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Creatures of the Lands #1
Kiatana's Journey
Animals can speak, fairies rule, and shifter-vampire hybrids hunt mortals in the Lands, a realm full of magical creatures with danger around every corner…
After losing their pack, wolf pups Lottie and Lilja find themselves in a fantastical magical forest and struggling to survive. They unexpectedly run across a lost dragon in their path, unaware that what comes next will determine the fate of all.
Kiatana is a reluctant fae princess of the realm. The moment the dragon and his rider crash land into her territory, it sets off a chain of events that changes her world forever. A plague takes over the land, causing the undead to rise and creating an army of terror.
To battle against a dark force, heroes must unite. Kiatana embarks on a journey across the realm alongside the wolf pups, the dragon, his rider and her pegasus, to find the cure and save her kingdom. During their journey, she begins falling for the man she least expected— the rider who fell into her forest, who she thought she hated, but has come to care for.
Unfortunately for Kiatana, a traitor hides in plain sight, and the only way to save her magical creatures is to partake in a great battle. If this plague overcomes the forest, and Kiatana fails, the land she rules and all the creatures within will meet a devastating end…
Kiatana’s Journey is a young adult epic fantasy novel. Packed with action and adventure, this mystical sword and sorcery series features drama, friendship, and romance. This is the first book in the Creatures of the Lands series.
After losing their pack, wolf pups Lottie and Lilja find themselves in a fantastical magical forest and struggling to survive. They unexpectedly run across a lost dragon in their path, unaware that what comes next will determine the fate of all.
Kiatana is a reluctant fae princess of the realm. The moment the dragon and his rider crash land into her territory, it sets off a chain of events that changes her world forever. A plague takes over the land, causing the undead to rise and creating an army of terror.
To battle against a dark force, heroes must unite. Kiatana embarks on a journey across the realm alongside the wolf pups, the dragon, his rider and her pegasus, to find the cure and save her kingdom. During their journey, she begins falling for the man she least expected— the rider who fell into her forest, who she thought she hated, but has come to care for.
Unfortunately for Kiatana, a traitor hides in plain sight, and the only way to save her magical creatures is to partake in a great battle. If this plague overcomes the forest, and Kiatana fails, the land she rules and all the creatures within will meet a devastating end…
Kiatana’s Journey is a young adult epic fantasy novel. Packed with action and adventure, this mystical sword and sorcery series features drama, friendship, and romance. This is the first book in the Creatures of the Lands series.
Paperback
First published December 23, 2011
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About the author
Natalie Erin
11 books53 followersNatalie Erin is the pen name for the writing team of Megan Linski and Krisen Lison (also known as Krystyl Lisoh).
Krisen Lison (pen name Krystyl Lisoh) was an author and poet. She is known for her bestselling Creatures of the Lands series, as well as her poetry collections Memoirs of a Teenage Poet and Living as Me, as well as her short story collections Death, Life and Other Things and Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall. Her work has been featured in multiple publications. She passed away in 2013.
Megan Linski is best known for her popular Hidden Legends universe, co-written with Alicia Rades, as well as more than fifty other novels. Linski is a passionate advocate for mental health, disability rights, and suicide prevention.
You can find her at www.meganlinski.com
Krisen Lison (pen name Krystyl Lisoh) was an author and poet. She is known for her bestselling Creatures of the Lands series, as well as her poetry collections Memoirs of a Teenage Poet and Living as Me, as well as her short story collections Death, Life and Other Things and Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall. Her work has been featured in multiple publications. She passed away in 2013.
Megan Linski is best known for her popular Hidden Legends universe, co-written with Alicia Rades, as well as more than fifty other novels. Linski is a passionate advocate for mental health, disability rights, and suicide prevention.
You can find her at www.meganlinski.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
October 31, 2016
3.75/5 stars
So, to start out with, it was difficult for me to get into this book. The plot seemed super interesting, but for the first half of the book, the characters were flat and boring. The main protagonist, Kiatana, is supposed to be caring about her animals and such, but instead she is standoffish and seems to ignore the two wolf cubs in her care. The one has nightmares about her mother's death, but Kiatana simply shrugs it off.
Then you have this whole Changer and Accompany aspect. The theory is a cool one- they are matched pretty much at birth and are pretty much forever friends/comrades. The Accompany commands the Changer (who yes, is a shape-shifter) but it's more than that. Their minds and emotions are connected. But the way she first executes the pairing we are introduced to- Keota and Ionan- was lacking in the beginning. There was a conversation I thought should have happened a lot sooner but instead they danced around their connection and such.
The first half of the book also seemed like the author was unsure of where her story was actually heading. There is a plague that is ravaging Kiatana's land and animals, so she goes to save them. Others join her, but then we meet a character that is protecting something. The reader gets invested in that aspect for a chapter, until this character essentially goes "Oh, you aren't the ones that should know, goodbye." Then it switches to Kiatana needing to save her animals and land from being taken over by her betrothed. Plus there was her falling for Keota and the drama that caused.
However, most of the plot lines finally converged and connected, which made the second half easier and quicker to read. The characters also grew and finally gained some dimension. I feel like the author's thoughts were a bit scattered to begin with and then she found her rhythm. Though this book is hard to read at first, I was glad with the end result. I recommend that anyone who is having a hard time with it should keep pushing through.
**Disclaimer: I am currently part of a team reviewing this series. I am giving my honest reviews in exchange for free copies of this series**
So, to start out with, it was difficult for me to get into this book. The plot seemed super interesting, but for the first half of the book, the characters were flat and boring. The main protagonist, Kiatana, is supposed to be caring about her animals and such, but instead she is standoffish and seems to ignore the two wolf cubs in her care. The one has nightmares about her mother's death, but Kiatana simply shrugs it off.
Then you have this whole Changer and Accompany aspect. The theory is a cool one- they are matched pretty much at birth and are pretty much forever friends/comrades. The Accompany commands the Changer (who yes, is a shape-shifter) but it's more than that. Their minds and emotions are connected. But the way she first executes the pairing we are introduced to- Keota and Ionan- was lacking in the beginning. There was a conversation I thought should have happened a lot sooner but instead they danced around their connection and such.
The first half of the book also seemed like the author was unsure of where her story was actually heading. There is a plague that is ravaging Kiatana's land and animals, so she goes to save them. Others join her, but then we meet a character that is protecting something. The reader gets invested in that aspect for a chapter, until this character essentially goes "Oh, you aren't the ones that should know, goodbye." Then it switches to Kiatana needing to save her animals and land from being taken over by her betrothed. Plus there was her falling for Keota and the drama that caused.
However, most of the plot lines finally converged and connected, which made the second half easier and quicker to read. The characters also grew and finally gained some dimension. I feel like the author's thoughts were a bit scattered to begin with and then she found her rhythm. Though this book is hard to read at first, I was glad with the end result. I recommend that anyone who is having a hard time with it should keep pushing through.
**Disclaimer: I am currently part of a team reviewing this series. I am giving my honest reviews in exchange for free copies of this series**
December 29, 2014
I don't normally read fantasy, but the idea of the wolves, fairies, unicorns & changers got my attention. This was a cute fast paced book that made me not want to put it down until I finished. I will be looking for more from this series and also from this author in the future.
September 18, 2017
Kiatana's Journey
I really wanted to love this story but I just couldn't. The story itself wasn't bad but what I really couldn't get into were the characters. I think this was supposed to be geared towards ya but it felt younger to me with how the characters were acting. I just couldn't connect with them and their dialogue just didn't feel natural.
I did really like the concept and I love fantasy so the different creatures and concept were good.
Overall, I'm not sure if I'll continue the series but the end did leave me curious as to what will happen next so I'll probably give the next book a try.
I really wanted to love this story but I just couldn't. The story itself wasn't bad but what I really couldn't get into were the characters. I think this was supposed to be geared towards ya but it felt younger to me with how the characters were acting. I just couldn't connect with them and their dialogue just didn't feel natural.
I did really like the concept and I love fantasy so the different creatures and concept were good.
Overall, I'm not sure if I'll continue the series but the end did leave me curious as to what will happen next so I'll probably give the next book a try.
June 7, 2022
This was a chore to get through. There were several grammatical errors, tense issues, and it needs a thorough edit.
The characters were also exceedingly childish. The most likeable characters were the wolf pups. Everyone else was rude, especially Kiatana. The way she treated the love of her life was awful and abusive.
For my clean readers: contains violence, language, and romance.
The characters were also exceedingly childish. The most likeable characters were the wolf pups. Everyone else was rude, especially Kiatana. The way she treated the love of her life was awful and abusive.
For my clean readers: contains violence, language, and romance.
March 7, 2015
Free copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review!
MY REVIEW
Kiatana rules over her land in peace and harmony. That all changes when a deadly plague starts attacking her animals and the cure is with the unicorns. Keota is an Accompany and his Changer Ionan (he can change into any animal) find themselves in Kia's land in search of an adventure. Kia decides to leave her forest and go in search of the cure along with Ionan, Keota, her pegasus and two wolf cubs who managed to sneak their way into the quest. Her journey is full of danger and unique creatures. And it all ends in a battle to save the land.
This was a fast paced, light hearted read for any of you looking for an adventure! All the characters were super unique. Kia was a headstrong big mouthed character whose sense of bravery was extremely high. Keota was stupid, sweet and an innocent character. Ionan was a wise, jealous but loyal friend. I think my favorite characters were the cubs; Lilja and Lottie. They lost their mother and pack when they were young and now lived in Kia's lands. They were so innocent but full of bravery and love for each other! I think they were the sweetest aspect of the whole book!
It is a kind of dystopian book after all the humans were wiped out from a plague. This is the same plague that is attacking the forests. The settings were always imaginative and very fairytale like! I think you could make a movie like frozen out of this! There were loads of different creatures; dragons, wolves, shifters, faeries, pegasi, unicorns and loads of other stuff!
The only thing i would say i didn't feel giddy about in this book was the beginning of the romance. I just didn't know why they loved each other, it just like sprang out of nowhere...but overlooking that, the rest of the romance was adorable!
I really LOVED the last two chapters and the epilogue. I was smiling all along especially the parts between Keota and Kia! I know the second book will be another adventure because the epilogue definitely points at another HUGE threat on Kia's forest!
MY REVIEW
Kiatana rules over her land in peace and harmony. That all changes when a deadly plague starts attacking her animals and the cure is with the unicorns. Keota is an Accompany and his Changer Ionan (he can change into any animal) find themselves in Kia's land in search of an adventure. Kia decides to leave her forest and go in search of the cure along with Ionan, Keota, her pegasus and two wolf cubs who managed to sneak their way into the quest. Her journey is full of danger and unique creatures. And it all ends in a battle to save the land.
This was a fast paced, light hearted read for any of you looking for an adventure! All the characters were super unique. Kia was a headstrong big mouthed character whose sense of bravery was extremely high. Keota was stupid, sweet and an innocent character. Ionan was a wise, jealous but loyal friend. I think my favorite characters were the cubs; Lilja and Lottie. They lost their mother and pack when they were young and now lived in Kia's lands. They were so innocent but full of bravery and love for each other! I think they were the sweetest aspect of the whole book!
It is a kind of dystopian book after all the humans were wiped out from a plague. This is the same plague that is attacking the forests. The settings were always imaginative and very fairytale like! I think you could make a movie like frozen out of this! There were loads of different creatures; dragons, wolves, shifters, faeries, pegasi, unicorns and loads of other stuff!
The only thing i would say i didn't feel giddy about in this book was the beginning of the romance. I just didn't know why they loved each other, it just like sprang out of nowhere...but overlooking that, the rest of the romance was adorable!
I really LOVED the last two chapters and the epilogue. I was smiling all along especially the parts between Keota and Kia! I know the second book will be another adventure because the epilogue definitely points at another HUGE threat on Kia's forest!
February 12, 2015
This book was given to me free for an honest review.
Kiatana's Journey is a great book for those who love animals, fairies, adventure and dystopian worlds with romance. This book is filled with an array of diverse characters with varying backgrounds and a unique plot.
The plot of this book is one of its best feature because it is so interesting and it fits with the characters. I do not want to spoil anything so I will leave it at that. Another thing I love about this book is the characters, they are developed very well and are very diverse, as I mentioned before they all have a unique background and are different species. You have fairies, shapeshifters, pegasus, woodland creatures, super humans and more. It is very enjoyable to "watch" them interact with each other and causes you to think about how the real world is full of many different people.
Some things that I did not enjoy about the book was that it was very cliche at times and easy to guess what was coming next. I also feel that the character and plot development was rushed to a point where it was unrealistic. The writing was very choppy and did not flow at points making it difficult to read. Also, at times you were left to your own devices to figure stuff out as it was not always explained with a lot of detail/clarity.
The cover of this book is gorgeous and intriguing and reflects the setting which is very interesting. As I said before this book is set in a dystopian future where forests and other natural (or not so natural) stuff exists. The setting changes throughout the book but is always very imaginative and creative.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes animals, fairies, adventure and dystopian worlds with romance and has a big imagination.
Kiatana's Journey is a great book for those who love animals, fairies, adventure and dystopian worlds with romance. This book is filled with an array of diverse characters with varying backgrounds and a unique plot.
The plot of this book is one of its best feature because it is so interesting and it fits with the characters. I do not want to spoil anything so I will leave it at that. Another thing I love about this book is the characters, they are developed very well and are very diverse, as I mentioned before they all have a unique background and are different species. You have fairies, shapeshifters, pegasus, woodland creatures, super humans and more. It is very enjoyable to "watch" them interact with each other and causes you to think about how the real world is full of many different people.
Some things that I did not enjoy about the book was that it was very cliche at times and easy to guess what was coming next. I also feel that the character and plot development was rushed to a point where it was unrealistic. The writing was very choppy and did not flow at points making it difficult to read. Also, at times you were left to your own devices to figure stuff out as it was not always explained with a lot of detail/clarity.
The cover of this book is gorgeous and intriguing and reflects the setting which is very interesting. As I said before this book is set in a dystopian future where forests and other natural (or not so natural) stuff exists. The setting changes throughout the book but is always very imaginative and creative.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes animals, fairies, adventure and dystopian worlds with romance and has a big imagination.
August 16, 2017
Meh...
Story flow is uneven. Parts needing more telling are too short and parts needing less are too long. Kia and Keota's relationship goes back and forth between juvenile and complex. Lottie and Lilja's story was better than what the rest of bookwas meant to be about.
Story flow is uneven. Parts needing more telling are too short and parts needing less are too long. Kia and Keota's relationship goes back and forth between juvenile and complex. Lottie and Lilja's story was better than what the rest of bookwas meant to be about.
February 2, 2018
The writing style was a bit too choppy and Kiatana's attitude left a lot to be desired. This one just wasn't for me.
July 3, 2018
Unicorns, dragons, shapeshifters, talking animals, fairies, and magic! Creatures of the Lands (book one) follows Kiatana, a fairy, Keota and Ionan, an accompany and his changer and several other characters in their quest to seek a cure for an illness that has plagued Kiatana's land.
I have to say, I both enjoyed this book and despised it. It is incredibly corny, cheesy, contradicting, and everyone lives happily ever after! But I liked it, despite the writing tripping over itself to explain something, and every situation going just right or comically wrong (but then right again) it is a decent read.
My favorite characters would have to be; Ionan, Lottie and Lilja, and Snowdrop. The rest were eh. I did find the 'afterward' bit of the book interesting, I ended up giving this book a 3/5 star because in the end I did enjoy it, even if I was rolling my eyes the whole time. I bought the whole series for $9.99 and there are six books, so this one costed roughly $1.60 and I suppose that isn't a terrible price for a book like this. I do look forward to reading the next book in the series, I'm hoping that the characters I liked in this one will reappear in the next one, we'll see.
I would recommend it for those who want something fantasy related, and don't mind corny, cheesy reads. It is a decent story, it just needs some refinement.
By contradicting itself I mean the following: SPOILERS
By corny and cheesy I mean the following: SPOILERS
Other issues with this book: SPOILERS
I have to say, I both enjoyed this book and despised it. It is incredibly corny, cheesy, contradicting, and everyone lives happily ever after! But I liked it, despite the writing tripping over itself to explain something, and every situation going just right or comically wrong (but then right again) it is a decent read.
My favorite characters would have to be; Ionan, Lottie and Lilja, and Snowdrop. The rest were eh. I did find the 'afterward' bit of the book interesting, I ended up giving this book a 3/5 star because in the end I did enjoy it, even if I was rolling my eyes the whole time. I bought the whole series for $9.99 and there are six books, so this one costed roughly $1.60 and I suppose that isn't a terrible price for a book like this. I do look forward to reading the next book in the series, I'm hoping that the characters I liked in this one will reappear in the next one, we'll see.
I would recommend it for those who want something fantasy related, and don't mind corny, cheesy reads. It is a decent story, it just needs some refinement.
By contradicting itself I mean the following: SPOILERS
By corny and cheesy I mean the following: SPOILERS
Other issues with this book: SPOILERS
July 15, 2018
Actual rating 2.5 stars
Had me hooked at talking wolf pups! I really enjoyed Lottie and Lilja's story lines. This book was super sweet and had a lot of potential! However, it felt very unpolished and in need of some punctuation and word choice editing. I got annoyed at Kia for frequently lashing out at her friends and charges and calling them rude names one second, then everything being a-okay the next second. I also had issues with some other plot points that I can't discuss without spoilers. I think younger readers might enjoy this more than I did as it was a pretty simple read. I haven't decided yet if I'll be continuing the series to see how the writing and characters mature. I did find the flashback portion in the sneak peak of book 2 very interesting.
Had me hooked at talking wolf pups! I really enjoyed Lottie and Lilja's story lines. This book was super sweet and had a lot of potential! However, it felt very unpolished and in need of some punctuation and word choice editing. I got annoyed at Kia for frequently lashing out at her friends and charges and calling them rude names one second, then everything being a-okay the next second. I also had issues with some other plot points that I can't discuss without spoilers. I think younger readers might enjoy this more than I did as it was a pretty simple read. I haven't decided yet if I'll be continuing the series to see how the writing and characters mature. I did find the flashback portion in the sneak peak of book 2 very interesting.
October 14, 2018
Overall, I liked Kiatana’s Journey a little bit, but it annoyed me.
This book switched point of views randomly and left me confused at times. It’s still a good book, but I wish it stayed with one character telling the story. I also wish it said how many days have passed and divided the point of views. Not switching every other paragraph or page. There were a lot of parts where the characters got into arguments in the wrong places. It took me out of the action. Also, there was a spot where the characters learn good news, but it should have waited. I mean, they were confronting someone who got away because of the news. Come on.
This book switched point of views randomly and left me confused at times. It’s still a good book, but I wish it stayed with one character telling the story. I also wish it said how many days have passed and divided the point of views. Not switching every other paragraph or page. There were a lot of parts where the characters got into arguments in the wrong places. It took me out of the action. Also, there was a spot where the characters learn good news, but it should have waited. I mean, they were confronting someone who got away because of the news. Come on.
May 8, 2017
When I first got this book it was a free download that just did not come across well so did not want to do a review in March. So I was thrilled when I was able to download it a few days ago. This was a fantastic, magical and wonderful story. It was book that I got caught up in with fairies and a dragon who the book calls a changer. With the description I could just picture the dragon. This was truly a fantasy and fairytale all mixed together. One of the best fantasies I have read. I love Kia and looking forward to reading the other books of the series.
June 9, 2024
Kiatana accumulates a variety of adventurers as she seeks to cure the plague affecting her forest. This plague is killing the inhabitants and raising them as undead. After overcoming many difficulties, the group returns to the forest only to learn the enemy hides in plain sight.
This Dragons & Mythical Creatures Fantasy tale is splendid. The group excels at overcoming adversity, especially their forms of bigotry and poor assumptions. The end is tragic and exciting.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Haunting. Romantic. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
This Dragons & Mythical Creatures Fantasy tale is splendid. The group excels at overcoming adversity, especially their forms of bigotry and poor assumptions. The end is tragic and exciting.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Haunting. Romantic. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
June 15, 2018
Sweet but boring
Sweet fairytale but I read bettter one. It's long and quite boring. The main character is good but on the beginning I started to think that lovely siblings will be main one. Also having story from many perspectives in one chapter is quite chaotic. However, this story definitely has a lot of magic.
Sweet fairytale but I read bettter one. It's long and quite boring. The main character is good but on the beginning I started to think that lovely siblings will be main one. Also having story from many perspectives in one chapter is quite chaotic. However, this story definitely has a lot of magic.
October 24, 2016
A beautiful story about fairies, and dragons that fly and other magical creatures in a place called the Lands. Kiatana is the fairy in charge. Then a plaque comes and she feels all is lost. Amazing story, that kept me in enthralled to the end. Great for young adults and adults alike
June 3, 2017
I got about a chapter in and decided not to waste my time. The author shows nothing and tells all. The characters seemed rather less interesting than the Disney crew my kids are so obsessed with. Dialog is stilted and painful. Very confused by the number of 4 star ratings.
August 5, 2019
Tried really hard to get into this book but it felt like it did not flow at all. The constant jump back and forth from each character was not a smooth transition which made the story choppy and hard to keep up with. The concept sound fun and intriguing but it just felt flat.
November 19, 2017
Great read!
May 17, 2018
Kiatana is sassy and funny. The creatures and fairies were fun to follow
May 19, 2018
Good Read. Fairytale characters and adventures make for a very entertaining Story. As I said a very good Read. Santa Mike
July 15, 2018
Could have been better. Premise and characterizations were interesting but the writing was hurried and the dialogues were shallow. Lack of transition between scenes.
September 2, 2018
Could not finish. The talking animals were annoyingly immature and the two dudes were dumb as rocks. I couldn’t handle their childish banter. I felt like it was written by a 10 yr old.
January 28, 2019
Awesome !!!
December 2, 2019
The book absolutey great.
Want to read
December 12, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/12/2019)! 🎁
April 15, 2024
I needed a random free audio book. This one sounded interesting. But honestly it felt like it had no direction and was all over the place.
January 6, 2026
This was cute and somewhat interesting storywise, but I’m not really invested in the characters and it didn’t excite me that much. Still nice. 4 stars.
January 16, 2015
This book was a little different to what I expected. It contained everything described on the blurb and a bit more besides.
I loved the character of Kiatana. She was feisty, opinionated, and didn’t like people disagreeing with her or answering back. Maybe it was due to her upbringing and the fact she’s a princess with her own realm. However, she cares passionately about all the creatures in her forest kingdom, and has a softer and more playful side to her.
The characters of Lottie and Lilja were an absolute joy and I loved to see their journey from pups into adulthood. At times they had me laughing out loud and in one place I had a lump in my throat. The book was definitely the richer for their inclusion.
Some of the other characters were well crafted, especially Ionan, but others left me wondering &/or rolling my eyes. I felt Keota was a bit of a wimp with not much common sense at times. Although he could be quite assertive with Ionan, when it came to dealing with Kiatana or anyone else, he seemed to be a hapless twit. At the end, he seemed to grow within himself, but for me it was too little, too late. The other character who didn’t seem quite real was Casiff. When he first entered the story, he was a real nasty piece of work and at that point he was well written, but further in he did a complete 180 degree turn and became Mr Nice and Generous. It could be argued that meeting a certain powerful lady had something to do with it and I’m sure she was influential in his change of heart, but for me it was too abrupt a change to be realistic.
Most of the scenery was well described and I could use my imagination to fill in the gaps the author left, which I really liked.
For me, the one let-down in the book was how little space was given to the plague in the forest which sent Kiatana on her journey in the first place. It could have been drawn out just a little more to give a real sense of urgency with more detail of the sickness and how it affected different species.
Despite some of the things I wasn’t so keen on, I did enjoy this book. There was a twist I didn’t see coming and the ending has been left in such a way as to allow for a second book. I hope Natalie Erin will take the foregoing as constructive criticism as she undoubtedly has talent and I look forward to seeing her next offering.
I loved the character of Kiatana. She was feisty, opinionated, and didn’t like people disagreeing with her or answering back. Maybe it was due to her upbringing and the fact she’s a princess with her own realm. However, she cares passionately about all the creatures in her forest kingdom, and has a softer and more playful side to her.
The characters of Lottie and Lilja were an absolute joy and I loved to see their journey from pups into adulthood. At times they had me laughing out loud and in one place I had a lump in my throat. The book was definitely the richer for their inclusion.
Some of the other characters were well crafted, especially Ionan, but others left me wondering &/or rolling my eyes. I felt Keota was a bit of a wimp with not much common sense at times. Although he could be quite assertive with Ionan, when it came to dealing with Kiatana or anyone else, he seemed to be a hapless twit. At the end, he seemed to grow within himself, but for me it was too little, too late. The other character who didn’t seem quite real was Casiff. When he first entered the story, he was a real nasty piece of work and at that point he was well written, but further in he did a complete 180 degree turn and became Mr Nice and Generous. It could be argued that meeting a certain powerful lady had something to do with it and I’m sure she was influential in his change of heart, but for me it was too abrupt a change to be realistic.
Most of the scenery was well described and I could use my imagination to fill in the gaps the author left, which I really liked.
For me, the one let-down in the book was how little space was given to the plague in the forest which sent Kiatana on her journey in the first place. It could have been drawn out just a little more to give a real sense of urgency with more detail of the sickness and how it affected different species.
Despite some of the things I wasn’t so keen on, I did enjoy this book. There was a twist I didn’t see coming and the ending has been left in such a way as to allow for a second book. I hope Natalie Erin will take the foregoing as constructive criticism as she undoubtedly has talent and I look forward to seeing her next offering.
March 5, 2015
This book was given to me by Gryfyn Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
It was my pleasure to read Kiatana's Journey, the first installment in the Creatures of the Lands series by Natalie Erin. Upon the very first page, the reader is immersed in a well thought out world with a wide variety of compelling characters. The story opens with two orphaned wolf pups, who snagged my heart from the beginning. Although the book centers around Kiatana, a sassy, independent fairy readers will appreciate, I found the wolf pups were the most crafted of all the characters. And there are a lot of them, from the main antagonists to suspected villains, to talking birds, shape shifting dragons, intricately designed unicorns and heroes in disguise. But in my humble opinion, the wolf pups outshine all of them and steal the show. I'm very happy they tagged along on Kiatana's Journey.
The world of Creatures of the Lands brought back a lot of nostalgia as it is a place I could have day dreamed about as a child. Riding off over the mysterious forest on the back of a Pegasus, being in the reverent presence of a mighty dragon...Natalie Erin gives us some very enjoyable twists on fairy tale lore and I got caught up in the mysterious world. I savored the names of the settings the author presented in her story, but I found myself grasping for more. The band of quirky characters never stayed in one place too long, and perhaps that is why I was dissatisfied with the lack of details for each part of the world. I always enjoy a well planned love story, but I felt the relationship between Kia and Keota was rushed and a bit predictable.
Action, magic, and adventure pack this story to the edges. The pages kept turning with a new mystery or element always adding to the crisis. A few twists keeps things interesting and keeps the reader guessing. You will cheer for Kia and her team as they struggle to save their home, find closure from a dark past, and find unexpected love.
During the entire book, I felt like I was watching an anime series, and I wouldn't be surprised if perhaps one day it will be adapted into such. I look forward to the next book in the Creatures of the Lands series coming soon, Vera's Song.
February 9, 2015
This book was given to me by Gryfyn Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
It was my pleasure to read Kiatana's Journey, the first installment in the Creatures of the Lands series by Natalie Erin. Upon the very first page, the reader is immersed in a well thought out world with a wide variety of compelling characters. The story opens with two orphaned wolf pups, who snagged my heart from the beginning. Although the book centers around Kiatana, a sassy, independent fairy readers will appreciate, I found the wolf pups were the most crafted of all the characters. And there are a lot of them, from the main antagonists to suspected villains, to talking birds, shape shifting dragons, intricately designed unicorns and heroes in disguise. But in my humble opinion, the wolf pups outshine all of them and steal the show. I'm very happy they tagged along on Kiatana's Journey.
The world of Creatures of the Lands brought back a lot of nostalgia as it is a place I could have day dreamed about as a child. Riding off over the mysterious forest on the back of a Pegasus, being in the reverent presence of a mighty dragon...Natalie Erin gives us some very enjoyable twists on fairy tale lore and I got caught up in the mysterious world. I savored the names of the settings the author presented in her story, but I found myself grasping for more. The band of quirky characters never stayed in one place too long, and perhaps that is why I was dissatisfied with the lack of details for each part of the world. I always enjoy a well planned love story, but I felt the relationship between Kia and Keota was rushed and a bit predictable.
Action, magic, and adventure pack this story to the edges. The pages kept turning with a new mystery or element always adding to the crisis. A few twists keeps things interesting and keeps the reader guessing. You will cheer for Kia and her team as they struggle to save their home, find closure from a dark past, and find unexpected love.
During the entire book, I felt like I was watching an anime series, and I wouldn't be surprised if perhaps one day it will be adapted into such. I look forward to the next book in the Creatures of the Lands series coming soon, Vera's Song.
It was my pleasure to read Kiatana's Journey, the first installment in the Creatures of the Lands series by Natalie Erin. Upon the very first page, the reader is immersed in a well thought out world with a wide variety of compelling characters. The story opens with two orphaned wolf pups, who snagged my heart from the beginning. Although the book centers around Kiatana, a sassy, independent fairy readers will appreciate, I found the wolf pups were the most crafted of all the characters. And there are a lot of them, from the main antagonists to suspected villains, to talking birds, shape shifting dragons, intricately designed unicorns and heroes in disguise. But in my humble opinion, the wolf pups outshine all of them and steal the show. I'm very happy they tagged along on Kiatana's Journey.
The world of Creatures of the Lands brought back a lot of nostalgia as it is a place I could have day dreamed about as a child. Riding off over the mysterious forest on the back of a Pegasus, being in the reverent presence of a mighty dragon...Natalie Erin gives us some very enjoyable twists on fairy tale lore and I got caught up in the mysterious world. I savored the names of the settings the author presented in her story, but I found myself grasping for more. The band of quirky characters never stayed in one place too long, and perhaps that is why I was dissatisfied with the lack of details for each part of the world. I always enjoy a well planned love story, but I felt the relationship between Kia and Keota was rushed and a bit predictable.
Action, magic, and adventure pack this story to the edges. The pages kept turning with a new mystery or element always adding to the crisis. A few twists keeps things interesting and keeps the reader guessing. You will cheer for Kia and her team as they struggle to save their home, find closure from a dark past, and find unexpected love.
During the entire book, I felt like I was watching an anime series, and I wouldn't be surprised if perhaps one day it will be adapted into such. I look forward to the next book in the Creatures of the Lands series coming soon, Vera's Song.
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