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ARIVACA: Guardians of the Light
Jesse Ballard’s life is filled with misfortune. His parents are dead, he’s been convicted of a crime, and a dark secret torments his soul. But when he’s incarcerated on a ranch for troubled teens he discovers his troubles have just begun. A Supreme Power has literally hijacked his life, bringing him to the ranch to make him the guardian of a powerful relic that was hidden away 2600 years ago when Solomon’s Temple was destroyed.
Given superhuman powers, Jesse is suddenly thrust into a strange and perilous world of supernal treasures, killers and demons—battling the dark forces who desperately seek the sacred artifact. Thinking he’s on a one man mission, Jesse is shocked to learn that Cedar Lane, a girl who seriously despises him, may have spiritual gifts essential for keeping the relic safe. Without her help, he’s in jeopardy of losing not just the relic, but his life.
As Jesse unravels this secretive and dangerous world he learns the ups and downs of young love, and both the reward and peril of following his divine call.
young-adult, ya, teen, thriller, adventure, young-adult romance
Given superhuman powers, Jesse is suddenly thrust into a strange and perilous world of supernal treasures, killers and demons—battling the dark forces who desperately seek the sacred artifact. Thinking he’s on a one man mission, Jesse is shocked to learn that Cedar Lane, a girl who seriously despises him, may have spiritual gifts essential for keeping the relic safe. Without her help, he’s in jeopardy of losing not just the relic, but his life.
As Jesse unravels this secretive and dangerous world he learns the ups and downs of young love, and both the reward and peril of following his divine call.
young-adult, ya, teen, thriller, adventure, young-adult romance
334 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2014
6 people are currently reading
1295 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
May 12, 2015
*Thank you to AuthorBuzz via NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this novel for review*
*2.5/5 rating*
I love going into books blind -- it means I have zero expectations and tons of expectations at the same time. A strange dichotomy, but one that makes for a unique reading experience.
I went into 'Arivaca' completely blind. No recommendations, no expectations, no pre-reading hype. Total carte blanche head-first dive into the book.
And it was good. It is -- there's no denying that 'Arivaca' is objectively a good book. It has a more than promising beginning, reminiscent of Louis Sachar's classic YA novel 'Holes' -- a personal favourite of mine -- in which a teenage boy goes away to a ranch that will help him recover while simultaneously being punished as opposed to serving time in prison.
But this is a more fantastical world than 'Holes' which, despite its elements of magical realism, didn't have its boys develop magical powers and try to protect holy relics from King Solomon's Temple. There was potential in that premise, but the problem isn't the story: it's the writing.
The simplicity of the writing means that these characters start out poorly: they're poorly sketched, they interact poorly, and their dialogue is cringe-inducing. They do, however, develop. That's a plus, despite some of the interactions and chemistry feeling more than a little forced, even through the end. Furthermore the pace at which the story unravels is very, very slow. There was more than one moment while reading where I thought, "Where are we going with this?" Overall, the reading of this novel felt more like a taxing chore than an enjoyable activity.
But, on the whole, as a first novel it's a solid and good try. There are definitely going to be people who will enjoy it and want to continue on with the series -- I just don't think it was my cup of tea.
*2.5/5 rating*
I love going into books blind -- it means I have zero expectations and tons of expectations at the same time. A strange dichotomy, but one that makes for a unique reading experience.
I went into 'Arivaca' completely blind. No recommendations, no expectations, no pre-reading hype. Total carte blanche head-first dive into the book.
And it was good. It is -- there's no denying that 'Arivaca' is objectively a good book. It has a more than promising beginning, reminiscent of Louis Sachar's classic YA novel 'Holes' -- a personal favourite of mine -- in which a teenage boy goes away to a ranch that will help him recover while simultaneously being punished as opposed to serving time in prison.
But this is a more fantastical world than 'Holes' which, despite its elements of magical realism, didn't have its boys develop magical powers and try to protect holy relics from King Solomon's Temple. There was potential in that premise, but the problem isn't the story: it's the writing.
The simplicity of the writing means that these characters start out poorly: they're poorly sketched, they interact poorly, and their dialogue is cringe-inducing. They do, however, develop. That's a plus, despite some of the interactions and chemistry feeling more than a little forced, even through the end. Furthermore the pace at which the story unravels is very, very slow. There was more than one moment while reading where I thought, "Where are we going with this?" Overall, the reading of this novel felt more like a taxing chore than an enjoyable activity.
But, on the whole, as a first novel it's a solid and good try. There are definitely going to be people who will enjoy it and want to continue on with the series -- I just don't think it was my cup of tea.
April 4, 2015
Thank you to Folded Corners publisher for giving me a copy of this book in return for an honest review
This is probably the hardest book to review that I've encountered this year.
A part of me liked it while another part disliked it.
Okay let's get to the plot:
In ancient times, during the days of kings a temple was built.
Until today, this temple is famous beyond words.
Solomon's temple.
During the invasion of Rome, sacred relics disappeared,
the famed breastplate of Aaron and the Urim and Thummin.
These relics were never seen again.
Jesse is a troubled young man, full of anger and bitterness.
During a robbery he is sent into a correction facility,
which might just have been divine providence.
All the sudden Jesse find out that he's the protector of these ancient relics and the Evil one desires his death.
Suddenly Jesse's life got a whole lot more complicated.
Okay so that sounds nice right?
for the most part it was nice, but i...was really disappointed by it.
It revolved more about the correction facility, A.K.A the ranch that about how Relics from JERUSALEM made it to AMERICA.
Even then, when jesse finally learns what he is, his behaviour is SO juvenile!
and i'm pretty sure he's about 20 years old but he's reaction during important moments were like:
Paco- "You are a protector"
Jesse:- "Ha! get outta here old man!"
Paco:- "Jesse I'm serious, you have important powers."
Jesse:- "I have powers? Sweet! I'm like a superhero!"
I mean really?
*sigh*
Oh and then that moment with Summer...THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE!
it was creative and it was okay but it wasn't the book for me.
Better luck with you readers.
P.s- You would think the people God chose to be the protector and shield of ancient relics would believe in him right? according to this book, not so much.
P.P.S- The Urim and Thummin according to many Bible scholars and in the bible is more dice-like, not quiet what was described in this book. Good imagination though.
-The Book Herald
Tweet me- @thebookherald>/i>
This is probably the hardest book to review that I've encountered this year.
A part of me liked it while another part disliked it.
Okay let's get to the plot:
In ancient times, during the days of kings a temple was built.
Until today, this temple is famous beyond words.
Solomon's temple.
During the invasion of Rome, sacred relics disappeared,
the famed breastplate of Aaron and the Urim and Thummin.
These relics were never seen again.
Jesse is a troubled young man, full of anger and bitterness.
During a robbery he is sent into a correction facility,
which might just have been divine providence.
All the sudden Jesse find out that he's the protector of these ancient relics and the Evil one desires his death.
Suddenly Jesse's life got a whole lot more complicated.
Okay so that sounds nice right?
for the most part it was nice, but i...was really disappointed by it.
