What do you think?
Rate this book
The Elustria Chronicles: Magic Born #1
Magic Born
A magical necklace. A new identity. A fight to stay alive.Reeling from the death of her adoptive parents, Kat Thomas retreated from college life into an online fantasy game. But what if the game she plays is closer to reality?When a panther shifter named Alex knocks on her door one night, he delivers a message and a package. Kat's birth mother was a powerful mage who has just been murdered...and now the killer is after Kat. The package contains her mother's an amber necklace that latches onto Kat's neck and attacks anyone who tries to remove it. Before she knows it, ice is shooting from her hands and she's on the run from an assassin.Kat must navigate a world of magic and intrigue, fight the forces that want her dead, and protect her friends from becoming collateral damage--all while coming to terms with her new identity. This is one game she can't afford to lose.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2016
1558 people are currently reading
1356 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 21, 2017
I retried reading this properly and I just DNF @ 13%.
◇She lets in a guy into her house who tried to "stalk her" and "harass" her.
◇Ice came out of her hands and if it were me I'd be freaking out.
◇I hate the writing style.
The MC JUST seems very immature and I don't want to read about her pointless blabbering.
-----
DNF @ 18%
I hate reading on kindle bc I just can't focus for some reason. I skimmed through the 18% and didn't really understand anything.
This is a super short book and I could have finished it, but like, I don't feel like it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
◇She lets in a guy into her house who tried to "stalk her" and "harass" her.
◇Ice came out of her hands and if it were me I'd be freaking out.
◇I hate the writing style.
The MC JUST seems very immature and I don't want to read about her pointless blabbering.
-----
DNF @ 18%
I hate reading on kindle bc I just can't focus for some reason. I skimmed through the 18% and didn't really understand anything.
This is a super short book and I could have finished it, but like, I don't feel like it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
August 1, 2016
For such an intriguing world, this book had some crappy characters. Kat didn't impress me one bit. She didn't act like a 20 something adult, more like a teenager and this book probably would've fared better if it was in that age range. Alex was unlikable for me; nothing about the way he was written made me care about or for him. He came across as callous and cold; forever harping on shifting back to a panther and basically leaving Kat to fend for herself even though he didnt trust Casper. And I call total bulls*** on the attraction between Kat and Alex, talk about unbelievable. Casper had a glimmer of potential but he became a cartoon villain in the end. The idea of mages, sorcerers and shifters in a parallel world was a great premise but this book failed to deliver for me.
August 6, 2020
Caethes Faron has a way with words that pulls you right into the story. I've been reading a ton of urban fantasy and this particular story stood out for me. I related to the main character a lot and appreciated her honesty and trusted her through the journey. I'm excited to see what's next!
April 4, 2017
Good read.
I enjoyed this book for the most part. World creation was pretty good overall. There are a couple of things I would change which is why it's not a five star, but I will probably read the next book in the series.
I enjoyed this book for the most part. World creation was pretty good overall. There are a couple of things I would change which is why it's not a five star, but I will probably read the next book in the series.
April 17, 2017
When Kat takes delivery of a magical necklace that belongs to her dead mother, her life of gaming and moping is about to be turned upside down. After surviving an attack by an assassin Kat realises that she needs to find out about the necklace and the powers it seems to give her. With help from a panther shifter she sets out to get some answers from Casper, the creator of her favourite online game who claims to also know her mother. He is leader of a mage rebellion and Kat and her necklace are the key to victory.
I was actually quite surprised to like this book. When I started reading it I didn't like Kat and there is not a lot of action overall in the plot. I usually prefer all action urban fantasy rather than a slower burning book that gradually works up to a fight scene near the end. But I liked Alex and I did find the mage rebellion idea interesting and as the book progressed I no longer felt like DNFing it and wanted to see what happens. It is very much character based in the beginning, focusing on Kat and Alex becoming friends on their road trip and Alex being protective of her when they meet Casper and his people. Kat starts to rely on him as the story develops.
We then follow Kat as she struggles to work with Casper to remove the necklace which does not want to come off, and Casper gets more and more frustrated with her. This part of the book does get a little repetitive. Casper has an idea for how to remove the necklace, he tries, it fails, he blames Kat for not trying. This happens quite a few times and I can imagine readers getting a little frustrated with it, as I did. However I did like the latter part of the book when Kat starts finding out the truth about her situation.
I admit that my first impression of Kat is that she is a rude and obnoxious creature. She mistakes Alex for a delivery driver, refuses to open the door, then opens it and grabs the package, slamming the door in his face without a single thank you. When he tries to explain why he is there she ignores him but when the necklace does funny things, she calls him demanding answers and calls him a stalker. Charming girl. I did come close to DNF but Kat does change her attitude and I ended up liking her as the book progressed. Alex is a good solid character who I liked from the start and I enjoyed him being a panther shifter. He was the best character in the book.
It's not the greatest urban fantasy that I've ever read but I found it to be a decent enough first read in a series. It is slow and a little repetitive but it had an interesting plot that has potential and I did want to find out what happened. The characters also evolved and got better as the book went on. So that can't really be bad. I'm not sure yet if I will continue with the series-maybe I will if I see book two at a decent price.
