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The Septimus #1
Seventh Son
Cat was ordinary—until the day a blue bowl whirled her off to a magical medieval world... Catriona, ex-librarian, dumped by her boyfriend, is just trying to restart her life when she gets sucked into and carried off by a blue pottery bowl. Suddenly thrown into a world where she can't move for mysteries, how is this modern town girl going to cope alone in the woods with a comatose man and a muddy baby? And there's that hint of something sinister...
- GenresFantasy
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2014
About the author
A.M. Offenwanger
9 books8 followersI have loved books ever since I was six years old, when I picked up a copy of LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY and found that I could read it on my own. Some decades later, I discovered that I could write books myself, and I have done so ever since. My preference is for stories that are set in other worlds, whether they are fantastical worlds full of magic or long-gone times and places; humour is a must, romance highly desirable, and a good mystery almost indispensable.
At any given time, I have at least two books sitting beside my bed - usually more, sometimes MUCH more. When they start to encroach onto my sleeping space, they get moved back to bookshelves. The latter are found in nearly every room of my house (with the only exceptions being the bathroom, workshop and furnace room). Books are indespensable to my life, and have been for as long as I can think.
At any given time, I have at least two books sitting beside my bed - usually more, sometimes MUCH more. When they start to encroach onto my sleeping space, they get moved back to bookshelves. The latter are found in nearly every room of my house (with the only exceptions being the bathroom, workshop and furnace room). Books are indespensable to my life, and have been for as long as I can think.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 21, 2015
I got to be a beta reader for this delightful story, and loved it from the start. Cat's slow journey from a young woman unsure of herself and her own worth and place in her own world, to someone capable and strong and fully confident of where she belongs, is a treat to follow. All the characters are fully realized and finely drawn, and AM Offenwanger accomplishes the rare feat of creating a toddler who does NOT drive me nuts after reading two pages (sad but true - regardless of how charming I might find a kid in real life, on page they tend to make me want to gag).
If you're looking for swords and sorcery, this isn't the book for you. If you're looking to immerse yourself in a fully-developed Other World and make friends with the inhabitants therein, don't hesitate: Seventh Son is for you.
If you're looking for swords and sorcery, this isn't the book for you. If you're looking to immerse yourself in a fully-developed Other World and make friends with the inhabitants therein, don't hesitate: Seventh Son is for you.
Want to Read
October 29, 2017FREE on Amazon today (10/29/2017)!
January 8, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Seventh Son by A.M. Offenwanger follows Catriona (Cat), a librarian in the midst of a (almost) quarter-life crisis, on a journey to a mysterious new world. While visiting a museum, Cat becomes captivated by a beautiful, turquoise pottery bowl. As she leans down to look at the bowl, Cat is suddenly whirled out of the museum and lands in the middle of a strange forest with no idea how it happened or where she is. As Cat encounters the locals and slowly learns about this new world, the mystery of her transportation there unfolds, and she must choose whether to stay with her new-found family or return to her own world.
Seventh Son wastes no time throwing Cat (and the reader) right into the action. For the first several chapters, the mysteries stack up on top of each other as Cat explores her surroundings and meets new people. Admittedly, it does take a while for Offenwanger to begin answering the reader's many burning questions. However, once the answers start flowing, they do so at a steady pace that is satisfying but not a complete information dump. By the end of the novel, most of the questions are answered (except for those that lead into the second book), and the reader is fully satisfied.
The world Offenwanger has created is unique and a touch nostalgic. It hearkens back to years-gone-by with a slower pace of life and an economy that runs on craftsmanship and bartering. However, while some things are more primitive than Earth, they do have other impressive technologies, and of course, "magic." What I especially like about the magic of this world is that it is subtle and the natives do not view it as "magical," but rather as a spiritual part of individuals.
My favorite part of Seventh Son is the characters. Cat's personality comes across strongly in both her narrative and dialogue and is well-rounded and dynamic. One particular tactic Offenwanger uses to accomplish this is to offset some of Cat's thoughts or spoken comments in parentheses. Sometimes when writers do this, it reads oddly, but in this novel, the technique is so well-timed that it adds depth to and creates the perfect tone for the words.
In addition to Cat, the other characters in Seventh Son are unique and complex. Offenwanger does a nice job of giving the reader a strong sense of every character, even if s/he is only in a few scenes. Even Bibby, who is too young to communicate fully and the "villains," who the reader should dislike, are given motives and personalities that allow the reader to empathize with, and in Bibby's case, love them.
Together, the characters work even better. The relationships between the characters are realistic -- fun, familiar, and appropriately emotional. When reading Seventh Son, I truly felt like I was experiencing the interactions of real individuals. The characters frequently made me smile.
My only critique of the novel is that I would have liked to have seen more romantic build up between Guy and Cat. While it is clear that they are interested in each other (and that the world demands a certain amount of conservatism), I would have liked to see a bit more flirtatiousness or tenderness between them. I like that the romantic plot did not overtake the main plot or fall into unnecessary physicality, but I almost felt like Guy and Cat were just meant to pair by default, and therefore, the romantic buildup was a little underwhelming. However, I still adore them as a couple (hence why I wanted more of their dynamic).
As far as the overall story line goes, Offenwanger sticks to the rules of the world and beautifully ties together the different individuals and objects in seamless ways. Some of the twists are surprises, and some an insightful reader will see coming -- but they are satisfying nonetheless. The end of the novel is complete enough that it could stand alone, but it does leave enough loose ends to lead into another book (which it does).
If you enjoy light fantasy, a dash of romance, and solving plot puzzles, you will love Seventh Son by A.M. Offenwanger.
Seventh Son by A.M. Offenwanger follows Catriona (Cat), a librarian in the midst of a (almost) quarter-life crisis, on a journey to a mysterious new world. While visiting a museum, Cat becomes captivated by a beautiful, turquoise pottery bowl. As she leans down to look at the bowl, Cat is suddenly whirled out of the museum and lands in the middle of a strange forest with no idea how it happened or where she is. As Cat encounters the locals and slowly learns about this new world, the mystery of her transportation there unfolds, and she must choose whether to stay with her new-found family or return to her own world.
Seventh Son wastes no time throwing Cat (and the reader) right into the action. For the first several chapters, the mysteries stack up on top of each other as Cat explores her surroundings and meets new people. Admittedly, it does take a while for Offenwanger to begin answering the reader's many burning questions. However, once the answers start flowing, they do so at a steady pace that is satisfying but not a complete information dump. By the end of the novel, most of the questions are answered (except for those that lead into the second book), and the reader is fully satisfied.
The world Offenwanger has created is unique and a touch nostalgic. It hearkens back to years-gone-by with a slower pace of life and an economy that runs on craftsmanship and bartering. However, while some things are more primitive than Earth, they do have other impressive technologies, and of course, "magic." What I especially like about the magic of this world is that it is subtle and the natives do not view it as "magical," but rather as a spiritual part of individuals.
My favorite part of Seventh Son is the characters. Cat's personality comes across strongly in both her narrative and dialogue and is well-rounded and dynamic. One particular tactic Offenwanger uses to accomplish this is to offset some of Cat's thoughts or spoken comments in parentheses. Sometimes when writers do this, it reads oddly, but in this novel, the technique is so well-timed that it adds depth to and creates the perfect tone for the words.
In addition to Cat, the other characters in Seventh Son are unique and complex. Offenwanger does a nice job of giving the reader a strong sense of every character, even if s/he is only in a few scenes. Even Bibby, who is too young to communicate fully and the "villains," who the reader should dislike, are given motives and personalities that allow the reader to empathize with, and in Bibby's case, love them.
Together, the characters work even better. The relationships between the characters are realistic -- fun, familiar, and appropriately emotional. When reading Seventh Son, I truly felt like I was experiencing the interactions of real individuals. The characters frequently made me smile.
My only critique of the novel is that I would have liked to have seen more romantic build up between Guy and Cat. While it is clear that they are interested in each other (and that the world demands a certain amount of conservatism), I would have liked to see a bit more flirtatiousness or tenderness between them. I like that the romantic plot did not overtake the main plot or fall into unnecessary physicality, but I almost felt like Guy and Cat were just meant to pair by default, and therefore, the romantic buildup was a little underwhelming. However, I still adore them as a couple (hence why I wanted more of their dynamic).
As far as the overall story line goes, Offenwanger sticks to the rules of the world and beautifully ties together the different individuals and objects in seamless ways. Some of the twists are surprises, and some an insightful reader will see coming -- but they are satisfying nonetheless. The end of the novel is complete enough that it could stand alone, but it does leave enough loose ends to lead into another book (which it does).
If you enjoy light fantasy, a dash of romance, and solving plot puzzles, you will love Seventh Son by A.M. Offenwanger.
January 22, 2016
By the end of the book, I found myself hooked, invested in the characters and the world, and ready for a sequel. The latter half especially had quick dialogue, compelling conflict, clear character desire, and genuinely funny moments.
The opening five chapters took a long time to get going. It was unclear what was driving the character, and the action was often slow.
As a self-published work, the effort is stunning: world-creation, rigorous and mistake-free editing, great storytelling.
The opening five chapters took a long time to get going. It was unclear what was driving the character, and the action was often slow.
As a self-published work, the effort is stunning: world-creation, rigorous and mistake-free editing, great storytelling.
November 3, 2016
I picked this up on account of a movie by the same name. I quickly figured out it wasn't the same story (apparently there are many stories with similar titles), but it WAS a fun read. I liked the modern day portal to another time/place. I'm definitely interested in what happens next.
October 14, 2017
What a delightful book this was! Before I start, I have to admit that I’m not a fan of fantasy novels in any guise. I was “Bored” of the Rings (and that was just the film), and couldn’t get past the first few chapters of Harry Potter. When it was suggested I try Seventh Son, I wasn’t sure but gave it a go. I’m glad that I did. What I found was basically time travel meets fairy tale: two types of story that I invariably enjoy. There were no weird creatures, and the magical elements were the sort that one would expect to find in fairy tales, so I guess that this would be classed as very light fantasy. This type of fantasy I can go for.
Ms Offenwanger has written a simple, light, and easy-to-read story that I found I was soon drawn into. The characters are likeable, especially Catriona from whose chatty point of view the story’s told. The book is well written and edited, and error-free, which is a rare find in the world of indie novels. I will certainly be adding the rest of the books in the series to my wish list.
Ms Offenwanger has written a simple, light, and easy-to-read story that I found I was soon drawn into. The characters are likeable, especially Catriona from whose chatty point of view the story’s told. The book is well written and edited, and error-free, which is a rare find in the world of indie novels. I will certainly be adding the rest of the books in the series to my wish list.
November 7, 2020
A nice little light-hearted fantasy, not a lot of depth, but a fun introduction to a series, and available for free through the author's website! The author is also one of the municipal liaisons for my local Nanowrimo region.
Fantasy-romance is not my usual thing. This could well be a four-star book if it was.
Fantasy-romance is not my usual thing. This could well be a four-star book if it was.
March 25, 2023
Where you want to be
I really enjoyed this clever story, with all its twists and turns as Cat and Guy and Sepp found out where they really wanted to be and what they really wanted to do.
I really enjoyed this clever story, with all its twists and turns as Cat and Guy and Sepp found out where they really wanted to be and what they really wanted to do.
October 25, 2025
This was a gentle and character driven exploration of a magical switch between worlds. I liked the details that brought the village alive, and how much the MMC was confident in who he was. Nice weaving together at the end.
July 29, 2016
I love this book, and the whole series by this author. Cat, the main character, starts as an insecure and possibly whiny librarian, and finds herself and her place in a magical world which she literally falls into. Recommended to adult and young adult lovers of fantasy.
March 28, 2017
This was a charming story of a girl whisked away to another world. Such tales have been told before, but this was a fresh spin on the idea, with pottery bowls and the desire to leave playing part in the magic of disappearing. Offenwanger's descriptive skills take the reader into her world, the forest sights and sounds rendered skilfully, as are the characters. Overall, a lovely read - I'm looking forward to reading part two, now!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews