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Legends of Orkney #2
Kalifus Rising
Sam Baron just freed Orkney from the ravages of the Red Sun--but now, imprisoned by Catriona, leader of the Volgrim Witches, Sam finds the darker side of his half-god, half-witch heritage released, and he fears he might destroy what he saved. Unable to resist the witches' enchantments, Sam has become their most potent weapon, and is leading an army of monstrous men against Skara Brae. Sam's only hope for salvation lies with his three best friends and a mystical artifact known as the Moon Pearl. Keely travels north in search of the pearl, while Howie prepares for the gathering onslaught. Leo seeks a powerful artifact in the underworld, and faces an ancient evil that could be an even greater threat than Catriona and her cronies. As Sam's friends rush to save him, other forces are at work in Orkney's shadows--forces that could help free Sam, or condemn him to the darkness forever.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2016
9 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
Alane Adams
26 books211 followers"Dear Readers: I wrote the Legends of Orkney series for my twelve-year-old son who challenged me to write something he would enjoy reading. The Red Sun is filled with exciting characters who struggle to find their true path. Sam learns so much about his past and how to overcome his anger, but will he continue to use his power for good or will he be drawn to the dark side? I hope you enjoy reading the Legends of Orkney series as much as I enjoyed writing them for you. The picture book series are dedicated to my father, the original Coal Thief! Keep reading!" - Alane Adams
Alane Adams grew up in an old Quaker town called Whittier in Southern California. Adams attended Whittier High School and was active in every possible sport including basketball (proudly claiming the nickname Breakaway Adams!) and swimming and diving. For college, Alane attended the University of Southern California where she wanted to be an English major, but family convinced her to become an accountant to help run a family business. After spending the next few decades helping to build one of the largest recycling companies on the West Coast, Alane left the family business behind to pursue her writing career. Before launching into writing full-time, Alane began teaching full-time at a local university. Finally, the Legends of Orkney series was born when her then 12-year-old son challenged Alane to write a book he could read. She hasn't stopped writing since that day.
Alane's favorite books include any story involving folklore, fantasy and fairytales. When Alane is not writing or teaching, she is hanging out with her three boys, each who have grown up having adventures to rival those of her characters.
Find out more at: www.AlaneAdams.com
Alane Adams grew up in an old Quaker town called Whittier in Southern California. Adams attended Whittier High School and was active in every possible sport including basketball (proudly claiming the nickname Breakaway Adams!) and swimming and diving. For college, Alane attended the University of Southern California where she wanted to be an English major, but family convinced her to become an accountant to help run a family business. After spending the next few decades helping to build one of the largest recycling companies on the West Coast, Alane left the family business behind to pursue her writing career. Before launching into writing full-time, Alane began teaching full-time at a local university. Finally, the Legends of Orkney series was born when her then 12-year-old son challenged Alane to write a book he could read. She hasn't stopped writing since that day.
Alane's favorite books include any story involving folklore, fantasy and fairytales. When Alane is not writing or teaching, she is hanging out with her three boys, each who have grown up having adventures to rival those of her characters.
Find out more at: www.AlaneAdams.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 13, 2021
Disclaimer: I receive a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in anyway.
Kalifus Rising is the second book in The Legends of Orkney series written by author Alane Adams. We continue the story of Sam Baron and the whole Orkney gang. After saving Orkney from the Red Sun, Sam was imprisoned by the evil witch, Catriona. Will he be devoured by the dark side or will his three best friends help him find out who he really is?
After enjoying the first book in the series, I was so thrilled to continue on and be back in the land of Orkney where magic and adventure awaits. This book is more fast paced and very exciting compared to the first book. This book kick start with a blast as Sam’s three friends, Howie, Keely and Leo, gets flushed to the world of Orkney again to save him.
I really love how this series provides more knowledge about Norse mythology which I’m not very familiar. Like the first book, it definitely sparks up interest to know more about Norse gods and creatures.
As a middle grade book, I love how it does not only focused on entertaining its readers. It shows the importance of letting go of the past and stop holding grudges on yourself or on other people. It also teaches us that in the midst of feeling lost, you can always find your true self like Sam did. Sometimes you just need a little push or help from others. Lastly, this book was blooming of showing the importance of friendship which I think every person should know. As I was reaching the ending of this book, you can definitely see how Sam and his friends friendship blossoms in Kalifus Rising and not only that, they gained new friends which is definitely enjoyable to read about.
Author Alane Adams did a great job in this continuation of Sam’s adventure in the lands of Orkney. As always, her writing style is amazing. She was able to captivate her readers in every chapter which keeps getting better and better at every page.
If you want a fast paced, exciting and adventurous read with references from Norse mythology, I definitely recommend you to check this series out.
Final Rating: 4/5
Kalifus Rising is the second book in The Legends of Orkney series written by author Alane Adams. We continue the story of Sam Baron and the whole Orkney gang. After saving Orkney from the Red Sun, Sam was imprisoned by the evil witch, Catriona. Will he be devoured by the dark side or will his three best friends help him find out who he really is?
After enjoying the first book in the series, I was so thrilled to continue on and be back in the land of Orkney where magic and adventure awaits. This book is more fast paced and very exciting compared to the first book. This book kick start with a blast as Sam’s three friends, Howie, Keely and Leo, gets flushed to the world of Orkney again to save him.
I really love how this series provides more knowledge about Norse mythology which I’m not very familiar. Like the first book, it definitely sparks up interest to know more about Norse gods and creatures.
As a middle grade book, I love how it does not only focused on entertaining its readers. It shows the importance of letting go of the past and stop holding grudges on yourself or on other people. It also teaches us that in the midst of feeling lost, you can always find your true self like Sam did. Sometimes you just need a little push or help from others. Lastly, this book was blooming of showing the importance of friendship which I think every person should know. As I was reaching the ending of this book, you can definitely see how Sam and his friends friendship blossoms in Kalifus Rising and not only that, they gained new friends which is definitely enjoyable to read about.
Author Alane Adams did a great job in this continuation of Sam’s adventure in the lands of Orkney. As always, her writing style is amazing. She was able to captivate her readers in every chapter which keeps getting better and better at every page.
If you want a fast paced, exciting and adventurous read with references from Norse mythology, I definitely recommend you to check this series out.
Final Rating: 4/5
July 15, 2016
This was a fun book, and one that I think readers of Percy Jackson will enjoy tremendously. We follow the adventures of three friends as they try to save a fourth. Each of the quests was interesting - my personal favorite was Howie's - I loved how he was fairly incompetent at first as he tried to lead an army, but his attitude was terrific! There is a lot of Norse mythology, and the witches are truly scary and evil.
Thanks to netgalley for giving me a copy to review.
Thanks to netgalley for giving me a copy to review.
April 7, 2019
The second book of the series was in my opinion better than the first.
Its still a fast paced, action packed fantasy adventure with lots of magic and norse mythology.
However, unlike the first book I found this book to be not TOO fast. It gave me time to really digest what I was reading and hence able to immerse myself in the story.
It is definitely aimed toward children in the preteen/teen age but I still found a lot to be enjoyed about this book. Where I was expecting something similar to the Percy Jackson it did fall a bit short for me, but then I thought about the book from the age it was written for and realized how great it is. Easy to follow and enjoy.
Its still a fast paced, action packed fantasy adventure with lots of magic and norse mythology.
However, unlike the first book I found this book to be not TOO fast. It gave me time to really digest what I was reading and hence able to immerse myself in the story.
It is definitely aimed toward children in the preteen/teen age but I still found a lot to be enjoyed about this book. Where I was expecting something similar to the Percy Jackson it did fall a bit short for me, but then I thought about the book from the age it was written for and realized how great it is. Easy to follow and enjoy.
August 17, 2016
The book takes its peak point catching up with full mystery and adventures which vividly speaks about thd mythological world of Orkney and thats when everything fall into place. The beautiful author has put various elements combined to make the story more interesting and full of excitement. She has without any disappointment describes the flares and plots clear which makes the story more flawless.
Plot: Sam Baron is in the grip of the evil leader witch Catriona and before that he reveals himself with a darker side for which he is endangered with his darkness taking his toll and he is an important weapon of the Volgrim witches. Sam is a captive in Catriona's prison and he is unaware that his friends have been summoned by Odin to Orkney to save his life. They have been assigned to help no matter what circumstances it leads to or even if death make its way they still have to find a way to rescue Sam . Now the question arises is Sam able to overcome his dark side? What impact and strategies are carried out to release him from the captive? And how the story takes the path? In order to get all the answers to the questions i would recommend my fellow readers to go ahead and read the book.
The author has stored in many beautiful words and jotted them into beautiful phrases which makes a connection between the reader and keep an urge to know whats happening next. She has engrossed many mythological scenarios which makes the book to be a page turner. Her writings are curved with rich words and has a vast input of imagination which carries the reader to a different world ie into the story. There are many textures and elements which make the story more creative.
Throughout the story keely has been my favourite. She is amongst one of the friends of Sam and somewhere i felt that she is the strongest to handle situations somewhere there is a strong connection between her and Sam.
Overall i had a good time with the book and I would be looking forward to read more of Alane Adams tasteful stories full of adventures and myths stored in it..
Plot: Sam Baron is in the grip of the evil leader witch Catriona and before that he reveals himself with a darker side for which he is endangered with his darkness taking his toll and he is an important weapon of the Volgrim witches. Sam is a captive in Catriona's prison and he is unaware that his friends have been summoned by Odin to Orkney to save his life. They have been assigned to help no matter what circumstances it leads to or even if death make its way they still have to find a way to rescue Sam . Now the question arises is Sam able to overcome his dark side? What impact and strategies are carried out to release him from the captive? And how the story takes the path? In order to get all the answers to the questions i would recommend my fellow readers to go ahead and read the book.
The author has stored in many beautiful words and jotted them into beautiful phrases which makes a connection between the reader and keep an urge to know whats happening next. She has engrossed many mythological scenarios which makes the book to be a page turner. Her writings are curved with rich words and has a vast input of imagination which carries the reader to a different world ie into the story. There are many textures and elements which make the story more creative.
Throughout the story keely has been my favourite. She is amongst one of the friends of Sam and somewhere i felt that she is the strongest to handle situations somewhere there is a strong connection between her and Sam.
Overall i had a good time with the book and I would be looking forward to read more of Alane Adams tasteful stories full of adventures and myths stored in it..
July 21, 2016
My name is Keely, and all of Orkney is under attack from Catriona and the Volgrim Witches. I had a vision of Sam fighting against us, side by side with them and their army of huge, hairy creatures. I have faith in my friend Sam, but I must complete my quest to prevent the vision from coming true. I must trek through the mountains of ice giants and then face an eight-legged creature to retrieve the Moon Pearl. Drinking water from Mimir's well allowed me to see visions of the future, but it seems to have changed me in other ways. My hair turned white, and I feel magic growing inside me. What is happening? Odin declared Howie the protector of Skara Brae, but he is definitely not a warrior hero. I hope the city is still standing when I return.
I did not read the first book and really felt like I was missing some background information. Namely, how/why did Sam and his friends leave earth and travel to this fantasy world? The book involves Norse mythology, as Sam is a descendant of Odin and a witch, and Loki pops up in the later pages. I enjoyed Sam's internal conflict, as he battled with feelings of loyalty and abandonment toward his friends. The blood of Odin was fighting to keep his witch blood from taking over, but the temptation of power was overwhelming. Kalifus is Sam's witch name. With Sam captured, Keely seemed to be the glue keeping the other friends together in the plot even though they had separate quests. It's always nice to see females in leadership roles and becoming heroes. Kalifus Rising is an exciting adventure of good versus evil. I plan on going back to read book one, but this book can be enjoyed without. I accessed this book through Net Galley.
I did not read the first book and really felt like I was missing some background information. Namely, how/why did Sam and his friends leave earth and travel to this fantasy world? The book involves Norse mythology, as Sam is a descendant of Odin and a witch, and Loki pops up in the later pages. I enjoyed Sam's internal conflict, as he battled with feelings of loyalty and abandonment toward his friends. The blood of Odin was fighting to keep his witch blood from taking over, but the temptation of power was overwhelming. Kalifus is Sam's witch name. With Sam captured, Keely seemed to be the glue keeping the other friends together in the plot even though they had separate quests. It's always nice to see females in leadership roles and becoming heroes. Kalifus Rising is an exciting adventure of good versus evil. I plan on going back to read book one, but this book can be enjoyed without. I accessed this book through Net Galley.
December 20, 2016
Sam managed to deal with Orkney's poisonous red sun. He's still in Orkney, because that's where he belongs. He doesn't have much time to get to know his new home, because Catriona, an evil witch, manages to capture him. She has a terrible plan and Sam is an important part of it. She wants to use the darker side of Sam's heritage for her own purposes. The question is if Sam can stop her or not, will he stand a chance against someone so powerful and cunning?
Sam's friends each get a mission to help him. Keely and Howie are being transported back to Orkney for this purpose. Together with Sam's former protector Leo they will be sent on a journey that will help them prepare for the battle against Catriona. Will they be back in time to prevent the awful witch from setting her malicious plans in motion or will they be too late to save Orkney and rescue their friend?
Kalifus Rising is another amazing Legends of Orkney story. It was fun to read about Sam and his friends Keely, Howie, Leo and Mavery again. Keely and Howie have to become a lot braver in this book and I liked that very much. The characters are all evolving, which is one of the necessities of a great series for me, and I enjoyed seeing that. The power of friendship is still strong and seeing what it could withstand was fantastic. The bonds are being put to the test repeatedly this time, which was quite interesting to witness.
There are even more fabulous monsters, evil characters and creepy creatures in Kalifus Rising. I love how Alane Adams describes each of her characters in a thoroughly detailed way, that makes her stories come to life incredibly well. I love her ingenuity and the way she puts a new spin on old myths is terrific.
Kalifus Rising has a strong basis. Orkney is an intriguing place and I loved reading about feuds, quests and treaties. There are many fascinating details. Alana Adams creates a world where there's so much in between of being totally good or being completely bad and I loved these shades of grey. The combat scenes are exciting and I liked the spectacular way movements and weapons are being described and used. There are plenty of unexpected moments and the ending of the story is both satisfying and promising. I can't wait to read the next Legends of Orkney story.
Sam's friends each get a mission to help him. Keely and Howie are being transported back to Orkney for this purpose. Together with Sam's former protector Leo they will be sent on a journey that will help them prepare for the battle against Catriona. Will they be back in time to prevent the awful witch from setting her malicious plans in motion or will they be too late to save Orkney and rescue their friend?
Kalifus Rising is another amazing Legends of Orkney story. It was fun to read about Sam and his friends Keely, Howie, Leo and Mavery again. Keely and Howie have to become a lot braver in this book and I liked that very much. The characters are all evolving, which is one of the necessities of a great series for me, and I enjoyed seeing that. The power of friendship is still strong and seeing what it could withstand was fantastic. The bonds are being put to the test repeatedly this time, which was quite interesting to witness.
There are even more fabulous monsters, evil characters and creepy creatures in Kalifus Rising. I love how Alane Adams describes each of her characters in a thoroughly detailed way, that makes her stories come to life incredibly well. I love her ingenuity and the way she puts a new spin on old myths is terrific.
Kalifus Rising has a strong basis. Orkney is an intriguing place and I loved reading about feuds, quests and treaties. There are many fascinating details. Alana Adams creates a world where there's so much in between of being totally good or being completely bad and I loved these shades of grey. The combat scenes are exciting and I liked the spectacular way movements and weapons are being described and used. There are plenty of unexpected moments and the ending of the story is both satisfying and promising. I can't wait to read the next Legends of Orkney story.
December 14, 2016
You can watch the full video here: youtu.be/u7LhsXCE27I or read below...
In Kalifus Rising we continue on with Sam and his friends - Leo, Keely, Howie, and a few others from the previous book as they set out on another mission to save Orkney. It seems like they just returned from saving Orkney from the cursed Red Sun when they’re sucked back into the ninth realm. Sam has been captured leaving his friends to save Orkney only this time its from the witches. Each character is given a mission from Odin himself and if they can do whats being asked of them, Orkney just might stand a chance against the Volgrim witches.
An interesting take to see how deep their friendships run and yet how much darkness can pull from inside you. I think you can easily take away deeper meanings within this middle-grade read.
Again, loyalty and friendship play a large role in this story. Keely, oh Keely! She surprised me the most. I won’t say anything more though because I feel like that was such a defining moment and think it should be read in order for you to appreciate and enjoy the full effect of it. Keely and Howie’s character evolvement in this book was so good. I loved getting to watch these characters grow. The adventures in Orkney revealed things about that them even then didn’t know they had inside. It was powerful! This world is so easy to fall into. Action packed and full of great characters, themes, and adventures!
There’s only one small part during the battle with the witches that I didn’t like and without giving it away I’ll just say that it deals with a character who plays a small role and snow. I found it to be weird and childish, but since it's a middle-grade read, I'm sure a younger audience would have gotten a kick out of it. I can't wait for the third book!
In Kalifus Rising we continue on with Sam and his friends - Leo, Keely, Howie, and a few others from the previous book as they set out on another mission to save Orkney. It seems like they just returned from saving Orkney from the cursed Red Sun when they’re sucked back into the ninth realm. Sam has been captured leaving his friends to save Orkney only this time its from the witches. Each character is given a mission from Odin himself and if they can do whats being asked of them, Orkney just might stand a chance against the Volgrim witches.
An interesting take to see how deep their friendships run and yet how much darkness can pull from inside you. I think you can easily take away deeper meanings within this middle-grade read.
Again, loyalty and friendship play a large role in this story. Keely, oh Keely! She surprised me the most. I won’t say anything more though because I feel like that was such a defining moment and think it should be read in order for you to appreciate and enjoy the full effect of it. Keely and Howie’s character evolvement in this book was so good. I loved getting to watch these characters grow. The adventures in Orkney revealed things about that them even then didn’t know they had inside. It was powerful! This world is so easy to fall into. Action packed and full of great characters, themes, and adventures!
There’s only one small part during the battle with the witches that I didn’t like and without giving it away I’ll just say that it deals with a character who plays a small role and snow. I found it to be weird and childish, but since it's a middle-grade read, I'm sure a younger audience would have gotten a kick out of it. I can't wait for the third book!
August 14, 2016
The Synopsis
This sequel follows directly after book 1. Sam has been imprisoned and is under enchantments by the witches. He is being brought up to be their most powerful weapon. His only hope lies within his friends. One is traveling in search of a magical pearl, one in search of an artifact in the underworld, while the other prepares for battle. Meanwhile certain forces that could make or break Sam. Read to find out if he can overcome the evil or if he lets his dark half consume him.
The Review
Alane Adams triumphs again in this sequel. Her imaginative writing is beautiful. I was captured by every word. This page turner was one of the best written sequels I've ever read. I loved all the mini lessons she in puts into book two for the people reading it. She took book 1 and retuned with an even better sequel. I loved the character development and how real the emotions were in this book. Her mythology usage is brilliantly captivating. Her dialogue usage is great and I think that especially for a middle grade read that its very developed. As someone who went to college for literary classes, I found it very well written. Thank you Alane for keeping this magical world going. I cant wait to read more. 5 stars from me for this sequel! I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This sequel follows directly after book 1. Sam has been imprisoned and is under enchantments by the witches. He is being brought up to be their most powerful weapon. His only hope lies within his friends. One is traveling in search of a magical pearl, one in search of an artifact in the underworld, while the other prepares for battle. Meanwhile certain forces that could make or break Sam. Read to find out if he can overcome the evil or if he lets his dark half consume him.
The Review
Alane Adams triumphs again in this sequel. Her imaginative writing is beautiful. I was captured by every word. This page turner was one of the best written sequels I've ever read. I loved all the mini lessons she in puts into book two for the people reading it. She took book 1 and retuned with an even better sequel. I loved the character development and how real the emotions were in this book. Her mythology usage is brilliantly captivating. Her dialogue usage is great and I think that especially for a middle grade read that its very developed. As someone who went to college for literary classes, I found it very well written. Thank you Alane for keeping this magical world going. I cant wait to read more. 5 stars from me for this sequel! I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 26, 2016
I received an Arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. Kalifus Rising is the second installment of Legends of Orkney. I'd like to start out by stating that I have not read the first book, The Red Sun, but I feel as if Kalifus Rising can be read and have a pretty good idea of some of what happened in the first book, as this book touches on some of the events. Kalifus Rising follows the story of Sam Baron's three best friends, Keely, Leo, and Howie, as they take on different quests to find what they need to help Sam and stop a war. This story is fast paced, high adventure, and full of action. I was impressed with Alane's world building skills as the world of Orkney was opened up to me. I constantly found myself on the edge of my seat, hanging on for dear life amidst the action. The character development is incredible, as I wanted to wring some necks, hug others, and just plain scream at some of the characters. My only concern with this book is that it could have been better edited. There were several grammatical errors that gave me pause. Overall, I give Kalifus Rising four stars for the world building, character development, and the action.
June 6, 2016
"A single act of bravery can change rust to gold."
Alane Adams does it again, with the second book in the Legends of Orkney series.
After breaking the red sun curse, and releasing the Volgrim Witches, Sam is now expected to get to Catriona and stop the war. This time, Sam has the help of his friends. Odin brought them back to Orkney because they are the chosen ones. Keely was gifted by Mimir with visions on how to end the war. Will Sam's friends succeed? Will the witches bring Sam to the dark side? Will Catriona turn Sam against Odin and the chosen ones? What will happen when Lady Abigail returns?
"My name is Kalifus. I have no family, no loyalty other than to my coven. I have one purpose, one mission: serve the witches."
Keely was definitely my favorite throughout this book, but I have a soft spot for Howie too. They have both become so brave and courageous since the first book. Adams characters are brought to life and are so fun to read about. It is nice seeing them change and grow throughout these books. I can't wait for the third book to come out in 2017!
"Friends stand together," he said, "to the end."
Alane Adams does it again, with the second book in the Legends of Orkney series.
After breaking the red sun curse, and releasing the Volgrim Witches, Sam is now expected to get to Catriona and stop the war. This time, Sam has the help of his friends. Odin brought them back to Orkney because they are the chosen ones. Keely was gifted by Mimir with visions on how to end the war. Will Sam's friends succeed? Will the witches bring Sam to the dark side? Will Catriona turn Sam against Odin and the chosen ones? What will happen when Lady Abigail returns?
"My name is Kalifus. I have no family, no loyalty other than to my coven. I have one purpose, one mission: serve the witches."
Keely was definitely my favorite throughout this book, but I have a soft spot for Howie too. They have both become so brave and courageous since the first book. Adams characters are brought to life and are so fun to read about. It is nice seeing them change and grow throughout these books. I can't wait for the third book to come out in 2017!
"Friends stand together," he said, "to the end."
January 24, 2017
Rating: 4 out of 5
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ACR of Kalifus Rising.
I love this book. I'm a huge sucker for mythology, it's why I love Percy Jackson so much. This is the only book I've read based on Norse mythology and I have to say I'm hooked.
I should probably start with The Red Sun. I loved the idea behind it but this book didn't really enthrall me. This one is more of a 3 out of 5. I'm a big sucker for romance. It's one of the top things that I love about a book, but there wasn't any romance at all in this book!
I love the characters though. You have the main protagonist, Sam Baron. He stands up to the bullies and is friends with the outcasts. He's basically you're average protagonist and even though it's typical I love it. He does have one thing going for him though. He has a humongous temper, he gets blackout angry.
Then you have Howie, the kid that gets picked on. Howie is super sweet and has a huge heart. He's Sam's best friend and they always stick up for one another.
Then there's Keely. I love Keely. She's a book work and super smart. not only does she help Sam through the whole son of Odin thing but she has her own demons from her past haunting her. She's not just a sideline character, she has her own story as well, and it's something I love about her.
And last but not least, Leo. The Umatilla warrior. He's brave and loyal and defends his friends no matter the danger.
I felt like this book was a lot like Percy Jackson but wasn't exactly the same and I really enjoyed that.
Now Kalifus Rising... was fantastic! We meet new people like Theo and yes the author added Loki to the mix.
The characters really branched out from the first book. They all got there own quests and they all go there separate directions. Now the books aren't just about Sam, the other three are just as important, they have all been elevated to the same status as Sam.
Leo, Howie and Keely are all brought back to Orkney where they are deemed Odin's chosen one's.
Howie is Protector of Orkney. Everyone finds this hilarious and unbelievable because he's the scrawny kid who couldn't hurt a fly if he tried. Howie does grow up in the book though. You get to see him gain new skills and maturity without loosing his sense of humor, which I love.
Keely is The Seeker. Her quest is to find a moon pearl... in dangerous, harsh wintery weather. She's forced to deal with the demons of her past, and her new hair is amazing I might add. Did I mention she has magic now... Moving on!
Leo is The Sacrifice. he also seems to be the only one that doesn't like the role he's been put in. If it was me I would love to be the Sacrifice... just kidding... it sounds terrifying. But who better to face a terrifying task then the brave Umatilla warrior.
What I really love about this book is that Sam gets captured by the Witches and is unable to fend off their magic and his own dark magic pooling inside him. We actually get to have a bad protagonist for once! I love how the author portrayed his struggle to fight the dark and how she made the choice for him to give in. Most of the time they fight the darkness successfully but here we get to witness an author going against the status quo.
I love this book series and highly recommend it! Can't wait for the next book!
March 8, 2017
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
This is Book Two in the Legends of Orkney series.
Sam Baron is imprisoned by the Volgrim Witches and their leader Catriona. Sam is half (Norse) god, half witch but his powers are just starting to be revealed to him and he is concerned that he can not control the powers and he may destroy what is important to him. The Volgrim Witches control him and they are using him in their attempt to destroy Orkney. Sam will need the help of his friends, Keely, Howie, and Leo to save Orkney from the witches - and himself.
All-father Odin has given each of them an assignment and if they can each complete their mission, Orkney just may have a chance.
I had not read the first book in this series, but when I saw that this had strong ties to Norse mythology I was very excited. Interest in the Norse myths has grown significantly in the past few years thanks to a number of popular authors and books. I've long been a fan of the Nordic stories, in large part because of my own heritage, so I'm always pleased to see new books working with these classic stories.
The book is targeted toward a teen reading audience ... the same audience of Percy Jackson,or the current Harry Potter readers ... which is great. But early on I was distracted by the maturity or immaturity - of the characters.
I understand that this is a story about teens/preteens for teens/preteens and the author wants the reader to be able to identify with the characters, but this felt as though the author was writing down to the reader, rather than elevating the reader. One character tells another, "The king don't like it when you're late."
This infantile behavior comes to ahead a bit later on when Howie comes in contact with an annoying creature, so the behavior here is intentional - though no less annoying because of it:
But two could play at that game, and if there was one thing Howie was good at, it was being annoying.
Howie doesn't come across particularly well so it shouldn't have been a surprise when he later says, "Evil quests, you say? So the blade is, like, enchanted?" But I was.
Although I know it's not a 'fair' statement, I had the impression that this was a self-published book. What that typically means is that it needed a stronger editing hand. There's enough here that makes this an intriguing story, but it doesn't come through as well as it could.
Looking for a good book? Kalifus Rising by Alana Adams is the second book in the Legends of Orkney series and shows some promise but treats the characters as a bit too immature.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This is Book Two in the Legends of Orkney series.
Sam Baron is imprisoned by the Volgrim Witches and their leader Catriona. Sam is half (Norse) god, half witch but his powers are just starting to be revealed to him and he is concerned that he can not control the powers and he may destroy what is important to him. The Volgrim Witches control him and they are using him in their attempt to destroy Orkney. Sam will need the help of his friends, Keely, Howie, and Leo to save Orkney from the witches - and himself.
All-father Odin has given each of them an assignment and if they can each complete their mission, Orkney just may have a chance.
I had not read the first book in this series, but when I saw that this had strong ties to Norse mythology I was very excited. Interest in the Norse myths has grown significantly in the past few years thanks to a number of popular authors and books. I've long been a fan of the Nordic stories, in large part because of my own heritage, so I'm always pleased to see new books working with these classic stories.
The book is targeted toward a teen reading audience ... the same audience of Percy Jackson,or the current Harry Potter readers ... which is great. But early on I was distracted by the maturity or immaturity - of the characters.
"What are you doing back here?" he said, planting his hands on his hips as he glared at Mavery.
"None of your beeswax, Theo."
"Who's your friend?" He switched his glare to Keely.
...
"I came to help my friend, Sam," she explained.
"Well I hope he dies," the boy snapped. "He ruined everything."
I understand that this is a story about teens/preteens for teens/preteens and the author wants the reader to be able to identify with the characters, but this felt as though the author was writing down to the reader, rather than elevating the reader. One character tells another, "The king don't like it when you're late."
This infantile behavior comes to ahead a bit later on when Howie comes in contact with an annoying creature, so the behavior here is intentional - though no less annoying because of it:
But two could play at that game, and if there was one thing Howie was good at, it was being annoying.
"You're a jerk," he said.
"You're a jerk," it mimicked, sitting up.
"No, you are."
"No, you are."
"I said it first."
"I said it second, and two is bigger than one." It held up two spindly fingers.
Howie doesn't come across particularly well so it shouldn't have been a surprise when he later says, "Evil quests, you say? So the blade is, like, enchanted?" But I was.
Although I know it's not a 'fair' statement, I had the impression that this was a self-published book. What that typically means is that it needed a stronger editing hand. There's enough here that makes this an intriguing story, but it doesn't come through as well as it could.
Looking for a good book? Kalifus Rising by Alana Adams is the second book in the Legends of Orkney series and shows some promise but treats the characters as a bit too immature.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2017
AHHMAAAZING!!! Review to come!!!
5 - A Marvelous and Magical Adventure
It's sooo good to be back in Orkney! I've forgotten how much I miss this place and the super lovable characters!
Kalifus Rising follows Keely, Howie and Leo as they try to save Sam and ultimately all of Orkney. Alane Adams definitely amps up the adventure, the thrills, the twists, the humor and really everything else. Her writing is beautiful, vivid, and incredibly imaginative. Once again, I found myself being carried away into this magical world. The plot is engaging and full of surprises that I never really knew what was going to happen. Just when I thought I figured something out, Adams would throw another curve ball and I absolutely loved it! The mythological aspect was utterly captivating and creative. The characters are just the best and I honestly have mad love for all of them. This book is full of so much awesome and excitement that you'll be reading way past your bedtime and dreaming about Orkney.
The character development in this installment is amazing. Adams writes with a tremendous heart and you can feel how much she cares about the characters that you can't help but care about them too. You'll cheer them on, feel for them and the whole nine yards. I truly enjoyed watching Sam, Keely, Howie, and Leo go on fun adventures, deal with impossible situations, figure out and solve problems, and grow into their roles. I don't want to reveal too much, but this quirky group of kid heroes... well they are absolutely charming and so fun and I seriously love them! I do have to mention that Keely is definitely my favorite throughout the story. She's determined and so badass and I adored her with all my heart. Oh and I also really liked the side characters like Mavery (gosh I miss that little imp so much), Rego, and Teren... the old and new and yes even the villains like Catriona and Endera. They're unique, interesting and delightful in their own ways.
Kalifus Rising is without a doubt one of the best sequels I've ever read. I love the characters, the mystery, the adventure, and everything else in between. I love the atmospheric writing style and impressive world building. I love the themes Adams weaves into this crazy FUNTASTIC tale (self-discovery, courage, loyalty, family, friendship, forgiveness and so much more). And most of all, I love that I have another wonderful series to add to my favorites. Definitely go check this out right now and add it to your TBR. You'll not only be walking away with a smile on your face and a happy heart, but also with a chest full of life lessons to guide and inspire you.
As I'm writing this review, I'm more than 70% done with the third and final book. I'm totally dreading the end, but I can't wait to see how Adams concludes this series.
Huge thanks to Alane Adams for sending me all three copies (and they're signed too) of this marvelous series. I will treasure them and Orkney forever.
To read more of my reviews, visit Sincerely Karen Jo
5 - A Marvelous and Magical Adventure
It's sooo good to be back in Orkney! I've forgotten how much I miss this place and the super lovable characters!
Kalifus Rising follows Keely, Howie and Leo as they try to save Sam and ultimately all of Orkney. Alane Adams definitely amps up the adventure, the thrills, the twists, the humor and really everything else. Her writing is beautiful, vivid, and incredibly imaginative. Once again, I found myself being carried away into this magical world. The plot is engaging and full of surprises that I never really knew what was going to happen. Just when I thought I figured something out, Adams would throw another curve ball and I absolutely loved it! The mythological aspect was utterly captivating and creative. The characters are just the best and I honestly have mad love for all of them. This book is full of so much awesome and excitement that you'll be reading way past your bedtime and dreaming about Orkney.
The character development in this installment is amazing. Adams writes with a tremendous heart and you can feel how much she cares about the characters that you can't help but care about them too. You'll cheer them on, feel for them and the whole nine yards. I truly enjoyed watching Sam, Keely, Howie, and Leo go on fun adventures, deal with impossible situations, figure out and solve problems, and grow into their roles. I don't want to reveal too much, but this quirky group of kid heroes... well they are absolutely charming and so fun and I seriously love them! I do have to mention that Keely is definitely my favorite throughout the story. She's determined and so badass and I adored her with all my heart. Oh and I also really liked the side characters like Mavery (gosh I miss that little imp so much), Rego, and Teren... the old and new and yes even the villains like Catriona and Endera. They're unique, interesting and delightful in their own ways.
Kalifus Rising is without a doubt one of the best sequels I've ever read. I love the characters, the mystery, the adventure, and everything else in between. I love the atmospheric writing style and impressive world building. I love the themes Adams weaves into this crazy FUNTASTIC tale (self-discovery, courage, loyalty, family, friendship, forgiveness and so much more). And most of all, I love that I have another wonderful series to add to my favorites. Definitely go check this out right now and add it to your TBR. You'll not only be walking away with a smile on your face and a happy heart, but also with a chest full of life lessons to guide and inspire you.
As I'm writing this review, I'm more than 70% done with the third and final book. I'm totally dreading the end, but I can't wait to see how Adams concludes this series.
Huge thanks to Alane Adams for sending me all three copies (and they're signed too) of this marvelous series. I will treasure them and Orkney forever.
To read more of my reviews, visit Sincerely Karen Jo
April 27, 2020
Kalifus Rising
Alane Adams
Legends of Orkney
Mythology/Fantasy
Juvenile
Review: Sam Baron is back and ready to take on the Volgrim witches that killed his father. Especially their leader Catriona. Unfortunately, he was not expecting to be captured by them. Catriona has decided to use Sam against Odin and the gods she feels were responsible for her father’s death and her downfall. She slowly poisons Sam’s mind against all that he believes in, until all seems hopeless. Thankfully Odin has a plan, he brings Sam’s three friends from our world into the world of the gods and sets them each a task they must accomplish in order to save not only the world of the gods but also their own world and Sam himself. Will they succeed in saving their friend or will their efforts be in vain.
This was a really good book, but I would not have read it if I had realized it was the second book in a series. I say this only because at times I was a bit confused on what was happening and if I had read the first book I might have understood the story better. That being said, it was still a good read once I figured out who was who and what was happening.
I liked seeing the story through multiple people in multiple places. It helped to understand just how destructive the witches were and how far their reach really was. Also the main characters were so likable and unique enough to keep the story flowing. They were well written and each of them showed a lot of character growth throughout the story. They became more confident, brave, and each overcame a personal problem that they had been struggling with.
I also loved the Norse mythology in the story. Now I do not know a lot of Norse mythology so I cannot say how accurate this story is to the actual lore, but I did recognize enough to understand that they seemed to try and use correct information. I liked that the story did not use greek mythology like so many others. Greek mythology is very overused right now and so it’s nice when someone comes along and writes a kids story about another group of gods and goddesses.
I personally will probably not continue to read this series only because it is geared towards a younger audience, but I do think it is a worthwhile read. I recommend this to young readers who enjoy action packed stories that incorporate mythology. If you are looking for a series that is different from the normal mythology stories I recommend giving this one a try.
Alane Adams
Legends of Orkney
Mythology/Fantasy
Juvenile
Review: Sam Baron is back and ready to take on the Volgrim witches that killed his father. Especially their leader Catriona. Unfortunately, he was not expecting to be captured by them. Catriona has decided to use Sam against Odin and the gods she feels were responsible for her father’s death and her downfall. She slowly poisons Sam’s mind against all that he believes in, until all seems hopeless. Thankfully Odin has a plan, he brings Sam’s three friends from our world into the world of the gods and sets them each a task they must accomplish in order to save not only the world of the gods but also their own world and Sam himself. Will they succeed in saving their friend or will their efforts be in vain.
This was a really good book, but I would not have read it if I had realized it was the second book in a series. I say this only because at times I was a bit confused on what was happening and if I had read the first book I might have understood the story better. That being said, it was still a good read once I figured out who was who and what was happening.
I liked seeing the story through multiple people in multiple places. It helped to understand just how destructive the witches were and how far their reach really was. Also the main characters were so likable and unique enough to keep the story flowing. They were well written and each of them showed a lot of character growth throughout the story. They became more confident, brave, and each overcame a personal problem that they had been struggling with.
I also loved the Norse mythology in the story. Now I do not know a lot of Norse mythology so I cannot say how accurate this story is to the actual lore, but I did recognize enough to understand that they seemed to try and use correct information. I liked that the story did not use greek mythology like so many others. Greek mythology is very overused right now and so it’s nice when someone comes along and writes a kids story about another group of gods and goddesses.
I personally will probably not continue to read this series only because it is geared towards a younger audience, but I do think it is a worthwhile read. I recommend this to young readers who enjoy action packed stories that incorporate mythology. If you are looking for a series that is different from the normal mythology stories I recommend giving this one a try.
September 13, 2017
Kalifus Rising is a bit thick than the book of The Red Sun but it feels like it's a short story and it's not enough so I picked the The Raven God immediately right after the book two because I can't wait any longer of what will happens next. To be honest, I really really enjoyed every pages of it and I can't remember when I've lost in it.
This book makes me feel like I am one of the characters in this story. My favorite in this part is Keely. I love her transformation. From being just a simple kid from Pilot Rock to a fierce Eifalian. I also love her bravery of letting go of her guilt and hard feelings towards her past. Of course the new Howie here. Even though he gained laughters as a Protector, he still stand up because he believes in Odin's plan.
What can I say more? It has already been said ten times over I think. Things and characters make so much more sense and I love them all. Adams' wisdom in this series has to be her best attribute. The elements of the story are universal and I truly believe everyone should read this book. The good thing that you will learn in this book is to trust your friends and cooperation is the key to have a successful adventure and journey. They believe and still played their part well even they don't have any idea of the danger behind them. Their circle of friends are like elements of an alloy, one without the other is weak and incomplete.
This is overall enjoyable and amazing. Amazing writing and amazing idea. The way the book was written, I really wasn't able to guess the outcome but it taken such a better twist. I'm happy to say that all my hype is well deserved! It was interesting from the first page to the last.
To me, this book is everything. It has an amazing and intriguing plot line that will leave you speechless. It has effortless and stunning writing and it makes you feel things, and that was reading is all about. A book really hits home for me when I feel it in my soul. I am so hooked up in this book and I highly recommend this if you're looking to pick up a great one.
October 13, 2017
4.25 Stars ***
If you would like to see all my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out the review on my blog:
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet and overview of what I thought:
Overall, I really enjoyed the continuation of Sam's story. This book took the world of Orkney to the next level. The writing's flow was incredible and the interwoven stories were done so well. The multiple story lines just pushed the book to progress even faster. We got to see more of Keely, Leo and Howie. We also got to see how they all developed from the first book. Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a copy of her book!
If you would like to see all my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out the review on my blog:
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet and overview of what I thought:
Overall, I really enjoyed the continuation of Sam's story. This book took the world of Orkney to the next level. The writing's flow was incredible and the interwoven stories were done so well. The multiple story lines just pushed the book to progress even faster. We got to see more of Keely, Leo and Howie. We also got to see how they all developed from the first book. Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a copy of her book!
April 22, 2019
Second book in the series.
Sam Baron freed Orkney from the witches plans but is soon imprisoned by one of the elder witches.
His dark side comes out and he gives up after something he did to save his friends.
Adams offers readers a chance to see the other three young people in this volume. Their adventures are told along with Sam/Kalifus.
This book is not as fast a read but provides more character development and background description.
Sam Baron freed Orkney from the witches plans but is soon imprisoned by one of the elder witches.
His dark side comes out and he gives up after something he did to save his friends.
Adams offers readers a chance to see the other three young people in this volume. Their adventures are told along with Sam/Kalifus.
This book is not as fast a read but provides more character development and background description.
December 13, 2023
This second book had so much action that I actually enjoyed reading it.
To watch as Keely, Sam, Leo, Howie and all the others of Orkney overcome some personal battle was awe-inspiring.
I was rooting for Keely and Mavery the most (I mean - you can’t go wrong with strong female characters).
I cannot believe I am one book away from completing this trilogy. Orkney is a fan, magical realm that I enjoy visiting.
To watch as Keely, Sam, Leo, Howie and all the others of Orkney overcome some personal battle was awe-inspiring.
I was rooting for Keely and Mavery the most (I mean - you can’t go wrong with strong female characters).
I cannot believe I am one book away from completing this trilogy. Orkney is a fan, magical realm that I enjoy visiting.
October 11, 2021
WOW! What a great second installment in the series! I can't wait to see what Sam and his friends get up to next. This book is obviously a second book in that there are a lot of loose ends at the end. The main story arc is completed but there is a lot of adventure left. Highly recommended!
March 12, 2017
Review originally posted on Living In The Pages
**I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.This doesn’t effect my opinion on the book**
The actual story starts right in the thick of action,involving Sam of course.But before that,you get another interesting piece of writing to read about!One happening in the Ancient times at the Volgrim Fortress!Doesn't that sound interesting?A flashback?Plus these books have maps too!Who doesn't like books with maps in them!Let's get into the book talk!
Kalifus Rising,the name, actually made the whole thing a lot more interesting!Before talking more about the cover,let me say this-Kalifus Rising is probably the most photogenic book on my shelf,like if you have got the book,just look at that detailing!And it totally suits with the story!And yes,the title too fits well!Like they are the best title that could have been for the story!
I really don't have much to talk about the author's writing apart from what I wrote in the first book!Like it's simple,uncomplicated ,perfect for a Middle Grade book!
The plot is really fun and enjoyable,and still makes me wonder how twelve-year-old kids do all the stuff,stuff ,as in world saving . The chapters shuffle between each of the characters,they being on their own quests or being locked up.As the story progresses,the plot starts getting more intense,with adrenaline surge,who lives,who dies,who remains good,who becomes evil.And the powers,some of them are super cool,like the heeling power,and others are as deadly,and these powers,they shape the whole plot of the book.
Almost all the old characters remain,Sam, Keely,Leo, Howie. The other side characters, Mavery, Terrin, Rego and the others.The witches of course! And that one powerful character that joins the battle!That was a really good part!Not to talk about the mysterious character whom Leo frees!Okay,not so mysterious character,we all know at the ending of the book who it is,lol.Makes me super excited for the third book in the series,whose name,if I remember right is The Raven God.Lot of significance the name has!
Fans of mythology, especially Norse mythology,and Middle Grade books,this series is perfect for you.
**I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.This doesn’t effect my opinion on the book**
The actual story starts right in the thick of action,involving Sam of course.But before that,you get another interesting piece of writing to read about!One happening in the Ancient times at the Volgrim Fortress!Doesn't that sound interesting?A flashback?Plus these books have maps too!Who doesn't like books with maps in them!Let's get into the book talk!
Kalifus Rising,the name, actually made the whole thing a lot more interesting!Before talking more about the cover,let me say this-Kalifus Rising is probably the most photogenic book on my shelf,like if you have got the book,just look at that detailing!And it totally suits with the story!And yes,the title too fits well!Like they are the best title that could have been for the story!
I really don't have much to talk about the author's writing apart from what I wrote in the first book!Like it's simple,uncomplicated ,perfect for a Middle Grade book!
The plot is really fun and enjoyable,and still makes me wonder how twelve-year-old kids do all the stuff,stuff ,as in world saving . The chapters shuffle between each of the characters,they being on their own quests or being locked up.As the story progresses,the plot starts getting more intense,with adrenaline surge,who lives,who dies,who remains good,who becomes evil.And the powers,some of them are super cool,like the heeling power,and others are as deadly,and these powers,they shape the whole plot of the book.
Almost all the old characters remain,Sam, Keely,Leo, Howie. The other side characters, Mavery, Terrin, Rego and the others.The witches of course! And that one powerful character that joins the battle!That was a really good part!Not to talk about the mysterious character whom Leo frees!Okay,not so mysterious character,we all know at the ending of the book who it is,lol.Makes me super excited for the third book in the series,whose name,if I remember right is The Raven God.Lot of significance the name has!
Fans of mythology, especially Norse mythology,and Middle Grade books,this series is perfect for you.
March 18, 2017
THE AUTHOR OF THIS CAME TO MY SCHOOL!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2017
{Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an eARC of Kalifus Rising free of charge. Find more reviews at Plan to Happy.}
The Legends of Orkney is a middle grade trilogy by Alane Adams. It begins with The Red Sun, then Kalifus Rising, and a third book that is not yet published. We follow the story of Sam Baron and his friends, who are magically transported to Orkney and a rich world based on Norse Mythology.
Both books in this series are wild rides, fast-paced, and full of adventure. We follow Sam Baron, along with his friends Keely and Howie. Each of these characters take unreasonable leaps in logic during internal monologues, then act unreasonably based on that logic, which I found frustrating at times. Then I have to remind myself that they are 13 years old. I was not the most reasonable person at 13....
I recently listened to Neil Gaiman's American Gods, so hit up Wikipedia now and then to learn more about Odin and his buddies. As a result, I picked up on on some of the Norse myth references in The Red Sun and Kalifus Rising, However, I felt I was missing some plot points, or at least nuances, because I don't have a working knowledge of those stories.
This is widely referred to as a read-alike for fans of the Percy Jackson series. It is certainly the perfect read for anyone interested in Norse mythology - they will eat this up!
The Legends of Orkney is a middle grade trilogy by Alane Adams. It begins with The Red Sun, then Kalifus Rising, and a third book that is not yet published. We follow the story of Sam Baron and his friends, who are magically transported to Orkney and a rich world based on Norse Mythology.
Both books in this series are wild rides, fast-paced, and full of adventure. We follow Sam Baron, along with his friends Keely and Howie. Each of these characters take unreasonable leaps in logic during internal monologues, then act unreasonably based on that logic, which I found frustrating at times. Then I have to remind myself that they are 13 years old. I was not the most reasonable person at 13....
I recently listened to Neil Gaiman's American Gods, so hit up Wikipedia now and then to learn more about Odin and his buddies. As a result, I picked up on on some of the Norse myth references in The Red Sun and Kalifus Rising, However, I felt I was missing some plot points, or at least nuances, because I don't have a working knowledge of those stories.
This is widely referred to as a read-alike for fans of the Percy Jackson series. It is certainly the perfect read for anyone interested in Norse mythology - they will eat this up!
September 7, 2016
“A single act of bravery can change rust to gold.”
Kalifus Rising has its own beauty. I can see the works of Rick Riordan and J.k Rowling here. It is a mix of Norse Mythology that meets Percy Jackson and magical stuffs. I can feel the urge that let me continue in reading, the fact that even some parts resemble Uncle Rick’s works, the author carried the story well. Plot twists everywhere and did not failed to amaze me until the end.
Sam Barconian, son of Rubiscus, and son of Odin, must really know where he will be with. The dark side or the good one. He is being imprisoned by Catriona, the leader of the witches in the Tarkana fortress. Sam’s friends Keely, Leo, and Howie became the chosen ones. The question is, do they have enough power and abilities to save Sam from the hand of witches and to save the whole Orkney?
Plot. This one is a full time adventure and mystery, totally unforgettable and unpredictable. There are many twists that add mystery flavor in the book. I really like how the story flows with those exciting chapters. It is in an third person point of view and this one confused me. The characters have their own journey and different roles and different places where to go so the tendency chapters are made with the characters separated unless they are in the same scene with. I mean there are instances that one chapter is narrating about a certain character then proceeding with another character then the other and sometimes I forgot what happened to that previous character. Don’t get me wrong, I just have this struggles with this stuff. I like that there are many characters because many variations with their individuality but it just the pacing of the chapters bothered me. And did I mention yet the intense part? There are lots of that in this book.
Characters. What I really like here is how the author carried the individuality of the characters. Even though there many but each and everyone’s roles are superb! I like Howie’s funny personality and I saw Grover from PJO from him. Keely knowing all the stuff with her fighting spirit and Leo for being a strong one. Sam Barconian, for fighting what his fate is.
If you like Uncle Rick’s works, you must really read this. I am happy with the outcome of the of the second installment. The first one is The Red Sun. This one is a heavy read for me because with some terms and magical feeling and this is a fantasy hut a great read! I will give it a 4.5 rating!
Kalifus Rising has its own beauty. I can see the works of Rick Riordan and J.k Rowling here. It is a mix of Norse Mythology that meets Percy Jackson and magical stuffs. I can feel the urge that let me continue in reading, the fact that even some parts resemble Uncle Rick’s works, the author carried the story well. Plot twists everywhere and did not failed to amaze me until the end.
Sam Barconian, son of Rubiscus, and son of Odin, must really know where he will be with. The dark side or the good one. He is being imprisoned by Catriona, the leader of the witches in the Tarkana fortress. Sam’s friends Keely, Leo, and Howie became the chosen ones. The question is, do they have enough power and abilities to save Sam from the hand of witches and to save the whole Orkney?
Plot. This one is a full time adventure and mystery, totally unforgettable and unpredictable. There are many twists that add mystery flavor in the book. I really like how the story flows with those exciting chapters. It is in an third person point of view and this one confused me. The characters have their own journey and different roles and different places where to go so the tendency chapters are made with the characters separated unless they are in the same scene with. I mean there are instances that one chapter is narrating about a certain character then proceeding with another character then the other and sometimes I forgot what happened to that previous character. Don’t get me wrong, I just have this struggles with this stuff. I like that there are many characters because many variations with their individuality but it just the pacing of the chapters bothered me. And did I mention yet the intense part? There are lots of that in this book.
Characters. What I really like here is how the author carried the individuality of the characters. Even though there many but each and everyone’s roles are superb! I like Howie’s funny personality and I saw Grover from PJO from him. Keely knowing all the stuff with her fighting spirit and Leo for being a strong one. Sam Barconian, for fighting what his fate is.
If you like Uncle Rick’s works, you must really read this. I am happy with the outcome of the of the second installment. The first one is The Red Sun. This one is a heavy read for me because with some terms and magical feeling and this is a fantasy hut a great read! I will give it a 4.5 rating!
September 12, 2016
In this sequel to 2014's Red Sun, Sam Baron has freed Orkney from the Red Sun, but is now a prisoner of Catriona, leader of the Volgrim Witches. She's determined to bend Sam to her will and use his half-god, half-witch power to mold him into the formidable force that will crush Odin and help her gain rule over Orkney and beyond. Fortunately, Sam's not alone; his three best friends, Keeley, Howie, and Leo, find themselves drawn back into the fray to help save Sam. Each given their own quest, the three friends will learn more about themselves in this adventure.
Full disclosure: I didn't read The Red Sun, and that's to my detriment. While I could pick up the general gist of the story through exposition and dialogue that discusses previous events, I would have gotten more from Kalifus Rising if I'd read the first book (and now, it's on my TBR).
This is a solid quest fantasy that your fantasy readers will love. I appreciated that it was a team effort to save Sam, and I love that each friend had a quest that taught them about themselves; some were given quests they didn't feel cut out for, only to discover the inner strength to achieve the objective. It's inspirational, which is the point of really good fantasy, isn't it? The story concentrates on the importance and power of friendship: a key theme for middle graders; there are also great scenes where Sam reacts exactly like a tween/teen would when faced with a seemingly insurmountable task. He tries to convince Catriona that he's moved over to her side, while relying on his inner strength to remind himself where he really stands, but as Sam - and by extension, the reader - learns, going it alone can be a tough and scary thing; the danger of losing yourself is real and having people around you to remind yourself of who you are is important. (And so is having a kick-butt mom, if I may say so, myself,)
Kalifus Rising debuted as the #1 hot new release on Amazon, so ride the wave and treat your fantasy readers to the Legends of Orkney series. Booktalk and display with Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Jasmine Richards' Secrets of Valhalla, Keira Gillett's Zaria Fierce trilogy, and K.L. Armstrong's The Blackwell Pages series.
There's a great Legends of Orkney webpage that includes a link to BattleKasters, a downloadable game based on the series!
Full disclosure: I didn't read The Red Sun, and that's to my detriment. While I could pick up the general gist of the story through exposition and dialogue that discusses previous events, I would have gotten more from Kalifus Rising if I'd read the first book (and now, it's on my TBR).
This is a solid quest fantasy that your fantasy readers will love. I appreciated that it was a team effort to save Sam, and I love that each friend had a quest that taught them about themselves; some were given quests they didn't feel cut out for, only to discover the inner strength to achieve the objective. It's inspirational, which is the point of really good fantasy, isn't it? The story concentrates on the importance and power of friendship: a key theme for middle graders; there are also great scenes where Sam reacts exactly like a tween/teen would when faced with a seemingly insurmountable task. He tries to convince Catriona that he's moved over to her side, while relying on his inner strength to remind himself where he really stands, but as Sam - and by extension, the reader - learns, going it alone can be a tough and scary thing; the danger of losing yourself is real and having people around you to remind yourself of who you are is important. (And so is having a kick-butt mom, if I may say so, myself,)
Kalifus Rising debuted as the #1 hot new release on Amazon, so ride the wave and treat your fantasy readers to the Legends of Orkney series. Booktalk and display with Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Jasmine Richards' Secrets of Valhalla, Keira Gillett's Zaria Fierce trilogy, and K.L. Armstrong's The Blackwell Pages series.
There's a great Legends of Orkney webpage that includes a link to BattleKasters, a downloadable game based on the series!
October 18, 2016
After reading the first book I was eager to read the second one and finally I finished reading Kalifus Rising. This book has a very attractive and stunning cover and it's texture is sort of velvet like, I loved simply holding the book. Now I come to the story.
The one who have read the first book of Orkney series will know that Sam a boy from Pilot Rock, Oregon came to know about his origin. He was the son of Odin and as well as son of the most powerful he-witch Rubicus. After stopping the red sun from poisoning the ninth realm, Sam worsened the situation by freeing the witches who were caged inside the rocks. Now that the witch sisters are out, they plan to rule Orkney by destroying all other clans. Sam is being captured by Catriona and he is continuously poisoned by the vicious scorpions. On the other hand, Sam's friends Howie, Keely and Leo are the chosen ones by Odin who were flushed to Orkney from The Chuggies one day. The book is definitely fulll of adventures. Most Percy Jackson fans will love the plot. This series is a complete potpourri of adventure and mythology. As the name suggests the term Kalifus. One must wonder who or what is Kalifus. Well, here's a spoiler - Sam is Kalifus. Since he had the power of magic within him, Catriona tried to rise the darkness within Sam, she turned him into Kalifus. But Sam was strong enough to fight his darker self. The best thing about this book of the series us that each of the characters of Keely, Howie and Leo have been given individual importance. The trio separately went in their adventures with help from the chief soldier of Orkney. Some other new characters as well as mythical creatures were introduced in this book. The story was equally intriguing like the 1st booo, not a single chapter felt like lagging. I wonder what adventures waits for Sam and his 3 friends in the next book. I'm pretty sure it'll be equally intriguing. After Famous Five, this is the most adventurous series that I've read. Thanks to author for creating such a wonderful land of Orkney with it's beautiful creatures and loads of thanks for sending me the books for my honest review.
The one who have read the first book of Orkney series will know that Sam a boy from Pilot Rock, Oregon came to know about his origin. He was the son of Odin and as well as son of the most powerful he-witch Rubicus. After stopping the red sun from poisoning the ninth realm, Sam worsened the situation by freeing the witches who were caged inside the rocks. Now that the witch sisters are out, they plan to rule Orkney by destroying all other clans. Sam is being captured by Catriona and he is continuously poisoned by the vicious scorpions. On the other hand, Sam's friends Howie, Keely and Leo are the chosen ones by Odin who were flushed to Orkney from The Chuggies one day. The book is definitely fulll of adventures. Most Percy Jackson fans will love the plot. This series is a complete potpourri of adventure and mythology. As the name suggests the term Kalifus. One must wonder who or what is Kalifus. Well, here's a spoiler - Sam is Kalifus. Since he had the power of magic within him, Catriona tried to rise the darkness within Sam, she turned him into Kalifus. But Sam was strong enough to fight his darker self. The best thing about this book of the series us that each of the characters of Keely, Howie and Leo have been given individual importance. The trio separately went in their adventures with help from the chief soldier of Orkney. Some other new characters as well as mythical creatures were introduced in this book. The story was equally intriguing like the 1st booo, not a single chapter felt like lagging. I wonder what adventures waits for Sam and his 3 friends in the next book. I'm pretty sure it'll be equally intriguing. After Famous Five, this is the most adventurous series that I've read. Thanks to author for creating such a wonderful land of Orkney with it's beautiful creatures and loads of thanks for sending me the books for my honest review.
November 21, 2016
I eagerly started this straight after finishing Red Sun because I was curious to see what was going to happen to Sam next, and I actually think I loved this book even more! Red Sun was good, but Kalifus Rising is even better!
We get to see more of the world of the book, and it's even more imaginative and vivid, there's still loads of Norse Mythology, Loki pops up which I'm excited about! The start to this book with the flashback grabs your attention, and when we rejoin Sam it's been a couple of months since the end of Red Sun. There's loads more action in this book, it's action packed from the beginning, there's lots of character development.
Sam has an interesting struggle again in this book, and I enjoyed seeing the darker side to him. We get to see more of other characters like Teren and Gael, and there's new characters Jey, Galatin and more that I'm excited to see more of in the next books! What I really loved about this book was not only seeing more imaginative corners of the world, but getting to see more Sam's friends. We get to see way more of them, they each have their own mission/quest and it allowed you to get to know them more, and you got to watch them grown and change. I think Howie's was particularly interesting because he goes from being his kind of not really heroic character who has no idea how to fight, to the hero who's swinging a sword around and summoning undead armies. But he still retains his sense of humour. I feel like Keely came in to her own as well and Leo has the potential to be even more interesting in the next book after the events of this book!
The ending for Kalifus Rising leaves you wanting more and I'm really enjoying this series, and the mythology woven throughout it. It's fun, it's got a lot of imagination to it and it's a nice quick read for me!
We get to see more of the world of the book, and it's even more imaginative and vivid, there's still loads of Norse Mythology, Loki pops up which I'm excited about! The start to this book with the flashback grabs your attention, and when we rejoin Sam it's been a couple of months since the end of Red Sun. There's loads more action in this book, it's action packed from the beginning, there's lots of character development.
Sam has an interesting struggle again in this book, and I enjoyed seeing the darker side to him. We get to see more of other characters like Teren and Gael, and there's new characters Jey, Galatin and more that I'm excited to see more of in the next books! What I really loved about this book was not only seeing more imaginative corners of the world, but getting to see more Sam's friends. We get to see way more of them, they each have their own mission/quest and it allowed you to get to know them more, and you got to watch them grown and change. I think Howie's was particularly interesting because he goes from being his kind of not really heroic character who has no idea how to fight, to the hero who's swinging a sword around and summoning undead armies. But he still retains his sense of humour. I feel like Keely came in to her own as well and Leo has the potential to be even more interesting in the next book after the events of this book!
The ending for Kalifus Rising leaves you wanting more and I'm really enjoying this series, and the mythology woven throughout it. It's fun, it's got a lot of imagination to it and it's a nice quick read for me!
November 30, 2016
*Author sent me a free copy in exchange of an honest review.*
First of all, I want to say that the sequel did not disappoint! After finishing the first book, I started reading the sequel right away because I was so eager to find out what would happen next.
I loved the characters from the first book but I love them even more after reading this book. I also have new favourite characters in this series. While I was reading, there were times that I was thinking, "Please don't die.". I can't help it because there a lot of twists in this book! I would really think and try to figure out what is really happening, and there are also times that I gasped because I wasn't expecting what happened! This book has a lot of mystery and surprises and it really is unpredictable!
If the first book of the series gave emphasis on friendship, I would say that this book did a good job on emphasizing the value of friendship and it also focused on loyalty and bravery. And when I say bravery, it's not just being brave in facing the future, but also in facing and accepting the past.
Sam's friends, Keely, Howie and Leo really stepped up in this book. They all showed bravery in their own ways. I really enjoyed following each of their adventures and missions. This book is jam-packed with adventures! I adored Howie because despite all the bad things happening in the story, his character managed to still give humor to it. I also admired the other characters such as Captain Teren, Galatin, Jey, Mavery (she's still one of my favourites) and a whole lot more!
Again, this book has no boring part. I totally enjoyed reading it.
If you have read the Red Sun, and enjoyed it, I'm urging you to read Kalifus Rising ASAP.
First of all, I want to say that the sequel did not disappoint! After finishing the first book, I started reading the sequel right away because I was so eager to find out what would happen next.
I loved the characters from the first book but I love them even more after reading this book. I also have new favourite characters in this series. While I was reading, there were times that I was thinking, "Please don't die.". I can't help it because there a lot of twists in this book! I would really think and try to figure out what is really happening, and there are also times that I gasped because I wasn't expecting what happened! This book has a lot of mystery and surprises and it really is unpredictable!
If the first book of the series gave emphasis on friendship, I would say that this book did a good job on emphasizing the value of friendship and it also focused on loyalty and bravery. And when I say bravery, it's not just being brave in facing the future, but also in facing and accepting the past.
Sam's friends, Keely, Howie and Leo really stepped up in this book. They all showed bravery in their own ways. I really enjoyed following each of their adventures and missions. This book is jam-packed with adventures! I adored Howie because despite all the bad things happening in the story, his character managed to still give humor to it. I also admired the other characters such as Captain Teren, Galatin, Jey, Mavery (she's still one of my favourites) and a whole lot more!
Again, this book has no boring part. I totally enjoyed reading it.
If you have read the Red Sun, and enjoyed it, I'm urging you to read Kalifus Rising ASAP.
September 11, 2016
Sam is captured and imprisoned by Catriona, leader of the Volgrim witches. She has plans for Sam, not pleasant plans. Meanwhile Keely, Leo and Howie find themselves back in Orkney. This wasn't what they were planning on doing. However, Odin has brought them to fight for Orkney against the Volgrim witches. Each human is given an assignment. Each assignment is much more challenging and not understood why they must do them with the exception that they all want to save Sam, their best friend. Will they be able to?
This novel involves Norse mythology so smoothly that I almost didn't realize it at first. The story is full of magic and adventure with some fantastic characters (and creatures) I wouldn't believe possible, but the author does it expertly in her descriptions of their actions. I did not read the first book of this series but I felt confident as I was reading that it wasn't that important. I do plan on going back to read the first book due to my own curiousity. I do hope there is a third book to continue the story as I enjoyed it so much!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
This novel involves Norse mythology so smoothly that I almost didn't realize it at first. The story is full of magic and adventure with some fantastic characters (and creatures) I wouldn't believe possible, but the author does it expertly in her descriptions of their actions. I did not read the first book of this series but I felt confident as I was reading that it wasn't that important. I do plan on going back to read the first book due to my own curiousity. I do hope there is a third book to continue the story as I enjoyed it so much!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
February 1, 2017
Rating : 4.5 / 5 stars
I don't know why I put this book off for such a long time! I'm so sorry! But man, I liked the ending!
First of all, many thanks to the author for sending me a copy of her amazing book in return for an honest review. This fast paced and eventful book had definitely caught my attention once I started reading it. I loved the concept of the story and the story line was crazy good. The adventure and how Sam and his friends fought the witches were so exciting!
However, the characters were a little bit too many for me, or maybe because I put this book for a while and I wasn't able to recall a lot of the characters. But I liked the transformation given to the protagonist and his friends, especially towards the end. I loved how humorous and brilliant Howie was and how quirky and smart Keely was too.
I also loved how the author had given fair justifications to all the events happened in the book. It made a lot of sense to the reader and it also made the story stronger. The ending of the story was just brilliant! I can't wait to see what happened in the next book with a new character in it! Sure it is going to be more complicated but I am sure Alane Adams will do a fair job in justifying each events to us, her beloved readers. :)
I don't know why I put this book off for such a long time! I'm so sorry! But man, I liked the ending!
First of all, many thanks to the author for sending me a copy of her amazing book in return for an honest review. This fast paced and eventful book had definitely caught my attention once I started reading it. I loved the concept of the story and the story line was crazy good. The adventure and how Sam and his friends fought the witches were so exciting!
However, the characters were a little bit too many for me, or maybe because I put this book for a while and I wasn't able to recall a lot of the characters. But I liked the transformation given to the protagonist and his friends, especially towards the end. I loved how humorous and brilliant Howie was and how quirky and smart Keely was too.
I also loved how the author had given fair justifications to all the events happened in the book. It made a lot of sense to the reader and it also made the story stronger. The ending of the story was just brilliant! I can't wait to see what happened in the next book with a new character in it! Sure it is going to be more complicated but I am sure Alane Adams will do a fair job in justifying each events to us, her beloved readers. :)
July 23, 2016
After Sam saves Orkney from the curse of the Res Sun, he is captured and imprisoned by Catriona who is the leader of the Volgrim witches!
Sam's only way out lies with his friends and a mystical artefact called the Moon Pearl.
I loved how much Keely's character developed in this book and how strong she becomes.
This is a great sequel with great adventure, love, friendship and betrayal.
I love how fast paced this book was and I was literally on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens.
I kind of went a little crazy at the end because that ending!!!! I was like YESS YOU DESERVED IT!!! I love when an evil character get what they deserve in the end! But then the epilogue just killed me because "chaos had returned to Orkney" omg!!
Alane Adams' writing is just so well written. You can imagine everything so clear in your mind like there is a movie playing in your head. And I love that.
I'm trying not to give away anything!
If you like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, these books are definitely something you need to read.
Sam's only way out lies with his friends and a mystical artefact called the Moon Pearl.
I loved how much Keely's character developed in this book and how strong she becomes.
This is a great sequel with great adventure, love, friendship and betrayal.
I love how fast paced this book was and I was literally on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens.
I kind of went a little crazy at the end because that ending!!!! I was like YESS YOU DESERVED IT!!! I love when an evil character get what they deserve in the end! But then the epilogue just killed me because "chaos had returned to Orkney" omg!!
Alane Adams' writing is just so well written. You can imagine everything so clear in your mind like there is a movie playing in your head. And I love that.
I'm trying not to give away anything!
If you like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, these books are definitely something you need to read.
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