A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses

My Time in Amar #1

by Nicki Chapelway

Four teenagers.
Two worlds.
One quest.
What could possibly go wrong?

Chelsea Welling is a completely normal fifteen-year-old girl… until one day a portal appears in front of her and pulls her into a fantasy world. After that everything gets weird. Chelsea is half convinced that she is going crazy, until she realizes that she isn’t the only one experiencing this. Her twin brother and two childhood friends have also been brought to this world. But why is this happening to them? And what about these four connects them?

Then one day they find themselves face to face with the powerful mage who is responsible for bringing them into this world, except instead of answering their questions he only gives them new ones. Suddenly they find themselves the inheritors of a magical legacy and the ones chosen to fulfill a deadly prophecy. Even worse, they have been cursed and cannot return home unless they complete a quest their fathers set out on over twenty years ago. The only problem? They have no idea what this quest is...

Chelsea is in for one trying week as she discovers a whole new world, flees from a dark creature that needs her blood to unlock immortality, and tries to figure out just where she stands with her surprisingly handsome childhood friend—all while she struggles alongside her friends to fulfill the all-but-impossible task of finding out what this quest is. But can they truly succeed where their fathers failed?

This portal fantasy is perfect for YA readers who want a clean adventure, slow-burn romance, and coming of age story set in a dangerous but extremely magical fantasy realm.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Dragons, Werewolves, Romance, Fairy Tales

372 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2015

About the author

Nicki is a twenty-something author of swoony romantic fantasy. She has been writing since she was eleven and has since published several works. She enjoys creating stories with twisty-stabby faerie romances, retellings that take a darker turn, and epic fantasies in worlds full of monsters and magic.

Nicki lives in Ohio where she spends far too much time watching TV, playing video games, and sleeping. She listens to music basically all the time, and adores obsessing over mythologies, her shows, and her slew of fictional boyfriends. When not writing, she can usually be found at her desk with either a paintbrush or a pen in her hand.

Subscribe to her newsletter and receive a free book!
https://mailchi.mp/b6ec5f4a74a5/subsc...

Reviews

[Nicki Chapelway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously I'm biased. I mean come on, this is my baby we're talking about here.



And yes, honestly, there were some areas while writing this where I felt like this



But I think I can finally say that I'm pleased with the finished product. I love all the characters so much (duh, otherwise I would kill them off...), I think the plot is great and super entertaining (if I didn't, I would rewrite it). The story is clean (seriously, guys, my dad read this). This is the first book in a four books series, and I look forward to getting the rest of the series out of my way... uh, I mean, I look forward to writing the rest of the series and finding out what you guys think of all my plot twists. Hopefully it's something like this...



And not like this...



Got it?

[Grace Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!!!

This book had so many things that I love. Like sword fighting, dragons, fairies, good story telling, and wonderful banter! It was also terrifying in some parts and that ending!!! I cannot wait for the next one!

So a long time ago....

Nicki and I have been on each other's friend lists for a while now on Goodreads. (This has nothing to do with my rating though; I always strive to be as honest as I can in my reviews. Just thought I would share this story. ;) I don't remember who asked who to become each other's friends (really it doesn't matter, it would just the best decision that each of us had made). Anyway, when I first saw her profile I saw she was an author of this book. Now at the time I had this rule (still have it by the way, I just bend it all the time), I was to never read books with werewolves (or vampires, or zombies, or any human bloodsucking creature) in it. Because the idea of humans turning into wolf-like creature's and eating other humans, was a little disturbing to me (still is), so I put off reading this book.

Now somewhere on the line, Nicki published a new book, Winter Cursed. And everyone I knew raved how good it is. (Actually, I read that one not too long ago and it really is good.) I listen to other reviewers to find out about the content and other things in a book. Most of the people I know are like-minded in our likes and dislikes for books (we don't always agree, but that's okay), so Nicki got my attention.

Sometime later, Nicki was looking for reviewers for her new book set in the world of Amar, A Certain Sort of Madness, so I agreed to review it, BEST DECISION I EVER MADE!!! It was the best book (or one of the best) that I have ever read! So obviously, I just had to grab every book she has ever published, including this one. Yes, the werewolf still disturbed me, but I'll only read books with werewolves in them from authors I trust, and I guess I trust Nicki enough to read it and love it. So thanks Nicki for writing these beautiful books and letting me see worlds that only you can write (because everyone has a different set of imagination).

My Review:

The Characters:

Most of the story was told in Chelsea's POV, but is also shared with three other characters, Easton, Clint, and Bobby. Which was fun!

CHELSEA!!! I love her POV, she's wonderful in the way she thinks, what she does to Easton because she thinks he has a concussion, gah!!! I just loved her! And I love how she just loves dogs!!! Do you know that when her dog Hercules accidentally went with her to Amar once, I was like!!!! AHHHHHH!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DOG!!!! IS IT ALRIGHT!!! CHELSEA!!! DON'T DROP HIM!!!! I REPEAT, DON'T DROP HIM!!! Plus, I really loved how she charmed a wolf.

EASTON!!! Okay, nobody will take the place of Dante. (See? I said it again. lol) Yes, I do realize that Easton was actually written first, but I read and fell in love with Dante (from a A Certain Sort of Madness) first, so there! Honestly though, Easton is great! He does remind me of Dante from A Certain Sort of Madness in some ways. And Easton just won me over with how he loves sci-fi and fantasy novels. I also love how he cares about others.

Bobby, she sounds all big and tough, really she is a normal human being. Really, and be honest, if you are put out the element, wouldn't you be scared? I don't think I would be quite like Bobby, but yes, I'd be terrified. And I really like how Bobby is written like this, because not many heroines in books get incapacitated when they are scared, and though she should have at the very least RUN, it's okay to be like this.

Clint.... Yeah, not everything is like a videogame. But really, I love how he's like: "COOL PIRATES!!!" And the guy he was talking to was like, "Umm, pirates are not cool." Well, I guess someone really didn't watch "Pirates of the Caribbean", now did they? *wiggles eyebrows*

The World:

So, I knew that Amar was big, but I didn't know it was that BIG!!! There is a map in the beginning of this book, and I was like, WHOA, AMAR IS BIG!!!! I love it!

The thing with the dragon was also very interesting. And that dragon ride!!!! YES!!!! I do have a few questions, that will, probably be answered in the next book or so. But you know how Chelsea and Clint are mages. Well, is the reason why Easton has a mental link with his dragon is because of his heritage rather than the dragon egg falling on his head? And what about Bobby? Can she foresee the future? Or was that dream an onetime thing? Ahh, I need answers!!! I can't wait for next book!!!

Then of course there all the other fun things in this novel. Like bandits, making them use their swords, (and those really cool swords, can I have one, please???) It just showed how different this world is to ours and how certain things are worth a lot of money and some people are just really after those things.

And of course there are the fairies. The beautiful creatures who want nothing more than to kill or imprison you.

Things that Bothered Me In This Book:

Wilhelm. He was supposed to be their guide, I understand that he was a silent type, it just seemed like he never got much page time, considering of all the times everybody went to him for advice.

The constant bickering between Clint and Bobby. I liked the banter, but really, all those two did through half of the novel was fight. It got a little annoying at some parts. Though I did really like how the two characters were coming together towards the end. I believe that I will really like them in the second novel, now that they are more developed and matured over the course of this one.

There also seem to be a lot of gore (a.k.a. blood). Not too much that it was really bothering me, but there is some of that in here. Mostly, the part with the werewolf was a little more on the scary side, but that's just me chickening out. But, yeah, werewolves bother me a little, but I couldn't see this book being written any other way.

Content in Book:

1. Violence. (Bandits. Sword fighting. With magic. Fire and ice. A werewolf. A wolf. A dragon. Blood. Talking about wanting to kill people. Eating people and wanting to eat people. Talks about how someone's blood would taste good. Etc.)

2. Injuries. (Head injuries (with concussions). Cuts (from swords). Burns. Blood. Bites. Scratches (one that made someone very sick that was making that someone throw-up blood). Broken ankles. Knocking people unconscious. Etc.)

3. Werewolves.

4. Magic.

5. Some language (not too bad though).

Will I Continue With The Next Book in The Series:

YESSSS!!! GIVE ME!!! (Nicki, if you are reading this, you should know how impatient I am waiting for the book to be republished, because I really must know what happens next!!! Because I love this series!!!)

Who I Would Recommend It To:

Those who like urban fantasy. Those who like books with sword fighting, dragons, fairies, good storytelling, and wonderful banter. Those who want a semi-clean book with werewolves in it (there is still blood and gore, but you should still like it). READ IT!!!!

[Lydia Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses by Nicki Chapelway is the first book in the My Time in Amar series.

I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did -- especially since fantasy really isn't a genre I read a lot of at all. It's probably the best indie book I've read so far.

The characters were all great. I cared about and was interested in reading about all of them, even seemingly less important characters like Wilhelm and Fiona. Also, Easton and Chelsea are absolutely ADORABLE. I SHIP IT.

This book was also hilarious. It made me laugh out loud a couple of times. Chelsea was very witty and sarcastic, and Clint and all his thoughts about Philip towards the end of the book were really funny, too.

The plot itself was very exciting. I felt like a couple things were a little cliche (the magical power/mage thing, a quest they had to go on) but the author brought enough new elements in so it was entertaining to read and kept me on the edge of my seat.

There were quite a few typos and run-on sentences which kind of took me out of the story, but I know how hard it is to catch everything when you are your own editor.

Overall, this was a very very good book. I will definitely be reading the next one once it comes out. CAN WE JUST TALK ABOUT THAT CLIFFHANGER?! AHHHHH!!! I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW.

4 stars out of 5.

[Jes Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a light, fun read. With quirky characters and an interesting world, it's like a breath of fresh air as a clean teen read when such books are an endangered species. I heartily recommend this book to all ages.

[M.H. Elrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot pacing, character development, and setting are spectacular, making this book perfect for any fans of clean YA Fantasy. The plot is fast-paced and engrossing, making it a hard book to put down. The characters have clear motivations and witty dialogue which makes them very relatable. The setting is explained enough to set a scene, which is my preferred medium of reading. This is an awesome introduction to an amazing series. See My Time in Amar #2 for a more thorough review.

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first YA portal fantasy books I’ve read in a long time that actually feels and sounds like YA in the best way possible and I wouldn’t hesitate to hand to an actual teen unlike, um, cough, 99% of “YA” books that are slapped on the market these days, cough.

I was 100% certain the randomly appearing portal was going to be the main villain for a bit there, haha, but no there’s an actual mage controlling them, and honestly the “quest to figure out their actual quest” is such a hilarious idea I wonder why it isn’t used more often, though it’s probably for the best since this would be a tricky plot to not screw up.

And this wouldn’t be a Nicki book without her delightful characters, both main and side, and each of the teens have such vibrant thoughts and personalities they seemed alive and REAL, and I just love it when an author can pull that off. Chelsea and Easton are definitely my faves and I totally ship them, not gonna lie, heehee. Clint can be a very egotistical little pain, so he’s my least fave (he loves his sister though, so he gets points for that), and Bobbi I would need to spend more time with before I can have a solid opinion on her, but for now she’s cool.

The only annoying part was when Chelsea decided to not tell Easton the truth in a VERY life or death situation and I just kept screaming at her to just TRUST HIM, TELL HIM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING GIRL?!?! In retrospect, she’s an overthinking teenager with anxiety and to be completely fair I probably would have acted the same at sixteen because I had serious trust issues by then, HOWEVER she has no reason to distrust Easton so that comparison kinda goes out the window, haha. So while I get it, I also spent a lot of time feeling frustrated with her and screaming at her for the good last half of the book.

Also in classic Nicki fashion there’s a werewolf and the slight horror vibes from the midpoint on were extremely chilling while staying at a PG-13 level, which I appreciated as a stay-away-from-all-horror type of girl, and also balancing the life of death tension of it all. No killer plants though which is a first in a Nicki forest; I suspect those will show up in a later book…

It’s only other flaw? The cliffhanger ending. Like, come on, rude! Happily I had the ARC for the next book so I just dove right in, so for those who don’t like cliffhangers you might want to wait until the next book or two comes out before reading.

A wonderful, fun, adventurous, nail biting start to what I strongly believe will be a great YA series I will love to devour. Highly recommend, even if you’ve given up on or are deemed “too old” for YA.


‼️Content‼️

Language: jeez; what the heck; oh my gosh; freaking; what the freak; b—; gosh; heck; crud; gee

Violence: injuries and blood (not detailed); characters fall off a roof; characters fall in an old well; fighting with weapons, magic, and hand to hand (not detailed); a werewolf talks about and wants to eat a character; a werewolf chases, traps, and attacks characters (not detailed); a character vomits up blood; a giant wants to eat characters; dead, bloody bodies are seen in a town square (not detailed)

Sexual: characters are found sleeping next to each other (nothing happened)

Alcohol/Drugs: werewolf claws scratch and poison a character

Other: portals to another world; magic; magical abilities/creatures/places; mages; a character sleepwalks/has visions; a “ghost” girl; a character is tied up; characters are caged up; death


****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****

[Addy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

please excuse me while I catch my breath!

phew. WHAT a ride!

I don't even know where to begin.

I guess I'll start with the details!

*Thank you Nicki for a review copy!!!*
__________________________________
~Language: for me, this book was very clean in the language area, but for very cautious readers, crap, freaking, stupid, and crud were used several times.
~Romance: a definite boy/girl attraction, mostly just hugs, feelings, and a smidge of cuddling. I mean, come on people, I can't be the only one 100% shipping Easton and Chelsea! Man oh man. They didn't kiss however.. which was the teeniest bit disappointing.
~Violence:* there was a pretty large amount of violence and bloody near-death scenes in this one. However, none of it was too graphic that I couldn't read it. The violence includes: many fights and attacks that resulted in injury, an attack from a werewolf that left a character severely injured, and countless bloody battles. *for the cautious reader, this book may not be for you due to vivid scenes.
~Blood/Gore: Characters get injured and they all nearly die at some point. Soooo many injuries it's insane. Characters pass out, throw up, and one is severely sick to the point of near death.


Please don't let that scare you away!! Nicki is a V E R Y talented author (as I discovered in Winter Cursed), and on top of being Christian, she did a R E A L L Y great job of leaving me hanging at the end of A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses!!! Umm, book two please? XD

What I liked...
-I loved every character.. even the werewolf. Nicki did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life!! Easton and Chelsea are the C U T E S T and I loved reading Chelsea's thoughts in her head and Easton's priceless teasing. :) Definitely want to see more of them. Plus, Bobby and Clint? Someone needs to ship them. XD

-Loved the storyline. I think that (as always) Nicki came up with an amazing storyline. While the story was on the longer side for me, it was definitely worth reading every word! The world building too.. *starry eyes*

-Everything?

Didn't really care for...

-The grammar errors. As a writer myself, I understand these happen. I found quite a lot of simple things that needed fixing, but other than that, nothing so big I couldn't enjoy the story.

-Some things got on my nerves. Like how Easton and Chelsea were going to kiss but then something happens and they stop. I also found it a little unbelievable that they could be arguing one minute but hugging the next. It may just be me though. :)

and lastly,

-The beginning of the book. Things seemed to happen way to fast, and I felt like I had just been in a tornado (to exaggerate it a bit. lol). I got confused when it mentioned that Chelsea had been to Amar 4 times already.


Other than the things mentioned above, I R E A L L Y enjoyed this book. I do wish that Chelsea and Easton had kissed already so I could scream in excitement, but oh well.. BOOK 2 HERE I COME.


I do recommend this 100% with those comfortable with the things mentioned, and to those who love a clean fantasy with some romance mixed in. :)

Soli Deo Gloria!

[Katrina Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Sometimes you read a book that is in your favorite genre, and it reminds you afresh why that genre is your favorite. That is what A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses was for me!

MAIN CHARACTERS:

All of them were well-rounded with distinct narrative voices that definitely fit the time they live in. xD Chelsea (our main main character) was realistic, and I could relate to (and therefore easily follow) her thought process - being a teenage girl from modern-day America myself, lol.

Easton (or should I say Easton) is the perfect blend of perfection and imperfection... if that makes sense. I guess what I mean is that he's a TOTAL heartthrob whom I confess I have a pretty big crush on, and yet he annoyed me at times just like he annoyed Chelsea.

Clint? I wanted to punch him half the time, but he somehow also had a certain sort of charm, not to mention an awesome sense of humor that literally made me laugh out loud several times! So I forgive him for being kinda obnoxious. *nods*

As for Bobby... she actually fell flat for me. She was cool at the very beginning, but then she slipped into blandness as the story progressed.

SETTING:

My favorite part of the book was the stay at Hale Hall. The place had this dark, eerie atmosphere that I positively ATE UP. I think I have a thing for quiet, creepy castles. :D

But seriously, everywhere the characters went was so vivid in my mind, and so magical, and so fantasy-ish! I am in LOVE with the whole feel of this book!!

PLOT:

Overall, the plot is a tad cliche. Portal travel is waaaaay overdone, and the prophesy trope was also present here. I have to say, I'm tired of fantasy stories that have a "One Shall Not Survive The Journey But I'm Not Tellin' Who" prophesy. Rick Riordan bled that trope dry, imo.

But, as long as the characters are amazing and unique and drive the story along, I'm usually not too bothered by cliches. And the characters in this adventure are indeed wonderful!!

So, that's part of the reason I knock off half a star. Mainly, though, it's because of the typos. I'm at a loss as to why the vast majority of them weren't caught in editing...?

PACING:

Every single scene drew me in, gripped me tight, left me wanting to read more, more, MORE as the danger grows, mysteries deepen, and romantic tension builds. Simply put, I devoured this book, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!!

A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses is a TRULY WONDERFUL fantasy story, and I am SO glad I got the opportunity to read it! I'm looking forward to reading book 2 (A CLIFFHANGER, NOOOO!!!!), and to future works from this author!

I received a free digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review. All thoughts expressed are my own. *mic drop*

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT!?!? You CANNOT end a book like that, Nicki!!! I NEED to second one right now!

I loved this book, it was amazing!! I loved everything from the plot to the charcters. From the very beginning I was into the book. I could hardly put it down the past few days. I loved Chelsea's and Easton's relationship, I hope we see it devolpe more in the second book.

I also really loved Clint and Bobby. They were so funny to read about. All four definitely deserve a happily ever after, do you hear that Nicki?? They've been through so much and I am honestly really scared about what they are going to have to face in the next book.

Also guys, want to hear why Easton and Chelsea make such a great OTP?? Not only are they perfect for one another but they rode on a drago together! Only the best OTPs ride on a dragon together. ;)

I really disliked Margareta and Philip they annoyed me to no end! Also the werewolf....*shudders*. I am really glad that he is dead!

Anyway, you guys REALLY need to read this book! It is amazing!!!

[Nicole Dust · Rating 4 out of 5]

EASTON IS AMAZING AND PERFECT AND THAT IS ALL. Four stars for Easton. XD

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: A Week of Werewolves, Fairies, and Fancy Dresses
Author: Nicki Chapelway
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank Nick Chapelway for sending me a digital copy of the book.

I will admit that I was surprised by this one. I have read one other of Nicki’s books and really enjoyed it, but this one, I really ended up liking. Don’t get me wrong, Winter’s Cruse was a great read, but I found myself enjoying this one a lot more for some reason. I love the world building and how everything just fits-although we do have a cliffhanger ending.

I love the idea of the characters being transported to a magical world; it really had a Narnia feel to it. For some reason, I am just drawn to books were there is another world that exists inside our own. I have never been able to write stories like that and I always admire authors who have that magical touch.

With that being said, that really means that I enjoyed the world building. Now, Nicki’s world is pretty typical of fantasy, but the way that it is presented just makes for a really nice touch. I love the way that Nicki is able to make everything just leap off the page and come right to the reader. I found myself completely pulled in with the storytelling.

The characters were well written. They were rather cliché at times, but still enjoyable all the same. They are written as their age, which I know a lot of people struggle with. I personally hate whenever young adult authors claim to be writing young adult, but put their characters in some very adult situations. You can’t have it either way. Anyway, I liked how most of the book was told from Chelsea’s point of view, but with the other characters thrown in to have their own voice. I thought that there was just enough of a balance for everyone to really have their own say.

There was a few typos and grammar mistakes, but nothing major. You really can’t expect books to be prefect. Most of these were covered up by Nicki’s writing and were so small that it really doesn’t matter in the long run.

Overall, a really good book. I really do think that Nicki has a lot of promise in the future.

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh, I really enjoyed this book! Such a fun fantasy book to read. :D Nicki has such a talented writing voice and I definitely found it super enjoyable to read.

A couple of things I loved:
- Chelsea's wit and her rather unique relationship with her childhood friends.
- the CREATIVE PLOT. Like, what? I was quite astonished, to be honest (yay for rhymes).
- The worldbuilding! Amar seems like such a cool and unique place. Not to mention that the name Amar itself is cool.
- the book had a Percy Jackson kind of feel. To me, at least. ;D
- Chelsea and Easton were really well written! They each have their own dynamic personalities, and I found myself rooting for them.

A couple of things I didn't love:
- I felt like Clint's and Bobby's characters were pretty shallow. Bobby honestly feels really flat to me- it's hard for me to relate to her, like her, or hate her. As for Clint- yes, he's sarcastic most of the time, and he does have a more dimensional character than Bobby, but I definitely think his character could have been expanded and explored a little more. Maybe in the second book?
- Grammatical errors and typos!

Overall, really fun fantasy story! I absolutely can't wait for the next book, since it did leave me hanging a bit. :P 4 stars.

*FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.*

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first adventure to Amar is filled with everything and more the title names. This is a fantastical and whimsical tale of four friends who find themselves travelling to a world that is not their own. Having previously journeyed separately before, this time they are all thrust into this foreign place to work together to finish the mission that their fathers’ did not. Our four adventurers include: Chelsea and her twin brother Clint, Easton, and Bobby. They have each other’s backs and all want to finish their mission so that they may safely return home. Along the way they meet new friends, collect a couple of unusual pets, and a couple even discover magic flows through their veins. A story of friendship, adventure aplenty, and a budding new romance or two, this book is a very delicious tale. And after having reached this story’s final chapter and with that ending- you will find yourself anticipating the next chapter in this four book series. So please Ms. Chapelway- hurry up and write some more. This is a clean and fun read for tweens, teens, and up.

[Chloe the MovieCritic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

What a wild ride!! I loved the plot, the characters, and the humor! This book is so funny! The story is so creative. Clint is now my brother and kindred spirit, thank you very much. Dragons, magic powers, a mysterious quest? YES! If you love all of these things, then you will definitely enjoy this book.

For a first book this is so great! There is so much potential, I can't wait to see where it goes!

[Read my full review HERE: https://moviesmeetmatch.blogspot.com/... ]

[Karis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Immediately as I started this book I fell in love with the humorous narrated style of writing. Honestly, Chelsea’s wit was my favorite aspect of the book. A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dress is definitely an engaging and YA teeny read in the best possible way tone-wise and full of adventure.

All the little parts I loved—Chelsea’s humanness coming out her first night in Amar and seeing her real fears, the banter stemming from Chelsea’s extreme concern over Easton’s head injury, dear loyal Perseus and Odysseus, the comical chapter headings, and the shippable characters!

My quibbles (besides the magic elements which are my own preferences) would be just the sometimes unnecessary teen drama and how there seemed to be places where the foreshadowing wasn’t followed through or the modern culture-y things being ignored/unquestioned by those in the medieval world, (which truthfully I just ignored myself to focus on the story, but would be something that might bug people who read stricter medieval fantasy type worlds). Oh, and the adults! I hear that in the sequels they’re more developed, but I would have liked to have seen them have a bit more personality in this book. But those were probably elements that stuck out to me because of the critiquing/beta reading I’ve done working with authors and probably not things that would stand out as much to the average reader.

This book is about as far from my typical read as you can get, and while it had me hooked and captivated, because of my own personal book tastes and standards when it comes to high fantasy this book wasn’t entirely for me. Don’t let that keep you from reading it, though, if you know your book tastes and this book sounds right up your alley. For the debut novel of a young author, I was HUGELY impressed, and I look forward to seeing Miss Chapelway’s writing style develop and grow in her future novels. 3.5 stars

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that this book was penned by a 15 year old and it was her first book I was a little nervous. I wasn't sure how the writing would be, or if it would even be an interesting storyline. Yes, I will admit I was being that judgmental person. However after reading just the first chapter, my mind was put to ease and I found myself engrossed in Chelsea's life and wondering what was going to happen next.

I thought Ms. Chapelway did a great job for her first book. It was such an interesting and different storyline for me - and I am always looking for something different to grab my attention. There were a few times I found myself a little confused, but overall was able to follow along pretty well. The author was articulate, provided a nice mix of dialogues verses non-dialogue parts, and expressed emotions throughout.

I think this would be a great book for tweens, teens, and even young adults to read. Their imaginations would allow them to picture this story vividly, and I could see them easily falling in love with Chelsea and Easton along the way. Nice job on your first release Ms. Chapelway! I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit. I was not required to give a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. I had no idea where the author was taking the story most of the time, especially in the second half when I was thoroughly surprised by one plot twist after another. Talk about an adrenaline rush! Also, the cliffhanger. Argh! Now I’m waiting with anticipation for the next book.

I loved the characters. They were all different in their own way. Easton was my favorite without a doubt. I loved how caring he was to Chelsea and how much he was into the current situation. Bobby also was quite the character. Her personality was fun to get to know and I see great changes for her in the future.

Overall, I had an awesome experience with this book and I would recommend it for teenage readers. There were a few pretty graphic scenes, but nothing too extreme. I was set on edge near the end with some of the werewolf scenes, but it was only nerve-striking shivers from the action.

[. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended Age: 12+, for some romance

I've heard quite a bit about this book as well as the title hinting at what the story was about, which really intrigued me. When the author was offering some copies in exchange for reviews, I jumped at the opportunity to read this book and I'm really glad I did!

So when I started reading the first few pages, I found myself confused. Chelsea had been going to Amar for awhile and it began with her being chased by a creature. At first, I wasn't sure if that was a good idea for a beginning. Now, after finishing the book, it fits.

Chelsea was a character I enjoyed following throughout the whole story. I found myself wanting to scream at her while I felt like she was making bad decisions as well as so oblivious about Easton, but I was fond of her overall. What I was really interested about was her father's backstory, and what quest he had went on, and why she's connected to it. Honestly, I still don't know what the quest is, but we'll probably find out more about that in book two.

Easton was someone I was instantly fond of. I don't remember what he was supposed to look like, but I always had this image of a blond-haired guy as him, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who makes up what they look like in their heads. I found Easton interesting. Like, he treated Chelsea way differently than he would treat Bobby. I came to the conclusion from the very beginning that Easton has a crush on Chelsea. Why? Well, many obvious signs point to this, such as how he knew many facts about her and mentioned how he knew she was good at dancing simply because of watching her at a prom. I don't really want to spoil any more than that, but I am totally shipping them <3

Clint was someone I would have liked and somewhat related to, but I decided I didn't appreciate him. Although I do have a love of video-games just as he does, I've pretty much decided he was a jerk, mainly because of a chapter towards the end of the book that made me see how annoying he was. I also wasn't fond of his constant use of a word I consider to be a bad word, if used in the wrong way... which he did, in this case. I do think he might have some interest in Bobby, but maybe not that much after his comments about Margareta. He also wasn't very respectful towards Philip or Bobby and said some things that were offensive from their point of views.

Margareta and Philip were okay, but I found her to be extremely annoying and worse than Clint. Like, she was like the Poe Dameron of the story for me. I was sort of fond of Philip, but I wish we were given more "screen-time" with him.

Although I enjoyed the story in general, I was not fond of a few things. An obvious one was what I just mentioned earlier, the use of the word crud in a bad way. Second, the romance did bug me a times. I'm normally fine with romance in books, as long as it's not the focus of the book and it totally was not for this book, but the descriptions hinting at it kind of frustrated me... mainly the many mentions about Easton's breath on Chelsea and the scents of Easton drifting towards Chelsea, etc. Although I loved the story, if you're sensitive to romance, then this would be something to watch out for.

Overall, a great book, but I wish the cliff-hanger was more of a cliff-hanger. I do want to read the next book in the series, but the ending wasn't really that exciting. But I do have to know how the prophecies fit into everything. It's really hard not to spoil -_-

Content Warnings: Romance (mentions about Easton's breath on Chelsea, the scents of Easton drifting towards Chelsea, some mentions of feelings, boy and girl character fall asleep next time each other by accident, etc; Some brief mentions of blood and injuries; Magic/mages/dragons/werewolves/faeries; (these might be considered bad words for some:) uses of crud, freaking, flipping

I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Merenwen Inglorion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely romp into another world. I wasn't expecting it to be told in first-person present POV, and I definitely wasn't expecting it to be done so well! No offense to the author, just that's a terribly difficult POV to write in. I've had to stop reading big-name traditionally published books because they couldn't keep their tenses straight. :P

Highlights

The magic.
The swords, even though they weren't used much.
The powers.
And that body guard! Man, can he kick butt. Wilhelm, I believe his name was. (And I firmly believe still is, as in, I'm 90 percent sure he's fine. Or at least alive. Cuz a character with that much epic and chill just can't die without going out in a battle scene that lasts a couple pages. I hope... *totally isn't nervous about his fate*)

The faeries. They were...
I want to say "wonderful", but that's not the right word. They were dark, mysterious, and traditional in the sense that I could definitely imagine coming across them in a Grimm tale. I loved it!!
And the werewolves. So. Dang. Ominous. <3

Misc
The reason I docked a star is mostly personal preference. I don't like the romance genre for a few reasons, with the foremost being lack of communication. There was a bit of that, but it's not...bad? I just found myself getting a tad annoyed with Chel's lack of awareness about her body language and femininity. But, she's fifteen, so...I was able to bear it. XD

One thing that kind of disappointed me was the pacing. The flow of the story was good, but I felt like the climax was right at the end of the book. I turned to the last page and went:
"Wait. That's...there's...no...but...climax...supposed to be in the middle..."
It broke my brain a bit. But it was also kind of refreshing? Maybe it's because I've been focusing so much on prepping for Nanowrimo, trying to structure my own story traditionally, that a part of me rejoiced to see someone just go, "Psych." XD
So if you don't like cliffhangers (lol, get it?), wait until you get the next book.
If the next book ends like this, I shall more likely than not shed a few tears. Because. Just. Climax. Middle. Not the end! Usually... :P

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses " by Nicki Chapelway is a story about four teenagers who are transported to another world to finish a quest started by their fathers twenty-four years ago.

The book is easy to read, but I thought there were a few confusing parts, but in all it was a fairly good read. I recommend this book for teens who like this type of story.



I am giving A Week of Werewolves, Faeries, and Fancy Dresses " by Nicki Chapelway three stars, because 1( it ended with a cliff hanger and I don't feel it was an exciting cliff hanger, and (2) I read the whole book and the teenage characters or myself still have no idea what the quest is, though the book does say the quest has something to do with treason that had been committed over seven hundred years ago.

The characters were normal teenagers until they were transported to Amor and learned that some had magic powers. The characters were easy to like and believe in. Even, thought this isn’t my normal type of read I really think I could have enjoyed the book a little more if I had a clue as to why the characters have to finish the quest and especially if I knew what the quest was.

I will say that this was a very good book for a first book and the fact that it was written by a fifteen year old. The action scenes drew me in and kept me enthralled.

Chapters ten and eleven were found at the very end of the book after the “About the Author” section.

I think my granddaughters, if they liked to read would like this series.

Yes, I will be reading the second book in this series.

I was given a complementary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. The opinions are mine own.

[Mimi 'Pans' Herondale · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank the kind author, Nicki Chapelway, for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest rating and review. And the rating was: 5 stars and favorites!

My favorite thing about the book are the characters. I loved all of them, the only one I didn't like that much was Easton and Margareta. Yep, those were the only ones. Chelsea was pretty good, except for that one chapter when she shined that flashlight into Easton's eyes, then she was just annoying!

My favorite characters are Philip, Clint, and Bobby. Yep, and I just totally ship Philip with Chelsea and Clint and Bobby NEED TO GET TOGETHER! I got such feelings when I am with both of them! And I felt so bad for Clint when he broke his ankle, then his arm, and then his nose because of Bobby :). Poor Clint!

The plot was pretty original, well the outline: going into a magical land through a portal for a quest to get home isn't as original, but the plot fill ins were and I'm happy with that.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL! This was such a cliff hanger! So if you're going to read this book then I would recommend getting the second one as well or I swear you will go insane wondering what will happen next!

Overall this book was amazing and definitely one of my favorites! I also think its cool that it was written by a Teen, I like reading reading books that are by people under the age 20, it makes it special especially since she did such a good job!

I would recommend this book for anyone ages 10 and up. There's nothing in this book that's bad, which I like!

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I maybe had to finish this book because it scared the daylights out a me?

I'm blaming all this on Nicki Chapelway... how could you do this to me!!? It's not actually as bad as I thought for I have read worse, but still that cliffhanger! Nicki!!

The book was amazing ( aside from the fact that it totally freaked me out ) and I L O V E D hearing it from all four of their perspectives.... Easton especially... ( I'm sorry you can't take the place of Dante ) but it was good.

The sarcasm.... sheesh *grins* If their would be one reason keeping me reading her books it would be the sarcasm. I mean... do you know how many times I laughed per chapter!? It was awesome... and frightening. xD

( There was two things that bothered me, which I forgot to mention last night... - cause I was so freaked out - but it doesn't take away from my five stars. ) 1 - The magic abilities I have never been fond of... it just has never sat well with me. 2 - The extreme use of bad language. ( shouldn't we be trying to encourage the use of good language? .... just a thought. ) Anyways, it still can't take away from the fact that I enjoyed a ( mostly ) clean read! ;)

Let me say that she has done a wonderful job in creating this tale ( and I CANNOT wait *hint* *hint* for the sequel... ), especially for a girl of 15 who didn't go to a professional publishing company!! Full rounds of applause for Nicki Chapelway... you have done it again. ( by that I mean broke my heart... *grimaces* ) Encore!! Encore!!

[Carol Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This young author has some promising work ahead of her. I loved the premise of this book, which drew me in very quickly. This book is written in a first person teen-age style. Most of the time, I found that fun.

My only issues with this book came from places where the entire story line jumped without a clue as to why, or what really happened. That bothered me a good bit, it made me feel very lost at times, and I still have questions that don't have answers. I hope those answers will be addressed in the next book so that I can understand why several things were out of sync. Those parts left me feeling like something got deleted or moved and that is confusing. A few characters vanished and reappeared without explanation.

Past that, this book has plenty of fantasy creatures, and four very determined teens who have been sucked into another world in order to finish a mysterious quest that was started by their fathers. What a mission they are on! They don't even know all the details, so we are learning them along with them. It's a mystery that will not be solved without the rest of the story, which I hope I will be able to read in the future.It's the first installment of much more to come!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Bravo Ms. Chapelway! You would never know the author of this book is a teenager. This story is a rare experience that can be enjoyed by all ages. Being a fan of Lord of the Rings, I resonated with the story line very much as very normal teenagers find themselves in the land of Amar. The action is constant and vividly painted in a complete picture. We get to follow our characters into Amar and read their thoughts as perfectly normal teens in a perfectly not normal reality. They band together and each use strengths to overcome life-threatening obstacles. You never know when you turn the page if our characters will be in a fancy dress, dancing with faeries, or running from werewolves. I recommend this book for all!

*I received this book for free and all opinions stated are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really interested to read this since it was written by someone so young and I like a little fantasy once in a while.
I have to admit at first I had trouble getting into the book. This is one I would definitely say read for a bit before you give up. As we got more into the land of Amar the more I liked the book and the characters.
Chelsea has a fun, sassy tone that made the book easy to read. I can see where tween and even teens would enjoy this book.
We could tie their quest into finishing things our own father’s started or continuing with our faith on not giving up.
For those who like Narnia type books I think they would really enjoy this one.

A copy of this book was given to me through The Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.

[Missica Skeens pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just...WOW! The author is 15, and that is mindblowing to me! This book is really great. The storytelling is really good, and the use of imagery is impressive. Her writing style is very easy to follow, and I found the characters to be as believable as they can be given a fantasy style genre. I could see this as an older child/young adult interest novel. This is very Narnia'ish in that the character is taken to a different world, and it takes a bit of time to realize it's real. I really like the overall plot, and it's not a total giveaway, and I like that, too. Overall, job very well done. I look forward to a Book 2!

[Loretta Marchize · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this! Now I want to know what happens next!
It took a while for me to get into it, but that's just because I was reading two other books at the same time. I loved it- it just got better and better!
also the whole thing in the beginning, with her saying Easton is my enemy, I was looking for him to betray her etc., but then! Then! I did not expect it to play out like that and it totally caught me by surprise
I did not like the ending (well, I DID, it's just that now I have to wait to find out what happens next) At least I have Goodreads- I can watch as Niki works on the next book! I can't wait to read it and find out what happens to our four friends next!

[Empress X · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all THANK YOU to the epic author for giving me a free copy and dealing with my slowness at reading it!

Oof I started dis March.

This is the book thats took me the longest to read in ze world.

BUT I LIKED IT!

At first I didn’t like Philip buut I liked how he slayed the wherewolf thaang.
I LOVED BOBBY. 💞❤️😍😍😍
And Easton was also really cool!
Can’t wait ror the second book I is to tired to write a full review!

[M Shen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm writing this review a little late, after reading it a few weeks ago, but here goes.

I'm a hardcore fantasy lover, if you haven't figured out by now. Nicki's other series-- the Snow White retelling-- was absolutely gorgeous, enough to convince me that I needed this book. I think I finally understand why.

First of all, the writing style. While definitely very different from the one used on Winter Cursed, it was awesome. First person present tense (AGAIN I don't know why I keep doing this) but it totally drew me in from the start. It was appropriately descriptive, practical, and humorous. Chelsea was a great character all-around, both as a person and a narrator, although I did enjoy the snippets from the other people's point-of-views. The writing flowed very smoothly, but there were several typos and grammatical errors that bothered me.

As aforementioned, Chelsea was fun. Easton was too, but I felt that there was a litte lacking in the department of full development on his part. He seemed a little too perfect for me. I definitely would have liked to see more of Bobby and Clint, though-- they were great.

As far as the worldbuilding goes, Amar isn't all that original. Typical fantasy world, I suppose, which didn't stand out to me as anything special. Dark faeries, werewolves, and all that. Oh well. We'll see more about that... perhaps in A Matter of Curiosity?

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. Well, I did before the lovely author hit us with that HORRID cliffhanger (!!!). It's all right, though! I forgive her! (I think...) Four stars for the characters, plot, and writing; negative one star for the typos and lackluster world.

[Grace Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

If you were to tell me to recommend only two books by Nicki Chapelway, I would say: rude! But you should pick up "Rage Like the Gods" and this book, "A Twist in Reality". I feel like these two books are the best gateways into Nicki's works, both being a first in a series. I also feel that the worlds of Ruskhazar and Amar showcase Nicki's writing the best. The characters have so much life and witty banter, and the worlds are so rich, you can tell how much love and joy Nicki has for the series, and you'll be flipping through the pages, always begging for more.

I feel that Nicki nailed down how a modern teen would take in a fantasy world and the realization that they might be stuck there for a while. A sense of awe, a bit of panic, and glad that they thought to bring a first-aid kit and a couple of water bottles.

There's a little bit of everything that every fantasy lover would enjoy. Dragons (a must-have), deadly werewolves, creepy faeries, giants, knights, lords, magic, and more! It does a wonderful job of ticking-off everything on my fantasy checklist. I might go as far as saying that this world is what really got me into fantasy.

Also, can we just talk about the cuteness of the baby dragon and then the dragon ride when he is all grown up? I was wearing the stupidest grin when reading these scenes. I absolutely LOVE dragons, and if someone were to tell me I was suddenly a dragon lord (ahem, *lady*) or something? Like awesome! Easton is probably one of my favorite characters, partly because of this. Odysseus is the best dragon ever!

Speaking of the characters, Chelsea is so well-written. She's very relatable. I love how she's trying to help Easton after she thinks he has a concussion, even with his protests. How she's having a mini panic attack, doesn't know who to talk to about this world and other problems, is in awe of how fantastical everything is, still loves modern technology, and doesn't know what to do with her feelings for Easton once it's brought up. Plus, she loves doggos! I do wish she got to have some more interactions with Wilhelm's dog, Cletus, but I love how protective she was of her dog, Hercules, especially when he accidentally gets pulled into Amar with her one time. (Even though I really like Chelsea, there were a couple of scenes where I was like TELL HIM THE TRUTH! Really, Chelsea. I still love her anyway.)

Easton. I really like this guy. I love how he's down to earth, easy to forgive others, I don't know, he's just a cool guy. I like him. I also really like the slow-burn romance between him and Chelsea.

Bobby! I really like how Bobby has a fiery attitude about her, but also can't stand the sight of blood. I do feel like she needs a cool weapon or something. But maybe she might have some cool abilities that might be explored later? Hint, hint. I also love her relationship with the group and how she still kept ties with everyone when everyone else tried to move on. And that one scene she has with Chelsea, her asking to sleep in Chelsea's room. I just really liked her character.

Clint. He made me crack up laughing more than once. He was a little bit annoying in some parts with trying to be the hero, or dragon lord, or whatever. I guess he was a little full of himself and had a big ego. Still, a really fun character. And I do love the times he shows that he does care about the people around him.

Content in Book:

1. Accidents (a character almost gets hit by a car, a character falls off the roof and is knocked unconscious, a character has something fall on their head and is knocked unconscious).

2. Kidnapping??? (A slightly insane character brings four teenagers into a fantasy world with no way for them to get home, so they can do a quest for him.)

3. Violence. (Bandits. Multiple times, different creatures try to capture and eat the main characters (and sometimes eat and hurt innocent bystanders). One character is known to punch people and/or scratch and kick them. Multiple people get punched or kicked, sword/dagger/arrow violence. A character has a hunting/guard dog. Magical violence, including fire and portals, and a couple of enchanted weapons. Empty threats of talking about killing people. Actual threats of talking about killing people. Etc.)

4. Injuries. (A character might have had a concussion. Head injuries. Broken ankles. Dislocated shoulders. A character gets scratched with venom and gets really sick; ends up vomiting blood. Blood and gore, not too focused, but there.)

5. Mythical creatures. (Dragons, werewolves, faeries, giants, etc.)

6. Magic. (Elemental, charms, persuasion, portals, healing, enchantments, prophecies, etc.)

7. Talk about alcoholic drinks. (A character accidentally takes a slip once, but another time they pass them up).

Who I Would Recommend This Book To:

Those who want to start an epic portal fantasy YA series with a portrayal of realistic teens from the modern age. Those who love witty banter. Those who love slow-burn romance (they do not kiss in this book). Those who love normal characters getting magical powers. Those who love the vibes of the dragon riding scene in "How to Train Your Dragon". Those who love creepy werewolves. Those who like the more dangerous/animistic ways of faeries. Those who love epic quests. Trust me, this is not a book you want to sleep on. Why are you still here? Go get yourself a copy!