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The Elves of Arèthane #1
Return to Arèthane
16-year old Emily has accepted her fate with each weakening beat of her heart, but after her best friend's brother and sister arrive in town and turn out to be more than what they appear, Emily's life is turned upside-down. When their friendship includes confronting wizards who harbor dark secrets and dancing with an elf prince, Emily discovers there are some things still worth living for.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2012
65 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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May 6, 201850% in
August 4, 2016
Confusing storyline
This was a story with a dual plot. The heroine became the secondary character. The secondary character had better storyline. The hero was overshadowed by the secondary character, the queen. The dialogue changes between the heroine and the secondary character. It would have made the plot better if the heroine was the queen. The human heroine was the side story and weak. I couldn't connect with the plot. I wouldn't recommend this book for having confusing storyline. Was the story more about the queen or the dying heroine human? Why put two plot in one book? If this book focused on the Queen and on her hardship in re-claiming her lost love without the human/heroine, it would have made the plot more appealing. I am giving this one star for having disjointed plot. Don't waste your money. It felt like the author liked the secondary character the queen better than the heroine since there was more actions given to her. Wasted reading.
This was a story with a dual plot. The heroine became the secondary character. The secondary character had better storyline. The hero was overshadowed by the secondary character, the queen. The dialogue changes between the heroine and the secondary character. It would have made the plot better if the heroine was the queen. The human heroine was the side story and weak. I couldn't connect with the plot. I wouldn't recommend this book for having confusing storyline. Was the story more about the queen or the dying heroine human? Why put two plot in one book? If this book focused on the Queen and on her hardship in re-claiming her lost love without the human/heroine, it would have made the plot more appealing. I am giving this one star for having disjointed plot. Don't waste your money. It felt like the author liked the secondary character the queen better than the heroine since there was more actions given to her. Wasted reading.
March 10, 2021
Return to Arethane
I liked the idea of following a human instead of an elf. I also liked how we followed somewhat of a side character, since this wasn’t really her fight. It’s an original idea and I’ve always wanted to read a book like that. I think watching the people who are usually the protagonists is a fascinating concept. I feel like following both Emily and the Queen wasn’t ideal though. It felt as though both of their storylines weren’t fully fleshed out. I enjoyed the story until probably 75% in when suddenly it felt rushed and jumpy. The ending also left me quite gutted. I’m not sure if the author wanted it to feel like a cliffhanger, but I honestly felt so frustrated that I most likely won’t read the next book.
I liked the idea of following a human instead of an elf. I also liked how we followed somewhat of a side character, since this wasn’t really her fight. It’s an original idea and I’ve always wanted to read a book like that. I think watching the people who are usually the protagonists is a fascinating concept. I feel like following both Emily and the Queen wasn’t ideal though. It felt as though both of their storylines weren’t fully fleshed out. I enjoyed the story until probably 75% in when suddenly it felt rushed and jumpy. The ending also left me quite gutted. I’m not sure if the author wanted it to feel like a cliffhanger, but I honestly felt so frustrated that I most likely won’t read the next book.
December 14, 2019
Thank you
Thank you for a beautiful love story I will always remember I love Aerath the bad boy. And Jarrad the sweet heart seats gentle and kind. Dance the good friend always looking out and being supportive. Sam the sweet first boyfriend.Can't wait for book two i hate that Jarred has to give up so much to be with Emily.
Thank you for a beautiful love story I will always remember I love Aerath the bad boy. And Jarrad the sweet heart seats gentle and kind. Dance the good friend always looking out and being supportive. Sam the sweet first boyfriend.Can't wait for book two i hate that Jarred has to give up so much to be with Emily.
September 16, 2018
I loved the story itself. I do wish the main character had more spunk; she pretty much just let things happen to her. The setting and plot were enough to keep me reading. Overall, a good read.
March 4, 2017
A page turner
I have to admit it started a little slow but when it picked up I could hardly put it down. Characters come to life.
I have to admit it started a little slow but when it picked up I could hardly put it down. Characters come to life.
January 30, 2016
I was really looking forward to this book. YA don’t have many elf stories out there. The cover is just beautiful and the synopsis sounded new. I jumped at the chance to read the book and I am sure glad I did. It was just spectacular. A wild ride through magic, love, modern issues, and a beautiful new world.
Emily has a very hard life, a father barely home and a mother who is always drunk. Emily seems to be the one to clean up the destruction that her mother leaves everywhere she goes. This isn’t the only problem or the biggest problem that Emily faces, with violence in her past, a bad heart in her present; she only sees sadness in her future. She has one saving grace in her life, her best friend Dafne.
Dafne lives her grandfather after losing her parents she was small. Dafne and her grandfather are the only ones that know about Emily’s illness and her home and come to her rescue quite often. Everything changes when Emily learns that Dafne has an older sister Kara, and older brother, Jarrad, who came to stay with them. Mysterious and aloof, Emily sees how different Kara and Jarrad are and come to think of it, Dafne is a bit different too. Emily is soon swept into a world of elves, wizards, and a long time war. She may be their saving grace or she may just be the death of them. Nothing is fair in love and war.
The writing, the story, the elven world, and the characters mix well together to make an amazing book. The pacing was perfect, never a dull moment, mixed with action, love, and mystery. I found myself stuck inside the pages.
The world of Arèthane was beautiful. I wanted to jump into the pages and see the forests, the different species, feel the magic. The description level was so right for me. I could the world clearly without being bored of overdone lines of adjectives. I enjoyed the feel of a high fantasy mixed in with my urban fantasy. The two worlds combined very nicely.
Emily is a great character. I could feel her pain but only because of her story. She never let her past or her present pull her down. She was a fighter and determined to live her life beyond its obstacles. Emily’s character felt real even though she seemed very mature for her age. She dealt with the issues in her life as best as she could and still found the strength to make it to the next day. The friendship she shared with Dafne helped tons with the dealing and I felt the bond was very strong between the two, but Emily still had a gaping hole in her life it seemed. That was until Jarrad entered the picture. I liked Jarrad from the beginning. Sweet, calm, handsome, and very mysterious. The perfect knight in shining armor, but with princely qualities.
I am a little upset with yet another book ending without an ending.L Before the book ended I knew I would be reading the next installment of the series, but now I have to wait anxiously, wondering, wanting more. Argh! Still grab yourself a copy, it’s a great ride!
Emily has a very hard life, a father barely home and a mother who is always drunk. Emily seems to be the one to clean up the destruction that her mother leaves everywhere she goes. This isn’t the only problem or the biggest problem that Emily faces, with violence in her past, a bad heart in her present; she only sees sadness in her future. She has one saving grace in her life, her best friend Dafne.
Dafne lives her grandfather after losing her parents she was small. Dafne and her grandfather are the only ones that know about Emily’s illness and her home and come to her rescue quite often. Everything changes when Emily learns that Dafne has an older sister Kara, and older brother, Jarrad, who came to stay with them. Mysterious and aloof, Emily sees how different Kara and Jarrad are and come to think of it, Dafne is a bit different too. Emily is soon swept into a world of elves, wizards, and a long time war. She may be their saving grace or she may just be the death of them. Nothing is fair in love and war.
The writing, the story, the elven world, and the characters mix well together to make an amazing book. The pacing was perfect, never a dull moment, mixed with action, love, and mystery. I found myself stuck inside the pages.
The world of Arèthane was beautiful. I wanted to jump into the pages and see the forests, the different species, feel the magic. The description level was so right for me. I could the world clearly without being bored of overdone lines of adjectives. I enjoyed the feel of a high fantasy mixed in with my urban fantasy. The two worlds combined very nicely.
Emily is a great character. I could feel her pain but only because of her story. She never let her past or her present pull her down. She was a fighter and determined to live her life beyond its obstacles. Emily’s character felt real even though she seemed very mature for her age. She dealt with the issues in her life as best as she could and still found the strength to make it to the next day. The friendship she shared with Dafne helped tons with the dealing and I felt the bond was very strong between the two, but Emily still had a gaping hole in her life it seemed. That was until Jarrad entered the picture. I liked Jarrad from the beginning. Sweet, calm, handsome, and very mysterious. The perfect knight in shining armor, but with princely qualities.
I am a little upset with yet another book ending without an ending.L Before the book ended I knew I would be reading the next installment of the series, but now I have to wait anxiously, wondering, wanting more. Argh! Still grab yourself a copy, it’s a great ride!
December 18, 2014
** From The Book Lover's Report: http://thebookloversreport.blogspot.com **
This book starts out with the main character, Emily at a restaurant with her embarrassing, drunk of a mother. As they are leaving, her mother bumps into someone that looks about Emily's age and starts flirting at him. This makes Emily all the more embarrassed, and she gets her mother home as soon as she can. We they get home, her mother tries to drink more and when Emily tries to stop her, her mother breaks the glass with Emily's hand. Emily calls her friend Dafne and her grandfather, and Jabari, the grandfather, sews up her hand...
The next day, at school, Dafne (who is Emily's bff) doesn't answer any other her texts, so Emily is starting to fell like something happened. When Dafne walks into the auditorium, Emily sees someone following her and she asks her other friend, Shelley about the girl. That's when she learns that Dafne's brother and sister are now at the school. When Dafne's brother, Jarrad, walks in, Emily immediately recognizes him as the boy from the restaurant that her mother flirted at.
Then, Emily discovers something about Dafne's family that changes everything for Emily.
I really like this book! As soon as I first started it, in drew me in, and I just kept wanting to read it (even through the football game that I had to go through).
I think that Emily having a good friend in Dafne is a good make up for having screw-up parents. Dafne and Jabari seem to care for her, and their home is like a home away from home for Emily. She loves going there, that is, until Dafne's brother and sister come back.
And Dafne's brother! I swear, I did not see what he/they were coming! I thought it was going to be something else, something somewhat more obvious. But, it wasn't... well, exactly.
Dafne's sister, Kara, seemed like that untouchable, icy person, until you read the parts that were in her point of view. I'm not going to lie, but sometimes I didn't like reading in Kara's point of view, but then again, sometimes it made some stuff have more sense than it did (like when I was confused, or didn't know what was happening).
This book is somewhat of an adventure, so those of you who don't reading about adventures.... read it anyway! I don't care if you're like 'but adventures and action-y stuff is so boorr-ing'. This one does't even really feel like an adventure, the whole time.
So, I gave this book a five, because I really liked it. The plot was different, and the wording didn't seem as stiff as some of the stuff I came across.
This book starts out with the main character, Emily at a restaurant with her embarrassing, drunk of a mother. As they are leaving, her mother bumps into someone that looks about Emily's age and starts flirting at him. This makes Emily all the more embarrassed, and she gets her mother home as soon as she can. We they get home, her mother tries to drink more and when Emily tries to stop her, her mother breaks the glass with Emily's hand. Emily calls her friend Dafne and her grandfather, and Jabari, the grandfather, sews up her hand...
The next day, at school, Dafne (who is Emily's bff) doesn't answer any other her texts, so Emily is starting to fell like something happened. When Dafne walks into the auditorium, Emily sees someone following her and she asks her other friend, Shelley about the girl. That's when she learns that Dafne's brother and sister are now at the school. When Dafne's brother, Jarrad, walks in, Emily immediately recognizes him as the boy from the restaurant that her mother flirted at.
Then, Emily discovers something about Dafne's family that changes everything for Emily.
I really like this book! As soon as I first started it, in drew me in, and I just kept wanting to read it (even through the football game that I had to go through).
I think that Emily having a good friend in Dafne is a good make up for having screw-up parents. Dafne and Jabari seem to care for her, and their home is like a home away from home for Emily. She loves going there, that is, until Dafne's brother and sister come back.
And Dafne's brother! I swear, I did not see what he/they were coming! I thought it was going to be something else, something somewhat more obvious. But, it wasn't... well, exactly.
Dafne's sister, Kara, seemed like that untouchable, icy person, until you read the parts that were in her point of view. I'm not going to lie, but sometimes I didn't like reading in Kara's point of view, but then again, sometimes it made some stuff have more sense than it did (like when I was confused, or didn't know what was happening).
This book is somewhat of an adventure, so those of you who don't reading about adventures.... read it anyway! I don't care if you're like 'but adventures and action-y stuff is so boorr-ing'. This one does't even really feel like an adventure, the whole time.
So, I gave this book a five, because I really liked it. The plot was different, and the wording didn't seem as stiff as some of the stuff I came across.
August 1, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012Return to Arèthane by Kelly Riad
Let me preface this review by stating that I am friends with the author of this book. However, that is not going to keep me from leaving an objective review of this awesome YA fantasy novel :)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...
The blurb:
16-year old Emily has accepted her fate with each weakening beat of her heart, but after her best friend's brother and sister arrive in town and turn out to be more than what they appear, Emily's life is turned upside-down. When their friendship includes confronting wizards who harbor dark secrets and dancing with an elf prince, Emily discovers there are some things still worth living for.
My thoughts:
This book struck a chord with me from the beginning. It has so many elements running through it simultaneously it can almost seem a little overwhelming, but Kelly Riad does a great job letting the story line flow naturally. It is very easy to keep up with everything that is going on and her ability to weave fantasy elements into our every day world was seamless.
I could spend a great deal of time going through all the characters, but that would make this post VERY long. I'm going to let you get to know the major players:
Emily is the only child of a workaholic father and a functional alcoholic mother. She is diagnosed with a heart condition that she knows is slowly killing her. Though, previously a member of the "in" crowd, Emily has withdrawn from her circle of friends in recent times. I love her sense of individuality.
Dafne, Jarrad, and Karawyn are exiled elven royalty who live in hiding among humans. Their kingdom was besieged by the Dark Elf King and they were forced to flee with their lives.
Jabari is the "grandfather" of the three elves. In truth, he is a trusted advisor to the royal family and has stayed in the Human realm with them to ensure their protection.
Aerath, dark elf prince, who is largely responsible for the siblings' flight from their homeland.
Through some twists and turns, Emily finds herself accompanying this family back to their homeland of Arèthane. I was awed by the author's ability to create an entire world outside of Suburban USA. I am a HUGE fan of fantasy novels and really enjoy picturing the world in my mind's eye while reading. It is full of adventure, epic battles, and of course, romance!
Let me preface this review by stating that I am friends with the author of this book. However, that is not going to keep me from leaving an objective review of this awesome YA fantasy novel :)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...
The blurb:
16-year old Emily has accepted her fate with each weakening beat of her heart, but after her best friend's brother and sister arrive in town and turn out to be more than what they appear, Emily's life is turned upside-down. When their friendship includes confronting wizards who harbor dark secrets and dancing with an elf prince, Emily discovers there are some things still worth living for.
My thoughts:
This book struck a chord with me from the beginning. It has so many elements running through it simultaneously it can almost seem a little overwhelming, but Kelly Riad does a great job letting the story line flow naturally. It is very easy to keep up with everything that is going on and her ability to weave fantasy elements into our every day world was seamless.
I could spend a great deal of time going through all the characters, but that would make this post VERY long. I'm going to let you get to know the major players:
Emily is the only child of a workaholic father and a functional alcoholic mother. She is diagnosed with a heart condition that she knows is slowly killing her. Though, previously a member of the "in" crowd, Emily has withdrawn from her circle of friends in recent times. I love her sense of individuality.
Dafne, Jarrad, and Karawyn are exiled elven royalty who live in hiding among humans. Their kingdom was besieged by the Dark Elf King and they were forced to flee with their lives.
Jabari is the "grandfather" of the three elves. In truth, he is a trusted advisor to the royal family and has stayed in the Human realm with them to ensure their protection.
Aerath, dark elf prince, who is largely responsible for the siblings' flight from their homeland.
Through some twists and turns, Emily finds herself accompanying this family back to their homeland of Arèthane. I was awed by the author's ability to create an entire world outside of Suburban USA. I am a HUGE fan of fantasy novels and really enjoy picturing the world in my mind's eye while reading. It is full of adventure, epic battles, and of course, romance!