It revolved more about the correction facility, A.K.A the ranch that about how Relics from JERUSALEM made it to AMERICA.
Even then, when jesse finally learns what he is, his behaviour is SO juvenile!
and i'm pretty sure he's about 20 years old but he's reaction during important moments were like:
Paco- "You are a protector"
Jesse:- "Ha! get outta here old man!"
Paco:- "Jesse I'm serious, you have important powers."
Jesse:- "I have powers? Sweet! I'm like a superhero!"
I mean really?
*sigh*
Oh and then that moment with Summer...THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE!
it was creative and it was okay but it wasn't the book for me.
Better luck with you readers.
P.s- You would think the people God chose to be the protector and shield of ancient relics would believe in him right? according to this book, not so much.
P.P.S- The Urim and Thummin according to many Bible scholars and in the bible is more dice-like, not quiet what was described in this book. Good imagination though.
-The Book Herald
Tweet me- @thebookherald>/i>
May 1, 2015
While the book started off promising with a troubled teenage boy going away to a ranch in the hopes of helping him recover and be punished while not serving hard time in prison, it devolved into his magical powers to protect a relic, with the help of a despised character, Cedar, a ranch hand and cowgirl on the ranch.
The dynamics of the boys and their stories coupled with Jesse's seemed like a more mature story like Holes. And while I did know that there was a fantasy element, based on the title and subtitle and bits of the description, the story unraveled too slowly to keep me invested and the simplicity of the writing and interactions didn't sustain me either.
The dynamics of the boys and their stories coupled with Jesse's seemed like a more mature story like Holes. And while I did know that there was a fantasy element, based on the title and subtitle and bits of the description, the story unraveled too slowly to keep me invested and the simplicity of the writing and interactions didn't sustain me either.
July 5, 2018
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review and read this book. Sadly, I had to DNF it @30%. I could not get into the plot or the characters and it just sat on my shelf for a while. This book was not for me.
January 21, 2017
This book was a good book, no doubt about it. It's just that I feel that it was written for the younger reader as it was extremely simplistic which for me didn't give the characters a lot of depth making it difficult for me to get attached to the characters.
The main character is Jesse; a young man who has been in trouble for most of his life until he develops superpowers and changes his life. He is thrust into a world that he didn't previously know about and he has to learn on his feet how to survive it.
There are some secondary characters in this book but I didn't really feel like I connected with them so therefore they were not noteworthy for me.
The storyline was full of promise and the writing would be perfect for a younger reader and the pacing was pretty good consistent all the way through.
3 stars a pretty good reader, perfect for a younger reader than me.
The main character is Jesse; a young man who has been in trouble for most of his life until he develops superpowers and changes his life. He is thrust into a world that he didn't previously know about and he has to learn on his feet how to survive it.
There are some secondary characters in this book but I didn't really feel like I connected with them so therefore they were not noteworthy for me.
The storyline was full of promise and the writing would be perfect for a younger reader and the pacing was pretty good consistent all the way through.
3 stars a pretty good reader, perfect for a younger reader than me.
February 10, 2015
ARIVACA: Guardians of the Light (Book 1)
by John Poulsen
I was so excited to be the goodreads winner of Arivaca. The description drew me in and the book didn't disappoint. To my surprise Arivaca is a real town in Arizona. I will let you read the book to find other true facts embedded in this treasure.
Arivaca is a YA fiction filled with all the aspects of a good book. Bad boys, romance, biblical artifacts, perfect amount of detail and suspense that leaves you yearning for the next book of what is sure to be a great series.
by John Poulsen
I was so excited to be the goodreads winner of Arivaca. The description drew me in and the book didn't disappoint. To my surprise Arivaca is a real town in Arizona. I will let you read the book to find other true facts embedded in this treasure.
Arivaca is a YA fiction filled with all the aspects of a good book. Bad boys, romance, biblical artifacts, perfect amount of detail and suspense that leaves you yearning for the next book of what is sure to be a great series.
October 17, 2015
Having ancient relics, religion, romance, sombreros, superheroes and suspense in the mix, this story combines the right ingredients to suit the varied tastes of many readers. With this adventure being set in Arizona, I could not tell for sure if it was the excellent detail of the desert landscape or thrill of the action taking place therein that made me sweat - perhaps both. My only complaint concerning John's book... is that I did not have the follow-up adventure in my other hand. Delighted to have received this
as a gift from Goodreads.
as a gift from Goodreads.
February 21, 2015
Excellent book! I received this book as a gift. It took me a while to find the time to read it, but once I started I couldn’t put it down. I love that the story takes place in Arizona! Having grown up in Arizona and having been on many Boy Scout campouts in the desert, this book hit home and came alive for me. There is so much mystery in the old artifacts found in the desert, it makes you think about all those who lived or passed through. After I was done my wife picked it up and read the whole book in two afternoons. Can’t wait for the sequel. I would definitely recommend this book!
January 24, 2015
This book is a page turner! I loved every second. This book keeps you interested as the the story unfolds. I never felt bored or like rushing through areas; I was devoted 100%. Every character is interesting and I found I truly care for them...well most if them ;) I recommend this book to everyone, because who doesn't like adventure mixed with mystery and a little bit of love/fate/destiny and action all rolled in together.
April 5, 2015
Jesse Ballard, an orphan, is sent to a ranch for troubled young men. He struggles to get along with the other young men and with the ranch staff. Strange things happen to him and he finds himself at the center of an ancient battle between good and evil.
With a strong male protagonist, Arivaca will be a hit with young men and women alike. The story blends Western ranch life with ancient Christian relics and brings to life a thrilling action adventure.
With a strong male protagonist, Arivaca will be a hit with young men and women alike. The story blends Western ranch life with ancient Christian relics and brings to life a thrilling action adventure.
August 5, 2015
Pretty good story--imaginative and not your usual setting, but I found the writing to be a bit clunky. Also, I found the interactions between some of the characters to be a bit forced, especially Jesse and Cedar. However, the plot kept me interested and I liked that it was different. I'm not familiar with the author, but if this was a debut novel, I'm impressed and hope he continues with a sequel.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this.
March 5, 2015
Great book! The imagery used by John kept me on the edge of my seat like watching a movie. I felt like I was in the action with Jesse. I couldn't put the book down. This book had my attention just like the Tennis Shoes among the Nephite series. I cant wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.
December 22, 2015
Wow! This debut novel does not disappoint, on any level. The characters are well developed. The plot is masterful, mixing ancient relics, magical powers, good and evil, all within a very contemporary setting on a ranch in Arizona for troubled young men! I highly recommend it and eagerly await the sequel!
January 28, 2015
I loved it...but then again I wrote it.
Currently reading
March 13, 2015Just got my Autographed copy of this First Reads Book!!!
February 8, 2017
Jesse three years earlier had gained the reputation of being an athletic phenomenon. Jesse was an orphan and lived with his aunt Diane and two daughters who loved Jesse Jesse found it harder that he thought it would be to watch his aunt and the girls go. . But today was the fifth anniversary of his mother’s death that Jesse blames himself for. He wanted the pain to go away. He was waiting for Dirk to get a fix. He had stolen fifteen dollars from his aa Aunt Diane. His aunt nagged him to get a job. Jesse had been with his deal and didn’t know until it was too late he was robbing a store. Jesse was running and seen three doors in the alley , one was partially open and Jesse went in the door He saw some stairs and started down them and slipped .Then Jesse sees his dead mom and she says”Jesse stop running, It’s time to meet your destiny”. Then before he knew it Jesse was in a cop car. Jesse felt a burning sensation above his heart and now there was two blue triangles above his heart. One triangle pointed up and one pointed down and inside were three symbols. Jesse has to go to a ranch in Arizona for one year instead of a jail sentence. Jesse learned through research that the 3 marks in the triangle were letters of the Hebrew alphabet Jesse had originally sentenced to two years in prison but then an old man came forth and talked to the judge and the judge changed Jesse's sentence to one year in the therapeutic boarding school for young men -The Arizona Ranch Jesse loved reading about history not sports and everyone in the school thought thought Jesse was a traitor Jesse found people and relationships just made life more complicated. Dan headed the ranch and Brian was second in charge. There were usually forty to fifty boys that stayed on the ranch at a time.. The boys are divided into posses of five- six boys . Jesse saved a boy from a runaway horse. Jesse posse was called the Side Winders. Cadar was a female on the ranch and called the horse whisperer. There was something about the new guy that stirred unfamiliar feelings inside of Cedar. Being close to Cedar rattled the fringes of Jesse’s mind. Jesse spent his time with an old ranch hand named Paco.Jesse os told he has been chosen for a mission Jesse doesn’t believe Paco it at first but then things fall into place and jesse then accepts his role of Guardian of an ancient religious relic. Jesse must first find the relic. The Evil One wants the relic which is the breast piece of judgement. The Evil One wants to get his hands on the relic as well as a couple of others. Cedar is the Shield which helps prevent the Evil one from seeing where the relics are. Jesse had been anointed from the past protector that is why he had magical powers. I didn’t love this book , I didn’t hate it. I think this dragged a lot at least for me. Also some of the interactions in the story seemed forced and characters changed and some not for the better. I did like seeing Jesse understand everything Paco told him to be true and he takes his new position in life seriously. Although i found a lot of the dialogue immature for the ages of the characters. I didn’t like how Jesse acted toward Cedar at first even if he felt it would save face. But this story did have a lot of things in it such as: Evil One, religious relics, danger,a action, suspense, bad boys, romance, lives in danger, a human shield and protector, and much more. I am sure others will love it just wasn’t for me.
dnf
September 21, 2022The synopsis makes it sound great. However, it was too modern for me - I prefer much more fantasy in my fantasy books.
I kept forgetting our MC is closer to 20 than he is 10 because this reads like a Middle Grade - even though our MC is 15+ years old.
As others have mentioned, it has a HOLES feel to it which is great.
It has the typical early 2010s YA instalove compulsory-romance story line. Not my thing.
This was also too religious for me. I don't mind angels and demons etc but when you're specifically talking about God (from Christianty/Judaism) and specific passages from "The Bible", I'm out.
The writing is very basic and a bit repetitive. For example, about 60% through, there is a paragraph of just 4-5 sentences where "Breastplate" was repeated over and over, rather than just saying "it" or "that".
I kept forgetting our MC is closer to 20 than he is 10 because this reads like a Middle Grade - even though our MC is 15+ years old.
As others have mentioned, it has a HOLES feel to it which is great.
It has the typical early 2010s YA instalove compulsory-romance story line. Not my thing.
This was also too religious for me. I don't mind angels and demons etc but when you're specifically talking about God (from Christianty/Judaism) and specific passages from "The Bible", I'm out.
The writing is very basic and a bit repetitive. For example, about 60% through, there is a paragraph of just 4-5 sentences where "Breastplate" was repeated over and over, rather than just saying "it" or "that".
April 18, 2024
Arivaca Guardians of the Light by John Poulsen
338 Pages
Publisher: Folded Corners, AuthorBuzz
Release Date: December 13, 2014
Fiction, Teens, Young Adult, Mystery, Thrillers, Sci Fi, Religious Items
After a failed attempted robbery, Jesse gets knocked out and saw a vision of his mother. She told him it was time to face his destiny. When he opened his eyes, he was on a gurney and had two blue triangle tattoos on his chest. He had no idea ow they got there. Instead of a jail term, he was sent to Arivaca, a therapeutic rehabilitation ranch for troubled youths in the southwest United States.
Upon arrival, Jesse makes an impossible rescue of a boy on a runaway horse. Paco, a worker at the ranch, tells Jesse about the Breastplate of Judgment, being a Protector, and the evil group known as the Followers of Cain. Paco performed an ordination on Jesse. Now with his newfound powers, he sees Cedar Lane, a young woman working at the ranch, in a new light. She literally glows when he looks at her. Jesse needs to find the biblical treasure and protect it from Satan and his minions.
The concept of a youth camp for troubled teens with treasure reminded me of the book and movie, Hoot. If you would like a young adult version of the DaVinci Code, you will enjoy reading this book.
338 Pages
Publisher: Folded Corners, AuthorBuzz
Release Date: December 13, 2014
Fiction, Teens, Young Adult, Mystery, Thrillers, Sci Fi, Religious Items
After a failed attempted robbery, Jesse gets knocked out and saw a vision of his mother. She told him it was time to face his destiny. When he opened his eyes, he was on a gurney and had two blue triangle tattoos on his chest. He had no idea ow they got there. Instead of a jail term, he was sent to Arivaca, a therapeutic rehabilitation ranch for troubled youths in the southwest United States.
Upon arrival, Jesse makes an impossible rescue of a boy on a runaway horse. Paco, a worker at the ranch, tells Jesse about the Breastplate of Judgment, being a Protector, and the evil group known as the Followers of Cain. Paco performed an ordination on Jesse. Now with his newfound powers, he sees Cedar Lane, a young woman working at the ranch, in a new light. She literally glows when he looks at her. Jesse needs to find the biblical treasure and protect it from Satan and his minions.
The concept of a youth camp for troubled teens with treasure reminded me of the book and movie, Hoot. If you would like a young adult version of the DaVinci Code, you will enjoy reading this book.
September 23, 2015
Obligations first: I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Arivaca starts off reminding you a bit of the book (or movie) Holes, by Louis Sachar. Kid gets caught up in a crime, kid gets punished, kid gets sent to ranch out in the middle of arizona . Jesse, the main character, is an angry kid who's parents died, and now he's looking for an escape from his life. One day he finds it, just not in the way he expected it.
Jesse finds out, while working on the ranch, that he is what is called a Protector of a biblical artifact - the breastplate of judgement. He is forced to realize his destiny as truth when his life and that of the previous Protector are put in jeopardy. Multiple times. The 'Evil One" (basically, Satan) is determined to get his hands on the plate, as well as the Rod of Aaron and the Ark of the Covenant (2 other artifacts that other protectors around the world are watching) so that he can...well..they never got that far in explaining, I'm assuming do something bad.. Apparently, the Evil One has discovered the breastplate is close, and is actively looking for it (using human possessed by demons) So now Jesse needs to move it to a more secure location. But first he has to find it before the Evil One does. All while convincing the horse whisperer, Cedar, she is a Shield, which helps prevent the Evil One from seeing where it is. Cedar doesn't like Jesse much, thanks to his attitude every time they talk, and well, it literally takes divine intervention before she believes. Together they finally join up to keep the breastplate safe. Unfortunately, their lives are in more jeopardy than Jesse even knows, and now Jesse doesn't know who to trust.
Reading this book was hard for me to get through just because of the way some people talk. I'm sorry, but a non-religious, rebellious teenager is not going to say something like 'what the crap!' or call someone a 'jerk' It's obvious that this book is written for younger audiences and/or written by someone really religious. I'm betting on the latter, considering the content is about biblical artifacts. I rolled my eyes at the dialogue so many times I'm surprised they've not unscrewed out of my face. Besides the childlike dialogue, too much happened on the ranch that was supposed to be court ordered 'punishment' for me to believe that that's what it was. Sometimes I think the author forgot that this was supposed to be a regimented program for the kids. And what happens near the end of the book "for love" is complete bull. That wouldn't happen anywhere, ever, in the same instance in real life. Cedar's reactions would have been spot on, and the ranch owner would have reiterated the things Cedar said to Jesse, and Cedar probably would have been fired for misconduct, even though she SAID one thing, she did another.
Other than that, the story was pretty well written and had a good plotline. The digital copy I received had some printing errors at the end of the book where parts of the book was repeated, so I'm hoping that was edited out in the published editions, but I didn't notice many grammar or spelling errors that screamed out at me.
I will probably read the other books in the series, just because I'm a book addict, however, I think the people that will get the most enjoyment out of this book are younger pre-teens, or maybe older if they're into christian fiction.
Arivaca starts off reminding you a bit of the book (or movie) Holes, by Louis Sachar. Kid gets caught up in a crime, kid gets punished, kid gets sent to ranch out in the middle of arizona . Jesse, the main character, is an angry kid who's parents died, and now he's looking for an escape from his life. One day he finds it, just not in the way he expected it.
Jesse finds out, while working on the ranch, that he is what is called a Protector of a biblical artifact - the breastplate of judgement. He is forced to realize his destiny as truth when his life and that of the previous Protector are put in jeopardy. Multiple times. The 'Evil One" (basically, Satan) is determined to get his hands on the plate, as well as the Rod of Aaron and the Ark of the Covenant (2 other artifacts that other protectors around the world are watching) so that he can...well..they never got that far in explaining, I'm assuming do something bad.. Apparently, the Evil One has discovered the breastplate is close, and is actively looking for it (using human possessed by demons) So now Jesse needs to move it to a more secure location. But first he has to find it before the Evil One does. All while convincing the horse whisperer, Cedar, she is a Shield, which helps prevent the Evil One from seeing where it is. Cedar doesn't like Jesse much, thanks to his attitude every time they talk, and well, it literally takes divine intervention before she believes. Together they finally join up to keep the breastplate safe. Unfortunately, their lives are in more jeopardy than Jesse even knows, and now Jesse doesn't know who to trust.
Reading this book was hard for me to get through just because of the way some people talk. I'm sorry, but a non-religious, rebellious teenager is not going to say something like 'what the crap!' or call someone a 'jerk' It's obvious that this book is written for younger audiences and/or written by someone really religious. I'm betting on the latter, considering the content is about biblical artifacts. I rolled my eyes at the dialogue so many times I'm surprised they've not unscrewed out of my face. Besides the childlike dialogue, too much happened on the ranch that was supposed to be court ordered 'punishment' for me to believe that that's what it was. Sometimes I think the author forgot that this was supposed to be a regimented program for the kids. And what happens near the end of the book "for love" is complete bull. That wouldn't happen anywhere, ever, in the same instance in real life. Cedar's reactions would have been spot on, and the ranch owner would have reiterated the things Cedar said to Jesse, and Cedar probably would have been fired for misconduct, even though she SAID one thing, she did another.
Other than that, the story was pretty well written and had a good plotline. The digital copy I received had some printing errors at the end of the book where parts of the book was repeated, so I'm hoping that was edited out in the published editions, but I didn't notice many grammar or spelling errors that screamed out at me.
I will probably read the other books in the series, just because I'm a book addict, however, I think the people that will get the most enjoyment out of this book are younger pre-teens, or maybe older if they're into christian fiction.
September 2, 2015
Trouble always seems to find Jesse Ballard. After inadvertently assisting in a robbery while hanging with the wrong crowd, Jesse is sent to a boys’ camp in Arivaca, Arizona for troubled youth. Once there, things take a fantastical twist. Jesse learns that the speed and strength he has always taken for granted as an athlete actually mark him as the next Protector of the famed Breastplate of Judgment from Solomon’s temple, long thought lost to history. Having been anointed by the past Protector causing his strength and speed to become superhuman, Jesse must work with Cedar – an attractive female working on the ranch - to move the Breastplate before demonic forces find it.
This story is one that is hard to categorize and even harder to review. It is a bit like Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, but with a Christian angle. There is also a romance side story which takes physical interactions to the peak of sexual tension, and then stops, which is a bit Twilight-like in nature. Unfortunately the dialogue is problematic. Though the author avoids using profanity, the actual issue is that the book is written about young adults, and yet some of the speech patterns and descriptions just don’t ring true to that age group. For example, at one point several of the boys “spewed vulgarities at each other.” This could be the author avoiding expletives, however, from the context it seemed more like they were just joking around and that the more appropriate phrase would be “talking smack” or even just teased/harassed each other. There was also a bit of a plot hole: if the location of the breastplate became suddenly unprotected months before Jesse even arrived, why are the problems only starting now? Shouldn’t the Evil One be a bit quicker than that?
Despite these issues, there is definite improvement in the writing as the story went along. It did seem hard going from the beginning until about a third of the way into the book, however at this point the plot began to smooth out and the pace picked up considerably. If some of the earlier parts could be finessed a bit, the story would be much easier to launch into. All in all, this is a solid effort in a difficult genre and the plot is very creative with an interesting interpretation of biblical history. Though the story does not wow, it is compelling reading once it gets going, and would be interesting to see developed into a series.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this story from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story is one that is hard to categorize and even harder to review. It is a bit like Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, but with a Christian angle. There is also a romance side story which takes physical interactions to the peak of sexual tension, and then stops, which is a bit Twilight-like in nature. Unfortunately the dialogue is problematic. Though the author avoids using profanity, the actual issue is that the book is written about young adults, and yet some of the speech patterns and descriptions just don’t ring true to that age group. For example, at one point several of the boys “spewed vulgarities at each other.” This could be the author avoiding expletives, however, from the context it seemed more like they were just joking around and that the more appropriate phrase would be “talking smack” or even just teased/harassed each other. There was also a bit of a plot hole: if the location of the breastplate became suddenly unprotected months before Jesse even arrived, why are the problems only starting now? Shouldn’t the Evil One be a bit quicker than that?
Despite these issues, there is definite improvement in the writing as the story went along. It did seem hard going from the beginning until about a third of the way into the book, however at this point the plot began to smooth out and the pace picked up considerably. If some of the earlier parts could be finessed a bit, the story would be much easier to launch into. All in all, this is a solid effort in a difficult genre and the plot is very creative with an interesting interpretation of biblical history. Though the story does not wow, it is compelling reading once it gets going, and would be interesting to see developed into a series.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this story from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2015
I must admit - I am completely hooked on this story. Jesse is a struggling 18 year old orphan being raised by his single aunt who has children of her own. He is smoking and hanging out with bad news boys and eventually gets into trouble with the police landing himself on a ranch for troubled boys. There he meets his destiny - literally - Paco and Cedar. His trust for other people is low and it takes him some time to develop the patience required for him to form new relationships and make new friends. As the book progresses, he seems to mature, calm down, and begin to use common sense to accomplish what is required.
Jesse and Cedar have an amazing dynamic that I want to read more about. I love the way they interact and how their relationship blosoms and then ebbs as they find comfort and understanding with each other. I also appreciated the fact that they began not liking each other and then slowly started to realize that they were good for each other and with each other. My only disappointment is that their relationship did not develop into something more in this book. We definitely get the clear picture that they are meant for each other, but Cedar has not come to realize this yet and Jesse is not pushing her (which is awesome because he is allowing her to develop her feelings on her own).
I read some reviews where some folks thought this book was slow paced.... I humbly disagree. I loved the scene descriptions and the development of the land, ranch, and characters which allowed me to better see and understand the story. I actually thought quiet the opposite.... I thought that this book was very well paced and toward the last 25% of the book it actually picked up the speed so much so that I could not read fast enough due to my unbelievable anticipation. John Poulsen seems to have a very effective and easy way with words. I thought his writing style was clear and interesting, easy to understand, and extremely well written.
I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end despite some holes being left behind in this first novel; however, a second books seems 100% inevitable so I am hoping that all open issues will be resolved in book 2 and beyond (I hope to see a multi-book series out of this). Thank you for an amazing journey and I hope I can have the privilege of visiting Jesse and Cedar on their next journey really soon - I can't wait to find out what happens in London.
Thank you to AuthorBuzz and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jesse and Cedar have an amazing dynamic that I want to read more about. I love the way they interact and how their relationship blosoms and then ebbs as they find comfort and understanding with each other. I also appreciated the fact that they began not liking each other and then slowly started to realize that they were good for each other and with each other. My only disappointment is that their relationship did not develop into something more in this book. We definitely get the clear picture that they are meant for each other, but Cedar has not come to realize this yet and Jesse is not pushing her (which is awesome because he is allowing her to develop her feelings on her own).
I read some reviews where some folks thought this book was slow paced.... I humbly disagree. I loved the scene descriptions and the development of the land, ranch, and characters which allowed me to better see and understand the story. I actually thought quiet the opposite.... I thought that this book was very well paced and toward the last 25% of the book it actually picked up the speed so much so that I could not read fast enough due to my unbelievable anticipation. John Poulsen seems to have a very effective and easy way with words. I thought his writing style was clear and interesting, easy to understand, and extremely well written.
I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end despite some holes being left behind in this first novel; however, a second books seems 100% inevitable so I am hoping that all open issues will be resolved in book 2 and beyond (I hope to see a multi-book series out of this). Thank you for an amazing journey and I hope I can have the privilege of visiting Jesse and Cedar on their next journey really soon - I can't wait to find out what happens in London.
Thank you to AuthorBuzz and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2015
Book Review:
ARIVACA: Guardians of the Light
By John Poulsen
Debut Author John Poulsen weaves a fascinating tale about an 18 year old troubled youth, Jesse, who will inherit more than he’s ever dreamed. Jesse gets into trouble, appears in court and instead of going to jail, an unknown person intercedes on his behalf. He is sent to a therapeutic boarding school for young men called the Arivaca Ranch. From the moment he arrived at the ranch, things change drastically for Jesse. While he knew he was physically strong and had superior athletic speed, he finally learns why.
Evil comes into play when he meets a guardian of an ancient biblical relic that wants Jesse to take over guardianship. The story adventure is a little bit of Holes, meets Indiana Jones with an added layer of supernatural adversaries to keep Jesse on his toes.
He meets Cedar who becomes his co-guardian as a shield to cloak the relic from others finding it. As tradition of guardians, a legacy is passed down from each generation of guardian to the next. Only Jesse’s guardianship takes many unexpected turns as catastrophe upon catastrophe hinder his new guardianship.
The relic, the ancient Breastplate of Judgment with the oracle device Urim and Thummin together with the Rod of Aaron and the Ark of the Covenant all date to the time of Moses. All three disappeared from the Bible when Solomon’s Temple was destroyed in 600 B.C. This is where John Poulsen’s tale takes the reins of history to create a wonderful cast of characters that must keep these supernatural relics from the hands of Satan and his followers. This is the first of a trilogy as the story continues with Jesse and Cedar searching out the other guardians of the other two relics. They know each are in danger. With the combination of the three guardians and the three shields, they will have to continue in battling the evil that wants the relics at all costs.
To learn when the sequels will be coming out, follow John Poulsen through his Goodreads account at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
FTC Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this title by Net Galley for review purposes only. No other compensation was awarded.
ARIVACA: Guardians of the Light
By John Poulsen
Debut Author John Poulsen weaves a fascinating tale about an 18 year old troubled youth, Jesse, who will inherit more than he’s ever dreamed. Jesse gets into trouble, appears in court and instead of going to jail, an unknown person intercedes on his behalf. He is sent to a therapeutic boarding school for young men called the Arivaca Ranch. From the moment he arrived at the ranch, things change drastically for Jesse. While he knew he was physically strong and had superior athletic speed, he finally learns why.
Evil comes into play when he meets a guardian of an ancient biblical relic that wants Jesse to take over guardianship. The story adventure is a little bit of Holes, meets Indiana Jones with an added layer of supernatural adversaries to keep Jesse on his toes.
He meets Cedar who becomes his co-guardian as a shield to cloak the relic from others finding it. As tradition of guardians, a legacy is passed down from each generation of guardian to the next. Only Jesse’s guardianship takes many unexpected turns as catastrophe upon catastrophe hinder his new guardianship.
The relic, the ancient Breastplate of Judgment with the oracle device Urim and Thummin together with the Rod of Aaron and the Ark of the Covenant all date to the time of Moses. All three disappeared from the Bible when Solomon’s Temple was destroyed in 600 B.C. This is where John Poulsen’s tale takes the reins of history to create a wonderful cast of characters that must keep these supernatural relics from the hands of Satan and his followers. This is the first of a trilogy as the story continues with Jesse and Cedar searching out the other guardians of the other two relics. They know each are in danger. With the combination of the three guardians and the three shields, they will have to continue in battling the evil that wants the relics at all costs.
To learn when the sequels will be coming out, follow John Poulsen through his Goodreads account at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
FTC Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this title by Net Galley for review purposes only. No other compensation was awarded.
August 25, 2015
I was provided an advanced reading copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lets get started. This book had an interesting premise and I was pretty excited to see where it went. Mix a little ancient history with a priceless treasure? Sign me up. While Arivaca started off well enough it just never took off for me.
Initially I didn't like the MC Jesse. He overcompensated for his insecurities in the most typically annoying male ways (hitting on the girl at the ranch and being so short tempered that I actually rolled my eyes while reading). But as the story progressed he actually becomes a multi layered character and feels relatable. Ironically, while I ended up liking Jesse the other MC Cedar became so grating halfway through that I nearly DNF. She goes from being a strong female character with stinging comebacks to a damsel in distress cliche that was cringe worthy. I can't pin down exactly what annoyed me so much about Jesse and Cedar's path to a relationship but it left me unimpressed.
Now let's move on to the writing style and dialogue. The writing style was fine and I feel like I could see the ranch (which is saying something - I have never seen a ranch or farm before in my life). I loved the concept of the boys ranch , it was similar to the book Hole's without feeling like it was trying to be. However , the dialogue felt extremely juvenile despite the MC's being adults (20 and 18 years old). They actually say things like "darn" and "what the crap". I can say as a 22 year old I do t know anyone near my age that talks like that. I can understand if the author doesn't want a bunch of F-bombs all over the book, but really? It probably would have been better if they just didn't use language like that at all, anywhere.
One last thing to ponder: the religious aspect. It must be very hard for authors to find a happy medium when it comes to books like these because very few God-fantasy related books I've read have done it well. I find they are usually a little heavy on the religion aspect and a little light everywhere else. But that's just my opinion.
Despite my many problems with Arivaca I think this is the perfect book for someone, just not me.
Lets get started. This book had an interesting premise and I was pretty excited to see where it went. Mix a little ancient history with a priceless treasure? Sign me up. While Arivaca started off well enough it just never took off for me.
Initially I didn't like the MC Jesse. He overcompensated for his insecurities in the most typically annoying male ways (hitting on the girl at the ranch and being so short tempered that I actually rolled my eyes while reading). But as the story progressed he actually becomes a multi layered character and feels relatable. Ironically, while I ended up liking Jesse the other MC Cedar became so grating halfway through that I nearly DNF. She goes from being a strong female character with stinging comebacks to a damsel in distress cliche that was cringe worthy. I can't pin down exactly what annoyed me so much about Jesse and Cedar's path to a relationship but it left me unimpressed.
Now let's move on to the writing style and dialogue. The writing style was fine and I feel like I could see the ranch (which is saying something - I have never seen a ranch or farm before in my life). I loved the concept of the boys ranch , it was similar to the book Hole's without feeling like it was trying to be. However , the dialogue felt extremely juvenile despite the MC's being adults (20 and 18 years old). They actually say things like "darn" and "what the crap". I can say as a 22 year old I do t know anyone near my age that talks like that. I can understand if the author doesn't want a bunch of F-bombs all over the book, but really? It probably would have been better if they just didn't use language like that at all, anywhere.
One last thing to ponder: the religious aspect. It must be very hard for authors to find a happy medium when it comes to books like these because very few God-fantasy related books I've read have done it well. I find they are usually a little heavy on the religion aspect and a little light everywhere else. But that's just my opinion.
Despite my many problems with Arivaca I think this is the perfect book for someone, just not me.
February 28, 2016
Arivaca was an easy, gentle read for me. As a Christian, I was intrigued with Mr. Poulson's modern twist on an age old story from the Bible. As a reader of supernatural/YA, this was a book with deep thought and occasional action. That said, when I combine my two halves, I enjoyed this book with a "gentle sway" kind of feeling.
We find Jesse, a troubled, orphaned teen unable to find any real meaning in his life. He stumbles into a bad situation that ends up being a blessing in disguise. He finds himself placed on a ranch for troubled boys. Here he finds himself on a journey of faith and self-discovery.
Arivaca is a place of structure where troubled boys can get away from their bad influences, learn to work with others as well as how to make and keep lifelong friendships. Mr. Poulson introduces a number of characters. These characters are pivotal in Jesse's journey. I enjoyed that Mr. Poulson gave you just enough information on each character to explain their impact on Jesse's life without delving deep into their background boring me, There is definitely no doubt that Jesse is the primary character.
I do have to admit though, that I thought Cedar was a little too good to be true as well as confusing.
Jesse is in high school, under 18, and here comes this college graduate that works on the ranch helping with these troubled boys. She is loved by all, gentle and caring, easily and quickly forgiving. Yet Mr. Poulson creates a bond that is both spiritual and intimate. No, I don't mean they have hot and heavy sex. Mr. Poulson creates an intimate relationship between Jesse and Cedar that is gentle, respectful and caring. In my opinion, it borders on inappropriate because of their ages and Cedar's position.
Overall, this is a book that puts a modern twist on some of the stories in the Bible. Mr. Poulson made the Bible relevant to our time. He opens the reader's eye to the fact that evil and demons wear the face of humanity, that satan doesn't have to pull evil out of the depths of hell because there are any number of humans he can recruit to his side.
We find Jesse, a troubled, orphaned teen unable to find any real meaning in his life. He stumbles into a bad situation that ends up being a blessing in disguise. He finds himself placed on a ranch for troubled boys. Here he finds himself on a journey of faith and self-discovery.
Arivaca is a place of structure where troubled boys can get away from their bad influences, learn to work with others as well as how to make and keep lifelong friendships. Mr. Poulson introduces a number of characters. These characters are pivotal in Jesse's journey. I enjoyed that Mr. Poulson gave you just enough information on each character to explain their impact on Jesse's life without delving deep into their background boring me, There is definitely no doubt that Jesse is the primary character.
I do have to admit though, that I thought Cedar was a little too good to be true as well as confusing.
Jesse is in high school, under 18, and here comes this college graduate that works on the ranch helping with these troubled boys. She is loved by all, gentle and caring, easily and quickly forgiving. Yet Mr. Poulson creates a bond that is both spiritual and intimate. No, I don't mean they have hot and heavy sex. Mr. Poulson creates an intimate relationship between Jesse and Cedar that is gentle, respectful and caring. In my opinion, it borders on inappropriate because of their ages and Cedar's position.
Overall, this is a book that puts a modern twist on some of the stories in the Bible. Mr. Poulson made the Bible relevant to our time. He opens the reader's eye to the fact that evil and demons wear the face of humanity, that satan doesn't have to pull evil out of the depths of hell because there are any number of humans he can recruit to his side.
May 14, 2015
When first meeting Jesse, I felt sorry for him. I even wondered if it would be possible for him to have a big turn around in the story. But then I learned Jesse had a different side to him that didn’t quite fit with the stoner bad boy stuff. I’m not even sure that a person exists out in the real world like him, so it threw me off a little. Then couple that with the fact that the beginning of the story seemed to drag and the conversations seemed a little unnatural, and I just wasn’t feeling this story in the beginning. Oh, and the minor characters all fell flat.
But, I did slowly start seeing more depth to Jesse, and a slow change began happening in him. That seemed realistic. The book slowly started gaining appeal.
After 30% in it finally grabbed my attention. A good romance began to slowly build along with sexual tension. Exciting and dangerous adventures began taking place. There were some gruesome and violent situations that I think would appeal to male readers.
The ending is slightly cliffhangerish. You get the end of a storyline, but are still left hanging in many ways.
Summation and final thoughts ~ It took a while for this book to grab my attention, but ultimately it did and I would read the next book. I enjoyed the slow change in Jesse’s character and the slow romance building. However, I found it strange to be enjoying some sexual tension in a book about saving God’s relics. I didn’t feel like there was enough significance placed on the actual items Jesse was meant to protect. Ultimately it felt like you could have swapped out God’s relics for anything and made very little changes to the story and it would have still made sense. That might have been because I would have expected a stronger presence from God and/or a heart change in Jesse towards God, but those were nonissues in this story.
*I received a copy via NetGalley and Folded Corners in exchange for an honest review.*
But, I did slowly start seeing more depth to Jesse, and a slow change began happening in him. That seemed realistic. The book slowly started gaining appeal.
After 30% in it finally grabbed my attention. A good romance began to slowly build along with sexual tension. Exciting and dangerous adventures began taking place. There were some gruesome and violent situations that I think would appeal to male readers.
The ending is slightly cliffhangerish. You get the end of a storyline, but are still left hanging in many ways.
Summation and final thoughts ~ It took a while for this book to grab my attention, but ultimately it did and I would read the next book. I enjoyed the slow change in Jesse’s character and the slow romance building. However, I found it strange to be enjoying some sexual tension in a book about saving God’s relics. I didn’t feel like there was enough significance placed on the actual items Jesse was meant to protect. Ultimately it felt like you could have swapped out God’s relics for anything and made very little changes to the story and it would have still made sense. That might have been because I would have expected a stronger presence from God and/or a heart change in Jesse towards God, but those were nonissues in this story.
*I received a copy via NetGalley and Folded Corners in exchange for an honest review.*
April 10, 2015
ARC provided by NetGalley and Folded Corners
Arivaca by John Poulsen was such an enjoyable book. It started out strong and just kept going. We watch as Jesse changes from being a young punk with no clear direction in life into an action hero for whom we can all cheer. His gradual transformation was, at times, heart-wrenching, suspenseful and heroic. Jesse was truly someone you want to win. The other characters of Paco and Cedar were also very well written and people you would like to know.
The story itself was very enjoyable. I really liked the suspense and every time I thought I knew who the bad guy was, I was wrong. I love when that happens. Good job, Mr. Poulsen! Another thing I liked was that the book was set in Arizona. That was a nice change of pace. I also liked the Biblical aspect of the treasure. There was really a lot to like about this book.
Unfortunately, there was one little thing I had a problem with as I was reading the book and that was some of the writing. It was a little “flowery.” I noticed it mainly at the beginning. I don’t know if it went away or if I just got used to it. An example is at the very beginning when the author writes, “His head pounded, plagued by bitter memories that tore into his brain like the imbedded claws of a hammer.” Seriously?!? Imbedded claws?? A little farther we read that “The guilt was haunting, and like a bloodthirsty vampire in pursuit of a juicy neck; he was hell bent on getting something to mask his pain.” Not a major flaw, but still a bit distracting. And, I don’t blame the author as much as the editor(s).
Overall, I really did enjoy the book and thought the story was fast-paced and fun. I also thought it was different and something readers of all ages would enjoy. I look forward to the next book!
Arivaca by John Poulsen was such an enjoyable book. It started out strong and just kept going. We watch as Jesse changes from being a young punk with no clear direction in life into an action hero for whom we can all cheer. His gradual transformation was, at times, heart-wrenching, suspenseful and heroic. Jesse was truly someone you want to win. The other characters of Paco and Cedar were also very well written and people you would like to know.
The story itself was very enjoyable. I really liked the suspense and every time I thought I knew who the bad guy was, I was wrong. I love when that happens. Good job, Mr. Poulsen! Another thing I liked was that the book was set in Arizona. That was a nice change of pace. I also liked the Biblical aspect of the treasure. There was really a lot to like about this book.
Unfortunately, there was one little thing I had a problem with as I was reading the book and that was some of the writing. It was a little “flowery.” I noticed it mainly at the beginning. I don’t know if it went away or if I just got used to it. An example is at the very beginning when the author writes, “His head pounded, plagued by bitter memories that tore into his brain like the imbedded claws of a hammer.” Seriously?!? Imbedded claws?? A little farther we read that “The guilt was haunting, and like a bloodthirsty vampire in pursuit of a juicy neck; he was hell bent on getting something to mask his pain.” Not a major flaw, but still a bit distracting. And, I don’t blame the author as much as the editor(s).
Overall, I really did enjoy the book and thought the story was fast-paced and fun. I also thought it was different and something readers of all ages would enjoy. I look forward to the next book!
April 8, 2015
Disclaimer: ARC copy from Netgalley.
Arivaca, by John Poulsen, is a really good book. It started out slow, with a typical story line of an angry teenager having something weird happen to him and he gets thrown on a ranch to avoid jail. Then, it gets interesting because he learns that he is supposed to be the new Protector of one of three treasures from King Solomon's Temple from the time of ancient Israel. He is supposed to be guarding the Breastplate, which has the oracle stones which allow one to see the future and the past when looked through. His destiny is to move it before the "Evil One" can find it, because he's getting close. However, before he can find out where the Breastplate is, the previous Protector is murdered. On his own, the only person he can turn to is a woman who hates him. However, when he looks at her, she glows. He learned from the previous Protector she is called a Shield and her job is to hide the treasure from the Evil One. Unfortunately, she knows nothing of this. He has to convince her he's not crazy, find the Breastplate, move it, and escape the Evil One.
The characters in this novel are actually okay. They start out pretty bad, with bad dialogue, but it progresses from there and they actually start to develop as people. Once their characters start to develop, it's actually interesting to watch their growth. The chemistry between the Protector and Shield seems forced at times, but eventually settles out and becomes more natural. As a first novel, this is a good try.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious books, those who like stories involving archaeology, and those who like stories involving demons. I'd be interested in reading the next one in the series.
Arivaca, by John Poulsen, is a really good book. It started out slow, with a typical story line of an angry teenager having something weird happen to him and he gets thrown on a ranch to avoid jail. Then, it gets interesting because he learns that he is supposed to be the new Protector of one of three treasures from King Solomon's Temple from the time of ancient Israel. He is supposed to be guarding the Breastplate, which has the oracle stones which allow one to see the future and the past when looked through. His destiny is to move it before the "Evil One" can find it, because he's getting close. However, before he can find out where the Breastplate is, the previous Protector is murdered. On his own, the only person he can turn to is a woman who hates him. However, when he looks at her, she glows. He learned from the previous Protector she is called a Shield and her job is to hide the treasure from the Evil One. Unfortunately, she knows nothing of this. He has to convince her he's not crazy, find the Breastplate, move it, and escape the Evil One.
The characters in this novel are actually okay. They start out pretty bad, with bad dialogue, but it progresses from there and they actually start to develop as people. Once their characters start to develop, it's actually interesting to watch their growth. The chemistry between the Protector and Shield seems forced at times, but eventually settles out and becomes more natural. As a first novel, this is a good try.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious books, those who like stories involving archaeology, and those who like stories involving demons. I'd be interested in reading the next one in the series.
October 1, 2015
Jesse has been convicted of a crime and is going to prison. A little white hair, hunched over man talks to the judge and Jesse finds himself going to a ranch for troubled boys. Jesse is resentful. When he arrives at the ranch, a small boy on a runaway horse is rescued by Jesse. Jesse sees a woman his age who is a horse whisperer. She teaches the boys about horses. The woman named Cedar doesn't care for Jesse as Jesse is overwhelmed by her. Jesse meets a man who works on the ranch named Paco. Paco tells Jesse that he must talk to him. Once Jesse and Paco get together, Jesse learns about his destiny. What is his destiny? As he learns about powers he has , he discovers his life is much more complicated than he expected. Will Jesse survive his destiny?
The novel is action-packed with twists and turns that add to the mystery. There is a little romance that hits the right spot in the book. The story is about good vs. evil.--besides being about treasures from the Old Testament. Jesse has trouble at first accepting his destiny. When a fellow cabin ate kills himself, Jesse is upset and wishes he could had prevented it. One aspect that I saw was that Jesse had to learn to deal with his anger as it can get in his way. He also started learning to be modest which can be difficult when people think you are a hero. Jesse has started on the "journey of the hero." It ends with a new beginning for the next book. I enjoyed this story. It's a story that is great for teen and adults to read!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The novel is action-packed with twists and turns that add to the mystery. There is a little romance that hits the right spot in the book. The story is about good vs. evil.--besides being about treasures from the Old Testament. Jesse has trouble at first accepting his destiny. When a fellow cabin ate kills himself, Jesse is upset and wishes he could had prevented it. One aspect that I saw was that Jesse had to learn to deal with his anger as it can get in his way. He also started learning to be modest which can be difficult when people think you are a hero. Jesse has started on the "journey of the hero." It ends with a new beginning for the next book. I enjoyed this story. It's a story that is great for teen and adults to read!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
May 7, 2015
ARIVACA was a very good read and reminded me of Indiana Jones movies combined with bible references,
The story in this book at first is very slow while you are learning the story behind Jesse and the ancient artifact, but once you hit the midway point in the book the action and story picks up and is very fast paced and before you know it you are at the end of the book. The characters in this book are very well developed and are easy to like, the main character in this book is Jesse, he finds himself in all kinds of trouble throughout the book.
In this book you will seen Jesse in the wrong place at the wrong time and convicted of a crime he did not commit and when a strange man appears Jesse is sent to Arivaca Ranch for a sentence of one year instead of jail. While on the ranch Jesse meets many people the strangest of them all being one of the ranch employees Paco who is trying to tell Jesse that he is going to be a protector of an ancient artifact. In this book you will see Jesse and most of the other boys serving time at Arivaca Ranch come into danger at some point during this book, but what you will be most shocked at is who's is behind it all. You will also see enemies become friends and there will also be a love interest for Jesse, who turns out to be something other than is true love, you will see someone who you think is good turn into unthinkable awfulness. In this book you will also see a lot of deaths are people being shot at and you are waiting to make sure the good ones make it out ok.
This is not my normal type of read but I took a chance and read it, and I have to say I really enjoyed reading ARIVACA and given the chance I would definitely read the next book in the series.
The story in this book at first is very slow while you are learning the story behind Jesse and the ancient artifact, but once you hit the midway point in the book the action and story picks up and is very fast paced and before you know it you are at the end of the book. The characters in this book are very well developed and are easy to like, the main character in this book is Jesse, he finds himself in all kinds of trouble throughout the book.
In this book you will seen Jesse in the wrong place at the wrong time and convicted of a crime he did not commit and when a strange man appears Jesse is sent to Arivaca Ranch for a sentence of one year instead of jail. While on the ranch Jesse meets many people the strangest of them all being one of the ranch employees Paco who is trying to tell Jesse that he is going to be a protector of an ancient artifact. In this book you will see Jesse and most of the other boys serving time at Arivaca Ranch come into danger at some point during this book, but what you will be most shocked at is who's is behind it all. You will also see enemies become friends and there will also be a love interest for Jesse, who turns out to be something other than is true love, you will see someone who you think is good turn into unthinkable awfulness. In this book you will also see a lot of deaths are people being shot at and you are waiting to make sure the good ones make it out ok.
This is not my normal type of read but I took a chance and read it, and I have to say I really enjoyed reading ARIVACA and given the chance I would definitely read the next book in the series.
October 27, 2015
**I received an ARC of this title at no cost from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions voiced here are my own.**
I really wanted to like this book more than I did - not that I didn't like it, because I scored it 3 stars. I really thought the concept was interesting, I enjoyed the plot, and I liked that their were naturally developing relationships between the characters at the camp. There wasn't any insta-love, and it wasn't a given that the boys in the cabin would instantly like each other, which made it much more realistic. I'll continue to read the upcoming books, because I like the story line and the mystery that Mr. Poulson created.
The weaknesses in this story are in the dialogue and character interaction, the character development, and the author's writing style.
This story made a valiant attempt to be clean with the language, especially for certain characters, but when the author chose to use alternate words for curse words, that was what made the dialogue seem forced and awkward. In the meantime, other characters were only selectively careful with their language. I liked that the language tried to stay clean, because it really did fit the story; however, it certainly could have been more smooth and less corny.
The character development also could have assisted with eliminating some of the awkwardness of the story. A carefully developed character could pull off corny, curse-word substitutes; however, these characters weren't developed to the point that the language felt natural.
Finally, the writing style was very plain and very basic. It felt like a first novel, for sure, and I'm sure as the story continues in future books the writing will improve.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did - not that I didn't like it, because I scored it 3 stars. I really thought the concept was interesting, I enjoyed the plot, and I liked that their were naturally developing relationships between the characters at the camp. There wasn't any insta-love, and it wasn't a given that the boys in the cabin would instantly like each other, which made it much more realistic. I'll continue to read the upcoming books, because I like the story line and the mystery that Mr. Poulson created.
The weaknesses in this story are in the dialogue and character interaction, the character development, and the author's writing style.
This story made a valiant attempt to be clean with the language, especially for certain characters, but when the author chose to use alternate words for curse words, that was what made the dialogue seem forced and awkward. In the meantime, other characters were only selectively careful with their language. I liked that the language tried to stay clean, because it really did fit the story; however, it certainly could have been more smooth and less corny.
The character development also could have assisted with eliminating some of the awkwardness of the story. A carefully developed character could pull off corny, curse-word substitutes; however, these characters weren't developed to the point that the language felt natural.
Finally, the writing style was very plain and very basic. It felt like a first novel, for sure, and I'm sure as the story continues in future books the writing will improve.
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