Sisters by birth, divided by magic. Shannon and Maya are twin sisters who grew up in the mortal world. After years of trying to fit in with mortals the family decides to move back to the Faery town of Wimbourne. Moving back is great for Shannon, who was born with their magic. For Maya, born without magic, it’s a nightmare. The sisters couldn’t be more different. The only thing they have in common is liking the same boy, Jake. Getting lost with Jake in an unfamiliar realm at the heart of a civil war is not helping their feelings of sisterly love. Even while they’re faced with dangers, neither one really understands the other. Will their differences destroy them, or can they look past years of growing apart to come together and find their way home?
A mother of three boys, NC would love to be able to stay home writing and be there for her kids more. Working full time until she can realize her dream, she may not be able to write as much as she would like, but that doesn't stop her from trying!
This is a story about twin sisters who couldn't be more different. Both are hybrid faeries. Shannon possesses the magic of her kind. Maya, Shannon's twin doesn't. Maya, Shannon and their parents live in the human world. The twins parents abandoned the fea world due to the fact it is embroiled in a vicious civil war. Shannon loathes her existence in a world where she can't be herself and openly practice magic. Maya on the other hand, being magicless, fits right in with humans. So when the twins parents decide to move to Wimbourne a town of faeries within the human world, Shannon is elated. Maya not so much. At least until she starts crushing on Shannon's best friend Jake. Trouble is, Shannon is starting to see Jake as more than a friend and when Jake shows Maya attention she becomes jealous and resentful of her sister. By accident the three cross a portal into the actual world a faeries. They embark on a perilous journey to find their way home. Magical creatures of every form live in this world that is fraught with war. Some of these creatures are not so benevolent and the three kids land in one trouble after another. They never know who they can really trust to help them find the portal back to the human world. Will they survive long enough in this war torn world in order to get home or will the dark forces seeking to destroy them actually do so? This was quite the action packed story. It is a long book, but it never lags. The author did an excellent job of keeping the action going as well as building relatable characters. It's a YA fantasy story and I am not a fan of this genre, but this book kept me turning pages. Bottom line one doesn't need to be a fan of this genre to truly enjoy this amazing story.
This book takes sibling rivalry to a whole new level with Shannon and Maya. Shannon is gifted with magic and Maya is not. Neither of them can forget the difference and when they are forced to move back to their realm of Faeries, Maya isn’t happy. Shannon’s best friend, Jake, keeps her going and it’s not long until the entire group finds themselves lost in the middle of a war.
I loved the constant tension between Shannon and Maya, both the dynamic of magic and between both of them liking Jake, they had some interesting interactions. I liked Maya more than Shannon though because Maya was more down to Earth and altogether likable.
This is definitely a different type of fiction, but I recommend it for all fans of YA fantasy.
My grand-daughter recommended this book to me. We have read the Harry Potter series, The Unwanteds, and the Percy Jackson series. N.C Paisley captures the magic and story telling of these books. It was fun. Looking forward to the next books in the series because it left you wanting more. Gramma
Found the story intriguing. Loved the unique portals and characters throughout. The sisterly conflicts and bonding was a nice fit within the overall storyline.
This story is told from two different perspectives, one with magic and the other without. The sisters each feel like they aren’t being heard or understood, but in reality, they just need to learn to communicate their feelings with one another better. The adventures and circumstances they find themselves in are written really well, drawing the reader into the story, easily seeing the scenery around them and feeling everything they feel. The adventures are fun, the characters are interesting, and the overall story arc is well-executed. Great job.
Entertaining with magic, mystery and romance. Easily one can enter this mystical world with detailed descriptions of characters and scenery. Loved this first of a series and am eager to start book 2 - Return to Kandar!
This book is tastefully written YA book. Jake, Shannon, and Maya stumble on a world connected to Earth. They meet Javon, a wizard, who is fleeing from his enemies. Magic spells and potions add an interesting twist to this story. The twins, Shannon and Maya, will be tested as they each find love for the first time. I would recommend this book to any teen.
Harry Potter type read. Fun and interesting. Great characters and wonderful settings. The world of magic and intrigue has arrived once again. Can't wait to read second book.
This is one of those twins total opposite (but not evil) books. Shannon looks like her father. Maya looks like her mother. Shannon can do magic. Maya can't. Shannon wants to be in a fairy town and go to fairy school. Maya is happy in the human world. Shannon has only a few friends. Maya is popular. Shannon is waiting for her best friend to realize he is in love with her. Maya is boy crazy. This has some of the usual problems of beginner novels. Information brought up that isn't relevant to the story, points that are made over and over so the reader doesn't miss it, as well as things that needed more description to make sense. There is also the problem of three characters all having J names making a few scenes confusing. This is a good story until about half way through. This should be a suspenseful story. The twins and their friend Jake travel through a portal and meet Jevon who is a wizard being chased by the bad guy's minions for an orb he possesses. The problem is each mini adventure is the same: travel by orb to a different place, sit around and wait, and then suddenly have to leave. They don't even hide half the time even though they know there is a reward for their capture. The main problem I have with this book is "The Kiss". Shannon is shy and desperately trying to get Jake's attention. Why would she react to another girl(that she barely know)'s suggestion to practice kissing so she doesn't embarrass herself with Jake? If she had some kind of rivalry with the other girl, maybe, but it seemed like it was put in just so she would have something to whine about. The adult's (yes, adult) reaction to her k8iss is downright disturbing. I would not want my teen reading this book without a long lecture going with it. The ending is superficial and doesn't quite flow but there is obviously a sequel so I guess it doesn't matter.
This story is about two sisters, both fairies but one, Maya has no magic while her sister, Shannon does. When their parents move the family back to their magic-based community, Maya is upset, feeling she wont fit in. The two sisters are unexpectedly thrown into another world through a portal and are suddenly faced with many dangers and creatures who are determined to hunt them down. There’s plenty of action and magic but the romantic interests of the two sisters play center stage through much of the story. With both of them falling for the same young man, it creates a great deal of additional conflict in an already dangerous situation. I think many teens would relate to their difficulties and competitive issues. I found myself quite fond of Maya but it was a little hard to like Shannon. She seemed petulant and selfish much of the time. I would like to see her character become a little deeper in the next book. She did redeem herself somewhat at the end of this first book. There’s lots of action as the sisters and their friends try to stay one-step ahead of their enemies and try to find their way home. At times, the emotions and reactions of the characters were spelled out instead of allowing their actions and expressions to show us what they felt. A grimace or a scowl can go a long way towards showing the reader the character’s emotions instead of yes. I was hoping for some kind of resolution with Maya’s lack of magical powers but this is the first in a series so Im sure it will happen. The author does a great job with setting her scenes and also brought the scents and smells to life with her vivid descriptions. It was easy to picture the surroundings even when they were in different magical worlds.
The Wimbourne Twins is a well written book by NC Paisley. She’s written a thoughtful, interesting story about twin sisters who both happen to be faeries. The dynamic between the two sisters is at the heart of the book. While it is obvious that they love and care about each other, at times they also struggle with feelings of resentment towards each other. The crux of the resentment comes from the fact that Shannon has a strong dose of Faery magic while Maya hasn’t developed any magical ability to this point in her life. When their parents decide to move them back to a magical community, Maya is frustrated and uncertain, while Shannon is excited and happy. Not long after moving, they are thrust through a portal where a series of life-threatening dangers await them. They meet many good people on their journey through several portals, but also confront a lot of evil characters. Shannon and Maya both fall in love with the same boy named Jake. Together with others that join them on their journey, they try to find their way back home. The book is well written with solid characters throughout to keep the journey interesting and exciting. The only negative was that I felt like there was a bit too much explaining at times. I would have liked to see the characters' actions and behaviors show us their feelings more, rather than explaining them. Overall though, RC does a great job of building the romantic triangle between the twins and Jake. I was also hoping that Maya’s magic would come to life, but I suspect that will happen in book two of the series. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see how the great storyline continues.
N.C. Paisley's The Wimbourne Twins is a young adult fantasy/adventure novel featuring a pair of twin sisters: Shannon, a faery with magic, and Maya, a faery born without any. After the twins move to the fae-community of Wimbourne, Shannon is ecstatic to be reunited with her best friend, Jake. Maya, feeling as if she won't be accepted, is unhappy.
Then the three of them accidentally fall through a portal into the world of Kandar, and after joining up with a wizard named Jevon, the quarter embark on a journey to find their way back home. While on this journey, the relationships between all four characters changes -- the bond between the sisters is tested.
I really enjoyed Ms. Paisley's world building. She created a brand new world with Kandar, and introduced various different mythical creatures at various stages of the teens' journey. We meet faeries, imps, witches, and even a dragon! She keeps her characters realistic, even if the fantasy setting. Though they have magic or know that magic exists, Maya, Shannon & Jake are teens and they act that way, even as they're running for their lives.
This is the first book, and while this novel reaches a good stopping point when the quarter finally find Keos, the one they've spent their whole journey looking for, but there are so many questions left that I'm interested in seeing resolved. I look forward to reading more.
This fantastic story centers on a set of twins, who couldn’t be more different. Shannon inherited a healthy dose of the family faery magic. Stuck in the mortal realm where she is the odd one, she struggles to change her father’s mind about moving to the faery land. She is a typical sixteen-year-old who is manipulative and self-absorbed. Her twin sister, Maya is the opposite. Because she doesn’t possess any magical talent, she has blended into the mortal school system and has many friends and even a boyfriend. When their parents decide everyone would be better off with a move to the faery village of Wimborne she feels like she is losing everything. She knows she’ll be shunned do to her lack of magic. The two main characters are extremely well-drawn and I enjoyed getting to know them. They both fall for the same boy, a young fae named Jake. He has always been Shannon’s best friend when they visited Wimborne in the past and she becomes jealous when he shows interest in Maya. Maya is just thrilled that a young fae isn’t condemning her for her lack of talent. Many adventures await the teens as they find themselves stuck in a different realm. The mix of creatures, races, and other magical beings was incredible. Very creative, and highly recommended!
The bones of this story is the relationship between Shannon and Maya, twins and hybrid faeries and later the love triangle with Jake. Maya is perceived by Shannon as the pretty one, and she consoles herself with the knowledge that she has the magic. In the human world, Shannon is the outsider, but this role is reversed when they emerge from a portal into the Faery world of Kandar. This dimension is full of conflict and dangers. It’s insecure, and they don’t know who to trust. They join up with the wizard Jevon and embark on a journey to find their way home. I enjoyed the tension and dynamics between the twins. One was happy, and one discontented most of the time. Their mindset and issues were that of typical teenagers, and it reminded me of my own relationship with my sister at that age. Young adults will find the teens relatable. All the characters, both good and evil and the scenes are richly described. The plot runs at a gripping pace leaving you wanting to know more. I’m looking forward to the next book.
What a delightful book that reminded me of Harry Potter. Maya and Shannon are twins, similar in so many ways, but divided by possession/absence of magic as well as their feelings for the same boy, Jake. As the two girls get ready to attend the school for faeries, their lives change dramatically. They find themselves in a different world, embroiled in the civil war in Kandar, expected to play important roles to bring King Enecal down. Jake and Jevon, a wizard boy are added to the midst and you have a jolly adventure. The author creates a fascinating world with wizards, witches, faeries, Hylias, Bullas and many others. But this is not just a wonderful fantasy story, it is also a great young adult story. The author does a wonderful job detailing the tensions between the twins over their love for the same boy, the uncertainty of their feelings, the excessive emotions of love...I loved it.
This was a really enjoyable read. Maya and Shannon are twins but they couldn’t be more different and they haven’t seen eye to eye since they were young children. Despite being from a magical family, Maya has no magic and feels like an outsider in the magical world, just as her sister feels in the mortal world. It feels like they don’t have anything in common, except for liking the same boy! Their parents try to do what’s best for both of them but it doesn’t take long before they get themselves into real trouble and embroiled in something much bigger than their sibling squabbles.
The adventure bounces along and you get swept up in it. If you love Harry Potter, I think you’d enjoy this. The twins have to figure themselves out and figure the world out. Being a teen is hard! A really fun read.
What can I say, I was hooked from the first few chapters. The story revolves around Shannon and Maya, twin faery sisters one with magic and one without. After getting kicked out of school again, their family moves to Wimbourne, a magical community. The sisters meet up with Jake and take a trip into the forbidden , to see why it's off limits. Maya goes missing, so Jake and Shannon end up going through a portal to another realm and discover that there's plenty of secrets and treachery around every turn. They discover that there's a war brewing and that they are now in the crosshairs of a tyrant looking to rule all. All in all, a wonderful start to what promises to be a great series. I highly recommend this one!
Two girls, twins, identical – EXCEPT that one possesses magic and the other doesn’t. They’re Fae, so magic would be expected. That’s all well and good for Shannon, the gifted one. It’s not so great for Maya, who is magicless.
Then they and Jake, Shannon’s best friend, find themselves in a different community, one of wizards, who dislike the faeries – but everybody in town is frozen except for one boy about their age. From there the four are pursued through a number of communities in search of a way back home by a faerie-born wizard who wants to control the world.
Will they make it? If not, who’s going to get them and keep them? There are plenty of contenders, so it remains to be seen.
Mystery, magic and mayhem abound in the tale of The Wimbourne Twins. This would be the perfect adventure for teenagers who love reading, fantasy and paranormal!
Shannon and Maya are twins but in all actuality, their as different as day and night. Shannon wields magic powers and Maya does not so she feels like an outsider in her own family. And as if that wasn't enough, they now have their sites set on the same guy. Jake is an innocent bystander and just so happens to now be friends with both of the sisters.
All in all, I enjoyed diving into the realm of faeries, wizards and portals once again. Ms. Paisley did an amazing job of bringing her characters to life and painting a beautiful picture of Kandar and the surrounding villages.
This book was exactly what I was hoping for. An easy to read teen page turner that kept me flicking through the pages. The story centres on a set of twins, vastly different from each other that are engaged in a hot rivalry. A very fun and fast paced read that is easy to get into. The world has a wonderful setting behind it and the dynamic between the two sisters is one to one. Very well constructed family dynamic with a loaded love triangle thrown in.
I would recommend this novel for anyone that is a vivid teen reader, who doesn’t mind their magic mixed in with a little bit of romance.
I’ll be honest. When this book came up a few times in my reading group I avoided it as I didn’t think it sounded that good. I’m not too proud to admit that I was wrong. While adults will enjoy this book, teenagers will love it. The author has done a great job of capturing the personalities of the rival teenage twin sisters and their interactions with each other.
As they go on an unexpected journey through a magical land, they discover that someone is betraying them, leaving them not knowing who to trust; not even each other at times. While a lot of questions are answered as you progress through the book, not all are, leaving you eager to read the next instalment.
A story of fairies, wizards, magic, romance and trouble. Shannon and Maya are fairy twins who have grown apart: Shannon has fairy magic and Maya does not. On a walk in a forbidden part of the forest with Shannon’s best friend, Jake, the trio accidentally go through a portal where they meet Jevon, a young wizard. Jevon’s whole village has been mysteriously frozen. The quest is on to not only find a way home, but find the mysterious Keos who will help in the fight against the evil usurper. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next on their quest.
This book centers on two twin sisters who are fairies, except Maya who sadly does not possess magic. When they inadvertently find themselves in another land, danger becomes real.
The world building is exceptional and writing tight. The plot keeps moving, and is filled with action and romance. The characters are also likeable and realistic. I could not stop reading until I reached the end!
If you are in search for a new YA fantasy with some adventure AND romance, this is it! 5 stars!
More suited to teenagers than an old(er!) fogie like me, I still really enjoyed the story. I found it ticks along at a healthy pace, with the author savouring the problems two very different twins face when their family up sticks and move to the fairy town of Wimbourne. Cue handsome love interest, Jake, to disrupt an already delicate relationship between the sisters, and throw in a helter-skelter race through a magical realm filled with delicious helpings of monsters and magic.
Really, really good fun, and if my four year old daughter was a decade older I would definitely hand her a copy!
Wow! This book was so well written that I couldn’t stop reading! I loved the world this author created and all the adventure and craziness that happens in it. All the emotion and teenage problems the characters go through are relatable and realistic. I definitively love every character but I’m especially fond of Jake and Maya. I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship progresses. Also, I don’t know if I should ship Shannon with Jevon or Peter. Ugh! Time to read the next book.
Through a magical portal and into an unfamiliar world--can anyone be trusted?
The plot may seem a little predictable, but the twins Maya and Shannon are as different as apples and bananas--and yes, they also care for the same boy, Jake. Their journey through a world of magical creatures as they seek to return home is loaded with conflict and teen age troubles. The first of a much anticipated series. Nice job, Ms. Paisley
I enjoyed this book. The pace was kept going and strong. The story between the twins made you want to continuing reading. Okay, I picked on on a few formatting problems but they didn't distract you from the story. I also felt there was a bit of repetition. However, this is one author I will be keeping an eye on. I want to know if Maya will ever get her magic. POV's were clear throughout. Descriptions enough to make your mouth water for more. This is a definite one for fantasy lovers.
I think if I was thirteen I would like this book very much. It's the kind of book I used to get for my classroom library. I'm too adult for it now, but I can recommend it for those who have a middle school aged girl in their household who likes fantasy literature. The plot moves along at a good clip, the relationship issues are ones that a young teen can relate to, the settings are imaginative, and overall it's an entertaining read.
The story of teenage twins, one born with magic and the other without. The twins are transported by portals to different worlds, which by the third or fourth world began to seem the same characters in different scenarios, the cute guy both girls are interested in, the jealous girlfriends and ominious threat from a villianous king.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.