September 23, 2012
This book was absolutely amazing! For a while now I have been looking for a new book or series to start reading that focused on Fairies… I don’t exactly know why, maybe because there are just so many different ways they can be portrayed, but I could not find any that really interested me.
Then I decided to take part in this book tour, and well it was EXACTLY what I was looking for! When I decided to take part in this tour, I didn’t even know it was a book about Fairies (ok sure they are not Fairies they are Elves, but it was close enough!), it just sounded like a really good book. But then I started reading it and oh boy did I ever find a new series to read!
In the first installment of The Elves of Arethane we meet Emily, a girl who seems to have it all… she actually kind of reminded me of the celeb children we hear about on TMZ because she obviously comes from money and just throws it away because she doesn’t care… but then we really get to know her, she has an absent father, an alcoholic mother, plus a whole lot of other issues (I don’t want to give too much away, needless to say I cried when I found out everything)
Then she meets a boy, and well her mom totally embarrasses her in front of him, but she cant just forget about him because he turns out to be her best friends brother! Well Jarrod then totally stole the show for me, he was sensitive and sweet, but also protective and stubborn… oh and he was also a super hottie!
Although the book focused a lot of Emily, Jarrod and Dafne (Emily’s bff and Jarrod’s sister) I actually really liked Kara as well, she definitely came across as a real witch, but then we learn her story and well you can’t help but feel for her and try to comprehend how she even wakes up each day.
This book seriously had it all, it had the romance, the magic, it had romance and friendships. As soon as I finished this book I was tweeting to Kelly Riad because I needed to know when the next book comes out! (PS she says she is going through final edits and the book will be out soon! YAYYY)
Anyways, if you have not read this book yet you are totally missing out, it is a great story from the first chapter until the very end!
Then I decided to take part in this book tour, and well it was EXACTLY what I was looking for! When I decided to take part in this tour, I didn’t even know it was a book about Fairies (ok sure they are not Fairies they are Elves, but it was close enough!), it just sounded like a really good book. But then I started reading it and oh boy did I ever find a new series to read!
In the first installment of The Elves of Arethane we meet Emily, a girl who seems to have it all… she actually kind of reminded me of the celeb children we hear about on TMZ because she obviously comes from money and just throws it away because she doesn’t care… but then we really get to know her, she has an absent father, an alcoholic mother, plus a whole lot of other issues (I don’t want to give too much away, needless to say I cried when I found out everything)
Then she meets a boy, and well her mom totally embarrasses her in front of him, but she cant just forget about him because he turns out to be her best friends brother! Well Jarrod then totally stole the show for me, he was sensitive and sweet, but also protective and stubborn… oh and he was also a super hottie!
Although the book focused a lot of Emily, Jarrod and Dafne (Emily’s bff and Jarrod’s sister) I actually really liked Kara as well, she definitely came across as a real witch, but then we learn her story and well you can’t help but feel for her and try to comprehend how she even wakes up each day.
This book seriously had it all, it had the romance, the magic, it had romance and friendships. As soon as I finished this book I was tweeting to Kelly Riad because I needed to know when the next book comes out! (PS she says she is going through final edits and the book will be out soon! YAYYY)
Anyways, if you have not read this book yet you are totally missing out, it is a great story from the first chapter until the very end!
September 21, 2012
A chance for you to win a copy on my blog!
A copy was provided by the author for a honest review.
Return to Arèthane was a refreshing read. It's full of adventure, action, fantasy and romance. Emily has been friends with the beautiful Dafne ever since they've met. When Emily is saved by a hot guy in a embarrassing situation she doesn't think anything of it. But that all changes, when Dafne's siblings come home. Both of her siblings are gorgeous, like Dafne, but she's met one of them before. Jarrad, he's the one who helped her at the restaurant. Emily knows Dafne and her siblings are hiding something from her. The flowers bloom when Dafne passes them and Kara was glowing!
The story was in third person perspective but the characters were still enjoyable to read. Emily was strong even though she has a heart problem and that she always has to act like a adult in her family. Especially, with her mum who is always drunk or spotted with alcohol. Seeing through Kara's perspective was a fun experience. You get to know the story even deeper and understand it even more.
Now, the plot and Kelly's writing was superb! I breezed through the book easily and didn't want to put it down. It was all merged together with everything i liked; action, adventure, romance, heart throb moments and fantasy. And it wasn't all muddled up it blended in together exquisitely. Furthermore, the writing style of Kelly Raid was perfect for me. Even with all of these positive points, i had a problem with the ending. It was just there. It was left hanging and no i don't mean a cliffhanger. It was just left there hanging. So, that really let me down.
To end this review, i would say to everyone that they should definitely check it out soon. It kept me buried in its pages and i'm sure you'll be the same as well. Without a doubt, i am looking forward to read the next installment in this series.
A copy was provided by the author for a honest review.
Return to Arèthane was a refreshing read. It's full of adventure, action, fantasy and romance. Emily has been friends with the beautiful Dafne ever since they've met. When Emily is saved by a hot guy in a embarrassing situation she doesn't think anything of it. But that all changes, when Dafne's siblings come home. Both of her siblings are gorgeous, like Dafne, but she's met one of them before. Jarrad, he's the one who helped her at the restaurant. Emily knows Dafne and her siblings are hiding something from her. The flowers bloom when Dafne passes them and Kara was glowing!
The story was in third person perspective but the characters were still enjoyable to read. Emily was strong even though she has a heart problem and that she always has to act like a adult in her family. Especially, with her mum who is always drunk or spotted with alcohol. Seeing through Kara's perspective was a fun experience. You get to know the story even deeper and understand it even more.
Now, the plot and Kelly's writing was superb! I breezed through the book easily and didn't want to put it down. It was all merged together with everything i liked; action, adventure, romance, heart throb moments and fantasy. And it wasn't all muddled up it blended in together exquisitely. Furthermore, the writing style of Kelly Raid was perfect for me. Even with all of these positive points, i had a problem with the ending. It was just there. It was left hanging and no i don't mean a cliffhanger. It was just left there hanging. So, that really let me down.
To end this review, i would say to everyone that they should definitely check it out soon. It kept me buried in its pages and i'm sure you'll be the same as well. Without a doubt, i am looking forward to read the next installment in this series.
February 13, 2017
What a wonderful YA Elf fantasy. It's a romantic adventure. The first two books in the series are clean; the third book will have premarital sex, but it's not graphic.
Fabulous descriptions, great world, and not "ponderous" like a lot of fantasy books out there. The MC is likeable. There are other minor characters there that I became attached to.
Highly recommended series for YA fantasy.
Fabulous descriptions, great world, and not "ponderous" like a lot of fantasy books out there. The MC is likeable. There are other minor characters there that I became attached to.
Highly recommended series for YA fantasy.
October 6, 2012
I think I'm in love with this book!! The storyline and the characters are beautifully written. I can't tell you the last time I read a book were one of the main characters was a Elf, and I think this mite be my first Elf book that I've read.
For me there was never a dull moment, Emily has so much going on in her life from an alcoholic mom, absent Dad, to dealing with her weakening heart if thats not enough she finds herself having to deal with even more along the way but through it all her best friend Dafne has always been there for her.When Dafne's brother and sister arrive in town, they turn out to be more than what they appear. She starts seeing thing, telling herself that it can't be real. I long the way she will discover secrets, fall in love, visit a new world were they will face many dangers, someone will betray them and they will fight to get their Kingdom back.
I just want to say thank you to Kelly for such an amazing read and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
For me there was never a dull moment, Emily has so much going on in her life from an alcoholic mom, absent Dad, to dealing with her weakening heart if thats not enough she finds herself having to deal with even more along the way but through it all her best friend Dafne has always been there for her.When Dafne's brother and sister arrive in town, they turn out to be more than what they appear. She starts seeing thing, telling herself that it can't be real. I long the way she will discover secrets, fall in love, visit a new world were they will face many dangers, someone will betray them and they will fight to get their Kingdom back.
I just want to say thank you to Kelly for such an amazing read and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
October 18, 2012
What a great adventure, Return to Arèthane has Centaurs, Gryphons, Dragons, Elves and more! I loved this Young Adult fantasy, the storyline was well written and Emily and Jarred are defiantly my favorite characters in the book! There’s a lot that goes on from the very start of the book all the way to the end you won’t be disappointed. I really can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!
Emily has not had an easy life she suffers from a heart condition and her mother is always drunk. So Emily has to be the strong one and clean up the mess her mother has made of their lives. When her best friends older brother and sister show up Emily thinks there is something going on and then swears she is seeing things. Poor Emily’s life is turned upside down when she finds out what her best friend and her brother and sister are. Little do they know someone close to them is not who they say they are and they must save the future Queen Arèthane. But will they survive long enough to save her?
Emily has not had an easy life she suffers from a heart condition and her mother is always drunk. So Emily has to be the strong one and clean up the mess her mother has made of their lives. When her best friends older brother and sister show up Emily thinks there is something going on and then swears she is seeing things. Poor Emily’s life is turned upside down when she finds out what her best friend and her brother and sister are. Little do they know someone close to them is not who they say they are and they must save the future Queen Arèthane. But will they survive long enough to save her?
August 2, 2012
I completely fell in love with this book and it's characters! Emily is wonderfully relatable - figuring out who she is and her place in the world while everything she knows spins out of control. Its the way every teenager feels, but with a fantastical backdrop and much more adventure to keep her occupied. The author does an incredible job of seamlessly merging mythology and her own inventions. I only wish Arethane were real so I could go live there, too. The supporting cast of characters are as phenomenal as Emily - they are well rounded, flawed and whole people. I was dreading the end of the book because I wasn't ready to give them up. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Whether or not you usually read YA or fantasy. It's an incredible story and has the strength to cross genre lines.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
September 20, 2012
This book was a really quick read.
Starting off with our main character having to be a teenager and dealing with an alcoholic mother in a restaurant, my heart went out to the poor girl as she had to usher her mother out the door and duck out of the advances of a cute guy.
I enjoyed the character's each of them seemed to have a life of their own and while I would have loved for there to have been a little more depth to it, I still enjoyed it. Especially the twist about what they were. I really thought they were going to be something else. So it was a pleasant surprise to be thrown for a loop for once.
I do love how the author was able to blend in the mythology so seamlessly to create a beautiful world that left me breathless and wishing that fantasy could become reality.
Starting off with our main character having to be a teenager and dealing with an alcoholic mother in a restaurant, my heart went out to the poor girl as she had to usher her mother out the door and duck out of the advances of a cute guy.
I enjoyed the character's each of them seemed to have a life of their own and while I would have loved for there to have been a little more depth to it, I still enjoyed it. Especially the twist about what they were. I really thought they were going to be something else. So it was a pleasant surprise to be thrown for a loop for once.
I do love how the author was able to blend in the mythology so seamlessly to create a beautiful world that left me breathless and wishing that fantasy could become reality.
September 8, 2012
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Firstly, I must say, I love the fantasy genre, especially when the story includes Centaurs, Gryphons, and Dragons. This book had all of that and more! I loved the way there was always something going on to keep the reader captivated. You’re also slowly introduced to an intriguing cast of characters. I also liked the fact that although there was some romance in the book, other than kissing, it’s a very clean read. The end leaves you hanging and wanting more, so I’m anxious to read book two! This book is more than worthy of five stars!
August 6, 2016
What a great read, the story was fun and enjoyable. The author kept you interested from the first chapter. The characters were engaging and I really liked Jarrad and Emily. Looking forward to reading book 2.
January 11, 2017
excitement
we jump into a world of adventure and excitement with characters that become truly believable in the imagination of limited time,loved it
we jump into a world of adventure and excitement with characters that become truly believable in the imagination of limited time,loved it
February 3, 2017
Very good
Very good .....lol.uvbbub.ominin.omomn.innu.ominn
Very good .....lol.uvbbub.ominin.omomn.innu.ominn
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