Lantern

Lantern #1

by Chess Desalls, Jill Maglione (Narrator)

Five days before Halloween, all sixteen-year-old Tori has on her mind is vacationing with her family and scoring lots of candy. Her grandmother’s estate, with its Gothic spires and trails that lead out to the woods, holds an unexpected secret: a lantern that lights up for Tori and nobody else. Certain that it’s a ghost or a prank, she investigates further and discovers a mysterious life that shines in the darkness.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Ebooks, Paranormal, Novella

Audible Audio

First published January 26, 2016

Reviews

[Amy Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 ⭐️
I found this short story to be a pleasant one but some things didn't match up for me. It seems that the writing style is a much better fit for middle grade and Tori was much more fitting to be in that age range as well.

The story itself was beautifully told with Tori and her family blooming to life. I do wish there was more detail about the house and the grounds of her grandmother's estate. It seemed like a very intriguing place.

Tori and her family are away visiting her grandmother for the week of Halloween. Tori is very fascinated by everything her grandmother's mysterious house has to offer and goes off exploring. She happens upon a nice lantern deep in the woods on the estate. It lights up but without a flame. Tori spends the next few days trying to solve it's curious riddle.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this story for a fair and honest review!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, refreshing and safe for even younger readers! Imagine the magic of Halloween, the special bond between a grandparent and a grandchild and an amazing tale of a special lantern and its tiny occupant. LANTERN by Chess Desalls is a short, yet beautifully simple tale of caring when Tori, a sixteen-year-old girl discovers a strange light flashing deep in the woods and lets her curiosity lead her on a mission to save the young man trapped within a magical lantern.

Jared isn’t sure how long he has been inside the lantern, but he had little joy in his world when Machin took him in as an apprentice. It was while polishing the lanterns that young Jared became trapped within, and it was then that the moment was set for his freedom…was Tori meant to find him? Or was her discovery an interference that will change Jared’s Fate?

Purely magical reading! Chess Desalls has created a brief tale that will satisfy even the most reluctant of readers! A little suspense, a lot of kindness and the magic of Machin, his special Moon Glass and Chess Desalls’ pen! When I think of Gems in reading, this one is sparkling bright!

Series: Lantern - Book 1
Publisher: Czidor Lore, LLC (January 26, 2016)
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 82 pages
Available from: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story of fantasy and young love. I adore the grandmother and how she believes in and helps her granddaughter, Tori. I also like how much Tori enjoys being with her little brother, despite their 13-year age difference. And I just love the ending. : )

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunning cover and the promise of a heart-warming story - who wouldn't want to get their hands on this? That's precisely how I've felt ever since I saw this book on NetGalley back in autumn. Unfortunately for me, the book was already archived when I found it - which meant I couldn't request the ARC anymore. I was disappointed, but I hoped I'd be able to get it somewhere later.

Fast forward several months. Halloween already forgotten, it's the wintery goodness of the coming Christmas. And I find the Lantern on Amazon on a promotion - for free!

Gotta say, I was pretty happy. I'd been looking forward to reading this story for a while. There was just something about it.

After I downloaded it, it still spent a week or two on my Kindle. A book blogger's reading schedule can be quite messed up, as some of you might be aware! But yesterday I stumbled upon a fun project -the Baby It's Cold Outside Read-a-thon hosted by Read.Sleep.Repeat and decided to take part. That's when I decided that it would be enough backlogging and pigeonholing - it was time to read The Lantern. And just as I had expected - it was wonderful!

First of all, I'd recommend this to anyone who craves a warm, innocent story - especially those who love middle grade or children's stories. YA readers could love this too, although I'd still say it has a calmer tone than YA, although age-wise it's definitely a fit.

As for the story itself, well - it's a beautiful modern fairytale. It was meant as a Halloween read, but it works just as well as a Christmas read - it's the time when we appreciate stories about love, caring and quiet, selfless magic. It's also perfect for snuggling up with some hot cocoa and marshmallows and reading away a cold evening - with emotions to match your warm cup. Especially because this is a short read as well! For most people, it will be a one-evening read.

I really enjoyed my #BICOthon read and I recommend it to anyone who wants something soothing and warm to read on a cold evening. I'm quite curious about the other stories of Chess Desalls now!

For those who want to read the full blog post with all the gifs and also more about my read-a-thon plans, you can finish reading it on my blog:
https://goo.gl/VunoJr

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel as though my rating for this story is much lower than what everyone else is rating it. I’d like to say that I can understand some of the higher ratings, yet for me I couldn’t really bring myself to go all out with my stars.

It was a nice little story, yet it wasn’t overly brilliant.

It was a short read, something you can complete in next to no time at all. The story itself is sweet, although it was far too predictable for my liking. I know that in stories of this length it can be quite difficult to create all the things you find in full length novels, but this one seemed to be lacking more than most. From the get-go, it was clear how things were going to end. There wasn’t really anything by way of surprise. You knew who was going to act in what way. You knew what would come into play to create certain events. It was a nice short read but I’d wanted more.

Overall, I was a little bit disappointed that I didn’t get that something more everyone had me convinced of.

[Kira Simion · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up because of that twist!

There's:
•Originality! Who's heard of a guy trapped in a lantern before?
•The writing has a good flow. Sometimes the action slows, but it's never for long.
•A nice little twist at the end. (May lead into book 2 perhaps).
•The fact that it didn't end on a cliffhanger. It's so short that I thought it would.
•Too short though! Hoping for a longer story with perhaps a more in-depth magic world!
:3

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also reviewed for Alina Melinda's Reads
This charming and romantic tale was a breath of fresh air. Sixteen-year-old Tori adores Halloween and she can hardly wait to get her costume ready for this year's trick-or-treat. But until the spooky night, there is time for a short vacation so Tory, her little brother and her parents are paying a visit to her grandmother. Grandma lives on a big spooky ranch close to the forest and this makes it even more enjoyable for our girl. One night she wanders around the woods and sees a light deep into the woods so she decides to investigate. Who could have lit the lantern in the middle of he forest and for what reasons?
Grandma knows all about the old lantern and so does Tori's father but what they don't know is that the lantern is magic : a tiny boy lives inside it. Tori soon learns that the boy's name is Jared and he is from another realm .He doesn't remember how he got inside the lantern , his last memory was while he was working in the workshop building lanterns and now he seems to be captive in one of them.
Tori is determined to free Jared from his trap..

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lantern is firstly a quick read as it is a novella story rather than an actual book , it is set in contemporary times though it does have flashbacks to another time which I would have guessed as a centuries ago from the few details the reader is given throughout the pages. The book starts in a tiny village where a teen boy Jared is working for a Lantern maker - Jared also has a wooden leg. The story then jumps back to contemporary times where a teen girl Tori is staying at her grandmother's house along with her family and the book leads up to Halloween. During her visit she goes for a walk and discovers near the end of the property , an old lantern. Inside it is a little boy - this part made me think of a cross between Pinocchio and Peter Pan -Tinkerbell. Throughout the rest of the story, we read as Tori strikes up a friendship with Jared and tries what she can to free him from the lantern. Can Tori free Jared from the Lantern before Halloween or will he be stuck inside forever ? What will happen to Jared if freed ?

Lantern was one of those cutesy teen reads , that if you are wanting something fast-paced and quick - then it is the perfect read for you.

[Yasamin Seifaei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the cutest books I've ever read in my life! i would have cried if i hadn't stopped myself. i loved everything about this book.

یعنی یکی از کیوت ترین کتابایی بود که تا به حال خوندم! اگه جلو خودمو نمیگرفتم قطعا گریه میکردم. همه چیز این کتاب رو دوست داشتم. این کتاب توی آمازون کیندل مجانیه میتونید بخونیدش. و حتما بخونیدش! :(((

[Lindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Story.

This was a very enjoyable tale. I am 77 yrs old, but this book awoke the child of my inner self.
i heartily recommend this book to all who are young at heart. It also makes a great story to read to your Grandchildren.

[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how it was short, sweet, and to the point. The characters were creative and I loved the relationships between them. It was unique and a fun mystery. A great read!

[Dedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this short story! I definitely want a physical copy of this for my collection.

[Jenny Houle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an unbiased opinion. (Actually, I received all three books in the trilogy.)

I know that this is a novella, and so the reading was short and easy. Some characters were well defined, yet others left me wanting more. Also, I know this is the first book in the trilogy, so I'm really hoping more things will be explained quickly in the next two books.

[A.L. Kaplan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lantern, by Chess Desalls, is a charming little YA mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed Tori’s journey to discover the what made the lantern on her grandmother’s property suddenly begin to glow.

[Sep · Rating 5 out of 5]

16-year-old Tori is visiting her grandmother and getting ready for Halloween when she finds a mysterious lantern in her grandmother's woods. Its light seems to get stronger and weaker as if it was alive. More confusion follows. Her parents aren't wild about her going out at night to visit the lantern. Her grandmother, however, thinks its a good idea. Then, Tori meets Jared.

A delightful fairy tale with a modern twist. Is it possible for a princess to rescue a prince?

NOTE: It did not take me a month to read this story. It took me a month to figure out how to download it on to my phone.

[M.L.S. Weech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a charming story that opened the door to an interesting world. Any teen story that has the usual themes but also allows for realistic reactions and consequences sets itself above the rest. Lantern does that for me. It's a nice quick read I think adventurous young teens would enjoy.

The full review can be found at:

https://mlsweech.wordpress.com/2017/0...

[Christina McMullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful little tale. Perfect for Halloween or an evening in May if that's when you happen to pick it up. A tiny bit spooky & a whole lot of sweet, I even found myself tearing up a little. Loved it!

[Samantha Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I absolutely loved this book. When she found the lantern glowing get on its own. And the grandmother how awesome was she, she helped her and didn't think she was crazy or anything. I just love, love, love this book. I highly recommend this book. You will not regret it.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read. Nice for something quick and mostly fluffy. It's cute and the cover is gorgeous. It has a bit of mystery to it too to draw you in. Perfect for the Halloween season. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

[Jonas Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern day fairy-tale set around Halloween. People will enjoy the simple background and the slight (if not quick) budding romance between the main characters. Good writing with some areas that leave
a couple of pondering questions.

[Shailendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all thanks to the writer Chess desalls for sending the novel.... It was an awesome tale of believe and love, so intense to put it down before finally finishing it ... A must read !!

[Tayla Potayta · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very childish and quick. I felt as though I was reading a children’s book. But not a good one lol. I rated this two stars because the plot was okay not horrible. I am confused on what the next two books will be about. Especially at the end with that kiss! Come on, one they are children and two they just met!!

[[ J o ]]

(Read the first book in the The Call to Search Everywhen series. Did not enjoy, therefore will not be reading anything else by this author.)

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5 Out of 5 Stars**

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partiamo dalle cose più evidenti: la copertina è fantastica!
Colorata, quasi magica e nonostante ci sia una ragazza con un'aria trasognata, come si usa spesso adesso, riesce bene a rendere l'atmosfera un po' onirica del romanzo.
Tori ha sedici anni ed è in vacanza con la famiglia nella tenuta della nonna, una vecchia e grande casa che prima era una piantagione, quindi con immensi spazi verdi attorno.
Mancano pochi giorni ad Halloween e Tori si sta organizzando per portare il fratellino a fare dolcetto e scherzetto, ma una sera, durante una passeggiata, scopre una lanterna nel giardino.
La lanterna è stranamente accesa, nonostante sia rotta. Non solo, si illumina solo per lei e sembra emettere luce in risposta alle sue domande.
Ben presto Tori scopre che c'è qualcuno, un essere molto piccolo, che vive all'interno della lanterna, e i due riescono a comunicare grazie allo stetoscopio della nonna.
Chi sarà l'essere nella lanterna?
Una favola fantasy breve, ma dolce e veramente suggestiva.
Si assaporano bene le atmosfere del sud degli Stati Uniti, così come i giorni freddi e un po' bui che precedono Halloween.
In questo riusciamo a immaginare bene questa magica lanterna in questo giardino, e chi ci abita dentro si rivela un personaggio di cui ci si affeziona, così come la protagonista, gentile e curiosa, non la solita protagonista scema di uno YA.
Dolcissima la nonna, che ne capisce molto di più di quello che può sembrare.
Non raggiunge il punteggio pieno solo perchè la fine è frettolosa e sembra che manchi qualcosa.
Si legge veramente in un baleno, incuriositi dalla storia originale e particolare, affascinati da questa lanterna che si accende solo per Tori.
All'inizio l'inglese è un po' difficile da masticare, ma poi la lettura diventa molto più facile.
Lo consiglio veramente a tutti, finalmente una storia originale, ben scritta e appassionante.

[Soobie is expired · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a nice, little story!

I entered the giveaway because of its wonderful cover but I didn't win. The synopsis, however, seemed interesting enough and I decided to buy the Kindle version.

Yeah, I also have to say that I've had some troubles concentrating on long books recently and short stories are perfect.

So... That's a Halloween story but giving the weather outside - so un-summery - it fits perfectly into the mood. I love how Tory spend her time creating the perfect outfit for her and her little brother. I do love dressing up - for Carnival, of course - as well. Both main characters are fully believable and they have their nice, little personalities.

The idea of the lantern and the little guy trapped in it was fantastic. It was what drew me to story in the first place and it was executed well. On the contrary, I didn't like that much the parts were the "normal" protagonists were talking to each other, for example when Tori and her parents discuss about going out looking for the lantern. Those seemed a bit unnatural in my opinion.

The length of the novella was OK for me. The author managed to create a believable little story without rushing it to the end. It's not as easy as it may seem.

I'll read more novellas by Chess Desalls in the future, that's for sure.

[Ash Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mama says: if you haven’t picked up this short book I don’t know what you’re doing with your life. Just kidding. But seriously, it’s FREE and it’s a great (though very quick) read. Very gothic feel, with a ghost story flavor. I loved the first book of Desall’s Call to Search Everywhen series and still need to read the others, but this particular story is quite different. For one thing, there’s no time travel, but there are mysteries and spooks and a hard-not-to-love leading lady. Though safe for the younger crowd, I think most adults will enjoy this as well.

[Linda Stopani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is a YA fantasy book which is one of my favorite genres. This book would be great for reluctant readers. It isn't a long story, but has enough detail to keep your interest. I would like to read more from this author!

[Kristen Kooistra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

A quick, easy read about a teenager staying with her family at her grandmother's house over the Halloween holiday. The entire story takes place either in the house or on the grounds except for the prologue and epilogue.

Tori's Halloween gets a little more exciting, and maybe creepy at first, when she finds a lone lantern far out on her grandmother's land. Even stranger, the lantern is lit, but she can't see what's inside.

A mini-mystery unfolds and with the help of her grandmother, Tori doesn't so much figure out the how's and why's of the lantern, but she does figure out what's inside and how to communicate.

I can't say(as a parent myself) that I thought too much of Tori's outright disobedience about her staying inside at night. I can see why parents wouldn't want their kid lurking around expansive grounds in the middle of the night when it's possible someone's pulling a holiday prank.

That's made worse by Tori's grandma not only deciding to undermine their authority by looking the other way, but she also helps Tori sneak out. They never get busted or face any sort of negative consequence. Even though there's a positive outcome, I feel like there's a message of "don't obey your parents and hope something good happens because it'll be okay then."

I'm sure that's not what the author was going for, but it did needle me a bit.

Other than that, it's a cute story. Tori clearly loves her little brother and is well-written to be a normal teenage girl. Jared's story is a sad one that luckily seems to be heading in a positive direction now. I thought the twist for Machin's reasons was surprising and interesting. I'm not so sure he's going about it the best way and thinking that this lantern in particular has been there since Tori's dad was a child... well let's say Machin is risking a lot(not a personal risk but risks for people like Jared) for what feels like a ticket in hopes of winning the lottery.

[A. Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, quick read. Seemed more appropriate for younger readers than anticipated.