Calastan

Jein's Journey #1

by Cheryllynn Dyess

Each person has a distinct trait that's either held in reserve or pursued without inhibitions. For reasons that vary, the latter may seem an egotistic act. However, not for Jein. Taking a path other than the one she believes is right is like betraying her own soul. This book features a young girl who deals with her individuality in admirably different ways. It tells a story of how she accomplishes exceptional feats in a world that draws an unyielding line between men and women. Follow Jein Kyominias, a girl who does not entertain the established roles other females of the upper class take in her land. Her rearing in a matriarchal society has certain paths laid out. She has chosen to be an elite hunter instead of a mere matron. She is unique in her fondness for activities that are specifically bequeathed for men. She decides she will be different---strong and different that is.

Genres: Fantasy

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Growing up in the South I learned to love my imagination.... creating from the very beginning. We are told to enjoy life and I allow my mind to do just that. In writing I am allowing the world to see what is possible through my eyes. I encourage my children and family to dream and dream big, never to give up and always believe!

Reviews

[R.S. McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cool book with 100% originality. The world and characters and structures of everything were so unique and interesting, I was totally sucked in. It also left a great hook that leaves you wanting to read the next book. Props to the author for her super original concept!

[Eushia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Target audience: 8-10 years.

The story is illogical, the text is unfinished with editorial mistakes, the world-build is extremely unbelievable, and strange descriptions of the environments. The main character is pretentious and unintelligent. For example, the characters find several previously undocumented plants, and they eat them without any concerns of toxicity.

I can't find any good things to say of this book.

[Kit Tee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kittee Approved

This book has been read, laughed at, gasped at, cried over, nd is now cherished nd treasured by Kittee. Read It!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I noticed about Calastan is that Cheryllynn has an almost poetic style of writing that is very pretty. Jein is a forward thinking girl who also holds on to traditions and I think that came across eloquently through her speech.

This reads very much like a diary of Jein’s life. It is told in the first person and we follow her through her hunts, through her daily life, up to a very big change that is going to occur to her. We learn about her family, her friends, we read about traditional Calastan festivals and weddings. I, personally, am waiting to see what happens between her and a certain male in the story, if anything, because Jein is determined she is not going to be like most women. She is not ready to be courted or have someone ask her father for her hand in marriage.

Another thing that Cheryllyn Dyess is excellent at is giving us descriptions. You can see the plants and the animals that are not of our world. Brightly colored animals, beautiful foliage, multiple suns and moons. It’s just a very pretty poetic read.

I’m not sure what ages this is recommended for, but if my son was not into end of the world zombie apocalypse type books, I would definitely feel good about him reading this. My nine year old tends to read above her age level and I’m wondering if this isn’t something she would enjoy. She always loves a strong female lead and that is exactly what Jein is.

I would like to thank Cheryllyn Dyess for giving me an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Lunardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

How amazing would it be to live in Calastan! People live in perfect peace and harmony with the surrounding landscape. They possess an ancient wisdom, and they respect each other as they respect nature.
The author manages to transport the reader into a new dimension, not just a fantasy world, but a more spiritual conception of life. The reader can actually see the stunning colors of the plants and feel the movements of the large variety of animals. Everything is marked by the rhythm given by Goddess Alista—Mother Nature.
But Calastan is a coming-of-age book too. The young characters face the changes typical of their age: the search for independence, the difficult choice to live on their own, first love, friendship, and finally the struggle to be accepted by the community as a mature individual.
Above all, Jein, the protagonist, who is seventeen, is different from the other women. She is a hunter—a job usually done by men in the matriarchal society of Calastan; she is strong and independent.
Jein impressed me immediately because she is a very particular kind of heroine: she is determined but not a kick-ass girl, she is sweet with the members of her family but she appears solid and reliable to the other hunters. Above all, she is proud of her uniqueness—this is her trump card. She has a deep awareness of who she is, and she isn't afraid to show this to other people. I couldn't help but admire her courage and her confidence.
I look forward to reading the other books of the Jein's Journey Saga and learning more about Jein's amazing adventures.

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Jein Kyominias who lives on the planet Calastan. At 17, Jein is one of the few female hunters and is not the typical "girl" in their society. She enjoys being on her own and loves the lifestyle that she leads.

She and others take a trip out to the Resolution to learn more about the plants and animals for her leaders. Yet when she returns she is faced with a request that she doesn't necessarily believe is in her own best interest.

This is the first book in the series and it leaves you very curious to what is going to happen to Jein next. I liked the character of Jein in that she was very independent and didn't submit to any peer pressure but did things the way she wanted and that was ok. She still knew her place in society but was able to go along with what was requested of her.

I liked learning about how their society worked and loved the idea of them living in trees. This sounds like a place I would definitely like to visit one day. The author does a great job at making you feel like you are apart of everything that is going on around you and all the new learning that is taking place.

It's interesting how Jein is being "courted" by Yurani and the way the book ends makes you wonder what the future holds for the two of them.

I look forward to reading more books in this series!

[Lauren Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calastan is a fascinating glimpse into another world. The main character, Jein, struggles with who she is versus who she was taught she should be. As I read, I was drawn into Jein’s amazing realm. I felt like I was transported into a world much like the one in movie the Avatar, with its strange and unique animals and plant life, when Jein and her fellow hunters entered Resolution. The whole book has a foreign feel, right down to the way the characters speak and the way things are described. I felt like an observer carried along, but never really entering as I learned Jein’s ways without fully understanding them. I found Jein to be closed because it was difficult to get into her head, partly due to the way that the characters talk. Although the idea of the story is truly engaging, I found the language a bit stilted and I feel Jein needs more warmth and emotion. I can tell that the author has a great respect for nature. I also appreciated how she added a listing of places, plants and animals at the end with their descriptions to help the reader get a real grasp of this unique world. A great first effort and I look forward to the next one.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheryllynn Dyess has undertaken an enormous task in her "Jein's Journey" series; creating an alien world in words. The trick with this sort of thing is to make it exotic enough that readers find it strange and wondrous, but not so weird and invented that the reader can't picture what's going on or what the environment looks like.

Fortunately, Ms. Dyess excels at description. She provides detailed images for the reader of the surroundings and characters so that we know Calastan as she sees it.

Jein is on two journeys; a physical one exploring the Unknown, and an emotional one to find her place in her tribe outside of the normal expectations for a young woman of her station.

"Calastan" is the first book of a three-part series. Those who finish and find themselves wanting more, there are "Resolution" and "Kyluna" to complete the trilogy.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a great start to a series :) I love the world Cheryllynn Dyess created. This quick read is very packed full of descriptions and makes you feel like your there. I highly recommend picking up all three just so you can jump into the next one.

I love her the lead female character isn't a typical whiney women. That's so refreshing!

I'm off to start book two and get sucked back into Jein's Journery :)

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Calastan by Cheryllynn Dyess is an in depth look into the fantasy world created for this series. It is actually a very detailed description, more like a .5 than a book 1. All of the background information is given, but there is not real character attachments and zero plot. Until the very end. The story actually begins on the last page. (oh, and dropped a star for poor editing. :( )

[Charlene Scher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does an amazing job describing the world she has created. Reading you become invested in the characters and want to see what happens next. I eagerly await the next book in this series!