I was actually quite surprised to like this book. When I started reading it I didn't like Kat and there is not a lot of action overall in the plot. I usually prefer all action urban fantasy rather than a slower burning book that gradually works up to a fight scene near the end. But I liked Alex and I did find the mage rebellion idea interesting and as the book progressed I no longer felt like DNFing it and wanted to see what happens. It is very much character based in the beginning, focusing on Kat and Alex becoming friends on their road trip and Alex being protective of her when they meet Casper and his people. Kat starts to rely on him as the story develops.
We then follow Kat as she struggles to work with Casper to remove the necklace which does not want to come off, and Casper gets more and more frustrated with her. This part of the book does get a little repetitive. Casper has an idea for how to remove the necklace, he tries, it fails, he blames Kat for not trying. This happens quite a few times and I can imagine readers getting a little frustrated with it, as I did. However I did like the latter part of the book when Kat starts finding out the truth about her situation.
I admit that my first impression of Kat is that she is a rude and obnoxious creature. She mistakes Alex for a delivery driver, refuses to open the door, then opens it and grabs the package, slamming the door in his face without a single thank you. When he tries to explain why he is there she ignores him but when the necklace does funny things, she calls him demanding answers and calls him a stalker. Charming girl. I did come close to DNF but Kat does change her attitude and I ended up liking her as the book progressed. Alex is a good solid character who I liked from the start and I enjoyed him being a panther shifter. He was the best character in the book.
It's not the greatest urban fantasy that I've ever read but I found it to be a decent enough first read in a series. It is slow and a little repetitive but it had an interesting plot that has potential and I did want to find out what happened. The characters also evolved and got better as the book went on. So that can't really be bad. I'm not sure yet if I will continue with the series-maybe I will if I see book two at a decent price.
April 27, 2016
I enjoyed the premise of this book. Kat is a college student nearing graduation who has no idea what she wants to do next. She is thinking of graduate school…but doesn’t appear to be at all concerned about it. What she does have a passion for is on line games. She has been playing one game in particular and is quite good at it. But when a strange young man shows up at the door with package for her, which turns out to be a magical talisman from her dead birth mother, things go off track quickly.
I enjoyed this new work from Ms. Faron. I’ve read her other series, and this one is a sharp change of direction for her, as it is targeted to the Young Adult / New Adult reader versus the very much Adult readers of her other series. The book, as always from this author, is superbly edited and reads well. I hope we see a little more of Alex’s character developed in the next book, because I didn’t feel we got to know him that well this time.
I’d definitely recommend the book to the YA/NA market, as well as adults like myself who like to veer into that market once in a while! I know I'm looking forward to the next one!
I enjoyed this new work from Ms. Faron. I’ve read her other series, and this one is a sharp change of direction for her, as it is targeted to the Young Adult / New Adult reader versus the very much Adult readers of her other series. The book, as always from this author, is superbly edited and reads well. I hope we see a little more of Alex’s character developed in the next book, because I didn’t feel we got to know him that well this time.
I’d definitely recommend the book to the YA/NA market, as well as adults like myself who like to veer into that market once in a while! I know I'm looking forward to the next one!
April 25, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Fantasy
Age: 16+ ( aged based off content, which is mild in comparison to many YA books. Also based off complexity of the writing.)
Recommendation: Yes, I would recommend to the mid teen to older teen crowd. This will especially appeal to those who play MMO games such as World of Warcraft and Dungeons and Dragons.
Type: Series, this is book one in the Elustria Chronicles.
Summary: + interesting but predictable plot -mediocre heroine -minimal world building -awkward romance +cool video game reference/inspiration -could use more development +awesome cover +Kindle Unlimited
Description:
After the death of her parents, Kat Thomas retreated from college life into an online fantasy game.
But what if the game she plays is closer to reality?
When a panther shifter named Alex knocks on her door one night, he delivers a message and a package. Kat's birth mother was a powerful mage who has just been murdered...and now the killer is after Kat. The package contains her mother's talisman: an amber necklace that latches onto Kat's neck and attacks anyone who tries to remove it. Before she knows it, ice is shooting from her hands and she's on the run from an assassin.
Kat must navigate a world of magic and intrigue, fight the forces who want her dead, and protect her friends from becoming collateral damage--all while coming to terms with her new identity. She's heir to a powerful legacy, but only if she lives long enough to claim it.
Full Review:
I really, really wanted to love this book. Between the cover, the premise and the awesome reference to online gaming ( which I am a HUGE fan of WoW so, yeah, don't judge me) I felt like this book was going to be a match made in heaven. While I did enjoy the book overall, there are several things that I feel really hold it back from its full potential.
The authenticity of the gaming references that the author uses is refreshing and you can tell she was inspired by her own love of MMO's ( massive multiplayer online games). As someone who is used to completely inaccurate portrayal of gaming in movies and TV shows, it is nice to read common lingo that is actually used correctly. I also enjoyed the ideas behind the story, including that a girl who has lost pretty much everything, now gets a second chance at another life outside of her own lonely existence.
Now to the hard part, the critical portion of the review. The heroine in this book didn't make me feel anything. Everything felt sort of blaze. Some random dude shows up at her house, cool. She finds out her parents weren't her parents, whatever. The events in the story that should have been trigger moments didn't really inspire any emotional response out of me. The shifter that introduces her to this new world full of magic and tells her she is actually heir to immense power..is blah as well. He shows up, acts weird and protective but doesn't give off the Alpha vibes necessary for the reader to feel like he's a true force to be reckoned with. He lacks depth and inspiration. The relationship between them didn't inspire any feels either, there was dialogue that suggested a emotional exchange between them but it didn't translate.
The plot is interesting but I pretty much knew what was going to happen almost immediately. There was a real lack of rich detail in when describing the magical aspect of the story line. I didn't feel immersed in her world, it felt very 2D. There is this whole other world, Elustria, that the majority of the characters are from but it isn't really described much past the idea it is magical. The book was short, which partially explains the lack of detail but doesn't compensate fully for it. Don't get me wrong, this story is entertaining but it just doesn't reach out and grab you. I feel like this story would appeal more to the younger end of the teen spectrum because it isn't very deep and the writing is simple to read. Those that are used to more bountiful detail and compelling character interaction might be disappointed. It is available on Kindle Unlimited, which is great if you have a subscription.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
Age: 16+ ( aged based off content, which is mild in comparison to many YA books. Also based off complexity of the writing.)
Recommendation: Yes, I would recommend to the mid teen to older teen crowd. This will especially appeal to those who play MMO games such as World of Warcraft and Dungeons and Dragons.
Type: Series, this is book one in the Elustria Chronicles.
Summary: + interesting but predictable plot -mediocre heroine -minimal world building -awkward romance +cool video game reference/inspiration -could use more development +awesome cover +Kindle Unlimited
Description:
After the death of her parents, Kat Thomas retreated from college life into an online fantasy game.
But what if the game she plays is closer to reality?
When a panther shifter named Alex knocks on her door one night, he delivers a message and a package. Kat's birth mother was a powerful mage who has just been murdered...and now the killer is after Kat. The package contains her mother's talisman: an amber necklace that latches onto Kat's neck and attacks anyone who tries to remove it. Before she knows it, ice is shooting from her hands and she's on the run from an assassin.
Kat must navigate a world of magic and intrigue, fight the forces who want her dead, and protect her friends from becoming collateral damage--all while coming to terms with her new identity. She's heir to a powerful legacy, but only if she lives long enough to claim it.
Full Review:
I really, really wanted to love this book. Between the cover, the premise and the awesome reference to online gaming ( which I am a HUGE fan of WoW so, yeah, don't judge me) I felt like this book was going to be a match made in heaven. While I did enjoy the book overall, there are several things that I feel really hold it back from its full potential.
The authenticity of the gaming references that the author uses is refreshing and you can tell she was inspired by her own love of MMO's ( massive multiplayer online games). As someone who is used to completely inaccurate portrayal of gaming in movies and TV shows, it is nice to read common lingo that is actually used correctly. I also enjoyed the ideas behind the story, including that a girl who has lost pretty much everything, now gets a second chance at another life outside of her own lonely existence.
Now to the hard part, the critical portion of the review. The heroine in this book didn't make me feel anything. Everything felt sort of blaze. Some random dude shows up at her house, cool. She finds out her parents weren't her parents, whatever. The events in the story that should have been trigger moments didn't really inspire any emotional response out of me. The shifter that introduces her to this new world full of magic and tells her she is actually heir to immense power..is blah as well. He shows up, acts weird and protective but doesn't give off the Alpha vibes necessary for the reader to feel like he's a true force to be reckoned with. He lacks depth and inspiration. The relationship between them didn't inspire any feels either, there was dialogue that suggested a emotional exchange between them but it didn't translate.
The plot is interesting but I pretty much knew what was going to happen almost immediately. There was a real lack of rich detail in when describing the magical aspect of the story line. I didn't feel immersed in her world, it felt very 2D. There is this whole other world, Elustria, that the majority of the characters are from but it isn't really described much past the idea it is magical. The book was short, which partially explains the lack of detail but doesn't compensate fully for it. Don't get me wrong, this story is entertaining but it just doesn't reach out and grab you. I feel like this story would appeal more to the younger end of the teen spectrum because it isn't very deep and the writing is simple to read. Those that are used to more bountiful detail and compelling character interaction might be disappointed. It is available on Kindle Unlimited, which is great if you have a subscription.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
April 10, 2016
What a great start to a new series!
I fully enjoyed Magic Born- Caethes Faron does an amazing job with world-building and the main character was believable and a great unlikely heroine.
The first third of the book went a little slow, but that's good because there was a lot of information thrown my way. Kat is by herself in the world, her adopted parents passed away 6 months earlier and she is stuck going to a college when she doesn't even know what she wants to do in life. The only thing she looks forward to is her online fantasy game, where she kicks butt.
Then, of course, a stranger knocks on her door and changes her life completely. Things that she thought were fantasy are actually reality, and Kat finds out that she can kick serious butt in real life.
I enjoyed following Kat through this transition. I l love that she grows during this time and isn't so much of a baby (although rightfully so) after she gains the confidence she badly needs.
To me, the worst part of the book was the love interest: there was something off about the character and they didn't seem to have any sparks. I think I would have liked it if he was more of an older-brother protective guy. Maybe his character isn't as fleshed out as he should be, but I wasn't cheering for them to get together or anything. And yes, she seems a little needy, but Kat literally has nobody that she can count on. And that's another reason why I would want them to be more friends than, ahem, friendly. Kat needs people that won't mess with her emotionally and that won't leave if/when the romance fizzles out.
Anyways, I hope that the rest of the characters are a bit more fleshed out as the series goes on, there are a couple I want to love- and they may not be who you think. I like the setup for future frenemies, and the fact that many people have hidden agendas makes this an interesting road young Kat finds herself on.
I am very excited to read the next book in this series (c'mon, c'mon!) and I will now be picking up some of Ms. Faron's other books to fill the time.
I was given an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I fully enjoyed Magic Born- Caethes Faron does an amazing job with world-building and the main character was believable and a great unlikely heroine.
The first third of the book went a little slow, but that's good because there was a lot of information thrown my way. Kat is by herself in the world, her adopted parents passed away 6 months earlier and she is stuck going to a college when she doesn't even know what she wants to do in life. The only thing she looks forward to is her online fantasy game, where she kicks butt.
Then, of course, a stranger knocks on her door and changes her life completely. Things that she thought were fantasy are actually reality, and Kat finds out that she can kick serious butt in real life.
I enjoyed following Kat through this transition. I l love that she grows during this time and isn't so much of a baby (although rightfully so) after she gains the confidence she badly needs.
To me, the worst part of the book was the love interest: there was something off about the character and they didn't seem to have any sparks. I think I would have liked it if he was more of an older-brother protective guy. Maybe his character isn't as fleshed out as he should be, but I wasn't cheering for them to get together or anything. And yes, she seems a little needy, but Kat literally has nobody that she can count on. And that's another reason why I would want them to be more friends than, ahem, friendly. Kat needs people that won't mess with her emotionally and that won't leave if/when the romance fizzles out.
Anyways, I hope that the rest of the characters are a bit more fleshed out as the series goes on, there are a couple I want to love- and they may not be who you think. I like the setup for future frenemies, and the fact that many people have hidden agendas makes this an interesting road young Kat finds herself on.
I am very excited to read the next book in this series (c'mon, c'mon!) and I will now be picking up some of Ms. Faron's other books to fill the time.
I was given an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 11, 2016
I received an advance copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing I noticed in this book is how much I actually love the cover. There is no denying that I actually loved the first few chapters of this book, but as the story continues, I just found it hard for me to grasp everything about the Mage world that surrounds Kat's heritage. There are some twist and turns that turns out to be simple and unsurprising. And the fact that neither the story nor the writing picked up, although my interest on what awaits Kat helped.
The Character. Frankly, I actually find it difficult for me to love Kat's character. She has this tendency to run away from what she actually is. Specially that the story at the few chapters focuses on how she wanted to get rid of her talisman. But I was a little bit relieved that she was able to find it to herself to accept what she trully is. Alex, I particulary admire his eagerness to protect and bring Kat to Elustria. I was really into shape-shifter thing and him being a Panther makes me love this side of the story.
World-Building. I actually find it hard to explain but, I felt confused. There are vague description about the world of Elustria. The only thing I know is-- this is where everything magic belongs to. And I'm afraid I might find myself caught between Magesterial Coucil Politics after all. I also find it a little bit slow due to the chapters that basically introduces Kat to magic and on how to hone her skills. With no concrete knowledge on what was really going on aside from her, having the powers of her biological mother in a form of a talisman that was left for her, I believe I was caught in the dark of what really is the story behind her mothers death.
After all that I said, I still find it enjoyable. I still consider reading the sequel given a chance.
More Reviews: https://thepretentiousreader.blogspot...
The first thing I noticed in this book is how much I actually love the cover. There is no denying that I actually loved the first few chapters of this book, but as the story continues, I just found it hard for me to grasp everything about the Mage world that surrounds Kat's heritage. There are some twist and turns that turns out to be simple and unsurprising. And the fact that neither the story nor the writing picked up, although my interest on what awaits Kat helped.
The Character. Frankly, I actually find it difficult for me to love Kat's character. She has this tendency to run away from what she actually is. Specially that the story at the few chapters focuses on how she wanted to get rid of her talisman. But I was a little bit relieved that she was able to find it to herself to accept what she trully is. Alex, I particulary admire his eagerness to protect and bring Kat to Elustria. I was really into shape-shifter thing and him being a Panther makes me love this side of the story.
World-Building. I actually find it hard to explain but, I felt confused. There are vague description about the world of Elustria. The only thing I know is-- this is where everything magic belongs to. And I'm afraid I might find myself caught between Magesterial Coucil Politics after all. I also find it a little bit slow due to the chapters that basically introduces Kat to magic and on how to hone her skills. With no concrete knowledge on what was really going on aside from her, having the powers of her biological mother in a form of a talisman that was left for her, I believe I was caught in the dark of what really is the story behind her mothers death.
After all that I said, I still find it enjoyable. I still consider reading the sequel given a chance.
More Reviews: https://thepretentiousreader.blogspot...
November 10, 2016
Books about magic have always drawn me in and when I found this book I liked the blurb so decided to give it a try.
The plot is very different from other books in the genre that I've read which is always a plus.
Kat is the main character of this tale. She is basically a college kid who spends an inordinate amount of time immersed in the gaming world, one game in particular who's players can spend days or weeks trying to complete the level challenges. While a multiplayer game one of the great appeals is the ability for players to complete individual challenges for higher rankings and other benefits.
It is here that Kat excels and ultimately plays a part in preparing her for what is to come.
When an unexpected visitor comes with news that Kat struggles to comprehend along with a gift that she refuses, she is unaware that her life as she knows it is over.
Less than 24 hours later she becomes all too aware of that fact and now she is partnered with the unexpected visitor trying desperately to understand why she is being hunted while at the same time trying to figure out how to get back to the life that she loved, boring as it was.
Enter a rich, eccentric, tech giant and things get even more surreal for Kat. All these players and the information is hard to come by for Kat, which she is not the kind of girl that like to be kept in the dark.
This is a character-driven saga where each book will build on the events of the previous with the tale continuing with each successive book. I generally stay way from books like that but we'll see how fast things move and what the new book adds to the characters.
The plot is very different from other books in the genre that I've read which is always a plus.
Kat is the main character of this tale. She is basically a college kid who spends an inordinate amount of time immersed in the gaming world, one game in particular who's players can spend days or weeks trying to complete the level challenges. While a multiplayer game one of the great appeals is the ability for players to complete individual challenges for higher rankings and other benefits.
It is here that Kat excels and ultimately plays a part in preparing her for what is to come.
When an unexpected visitor comes with news that Kat struggles to comprehend along with a gift that she refuses, she is unaware that her life as she knows it is over.
Less than 24 hours later she becomes all too aware of that fact and now she is partnered with the unexpected visitor trying desperately to understand why she is being hunted while at the same time trying to figure out how to get back to the life that she loved, boring as it was.
Enter a rich, eccentric, tech giant and things get even more surreal for Kat. All these players and the information is hard to come by for Kat, which she is not the kind of girl that like to be kept in the dark.
This is a character-driven saga where each book will build on the events of the previous with the tale continuing with each successive book. I generally stay way from books like that but we'll see how fast things move and what the new book adds to the characters.
January 7, 2017
I picked this book up and had no idea what to expect from it. But the minute I started to read it, I was immersed. I could not wait to see what was going to happen to Kat. Here is a college student who is a gamer and now is part of the game. Some of the questions I had going through my mind were; how is she going to react? Survive? Overcome? Then there is Alex, the shifter, who is only a delivery person. What is really his role? Will he just do his duty and leave? Will he form a bond with Kat? Again, all good questions that I needed to know the answers to and what kept me reading.
Then on top of it all, you have this other world and other players that are part of the big picture. Who is good and who is evil? Who is telling the truth and who is lying? At times, you think you know who the good ones are and then a little while later, you are not so sure. The author did an awesome job of keeping the reader wondering. I will not give out any spoilers. But if you want to read a very good story that will keep you guessing and changing your opinion, this is the book for you.
Then on top of it all, you have this other world and other players that are part of the big picture. Who is good and who is evil? Who is telling the truth and who is lying? At times, you think you know who the good ones are and then a little while later, you are not so sure. The author did an awesome job of keeping the reader wondering. I will not give out any spoilers. But if you want to read a very good story that will keep you guessing and changing your opinion, this is the book for you.
Read
June 8, 2016I tried really hard to get into this book but a third of the way through I'm not enjoying it/I don't think it is particularly interesting, I actually started to do housework by choice rather than continuing to read it! Not my jam I'm afraid. I found it; boring, slow paced, the character's flatter than pancakes and there wasn't very good world building in my opinion.
February 13, 2017
This was a fun one. Definitely want to come back to this series.
May 19, 2017
Based on a good idea, the writer's lack of skill creates a vapid, confused, boring tale. Zero stars is a more accurate rating for this one.
June 8, 2018
I finished this book in one sitting. About halfway through I started losing steam, but I was determined to finish it because 1. I'm really hoping to reach my reading goal this year and 2. It's short. Heck, the reason I gave it two stars instead of one is because it's short.
Here are things that I liked
-it's short.
-it sort of involves a road trip and I have a soft spot for those.
- ??? Involved a video game ????
Ok now I'm going to list the things I didn't like.
1. There's barely a first act. I know that's more of a movie term, but I still think they're important to novels, especially young adult novels like this one. It's important to establish what the characters were like before their adventure, so we can see how they grow and change. We hardly know anything about Kat at the beginning other than the fact that she plays video games and is in college and her parents are dead. Literally in the first chapter the second act comes knocking on her door. We barely know what Kat thinks of her parents other than the fact that they're dead and she's a little sad I guess (she doesn't seem very sad) and they wanted a good life for her. We barely know anything about her thoughts on her birthmother, other than the fact that she doesn't know her and literally tells is she feels abandoned by her (which I'll get to in a minute.)
2. This books tells you everything and shows you barely anything. Like I said, we know Kat feels abandoned by her mother, but that's because she told us. Imagine if we were given flashbacks to her childhood, where she learned she was adopted, or maybe where she began asking about her "real" mother? Not only that, but the book will say things like "he looked at him like he didn't trust him" or something, which is this book's sad attempt at foreshadowing, but also, it's literally telling us when it could be showing us. How about "he looked at him, and his eyes flared. He backed away a bit, moving a bit in front of me, and somewhat obstructing my view of him." I know that's not very good but I'm not much of a writer and it's just an example.
3. There's an 11th hour twist. Kinda spoiler-y, but I won't get into detail. I think this is really dumb, like the book is only 200 pages, you couldn't let it have a satisfying ending? I'm starting to think that this author had a weak idea and wanted to sell books more than tell a good story. (And yes I've checked there's 3 more books after this one, which can all be yours now for 19.99$!)
4. The world is bland and forgettable. Nothing sets it apart from any other literary magical world out there. I'm already forgetting everything about it as I type this.
5. There is a forced Hetero romance. The characters knew each other for like 3 days and kissed. It was gross. Maybe it's because I'm gay or I don't usually fall in love in 3 days time, but I thought it was dumb.
6. This one is more of a pet peeve but I absolutely cringed when she brought up things like furries and steampunk. In fact, they use the word steampunk to describe the magical world. Nice of the book to remind me that I could be reading other novels in that genre that have much more love and care poured into them.
Sorry this is long, and I don't normally write out long reviews for books I liked, but that's mainly because it's much easier to rip into books you have serious issues with, right? Anyway, I'm also sorry if this makes no sense, I wrote down my feelings minutes after reading this and it's 1:30 am.
TL;DR the fact that it only took me 3.5 hours to read saved it from getting one star.
Here are things that I liked
-it's short.
-it sort of involves a road trip and I have a soft spot for those.
- ??? Involved a video game ????
Ok now I'm going to list the things I didn't like.
1. There's barely a first act. I know that's more of a movie term, but I still think they're important to novels, especially young adult novels like this one. It's important to establish what the characters were like before their adventure, so we can see how they grow and change. We hardly know anything about Kat at the beginning other than the fact that she plays video games and is in college and her parents are dead. Literally in the first chapter the second act comes knocking on her door. We barely know what Kat thinks of her parents other than the fact that they're dead and she's a little sad I guess (she doesn't seem very sad) and they wanted a good life for her. We barely know anything about her thoughts on her birthmother, other than the fact that she doesn't know her and literally tells is she feels abandoned by her (which I'll get to in a minute.)
2. This books tells you everything and shows you barely anything. Like I said, we know Kat feels abandoned by her mother, but that's because she told us. Imagine if we were given flashbacks to her childhood, where she learned she was adopted, or maybe where she began asking about her "real" mother? Not only that, but the book will say things like "he looked at him like he didn't trust him" or something, which is this book's sad attempt at foreshadowing, but also, it's literally telling us when it could be showing us. How about "he looked at him, and his eyes flared. He backed away a bit, moving a bit in front of me, and somewhat obstructing my view of him." I know that's not very good but I'm not much of a writer and it's just an example.
3. There's an 11th hour twist. Kinda spoiler-y, but I won't get into detail. I think this is really dumb, like the book is only 200 pages, you couldn't let it have a satisfying ending? I'm starting to think that this author had a weak idea and wanted to sell books more than tell a good story. (And yes I've checked there's 3 more books after this one, which can all be yours now for 19.99$!)
4. The world is bland and forgettable. Nothing sets it apart from any other literary magical world out there. I'm already forgetting everything about it as I type this.
5. There is a forced Hetero romance. The characters knew each other for like 3 days and kissed. It was gross. Maybe it's because I'm gay or I don't usually fall in love in 3 days time, but I thought it was dumb.
6. This one is more of a pet peeve but I absolutely cringed when she brought up things like furries and steampunk. In fact, they use the word steampunk to describe the magical world. Nice of the book to remind me that I could be reading other novels in that genre that have much more love and care poured into them.
Sorry this is long, and I don't normally write out long reviews for books I liked, but that's mainly because it's much easier to rip into books you have serious issues with, right? Anyway, I'm also sorry if this makes no sense, I wrote down my feelings minutes after reading this and it's 1:30 am.
TL;DR the fact that it only took me 3.5 hours to read saved it from getting one star.
May 23, 2023
DNF 54%
I swear I have literally never read a book that bored me to death so much. The first 10% or so was fine but after they got to Canada it felt like all they did was talk about magic and eat. That is terrible world building, and I just dont care about the characters enough to keep reading
I swear I have literally never read a book that bored me to death so much. The first 10% or so was fine but after they got to Canada it felt like all they did was talk about magic and eat. That is terrible world building, and I just dont care about the characters enough to keep reading
April 12, 2016
disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
An excellent beginning for an urban fantasy series! Since i'm a roleplaying gamer ( though never online) i was very curious about this title even more since it had Magic yes but also shifter so when i got the opportunity to discover it in exchange for a review i was delighted.
It's really good and it makes it difficult to decide by what to start^^. The characters, i love Alex he is a panther shifter and in this universe it means that he is spending the majority of the time in animal form, even better he is deeply loyal so he won me over immediately.
Kat, it took a bit longer for me to warm up to her....she had to face a lot at a young age: she has been adopted and her adopted parents died not long before the beginning of the story so she still has difficulties to cope with that. She spend most of her time playing a roleplaying game online where she is Serafina a big powerful sorceress...i guess that yes it's healthier than drugs etc but as a gamer i love the relationship we can forge with other player in real life so it bothered me a little that she never tried to at least meet those she is in a team with especially when we discover how close she is to some of them like GreyMist.
Kat is still young so when something really magical comes at her she panics...learning who was her real mother isn't easier to accept but being a mage and having a talisman that she can't control that's terrifying and she is determined first not to believe it and when forced to she want to take it off and go back to normal life... it seemed a bit strange to me but also understandable what bothered me was how she trusted more easily Casper that she did with Alex who proved himself.( and hey he is a shifter^^)....suddenly Kat is all willing to learn magic and with Casper...she never once ask how he knew her mother (he tells her a little but proof? none) . Terrified that someone is trying to kill her she jumps at any chance to be safe or so she thinks...only when her friend start to be in danger that she acts a little more mature and i appreciated her courage.
The story doesn't really end on a cliffhanger even if it's clear that a lot more is to come but i was happy with this ending and i would love to see more of Kat as she learns about Elustria and her mother but also i want more of Alex and i'm curious about which other magical creatures we will discover next. The author showed in this one how she could keep us intrigued and immersed in the story so i have good hope for book 2
An excellent beginning for an urban fantasy series! Since i'm a roleplaying gamer ( though never online) i was very curious about this title even more since it had Magic yes but also shifter so when i got the opportunity to discover it in exchange for a review i was delighted.
It's really good and it makes it difficult to decide by what to start^^. The characters, i love Alex he is a panther shifter and in this universe it means that he is spending the majority of the time in animal form, even better he is deeply loyal so he won me over immediately.
Kat, it took a bit longer for me to warm up to her....she had to face a lot at a young age: she has been adopted and her adopted parents died not long before the beginning of the story so she still has difficulties to cope with that. She spend most of her time playing a roleplaying game online where she is Serafina a big powerful sorceress...i guess that yes it's healthier than drugs etc but as a gamer i love the relationship we can forge with other player in real life so it bothered me a little that she never tried to at least meet those she is in a team with especially when we discover how close she is to some of them like GreyMist.
Kat is still young so when something really magical comes at her she panics...learning who was her real mother isn't easier to accept but being a mage and having a talisman that she can't control that's terrifying and she is determined first not to believe it and when forced to she want to take it off and go back to normal life... it seemed a bit strange to me but also understandable what bothered me was how she trusted more easily Casper that she did with Alex who proved himself.( and hey he is a shifter^^)....suddenly Kat is all willing to learn magic and with Casper...she never once ask how he knew her mother (he tells her a little but proof? none) . Terrified that someone is trying to kill her she jumps at any chance to be safe or so she thinks...only when her friend start to be in danger that she acts a little more mature and i appreciated her courage.
The story doesn't really end on a cliffhanger even if it's clear that a lot more is to come but i was happy with this ending and i would love to see more of Kat as she learns about Elustria and her mother but also i want more of Alex and i'm curious about which other magical creatures we will discover next. The author showed in this one how she could keep us intrigued and immersed in the story so i have good hope for book 2
February 10, 2017
Defiantly a good book for high school and higher aged readers.
I loved this book till towards the end. The end felt a bit rushed and I figured out a bit of it before the end. The plot was fairly predictable but I still enjoyed it. I would have loved more of the world this takes place in. I know it is supost to be a world like ours but there was very little descriptions of anything. To me this was good and bad. It allowed me to see the world as I wanted to but I feel for some people (specially high school or people not from the USA) that a lot of the references would be lost.
I absolutely feel in love with this book due to the gaming references and you can tell the author really does play MMOs. In most movies and TV shows it is not really portrayed correctly and this felt like it was to me. Even the reasons that were brought up as to why Kat plays the game is nice and feels authentic.
I would have also loved to see a bit more depth of the characters and a few questions answered. I do not want to put the questions here since they would be spoilers. The side characters seemed to have no depth only the two main ones did. I would have also loved to see more of Alex. He seemed one dementional but this could be for a reason since he states he stays more time in his shifter form. Kat seemed like she went back and forth and she couldn't make up her mind.
This book is defiantly a stand alone but also part of a series. I love authors who do not leave you on a huge cliffhanger with their books. For this I give the author a huge kuddos for.
The romance in the book was not graphic (just a few kisses) and that I did not mind at all. I hate when it gets to graphic in a YA novel. It also felt real and like it really would have happened.
For the price of this book (3 USD or free) it is defiantly worth it. If it was a bit higher priced I am not so sure it would be. All in all I enjoyed it enough I hope to get the second book at some point.
I loved this book till towards the end. The end felt a bit rushed and I figured out a bit of it before the end. The plot was fairly predictable but I still enjoyed it. I would have loved more of the world this takes place in. I know it is supost to be a world like ours but there was very little descriptions of anything. To me this was good and bad. It allowed me to see the world as I wanted to but I feel for some people (specially high school or people not from the USA) that a lot of the references would be lost.
I absolutely feel in love with this book due to the gaming references and you can tell the author really does play MMOs. In most movies and TV shows it is not really portrayed correctly and this felt like it was to me. Even the reasons that were brought up as to why Kat plays the game is nice and feels authentic.
I would have also loved to see a bit more depth of the characters and a few questions answered. I do not want to put the questions here since they would be spoilers. The side characters seemed to have no depth only the two main ones did. I would have also loved to see more of Alex. He seemed one dementional but this could be for a reason since he states he stays more time in his shifter form. Kat seemed like she went back and forth and she couldn't make up her mind.
This book is defiantly a stand alone but also part of a series. I love authors who do not leave you on a huge cliffhanger with their books. For this I give the author a huge kuddos for.
The romance in the book was not graphic (just a few kisses) and that I did not mind at all. I hate when it gets to graphic in a YA novel. It also felt real and like it really would have happened.
For the price of this book (3 USD or free) it is defiantly worth it. If it was a bit higher priced I am not so sure it would be. All in all I enjoyed it enough I hope to get the second book at some point.
May 7, 2017
Born a Mage
I loved this book. I loved Kat and Alex ' s adventures. The story flowed seamlessly with twists and turns that thrilled. I empathised with the bewilderness that Kat felt when her world tilted changing everything that she believed in. I look forward to reading more about their adventures.
I loved this book. I loved Kat and Alex ' s adventures. The story flowed seamlessly with twists and turns that thrilled. I empathised with the bewilderness that Kat felt when her world tilted changing everything that she believed in. I look forward to reading more about their adventures.
February 20, 2017
This is (at least) the third series I have stumbled into in which the main female character finds out that she has inherited some sort of magic through birth parents who did not raise her, and is named Kat. I know it's not this book's fault that I didn't read it first... but... jeesh. There are so many names to choose from; why must they all be named Kat?
Name grumblings aside, I am fascinated by the land and people of Elustria; I love the tapestry of history for this fictional land and its people that is slowly being revealed. On to the next book!
Name grumblings aside, I am fascinated by the land and people of Elustria; I love the tapestry of history for this fictional land and its people that is slowly being revealed. On to the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2017
Eh.
I think I might be a bit older than the target audience for this book. It would explain why I felt that the characters were flat and the plot predictable and lackluster. But I could see if I were younger and reading this book as a young girl in high school how it might catch my attention and I might even like it. So I'm going to go with it wasn't bad but it wasn't my cup of tea either. Probably much better for a younger reading audience.
I think I might be a bit older than the target audience for this book. It would explain why I felt that the characters were flat and the plot predictable and lackluster. But I could see if I were younger and reading this book as a young girl in high school how it might catch my attention and I might even like it. So I'm going to go with it wasn't bad but it wasn't my cup of tea either. Probably much better for a younger reading audience.
January 15, 2018
Caethes Faron's "Magic Born" is the first tale in the Elustria Chronicles series. This is a great read if you're a gamer! A fanciful tale about a serial gamer who finds out she's got magic in her. Some interesting plot elements and some good twists and turns. Love her relationship with Alex. The mythology (mages, sorcerers, shifters, etc.) is very detailed and enjoyable.
May 7, 2017
Enchanting book!
Enchanting tale! Woven with beautifully written twists and turns. Can't wait to read the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light hearted yet serious plot. Just enough of a romantic twist to make it interesting and also figure out who you can really trust.
Please enjoy this book 😊
Enchanting tale! Woven with beautifully written twists and turns. Can't wait to read the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light hearted yet serious plot. Just enough of a romantic twist to make it interesting and also figure out who you can really trust.
Please enjoy this book 😊
February 5, 2017
Magical powers, oh my!
Maybe it's just me, but as I read this book i felt as if I was a part of it. I felt as if maybe I was going to find out that I had magical powers. I didn't want to put the book down even though I did. It is definitely an exciting read.
Maybe it's just me, but as I read this book i felt as if I was a part of it. I felt as if maybe I was going to find out that I had magical powers. I didn't want to put the book down even though I did. It is definitely an exciting read.
March 9, 2017
I think I will pass on continuing this series. The plot is way too cheesy, the writing style is too simplistic although there were a few nice lines, and the random love triangle (if you can call it that) is bestially uncomfortable.
October 16, 2016
Very good book
January 11, 2017
Good
This is a good book full of action and magic. The characters are strong and the heroine is quite good. Great story line so grab your copy and enjoy reading.
This is a good book full of action and magic. The characters are strong and the heroine is quite good. Great story line so grab your copy and enjoy reading.
February 28, 2017
This book is a real page turner. I enjoyed it so much, am reading it again. I intend to read the whole series. Miss Rusty McCurdy
February 24, 2017
Pretty good story.
March 6, 2017
Great new series
Interesting world with a great plot line.
The characters are relatable and fun.
Looking forward to Kay's development as a person and as a mage.
Interesting world with a great plot line.
The characters are relatable and fun.
Looking forward to Kay's development as a person and as a mage.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews