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Sanyel
Alternative cover edition of ASIN B00DIAZW3O
At fifteen, Sanyel is as good as dead. In defiance of strict tribal and religious law, Sanyel’s shaman father has been covertly training her in the secret knowledge and rituals of the medicine man, sacred practices prohibited to females. Betrayal by her best friend leads to Sanyel’s banishment to the unforgiving Desert of Bones, the equivalent of a death sentence.
The savage desert cruelly tests Sanyel’s will to survive and she begins to question her father’s belief in portents that surrounded her birth. These signs indicated a destiny that included leading her people in a time of great trouble. It was belief in those signs that led her father to train her so rigorously in the arts of the shaman and in the skills of the hunter/warrior.
Sanyel has secrets. She possesses unusual talents known only to her and her father. She will need those abilities, for beyond the desert’s edge lies a culturally and politically complex world she did not know existed. When soldiers of a brutal, expansionist people attack and enslave Sanyel’s tribe, she vows to free the friend who betrayed her.
With the companionship of Javen, a boy of undeniable physical attractions, along with Brilna, an unfocused yet invaluable fountain of knowledge, and the remarkable Izzy, a one-armed girl of intimidating presence and deadly skill, Sanyel will rise from desert exile to embark on a mission that is both perilous and deeply personal. Along the way she will find unexpected love and form stalwart bonds of friendship, uncover intriguing mysteries of an advanced, long vanished culture, and unearth clues that suggest she holds a more unique and powerful status in the world than she ever imagined.
At fifteen, Sanyel is as good as dead. In defiance of strict tribal and religious law, Sanyel’s shaman father has been covertly training her in the secret knowledge and rituals of the medicine man, sacred practices prohibited to females. Betrayal by her best friend leads to Sanyel’s banishment to the unforgiving Desert of Bones, the equivalent of a death sentence.
The savage desert cruelly tests Sanyel’s will to survive and she begins to question her father’s belief in portents that surrounded her birth. These signs indicated a destiny that included leading her people in a time of great trouble. It was belief in those signs that led her father to train her so rigorously in the arts of the shaman and in the skills of the hunter/warrior.
Sanyel has secrets. She possesses unusual talents known only to her and her father. She will need those abilities, for beyond the desert’s edge lies a culturally and politically complex world she did not know existed. When soldiers of a brutal, expansionist people attack and enslave Sanyel’s tribe, she vows to free the friend who betrayed her.
With the companionship of Javen, a boy of undeniable physical attractions, along with Brilna, an unfocused yet invaluable fountain of knowledge, and the remarkable Izzy, a one-armed girl of intimidating presence and deadly skill, Sanyel will rise from desert exile to embark on a mission that is both perilous and deeply personal. Along the way she will find unexpected love and form stalwart bonds of friendship, uncover intriguing mysteries of an advanced, long vanished culture, and unearth clues that suggest she holds a more unique and powerful status in the world than she ever imagined.
- GenresYoung Adult
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2012
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Michael Puttonen
7 books3 followersMichael Puttonen is a Minnesota native and writer of action/adventure novels with a fantasy element. He honed his craft penning short stories before expanding into writing full-length adventure novels. Always an avid reader, his tastes include an eclectic variety of genres and styles that encompass storytellers both past and present. As a writer, he feels an affinity for action and adventure, and loves fantasy for the freedom it offers in creating alternate worlds. His direct influences include the pulp fantasy of E.R. Burroughs and the historical fiction of Bernard Cornwell. Sanyel is the first novel of a projected action/adventure series, followed by Disrupter, Circles and Stones, and Bones of the Gods.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 14, 2015
Brisa (mother) died giving birth to Sanyel (15, f, Sakita clan, storyteller). She lived with her father Nanki (shaman).
He had taught Sanyel the secrets of the shaman, hunting/fishing, survival skills & the way of the world.
Lillatta (orphan) was Sanyel’s BFF. Nanki has also trained her.
Nanki died & Pilkin (30+) his apprentice was appointed the new shaman.
Satu (crippled orphan boy, Nanki’s other apprentice) didn’t always get the best assigned male jobs.
Semral (m, Great hunter) had become Sanyel confidant, or so she thought.
Council Chief Barkor had determined that Sanyel had also committed the crime of breaking the strict tribal & religious law.
The vote 7-3, she was banished to the Desert of Bones.
Sanyel was allowed to say goodbye to 1 person, who was that?
Her journey would now begin.
Sanyel encountered Dwelve (m, caravan/Rancer leader) & Skak (m) they took her as a prisoner.
She met Ismalia (Izzyl prisoner, Mim tribe) & Brilna (f).
Sanyel managed to kill 1 of the Creet guards & then she took the other 2 girls with her.
Javen (m, Sakita tribe) & Lillatta (Lil) had joined the group.
History: Gor-jar (immortal), & the Spood god (all-powerful masters of the world) had ruled for over a 100 yrs.
Will the group accomplice their mission?
Who is the Disrupter or the Blades of Sorrow?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written YA paranormal book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There might have been a few grammar/typo errors, but no repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great YA paranormal movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. To be continued. Not my normal read but I kinda liked it. I am not real sure I got the abrupt ending. That said I will rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Smashwords; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
He had taught Sanyel the secrets of the shaman, hunting/fishing, survival skills & the way of the world.
Lillatta (orphan) was Sanyel’s BFF. Nanki has also trained her.
Nanki died & Pilkin (30+) his apprentice was appointed the new shaman.
Satu (crippled orphan boy, Nanki’s other apprentice) didn’t always get the best assigned male jobs.
Semral (m, Great hunter) had become Sanyel confidant, or so she thought.
Council Chief Barkor had determined that Sanyel had also committed the crime of breaking the strict tribal & religious law.
The vote 7-3, she was banished to the Desert of Bones.
Sanyel was allowed to say goodbye to 1 person, who was that?
Her journey would now begin.
Sanyel encountered Dwelve (m, caravan/Rancer leader) & Skak (m) they took her as a prisoner.
She met Ismalia (Izzyl prisoner, Mim tribe) & Brilna (f).
Sanyel managed to kill 1 of the Creet guards & then she took the other 2 girls with her.
Javen (m, Sakita tribe) & Lillatta (Lil) had joined the group.
History: Gor-jar (immortal), & the Spood god (all-powerful masters of the world) had ruled for over a 100 yrs.
Will the group accomplice their mission?
Who is the Disrupter or the Blades of Sorrow?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written YA paranormal book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There might have been a few grammar/typo errors, but no repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great YA paranormal movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. To be continued. Not my normal read but I kinda liked it. I am not real sure I got the abrupt ending. That said I will rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Smashwords; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
December 10, 2022
I liked it.
January 5, 2014
I picked this book up off of amazon because it was free and the description had the sound of something I could enjoy. This book simply put, was AMAZING!
The book begins with Sanyel's birth. Her father is the tribe's Shaman and believes that Sanyel is one described in a prophecy. The prophecy had something to do with her leading the tribe. The tribe is very, woman raise the babies and take care of their men only, so Sanyel's father's wish to train her as a Shaman was forbidden. The story the then picks up with Sanyel being secretly trained as a Shaman by her father.
Sanyel is an awesome heroine. She is smart, funny, and quite the bad ass. She is not flawless however, but she knows this.
I did feel like the secondary characters could have used a little more fleshing. The love interest, Javen, just didn't come together for me. However, Izzy is an amazing character! With Sanyel being very private, it is nice to see how Izzy was able to open her up.
I love this story from beginning to end, unable to put it down to go to bed and thus finished it in a day. While the first book concluded pretty cleanly, having no huge cliffhanger, I still hoped that there was a sequel so I could continue journeying with Sanyel. Luckily there is! Disruptor was an amazing addition to Sanyel's story. I loved every page of that one as well. I sincerely hope that there is a third book in the making, I need more Sanyel and hopefully a bit more Javen as well.
The book begins with Sanyel's birth. Her father is the tribe's Shaman and believes that Sanyel is one described in a prophecy. The prophecy had something to do with her leading the tribe. The tribe is very, woman raise the babies and take care of their men only, so Sanyel's father's wish to train her as a Shaman was forbidden. The story the then picks up with Sanyel being secretly trained as a Shaman by her father.
Sanyel is an awesome heroine. She is smart, funny, and quite the bad ass. She is not flawless however, but she knows this.
I did feel like the secondary characters could have used a little more fleshing. The love interest, Javen, just didn't come together for me. However, Izzy is an amazing character! With Sanyel being very private, it is nice to see how Izzy was able to open her up.
I love this story from beginning to end, unable to put it down to go to bed and thus finished it in a day. While the first book concluded pretty cleanly, having no huge cliffhanger, I still hoped that there was a sequel so I could continue journeying with Sanyel. Luckily there is! Disruptor was an amazing addition to Sanyel's story. I loved every page of that one as well. I sincerely hope that there is a third book in the making, I need more Sanyel and hopefully a bit more Javen as well.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews