going on, or better said, what the big picture of the story is. Hence the need for a sequel, or the fans will riot.
Overall I enjoyed the story, and even liked the self-centered, narcissistic, good looking, lead character Hamilton. You understood his desire to find his way, discover who he is, and develop who he will be. You could even see his behavior toward his parents as being typical for many teens, not the ideal, but it made him real as a person; a likeable person even.
This story will be enjoyed by its target audience without a doubt. It speaks their language, is creative, entertaining, and fun. The teens are portrayed as real as you were at that age, and the story is not one you've read a million times. I enjoyed it, and now have to read the sequel so I can satisfy my unanswered questions. Teens and others will enjoy it.
I have to admit, the story has you wondering at times what exactly the overall summation of the events that are happening really means. You can follow it easy enough, but you can't quite piece it all together until near the end. Then, as I am sure the author intended, you get the picture, well at least you think you do. To a degree, there are purposely placed suggestions that you need, at least I did, answers to which I am sure will be addressed in a sequel. And those suggestions are revealing in more ways than one which actually keeps you guessing if your conclusions are correct.
The characters are normal teenagers, the lead being extremely self centered and narcissistic, but that truly isn't farfetched in real life. They have regular activities, social interactions and concerns (maybe dramas would be a better word, considering), but what they seem to ignore mostly because they don't want to deal with an issue that doesn't benefit them, as usual, are little and sometimes even big differences from the norm. This actually keeps you rooted to the age of these kids though, not expecting them to act like adults, or should I say mature adults.
The settings that change the norm are creative and interesting from the 'unknown invading the quiet small town' view. What actually happened though was not completely revealed. Of course it was stated what happened, but it's what occurred afterwards that clued you in to the fact that the simplistic answer was not the complete one. And then other clues were dropped throughout the story that kept you wondering what was really going on, or better said, what the big picture of the story is. Hence the need for a sequel, or the fans will riot.
Overall I enjoyed the story, and even liked the self-centered, narcissistic, good looking, lead character Hamilton. You understood his desire to find his way, discover who he is, and develop who he will be. You could even see his behavior toward his parents as being typical for many teens, not the ideal, but it made him real as a person; a likeable person even.
This story will be enjoyed by its target audience without a doubt. It speaks their language, is creative, entertaining, and fun. The teens are portrayed as real as you were at that age, and the story is not one you've read a million times. I enjoyed it, and now have to read the sequel so I can satisfy my unanswered questions. Teens and others will enjoy it.
December 31, 2019
Intriguing Premise
The premise of this story, and the great cover, snagged my interest. I love a good disaster story, and the idea of a meteor crash and monsters being unleashed on the world definitely caught my interest.
And those elements did fascinate me. My favorite parts of the story were the meteor crash and the battles with the monsters...but sadly these events are overpowered by long, long segments of just normal high school life that don’t really do anything to further the story.
I had the hardest time connecting with the main character. He’s SUPPOSED to be a narcissistic high school jock...but he pulls off the role too well. I just don’t like him. He’s mean and selfish and even at the very end, he hasn’t changed. I had hoped by the finale, he would have had more change of character, but he just didn’t. SPOILER: granted, he did accept his calling to be a warrior to save humanity, but nothing else about his personality changed. I found this hard to take.
There were also times where I found character reactions hard to believe. Crazy bad stuff was happening in town but the kids just go back to school as if nothing is happening. Even when they witness the bad stuff themselves, they don’t seem to be affected by it. There’s no PTSD, or anxiety, or anything like that after these traumatic events where friends and school teachers are attacked and/or hospitalized.
All in all, the boys are too mean, and the girls giggle too much... but I have hopes the series will get better as the characters mature.
The premise of this story, and the great cover, snagged my interest. I love a good disaster story, and the idea of a meteor crash and monsters being unleashed on the world definitely caught my interest.
And those elements did fascinate me. My favorite parts of the story were the meteor crash and the battles with the monsters...but sadly these events are overpowered by long, long segments of just normal high school life that don’t really do anything to further the story.
I had the hardest time connecting with the main character. He’s SUPPOSED to be a narcissistic high school jock...but he pulls off the role too well. I just don’t like him. He’s mean and selfish and even at the very end, he hasn’t changed. I had hoped by the finale, he would have had more change of character, but he just didn’t. SPOILER: granted, he did accept his calling to be a warrior to save humanity, but nothing else about his personality changed. I found this hard to take.
There were also times where I found character reactions hard to believe. Crazy bad stuff was happening in town but the kids just go back to school as if nothing is happening. Even when they witness the bad stuff themselves, they don’t seem to be affected by it. There’s no PTSD, or anxiety, or anything like that after these traumatic events where friends and school teachers are attacked and/or hospitalized.
All in all, the boys are too mean, and the girls giggle too much... but I have hopes the series will get better as the characters mature.
August 24, 2014
The Starlight Chronicles is the story of Hamilton Dinger aka Hammy or Dinger. High School sophomore, foot ball player, and as you may have already guessed typical high school boy until the night of the football party when an event of epic proportions will cause Dinger to be chosen as a hero. A calling he is not sure he wants to have or can handle. Dinger gradually realizes that he must step up and accept his fate so that he can help others and once he does he is helped by a dragon named Elysian and fellow hero Starry Knight. I liked the dynamic between Dinger and his friends. I also enjoyed the fact that Dinger was far from perfect and life didn't always go the way he wanted, these things made him seem more like a real person. I liked the fact that he struggled with his new calling and that he didn't instantly just accept it. I don't think anyone would take on something like that lightly and I liked the fact that much of the book is devoted to the challenge of trying to be both a normal kid and a hero and figuring out how to mesh both parts of his life. I am looking forward to the next story where I Hope we will learn more about why he was chosen to be a hero and how he accomplishes his mission, some more time with his friends would be great too,they are a likeable bunch.
September 7, 2014
The Starlight Chronicles is the story of Hamilton Dinger aka Hammy or Dinger. High School sophomore, foot ball player, and as you may have already guessed typical high school boy until the night of the football party when an event of epic proportions will cause Dinger to be chosen as a hero. A calling he is not sure he wants to have or can handle. Dinger gradually realizes that he must step up and accept his fate so that he can help others and once he does he is helped by a dragon named Elysian and fellow hero Starry Knight. I liked the dynamic between Dinger and his friends. I also enjoyed the fact that Dinger was far from perfect and life didn't always go the way he wanted, these things made him seem more like a real person. I liked the fact that he struggled with his new calling and that he didn't instantly just accept it. I don't think anyone would take on something like that lightly and I liked the fact that much of the book is devoted to the challenge of trying to be both a normal kid and a hero and figuring out how to mesh both parts of his life. I am looking forward to the next story where I Hope we will learn more about why he was chosen to be a hero and how he accomplishes his mission, some more time with his friends would be great too,they are a likeable bunch.
November 6, 2017
I actually have the Kindle and Audible version of this book, and it was really fun to read along while listening. Reading that way was interesting because I normally form my own "voice" in my head for each character. The audible narration wasn't quite "right," at least in my opinion. The narrator wasn't animated enough for the tone of this book, and the pacing was too slow. The narration needed as much excitement and enthusiasm as the book itself.
The lead character, Hamilton, is grating, but that was intentional. The premise is, at least partially, what would happen if the superhero was not very likable. On that front, Johnson nails it. The character is very believable as someone who is shallow, self-involved, narcissistic, and very unlike the normal superhero stereotype. The story itself takes off, and it is a wild ride that includes dragons, angels, adventure, some romance, and several fights. Despite an unlikeable protagonist, or maybe in part because of it, I enjoyed this book. There is certainly never a dull moment, and I was glad that I had the next few books in the series already because I jumped right to them.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.
The lead character, Hamilton, is grating, but that was intentional. The premise is, at least partially, what would happen if the superhero was not very likable. On that front, Johnson nails it. The character is very believable as someone who is shallow, self-involved, narcissistic, and very unlike the normal superhero stereotype. The story itself takes off, and it is a wild ride that includes dragons, angels, adventure, some romance, and several fights. Despite an unlikeable protagonist, or maybe in part because of it, I enjoyed this book. There is certainly never a dull moment, and I was glad that I had the next few books in the series already because I jumped right to them.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.
April 10, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. It was quite enjoyable.
Hamilton Dinger is at the top of his social heap. He's the guy everyone wants to know. There's a few dark spots in his life. Such as, why is the girl he's interested in only interested in dating a nerd. Then there's the phone call from his parents. Leave that party now and come home. It seems there's a meteor on its way to Earth. Using his charm has enable him to wiggle out of any potentially embarrassing situation. Until now. Poor Hamilton is in for a big surprise. He has abilities that he never knew about, which he has to harness in order to defeat demons.
Although the book is aimed for the young adult market, it's entertaining for the mature reader, as well.
Hamilton Dinger is at the top of his social heap. He's the guy everyone wants to know. There's a few dark spots in his life. Such as, why is the girl he's interested in only interested in dating a nerd. Then there's the phone call from his parents. Leave that party now and come home. It seems there's a meteor on its way to Earth. Using his charm has enable him to wiggle out of any potentially embarrassing situation. Until now. Poor Hamilton is in for a big surprise. He has abilities that he never knew about, which he has to harness in order to defeat demons.
Although the book is aimed for the young adult market, it's entertaining for the mature reader, as well.
December 15, 2017
I guess that this is ok for YA, but it did nothing for me. The protagonist is very egotistical, so much so that I didn't care for him. Hoping he learns something by book 2.
April 16, 2019
I received a copy of Slumbering in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Slumbering is the first novel in the Starlight Chronicles series by C.S. Johnson. It's a young adult fantasy series that it sure to please fans of both genres. Slumbering follows young Hamilton Dinger, AKA Dinger, AKA Hammy, on a surprising and unexpected journey in his very own hometown.
Dinger is used to be the best in school. He's brilliant, he's a great athlete, and everything comes naturally to him. Especially when it comes to making friends. But things are about to change in his life, and the question is, how is he going to handle it?
The series takes a new perspective on superpowers and saving the world, and is really quite a lot of fun to read. If you're looking for a story with a protagonist that has a lot to learn, then this is the one for you.
Also, side note: I just want to point out how much I adore this cover. It's absolutely stunning! And honestly I know that I would have picked up this book for that reason alone, even if I hadn't been approached to give it a read.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Slumbering is the first novel in the Starlight Chronicles series by C.S. Johnson. It's a young adult fantasy series that it sure to please fans of both genres. Slumbering follows young Hamilton Dinger, AKA Dinger, AKA Hammy, on a surprising and unexpected journey in his very own hometown.
Dinger is used to be the best in school. He's brilliant, he's a great athlete, and everything comes naturally to him. Especially when it comes to making friends. But things are about to change in his life, and the question is, how is he going to handle it?
The series takes a new perspective on superpowers and saving the world, and is really quite a lot of fun to read. If you're looking for a story with a protagonist that has a lot to learn, then this is the one for you.
Also, side note: I just want to point out how much I adore this cover. It's absolutely stunning! And honestly I know that I would have picked up this book for that reason alone, even if I hadn't been approached to give it a read.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
April 18, 2019
Hamilton Dinger is one of those guys I hated in school. He thinks he is entitled, self-centered, popular, and a general pain in the butt that everything just loves, according to him. But when a meteor hits town and releases the Seven Deadly Sinners things go crazy. Hamilton has hidden abilities that he is going to have to learn how to use if he is going to protect everyone from the Sinners. Thankfully he has Elysian and Starry Knight to help him accept this new reality and get him caught up to speed.
Hamilton is such a pain yet Johnson writes him where you want to strangle him yet laugh at the over the top behavior. Of course when he sees the monsters he tries to deny his abilities and turns away from his calling to become a hero.
I love this world, I was eager to learn more about it. Although I was not impressed with Hamilton in the beginning I did enjoy following his growth into his abilities and role. This is a great story and has some little nuggets of wisdom wrapped up in it. I can’t wait to see what CS Johnson is going to come up with next for this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Hamilton is such a pain yet Johnson writes him where you want to strangle him yet laugh at the over the top behavior. Of course when he sees the monsters he tries to deny his abilities and turns away from his calling to become a hero.
I love this world, I was eager to learn more about it. Although I was not impressed with Hamilton in the beginning I did enjoy following his growth into his abilities and role. This is a great story and has some little nuggets of wisdom wrapped up in it. I can’t wait to see what CS Johnson is going to come up with next for this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
October 18, 2017
I'm actually surprised how good it was. When I started reading this, I thought that the ego of the main character and his chit chatter would be boring, not interesting for me and overall that I wouldn't like this book because of this. Now I'm totally pleased! Yeah, the protagonist, Hamilton, is 16 years old guy who believe the universe is spinning because of him, so typical teenager. He's driven by his ego, his platonic love to Gwen and football = stereotypical American high school sweetheart. Exactly this attributes were "scary" for me. But at the same time, Hammy showed me he's actually a good storyteller and apart of his ego and self esteem, I like him as a character.
So now I wanna read the other books from this series...
So now I wanna read the other books from this series...
November 15, 2019
Great read for a first in a series. I couldn't put it down and then had to order the whole series.
May 2, 2025
Writing sorta low level but engaging enough to read a few more. Not wildly high caliber but easy read
April 20, 2019
I’m just going to say it: every time I read a novel by C.S. Johnson, I’m so blown away within the first few chapters, I already know it’s going to be a 5☆ novel for me.
I am blown away by the vivid world building C.S. Johnson always manages to include. Slumbering is no different. I felt like I was transported into this story and I was witnessing the events first hand.
The characters are no different. Each with their own unique sense of personality, I felt like I knew them. Particularly, Hamilton, who reacts to situations as I would expect him to. A little bit of humor thrown in the mix adds an element to the characters that make them just a bit more complex.
I loved Slumbering. It’s definitely going in my favorite reads of 2019 and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with R&R Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*
I am blown away by the vivid world building C.S. Johnson always manages to include. Slumbering is no different. I felt like I was transported into this story and I was witnessing the events first hand.
The characters are no different. Each with their own unique sense of personality, I felt like I knew them. Particularly, Hamilton, who reacts to situations as I would expect him to. A little bit of humor thrown in the mix adds an element to the characters that make them just a bit more complex.
I loved Slumbering. It’s definitely going in my favorite reads of 2019 and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with R&R Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*
August 23, 2017
This book was really interesting, in the way that it made me feel, which I'll get to in a bit!! So this is focused on Hamilton Dinger. He is a above average student whose life is going good... that is till a meteor crashes into his town and awakes some dormant powers he had, but it also awakens other things, and now Hamiltons life is forever changed!!! Whether for the better you will have to read it and see.
I devoured this book, which I'm quite surprised with because starting out I love/hated the MC. Hamilton. He is so arrogant, self absorbed and obnoxious that it was hard to connect with him, but he is also incredibly likable too. I honestly didn't know what to think of him, but as the story unfolded you get to see who he truly is, which isn't always nice but he had a certain charm and charisma that made him.... interesting. My feelings were all over the place when it came to him.
Even though the plot seemed very mundane, most of it is about Hamiltons life before the meteor, it was relatively fast paced and held my attention throughout. I was intrigued enough with everything happening to read it over the course of a day, which is awesome because it's at over 6 hours, it's pretty long. I just found it so hard to put down and listened to it late into the night!!
In all, a really good listen and I'm looking forward to diving into book 2 soon.
Nicholas Santasier did a good job. He was easy to listen to and read it well, I just found he lacked in the performance part!! It's important that a narrator can draw you into the story by his tones, voices and cadences, but this narrator lacked the ability to really make the world come alive. He needed to perform more and add more personality to the characters and world.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
I devoured this book, which I'm quite surprised with because starting out I love/hated the MC. Hamilton. He is so arrogant, self absorbed and obnoxious that it was hard to connect with him, but he is also incredibly likable too. I honestly didn't know what to think of him, but as the story unfolded you get to see who he truly is, which isn't always nice but he had a certain charm and charisma that made him.... interesting. My feelings were all over the place when it came to him.
Even though the plot seemed very mundane, most of it is about Hamiltons life before the meteor, it was relatively fast paced and held my attention throughout. I was intrigued enough with everything happening to read it over the course of a day, which is awesome because it's at over 6 hours, it's pretty long. I just found it so hard to put down and listened to it late into the night!!
In all, a really good listen and I'm looking forward to diving into book 2 soon.
Nicholas Santasier did a good job. He was easy to listen to and read it well, I just found he lacked in the performance part!! It's important that a narrator can draw you into the story by his tones, voices and cadences, but this narrator lacked the ability to really make the world come alive. He needed to perform more and add more personality to the characters and world.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
August 16, 2017
I hated the lead character ... but it seems like he was designed that way on purpose, so I'm not sure how to feel about Hamilton. Self-centered to the extreme it seems like the series has lots of personal growth planned for him and I saw the start of it in this book.
There are some interesting elements to the world this book is based on but I'm still finding it confusing, I'm not sure how it's all supposed to work, I'm assuming later books will shed more light on this, but I find it a bit frustrating.
The writing is vivid and there is lots going on, but there's also a lot of high school included which is a time in my life I'd rather not re-visit.
The narration is well paced and has a natural flow to it, but I found the character voices a bit over-done except for the main character Hamilton.
This book was supplied free by the author/narrator/publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
There are some interesting elements to the world this book is based on but I'm still finding it confusing, I'm not sure how it's all supposed to work, I'm assuming later books will shed more light on this, but I find it a bit frustrating.
The writing is vivid and there is lots going on, but there's also a lot of high school included which is a time in my life I'd rather not re-visit.
The narration is well paced and has a natural flow to it, but I found the character voices a bit over-done except for the main character Hamilton.
This book was supplied free by the author/narrator/publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
August 12, 2017
Hamilton Dinger is your average 16 year old boy. Quite intelligent, athletic, popular, self-absorbed, "My parents are ruining my life!", "I don't understand why Gwen doesn't want me?! I mean, I'm quite the catch!" As I said, your average teenager. Until a meteorite hits his town. Turns out Dinger, not so average!
The meteorite released the deadly seven sinister and they have broken out of their prisons. To sustain themselves, they need human souls. With Dinger's abilities no longer dormant, can he overcome his narrowmindedness and willful ignorance to help save his city?
It's entertaining, even though Hamilton drove me bloody bonkers. He was so into himself that he couldn't see the bigger picture. You wanted to root for him, to end his willful ignorance once he realized the world needed to be saved, but we're also talking about a 16 year old boy who has his life mapped out.
I thought this was entertaining, and I can't wait to see where this goes.
June 13, 2018
This is definitely a fun unique novel that people of all ages can easily enjoy!! The unique characters are full of depth and very believable with a fun dash of fantasy. Though, it was a little slow to start for my tastes; it was absolutely worth the wait. And I also love the author’s different style of writing, which was quite refreshing. A must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy!!!
August 8, 2017
The male lead Hamilton in this story drives me absolutely insane with his self centered egotistical attitude - but that is a good thing. I believe that any Author who can evoke such feelings from me must be doing something right! Nicolas Santasier is a great narrator. His characters have distinct easy to follow voices that I really enjoyed. I look forward to more in this series and from this Author & narrator.
August 28, 2013
The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering is the first book in an epic-type YA series that features strong themes that are prevalent YA readers: popularity, self-centeredness, caring, fitting in, and belief in something bigger and more powerful than yourself.
The story starts out with a little tease, a bit of storytelling that you won’t get revisit until well into the book; but juicy enough to keep your attention captivated throughout the book. Once you read the first chapter, you have to find out what happens!
One of the story’s main protagonists Dinger, deals with so many of the issues that we have all been through, or are going to have to deal with in life, especially those in high school. When Dinger is not only presented, but confronted by situations and choices that are life life-changing for him and those around him, the powers of good and evil take on a literal personification of those beliefs and shortcomings.
This book has a little bit of everything in it. There are elements of fantasy, of syfy, of spiritual warfare, and of the battles, both the physical, emotional, and spiritual that we have all struggle with and continue to struggle with in life. This quote from Johnson says a lot about her book:
“This story reflects on one main issue – belief – and two critical responses: spiritual battles and the ignorance with which the majority of us face it.”
Starry Knight, a beautiful warrior, makes a powerful ally of a somewhat reluctant Hamilton Dinger in the book. All the while, evil forces brew, not only to stop Good from prevailing, but turning characters from the good and enticing them to give into Evil. It is classic spiritual warfare played out in a real-life setting.
There is so much in this book that epitomizes what we all face in our daily lives, and how we choose to react towards them. What would we do in those situation, or how would we react, and how many times do we fall short and need someone like a Starry Knight to be there for us when all hope is gone?
The book alludes to many more books to come, foreshadowing much more in the battle of good and evil that just was touched upon in the first book, and it will be interesting to see what happens not only to the characters we already know so much about, but also the backstory and more details on those characters we love, like Starry Knight, that we wish we could know more about.
The book is perfect for virtually any YA reader. There is nothing in the book that would turn a parent away from buying this book, and conversely, there is no reason why anyone would not want to read it. It is a perfect fit in the YA genre, and the future books look promising in the continuation of the series.
A great read for anyone who likes something off the beaten path for their read, something that has a meaning, and something that makes you think at the end of the book. Highly anticipating the next installment in the series!
The story starts out with a little tease, a bit of storytelling that you won’t get revisit until well into the book; but juicy enough to keep your attention captivated throughout the book. Once you read the first chapter, you have to find out what happens!
One of the story’s main protagonists Dinger, deals with so many of the issues that we have all been through, or are going to have to deal with in life, especially those in high school. When Dinger is not only presented, but confronted by situations and choices that are life life-changing for him and those around him, the powers of good and evil take on a literal personification of those beliefs and shortcomings.
This book has a little bit of everything in it. There are elements of fantasy, of syfy, of spiritual warfare, and of the battles, both the physical, emotional, and spiritual that we have all struggle with and continue to struggle with in life. This quote from Johnson says a lot about her book:
“This story reflects on one main issue – belief – and two critical responses: spiritual battles and the ignorance with which the majority of us face it.”
Starry Knight, a beautiful warrior, makes a powerful ally of a somewhat reluctant Hamilton Dinger in the book. All the while, evil forces brew, not only to stop Good from prevailing, but turning characters from the good and enticing them to give into Evil. It is classic spiritual warfare played out in a real-life setting.
There is so much in this book that epitomizes what we all face in our daily lives, and how we choose to react towards them. What would we do in those situation, or how would we react, and how many times do we fall short and need someone like a Starry Knight to be there for us when all hope is gone?
The book alludes to many more books to come, foreshadowing much more in the battle of good and evil that just was touched upon in the first book, and it will be interesting to see what happens not only to the characters we already know so much about, but also the backstory and more details on those characters we love, like Starry Knight, that we wish we could know more about.
The book is perfect for virtually any YA reader. There is nothing in the book that would turn a parent away from buying this book, and conversely, there is no reason why anyone would not want to read it. It is a perfect fit in the YA genre, and the future books look promising in the continuation of the series.
A great read for anyone who likes something off the beaten path for their read, something that has a meaning, and something that makes you think at the end of the book. Highly anticipating the next installment in the series!
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