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Drifter
Drifters
They come from a world, too far to tell
And wake in the moss of the first oak tree
A skill enhanced, like a magic spell
To help the people of Dunailie
Rylie Kelly’s day began on Earth, but ended in a world completely unknown to her.
Or so it seems.
Is this all a fantasy? A world of magic, a village built among the branches of an enormous oak tree, and a dilemma only Rylie can solve? It all seems too good to be true.
And what of the power she is told she’ll possess? Will Rylie’s companions trust her enough to accept her help? And can this uncertain girl from Earth learn to believe in herself well enough to claim her destiny?
Only time will tell, and if Rylie doesn’t figure it out, she may never see her family again.
They come from a world, too far to tell
And wake in the moss of the first oak tree
A skill enhanced, like a magic spell
To help the people of Dunailie
Rylie Kelly’s day began on Earth, but ended in a world completely unknown to her.
Or so it seems.
Is this all a fantasy? A world of magic, a village built among the branches of an enormous oak tree, and a dilemma only Rylie can solve? It all seems too good to be true.
And what of the power she is told she’ll possess? Will Rylie’s companions trust her enough to accept her help? And can this uncertain girl from Earth learn to believe in herself well enough to claim her destiny?
Only time will tell, and if Rylie doesn’t figure it out, she may never see her family again.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 11, 2026
I was given this book by my friend, who is not the author. I don't know the author.
It's a solid juvenile fiction fantasy; even though the kids are teens they all seem extremely sheltered and innocent.
The copy I received could use some editing, like most self-published books: grammar errors and missing punctuation. There were certainly portions that an editor would have recommended be removed to keep the story flowing.
My main issue with this story was with the main character's voice. Riley is a nearly orphaned, very sheltered teen but her letters to her mother, her monologues to the other characters, and thoughts to herself, all present as a self-aware, emotionally intelligent adult. The things this adult-voice says are so thoroughly thought-out that they read like a therapy script you read to learn how to overly express your message; encompassing any related thoughts tied to it. If you just take that message, without the context of it being in a kid's book, then it's beautiful. It just doesn't fit. It's not how growing humans speak or think.
Drifter is a story of a young person who gets sucked through a portal into another world (through drifting), which is very similar to earth. It doesn't have a strong fantasy component except that some people get special abilities but the how and why aren't explained. She meets a great bunch of kids, really the best people in the world; who are all loving, self-aware, emotionally intelligent people as well. The story is sweet and gentle with no surprising turn of events that would put anyone off. This would be considered a very 'safe' read by most parents.
Some parts of the other world are described in some detail, but I definitely needed more; descriptive contrasts with earth would have been engaging.
I would read her other books when they are released.
It's a solid juvenile fiction fantasy; even though the kids are teens they all seem extremely sheltered and innocent.
The copy I received could use some editing, like most self-published books: grammar errors and missing punctuation. There were certainly portions that an editor would have recommended be removed to keep the story flowing.
My main issue with this story was with the main character's voice. Riley is a nearly orphaned, very sheltered teen but her letters to her mother, her monologues to the other characters, and thoughts to herself, all present as a self-aware, emotionally intelligent adult. The things this adult-voice says are so thoroughly thought-out that they read like a therapy script you read to learn how to overly express your message; encompassing any related thoughts tied to it. If you just take that message, without the context of it being in a kid's book, then it's beautiful. It just doesn't fit. It's not how growing humans speak or think.
Drifter is a story of a young person who gets sucked through a portal into another world (through drifting), which is very similar to earth. It doesn't have a strong fantasy component except that some people get special abilities but the how and why aren't explained. She meets a great bunch of kids, really the best people in the world; who are all loving, self-aware, emotionally intelligent people as well. The story is sweet and gentle with no surprising turn of events that would put anyone off. This would be considered a very 'safe' read by most parents.
Some parts of the other world are described in some detail, but I definitely needed more; descriptive contrasts with earth would have been engaging.
I would read her other books when they are released.
January 22, 2026
I know this talented author well, but was amazed to learn that she is even more imaginative than I thought! This is a story of a young woman passing through a portal into the unknown, undertaking a quest, and finding new friendships and fresh understanding along the way. The Stapleton's voice is authentic and her characters speak and behave like people you know. I especially loved the beautifully descriptive writing and humorous dialogue between Stapleton's very engaging characters. A great read and I can't wait for the next installment!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews