The Golding

Epiphany #1

by Sonya Deanna Terry

A mystical forest...
A forgotten history...
A love that spans lifetimes...

The Golding is a story-within-a-story, a whimsical tale about money and its unknown otherworldly origins.

Rosetta Melki (part-time tarot reader, struggling sole parent and full-time idealist) begins a reading group to examine a fantasy novel and discovers the book to be anything but fiction.

The book, written in the 1770s by Edward Lillibridge, is a hidden history revealing the true beginnings of the global monetary system. Lillibridge’s story surrounds ancients from a gold-obsessed empire and the sprites they oppress: elfin clan dwellers whose currency of choice is kindness.

Whether discontent in rich and poor will ever make way for a world free of war and poverty, whether anyone can believe enough in humanity’s true ancient history to activate the dawn of a benevolent new era, remains to be seen. One thing, however, is certain. Someone in modern times must fulfil a prophecy.

Genres: Time Travel, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction

418 pages, Paperback

First published December 24, 2014

About the author

Sonya Deanna Terry is the author of four award-winning titles in the Contemporary Fantasy genre:

- Epiphany - THE GOLDING
- Epiphany - THE CRYSTALLING
- Epiphany - THE SILVERING

and EPIPHANY -- a compilation of the complete series.

Reviews

[Elf Dreaming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever page-turner sprinkled with wit and wisdom.
I was intrigued with the way the author effortlessly moved from a lyrical prologue in an 18th century writing style to a light and pacey modern style interspersed with an exquisitely magical inner story (which the modern characters are studying).
The characters are entirely believable, complete with virtues and flaws. The outer story’s heroine is Rosetta, an exuberant and lovable character who has begun a book club with close friends in order to study a novel set in ancient times.
The hero of the modern story is Matthew, an unassuming and engaging character who questions the substance of his life as a banking executive and “slave to the dollar.” At the height of his confusion and discontent, Pieter of the Brumlynds (a sprite from an ancient timeline) intrudes into an uneasy and unexpected dream. Matthew’s life begins to change as each question he asks leads to transformative decisions.
There’s much to love about this book. The underlying theme of both its ancient and modern storylines -- an explanation for humanity’s suffering throughout the ages -- was far-fetched, yet strangely believable.
Beginning with an excerpt of a letter written in the autumn of 1760 and ending with a gripping final scene, the novel had me enchanted throughout. From the warmth and vibrancy of the book study evenings, to the pre-dawn campfires of a sprite clan in a Scandinavian forest, Epiphany - THE GOLDING truly glows.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half
It was the cover that caught my eye but if I'm brutal as much as I was intrigued by the synopsis and ideas here the execution didn't quite wow me. In fact I was quite tempted to just give up but I don't like to be a quitter although I do admit it was touch and go initially.
The author paints a picture of what I can only describe as an ancient world with Elves, Sprites and all manner of magical creatures but sadly their very existence is threatened by Body Kings, who seek less kindness ( ironically it's very powerful ) and more tactile rewards. The author takes us between this astonishing world of long ago and a very much more mundane, modern Australian setting as Rosetta introduces a book to her reading club written in the eighteenth century that seeks to convince readers that once there was no need for a monetary system. Rosetta is lonely but Matthew, a passing businessman has kindled her interest and the author cunningly draws the reader in as we learn that Matthew is at a crossroads of his own.
Honestly I had no idea what would transpire as this story unfolded. I feel that I'm supposed to like Rosetta but oddly didn't find her written vividly enough and I got very bored with her constantly criticising herself. Matthew is on a journey of self discovery but it's pretty obvious that the author envisages a romance at some point between the pair. For this reader it was the Elf Pieter that shone the brightest and I'd actually say he was the highlight of this story for me. Pieter changes so much and will sacrifice anything to help others.
There's clearly more to come in the next book The Silvering so all I will say is persevere if initially it's not grabbing you with its concept of Body Kings who are just more physically aware and less cerebral or mystic. This might not please everyone but I was absolutely hooked by it ( eventually I admit it ) and if you love fairy tales than this uniquely, inspired concept of Sleeping Beauty with its time travel ideas was truly different and kept me glued to the very last page.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Marta Tandori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part fairy tale, part fantasy and one hundred percent enjoyable...At the beginning of the book, Epiphany introduces a novel set in the eighteenth century by Edward Lillibridge which the main protagonist, Rosetta Melki, and her reading group happen to be reading. Some would describe Rosetta, depending on one’s slant, as an unusual combination of tawdry (according to a former boyfriend) and eclectic, with possibly some Romani blood running through her veins. She does tarot card readings and her decorating style involves crimson rugs, vases of fake Spanish orchids and a crystal ball on her mantle. At thirty-nine years of age, Rosetta still gets tongue-tied when dealing with good looking men, admits to needing to lose a few kilos but wants only the best for her fifteen-year-old daughter, Izzie, who seems to take her mother’s various eccentricities all in stride. However, it’s largely because of Rosetta’s disarming and utterly likable “anything’s possible” character that this concept of a story within a story actually works. Make no mistake about it - Epiphany is like a delicate piece of lace, where strands of the eighteenth century Lillibridge novel are masterfully looped and twisted into intricate patterns within the strands of Rosetta’s own life. Part fairy tale, part fantasy and one hundred percent enjoyable, the book is sure to have fantasy lovers basking in the afterglow that can only follow a great read like this one!

[Sharon Anderson PhD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of EPIPHANY – The Golding: a story within a story by Sonya Deanna Terry

Sweet, whimsical and visionary, the Author has skillfully woven fantasy with reality, Dream State with the future and takes the reader on an odyssey of their own. Her characters move through the text smoothly, each carved expertly, so that the reader is transported into the worlds that are within the story. The reader will be engrossed from the first pages. Brilliantly done and recommended for anyone who wishes to do a little travelling in the Dream Sphere of their own.
S. D. Anderson, PhD – Visionary Fiction Author

[Cancerian9 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just completed Epiphany - The Golding by Sonya Deanna Terry. How refreshing to read a novel that has an uplifting theme without the macabre content so common today in the fantasy genre.

The writer skilfully transports us back to another age where kindness is the currency in a devic kingdom. Just as adroitly she introduces both the writings of an 18th century vicar in England who records the unknown history of the world's monetary system under the guise of fiction; and modern day characters who are studying his book.

The characterisation is very convincing; the scenes atmospheric; and unexpected twists kept me guessing outcomes. A romance element adds another dimension to this absorbing novel. The book has a depth that appealed to me on so many levels.

What surprised me as much as anything was to discover that this was the author's debut novel.

I am looking forward to reading the remainder of the story in Epiphany - The Silvering, and any future works by this very talented writer.

[Robyn Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt I was part of the storyline's book study group, taking in the ambience of the main character's Californian Bungalow: lamps, rugs, aromas drifting in from the kitchen, the coziness and comfort, then I was transported across time with an increasing desire to "know" as I travelled this descriptive, unique, unwinding path. For those who wish to experience thought-provoking possibilities in relation to a better world, interwoven with mysteries, romance and humor, this is the book.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

`Where do you come from?' I asked. `How do you know of such magic?'

Sonya Deanna Terry makes her literary debut with EPIPHANY - THE GOLDING and trying to find how this obviously very gifted writer arrived at such an auspicious introduction we find only that she is `a former Canberra resident, a communications student and a rabid threatre-goer.' So we must assume that she is Australian, has a keen sense of history and magic, and will continue this novel with a series to follow.

What strikes this reader first is her ability to transport us in time in a prologue that is poetically stunning and establishes the origins of the story that follows. To taste her skill, a portion of that Prologue is shared here: `An excerpt of a letter from Edward Lillibridge to his sister, Meredith. Written in the autumn of 1760. ... The boy has led me of late into a rather extraordinary situation. Several days ago, he traipsed to the wood on the morn, telling me he would return to the cottage in time for dinner. Midday passed, as did the afternoon. Ned was nowhere to be seen. When the sky became streaked with garish displays of orange and violet , and smoke whirled and curled from chimneys in the dale, I stood on my doorstep, paced for a spell, and watched the shadows beyond the oak grove, anxious for Ned's return . Ned did not arrive home and so I donned my cloak and ventured into the darkly mossy sanctum of the towering pines and elms. It was at the edge of a clearing that I discovered a clue as to where Ned might be. His wood-cutting axe was lying upon a nest of pine-needles. My heart became chaotic then. All through my chest and head was the thud of fear. I could not for the life of me see any sign of my dear son, and I thought of my Mrs Lillibridge, peaceful now in her grave, and my thoughts dwelt horribly on the morbid. In my fettered imagination, I saw two gravestones side by side and felt that familiar tug of grief that Iona's demise had so thoroughly instilled in me.... Presently I heard the promising sound of rustling leaves and then, when I looked to where the leaves had alerted me, found my son, prone upon the ground with eyes closed. I cried out his name in despair... The leaves parted then, and there before me appeared a dark-complexioned woman of considerable beauty , with hair that was not gathered upwards as is proper for anyone of that sex. In a strongly accented voice she said, `He fell from the tree.' She gestured to the boughs of an oak above. `He attempted to chop one of the higher branches.'... `Please ...' The woman , obviously a gypsy of some sort, insisted on continuing to talk to me. Me in my ill-feared mourning! `Allow me to return this boy to health,' she said. `Allow me, sir, I beg of you!' etc, as we sense the return to life of Ned and the mystery surrounding the tale.

Sonya then jumps us to the year 2008 and the author's synopsis of the subsequent story is excellent: `Rosetta Melki, part-time tarot reader, struggling sole parent and full-time idealist, begins a reading group to examine a fantasy novel, and discovers the book to be anything but fiction. The book, written in the 1770s by Edward Lillibridge, is a hidden history that reveals the true beginnings of the global monetary system. Lillibridge's tale surrounds ancients from a gold-obsessed empire and the sprites they oppress: intuitive clan dwellers whose currency of choice is kindness. Whether discontent in rich and poor alike will ever make way for the Currency of Kindness, whether anyone can believe enough in humanity's true ancient history to activate the dawn of a benevolent new era, remains to be seen, but the time-crossing sprites of Lillibridge's descriptions have set their sights on Rosetta. Their attempts at providing a companion to assist in the quest they have planned for her leads to a clumsy introduction to Matthew Weissler, a feet-on-the-ground finance executive who is disturbed to find he's being followed by an elf. It would seem Matthew and Rosetta have nothing in common, and yet the sprites believe if the two work together, a renaissance known as The Silvering will occur. But someone from the empire of the past is intent on preserving Earth's pattern of pain, and is determined to prevent the sprites from succeeding.'

Sonya manages to sustain our fascination with this story within a story throughout this long epic. She very ably captures the life-sorting of contemporary teenagers, paints tapestry-like settings for her story locales, and introduces mythological ideas and creatures with contemporary realities and people influenced by concepts only accessible with sensitivity to the ancients. Warm, humorous, intuitive, and imaginative, this book bodes very well for a continued cycle. Welcome to the strange near prophetic reflections of Sonya Deanna Terry.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Where are you from?’ I asked. ‘How do you know of such…magic?’

Sometimes to understand the beginning, one must first reach the end. But if any semblance of such a thought flittered through Rosetta Melki's mind when she formed her book club, Friday Fortnight, she would never recall. All she knew was that she had become utterly mesmerised by the 17th Century book by Reverend Edward Lillibridge, titled Our True Ancient History. What she had initially thought was a work of fiction started to have a tantalising ring of truth to it. Rosetta had always believed in the spiritual, but this was something new, something tangible. There was something as fresh as there was ancient about this novel, and of course, there was that elusive white rabbit that only she could see.

To the outside world, Matthew Weissler had it all — money, success, a beautiful wife. But Matthew was coming to the shocking realisation that his life had become something close to resembling a facade. Conflicted with emotional turmoil, Matthew must find the courage to listen to his heart and take the road he was destined to travel. Such conflicting emotions would perhaps explain the elf and the eagle that demanded to know if he was planning on wasting the rest of his life.

Izzie, Rosetta’s teenage daughter, may well have had a passing concern for her mother’s sanity, but her attention was on something far more important than her eccentric parent. There was a new boy in her school. Glorion Osterhoudt looked exactly like the boy she had dreamt of when she was a child, but such a thing was just a coincidence, wasn’t it…?

From the dusty pages of an old book to the realisation that the past and the present are on course to collide, Epiphany - THE GOLDING by Sonya Deanna Terry is a work of exceptional scholarship.

To pen a story in which spiritual and contemporary ideas and beliefs collide is challenging in its own right, but add to that two very different timelines is something that only a master bard should attempt. But there is magic in the air, and a master bard, Terry most certainly is.

Not only has Terry penned a book that is so unreservedly bewitching that at times I lost myself so thoroughly that I forgot where I was, but she has also written a book where the realism is tangible. This is a story that if I reached out, I fancied I could touch the softness of the rabbit’s fur, and feel the gentle breeze coming off the ocean. There is a richness to the narrative, a poetic embrace within the prose. This is the kind of book that demands your attention and rightly so, for the tale is extraordinary and yet somehow so comfortingly familiar that the line between reality and fantasy becomes blurred.

Initially, I was concerned about the vast cast of characters whose lives play out between the pages of this remarkable book, but my concern turned out to be without cause, for Terry’s careful depictions made it very simple for me to quickly understand the role each character played in this epic tale of the origins of life. With that in mind, however, I am only going to focus on two of the protagonists.

Matthew Weissler is a man who finds himself at a crossroads. His marriage is on the brink of ending, he is no longer satisfied with his career and yet he fears the unknown. Matthew is a really lovely guy who is trapped in a snare of his own making. His wife abuses him terribly both financially and emotionally and yet, because he wants an easy life, he doesn’t say anything. Likewise, his step-children speak to him appallingly, and he accepts the way they talk to him, which at times really made me cringe. When Matthew finally decides to bring about a change, he does not stop to think about it, he jumps into the deep end and desperately hopes his feet will hit the bottom so he can push his way back up again. Matthew was a character that I enjoyed reading about. There is an energy and a goodness about him that I could not help but admire.

Rosetta Melki is a character who really closed the deal on this book for me. Rosetta is a single-mother whose dreams are being crushed by the reality of her situation. She is always trying to make ends meet, and at times it seems as if the world has conspired against her — no matter what she does, she loses. I adored Rosetta. She is a woman I could relate to. She is spiritual. She is loving. She is someone you most definitely want as a friend. But she is also incredibly insecure and she fears that she will never find a man to love her the way she deserves to be loved. I thought Terry’s portrayal of Rosetta was absolutely sublime.

The antagonist of this tale is not a person but a corrupted species — the first civilisation. The Body Kings are corrupted by this gold-tainted illusion that they have about their own superiority. They expect everyone to bow down to them, whether that be celestial or terrestrial. However, one must remember that not all that glitters is gold. This race sucks the very essence from this wonderfully rich world in which they want to have complete domination over. They are a cruel and heartless species, but then Terry introduces her readers to Princess Eidred. Eidred has many of her people’s tendencies, but she also connects with the natural world around her in a way that others do not, and she becomes as much of a victim as the dragons and the elves and the fairies.

Terry’s careful use of symbolism throughout this story means that she can weave the spiritual world with that of the secular. Rosetta is a very spiritual woman. However, her financial instability and her fear that she is too old to find love anchors her very firmly to the here and now. The appearance of a white rabbit should, therefore, come as no surprise. Nevertheless, as her life begins to spiral out of control, Rosetta seemingly misses the significance of the visions that she is having of this particular rabbit. Instead, she questions her own sanity rather than embracing the rabbit’s invitation to awaken to the metaphysical and to step away from the fear that is holding her back. The rabbit is also a reminder of how far away from nature we have become and how significant a seemingly insignificant sentient being is and always will be. Terry suggests that perhaps we should come away from our gold-skinned ancestors and return balance to our world by no longer looking inwards to our own wants.

Likewise, the Forest of Ivy is an idyllically magnificent and beautiful ancient place — a garden, if not Eden then one very much like it. The sprites are natural gardeners who are at one with the environment that they inhabit.

Along with the garden is woven the story of the origins of man, which I thought was well thought through and incredibly evocative. The use of symbols is subtle, but it is so very effective. Bravo, Ms Terry. Bravo, indeed.

The idea of a first civilisation isn’t a new concept — it is explored in-depth in the Silurian Hypothesis. The Earth, our home, is over 400 million years old, so it is not such a leap of the imagination to envisage that we were not the first species to dominate the planet. Terry’s depiction introduces her readers to a world very similar to Tolkien’s Middle-Earth where the Earth is inhabited by wondrously magical creatures who are at one with nature and who happily coincided with each other until the world became corrupted. I thought Terry’s depiction of the first civilisation was painstakingly realistic and drawn with an artist's brushstroke and a novelist’s eye for detail. It certainly made for a very enthralling story.

If you are looking for a book that will sweep you away to a land of magic and destiny, then Epiphany - THE GOLDING by Sonya Deanna Terry is the novel for you. Told with an impressive sweep and brilliance, this is a book that readers of quality fiction can get very excited about. I cannot wait to get my hands on Book 2 of what promises to be the next great Historical Fantasy series.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

[Payal Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epiphany is a name well suited to this brilliant novel. Epiphany means a moment in which a person experiences a sudden and striking realization. The characters of the novel experience the same epiphany when they find themselves connected to an 18th century book. The novel is pretty unique in its storyline. It is something which I have never encountered before and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Rosetta Melki is a part time tarot reader with a teenage daughter Izzie. She is the mistress of an artistic home with gallery like walls. Rosetta joins a reading group and finds that the fictional novel is not at all fictional. At first she thinks it is a coincidence when she finds herself portrayed in the out of print book- “Our True Ancient History”. However, as the story progresses she becomes more and more convinced that there is a mystery involved with the old piece of fiction.
The two stories (the actual novel- Epiphany and the fictional novel inside the book- Our true Ancient History) move side by side and as a reader I enjoyed both the pieces simultaneously and was eager to know what new truth was going to be disclosed again.
The 18th century novel has a number of magical creatures like pixies, faerie clans, dryads and such. Maleika an elf is the main character of the book. Maleika lives with her son Pieter who can travel into space. The fictional novel speaks about numerous realms with Dream sphere realm being the most effective one.

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

EPIPHANY - The Golding: A story within a story by Sonya Deanna Terry is a 498 page fantasy. It has a prologue and nineteen chapters. The story jumps from the 1770’s, when the book was written, to 2008 as the book was being read. I thought that was ingenious. I also love to read about legends, prophecies and lore, and this book did not disappoint me. The story is complex, layered and the different story lines intersect perfectly. I was never bored. It is nice to read a book with a fresh, unique plot. There is enough foreshadowing that I cannot wait to see where the next volume goes. Onto Book 2 now.

[Sabrina Jacklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imaginative and Original!

**Presented with an ARC via HiddenGems in exchange for an honest review.**

This book truly is a rare find. Within the pages, the author has woven together the threads of a fictional book alongside the threads of the main character—Rosetta—her daughter, Izze, and the modern world within which they live. Izze is the perfect contrast to her mother’s free spirited nature and curious wonder.

This was a joy to read a book I know will be read again and again. Truly well done.

[Marie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I will admit it took me a bit to get into this book. The time jumps and changing character viewpoints were a lot to take in as I was trying to understand what was going on. But soon I was able to connect the timelines and characters I couldnt get enough! By the end of the book, many of the characters are also aware that there are connections, but have yet to figure out how. Hopefully I can dive straight into the next book without the confusion I felt at the beginning of this one.

[Chrystopher’s Archive · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 5%. From a long, dense prologue with... questionable descriptions to a first chapter lacking any context with...questionable descriptions.

Also, I know there is still a lot of ongoing discussion about the use of the word "Gypsy," but can we at least agree that Romani is a culture, not an aesthetic?

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Golding is the first book in the Epiphany series. It tells the story of Rosetta, a mother of a teenager and an idealist who is fascinated by a book of the author Lillibridge. She has a reading group about this particular author. And Matthew, a successful finance executive who is suddenly followed by an elf. This story is definitely "something different", in a really good and interesting way! It combines the modern day world with an old world and with magic. I also really liked the characters and the world building. I can't wait to continue this series! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read fantasy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fun Tasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was lovely to escape into this and the rest of the trilogy.

[Veritas Vincit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't come across a fantasy book like this in quite a while, one that was so far from the madding crowd of the genre. It was unique and intriguing, and unpredictable in a way that I miss after reading so much fantasy. This premise was complex and deep, winding the past with the present, reality with fantasy, and fiction with fact. The characters were fully fleshed out and a joy to read, with Rosetta (whose name was suspiciously symbolic) being the most interesting of the pack. The realizations she undergoes throughout the story aren't forced; the flow of the novel and the gradual revelations to both the readers and the characters are timely, keeping us interested without giving away the ending. I enjoyed watching Rosetta be swept into this world, disbelieving but eventually becoming an integral part in this aeons-old battle. I particularly like the sprites' characterization, and their currency of Kindness. If anything, this book could work as a major allegory, as so many fantasy novels could, and there are certainly enough teachable moments and opportunities for growth/acceptance throughout this work that it could be a valuable reading experience for almost anyone. I have no idea how this is all going to play out in the second part, but I do know that Terry hooked me, but I don't mind.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entered and was a Red Ribbon Winner in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:

Title: Epiphany The Golding
Author: Sonya Deanna Terry
Star Rating: 4 stars
Number of Readers: 16

Readers’ Comments
‘A very enjoyable read. The characterisation was excellent and the author has superb descriptive skills. I liked the cover too.’ Male reader, aged 52
‘I loved the way the author mixed the Lillibridge’s novel with the life of the characters. A little slow in parts but very well written.’ Female reader, aged 35
‘A fantastical array of fantasy characters set in a intricately described fantasy world.’ Male reader, aged 65
‘I’m not a big fan of fantasy but I did enjoy this novel. I liked many aspects of it: the fantasy world was rich and interesting, the two central characters were well crafted and there was a strong mystery element. It is rather long and the pacing is slow here and there but, other than that, thoroughly enjoyable.’ Male reader, aged 31

Stats
Cover 7/10
Editing 8/10
Writing Style/pacing 7/10
Plot/Story/Contents 8/10
Of the 16 readers:
12 would read another book by this author.
10 felt the cover was good or excellent.
7 suggested the ‘pacing’ needed a little work.

‘A fantastical, highly-addictive first novel. A RED RIBBON WINNER!’ The Wishing Shelf Awards

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wished that the stories you read would be true? Well, that is exactly what happens to Rosetta when she starts reading a book for the local book club. The historical tale it weaves turns out to be true in all sense of the word even if it appears to be too fantastical. Complete with Ancients, and time-traveling Elves that sound more like they have taken a clue from Cupid and his matchmaking, this book turned out to be a fun filled fantasy with intrigue, mystery and a sprinkling of romance to top it all off. I did not think that this book was just another fantasy romance, the author was able to think of a unique twist on the genre and kept me guessing about what would happen next. I certainly had fun reading this book and will be looking for the next book from this author.

[Avid Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought-provoking urban fairy tale for grown ups

It's not often a book will inspire me to re-read paragraphs, but Epiphany - THE GOLDING's insights were well worth savouring. Both the inner and outer stories were equally compelling, and made for an easy transition from one timeframe to another.

Sophisticated and thought-provoking, this novel is an urban fairy tale for grown ups. It's hard to say whether it would appeal to teens too but it might appeal to older teenagers looking for something with depth, or YA readers keen to move away from dystopian fiction and horror.

I'm now onto Epiphany - THE SILVERING. Enjoying this too but unable to guess what will transpire.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I love books that are uniquely unique and this fits that category! The book goes back and forth between present day and an 18th century author in which is being read. There isn't much to say other than this is a great summer read and a great read for someone looking for something new, fresh and different!

[Lorraine Champ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonya paints wonderful pictures with words, especially when describing light and colour. Her characters are interesting and I loved the flashes of humour.
A truly imaginative and beautiful book. I'm looking forward to reading The Silvering.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, couldn't get enough!

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 14%
This book was kind of weird, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and the worldbuilding was lacking. I felt like I was listening to a 10-year-old describe a dream they had. The magic system didn't make sense. It's like it was too whimsical. Too little background, too little character development, too little connection between the 3 wildly different storylines.

[Graisi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf at 19%. The premise sounded so interesting, I was hoping that I could finish this and rate it higher. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. No one seemed to have any sort of personality at all. I was forcing myself to try to read it, but it was so boring that I just had to give up.

[Nora Delzelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creative story!

This story is like nothing I’ve read before. It’s told in alternating timelines that are interwoven. Richly imagined and populated with interesting characters.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not often that a new author can manage to construct such a complex plot without losing his or her readers halfway through, but Terry somehow pulled off a temporally shifting, character-driven, paranormal romance that never left me confused or flipping back pages, but rather eagerly racing forward to see what would happen next. Initially, it was all a bit much to take in -- the premise of magic and body-kings and wee sprites guiding the fate of humankind -- but once you get your mind into a fantasy space, you're free to let it run wild and have some fun. Rosetta was such a "human" character, wracked with her own flaws and impossible dreams, bogged down by the weight of reality, and it is in this figure that hope for the future rests. As an unlikely anti-hero, Terry scripted her beautifully, making her accessible to readers, rather than some princess in an ivory tower. I may be of the opposite gender, but I feel like I understood her as a character, and could have seen myself reacting to many of the same situations in a similar way - suspicious, bewildered, and disbelieving. Watching the two worlds collide, however, was when the true skill of the author became apparent, and weaving the two timelines and plot lines into a smooth novel that kept me engaged until the bitter end was quite the achievement. Nicely done.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ephiphany - THE GOLDING, by Sonya Deanna Terry, is a well written page turner. This is a unique kind of story, one that would be difficult to tell. Terry does an excellent job creating a story within a story, and it captured my attention almost from the beginning. I loved the plot, the characters, and the overall feel of the novel.

Main character Rosetta Melki is a part time tarot card reader. She has a teenage daughter named Izzie, who also plays a big part in the story. Things get interesting when Rosetta joins a reading group and gets more sucked into the novel, (Our True Ancient History), than she ever imagined would be possible. This fictional story comes alive, and the two stories in Ephiphany play out together, which is a concept that I haven't seen done before. Our True Ancient History is filled with mystical creatures, such as dryads and fairy clans. Maleika an elf stars in this novel, and her and her son are able to travel into outer space. This is where it delves into the different realms and dream spheres. Rosetta is caught up in a mystery that needs to be solved.

This was an easy to follow book that was fun to read and pretty fast paced. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and felt like I was in the novel with Rosetta. I would highly recommend this one to all reading fans.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

EPIPHANY - The Golding: A story within a story, by Sonya Deanna Terry, truly blew my mind. It's such a unique novel that is not only brilliant, but also captivating. This truly is a story within a story, which is a concept that I have not seen many other authors master. This is a bit supernatural, with a bit of mystery and fantasy thrown in as well.

What I enjoyed the most about this novel is that it combines two different stories together. The main focus is on the modern day Tarot reader, who is currently reading a 1770s novel by Edward Lillibridge. Both that story and her story intertwine together, and It's done very nicely. Rosetta is not only an amazing character, but a very likable one as well.

I am so happy that this is book one, because it means a second installment will be coming out soon. I will be one of the first to pick it up, that's for sure!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried to like it. I really did. And the reviews were so positive. But I found it laborious and heavy going which is a bit odd considering the storyline is so promising. Oh well - you win some, you lose some.