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The Chosen #1
Such A Secret Place
In a world of magic, a girl without it might just be their last hope.
Tears are a precious commodity, valued for their magic and sold on the black market. Sixteen-year-old Ambry Csille's power has never woken in her bones like it was supposed to, and in her search for her own power, Ambry stumbles across a rare vial of these enchanted tears.
Ambry is surprised to find that the tears have a mind of their own. They burn her hand when she tries to drink them; they burn the hand of a boy who attempts to steal them, plaguing him until he returns them to her. Before long, Ambry realizes these are no ordinary tears. In fact, they're the most powerful ever shed.
Soon she finds herself the target not only of the formidable Arcaian soldiers who've been stealing people's magic left and right, but of battle-scarred Talon Haraway, who wants the tears for his own reasons. Trust comes slowly--more so when she feels herself falling hard and fast for the mysterious warrior--but when her tears get stolen by the Arcaians, Ambry agrees to work with Talon to get them back.
Any day the Arcaians could drink her tears. Any day they'll use them in their lust for control. But with Talon's help, a girl without magic just might be the answer to stopping the soldiers bent on draining her people's power completely.
Such a Secret Place is a riveting, hypnotic tale of adventure, romance, and deception. With bold twists, nail-biting action, and a slow-sizzle romance, you'll find out why readers are calling it "totally original!" Get your copy and prepare to be enthralled.
Tears are a precious commodity, valued for their magic and sold on the black market. Sixteen-year-old Ambry Csille's power has never woken in her bones like it was supposed to, and in her search for her own power, Ambry stumbles across a rare vial of these enchanted tears.
Ambry is surprised to find that the tears have a mind of their own. They burn her hand when she tries to drink them; they burn the hand of a boy who attempts to steal them, plaguing him until he returns them to her. Before long, Ambry realizes these are no ordinary tears. In fact, they're the most powerful ever shed.
Soon she finds herself the target not only of the formidable Arcaian soldiers who've been stealing people's magic left and right, but of battle-scarred Talon Haraway, who wants the tears for his own reasons. Trust comes slowly--more so when she feels herself falling hard and fast for the mysterious warrior--but when her tears get stolen by the Arcaians, Ambry agrees to work with Talon to get them back.
Any day the Arcaians could drink her tears. Any day they'll use them in their lust for control. But with Talon's help, a girl without magic just might be the answer to stopping the soldiers bent on draining her people's power completely.
Such a Secret Place is a riveting, hypnotic tale of adventure, romance, and deception. With bold twists, nail-biting action, and a slow-sizzle romance, you'll find out why readers are calling it "totally original!" Get your copy and prepare to be enthralled.
413 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2015
162 people are currently reading
886 people want to read
About the author
Cortney Pearson
27 books328 followersCortney Pearson is the USA Today bestselling author of The Chosen Series, Curse of the Pirate Series, and The Chuzzlewit Chronicles. She writes fantasy worlds brimming with adventure, loyalty, and romance, from wizards, to steampunk, to pirates. She is the mom of four cuties, loves classical music, chocolate, slow-burn kissing scenes, and sparkles.
Don't miss a thing regarding Cortney's books. Sign up for her newsletter! www.cortneypearson.com
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Stay up-to-date in her FB group, Cortney's Secret Keepers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Cortn...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 15, 2015
5 Words: Magic, war, discovery, strength, romance.
This was an interesting read, and one I got quite sucked in to. It was difficult to put down and easy to pick up.
This story was set in a very unique world, one that I struggled to get my head around at first. For all it being so different, it was also so so familiar. Just instead of electricity they seemed to use magic.
The protagonist did annoy me at times, but I was cheering for her all along. So something must have clicked at some point.
I don't think that this story ended the best way possible. It was more like the story just stopped than part of a series came to a close. I know the whole point is to make me want to read on, but some slight closure would have definitely been preferred.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
This was an interesting read, and one I got quite sucked in to. It was difficult to put down and easy to pick up.
This story was set in a very unique world, one that I struggled to get my head around at first. For all it being so different, it was also so so familiar. Just instead of electricity they seemed to use magic.
The protagonist did annoy me at times, but I was cheering for her all along. So something must have clicked at some point.
I don't think that this story ended the best way possible. It was more like the story just stopped than part of a series came to a close. I know the whole point is to make me want to read on, but some slight closure would have definitely been preferred.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
July 29, 2017
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Firstly, the new cover for this book is strikingly gorgeous! And the concept for the fantasy world was the sole reason I wanted to read this book. To be honest, I scrolled past this at first but then the concept of a world where magic renders a person emotionless was too unique a read to pass up.
It’s clear that the author has an impressive imagination, once I began understanding the world she had created – my favorite was the Xian claw which was made from the nails of Nymphs. A world where magic wasn’t much of a boon – from magic stealing tyrants to magic making people emotionless – we have a world in chaos. Just like most fantasy plots, this novel has it’s “chosen one” which interestingly was chose by a bottle of tears.
Sure, it sounds like a funny concept but those tears were bad-ass (and clingy). Burning anyone who it didn’t like and tormenting Ambry until they were back in her hands. Also, the author’s description of how a person’s magic seemed like separate living force in the person, or at least, that is what I understood from it, was a concept I thought to be quite original.
But to my critical mind there were moments in the books I did not like.
Let me begin with Talon. He is the root reason why I wanted to put this book down. Sure, I get it – he’s handsome but I don’t need to read about it every single time Ambry wants to describe him. It gets exhaustive. I totally despise plots where the YA heroine oogles over a handsome guy.
Now, Don’t get me wrong I still get the “kilig”* when a budding romance occurs, when the tension grows unbearable, or when characters deny their infatuation for each other, but there was so much wrong in Talon and Ambry’s romantic development that made me dislike it completely.
Here are some quotes from Ambry perspective:
“I’ll be someone Talon can be proud of. Someone he wants to keep around.”
“I just want to curl up on the ground and pout. It’s one thing to flop in front of teachers and parents, but doing it now in front of a boy I barely know? Especially one who looks like Talon? Man, I’m a loser.”
In addition to that, the boy has roughly handled her, had been dishonest with her, doesn’t take responsibility for his actions, and also has a secret girlfriend.
So much is wrong with that character. In short, I AM COMPLETELY AGAINST THIS ROMANTIC PAIR.
Ambry, on the other hand, seems to have quite the potential for a wonderful character development. Perhaps the focus should be more on Ambry and Ren’s (her brother) relationship because I am dying for more sibling relationships in YA books. I love that trope very, very much.
Though there were some concepts and scenes that confused me, the book isn’t bad, in fact, it has a lot of potential. And for that to happen, in my personal opinion, I would like to see:
> Ambry find her independence. Stop fawning over a boy who isn’t worth it.
> And Gywnn – give me a stronger reason for her joining the Arcs than because she’s in love with Tyrus. Like the book pointed out, Gywnn and Ambry had a strong friendship, so, to not only turn Ambry over to Tyrus but to actually steal her magic needs to have a much stronger motive. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to me.
>Make the adventure more about Ren and Ambry. Please!
Firstly, the new cover for this book is strikingly gorgeous! And the concept for the fantasy world was the sole reason I wanted to read this book. To be honest, I scrolled past this at first but then the concept of a world where magic renders a person emotionless was too unique a read to pass up.
It’s clear that the author has an impressive imagination, once I began understanding the world she had created – my favorite was the Xian claw which was made from the nails of Nymphs. A world where magic wasn’t much of a boon – from magic stealing tyrants to magic making people emotionless – we have a world in chaos. Just like most fantasy plots, this novel has it’s “chosen one” which interestingly was chose by a bottle of tears.
Sure, it sounds like a funny concept but those tears were bad-ass (and clingy). Burning anyone who it didn’t like and tormenting Ambry until they were back in her hands. Also, the author’s description of how a person’s magic seemed like separate living force in the person, or at least, that is what I understood from it, was a concept I thought to be quite original.
But to my critical mind there were moments in the books I did not like.
Let me begin with Talon. He is the root reason why I wanted to put this book down. Sure, I get it – he’s handsome but I don’t need to read about it every single time Ambry wants to describe him. It gets exhaustive. I totally despise plots where the YA heroine oogles over a handsome guy.
Now, Don’t get me wrong I still get the “kilig”* when a budding romance occurs, when the tension grows unbearable, or when characters deny their infatuation for each other, but there was so much wrong in Talon and Ambry’s romantic development that made me dislike it completely.
Here are some quotes from Ambry perspective:
“I’ll be someone Talon can be proud of. Someone he wants to keep around.”
“I just want to curl up on the ground and pout. It’s one thing to flop in front of teachers and parents, but doing it now in front of a boy I barely know? Especially one who looks like Talon? Man, I’m a loser.”
In addition to that, the boy has roughly handled her, had been dishonest with her, doesn’t take responsibility for his actions, and also has a secret girlfriend.
So much is wrong with that character. In short, I AM COMPLETELY AGAINST THIS ROMANTIC PAIR.
Ambry, on the other hand, seems to have quite the potential for a wonderful character development. Perhaps the focus should be more on Ambry and Ren’s (her brother) relationship because I am dying for more sibling relationships in YA books. I love that trope very, very much.
Though there were some concepts and scenes that confused me, the book isn’t bad, in fact, it has a lot of potential. And for that to happen, in my personal opinion, I would like to see:
> Ambry find her independence. Stop fawning over a boy who isn’t worth it.
> And Gywnn – give me a stronger reason for her joining the Arcs than because she’s in love with Tyrus. Like the book pointed out, Gywnn and Ambry had a strong friendship, so, to not only turn Ambry over to Tyrus but to actually steal her magic needs to have a much stronger motive. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to me.
>Make the adventure more about Ren and Ambry. Please!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2017
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't enjoy the book as much as other reviewers did, but I cannot say there were not things I like.
The good: The slowly building romance was good. I liked how Ambry wasn't obeying every thing she was told, but questioning them first.
Though I am not a particularly emotional type, I could feel how depressing it would be to live in an unfeeling world.
The theme also had potential, a world with magic but unnaturally restained feelings.
The bad:
Strange metaphors
"If they were a lake, I could skip rocks across each of their heads."
By the way, I am curious what do axrat and ranxid mean? They were repeatedly used in the text, but not explained in any place, couldn't find the meanings on the internet either.
Also,
"How he used to make me run back and forth across the living room so he could dart forks at me."
Doesn't this sound a bit too malicious?
I just want to curl up on the ground and pout. It’s one thing to flop in front of teachers and parents, but doing it now in front of a boy I barely know? Especially one who looks like Talon? Man, I’m a total loser.
And here, she doesn't care that much that she failed before but she cares about it more that now because she is in front of a handsome boy?
Needs some touch especially with the dialogs and descriptions.
"In a breath Talon scales the few steps to me, clutches my biceps and pins me against the wall."
Ok, this descriptions are fine. But,
"In seconds, he grips my arms again, but this time he crushes me to him instead of the wall. My feet dangle above the ground."
He crush her to him, lift her and then jerk her?
It is hard to imagine the scene that way and kind of ruined the whole thing for me.
In some places it felt like the author couldn't decide how to advance the story. Coincidences also add more shakiness to the plot.
What happened with the Ambry's best friend was also kind of disappointment for me, because it felt a bit too unnatural.
I didn't enjoy the book as much as other reviewers did, but I cannot say there were not things I like.
The good: The slowly building romance was good. I liked how Ambry wasn't obeying every thing she was told, but questioning them first.
Though I am not a particularly emotional type, I could feel how depressing it would be to live in an unfeeling world.
The theme also had potential, a world with magic but unnaturally restained feelings.
The bad:
Strange metaphors
"If they were a lake, I could skip rocks across each of their heads."
By the way, I am curious what do axrat and ranxid mean? They were repeatedly used in the text, but not explained in any place, couldn't find the meanings on the internet either.
Also,
"How he used to make me run back and forth across the living room so he could dart forks at me."
Doesn't this sound a bit too malicious?
I just want to curl up on the ground and pout. It’s one thing to flop in front of teachers and parents, but doing it now in front of a boy I barely know? Especially one who looks like Talon? Man, I’m a total loser.
And here, she doesn't care that much that she failed before but she cares about it more that now because she is in front of a handsome boy?
Needs some touch especially with the dialogs and descriptions.
"In a breath Talon scales the few steps to me, clutches my biceps and pins me against the wall."
Ok, this descriptions are fine. But,
"In seconds, he grips my arms again, but this time he crushes me to him instead of the wall. My feet dangle above the ground."
He crush her to him, lift her and then jerk her?
It is hard to imagine the scene that way and kind of ruined the whole thing for me.
In some places it felt like the author couldn't decide how to advance the story. Coincidences also add more shakiness to the plot.
What happened with the Ambry's best friend was also kind of disappointment for me, because it felt a bit too unnatural.
May 1, 2018
I really wish I had loved this one. Such a Secret Place was one those books that gripped you in the moment, but left you the minute you stopped reading it. This was another buddy read, so I did not read it in one sitting. I would read a few chapters here and there, and finished it over the course of about half a month. Every time I would return to the book, I would forget just about everything I read from the time before.
The writing was nice while I was in the moment, though it had a lot of metaphors that just seemed to drag the story down, like too many pop culture references. But, nothing was memorable, despite the fact that I hated how awkward the pacing felt, and how dependent Ambry was on Talon. I wanted to love her and see her as a strong YA female MC, but the whole "captor dependency" thing really brought me down.
I never felt like I was hooked. The characters were flat. The story was typical, and a little unoriginal, and the bits that I did enjoy, that felt unique, weren't enough to keep my enjoyment up. The ending felt way too rushed too! So, there was enough enjoyment to get me to finish the book, and I may still consider reading something else from the author, but I did not enjoy this one enough to decide to add book 2 to my TBR.
This was a buddy read with Liz.
The writing was nice while I was in the moment, though it had a lot of metaphors that just seemed to drag the story down, like too many pop culture references. But, nothing was memorable, despite the fact that I hated how awkward the pacing felt, and how dependent Ambry was on Talon. I wanted to love her and see her as a strong YA female MC, but the whole "captor dependency" thing really brought me down.
I never felt like I was hooked. The characters were flat. The story was typical, and a little unoriginal, and the bits that I did enjoy, that felt unique, weren't enough to keep my enjoyment up. The ending felt way too rushed too! So, there was enough enjoyment to get me to finish the book, and I may still consider reading something else from the author, but I did not enjoy this one enough to decide to add book 2 to my TBR.
This was a buddy read with Liz.
August 24, 2019
Mostly a DNF, I just couldn't get into it. I found Ambry annoying. She was too talkative and pushy. Moments when she should have been listening to what people were telling her to do she found it to be the perfect time to stop and ask questions. It was irritating.
Now, the thought process behind this story is very unique. There were new elements I had never seen in a book before. I found the claws used to rip magic from people to be the most interesting. I couldn't quite get on board with the emotionless aspect until it was later described that people with more magic didn't lose their emotions as much. It just didn't seem to fit.
I'm tired of "chosen one" plots, brooding male leads, and fawning female leads with powers they didn't know they had.
All in all it just wasn't the book for me.
Now, the thought process behind this story is very unique. There were new elements I had never seen in a book before. I found the claws used to rip magic from people to be the most interesting. I couldn't quite get on board with the emotionless aspect until it was later described that people with more magic didn't lose their emotions as much. It just didn't seem to fit.
I'm tired of "chosen one" plots, brooding male leads, and fawning female leads with powers they didn't know they had.
All in all it just wasn't the book for me.
December 3, 2017
Such a Secret Place is book 1 in the Stolen Tears series.
The book follows Ambry Csille, a 16 year-old who's powers still haven't awoken. She tries to find herself some tears which she thinks might help her find her power. But when she does find a vial of tears, they don't let her drink them but also won't part with her.
I found this book to be quite intriguing with a good concept. Ambry was quite annoying but the mysterious Talon Haroway kept me going and the book did get interesting. There were some parts in the book which reminded me of the Holocaust with the way people were being treated, which was also a little emotional. On the whole, I thought it was a good read although the ending could have been much better.
The book follows Ambry Csille, a 16 year-old who's powers still haven't awoken. She tries to find herself some tears which she thinks might help her find her power. But when she does find a vial of tears, they don't let her drink them but also won't part with her.
I found this book to be quite intriguing with a good concept. Ambry was quite annoying but the mysterious Talon Haroway kept me going and the book did get interesting. There were some parts in the book which reminded me of the Holocaust with the way people were being treated, which was also a little emotional. On the whole, I thought it was a good read although the ending could have been much better.
March 21, 2015
A long time ago, a wizard cast a spell over the world so that everyone would feel very little emotion-next to none. A while later, the Arcaians came from another world and started stealing the people's magic. Problem is, with their lack of emotion, they can hardly bring themselves to care even though they are treated mostly like slaves and hunted. Ambry is the only girl who hasn't got her magic yet and still has her emotions. You can't say the same about her parents and her best friend, Gwynn. though. Gwynn has lost her emotions and is the constant victim of her stepdad's abuse. They say that some people, it is extremely rare, have a dream so powerful that they shed tears and get their emotions back for a little while. So one night, Gwynn has a dream and gets her emotion back and she heads straight to Ambry. Together, they decide to attend the secretive market that comes around only once and as luck would have it, they were in town that night. They seek tears which seem to be magical. Gwynn wants tears so she can become aware and defend herself against her stepfather and Ambry wants them to get magic so she can finally fit in,
Things don't go as planned when the Arcaians raid the place and Ambry is saved by a mysterious boy. Together they go on a journey to reclaim Ambry's tears. Her brother gets captured and she teams up with him to get him and the tears back. But the more she delves into her journey the more she realizes the tears have chosen her for something she never even considered possible. As Ambry fights her way to her destiny, she discovers love and betrayal...
Amazing world building! Everything was totally original, nothing like i've ever read before!
Loved Ambry, She's stubborn, dedicated and hilarious, She never gives up on finding her brother and doesn't take crap from Talon. Talon is a real mystery man, He never answers Ambry's questions and i never really trusted him. His motives seem to be good but then suddenly something will make you think they aren't! It was a real roller coaster trying to figure him out! The author presents him in such a way that you feel the same frustration, anger and affection as the protagonist for him. Gwynn never reacted when her stepfather hit her but i really saw the difference from the submissive girl she was and the agitated, sparkly and determined girl she was after she got her emotions back.
The mystery surrounding Ambry's magic was super intriguing and the book keeps teasing you with little snippets of the big image until it rams into you all at once! UGH i just can't describe how AMAZING this book was! It even has sirens and nymphs! Add that to a deadly weapon that sinks into your marrow and drains your blood-you've got a bestseller! All the little elements come together beautifully in this book! 100% original!
Spine tingling adventures, romance, treachery and a -oh-my-god-what-just-happened-cliffhanger!!!
Recommended to ALL YA fans! This is a good one guys! So add it to your TBR, drool over it or better yet-READ IT!! Cannot wait for the next one-the anticipation is killing me! spread some love for this amazing indie author people!
Things don't go as planned when the Arcaians raid the place and Ambry is saved by a mysterious boy. Together they go on a journey to reclaim Ambry's tears. Her brother gets captured and she teams up with him to get him and the tears back. But the more she delves into her journey the more she realizes the tears have chosen her for something she never even considered possible. As Ambry fights her way to her destiny, she discovers love and betrayal...
Amazing world building! Everything was totally original, nothing like i've ever read before!
Loved Ambry, She's stubborn, dedicated and hilarious, She never gives up on finding her brother and doesn't take crap from Talon. Talon is a real mystery man, He never answers Ambry's questions and i never really trusted him. His motives seem to be good but then suddenly something will make you think they aren't! It was a real roller coaster trying to figure him out! The author presents him in such a way that you feel the same frustration, anger and affection as the protagonist for him. Gwynn never reacted when her stepfather hit her but i really saw the difference from the submissive girl she was and the agitated, sparkly and determined girl she was after she got her emotions back.
The mystery surrounding Ambry's magic was super intriguing and the book keeps teasing you with little snippets of the big image until it rams into you all at once! UGH i just can't describe how AMAZING this book was! It even has sirens and nymphs! Add that to a deadly weapon that sinks into your marrow and drains your blood-you've got a bestseller! All the little elements come together beautifully in this book! 100% original!
Spine tingling adventures, romance, treachery and a -oh-my-god-what-just-happened-cliffhanger!!!
Recommended to ALL YA fans! This is a good one guys! So add it to your TBR, drool over it or better yet-READ IT!! Cannot wait for the next one-the anticipation is killing me! spread some love for this amazing indie author people!
June 2, 2015
Verdict: Brilliant but inconsistent fantasy concept.
Sink or swim is an apt description of this book. The opening chapters were mainly exposition which made it hard for me to get into. Lots of terms were mentioned, some explained better than others. I still have many questions about the world, and I felt like not enough of it was shown.
I decided to cling to some driftwood and go with the flow. After all, this is by no means a bad book. The creativity of the concepts knocked my socks off, from stealing magic to the emotional blunted society. The romance is gradual and feels natural, and there are plenty of action snippets throughout.
I still found the poor author never gripped my interest. One of the main issues was show don’t tell, and a few of the told concepts felt very inconsistent making it hard to follow at times.
Ambry doesn’t have magic... Then what is she doing at school where they seem to be learning about magic? We’re told she gets extra time during tests because she’s powerless, but what are these tests? Extra time won’t help you fill up a canister with magic (which is the only thing we’re shown).
No emotion was also a fascinating concept... except characters did have emotion. Rather sporadically though. I thought I understood the rules, but I’m pretty sure the author breaks them a couple of times throughout the book, and then changes the rules towards the end. Some characters clearly have emotion and magic, and I couldn’t help but wonder why the main character never at least questioned this a little more.
Descriptions were usually clever but minimal, powerful in places and lacking in others. From time to time, I ended up with a very flat idea of where the characters were. The author had some good lines up their sleeve and a bit of wit, but I can’t help but think it was often misplaced. A witty line isn’t a good substitute for description, and if you have to drag out a scene to add in humour, it gets tedious. When I start edited a book as I read, I just know it’s not quite as polished as it could be.
Logic was also obscure. For example, if I hypothetically caught someone who had a bounty of 100K, I wouldn’t just steal their necklace and let them go, no matter how valuable the necklace is.
Other times, the scene would rapidly change with little warning. Action scenes were good and plenty, although it wasn’t always clear what was going on. Towards the middle of the book, I felt like there was too much emphasis on long fights, without much tension behind them. Some parts were much, much stronger than others.
Overall, it just seemed a bit rushed. Such a secret place has five star potential, but not quite there yet, at least, not for me.
Source: NetGalley.com, from a lovely author
Blog:ScookieReviews
Sink or swim is an apt description of this book. The opening chapters were mainly exposition which made it hard for me to get into. Lots of terms were mentioned, some explained better than others. I still have many questions about the world, and I felt like not enough of it was shown.
I decided to cling to some driftwood and go with the flow. After all, this is by no means a bad book. The creativity of the concepts knocked my socks off, from stealing magic to the emotional blunted society. The romance is gradual and feels natural, and there are plenty of action snippets throughout.
I still found the poor author never gripped my interest. One of the main issues was show don’t tell, and a few of the told concepts felt very inconsistent making it hard to follow at times.
Ambry doesn’t have magic... Then what is she doing at school where they seem to be learning about magic? We’re told she gets extra time during tests because she’s powerless, but what are these tests? Extra time won’t help you fill up a canister with magic (which is the only thing we’re shown).
No emotion was also a fascinating concept... except characters did have emotion. Rather sporadically though. I thought I understood the rules, but I’m pretty sure the author breaks them a couple of times throughout the book, and then changes the rules towards the end. Some characters clearly have emotion and magic, and I couldn’t help but wonder why the main character never at least questioned this a little more.
Descriptions were usually clever but minimal, powerful in places and lacking in others. From time to time, I ended up with a very flat idea of where the characters were. The author had some good lines up their sleeve and a bit of wit, but I can’t help but think it was often misplaced. A witty line isn’t a good substitute for description, and if you have to drag out a scene to add in humour, it gets tedious. When I start edited a book as I read, I just know it’s not quite as polished as it could be.
Logic was also obscure. For example, if I hypothetically caught someone who had a bounty of 100K, I wouldn’t just steal their necklace and let them go, no matter how valuable the necklace is.
Other times, the scene would rapidly change with little warning. Action scenes were good and plenty, although it wasn’t always clear what was going on. Towards the middle of the book, I felt like there was too much emphasis on long fights, without much tension behind them. Some parts were much, much stronger than others.
Overall, it just seemed a bit rushed. Such a secret place has five star potential, but not quite there yet, at least, not for me.
Source: NetGalley.com, from a lovely author
Blog:ScookieReviews
April 1, 2015
I love, love, LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!! The tension never stopped. Seriously, the story just propelled itself forward and there were periods I forgot I was reading. I was so caught up in Talon and Kiana's adventure... I was there in the hot moments (Talon is HOT!!!), the heart wrenching moments, the plot twisting moments... I think I stood up and screamed at one point. It's been a LONG time since I've read such an original fantasy story. Love the world building. Love the concept. Highly recommend. :)
May 29, 2015
Oh, this was a really great, entertaining book! I loved the characters and the world, and the ending was just pure evil, I need the next book!
June 6, 2024
Chosen Guardian is the first book in the Stolen Tears series. This book mixes YA Fantasy with coming of age. Some are born with magic, and others...are not. It’s the ones without magic that you have to keep a watch out for. Why? Because they will do anything to acquire what isn’t theirs.
Chosen Guardian is a fantasy YA story that will see one of the main characters, Ambry, later come of age. Ambry is a uniqueness among her people. While all others her age have magic, as an Itharian, Ambry...appears to have...none. Why is this? It’s something strange, but for the time being...it’s a boon for her. Why? Well, an occupying people, the Arcaians, are stealing the Itharians’s magic. Sounds pretty twisted right?
Things get interesting quickly though for Ambry. While she may not appear to have magic, it doesn’t mean that she’s safe from the eyes of certain Arcaian soldiers. She’s going to get some help from a former soldier by the name of Talon. There’s something unique about him though, so get ready for some interesting revelations.
This book moves at a pretty good pace. Ambry is a mixed bag when it comes to characters. She definitely reads like a teenager lacking maturity, but she grows over time. Talon is an interesting character, with a painful past. They are both after tears. You’ll understand when you dive into this book. Each has their own reasons, but the tears? These tears aren’t your normal tears.
There are some twists and surprises in this book. Slow-burn romance mixes together with enemies to lovers. The pace could use a little more energy, but this book ends on a mild cliffhanger.
Chosen Guardian is a fantasy YA story that will see one of the main characters, Ambry, later come of age. Ambry is a uniqueness among her people. While all others her age have magic, as an Itharian, Ambry...appears to have...none. Why is this? It’s something strange, but for the time being...it’s a boon for her. Why? Well, an occupying people, the Arcaians, are stealing the Itharians’s magic. Sounds pretty twisted right?
Things get interesting quickly though for Ambry. While she may not appear to have magic, it doesn’t mean that she’s safe from the eyes of certain Arcaian soldiers. She’s going to get some help from a former soldier by the name of Talon. There’s something unique about him though, so get ready for some interesting revelations.
This book moves at a pretty good pace. Ambry is a mixed bag when it comes to characters. She definitely reads like a teenager lacking maturity, but she grows over time. Talon is an interesting character, with a painful past. They are both after tears. You’ll understand when you dive into this book. Each has their own reasons, but the tears? These tears aren’t your normal tears.
There are some twists and surprises in this book. Slow-burn romance mixes together with enemies to lovers. The pace could use a little more energy, but this book ends on a mild cliffhanger.
January 31, 2017
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
The author did a wonderful job of creating a YA fantasy with magic. I loved this book from the beginning to end. I wanted to be part of the story and thanks to the author's wonderful writing, I felt like it. I definitely recommend.
The author did a wonderful job of creating a YA fantasy with magic. I loved this book from the beginning to end. I wanted to be part of the story and thanks to the author's wonderful writing, I felt like it. I definitely recommend.
May 27, 2015
3.5/5, rounded up.
Cortney Pearson is one of those authors whose name I see all over the blogosphere, but whose books I had never read. I was excited to get a chance to read Such a Secret Place for the review tour. I'm a big fan of both fantasy and young adult literature, so I thought this would be up my alley. All in all, this was a decent read.
I wasn't really a big fan of the main character throughout the novel, but I didn't hate her either- I still was rooting for her throughout the book. It just got to some points where she really, really annoyed me. It was kind of like that one friend that we all have that you love dearly but just want to shoosh them sometimes. Most of the time, I was able to push this aside to focus on other aspects of the book, such as the awesome world building. I really liked the way that magic was integrated throughout both the world that Pearson created as well as the plot of the story. I liked that there wasn't really instalove, though there is a romantic kindling. I adore Talon, and I can't wait to read more of him in the next book in the series.
This book is rather complicated at times, but that's part of why I liked it. I think that's part of what I like about fantasy in general- the intricacies of a new world, and of the new creations or races or what have you that take up that world. The writing got a bit flowery for my liking in some parts, but overall I thought Pearson was really well detailed. It was easy to get lost in the story and swept up in Ambry's adventures.
Unrelated to the content of the book, I also really like the cover design. I think it's a fair reflection of the story within, and it'd catch my eye on a display.
I'd recommend this to fans of YA fantasy, especially ones that feature magic as a key part of the plot. While this wasn't a perfect read for me, I enjoyed it well enough and I would definitely consider picking up the next book to read more about Talon and Ambry. The strongest element to this story is the world building, which I absolutely loved.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
Cortney Pearson is one of those authors whose name I see all over the blogosphere, but whose books I had never read. I was excited to get a chance to read Such a Secret Place for the review tour. I'm a big fan of both fantasy and young adult literature, so I thought this would be up my alley. All in all, this was a decent read.
I wasn't really a big fan of the main character throughout the novel, but I didn't hate her either- I still was rooting for her throughout the book. It just got to some points where she really, really annoyed me. It was kind of like that one friend that we all have that you love dearly but just want to shoosh them sometimes. Most of the time, I was able to push this aside to focus on other aspects of the book, such as the awesome world building. I really liked the way that magic was integrated throughout both the world that Pearson created as well as the plot of the story. I liked that there wasn't really instalove, though there is a romantic kindling. I adore Talon, and I can't wait to read more of him in the next book in the series.
This book is rather complicated at times, but that's part of why I liked it. I think that's part of what I like about fantasy in general- the intricacies of a new world, and of the new creations or races or what have you that take up that world. The writing got a bit flowery for my liking in some parts, but overall I thought Pearson was really well detailed. It was easy to get lost in the story and swept up in Ambry's adventures.
Unrelated to the content of the book, I also really like the cover design. I think it's a fair reflection of the story within, and it'd catch my eye on a display.
I'd recommend this to fans of YA fantasy, especially ones that feature magic as a key part of the plot. While this wasn't a perfect read for me, I enjoyed it well enough and I would definitely consider picking up the next book to read more about Talon and Ambry. The strongest element to this story is the world building, which I absolutely loved.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
June 3, 2016
Magic, tension, a rising tyranny and romance--this story propels the reader into a wondrous world which grabs and doesn't let go.
Ambry Csille is one of the few left who feels emotions, but even she can't shed a tear. A powerful magician rid humans and other creatures of their tears years before, leaving behind barely any emotions at all. The rising tyranny uses this to their advantage, and with the use of a magical claw, sucks the magic out of the people. leaving the with not much more than the life of a numb shell.
This book grabs from the very first scene and keeps the adventure rolling the entire way through. It's no problem to dive into the world and picture the surroundings, and that without long, detailed descriptions. Told from Ambry's point of view, even the side character's come to life. Each has their own problems, secrets and agendas, and most of these are understandable even when seemingly evil or unexpected. The plot is rich with several layers, making it hard to guess what will happen next, who to trust, and what Ambry will decide.
Despite the play of magic and mythical creatures, there was enough about this world which felt familiar, making it easy to sink into. The magic used is powerful but subtle enough that it doesn't feel over powering. Ambry herself comes across as an average girl, but then, despite her will to help and warm-heart, she isn't a born fighter. Her weaknesses make her as likable as her strengths.
Of course, there's romance, and it's not the 'love at first sight' type. The banter between Ambry and her hero is delightful, and adds a wonderful touch to often more serious scenes. Their love is a growth of trust and friendship, and it's not always clear that it's enough to pull through...which makes it that much more interesting.
I had no trouble reading this in one sitting and was disappointed when the last page finally came that I had to put the book down. It does have a cliff-hanger ending (which I'm not always a fan of), but there's reason to believe that what's coming next is worth waiting for.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ambry Csille is one of the few left who feels emotions, but even she can't shed a tear. A powerful magician rid humans and other creatures of their tears years before, leaving behind barely any emotions at all. The rising tyranny uses this to their advantage, and with the use of a magical claw, sucks the magic out of the people. leaving the with not much more than the life of a numb shell.
This book grabs from the very first scene and keeps the adventure rolling the entire way through. It's no problem to dive into the world and picture the surroundings, and that without long, detailed descriptions. Told from Ambry's point of view, even the side character's come to life. Each has their own problems, secrets and agendas, and most of these are understandable even when seemingly evil or unexpected. The plot is rich with several layers, making it hard to guess what will happen next, who to trust, and what Ambry will decide.
Despite the play of magic and mythical creatures, there was enough about this world which felt familiar, making it easy to sink into. The magic used is powerful but subtle enough that it doesn't feel over powering. Ambry herself comes across as an average girl, but then, despite her will to help and warm-heart, she isn't a born fighter. Her weaknesses make her as likable as her strengths.
Of course, there's romance, and it's not the 'love at first sight' type. The banter between Ambry and her hero is delightful, and adds a wonderful touch to often more serious scenes. Their love is a growth of trust and friendship, and it's not always clear that it's enough to pull through...which makes it that much more interesting.
I had no trouble reading this in one sitting and was disappointed when the last page finally came that I had to put the book down. It does have a cliff-hanger ending (which I'm not always a fan of), but there's reason to believe that what's coming next is worth waiting for.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2015
-ARC kindly offered by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
In this book there is all I can wish for: adventure, action, magic and romance to no end. Cortney has created a world in which it is difficult to separate. After reading, you will not want to return to reality and rather you will have the temptation to take a one-way ticket to the world of Ambry and help her in her venture.
Ambry Csille is a girl who apparently might seem like a lot but she is actually much more. Unlike the others, she hasn’t magic but nonetheless she is chosen by enchanted tears that could save those she cares and the whole world. Those tears are the focus of the story and why Ambry and Talon will collaborate with each other.
Talon is a mysterious charm rude character. And let's face it, I love scarred boys :P The agreement that was established between him and Ambry is perfect and it is one of the many reasons why I recommend you read this book.
Cortney has masterfully built a compelling story full of emotions and beautiful dialogues. His style is pleasant and the only minor flaw I found is perhaps the speed with which events were held at the beginning of the story. I would have more depth in some places but otherwise, the descriptions, the setting, the characters and the story itself, is 10 and praise.
Vote: 4 ½ /5
MY REVIEW IN ITALIAN IS HERE:
http://angeltany.blogspot.it/2015/04/...
In this book there is all I can wish for: adventure, action, magic and romance to no end. Cortney has created a world in which it is difficult to separate. After reading, you will not want to return to reality and rather you will have the temptation to take a one-way ticket to the world of Ambry and help her in her venture.
Ambry Csille is a girl who apparently might seem like a lot but she is actually much more. Unlike the others, she hasn’t magic but nonetheless she is chosen by enchanted tears that could save those she cares and the whole world. Those tears are the focus of the story and why Ambry and Talon will collaborate with each other.
Talon is a mysterious charm rude character. And let's face it, I love scarred boys :P The agreement that was established between him and Ambry is perfect and it is one of the many reasons why I recommend you read this book.
Cortney has masterfully built a compelling story full of emotions and beautiful dialogues. His style is pleasant and the only minor flaw I found is perhaps the speed with which events were held at the beginning of the story. I would have more depth in some places but otherwise, the descriptions, the setting, the characters and the story itself, is 10 and praise.
Vote: 4 ½ /5
MY REVIEW IN ITALIAN IS HERE:
http://angeltany.blogspot.it/2015/04/...
May 21, 2015
Note: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I loved this book. The world building was amazing. I enjoyed how the author brought in so many different mythical creatures that were familiar in a way that worked.
The journey that the two main characters took was amazing. I thought that their relationship built up realistically. There was no sudden change in opinion as often happens in young adult books.
I thought that the premise of the book was very original. The idea of people losing emotions was really interesting. One of my favorite points in the book was when one character was discussing why it was such a shame that the people had lost their emotions. I can't give away more because it would be a spoiler :)
The book ended on a cliffhanger that is guaranteed to keep you waiting for he next book.
Overall, this was an amazing book and I cant't wait for book 2!
I loved this book. The world building was amazing. I enjoyed how the author brought in so many different mythical creatures that were familiar in a way that worked.
The journey that the two main characters took was amazing. I thought that their relationship built up realistically. There was no sudden change in opinion as often happens in young adult books.
I thought that the premise of the book was very original. The idea of people losing emotions was really interesting. One of my favorite points in the book was when one character was discussing why it was such a shame that the people had lost their emotions. I can't give away more because it would be a spoiler :)
The book ended on a cliffhanger that is guaranteed to keep you waiting for he next book.
Overall, this was an amazing book and I cant't wait for book 2!
February 27, 2016
ARC kindly offered by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I LOVED IT!!!
GIVEAWAY OF 2 EBOOK COPIES ON MY BLOG! due on 31/05/2015 (link below)
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Recensione in italiano, sul mio blog -> http://barbaggianate.blogspot.it/2015...
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A very unique story, with not-so-obvious magic powers and secrets to be revealed.
Good writing, settings and nice characterization of the protagonists.
I appreciated the invention of a new currency, not the usual "gold" we find in fantasy stories ;)
This kind of book will never be translated in my native language (Italian) but I think that it would me very much loved among YA fantasy readers... as I am!
I can't wait to read what is coming next! And I totally want that that Shasa pest just disappears!! :p
I feel some fangirling growing strong here...
I LOVED IT!!!
GIVEAWAY OF 2 EBOOK COPIES ON MY BLOG! due on 31/05/2015 (link below)
---------
Recensione in italiano, sul mio blog -> http://barbaggianate.blogspot.it/2015...
---------
A very unique story, with not-so-obvious magic powers and secrets to be revealed.
Good writing, settings and nice characterization of the protagonists.
I appreciated the invention of a new currency, not the usual "gold" we find in fantasy stories ;)
This kind of book will never be translated in my native language (Italian) but I think that it would me very much loved among YA fantasy readers... as I am!
I can't wait to read what is coming next! And I totally want that that Shasa pest just disappears!! :p
I feel some fangirling growing strong here...
November 23, 2015
When I saw the cover on NetGalley, I was going to keep browsing, but I came back for the description. I liked the story, but I did have a few issues with it. We all understand that Ambry is special – that’s kinda how these types of stories work, but oh, the angst! Ambry is angsty, her friends are angsty, even though their emotions have been stolen. I know that book titles don’t always represent the story contained within, but I never got the reference to a secret place. There were one or two places that could’ve been the secret place, but I was left hanging. I felt the same way with the over-arching plot: at the end of the book, major plot points are not resolved.
This may seem like a negative review, but I did enjoy reading this story, and will definitely check out Stolen Tears #2 when it comes out. I'd give this one 3.5 stars.
This may seem like a negative review, but I did enjoy reading this story, and will definitely check out Stolen Tears #2 when it comes out. I'd give this one 3.5 stars.
April 1, 2015
This book. This book was, in one word, amazing. I absolutely loved every second of it. It was such an adventure, I can’t wait to see what happens next, I need the second book. The plot, the characters, the setting, it was all just unbelievable. I couldn’t get enough, I finished quite fast and decided to write this review as soon as I was done reading it, instead of going to bed. It was so good that I’ve chosen it over sleep tonight. I recommend it, it comes out tomorrow, so you don’t have to wait long. It’s a choice you will be glad you made!
https://worldofbookthoughts.wordpress...
https://worldofbookthoughts.wordpress...
December 20, 2020
Provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review
Real Rating: 4.5/5
My thoughts while reading:
💧 It took me a minute to get into it but once I did, I practical flew through it
💧 Enemies to lovers to kind of enemies again trope
💧 Contains action, adventure, magic, and wizards
💧 I kind of wanna strangle Talon
💧 I noticed that there were some grammatical errors, mostly typos
💧I had to do a double take on some sentences because they looked like they had been worded "weird"
💧 I think Harry Potter fans will enjoy this (although, I myself haven't read Harry Potter so I'm kind of guessing 😅)
💧 Intrigued to see what happens next😬
Real Rating: 4.5/5
My thoughts while reading:
💧 It took me a minute to get into it but once I did, I practical flew through it
💧 Enemies to lovers to kind of enemies again trope
💧 Contains action, adventure, magic, and wizards
💧 I kind of wanna strangle Talon
💧 I noticed that there were some grammatical errors, mostly typos
💧I had to do a double take on some sentences because they looked like they had been worded "weird"
💧 I think Harry Potter fans will enjoy this (although, I myself haven't read Harry Potter so I'm kind of guessing 😅)
💧 Intrigued to see what happens next😬
April 9, 2015
This is a great kick start to a kick butt series! I loved it from the beginning. The author has found a way to write a unique story in the crowded YA dystopian genre. Our heroine, Ambry, Is strong and determined and her hero, Talon, evolves wonderfully over the story. It keeps you engrossed throughout and requires close attention due to the unique world of magic. I cannot wait for book two! I loved the ending, but the cliffhanger is painful. How long will I have to wait? If you are YA fan, especially fantasy or dystopian, READ THIS BOOK!
October 19, 2015
Nope. DNF--75% (starting skimming at 36%)
Blaming the other girl when your boyfriend didn't tell you he had another girlfriend: always, always a deal-breaker for me.
This MC is complete garbage.
Blaming the other girl when your boyfriend didn't tell you he had another girlfriend: always, always a deal-breaker for me.
This MC is complete garbage.
June 6, 2019
Again, mediocre fantasy shows its face! Let's have all the things and do nothing new with them!
Ambry has no magic! I love that trope! And it's super badly done, again! Because she does have magic, and it's the most powerful of the land, and she's also the chosen one who'll save everyone from the evil Arcs taking over everything. Talon is dark and secretive and also a dick but Ambry'll forgive him for everything because "true love". Love triangle! Girls hating each other over boys and no actual reason! SAVING FAMILY MEMBERS AJGALHAJ
Yeah I did not like this book. It's boring as all fuck, the worldbuilding is one of the laziest I've ever witness- you know what my fantasy story needs? CARS! The characters are either boring, annoying or infuriating. The story is just ?? was there even a plan for this? Because I'm reading to bet there wasn't, it's all over the place, tons of things make no sense whatsoever and important issues are just brushed off like nothing.
Gwynn being raped by her step dad is only mentioned way later in the book and just hinted at at the beginning? Like why? And why in the flying fuck would you need an ID to go to the fucking black market??? What is this bullshit? Also erm can we talk about the fact that no emotions = no survival instinct apparently? Like I'm sorry but that's not what having no emotions means lol
Things keep being introduced out of nowhere and it's so bad. Like Ambry and Talon are hanging out and suddenly Ambry has a dream of a boy being abducted by a bird and is like "omg Talon was kidnapped" and yeah he was and I was just ??? how about some build up like wtf
Or what about stupid stuff like the wizard who stole everyone's emotions being confirmed dead in the beginning, then no apparently he's just vanished, no one knows if he's dead or not, and later Ambry is told that he's still alive by a very trustworthy source and yet when Talon is like "I want to find him" she's like whajkpffff he's dead everyone told us!!
And what about Ambry hating what the wizard did all throughout the book but when she meets him she's all fair and thanking him and shit? like it's kind of his fault everything happened the way it did isn't it?
And Talon! Talon who's the classic "I am broody and silent I won't tell you anything about me and be a dick to you, terrified teenage girl" while keeping EVERYTHING a secret from Ambry while also telling her he loves her and not telling her he's engaged to a psycho (how does that even work with his backstory?) ? And yeah OF COURSE Ambry forgives him what do you expect from a YA heroine?
Talon's backstory is that he was kidnapped from his home country at 4 years old and trained the Arcs in the arts of his people until he was like 14 and ran away? Where does Shasa come into this? Just randomly met her and was like yeah let's get engaged random psycho cunt
Also who is Craven and why do I care? Why do they need to save Jenoine or whatever the fuck is her name? Isn't this about getting the tears and Ambry's brother? Killing Tyrus? Giving everyone their emotions back?
Why does Ambry's magic appear like this? Seriously, they tried everything but making her blind for 2 hours and meeting with a bunch of scared deserters is what it takes to wake it up after 4 years? And yeah ofc it's the bestest magic every yadda yadda
This is just bad, boring, unoriginal and annoying.
Ambry has no magic! I love that trope! And it's super badly done, again! Because she does have magic, and it's the most powerful of the land, and she's also the chosen one who'll save everyone from the evil Arcs taking over everything. Talon is dark and secretive and also a dick but Ambry'll forgive him for everything because "true love". Love triangle! Girls hating each other over boys and no actual reason! SAVING FAMILY MEMBERS AJGALHAJ
Yeah I did not like this book. It's boring as all fuck, the worldbuilding is one of the laziest I've ever witness- you know what my fantasy story needs? CARS! The characters are either boring, annoying or infuriating. The story is just ?? was there even a plan for this? Because I'm reading to bet there wasn't, it's all over the place, tons of things make no sense whatsoever and important issues are just brushed off like nothing.
Gwynn being raped by her step dad is only mentioned way later in the book and just hinted at at the beginning? Like why? And why in the flying fuck would you need an ID to go to the fucking black market??? What is this bullshit? Also erm can we talk about the fact that no emotions = no survival instinct apparently? Like I'm sorry but that's not what having no emotions means lol
Things keep being introduced out of nowhere and it's so bad. Like Ambry and Talon are hanging out and suddenly Ambry has a dream of a boy being abducted by a bird and is like "omg Talon was kidnapped" and yeah he was and I was just ??? how about some build up like wtf
Or what about stupid stuff like the wizard who stole everyone's emotions being confirmed dead in the beginning, then no apparently he's just vanished, no one knows if he's dead or not, and later Ambry is told that he's still alive by a very trustworthy source and yet when Talon is like "I want to find him" she's like whajkpffff he's dead everyone told us!!
And what about Ambry hating what the wizard did all throughout the book but when she meets him she's all fair and thanking him and shit? like it's kind of his fault everything happened the way it did isn't it?
And Talon! Talon who's the classic "I am broody and silent I won't tell you anything about me and be a dick to you, terrified teenage girl" while keeping EVERYTHING a secret from Ambry while also telling her he loves her and not telling her he's engaged to a psycho (how does that even work with his backstory?) ? And yeah OF COURSE Ambry forgives him what do you expect from a YA heroine?
Talon's backstory is that he was kidnapped from his home country at 4 years old and trained the Arcs in the arts of his people until he was like 14 and ran away? Where does Shasa come into this? Just randomly met her and was like yeah let's get engaged random psycho cunt
Also who is Craven and why do I care? Why do they need to save Jenoine or whatever the fuck is her name? Isn't this about getting the tears and Ambry's brother? Killing Tyrus? Giving everyone their emotions back?
Why does Ambry's magic appear like this? Seriously, they tried everything but making her blind for 2 hours and meeting with a bunch of scared deserters is what it takes to wake it up after 4 years? And yeah ofc it's the bestest magic every yadda yadda
This is just bad, boring, unoriginal and annoying.
April 27, 2019
A Very Different World!!🌎🌟
This is a strangely gripping story. It's hard to categorise it - it's a romance, there's magic but it's not set on this version of Earth, as far as I could tell, and could be set on a different planet entirely, but it doesn't say & to be honest it doesn't matter - it just made it hard for me to decide if it was sci-fi or fantasy, ya know? 🙈
The story is based on a number of different races of people, all have magic innately except for one, the Arcaians. They in turn conquer our main characters country/lands & steal magic from its people using a claw device that strips it from their marrow & gives it to the thief!!😱😔 It's a brutal & barbaric practice that no one seems to fight because their emotions have been almost completely muted!!😢 Their Master Wizard cast a spell to stop people crying, 50 years earlier, it backfired & suppressed all emotion instead. So once they 'torrent' age 12 years - this is when their magic comes to them - they lose most of not all of their emotions!!💥😳
Ambry feels like a freak. Four years after her twelfth birthday & she still has no magic!!😔😳 She doesn't want to lose her emotions but it hurts her so much to see her family & friends act like emotionless robots, doing whatever the Arcaians demand of them, even as they steal their magic & ruin their towns & cities!!😭
After sneaking into a black market bazaar, she comes away with a vial of tears. Tears are full of magic & sought after because to cry tears with no emotions only happens through dreams & is extremely rare!!💧 She meets a young man, Talon, at the bazaar, he hides her when it's raided. He ends up rescuing her again the next day and they end up on the run together!!😳 The tears are extremely special but they've put a target on their backs. They promise to help each other 👍
The characters & world building are good, I really like the storyline too!!🌟 It feels a bit long winded in places. Both Ambry & Talon are often annoying to me but I think it's because they're 16 & 17 yrs old maybe? A slow burn romance, friendships & family loyalty is tested, there are disappointments & betrayals plus much more!!💧⚡💥
Overall this an enjoyable read & it's something different from the norm which is refreshing!!😍🎉
Debbie, 1970, UK
This is a strangely gripping story. It's hard to categorise it - it's a romance, there's magic but it's not set on this version of Earth, as far as I could tell, and could be set on a different planet entirely, but it doesn't say & to be honest it doesn't matter - it just made it hard for me to decide if it was sci-fi or fantasy, ya know? 🙈
The story is based on a number of different races of people, all have magic innately except for one, the Arcaians. They in turn conquer our main characters country/lands & steal magic from its people using a claw device that strips it from their marrow & gives it to the thief!!😱😔 It's a brutal & barbaric practice that no one seems to fight because their emotions have been almost completely muted!!😢 Their Master Wizard cast a spell to stop people crying, 50 years earlier, it backfired & suppressed all emotion instead. So once they 'torrent' age 12 years - this is when their magic comes to them - they lose most of not all of their emotions!!💥😳
Ambry feels like a freak. Four years after her twelfth birthday & she still has no magic!!😔😳 She doesn't want to lose her emotions but it hurts her so much to see her family & friends act like emotionless robots, doing whatever the Arcaians demand of them, even as they steal their magic & ruin their towns & cities!!😭
After sneaking into a black market bazaar, she comes away with a vial of tears. Tears are full of magic & sought after because to cry tears with no emotions only happens through dreams & is extremely rare!!💧 She meets a young man, Talon, at the bazaar, he hides her when it's raided. He ends up rescuing her again the next day and they end up on the run together!!😳 The tears are extremely special but they've put a target on their backs. They promise to help each other 👍
The characters & world building are good, I really like the storyline too!!🌟 It feels a bit long winded in places. Both Ambry & Talon are often annoying to me but I think it's because they're 16 & 17 yrs old maybe? A slow burn romance, friendships & family loyalty is tested, there are disappointments & betrayals plus much more!!💧⚡💥
Overall this an enjoyable read & it's something different from the norm which is refreshing!!😍🎉
Debbie, 1970, UK
June 21, 2018
“Wow” that was certainly a butt clenching read. This author has produced a book with a Fantasy/Dystopian feel. There’s no real slow introduction to the world & character building for this storyline, as you are immediately thrown into the fast paced action. “Intense” “Ingenious” are just a few words that comes immediately to mind. Cortney Pearson has created a fresh, inventive novel that showcases her great creativity and Imagination. Each character was clearly outlined as they was introduced, with some having more secrets than others. In this book the chapters are directed to the main female leads struggles and the guy she literally falls on becomes such an integral part to how her character develops. The magnetic hold this had on me was un-relenting, when I had to put it down, it played on my conscience constantly urging me to pick it back up again, needless to say it didn’t take me long to finish as I struggled to put it down. The atmospheres the author created in her plots enabled you to feel and believe in the different scenes as they played out and changed. The reality of the emotions you experience are superb, there was a moment when I just couldn’t look and continue to read as I thought what was about to happen was to horrific. There is so much more to come in this series, there wasn’t a big cliffhanger ending, however there was lots of things going on in the background that will continue to make this series so enticing. I’m sure these will be re-visited as they all point to the main female character and her development. It’s hard when I don’t want to give away any spoilers. So I will try and sum this book up. You will experience Suspense, Dread, Heartbreak, Loyalty, Betrayal, Suffering, Unease, disbelief. Friendship and Love. Plus many more emotions. There are mythical creatures and Magic woven inbetween the characters and the journey that starts in “Such A Secret Place”
It is not all fluffy Fairies and Witches. This is a story that encompasses Fantasy and hardship. A memorising read, I can’t wait to read book.2.
It is not all fluffy Fairies and Witches. This is a story that encompasses Fantasy and hardship. A memorising read, I can’t wait to read book.2.
June 1, 2024
This book had me interested from the get-go. The strange world of young people working at a factory/mine, and being guarded by soldiers, immediately intrigued me.
The story is original, with emotions in humans being the centerpiece of magic, with tears as a hot commodity. The building of the world was nice, and I felt the despair and how trapped the people felt.
Ambry knows she is different from an early age, and she feels like that makes her less than. Upon meeting Talon, she begins to quickly realize that is opposite of who she is. She is an incredible person, and she grows into her confidence through the book.
Talon is closed off and very frustrating, understandably, but I really do wish that he was more open with Ambry. Of course I didn’t expect it at the beginning, but after a little while some openness from him would have been nice. His communication skills are awful, but his origins do have a lot to do with the way he is.
Overall, a very interesting and original story. I’ll be reading the next installment soon and I’m excited to do so! The cliff hanger at the end of this book was a good one!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story is original, with emotions in humans being the centerpiece of magic, with tears as a hot commodity. The building of the world was nice, and I felt the despair and how trapped the people felt.
Ambry knows she is different from an early age, and she feels like that makes her less than. Upon meeting Talon, she begins to quickly realize that is opposite of who she is. She is an incredible person, and she grows into her confidence through the book.
Talon is closed off and very frustrating, understandably, but I really do wish that he was more open with Ambry. Of course I didn’t expect it at the beginning, but after a little while some openness from him would have been nice. His communication skills are awful, but his origins do have a lot to do with the way he is.
Overall, a very interesting and original story. I’ll be reading the next installment soon and I’m excited to do so! The cliff hanger at the end of this book was a good one!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 15, 2018
I would give this one a solid 3.5, good enough to continue the series.
It was pretty enjoyable. Fast-paced, plenty of mysteries to keep the pages turning, and Ambry was enjoyable to read. I liked the whole concept with the magical tears, and it was fun seeing a jar of tears with a personality and goal of its own.
It was nice that all the characters had their own goals that ended up conflicting more often than not. The whole system of magic was interesting and I wanted to know more about it, and I really enjoyed the world and the settings.
The villain wasn't anything special, and Talon...I'm kinda back and forth with his character. I couldn't decide whether or not I liked him, but I did like the conflict where he wouldn't tell Ambry anything, and it was really rewarding to see her finally take matters into her own hands near the end of the book. I wanted her to do that so much sooner.
Anyway, it was good. I don't often rate books with 4 stars, but this came pretty close. Can't wait to see what else Cortney Pearson has in store!
It was pretty enjoyable. Fast-paced, plenty of mysteries to keep the pages turning, and Ambry was enjoyable to read. I liked the whole concept with the magical tears, and it was fun seeing a jar of tears with a personality and goal of its own.
It was nice that all the characters had their own goals that ended up conflicting more often than not. The whole system of magic was interesting and I wanted to know more about it, and I really enjoyed the world and the settings.
The villain wasn't anything special, and Talon...I'm kinda back and forth with his character. I couldn't decide whether or not I liked him, but I did like the conflict where he wouldn't tell Ambry anything, and it was really rewarding to see her finally take matters into her own hands near the end of the book. I wanted her to do that so much sooner.
Anyway, it was good. I don't often rate books with 4 stars, but this came pretty close. Can't wait to see what else Cortney Pearson has in store!
August 9, 2018
Overall, it was an enjoyable read! This is a fantasy book where most people have magic, and the magic powers electronics etc. I really liked the prologue as it had so much potential. It was a really well written part of the book. At chapter 1, it got kind of slow, but not boring. My one "issue" is that for maybe 60% of the book, the main character didn't care much about her parents or finding her brother, and instead was distracted by her crush and how attractive he is. Too much romance when there's a war brewing, in my opinion. However, things picked up about 70% into the book and it got really exciting when Ambry finally decided to be independent and save her brother. Although I felt that a lot of parts were anticlimactic and had a lot of potential to be done better, overall I enjoyed this book.
August 20, 2017
The prequel was amazing , so I was looking forward to picking up the first one. Let me tell you, THIS DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. Like, OMG, this novel was so good! I was absolutely obsessed from page one , and could not stop reading until the end. Here, in book one, we get to know another character, Ambry . We also are introduced to more aspects of the magic-powered world as we follow , including the black market for tears, and why Ambry must hold the vial that she has discovered away from Talon at all costs. A thrilling adventure , injected with just the right amount of romance. Cortney has done it again , and amazed me with the awesomeness of her writing. I will be looking forward to the rest of the series & rereading them over and over again!
signing off till book 2,
Promisary
signing off till book 2,
Promisary
August 21, 2021
It's been a little while since I read this book at the moment, so I'm sad that I can't give others any specifics here (other than I know that there's great fantasy concepts, prose, tension, characters, romance, and a sense that hooks you into wanting to read the rest of the series to find out what happens!) But I do remember thinking when I read it that it was my favorite yet of Cortney's --- though the Curse of the Pirate series might be contending for that spot in my mind now! But see, that's how good Cortney is; you literally have to struggle to decide which book of hers is THE favorite. So I would definitely recommend that everyone check her stuff out! There's great fantasy and romance and lots of intrigue, for sure!
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