Finding the Kingdom of the Centaurs

Finding the Kingdom of the Centaurs #1

by Frédérick S. Parker

After an encounter with an other-worldly being, Oliver Hamilton finds himself trapped in a world of centaurs, fauns and mermaids. Now it is up to his friends to help him escape before it is too late.

Genres: Fantasy

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2010

About the author

Frédérick S. Parker was adopted at two and a half. For the next twelve years he and his siblings were raised on a small farm in Central Missouri. Apart from a few adult neighbors, they were virtually cut off from civilization. With nothing but his imagination to keep him company, writing was inevitable. But first he was an artist. Noticing that her son had a talent, his mother introduced him to the world of artistry. Hours became years. Home-schooled until the Fall of 2001, Frédérick was eager to sample public school. After just two semesters at a small town middle school, his father took the reins. In late Spring of 2002, he moved the family to Columbia, Missouri. There, the teen bounced between public and home school. After years of isolation, city life was extremely disconcerting. Unaccustomed to social setting, Frédérick found solace in writing. After graduating high school, he spent the next eight years wandering between institutions; Columbia College, the University of Missouri (MU) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). He attended class part-time so that he could work and (since French was a big a part of his life growing up) it was the ideal Major. In the Summer of 2012, Frédérick took part in the UMKC Study Abroad program to Lyon, France. The experience was incredibly validating and inspirational. At Columbia College, he Minored in American Sign Language (ASL) while also enrolling in English and Creative Writing courses. He is currently taking a hiatus from college to focus on work.

Reviews

[Bran Pendergrass · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thank you, Goodreads and the author for allowing me access to this title via a Giveaway!***

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD...


OKAY! So I was not prepared for the wild variety of activity going on in this book! The blurb was a little vague on the outer space aspect of this story and, after reading the story, it seemed to not really work or fit. I feel the author was a bit like the MC, Oliver, who could not find a way to finish the stories that they jotted down so instead, the author tossed every idea they had for a YA book together and merged their stories.

The writing was, at times. choppy and amateur at best. I was also like Oliver and had a tough time concentrating on the storyline and the characters. There was no real connection to any of them for me and I did not see how they really connected. I was looking forward to action and adventure in a mystical place with roving hills and vast plains where the Centaurs roam in vast herds. I am not sure that I ever really achieved an "AH-HA this tale comes together" moment.

I would not discourage anybody from reading this novel; however, I would recommend it to a Middle-Grade audience or those who love that genre.

[Caly ☯ Crazy Book Lady · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author I think wanted to write a YA novel, had plenty of innocent sex scenes (none graphic) but ended up with less than a Middle Grade children's book. I mean "The Spacing Academy" Really? You couldn't do better than that? Especially since it was not from the 11th grader's imagination.
So you end up with a Fantasy story inside a Science Fiction Sub plot in a attempted Coming of Age book ( I can't even call it a novel). Throw in more ridiculous scientific wanna-be terms than necessary and you end up with a 2 word summary review : Don't Bother.

[Mary Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. For anyone that likes fantasy / adventure with a little sci-fi thrown in it is worth reading. I will be looking for the rest of the books in the future to find out what other adventures are in store for the characters. Oliver , Jason , and Jessica are three friends that encounter an alien but after a mishap Oliver is stuck in the kingdom of the centaurs. Join these friends as they go on an adventure of a lifetime to see if they get Oliver out.

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three ordinary teens find themselves trapped in a world that includes great mythological beings to humans, and humans are legends to their world. This story has a little Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe; a little Harry Potter, and a little Sci-Fi to appeal to a large audience.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun read, delightful

[Honey Jimenez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this ebook free from goodreads giveaways.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I say a word, big thanks to Goodreads for this book.

I don't know how to review this book without giving away the plot. Let's just says it's far from all fantasy, and only touches on YA...

What seems non sequitur, is not. Take that, Goodreads