It’s hard to be ordinary when you’re destined for the extraordinary. Can Amese stay true to herself without causing total world destruction?
For millions of years, there have been six unique guardians of ancient elemental magic, each possessing the power to balance life in the universe. They are supposed to work together; instead, the rift between them is growing.
Now it’s 13-year-old Amese’s turn to rule. To succeed with her training, Amese must transform into animals, travel using enchanted bees, and convince the other rulers that she’s worthy. She can’t shake the feeling that someone wants her to fail and will do anything to make that happen. To survive, she must place trust in the person she find least herself.
MJ Murray is a California-based writer whose first book, Detective Dylan and the Case of the Missing Mail, is available online wherever books are sold. She is often found with a dog in her lap, even though she tells people she isn't an animal person.
This was an absolutely brilliant book, the world that M.J Murray has created is one that is very easy to get absorbed into as you read it, the scenery and the way with words the author has makes you want to dive into the book.
The storyline effortlessly grabs hold of the readers attention and imagination, sprinkled with a touch of drama. Amese is a character that is very easy to get along with and the storyline is easy for ages 10-14 to understand and be able to use their imagination on.
I love the dedication in the book: To anyone who doesn’t have life all figured out. Neither do I. Let’s enjoy the journey anyway.” This is such a great story for kids ages 10 and up, (even adults). Amese is 13 and I like that her personality showed her young but also mature when she needed to. I love that there is different magic in this story, we get to meet some other characters who are with earth, water, and air. Amese’s village is all about connecting with animals. I liked the lessons Amese has received with each animal, and I love that they have helped her start to find herself. It’s also pretty cool that she gets a marking of the animal (like a tattoo) after the lesson. Overall I feel if you love fantasy or want to introduce your kids into fantasy this is a great book to read. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Amese of Animalis is Book 1 of The Borosa Legacy series and this was a fun story filled with magic, elements, adventure, decisions and destiny. The author does a great job in the storytelling and really brings this book to life. This book is aimed for ages 10-14 and can also be enjoyed for the young at heart. I am looking forward to seeing what is next....
Amese is a mere 13 year old girl who is destined to do great things. While she may at times not feel that way and has self doubt....she knows she also has to learn new skills to become a guardian. As Amese begins her journey, she transforms into different animals with lessons to be learned along the way.....to learn and become worthy at her best...
I do not want to give any spoilers away...but this is very good story and I highly recommend giving this author and book some love.
Amese of Animalis is the first book in the Borosa Legacy series, the new middle grade fantasy by M J Murray. I thought this book was lots of fun and engaging. Amese is 13 and destined to become a guardian of the universe. She is faced with the daunting task of learning and mastering her new skills is she is going to succeed. But first, she needs to overcome her self doubt and gain confidence if she’s going to be able to eventually take her mother’s place. She has to prove to herself and others that she is capable. I really enjoyed watching Amese grow throughout the story and the confidence and belief in herself that she needed. I loved how she could change into different animals. The little bees who guided her were fantastic! There is plenty to love about this book for readers of all ages; magic, fun, adventure, amazing world building and a great story. This is going to be a fabulous series!
Amese of Animalis is the first book in the Borosa Legacy. It is a fantasy tale that is full of wonder and children of this age will enjoy. MJ Murray writes enchanting and educational children’s chapter books in an easy-to-read format. It is 212 pages full of wonder and adventure, for Tweens around the ages of 10 to 14 years of age. It is an interesting and fun read and is a unique story. The wonderful narrative brings this coming-of-age story to life. Amese has the ability to turn into animals. She learns a lot of their culture, their customs, and the importance of telling the truth. It is a great gift or tool in schools or just in your own home. Let the adventure begin. It is a fun tale that should not be missed. Enjoy!
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought: Title: Amese of Animalis Author: M J Murray
Star Rating: 5 Stars Number of Readers: 15 Stats Editing: 9/10 Writing Style: 10/10 Content: 9/10 Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers: 15 would read another book by this author. 15 thought the cover was good or excellent. 15 felt it was easy to follow. 15 would recommend this book to another reader to try. Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’. Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’. Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’. 15 felt the pacing was good or excellent. 14 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments “Good book. I liked that it’s never boring. Where’s book two? I want to read it.” Boy, aged 12 “Loved it! It’s very exciting with lots happening all the time. I liked Amese too – she’s resourceful and brave.” Girl, aged 12 “A cleanly written fantasy adventure for middle graders. I think most children aged 9 – 12 will enjoy the magic, and getting to know the memorable characters. The author is an accomplished writer who knows how to keep the story moving whilst, at the same time, developing the likeable protagonist.” Primary school teacher, aged 59 “The cover looks AMAZING! It made me want to read the book. I’m glad I did. It’s an exciting adventure.” Girl, aged 10 – with a little help from mum “Lots of drama/angst and tons of magic. This is a good book for Harry Potter fans. I think kids will enjoy rooting for Amese as she attempts to master lots of new ‘skills’. The author, M J Murray, knows what we kids like to read.” Girl, aged 12 – with a little help from her TA “Amese is cool. She’s not very confident, but she ‘grows’ within the story. There’s lots of magic in it like shapeshifting – a very handy skill I wish I had. Most 11 and 12 year olds will probably like this book.” Boy, aged 11
To Sum It Up: “A magic, fantasy-filled adventure for middle graders. A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Amese of Animalis is the first book in the Borosa Legacy by MJ Murray. Amese, who bears the birthmark from Borosa, begins her training. One potentate, Typhos, teases her, and it adds to Amese's negative feelings about eventually succeeding her mother. She is reluctant to become the Potentate of Animalis, but she agrees to continue. She turns into animals chosen for her by orchid bees, learning valuable lessons from the animals as she lives among them. Amese immerses herself in their culture, aiding them as she understands and applies important truths. As she decides to abdicate her title, she receives a message that stirs her anger and propels her into her destiny.
MJ Murray has written an enchanted tale that will enthrall readers! Creating a world with animalistic powers, Murray spins an interesting coming-of-age story with a hint of betrayal. Amese is a character who grows throughout the book and emerges at the end with self-confidence. Each animal species has their own culture and traditions - a lot like people in the world - who certain members of her community wish to exterminate. Amese's connection to her family and friends helps her when she doubts herself and is reinforced by the new friends she makes during her training. The book draws to a close with revelations that explain the reason for Amese's perceived failures and reveal the direction of the series. Amese of Animalis is a good selection for middle-grade or experienced readers who enjoy fantasy stories with second chances.
Amese is a young girl who lives in Animalis with her family, she is the daughter of one of the six Guardians of the land who use elemental magic to keep the balance within the world and for generations, this responsibility is passed down to the child who is marked and this generation, Amese is the next in line.
Although she has this future responsibility, Amese doesn't want it and she struggles to see why she has been chosen, especially when her siblings seem more suitable, but it is time for her to start her training to prepare her to rule, and so she reluctantly goes along with it.
Part of her training involves attending the Gatherings of the six Guardians and even though she knows they are supposed to work together, she can sense a rift forming between them, but the most exciting part of her training is a ritual using the symbol of Animalis, the jewel toned orchid bee who choose the animal she must transform into so that she can learn the lesson she needs to help her rule.
What lessons will Amese learn during her transformations, and can she figure out who or what is causing the rift between the Guardians? This is an exciting adventure which is full of magic, balance and some suspense as you transform along with Amese as you follow along on this journey of self-discovery.
Amese of Animalis is the first book in the new Borosa Legacy series by M.J. Murray. It is a fun children’s fantasy story (aimed at children aged 10 – 14 years) — full of magic, elemental guardians who balance life in the universe, action, adventure, fate/destiny, mystery, drama, tension, danger, vivid world-building, agendas, lessons, and high stakes. Amese is 13 years old and embarks on a bit of an epic adventure as she steps up to become a guardian. The weight of the responsibility weighs on her as she needs to refine and master her skills/powers if she is to perform her duties effectively. But maybe not everyone wants to see her succeed, so in order to get through it all she must depend on a most unlikely ally. Add in plenty of imaginative and creative touches, original storyline, and great characters/s- and the story takes a captivating turn. What a great start to the series, making it my favourite of Ms. Murray’s books (so far) -- and I can’t wait to see where we go from here. Bring on Book #2! Happy Reading…
Amese of Animalis is Book One in the Borosa Legacy Series. It is a children's fantasy book designed for children between the ages of ten to fourteen years of age. The story centers around the main character of a 13-year-old girl named Amese who is learning the skills to be a Guardian. This is a huge responsibility that she does not feel that she is ready for. Amese must muster up all the courage that she can to overcome her doubts and fears to gain the confidence that she needs. Not only does she have to prove to herself, but she must prove to others that she has the skills and the abilities that are needed. This was a fun read that was full of adventure, magic, action mystery, and a smidge of danger. I loved how Amese was able to change into different animals as well as how with each animal that she transforms into she learns a lesson along the way. This was a great coming of age story with lessons about courage, strength and self-discovery. This book had great characters, a unique storyline, and fantastic world building with vivid scene descriptions.
"Amese of Animalis: The Borosa Legacy" by MJ Murray is a magical and enchanting tale that takes readers on an epic journey through a world filled with ancient elemental magic and powerful guardians. The story follows 13-year-old Amese as she embarks on a quest to fulfill her destiny as a ruler and master the skills necessary to maintain balance in the universe.
Amese is a strong and relatable protagonist who must overcome challenges, face her fears, and prove her worthiness to the other rulers. Her journey of self-discovery and growth is both captivating and inspiring. The theme of trust and self-belief is woven throughout the story, adding emotional depth to Amese's character development.
The plot is engaging, the world-building is vivid, and the characters are well-developed. I highly recommend this book to readers looking for a thrilling and immersive fantasy tale filled with mystery, magic, and adventure.
This is a great children’s fantasy story about a young girl who has to find her way in a world of magic and adventure. It is an exciting story that really draws the reader in. It is well written and imaginatively told, in a way that makes it really easy to picture what is being described to you. I really enjoyed getting to know the character and watching her navigate the situations she finds herself in. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it is one I can definitely say I enjoyed. Even though I am not the intended target audience for the book, the author has managed to write it in a way that I could still connect with the story. This really is a great book and I am intrigued by what else they have to offer.
Geared for the younger kids, I really enjoyed this book. Amese is having a hard time deciding if she wants to step up into her predestined role to help her mom. Throughout her story, she is training. This training consists of turning into different animals chosen for her by special bees, the orchid bees. I found it is really kind of relatable because you can feel the family dynamics, the pressure she's under. It's very well written and I do believe the target group will enjoy it. I started reading this to my grandson, he's 10. He was very interested in how the bees connected Amese to the animals. I hope we'll get more from this series. I'm looking forward to sharing this with my grandson. It's a good story.
The Borosa Legacy Book 1 is a great read I read with my daughter together and she loved it. Amese is a teen who is about to start her training to become the next potentate but doesn’t seem so sure she wants be the next potentate. Amese takes lessons to change into animal form and live like they do until her lesson is learned and she can return to her body. She has become a pelican, a wolf and a badger One of the conversations with her mother I loved a lot. Her mother told her that if she was going to quit, it needed to be after a good day of training not a bad one. That is was easy to quit when something is hard. Seems like not everyone wants to see her succeed and something is going on. The book was getting good and left us on a cliffhanger. I cant wait for the next book!!
Amese of Animalis (The Borosa Legacy Book 1) by MJ Murray. This is the first book of the Borosa Legacy Series and its about Amese who bears the birthmark of Borosa. Amese who is 13 is about to begin her training to fulfill her destiny as a ruler. Amese is so independent and strong but she does have insecurities as well. She has this dark feeling that someone does not want her to succeed. Amese has to turn into animals to fulfill her destiny and in doing so she learns so much about all kinds of animals and their cultures. Will she be able to conquer her fears and become all that she is destined to be? This book is aimed at kids 11-13 and is such a fun, imaginative read. I recommend this book for all kids in this age group.
Amese of Animalis is book 1 of the Borosa Legacy series written by MJ Murray. Although the book was written with the age group of 10-14 in mind, I thought the book was entertaining and will definitely be looking for the next book in the series. Amese is a 13-year-old who is set to be the next potentate, but she doesn't even have any natural magic yet. She's set to start her training, but she doesn't feel prepared at all. Her mother won't take her excuses though, and so Amese sets off on the adventure to learn who she is and what her power will be. We see different magics along the way and meet some wonderful characters. I love that Amese's village is so intertwined with the animals. I definitely recommend the book to anyone who loves a good fantasy adventure.
This was a great children's fantasy about a 13-year-old girl named Amese who doesn't want to become the ruler of her people. She wants to be able to do her own thing without the whole you must follow your destiny business. During her training, she gets to live the lives of different animals while figuring out what she is supposed to be learning from the experience. The story is filled with great lessons as well as magic and adventure. It does end on a cliffhanger but I look forward to continuing the story.
This story is geared towards ages 10-14 but I read it to my 5-year-old daughter at bedtime and she enjoyed it. If you are looking for something to read with your child this would be a great story to share or a great book report if your child needs to find a book to read.
I once again have discovered a new author and once again was not disappointed. I really like how the author has built this world and story. I find the characters to be well written and just the right amount of drama laced through the story. I find that the story grabs the reader's imagination and I felt as though I was right there with them within the story. I really didn't want to put this book down and was eager to see how the story would unfold. I look forward to more stories from this author as well as this series. I really enjoy that this author is able to bring the characters to life and grab the imagination. I cannot wait for the next.
I received an advance review copy of this book, to review for Blackberry Book Tours.
This middle grade fantasy adventure is the first book in the Borosa Legacy series. At the start of the book, there was a lot of talk about bees, and I felt this book just buzzed with beautiful imagery. It was a very fun, lively read, as the author brought the story and characters beautifully to life. In some ways, it seemed a little bit like a celebration of animals too, and I thought the animal imagery was awesome. I think young readers of fantasy and adventure will like this book a lot.
Thank you to Blackberry Book Tours, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
This is a very enchanting tale ,a fun children fantasy story, book full of magic, elemental guardians who balance life and full of animalistic powers. Amese is a 13 year old who reluctantly steps up to be an elemental guardian. Now she is on an epic adventure understanding other animal cultures and traditions. In her growth and transformation, she has a feeling that she has many enemies who are waiting to shove her down, a feeling, we all very well can connect to. But her newly made friends help her see the way. It is a wonderful story, I so loved it and was able to connect to it. Cannot wait to read the sequels.
Amese of Animalis is a fantastic youth chapter book that creates a world within our world of beings who are not humans, but maintain magic within earth. Amese is the daughter of the leader of one realm, a teenager coming of age with the pressures of being the future ruler quickly approaching. Amese has to accept and complete apprenticeship training, but in the meantime, as a member of Anamalis, the animal realm, Amese experiences life as various animals, taking lessons from them as she goes. This is an intriguing read, something I think my son will love- I can't wait to get him started on the series (and, I can't wait to find out what happens next!).
I’ve read a few books by this author before, but this one is definitely my favorite so far! My oldest kiddo is 12 years old, so this was right up her alley. We read it together and really enjoyed it. It took us a bit to find our groove, but once we did, we couldn’t stop! Even though this is targeted to the 10–14-year-old range, I found myself just as immersed in it as my daughter was. This author did an incredible job with the flow of the story. Amese was wonderfully relatable as a teen girl finding her way. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the series has in store because we are hooked! I highly recommend picking this up for the young ones in your life.
What a great first book about a girl named Amese, who will one day she will rule Animalis. There’s one problem, well more than one, a big one being does she even want to? Or does she want to step down and let someone else have her title. Of course her mom doesn’t want her to quit without trying. She needs to turn into difficult animals and stay that way until she learns a lesson. I love that after a lesson is learned she can morph back into any of the animals she’s already been! I don’t want to give too much away. If you’re looking for a new fantasy series, I recommend this one!
Amese of Animalis is the first book in The Borosa Legacy by MJ Murray. A wonderful start to a magical fantasy adventure intended for a younger audience, however I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book regardless of my age. Truly an enthralling and enchanting book, with beautiful imagery, world building, and fascinating characters. I felt a personal connection to Amese immediately, and couldn't get enough of her narrative. I haven't read from this author before, but I can guarantee I'm waiting for book two!
Amese of Animalis by MJ Murray is the first book in The Borosa Legacy series, aimed at children around the ages of 10 to 14. This enchanting story is set in a world of mythology and magical beings, where Amese, marked by her unique birthright from Borosa, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and destiny. Facing internal and external challenges, like any middle-grade kid, she must deal with her new responsibilities with the help of magical orchid bees that enable her to transform into various animals. An adventurous and wonderful book also themed on leadership and personal growth. 5 stars!
4 Stars Amese of Animalis (The Borosa Legacy Book 1) by MJ Murray
Amese of Animalis is the first book in The Borosa Legacy Series and is children’s fantasy that is aimed for children ages 10-14 years old. As Amese steps up to become guardian she takes is on an epic adventure. Along the way she turns into different animals. I love that there is a lesson to be learned and that is telling the truth. I enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend reading it to find out what happens next. I’m looking forward to reading more from this Author.
Amese of Animalis by MJ Murray is the first book in The Borosa Legacy Series. This book is written with readers 10-14 in mind, but can be read by anyone who enjoys a good story with lots of magic and adventure. We are following 13-year-old Amese. She is training to rule, and trying to convince others she is worthy of the task. It seems like not everyone wants her to succeed in this quest. The story is fun and magical. She has to turn into animals for her training which is really cool. The story ends on a cliff hanger and I am looking forward to the next book 4 out of 5 stars.
After reading the Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate another Chapter Book by this author.( which the kiddos love ) I had to check this out. This is the first book from The Borosa Legacy following Amese who is 13 years old who's trying to figure out her abilities and her destiny. We made quick work of this magic filled adventure, just like the other book. After the Cliffhanger we definitely can't wait for this next part to come. What another great book from this author. I highly suggest getting and reading with the kiddos You will not regret it. 🥰
This book is about Amese trying to figure out if she’s cut out for her predestined future. There is humor, lessons learned, action, and mystery to get you intrigued to continue reading. The setting is very well done and descriptive so that the reader can actually see what’s happening. I like how the author incorporates different settings for each animal and has Amese learn a very important lesson in order to come back to the village.
Amese Of Animals is about a girl who's trying to figure out her destiny. She feels like the path her parents are trying to put her on isn't the right path for her. Amese goes through her training and has to learn lessons from each animal she shifts into, thus learning things about herself as well. There's a good twist and cliffhanger at the end of the book as well, which gets you wanting to read more. Looking forward to the second book in the series.