Imagine

by Jenna Greene, Jenna Butrenchuk

A fierce wind and a blast of green light during a strange storm causes everything to change for Katharine Bowers and Becky Thatcher. The girls wake up in Oren, an entirely different realm than their earthly city.

They meet Enalie, a fading magical presence who sets an incredible destiny before them… then simply disappears. Left alone to fend off creatures that hunt them in the night, they must relay a magical heritage that doesn’t make sense, and – if possible – save a world that they know nothing about.

Genres: Fantasy

374 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2015

About the author

Jenna Greene is a writer, podcaster, teacher, clumsy dancer, dragonboat coach, and semi-professional napper. She's also the co-host of "Quill and Ink: A Podcast for Book Lovers" with Miranda Oh.


www.facebook.com/jennabutrenchukgreene

www.jennagreene.ca

@jgreenewrites

Reviews

[Hannah G]

I didn't anticipate that this was essentially a children's book (Ages 8-12). That's why I think this book is reviewed so lowly, because adults are reading this. So that being said, I don't feel right about reviewing this book. Really people ages 8-12 should do the reviewing.

P.S.
After reading 25% of this book, I stopped. It didn't interest me and I felt that I am too old for this.
(One of the main character's is 10. I just couldn't relate.)

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Larissa (Book Bosomed Blonde) · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Blog
Actual Rating 2.5

Have you ever read a book that you thought sounded really cool but by the end of it, it was just a huge disappointment? That's what happened to me with this one here. It sounded so good when i first read the synopsis but it wasn’t anything like i imagined. The story was interesting but written poorly, the characters were diverse but barely developed on. And the cover? I mean it looks cool but it doesn’t fit with the book at all. I honestly didn’t get much from this story and its a shame because it had the potential to be something great.

The writing is one of, if not, the most important element of a book. It is literally the thing that gives us the story and the writing here was just substandard. We start off the story in the human world told from two different characters. Then we are randomly thrust into the new world “Oren” in only a matter of pages. This is just an example of how fast the story played out. This is a 300 odd page book that should have been at least 500. So much of the story is skipped over or sped up that it actually made it to be confusing and overall boring. I kept thinking “what? they’re moving on already” or “why did we skip that day?”. It was just written in haste in my opinion.

I also wanted more time spent developing the setting. The book is basically a giant quest traversing through the world of “Oren” but the descriptions are vague and i had a hard time actually being able to imagine the journey. This was definitely a major hole that if fixed would increase my rating dramatically.

The characters were done slightly better than the setting but i still felt like it lacked development. The main character Kat is written well and we end up learning quite a bit about her and her magical abilities which i liked but again, wanted more time spent on. Becky is the “lesser” main character and although i liked her, i found her to be written with a personality and intelligence way beyond the age of ten and it left it to be less believable.

All the other secondary characters were of different species and i loved that about them. There are brownies, elves, monstrous creatures and much more. What time was spent on these characters and their backgrounds was very interesting, but again as I’m repeating for the hundredth time: More time needed to be spent on these different species. I just wanted to know so much more than was given.

Overall this story lacked anything that i actually like about books. It was poorly thought out, making the execution to feel unfinished. The ending was abrupt, with much left unanswered. I was expecting a lot more from this book and unfortunately, i didn’t get it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This in no way affects my opinions or review on the book.!

[Pip · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 20%

I feel like I might come back to this but, its kinda ehh and is slow, boring and childish...

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Jenna Greene brings a dangerous, exhilarating and emotional fantasy to life in the novel Imagine, the first of the Imagine series. Here is the synopsis.

The Synopsis

A fierce wind and a blast of green light during a strange storm causes everything to change for Katharine Bowers and Becky Thatcher. The girls wake up in Oren, an entirely different realm than their earthly city. They meet Enalie, a fading magical presence who sets an incredible destiny before them... then simply disappears. Left alone to fend off creatures that hunt them in the night, they must relay a magical heritage that doesn't make sense, and - if possible - save a world that they know nothing about.

The Review

This book took the fantasy genre to a whole new level. A brilliant YA style fantasy novel that wasn’t afraid to delve into the brutal nature of magic and fantasy style storytelling. With an entire cast of memorable characters, the author did a fantastic job of bringing two strong, young and driven female protagonists to life.

The world building was phenomenal in this first book of the series. Exploring the fictional world of Oren and all of the provinces within it was great to see, as was the political nature of various kingdoms and different species living throughout the world. The story of young women discovering the power within themselves and overcoming oppressive and tyrannical forces was the inspirational fantasy story everyone has been waiting for, making Jenna Greene the next great name in the fantasy genre.

The Verdict

This is a must read novel. Full of action, suspense and cinematic level storytelling, Imagine is a wonderful introduction to the world of Oren and heroes like Kat and Becky. If you enjoy a good fantasy novel with strong female lead characters and a large dose of magic, then Imagine by author Jenna Greene is the book for you. Grab your copy today!

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This is a very easy read.
The world is fairly well developed with reasonable characters.
A weak ending spoilt the story.

[Alicia Smock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy books make for wonderful means of escaping reality and each author brings the realms of myth, legend, and magic to life in their own unique ways. However, many fantasies have a tendency to venture deeply into politics. The politics that make up these amazing lands is wonderful and really makes the world seem more real, but there are times when readers don’t want to read about political drama and just want a good old-fashioned fantasy tale. How about an evil wizard that is threatening to take over the land so someone or multiple someones are summoned because they hold the only power that can stop the wizard? Short, sweet, to the point with no politics, just adventure, magic, and a fairy tale landscape. Author Jenna Greene gives readers this very story with her young adult fantasy novel Imagine.

One moment, Katharine Bowers and Becky Thatcher are living normal lives on Earth; the next, they find themselves in the middle of a forest in an unknown land in a completely different realm. A magical deity who is fading from existence has summoned the two young girls to the land of Oren and quickly relays a destiny they are supposed to fulfill before suddenly vanishing. The girls find themselves alone with only this knowledge: Magic is real, Katharine is one of three Elementals who hold the power to correct the mistakes made by powerful magic wielders known as Naturals, and Becky is the one who must find the Unifier needed to bring all three Elementals together. Now the two girls must stay strong and stay together as they make their way through an unknown and dangerous world to save it from an unknown source using unknown powers with the help of unknown people who could be anywhere.

With a beautiful cover and title that will turn anyone’s head, Imagine is a wonderful classic fantasy story that targets the young adult audience, but a read an older audience will find themselves enjoying, as well. Greene has included everything one would expect: magic, prophecies, mythological creatures (both known and created by the author), wizards, knights in shining armor, royalty, war raging across the land, and more. And what would these common elements be without the help of an author to mold them into her own design? Greene’s storytelling is captivatingly smooth and her narrative is incredibly detailed and descriptive, creating a reading experience that flows and allows readers to easily see what is happening within their minds.

Greene is most certainly to be commended for her storytelling skills. She has a way of grasping the reader’s attention and pulling them into her story, for she takes readers on the adventure with Kat and Becky. With the magical deity explaining everything to them so fast, readers know just as much as the girls do. This is actually refreshing to read for in so many stories like these, the characters arrive where they were summoned, they are given their spiel with a healthy dose of prophecy and a good portion of “what the heck is going on?”, and then sent off to where they should begin their journey. Not to mention the characters this usually happens to are normally 18 years or older. Kat is 16 and Becky is only 10 and they receive a rather large dose of confusion, a small side of knowledge, and absolutely no clue where to go. How would one possibly begin a journey like this?

The start of their adventure does wonders on developing the girls’ characters as the story progresses. Kat is an angsty teenager who is quick to anger, but has a fun wit and humor to her. Becky is a smart, but shy child who enjoys becoming lost in fantasy stories. Both are complete strangers when they first meet, yet knowing all they have is each other in an unknown world, they stick together and form a tight sisterly bond throughout the book. They find strength in one another and have to mature quickly given the dangerous land they are in. Greene does an excellent job of portraying the accurate characteristics for each of the girls’ age groups, which makes their characters more believable and the bond they form very touching. Perhaps the only thing readers may like to read more of is Kat and Becky’s backstories. Very little is mentioned about their lives on Earth and one would think in a strange land that they would have more memories of their lives back home.

As aforementioned, Imagine is meant for a young adult audience so there are a couple elements that may not be as well received by older readers. The first being how Kat and Becky arrive in Oren. Some wind, a flash of light, and then they are just… there. Magic is a wonderful element to use to explain things, but there are times, even with magic, when there needs to be just a bit more development and explanation for the readers. This is a very minute detail that most certainly does not take away from the experience, but it is an idea that would have been fun to expand upon. The second is Kat’s teenage angst. Her wit and humor make for an amusing character, but she has a short fuse and is quick to anger, which is excellent for her character’s age, but it does have the possibility of rubbing on the nerves of some of the older readers at times. Aside from these two minor details, the rest of the story is a pleasure for any fantasy fan.

Greene offers a great return to classic fantasy in her novel Imagine. With so many common elements woven together to create this beautiful tale, readers must read it for themselves to take in the magic of Oren and the fight two unsuspecting girls must face to save it. No in depth politics await, no complex plots, just a fun escape to a new land away from reality. Imagine should be the next on any “to read” list of any age group (though perhaps not for readers nine years and younger for certain elements do become dark) for those who just want something entertaining to read. Not to mention Kat and Becky’s story does not end with Imagine, but continues on with Reality, leaving readers another new adventure to look forward to.

**Originally posted on my blog Roll Out Reviews on September, 2018**

[Nikki Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the very short first chapter, which is in reality just over 2 pages long of actual text, we are introduced to the young character of Becky. She is depicted as a book enthusiast, especially regarding fantastical worlds and quests galore. Safely snuggled under her blankets, contemplating which book to read right under her parents' noses, Becky is yanked from her world and everything she thinks she knows. Pretty soon, she will understand that no longer will she be reading about heroines, but living as one.

So, after reading the entire book, my initial instincts were correct; this novel is definitely catered toward the younger audience of Young Adult fantasy. Becky, one of the main characters, is only 10 years old, and definitely shows her age throughout the novel (though also has some surprisingly mature thoughts and actions occasionally). The other main character, Kat, is 15 years old, but can be extremely childish, especially when confronted with opposition and any sort of obstacle in her journey... Which of course, as this being a quest novel, is frequent. It was also strange to me that the main character, Kat, was the second to be introduced in the book. Starting with Becky, I had assumed that she would be the main focus of the novel, but instead she takes a rather backseat role, with Ino and Brienna even upstanding her in my mind. It just made the book feel unbalanced to me.

I was also accurate in my ruminations of the novel being paced rather quickly, with the chapters being only a few pages long at most (there are a total of 45 chapters, which averages to about 7 and a half pages per chapter). Even disregarding the physical lengths of the chapters, the pacing of the events in the chapters and book itself are also very quick in nature. So quick, in fact, that I feel like I am missing out on vital emotional development and connection to the characters.

While I'm on the subject of characters, I believe that Jenna Greene does a great job incorporating a diverse group of adventurers with very different personalities and cultures, including the way they speak. However, I think she could have spent much more time developing each character, so that we readers could actually develop some kinship with them. As it stands, I felt absolutely no emotional or even sympathetic connection to any of the characters, with the exception of perhaps Ino. But even he should have been much more developed. Without getting into spoilers, the Elementals were given some backstory for each of the them, but not enough to merit rallying to their cause. Even Nandor was not developed enough for me to understand just why he was so "evil." As the "heroes" faced the end of their quest and it came to the moment where they would succeed or perish fighting, I didn't really care which way the the event fell.

Going further with this, I also believe that the book was too quick in its events as well as the development of its characters and relationships. We are given only the first chapter and a page of Kat's memories to see how they were on Earth. Without seeing their lives on Earth, the reader feels no remorse when they are ripped from that theoretical, abstract life. The only time we have really seen the characters interact and live their lives has been while in Oren. And speaking of the interaction of the two worlds, why do Kat and Becky seem to sink into medieval life so easily? You would think they would have slipped up more, asked about or mentioned cars, antibiotics, cell phones, video games, etc. The only time Kat seems to mix up her two worlds is when she makes a remark about television. The first thing I would have done, if thrown into a random world by magic, would have been to try to locate a phone and call my parents. And they don't even seem to want to try to get back to Earth! When given the wonderful and one-time opportunity to ask ANY question of the mystics and get a truthful answer back, neither Kat or Becky even thinks about asking how to get back to Earth. I think the mixing of the two worlds is a great idea, but requires a lot more skill and attention to detail than was at work in this novel. Instead, the two worlds colliding simply left me with confusion for the first half, and then I completely disregarded the fact that Becky and Kat were from a different world for the second half of the novel.

It was also slightly off-putting with the way that all the characters were simply thrown together and the events were so coincidental and easily/quickly managed. The novel's events were a bit predictable, and seemed too easily overcome. As such, the ending was somewhat of a disappointment. Following the rest of the novel, it was wrapped up too quickly, followed an expected pattern, and was basically glossed over. I wish that the novel had gone into a LOT more detail than it had, in all respects (characters, events, etc.).

Taking in everything, I think that this would be a great fantasy book for kids ages 9-14ish. The story was easy to read, the characters were distinct and understandable (if childish), and the novel as a whole can be a gateway into the world of fantasy literature.

[Jackie Maloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Imagine
Author: Jenna Greene
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

I was sent a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This is a spoiler free review :)

Summary
One day, Kat Bowers and Becky Thatcher are taken from the home they have known their whole life and thrown into a new place full of strange creatures and large castles. There they meet Enalie, who claims the existence of magic and sends Kat and Becky on a quest to defeat the evil that is overtaking the realm, called Nandor. She tells them that to do this, they must find two other people with magical powers, like Kat, called the Elementals. They must also find the Unifier. Throughout their journey, they travel to places they only read about in books to fulfill their destiny and save the lives of many.


Review
“With imagination, anything is possible.”

Ok, the first thing I want to say about this novel is the incredible story telling. There is so much thought put into the description of the world, characters, and events and this allows the reader to become immersed into the story. I was always able to develop a full image of what is occurring and what the setting looked like because of the author’s descriptions. The world is also very complicated in the best way possible because there was a lot of attention to the detail of all aspects of the story. The events that occur never come out of nowhere and they always make sense for the plot and characters. An example of the ability of the story to pull me in: I was reading one evening and looked outside my window and was shocked to find that it was not raining, like it was in the book.

One of my favorite things about this story is the relationship between Kat and Becky. They are both taken from the world they know and thrown into a confusing place. This leads them to develop an organic relationship that helps both of them throughout their journey. None of the relationships in the novel felt forced, which I appreciated. The characters are also incredibly relatable, especially Becky with her love of books!

“She twisted and turned, wishing for a book in her hand. Stories were her passion as well as her security blanket. There was nothing she wanted more than to hold one right now.”

This novel also deals with death and the first time experiencing it. The characters are facing many dangerous creatures and when people lose their lives, it is shocking and new for them. They notice the emotions they feel towards a person they see die, even though they did not know that person. Later in the story, Kat and Becky experience death on a more personal level and must learn to deal with this. I think this is really important, especially for the younger readers who may be experiencing these things for the first time as well.

An incredibly important aspect of this novel is imagination. This was also my favorite aspect of the novel. Becky comes from a life spent in fantasy. She spent most of her time at home reading books and imagining different worlds. This seemingly mundane aspect of Becky’s personality becomes incredibly important for the success of their journey. I don’t want to explain any more on this topic, for fear of spoilers, but this is such an important part of the story.

“She did feel slightly comforted. Imagination had that power sometimes.”

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for an escape from the real world. It definitely gave me a classic fairytale vibe. It made me laugh, it made me nervous, and it made me sad. I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy story and I am looking forward reading to the sequel, Reality.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.


Imagine is the first book in the Imagine series, a crossworlds/epic quest fantasy by YA author Jenna Greene and Champagne Book Group.

The premise is wonderful and I did like seeing a very young protagonist having a positive influence in a story and I thought her motivations were the most believable and reasonable of the characters. The world building was interesting and the idea of a tide-shift age in magic in the world was original. However...

I struggled with this book. There are some issues with the plotting and the story arc. The character dialogue is often stilted and the characters seem unnecessarily angry and hostile (to one another, to strangers, to everyone). I'm not sure who the target audience is, it's quite long for younger readers at 344 pages, and there's a considerable amount of fairly graphic violence (stabbing, strangling, spine injuries, etc) as well as a fair bit of rough language (nothing completely over the top, but more 'damns' and 'dammits' than I would usually want in a read-along young reader book). The main characters spend most of those 344 pages running from one violently bloody encounter to the next without any pause or, frankly, reason. One of the main protagonists is 10 years old, and every time someone said her name, Becky Thatcher, I was yanked completely out of the story. ( Becky Thatcher is Tom's love interest in Tom Sawyer). In addition, for my taste, the violence was often gratuitous with graphic descriptions of glass cuts and parasitic plant injuries, talons digging into victims' spines, etc. It felt like every single page, the protagonists were right on the very edge of an unpleasant death. Perhaps that will appeal to many readers, for me it just felt exhausting and unrelenting and somewhat meaningless. Then again, I haven't been a teenager for decades.

I understand that a certain amount of teen angst is just about de rigueur for YA books, but even by those standards, this book is on the outside edge.

The cover art is beautiful, though, having read the book in its entirety, I'm still not sure who it's meant to depict.

Not for me, but given the overall ratings from others on Goodreads and Amazon, etc, I seem to be in the minority.

Two and a half stars for originality and concept.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

[Sebanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story begins with Becky and Kat being thrown into a world of magic together, without any information or guide book. They know nothing about this strange world filled with misery, bloodshed and magic, deadly as well as good. Far from their own world a world full of nightmares awaits them slowly opening up to them as they journey towards their final destiny. Filled with horrendous creatures, riddles, destructive magic, swamps with magical abilities, assassins, kingdoms, elves, dwarfs, slaves and warriors it is a unknown world which they could not have ever imagined in their wildest dreams.

A strong plot filled with an array of diverse characters each having their own stories and different personalities it is a very delicious treat for an young adult to chew on. Becky is a normal ten year old girl with nothing to show that screams that she is extraordinary except the fact that she lives in her head most of the times. Kat is a young teenager just like other teenagers with their own anger management issues and pessimistic attitude towards world as a whole. When these two contrasting characters are thrust together to another world to save it from utter destruction Becky will need to come out of her head and confront the real world and Kat will have to grow up fast because in this world where a 12 year old hold council in place of the King and a 21 year old is an able soldier with vast knowledge of almost every field Kat’s days of being an immature teenager is over.

What I loved about the plot is that it is pretty solid and realistic. There aren’t many loopholes. The author covers all of those and if she does not she promises to do those in the next books of this series. About characters, well I just loved every one of them except Kat, truth be told I found her to be very childish, even Becky, a ten year old acted more mature than her at times. And the way she always would hurt other and neglect their feeling and sentiments made me dislike her intensely. Becky is someone I think I loved almost too much, her sweet innocence and bravery in face of disaster made me admire her courage. All the other characters (I will not say their names because then it will be like giving spoilers) do justice to their respective role too.

[Aradhna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full review coming.

*EDITED*

I received this copy in exchange for an honest review from Champagne Book Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Champagne Book Group!

I was very tempted to DNF this book. Despite what seemed like an interesting concept, I just could not get into it. The writing came across as rushed and amateurish, and I could not place what the age group this was written for. Was it for younger kids or was it young adults? I still cannot say.

Kat as a character did not mesh with me. She seemed far too stubborn and a little bit inconsistently written. First she was unwilling to believe Enalia’s words, then she wakes up in Areth and instead of coming up with a ‘logical’ explanation for the happenings, she is willing to go along with everything? But she’s also somewhat in charge and listened to despite clearly knowing very little and having no experience? Her treatment of the other characters just felt very entitled to me. The only time I really felt for her was in the epilogue, which was also the only time I ever really felt an interest in the story as a whole.

Ino was another character that seemed inconsistently written. For a captain of his standing to be so stubborn when he started off as a reasonable character was a stretch. And then the bit where he got drunk on the job? Unrealistic with what we knew of the character.

In my opinion, Becky was a far better written character, even if she did initially start off a little bit whiny. But as a ten-year-old, that is a believable character trait. Her chapters were much more interesting to me, and I would have prefered more of them. But even that would not have saved the novel for me.

The plot as a whole had a lot of action, but I felt no tension build. Things moved so quickly there was barely any emotional resonance.

[Lindaworkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly can’t recall the last time that I have enjoyed a book this completely on so many levels. Out of 345 pages of reading, the strongest criticism I could find is that there were about five portions of writing, around the size of a paragraph or two each, that weren’t as polished as the rest or where the writers voice and style that I had grown accustomed to seemed to be randomly absent. As a reader, I stumbled in those few places and was forced to go back and reread these sections before I could move on. I struggled nowhere else in my comprehension or enjoyment of the book, unless you include the number times that I was shocked by an unexpected turn of events. Thankfully, no one was around to hear me as I gasped out loud, so I suffered from no personal embarrassment.

I especially appreciated that Jenna Greene included a section where death is discussed on a realistic level among the characters. We are brought to an understanding of the emotional turmoil that the death has caused. We view different forms of coping with grief through the characters. And we are privy to a, normally avoided, dialogue about death and grief between two of our characters. I find this to be a brave undertaking on her part.

This is a definite must-read for fantasy fans or anyone who enjoys a well-written book. I am placing the second book in this series, Reality, on my own must-read list, as well. I can’t wait to follow these characters some more. With as much reality as Imagine contains, I expect the next book to be even more brutally exciting.

[Ashlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 21%

There comes a time when you just have to give up on reading a book even if you really wanted to enjoy it. I was determined to finish this book; however, I got bored every time I sat down to read it. It was coming to a point where I just stop reading all together because I knew I had to read this book, but did not want to.

The cover of this book is beautiful, and the synopsis is very intriguing. However, from the first chapter, I knew that this book was not going to be something I would enjoy. I thought it might get better as I continued reading, but it just did not capture my attention like the cover and synopsis did.

I am not someone who typically enjoys reading middle grade books, and I honestly felt like this was more middle grade than young adult. The writing style seemed like it was aimed at a fourth or fifth grade student, rather than someone who is older. I am not sure if it was the writing style or the fact that the book seemed completely different from what I thought it would be, but I just did not like this book.

I think this might be a great book for someone who is in fourth or fifth grade, or to be read to a younger child; it is just not a great book for someone in their early twenties.

[Jenn Kraft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keeping in mind it's a YA book I found it an alright read. The story line was entertaining but the characters were not very developed. The main character is a 16 year old who finds herself transported from 1 realm to another and just accepts her fate. She finds out that her mother back on Earth didn't actually exist and just doesn't react? Given that the target audience of this book is middle school aged children, I don't think they'll be able to connect with this character at all.
It was nice to read a fantasy book where the hero(s) are young girls. The reader is asked to just accept too many plot holes

[Jasmine Fogwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two girls get swept away into the strange magical land of Oren. And each are told they have gift. I really enjoyed the story here. The world of Oren was unique and well built and the story was interesting and engaging. I had a hard time putting it down sometimes. There are some parts that are a bit wordy and a few times I was unsure of who's point of view we seeing from, but other than a few style preferences in the writing, I loved it. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

*thank you to Netgalley and Champagne Book Group for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

DNF

I just couldnt get into this. Im not sure exactly what i didnt enjoy about it but it just wasnt for me. I couldn't connect with it and was a bit bored.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book with amazing characters. It has a good story line. I loved Kat, Becky, Eston, Ino. They learn and grow throughout the story. I look forward to reading the next book, Reality.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect escape read for a lazy weekend. I don't read a lot of young adult fiction as a rule but the characters of this book, particularly the female ones, have much more depth than is expected in the genre. With an open ending and more questions asked than answered, this novel just leaves you wanting more.

[L.T. Getty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel starts with ten year old Becky, who, trying to read and draw past her bedtime, is snatched and taken from our world to the realm of Oren - but this fantasy world is far from a saccharine paradise fit for the average ten year old heroine thrust into a magical realm. Oren is torn apart by war and corruption, where magic exists and to say that the species are hostile to one another is an understatement. She soon meets up with teenager Kat Bowers, who we meet literally as she's being ripped into the world of Oren. The girls don't know one another, but they don't have long to explore the strange land before they find the last 'Natural' or one imbued with magical power without study.

Enalie, an enchantress of sorts who tells teenager Kat that she is one of three special folk chosen to command a given element, as the age of Naturals is over, and Enalie, being the last one, cannot undo the damage her kind has caused. She charges Kat to find the other two elementals and Becky, to find The Unifier - one who can bring all the elements together.

It honestly took me a little bit to get into this story. The usual YA tropes aren't my thing, and the characters referenced currently popular books, such as Twilight and Harry Potter - not really going on about them, but basically acknowledging them as Becky's a bookworm.

I think my problem was that we jumped into the plot feet first and started running, so info-dump loving me had no idea who these girls were, and why it mattered that they were taken from our world to another. I had a real problem with the character of Enalie - who probably should have called the special chosen one a little bit before she has to relinquish her powers and charge her with saving the world, especially when we later learn that she had plenty of time to figure things out. I don't want to spoil things, but let's just say, her actions get even worse when we learn the truth about Kat towards the end of the novel. It's like she took notes from Dumbledore in a "stuff I should probably tell the chosen one so that they're ready to face their destiny with all the information they should- eeeh, nah" sort of way.

After that, I the more I read the more I got into the story. You see familiar tropes like elves and dwarves, but they're familiar enough that we don't need tons of backstory, different enough that other characters call Becky out when she befriends Brownies - who travel between both our world and Oren, and who the denizens of Oren think is phooey. Kat sets out with a merry band of adventurers(?) to seek out the other two who command air and earth, all she knows are their names and what elements they're to represent. She asks, "What about fire?" and it turns out that fire is destructive and not part of the equation, and not a natural element. That was the first time I'd seen something like this, usually when this idea is explored fire is included.

And then we got to the action sequences. I'll try not to spoil things, but while I'd hardly describe the contents of the novel as gory, it didn't shy around the realities of their situation. At one point, Kat and her crew (the Krew?) arrive in a kingdom looking for one of the elementals. Turns out, the girl they're looking for was effectively turned into a child soldier, still a teen she's a slave-soldier. She tried to escape before she meets Kat, she had her tongue cut out. I thought the author did a nice job of making the queen of that nation come across as glorious and righteous, meanwhile her policies belie a power-hungry sociopath. She wasn't a cartoony moustache-curling cliche, but a more genuine monster then the literal monsters in the book.

Anyway - I say if you're looking for a YA book with female protagonists who aren't whiny and are very capable, I say give it a shot. I could have used a little bit more character development in the beginning, but I'm lame.

[Nancy Polgrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Sue was reading in her bedroom. Brilliantly. She was brilliant. Mary read literary masterpieces like Eragon, and the dictionary.

The bedroom window slammed shut. Weird, right?
But then it was blowing like it was still open. Even weirder, right? And blowing like a salami, thick and turgid over her bed. Mary shivered. The papers tried to flutter, but they failed, flittering instead about the floor.

All the commotion caused Mary to sit up and take notice. The noticing wrecked her bed, and a picture fell and shattered on the floor.

Mary was cold, that's why she previously shivered. The bookshelf next to her bed began to tear away from the wall, and just as Mary rushed to get away, the salami wind roared its spicy blow, pinning her to the mattress. She wasn't sure if it was the spices, but there was a humming in her ears. Mary couldn't shake the hum, the wind was shaking everything in her room. Unfortunately for Mary, her room was soundproofed, so her parents were none the wiser of her predicament.

Mary started to cry, pushing against the wind, and pulled a stuffed bear from her childhood close. The wind was too strong, she could barely move. Books and trinkets fell from the shelf, pelting her like hail. Mary buried herself in the dusty teddy, lost in grief when the corner of her favorite dictionary knocked her unconscious.

Mary drifted like a leaf in the stillness. A golden shower of sun warmed her languid descent to the soft grass below. The warmth was brilliant, heating Mary to her core. She slept until the ground was cool, and a pulsating light rammed her into wakefulness. Mary realized she was not in Kansas anymore.

[Rachel Lindemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read and am looking forward to the sequel. Love that there are some strong female characters but they're very relateable and have some endearing flaws. The parallel storylines at times helps keep things moving at a good pace and adds suspense as you bounce between the adventures. She portrays some serious situations without being overly gory or making them seem superhuman - they get hurt...a lot but they persevere. There's some nice resolution at the end of the book but leaves you with enough hanging to make you want to dive into the next book.

[Cadence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is 100% amazing.

[Pnutbutterkitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book during a Champagne Books internet party which was unexpected and nice so I felt obligated to read and review it. That feeling, however, only lasted until I opened this book and started to read. I was very pleasantly rewarded and had a hard time putting it down.

Becky and Kat are caught up in a magical whirlwind and transported to a different world. There they meet Enalie, a magical woman from the old order of magic that is fading away to make room for the new incarnation of magic in Oren, the elementals. She tells Kat that she, along with two others, holds the key to saving this world from the mistakes of the past and Becky is there to unify their powers.

Jenna's writing is extremely easy and enjoyable to read; I love the short chapters that draw you quickly into the meat of the story. Her characters are strong and believable. I would have benefitted from a little more description of the world and the surroundings to fill in the fuzzy edges in my mind but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm hopeful that there is a sequal in the works!

[Auburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I would call an epic adventure through different worlds. Starting from page 1 you are thrown in, quite confused, into a new world. In this new world pretty much anything you believe or can dream up can show up. Step in a teenager who doesn't believe in magic and a little girl who believes with her whole heart and you have a book.
I enjoyed the world building and the fact that this was not like any book I had read before. The fantasy and characters were unique but there were a lot of them to keep track of.

[Amileigh Gordon]

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[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine by Jenna Greene.
This was a good read with likeable characters. Although written very well it did get slow in places.  I liked how it was described and I could see the world easily in my mind. I liked the main characters Becky and kat.  There were characters I didn't like.  Can Becky and kat find their way home? But first they must help save a world they know nothing about.  I am curious how book 2 turn out. 4*.