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Holding the Future Hostage: The Legacy of the Ruby Vial
A Teenage Beauty... A Magic Bottle... A Criminal... A Universe of Pursuit. When a teenage girl finds an enchanting perfume Vial, her world is thrown into chaos. Friends become enemies; enemies become friends. Trust is what she needs most - and what she can't find. Through a series of deadly experiences, she discovers that this Vial plays a vital role in deciding the fate of many. Murder and betrayal surround her - hundreds try to claim her very life. A test of determination awaits.... Will she survive? Visions of the future, attacks, kidnappings, travel, explosions, and murder fill this page-turning novel with suspense and surprise.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 29, 2016
Holding the Future Hostage
A Mystical Bottle... A Teenage Beauty... A Criminal... A Universe of Pursuit. When a teenage girl finds an enchanting perfume Vial, her world is thrown into chaos. Friends become enemies; enemies become friends. Trust is what she needs most - and what she can't find. Through a series of deadly experiences, she discovers that this Vial plays a vital role in deciding the fate of many. Murder and betrayal surround her - hundreds try to claim her very life. A test of determination awaits.... Will she survive? Visions of the future, attacks, kidnappings, travel, explosions, and murder fill this page-turning novel with suspense and surprise.
(Blurb from Goodreads)
I've been meaning to read this for a few years now, and I'm so glad I finally did! Although it's a self-published debut novel, Holding the Future Hostage was a well-wriiten, captivating book.
Characters
I liked pretty much all of the characters. Shawn was by far my favorite (I mean, come on? What's not to like?), and I'm so excited to read more about him in the sequel! Virginia was a fun character, her friend felt very real, and I loved her brother! I really appreciated the way they grew throughout the novel. It felt fairly realistic and not forced.
Plot
The plot was pretty exciting! There were a few slow passages, but once I neared the end, there was no putting this book down! The last several chapters were pretty much non-stop action. I was enthralled by the premise, as well. I desperately wanted to hold the Ruby Vial: it seems so powerful! There were a few plot-holes, or things that weren't explained well, but for the most part, I enjoyed it!
Overall thoughts
Overall, I thought this was a great book. I was shocked to find that the author's writing style is very similar to my own! I'm sure it'll improve in her next books, though. ;) There were a few things concerning Shawn and his connection to the Vial that I thought were not handled well, but other than that, I'd say this book is very well done, especially for a teen author! Great job, Tialla! :)
Would I recommend it? Yes
What age would I recommend it for? Probably ages 10+, because of a few mildly violent scenes
Would I read the other books in the series? Oh yes!
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
A Mystical Bottle... A Teenage Beauty... A Criminal... A Universe of Pursuit. When a teenage girl finds an enchanting perfume Vial, her world is thrown into chaos. Friends become enemies; enemies become friends. Trust is what she needs most - and what she can't find. Through a series of deadly experiences, she discovers that this Vial plays a vital role in deciding the fate of many. Murder and betrayal surround her - hundreds try to claim her very life. A test of determination awaits.... Will she survive? Visions of the future, attacks, kidnappings, travel, explosions, and murder fill this page-turning novel with suspense and surprise.
(Blurb from Goodreads)
I've been meaning to read this for a few years now, and I'm so glad I finally did! Although it's a self-published debut novel, Holding the Future Hostage was a well-wriiten, captivating book.
Characters
I liked pretty much all of the characters. Shawn was by far my favorite (I mean, come on? What's not to like?), and I'm so excited to read more about him in the sequel! Virginia was a fun character, her friend felt very real, and I loved her brother! I really appreciated the way they grew throughout the novel. It felt fairly realistic and not forced.
Plot
The plot was pretty exciting! There were a few slow passages, but once I neared the end, there was no putting this book down! The last several chapters were pretty much non-stop action. I was enthralled by the premise, as well. I desperately wanted to hold the Ruby Vial: it seems so powerful! There were a few plot-holes, or things that weren't explained well, but for the most part, I enjoyed it!
Overall thoughts
Overall, I thought this was a great book. I was shocked to find that the author's writing style is very similar to my own! I'm sure it'll improve in her next books, though. ;) There were a few things concerning Shawn and his connection to the Vial that I thought were not handled well, but other than that, I'd say this book is very well done, especially for a teen author! Great job, Tialla! :)
Would I recommend it? Yes
What age would I recommend it for? Probably ages 10+, because of a few mildly violent scenes
Would I read the other books in the series? Oh yes!
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
November 18, 2013
Age Appropriate For: 14 and up
Best for Ages: 14 and up
I find myself stepping out of my reading comfort zones a lot lately for the sake of Homeschool Authors. I am finding that like more genres than I thought I would, because homeschool authors are reclaiming many of them and using them to share their faith. How cool is that?
This book is hard to classify. It has elements of contemporary fiction, fantasy, sci-fi and even a little time travel. So yes, this book goes into a category all its own. For those who like books that are different from anything you have ever read, this is a great choice.
Before I get to what I like about it, let me explain the reason I gave it three stars. The biggest reason is that I found some of the concepts in this book weird. For those who like magical fantasy, or read more traditional Sci-Fi, I doubt you will have any trouble with this story. I, on the other hand, don’t read those genres much, because I find them weird.
The other thing that I struggled with (which is most likely related to the first reason) is that the book felt a little long in places. Most of the time, it kept me turning pages. However, a couple times it felt repetitive or overlong.
Before you think I hated it, let me assure you that I did not. Tialla Rising’s talent is very clear. I mean, I didn’t like some of the main elements in the story, yet I didn’t hate the story. I would even buy another book of hers if it wasn’t fantasy.
Virginia was by far my favorite part of the book. I just loved the voice she had in telling the story. She was very normal and reacted how I assume most of us would react if we were thrown into an adventure with guns, lightning and being kidnapped several times. Virginia kept me reading, because I liked her so much.
This book also had non-stop action. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, wondering what was coming next. Although, as I said, some parts felt long, it wasn’t boring. Adventure lovers will love this story.
I have to admit, I was very pleasantly surprised that there was no romance. None. Nada. Not even a hint. How nice to read a book about teens that didn’t include passionate romance. It was another thing that made Tialla’s book so nice.
Overall I recommend this book to fantasy and Sci-Fi lovers, or those who love clean adventures.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
Best for Ages: 14 and up
I find myself stepping out of my reading comfort zones a lot lately for the sake of Homeschool Authors. I am finding that like more genres than I thought I would, because homeschool authors are reclaiming many of them and using them to share their faith. How cool is that?
This book is hard to classify. It has elements of contemporary fiction, fantasy, sci-fi and even a little time travel. So yes, this book goes into a category all its own. For those who like books that are different from anything you have ever read, this is a great choice.
Before I get to what I like about it, let me explain the reason I gave it three stars. The biggest reason is that I found some of the concepts in this book weird. For those who like magical fantasy, or read more traditional Sci-Fi, I doubt you will have any trouble with this story. I, on the other hand, don’t read those genres much, because I find them weird.
The other thing that I struggled with (which is most likely related to the first reason) is that the book felt a little long in places. Most of the time, it kept me turning pages. However, a couple times it felt repetitive or overlong.
Before you think I hated it, let me assure you that I did not. Tialla Rising’s talent is very clear. I mean, I didn’t like some of the main elements in the story, yet I didn’t hate the story. I would even buy another book of hers if it wasn’t fantasy.
Virginia was by far my favorite part of the book. I just loved the voice she had in telling the story. She was very normal and reacted how I assume most of us would react if we were thrown into an adventure with guns, lightning and being kidnapped several times. Virginia kept me reading, because I liked her so much.
This book also had non-stop action. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, wondering what was coming next. Although, as I said, some parts felt long, it wasn’t boring. Adventure lovers will love this story.
I have to admit, I was very pleasantly surprised that there was no romance. None. Nada. Not even a hint. How nice to read a book about teens that didn’t include passionate romance. It was another thing that made Tialla’s book so nice.
Overall I recommend this book to fantasy and Sci-Fi lovers, or those who love clean adventures.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
March 20, 2014
"Holding the Future Hostage: The Legacy of the Ruby Vial" by Tialla Rising was a fascinating read. It took me awhile to finish it simply because it was so long, but there weren't many boring parts at all! Every chapter ended on a cliff hanger, making you want to read more and find out what is going on!
Virginia, the Guardian of the Ruby Vial, has a bone-deep feeling that she must keep the Ruby Vial safe, away from anyone and everyone that threatens it. Later on she realizes the reason: Because the Ruby Vial has the ability to destroy the Universe.
While reading this book, I must admit, I was SO jealous I hadn't thought of it! Like, for real. I was like, "I love this idea! It's so original!" Two thumbs up to you, Tialla! You have such a creative imagination!
My favorite character was probably Virginia herself (main character). She was easy for me to relate to, but at the same time, she's not very much like me. My conclusion? We get along fairly well. I also loved Shawn, the gangster that's after the Ruby Vial for greedy reasons.
You: "YOU LIKE A GANGSTER CHARACTER, KAITLYN?!"
Me: "Read it!" *Throws book at your face*
There were two things about this book though that made it hard to me to want to keep going at times. While the constant danger and thrill of the novel was spot on (A. K. A. no boring parts, which is a job WELL done), I can't help feeling that the book slightly too long. I think if it was broken into three different books, it would've been easier to read, only because it was so thrilling. Also, during some dangerous/serious parts the characters "chuckled" or "giggled" or "smirked." While there's nothing wrong with using these words at all, it's the unrealistic aspect of when they are used that made it harder to relate to the situation.
But all in all, it was an awesome novel! The characters were very well developed and the ending was absolutely enchanting! I fell in love with each character, shared their experiences, felt like I was a part of them! That is the sign of a book well written! I look forward to Tialla's next book, whatever it may be!
Virginia, the Guardian of the Ruby Vial, has a bone-deep feeling that she must keep the Ruby Vial safe, away from anyone and everyone that threatens it. Later on she realizes the reason: Because the Ruby Vial has the ability to destroy the Universe.
While reading this book, I must admit, I was SO jealous I hadn't thought of it! Like, for real. I was like, "I love this idea! It's so original!" Two thumbs up to you, Tialla! You have such a creative imagination!
My favorite character was probably Virginia herself (main character). She was easy for me to relate to, but at the same time, she's not very much like me. My conclusion? We get along fairly well. I also loved Shawn, the gangster that's after the Ruby Vial for greedy reasons.
You: "YOU LIKE A GANGSTER CHARACTER, KAITLYN?!"
Me: "Read it!" *Throws book at your face*
There were two things about this book though that made it hard to me to want to keep going at times. While the constant danger and thrill of the novel was spot on (A. K. A. no boring parts, which is a job WELL done), I can't help feeling that the book slightly too long. I think if it was broken into three different books, it would've been easier to read, only because it was so thrilling. Also, during some dangerous/serious parts the characters "chuckled" or "giggled" or "smirked." While there's nothing wrong with using these words at all, it's the unrealistic aspect of when they are used that made it harder to relate to the situation.
But all in all, it was an awesome novel! The characters were very well developed and the ending was absolutely enchanting! I fell in love with each character, shared their experiences, felt like I was a part of them! That is the sign of a book well written! I look forward to Tialla's next book, whatever it may be!
August 13, 2015
I think what most intrigued me about "Holding The Future Hostage" was the unique plot. To think that a perfume bottle could hold the entire universe in check...it's a very creative and mind-blowing idea.
I won't put any spoilers except after the full review, so if you don't know what happens, don't read past my signature.
I have to say, I was quite confused in the beginning with all the jumping around. I don't think there was a single character that did not get a POV at one point or another, and that made it very disorientating in the beginning, when I was just starting to figure out the characters and plot. Further into the story it didn't matter quite as much, but it really threw me off in the beginning, trying to figure out who was who and whose POV I was in for each particular scene.
Once I was situated in the story, however, that's when things got interesting. Shawn in particular was probably my favorite character, and the one that had the best character arc throughout the book. I'm excited that the second book will focus a lot more on him and how he came to be like he is.
There was an insane amount of running in this book, haha. I think I was almost more intrigued by the characters that didn't get so much of the spotlight, especially the Caliseans.
Surprisingly enough, there was no romance in this book, which is not common for teen novels, but worked very well with this book. With all the action going on, it would've been very out-of-place, and it was refreshing to read a teen book without any romance in it.
The Ruby Vial was incredibly interesting as well, with all the magical and sometimes unexplained occurrences with it. I'd say this book left me asking a lot of questions, which is a good thing because it makes me want to reread it to see if I can find the answers, like what happened to certain characters and how the Ruby Vial continued to affect their lives even after the adventure was done.
The ending let me down a little, I must admit, only because it was so...simple. After all the tension and danger and action the rest of the book contained, it was almost resolved too quickly, and I kept waiting for that last unexpected twist to blow me away, but it never came. Still, it was better than those endings that leave you just devastated with what happened and almost unable to recover, like from a beloved character's death or something.
Overall, I felt like this was a good book, and I'm very interested to see what Tialla Rising has in store for Shawn in "Where Shadows Lie".
-Melody Jackson, author of "The Dragon Within".
*spoilers below*
When Virginia become 'one' with the Vial and went all gung-ho on everyone, I couldn't help but think, "Why didn't this happen before?!" They could've prevented so much if Virginia could've defended herself, haha.
Also, I felt Caleb's death, although tragic, was a little...contrived. To think that Zeck would take Shawn's request to 'scare' Caleb to mean 'kill' him...it was pushing it a little far. He didn't even know Shawn or Caleb, (at least, that's what I got from the book) so why did he seem to have such a personal vendetta against both of them, unless he just enjoyed killing and condemning people?
I won't put any spoilers except after the full review, so if you don't know what happens, don't read past my signature.
I have to say, I was quite confused in the beginning with all the jumping around. I don't think there was a single character that did not get a POV at one point or another, and that made it very disorientating in the beginning, when I was just starting to figure out the characters and plot. Further into the story it didn't matter quite as much, but it really threw me off in the beginning, trying to figure out who was who and whose POV I was in for each particular scene.
Once I was situated in the story, however, that's when things got interesting. Shawn in particular was probably my favorite character, and the one that had the best character arc throughout the book. I'm excited that the second book will focus a lot more on him and how he came to be like he is.
There was an insane amount of running in this book, haha. I think I was almost more intrigued by the characters that didn't get so much of the spotlight, especially the Caliseans.
Surprisingly enough, there was no romance in this book, which is not common for teen novels, but worked very well with this book. With all the action going on, it would've been very out-of-place, and it was refreshing to read a teen book without any romance in it.
The Ruby Vial was incredibly interesting as well, with all the magical and sometimes unexplained occurrences with it. I'd say this book left me asking a lot of questions, which is a good thing because it makes me want to reread it to see if I can find the answers, like what happened to certain characters and how the Ruby Vial continued to affect their lives even after the adventure was done.
The ending let me down a little, I must admit, only because it was so...simple. After all the tension and danger and action the rest of the book contained, it was almost resolved too quickly, and I kept waiting for that last unexpected twist to blow me away, but it never came. Still, it was better than those endings that leave you just devastated with what happened and almost unable to recover, like from a beloved character's death or something.
Overall, I felt like this was a good book, and I'm very interested to see what Tialla Rising has in store for Shawn in "Where Shadows Lie".
-Melody Jackson, author of "The Dragon Within".
*spoilers below*
When Virginia become 'one' with the Vial and went all gung-ho on everyone, I couldn't help but think, "Why didn't this happen before?!" They could've prevented so much if Virginia could've defended herself, haha.
Also, I felt Caleb's death, although tragic, was a little...contrived. To think that Zeck would take Shawn's request to 'scare' Caleb to mean 'kill' him...it was pushing it a little far. He didn't even know Shawn or Caleb, (at least, that's what I got from the book) so why did he seem to have such a personal vendetta against both of them, unless he just enjoyed killing and condemning people?
June 4, 2017
A great book with a unique plot that kept its Christian message without being preaching or forced.
Though some of the wording and characterization was slightly awkward during certain moments, it didn't bother me at all in the long run. In fact, it was slightly refreshing to see a different way of bringing out the characters.
Though some of the wording and characterization was slightly awkward during certain moments, it didn't bother me at all in the long run. In fact, it was slightly refreshing to see a different way of bringing out the characters.
December 27, 2016
"Holding the Future Hostage" has been a wonderful read for myself. The book itself introduces you to a girl named Virginia, who has a nice semi-quiet life in a town called Arrowhead. However, quickly you do find out that a gangster named Shawn just won't quit leaving her alone. We come to find out that's the LEAST of her worries. Now I won't go too much into the story, due to spoilers, and all, but this book gripped me and has a grasp around my mind that was unshakable. The adventures she has, the dangers all around her, and yet her faith in Christ keeps her safe, as well as this mysterious ruby vial. As I read through the book, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by this regular, normal, everyday girl, who got sucked into a completely different world, and yet came out as a stronger human being. The author has created a character and world that are not only believable, but also one that keeps us ingrained in each page because of how Virginia uses her wits, strength, and faith to get out of the craziest situations. 5/5 this book is a top for my Sci-Fi & Fantasy genres, and will remain on my bookshelf as a top 5 for books to bring to a desert island. If you want a book that grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the end (and even then you'll be happy to know that she has another book to keep your mind excited) then this is a perfect choice for you!
January 9, 2014
I won a copy of this book for my daughter through the first reads giveaway program.
I didn't read the book since I gave it to my daughter, so I let her write the review (which, of course, is why it took so long. Poor girl never does anything in a timely manner.)
"My mom gave me this book, and at first I didn't like it. It seemed to try to combine fantasy and adventure AND Christian values, which just... I don't know. It wasn't a great combination.
But I hung in there and stuck with it, and in the end, I'm glad that I did. I liked it. Good story, good plot, good characters, good ending. A solid 3 and half stars, but sadly, there are no half stars on goodreads, so I was nice and gave it a four."
I didn't read the book since I gave it to my daughter, so I let her write the review (which, of course, is why it took so long. Poor girl never does anything in a timely manner.)
"My mom gave me this book, and at first I didn't like it. It seemed to try to combine fantasy and adventure AND Christian values, which just... I don't know. It wasn't a great combination.
But I hung in there and stuck with it, and in the end, I'm glad that I did. I liked it. Good story, good plot, good characters, good ending. A solid 3 and half stars, but sadly, there are no half stars on goodreads, so I was nice and gave it a four."
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