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Spellbound
Five complete never before seen YA novellas to help you find a quick getaway this summer!!
Part of Your World by L.A. Starkey - When two worlds collide at the edge of the sea in a measure of desperation, a prince will bow before a commoner and a lost soul will finally be found. Part of Your World - Where love is waiting just beyond the edge of what you can see.
Glistens by Chess Desalls - Marian Spritz won’t gain guardian fairy status if she fails her summer school project. But when she hears a call for help—a song felt only by Glistens—she must choose between not letting her schoolwork and teammates suffer and protecting a ward who faces grave danger.
Tethered by Kelly Hall - Life had been simple for vampire Jayden Blackwell until he met the runaway Emmaline Grey. One taste of her blood revealed that not only is she a fledgling vampire on the cusp of her transition, but she’s also his bondmate and the granddaughter of his family’s biggest enemy. Will family feuding keep them apart or is it Jayden who compromised Emma’s survival?
Drops of Sunshine by Tricia Copeland - Working as lifeguard at a camp for the blind seems like the perfect escape for Nina. But a few perceptive kids can hear her thoughts. Can embracing her truth help her heal and reveal possibilities she never imagined?
Feathers and Fireflies by Melanie Rodriguez - Seventeen year old Rory of Vanora Village dreams of capturing the sacred summer solstice ritual of the animal shapeshifters with her trusty charcoal and parchment. But with only legends and tales to guide her, she cannot even convince her childhood friend, Lucas, that the ritual is real. On the night Rory follows the fireflies, she gets far more than she bargained for.
These fun beach reads have never been published before and were written specifically for this anthology. Hope you enjoy the adventure!!
Part of Your World by L.A. Starkey - When two worlds collide at the edge of the sea in a measure of desperation, a prince will bow before a commoner and a lost soul will finally be found. Part of Your World - Where love is waiting just beyond the edge of what you can see.
Glistens by Chess Desalls - Marian Spritz won’t gain guardian fairy status if she fails her summer school project. But when she hears a call for help—a song felt only by Glistens—she must choose between not letting her schoolwork and teammates suffer and protecting a ward who faces grave danger.
Tethered by Kelly Hall - Life had been simple for vampire Jayden Blackwell until he met the runaway Emmaline Grey. One taste of her blood revealed that not only is she a fledgling vampire on the cusp of her transition, but she’s also his bondmate and the granddaughter of his family’s biggest enemy. Will family feuding keep them apart or is it Jayden who compromised Emma’s survival?
Drops of Sunshine by Tricia Copeland - Working as lifeguard at a camp for the blind seems like the perfect escape for Nina. But a few perceptive kids can hear her thoughts. Can embracing her truth help her heal and reveal possibilities she never imagined?
Feathers and Fireflies by Melanie Rodriguez - Seventeen year old Rory of Vanora Village dreams of capturing the sacred summer solstice ritual of the animal shapeshifters with her trusty charcoal and parchment. But with only legends and tales to guide her, she cannot even convince her childhood friend, Lucas, that the ritual is real. On the night Rory follows the fireflies, she gets far more than she bargained for.
These fun beach reads have never been published before and were written specifically for this anthology. Hope you enjoy the adventure!!
396 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2016
37 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Starkey
14 books280 followersLA Starkey or Laurie is the author of the Amazon Best Selling series, The Soul Keeper, a supernatural young adult series, and The Liarus Detective Series, a supernatural middle-grade series.
She is a former-CPA turned full-time fiction writer. Writing and reading are passions she just can’t help but indulge in on a daily basis. She lives with her husband and teenage son in Nashville, TN, and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and coming up with new ideas!
Come find me:
Facebook => https://www.facebook.com/L.A.StarkeyA...
Email => la@lastarkeybooks.com
She is a former-CPA turned full-time fiction writer. Writing and reading are passions she just can’t help but indulge in on a daily basis. She lives with her husband and teenage son in Nashville, TN, and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and coming up with new ideas!
Come find me:
Facebook => https://www.facebook.com/L.A.StarkeyA...
Email => la@lastarkeybooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 20, 2017
This is a wonderful collection of five young adult paranormal stories set in various magical worlds. Each one is well-written and full of characters you love and love to despise. Though depicting great emotional sadness and sometimes familial loss, I found these stories hugely heartwarming with some thought provoking positive messages. They all have blissfully happy endings... as they should!
June 28, 2016
Here are my ratings for the stories under Spellbound.
4 stars for Part of Your World by LA Starkey - simply because I love everything about mermaids. I can read all tales and novels about this fish-tailed creatures every day and would not get tired of them. LA Starkey took me to a ride underwater with Dominic, the prince of mermaids who was about to be married to someone he didn't love. Then came Kinsley, a mortal, a human who had always been fascinated about life in the caves and under the sea. I wish this was longer, though. I want to know more of what happened with them when their fates were sealed.
5 stars for Glistens by Chess Desalls - this is perhaps my most favorite among the bunch, because it's my first time to read about fireflies and their world. Marian Spritz is a good heroine, she's got a good heart for those who are in need, even if the one calling for her help is a fellow Glisten who was never good to her. I love this story so much, I demand Chess Dessals to write a trilogy of this.
3 stars for Tethered by Kelly Hall - a story about vampires with feuding families. Sounds like Romeo and Juliet with a twist. I enjoyed the banters between Grandma Aggie and Hazel, and I was hopeful for Emma and Jayden's story.
4 stars for Drops of Sunshine by Tricia Copeland - I liked this story too because it is quite different from the other novels in the book. Nina has enough on her plate, having to deal with divocing parents, her mom's an alcoholic and her dad's new wife is her best friend's mother. Then there's her deaf brother who has always acted special and perceptive of her. When she joins a camp for kids with special needs, she's in for a treat. Girls like Leslie and Lily can actually read her mind causing her to bolt and be more aware of her surroundings. Nina isn't really sociable so she's having a hard time dealing with her co-counselors and is afraid to open up.
5 stars for Feathers and Fireflies by Melanie Rodriguez - although at first I was confused with the title of the story because I was hoping to read about birds and fireflies. I was so wrong. This short story is about a girl named Rory who loves to draw using a charcoal but her uncle forbids her to do so. Reasons out that girls aren't meant for anything except to be housewives and do house chores. When his own son Aeden defies him and tells him that he's going after the woman he loves, the two young ones escape the old man's clutches and meets with Mistress Kyna, a scribe, who seems to believe the tale of animal spirits and their destined human mates. I didn't know about the shape shifters until the end of the book, and that was a great and unique experience. So much love for Rory, Aeden, Lucas and Sorcha!
I always loved reading short stories and anthologies. I can always finish one story in one sitting, take a rest or a drink, relish the story a little more, and then I'll proceed to the next story. Before I knew it, the next read would be better and the next, and the next, until I realize I love all the stories and can't particularly choose a favorite. In Spellbound, five talented writers joined forces to give the readers the chance to get to know the authors and be drawn to their world. I love all the short novellas in the book and I'm craving for more!
4 stars for Part of Your World by LA Starkey - simply because I love everything about mermaids. I can read all tales and novels about this fish-tailed creatures every day and would not get tired of them. LA Starkey took me to a ride underwater with Dominic, the prince of mermaids who was about to be married to someone he didn't love. Then came Kinsley, a mortal, a human who had always been fascinated about life in the caves and under the sea. I wish this was longer, though. I want to know more of what happened with them when their fates were sealed.
5 stars for Glistens by Chess Desalls - this is perhaps my most favorite among the bunch, because it's my first time to read about fireflies and their world. Marian Spritz is a good heroine, she's got a good heart for those who are in need, even if the one calling for her help is a fellow Glisten who was never good to her. I love this story so much, I demand Chess Dessals to write a trilogy of this.
3 stars for Tethered by Kelly Hall - a story about vampires with feuding families. Sounds like Romeo and Juliet with a twist. I enjoyed the banters between Grandma Aggie and Hazel, and I was hopeful for Emma and Jayden's story.
4 stars for Drops of Sunshine by Tricia Copeland - I liked this story too because it is quite different from the other novels in the book. Nina has enough on her plate, having to deal with divocing parents, her mom's an alcoholic and her dad's new wife is her best friend's mother. Then there's her deaf brother who has always acted special and perceptive of her. When she joins a camp for kids with special needs, she's in for a treat. Girls like Leslie and Lily can actually read her mind causing her to bolt and be more aware of her surroundings. Nina isn't really sociable so she's having a hard time dealing with her co-counselors and is afraid to open up.
5 stars for Feathers and Fireflies by Melanie Rodriguez - although at first I was confused with the title of the story because I was hoping to read about birds and fireflies. I was so wrong. This short story is about a girl named Rory who loves to draw using a charcoal but her uncle forbids her to do so. Reasons out that girls aren't meant for anything except to be housewives and do house chores. When his own son Aeden defies him and tells him that he's going after the woman he loves, the two young ones escape the old man's clutches and meets with Mistress Kyna, a scribe, who seems to believe the tale of animal spirits and their destined human mates. I didn't know about the shape shifters until the end of the book, and that was a great and unique experience. So much love for Rory, Aeden, Lucas and Sorcha!
I always loved reading short stories and anthologies. I can always finish one story in one sitting, take a rest or a drink, relish the story a little more, and then I'll proceed to the next story. Before I knew it, the next read would be better and the next, and the next, until I realize I love all the stories and can't particularly choose a favorite. In Spellbound, five talented writers joined forces to give the readers the chance to get to know the authors and be drawn to their world. I love all the short novellas in the book and I'm craving for more!
July 11, 2017
This was the perfect summer read. Each story is about the right length for a lazy afternoon, though I admit staying up way too late to binge read them all in a row. Each story is well written and sweet, with the added bonus of giving me a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride during a couple of tales. I'm looking forward to reading more by these authors.
May 30, 2016
*This Book Was Given To Me In Exchange For An Honest Review*
This is a YA Anthology featuring 5 new stories from 5 different authors, all of which were new to me.
This for me was a really mixed bag story wise but at $0.99 it is a bargain definitely worth picking up. Whatever your paranormal preference there is probably a story in here which will appeal to you and the great part with an anthology is if you aren't feeling one you can always skip to the next one.
I took the average rating for each of the stories and it ended up as a 4 stars from me.
V""V
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
This is a YA Anthology featuring 5 new stories from 5 different authors, all of which were new to me.
This for me was a really mixed bag story wise but at $0.99 it is a bargain definitely worth picking up. Whatever your paranormal preference there is probably a story in here which will appeal to you and the great part with an anthology is if you aren't feeling one you can always skip to the next one.
I took the average rating for each of the stories and it ended up as a 4 stars from me.
V""V
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
June 3, 2016
The nice thing about an anthology is that there is always something for everyone. Spellbound is filled with 5 captivating Young Adult stories. Each unique, with their own supernatural spin. I was taken on a new journey with each story and touched by the very well written stories. Each author has their own style, so I found it exciting to begin each new novel.
Of course everyone has their own tastes, but for me there were two of the tales that caught my attention and tugged at my heart. Book 1 by author LA Starkey had a magical quality. To imagine the city under the ocean and a prince enamored by a human girl is everything that a fairytale should be. A young woman struggling with the death of her grandmother and facing the end of her childhood gives this story a relateable character. Who hasn't dreamt of finding their own prince and running off to a mystical new world?
Book 4, Drops of Sunshine by author Tricia Copeland moved me. Nina went away to work at a camp that cares for special needs children. She thought this would help her to get away from her problems and the heartache she was experiencing. Pretty normal story, but the beauty of it is that these "special" children were gifted in a way that was unexpected and gave me chills. They could see and feel the emotions and struggles that Nina had been trying to hide. From the quiet Lily who called her by her childhood nickname to the brother of one of the counselors that could see the visions of her fear. I was just mesmerized by the authors ability to draw me in and raise the hairs on the back of my neck. Extraordinary!
If you are a fan of YA Paranormal/Supernatural this book is for you. All 5 books could be made into a series and I would be the first to buy them. I highly recommend this book!
Of course everyone has their own tastes, but for me there were two of the tales that caught my attention and tugged at my heart. Book 1 by author LA Starkey had a magical quality. To imagine the city under the ocean and a prince enamored by a human girl is everything that a fairytale should be. A young woman struggling with the death of her grandmother and facing the end of her childhood gives this story a relateable character. Who hasn't dreamt of finding their own prince and running off to a mystical new world?
Book 4, Drops of Sunshine by author Tricia Copeland moved me. Nina went away to work at a camp that cares for special needs children. She thought this would help her to get away from her problems and the heartache she was experiencing. Pretty normal story, but the beauty of it is that these "special" children were gifted in a way that was unexpected and gave me chills. They could see and feel the emotions and struggles that Nina had been trying to hide. From the quiet Lily who called her by her childhood nickname to the brother of one of the counselors that could see the visions of her fear. I was just mesmerized by the authors ability to draw me in and raise the hairs on the back of my neck. Extraordinary!
If you are a fan of YA Paranormal/Supernatural this book is for you. All 5 books could be made into a series and I would be the first to buy them. I highly recommend this book!
May 31, 2016
What a great idea, so readers can sample up and coming writers! I didn't like all the stories by any stretch but it was a very enjoyable read overall, with some wonderful stories included. Totally worth the read to find them. One that stuck out for me was "Feathers and Fireflies" [Book 5, by Melanie Rodriquez] - it was well written and had a good flow to it. It was hard to put down as it had a few surprises in there as well! Some great imagery and an interesting story line, a treat to read. I also enjoyed "Part of Your World" [Book 1], an interesting take on a version of The Little Mermaid.
May 31, 2016
I have been enjoying the talent of several new (to me) writers in YA, while making my way through this anthology. I highly recommend this read for paranormal YA lovers, but also for all readers looking for something new. Anthologies are always a great place to introduce yourself to new writers in the genres you love, but also to introduce yourself to new genres.
July 17, 2016
Fun collection
This was an introduction to some new authors. Overall the stories were really very good. Although the stories were short they were entertaining. Big bonus from my point of view is that they are free of gutter language and sex. I'm glad I found this one and will be looking at the authors to see what else they have to offer.
This was an introduction to some new authors. Overall the stories were really very good. Although the stories were short they were entertaining. Big bonus from my point of view is that they are free of gutter language and sex. I'm glad I found this one and will be looking at the authors to see what else they have to offer.
February 20, 2017
This was a great collection!
Part of Your World by LA Starkey: Aside from a couple questions I have, I really have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story; in fact, it’s one of my favorites from the collection.
I should probably mention that The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie. This story is not a retelling of that movie; I would say that although it has a sprinkling of inspiration from it, it has its own lore and ‘rules’ that makes the reader want more.
I would also like to thank the author for the epilogue; too often does an ending leave a reader thinking, Well, what happened after that? Well done and thank you.
Glistens by Chess Desalls: Incredibly imaginative, the author truly created a new world, one that is somehow intertwined with ours. It’s smart and appropriate for a YA audience.
Tethered by Kelly Hall: A tale about feuding paranormal families and an unavoidable innate bond, I enjoyed this tale, as I enjoy all of Kelly Hall’s work. As usual, she has a lot of good lines. One of my favorites is “I’m in love with her; still and always.”
Drops of Sunshine by Tricia Copeland: I appreciate the subject matter this author chose to write about for this story. I haven’t read a lot of stories featuring disabled children and I thought it was smart the way the author wove in the mind-reading with the children as well as Nina learning how to let people in (“Needing others didn’t make me weak”).
Feathers and Fireflies by Melanie Rodriguez: Great flow, a lot of personality in the narration, and a great, meaningful ending. Perfect way to end the anthology because it leaves the reader with a happy, fulfilled feeling.
Part of Your World by LA Starkey: Aside from a couple questions I have, I really have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story; in fact, it’s one of my favorites from the collection.
I should probably mention that The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie. This story is not a retelling of that movie; I would say that although it has a sprinkling of inspiration from it, it has its own lore and ‘rules’ that makes the reader want more.
I would also like to thank the author for the epilogue; too often does an ending leave a reader thinking, Well, what happened after that? Well done and thank you.
Glistens by Chess Desalls: Incredibly imaginative, the author truly created a new world, one that is somehow intertwined with ours. It’s smart and appropriate for a YA audience.
Tethered by Kelly Hall: A tale about feuding paranormal families and an unavoidable innate bond, I enjoyed this tale, as I enjoy all of Kelly Hall’s work. As usual, she has a lot of good lines. One of my favorites is “I’m in love with her; still and always.”
Drops of Sunshine by Tricia Copeland: I appreciate the subject matter this author chose to write about for this story. I haven’t read a lot of stories featuring disabled children and I thought it was smart the way the author wove in the mind-reading with the children as well as Nina learning how to let people in (“Needing others didn’t make me weak”).
Feathers and Fireflies by Melanie Rodriguez: Great flow, a lot of personality in the narration, and a great, meaningful ending. Perfect way to end the anthology because it leaves the reader with a happy, fulfilled feeling.
June 25, 2016
I loved these stories! Each and every one of them were worth reading.. The writing was good, there were no plot holes in any story, I finished this in a few hours! - My favourite was most definitely Drops of Sunshine by Tricia Copeland.. The way it played with my emotions was incredible, especially for such a short story. It really was magical to read.
I will definitely be reading this collection of books again.. Each one made me smile.
A massive 5 stars overall from me for the whole book, also I'd give 5 stars for each authors as I loved them all.
#2OCCAB
I will definitely be reading this collection of books again.. Each one made me smile.
A massive 5 stars overall from me for the whole book, also I'd give 5 stars for each authors as I loved them all.
#2OCCAB
June 13, 2016
Of course everyone has their own tastes, but for me there were two of the tales that caught my attention and tugged at my heart. Book 1 by author LA Starkey had a magical quality. To imagine the city under the ocean and a prince enamored by a human girl is everything that a fairytale should be. A young woman struggling with the death of her grandmother and facing the end of her childhood gives this story a relateable character. Who hasn't dreamt of finding their own prince and running off to a mystical new world?
June 11, 2016
A collection of young adult tales that were enjoyable to read. I think my favorite story was Glistens by Chess Details as I thought it was an original tale and had a message to it. A great collection for the beach
June 18, 2016
Very creative and engaging!
I greatly enjoyed this anthology. The stories were well-written and engaging. I love finding stories that are original, and the creativity in this collection is wonderful!
I greatly enjoyed this anthology. The stories were well-written and engaging. I love finding stories that are original, and the creativity in this collection is wonderful!
Want to read
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February 24, 2018
this is a paranormal young adult novella collection, it has 5 books/novellas . Tricia Copeland's book is number 4. which i already reviewed in drops of sunshine by Tricia Copeland.
the book is really nice, the stories are very different from one another, i enjoyed some more than others, but because i like to get to know new authors i purchased this e-book on google play books.
Part of your world, by L.A Starkey was one of my favorite ones. I've never read any books to do with mermaids or anything like that. But i must admit i enjoyed this wonderfully written novella.
the book is really nice, the stories are very different from one another, i enjoyed some more than others, but because i like to get to know new authors i purchased this e-book on google play books.
Part of your world, by L.A Starkey was one of my favorite ones. I've never read any books to do with mermaids or anything like that. But i must admit i enjoyed this wonderfully written novella.
January 6, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed all the stories in this collection. Although the stories were short they all told the whole story and left me satisfied.
Each one invited me into different world and I enjoyed my visit to each one.
Each one invited me into different world and I enjoyed my visit to each one.
August 12, 2017
Great book
November 29, 2022
Bored, skipped two stories
December 27, 2016
This is a YA anthology of short stories from various authors. I don't usually pick up short stories, but the cover and descriptions sounded interesting. They all take a supernatural or fantasy spin, but each of the stories are uniquely their own. From a tale reminiscent of The Little Mermaid, but with the roles reversed and a spin all its own, to a story of animal shapeshifters and ties that bind them to our world, there is something in here for every young adult fantasy lover! I really enjoyed stepping into completely different worlds in one book, like sipping a little fantasy writing from page to page! My only complaint is reading these stories and knowing that each one of them could be a book or series onto itself...my hope is that for each of the authors this novella is more like a "preview" of things to come in their own more extensive writing. Happy reading!
May 31, 2016
I received an ARC in return for an honest review. I loved the premise of this book and how each author wrote their own story and took their own perspective on a paranormal novella. That being said, I do feel like some of the stories were a bit rushed at the end, which is why I gave it an overall 4 stars. I would recommend either shortening the individual storylines or making each one a little bit longer. I particularly enjoyed Tricia Copeland's Drops of Sunshine because of her use of pacing throughout the story as well as the plot itself. She was able to make sure the story was coherent without rushing the ending due to the need to make it short. Even though some of the novellas seemed rushed, I did still enjoy all of the stories and how they fit together in the collection.
January 16, 2017
It was a very good read. Wasn't very spectacular as the name of the book suggests.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews