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Orison
Shunned by the other dryads, Aurianna lives unloved and alone. When a beautiful human named Branson King crashes into a tree and kills her grandmother, the dryads force Aurianna to take an oath that she will find and kill Branson—or die herself. But instead of finding a hardened human heart, Aurianna discovers friendship, affection, and sparks of passion—along with a deadly secret. As her relationship with Branson grows, Aurianna is confronted with a harsh reality: in order to live, she must kill the only person that might ever love her.
364 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2016
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July 3, 2016
For more, see my review @ http://teacherofya.tumblr.com
Title: Orison
Author: Braden Bell (aka Brandon Gray)
Publisher: Kindle Press, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance
**I received a copy of this book free from the Author and EbooksForReview.com in exchange for an honest review**
My Review:
Ok. Second time writing this review since my first version crashed as I was finishing. Good times. But I cannot punish the author for my mistakes in not saving it as I went. Sigh. When I first started reading this book, I wasn’t thrilled. But I’ll get to that part in a moment. First, a rundown:
Audrianna is a dryad (a tree spirit) that we first meet when a car crashes into her grandmother, who happens to be a hamadryad (a tree spirit that has bonded with a tree, making them a tree forever). Dryad law states that Audrianna kill the offender and take root in his blood, thereby honoring a blood oath and becoming a hamadryad herself. However, the moment she lays eyes on the boy who crashed into her tree-grandmother, she heals him instead, making her break her vow and become an Outcast to her people. They sing the Orison (a prayer song) to release her grandmother’s spirit from the tree, and tell Audrianna that because she did not fulfill her requirement in seeking vengeance for her grandmother, she will neither be sheltered by trees and nature, nor be able to feed from the Earth. Fortunately for Audriannna, the boy is a King (last name, not an actual King), and a sworn enemy of the dryads. If she can kill him in three days and still take root in his blood, all will be forgiven. If not, she will become a hamadryad anyway, but she will still starve by not being able to feed.
This all happened before I got irritated. That started when the POV shifted to Branson, who thinks just like a teenage boy, and describes Audrianna as having “zero body fat,” and “a Swedish model with long legs.” Eww. Could she maybe have an ounce of body fat, or would that keep him from liking her? This is where I got irritated. And the insta-love was more like insta-lust. But…I have to remind myself, this is most likely how teenage boys think…but it grossed me out. But it IS a romance, so this is bound to happen, and I guess all love stories start with attraction. But I guess it is good she is so beautiful, huh? ;)
But then I kept reading, and it was quite enjoyable. Curses, family secrets, and a deadline that looms ever closer keeps the reader involved with the story. Bell knows his stuff: the hint of mythology and the creepy Aunt Judith, whose no one I would want to mess with, give the story a horror element that’s too good to put down.
Is it Classroom-Appropriate?
I’m going to say no. It’s not that it’s not appropriate: there is no sex. No swearing, thanks to the backstory we get about Branson and his promise to Abraham. (Nice touch, Bell) There’s just really no way to utilize it in the classroom. Not enough mythology for a unit. And more fantasy than anything else. I would say this is more of an at-home read, and something the students could read in their free time. It is a nice “curl up on the couch” kind of book.
Age Range:
I would suggest 12 and up. An advanced middle school reader could enjoy this (I would have at that age), and high school and up will enjoy the read.
End Result:
The book is apparently going to have a prequel, and there is also a sequel in the works. I do like that Bell did not end it on a cliffhanger, so it can stand alone. I would give this 3.75 stars, but in the spirit of rounding up (and there’s really no way to give books anything less than a full star), I will give Orison ★★★★☆. Would recommend to fans of romance.
Title: Orison
Author: Braden Bell (aka Brandon Gray)
Publisher: Kindle Press, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance
**I received a copy of this book free from the Author and EbooksForReview.com in exchange for an honest review**
My Review:
Ok. Second time writing this review since my first version crashed as I was finishing. Good times. But I cannot punish the author for my mistakes in not saving it as I went. Sigh. When I first started reading this book, I wasn’t thrilled. But I’ll get to that part in a moment. First, a rundown:
Audrianna is a dryad (a tree spirit) that we first meet when a car crashes into her grandmother, who happens to be a hamadryad (a tree spirit that has bonded with a tree, making them a tree forever). Dryad law states that Audrianna kill the offender and take root in his blood, thereby honoring a blood oath and becoming a hamadryad herself. However, the moment she lays eyes on the boy who crashed into her tree-grandmother, she heals him instead, making her break her vow and become an Outcast to her people. They sing the Orison (a prayer song) to release her grandmother’s spirit from the tree, and tell Audrianna that because she did not fulfill her requirement in seeking vengeance for her grandmother, she will neither be sheltered by trees and nature, nor be able to feed from the Earth. Fortunately for Audriannna, the boy is a King (last name, not an actual King), and a sworn enemy of the dryads. If she can kill him in three days and still take root in his blood, all will be forgiven. If not, she will become a hamadryad anyway, but she will still starve by not being able to feed.
This all happened before I got irritated. That started when the POV shifted to Branson, who thinks just like a teenage boy, and describes Audrianna as having “zero body fat,” and “a Swedish model with long legs.” Eww. Could she maybe have an ounce of body fat, or would that keep him from liking her? This is where I got irritated. And the insta-love was more like insta-lust. But…I have to remind myself, this is most likely how teenage boys think…but it grossed me out. But it IS a romance, so this is bound to happen, and I guess all love stories start with attraction. But I guess it is good she is so beautiful, huh? ;)
But then I kept reading, and it was quite enjoyable. Curses, family secrets, and a deadline that looms ever closer keeps the reader involved with the story. Bell knows his stuff: the hint of mythology and the creepy Aunt Judith, whose no one I would want to mess with, give the story a horror element that’s too good to put down.
Is it Classroom-Appropriate?
I’m going to say no. It’s not that it’s not appropriate: there is no sex. No swearing, thanks to the backstory we get about Branson and his promise to Abraham. (Nice touch, Bell) There’s just really no way to utilize it in the classroom. Not enough mythology for a unit. And more fantasy than anything else. I would say this is more of an at-home read, and something the students could read in their free time. It is a nice “curl up on the couch” kind of book.
Age Range:
I would suggest 12 and up. An advanced middle school reader could enjoy this (I would have at that age), and high school and up will enjoy the read.
End Result:
The book is apparently going to have a prequel, and there is also a sequel in the works. I do like that Bell did not end it on a cliffhanger, so it can stand alone. I would give this 3.75 stars, but in the spirit of rounding up (and there’s really no way to give books anything less than a full star), I will give Orison ★★★★☆. Would recommend to fans of romance.
August 7, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Aurianna is a dryad, who is forced to take an Oath to kill Branson King after he drunkedly crashes his car into her grandmother. But the longer she stays in the King estate the harder she begins to fall for Branson and the more clues she that could lead her to discover the truth of her mother's banishment. Following a string of bad decisions and a frivolous lifestyle, Branson is placed under the care of his Aunt Judith in rural Tennessee. However as he delves further into the King estate and meets Aurianna, the new caretaker for his Aunt Dorothy; the more irrevocably he becomes tangled in the ancient mystery permeating the land.
For about the first 100 pages, I really couldn't get myself to read this book, because the MC had very little personality, which made me very uninvested in her story. Although, reading Branson's POV was more interesting and humorous, I wasn't particularly a fan of his description and attraction towards Aurianna as this 'model-perfect figurine.' But I'm really glad I kept reading past that, because the more I learned about these two characters and the curse that's on the King property, the more I started to really enjoy it.
I have to admit I was really impressed with Braden Bell's writing, his description of Aurianna's perspective of human habits and devices like taps, cooking utensils and even romantic gestures were really authentic. I loved how he built the suspense off the curse, the frailing health of the occupants and the chilling secrets hidden inside the King country house. Also, the incorporation of the flashbacks with the past family interactions with the dryads and the development of the mythology was really cool.
I was not a big fan of the romance between the two main character. Although, I enjoyed seeing the way the two of them tried to unearth the past and break the blight affecting the past, while Aurianna jointly struggles with her Oath to kill Branson. Its just that it initially begins as insta-lust and I just didn't see how these two had an intrinsic connection that could be called as love.
That being said, I really enjoyed seeing Branson grow and mature. His bond with the ground caretaker, Abraham and his care for his Aunt Dorothy was wholly touching. I loved seeing him grow as a character throughout the entire book as he came to terms with his grandfather's past and taking greater responsibility as the heir.
Also, I have to give it to Aurianna, she was a really strong character. She had been treated as an outcast for her entire life, forced to confront her mother and grandmother's murder and make incredible sacrifices, but even with such harsh experiences she determinedly finds her way through life and love. Although, I would have loved to see more personality in her.
Overall, although it had an initially slow start, once you get past that its a good read that I would recommend for 13 years and up, which combines the best of mythology, growing up and ancient family curses. The book can be read as a stand-alone, but there is a sequel that I believe focuses on a decision Branson was forced to make towards the end of the book.
Aurianna is a dryad, who is forced to take an Oath to kill Branson King after he drunkedly crashes his car into her grandmother. But the longer she stays in the King estate the harder she begins to fall for Branson and the more clues she that could lead her to discover the truth of her mother's banishment. Following a string of bad decisions and a frivolous lifestyle, Branson is placed under the care of his Aunt Judith in rural Tennessee. However as he delves further into the King estate and meets Aurianna, the new caretaker for his Aunt Dorothy; the more irrevocably he becomes tangled in the ancient mystery permeating the land.
For about the first 100 pages, I really couldn't get myself to read this book, because the MC had very little personality, which made me very uninvested in her story. Although, reading Branson's POV was more interesting and humorous, I wasn't particularly a fan of his description and attraction towards Aurianna as this 'model-perfect figurine.' But I'm really glad I kept reading past that, because the more I learned about these two characters and the curse that's on the King property, the more I started to really enjoy it.
I have to admit I was really impressed with Braden Bell's writing, his description of Aurianna's perspective of human habits and devices like taps, cooking utensils and even romantic gestures were really authentic. I loved how he built the suspense off the curse, the frailing health of the occupants and the chilling secrets hidden inside the King country house. Also, the incorporation of the flashbacks with the past family interactions with the dryads and the development of the mythology was really cool.
I was not a big fan of the romance between the two main character. Although, I enjoyed seeing the way the two of them tried to unearth the past and break the blight affecting the past, while Aurianna jointly struggles with her Oath to kill Branson. Its just that it initially begins as insta-lust and I just didn't see how these two had an intrinsic connection that could be called as love.
That being said, I really enjoyed seeing Branson grow and mature. His bond with the ground caretaker, Abraham and his care for his Aunt Dorothy was wholly touching. I loved seeing him grow as a character throughout the entire book as he came to terms with his grandfather's past and taking greater responsibility as the heir.
Also, I have to give it to Aurianna, she was a really strong character. She had been treated as an outcast for her entire life, forced to confront her mother and grandmother's murder and make incredible sacrifices, but even with such harsh experiences she determinedly finds her way through life and love. Although, I would have loved to see more personality in her.
Overall, although it had an initially slow start, once you get past that its a good read that I would recommend for 13 years and up, which combines the best of mythology, growing up and ancient family curses. The book can be read as a stand-alone, but there is a sequel that I believe focuses on a decision Branson was forced to make towards the end of the book.
August 17, 2017
Title: Orison
Author: Brandon Gray
Genre: YA Romance, Fantasy
Format: Ebook
Pages: 306
Rating: 4
Heat: 1
Thoughts: I enjoyed reading this. I liked the internal struggle that Aurianna had to work through. Do I kill the only person to love me so I can live or do I let him live and never see him again? Either way she doesn't get to be with him, that's a hard choice to make. And Branson has his own issues of rebellion and is fighting the feelings he has for Aurianna yet is drawn to her like a moth to flame. Sweet little love story that will melt your heart.
Author: Brandon Gray
Genre: YA Romance, Fantasy
Format: Ebook
Pages: 306
Rating: 4
Heat: 1
Thoughts: I enjoyed reading this. I liked the internal struggle that Aurianna had to work through. Do I kill the only person to love me so I can live or do I let him live and never see him again? Either way she doesn't get to be with him, that's a hard choice to make. And Branson has his own issues of rebellion and is fighting the feelings he has for Aurianna yet is drawn to her like a moth to flame. Sweet little love story that will melt your heart.
June 23, 2016
Orison, Brandon Gray’s YA sci-fi fantasy, was an award-winning book coming out of the gate. Gray submitted his unique tale of colliding human and dryad worlds through Amazon’s grueling Kindle Scout platform where it was selected for publication. And for good reason. Good fantasy requires intricate world-building, and Gray weaves a complex story line through the fascinating world he creates where humans and dryads interact, fall in love, and yes . . . have fits of jealousy and rage.
The King family grew wealthy when their plantation’s harvests far exceeded their neighbors’. But something happened to end the mutually beneficial arrangement between the Kings and their dryad neighbors, sending a curse upon the land and into the family.
The current heir to the King land is Branson, a self-centered, irresponsible party-boy whose past is riddled with sorrow and sin. His most recent binge leads to an accident that destroys the tree housing a powerful dryad spirit. Tradition now requires Aurianna, the shunned granddaughter, to make an oath to avenge her grandmother’s murder by killing Branson. But before she knows who the killer is, Aurianna finds wounded Branson and tends to him, creating an inner conflict that threatens to destroy her world and his.
A powerful attraction draws Branson and Aurianna to one another, and down a destructive path for both, but there is one voice Branson listens to above his own libido--that of Abraham--the aged family friend/handyman whose own life and land seem mysteriously blessed. Abraham understands both worlds, and he opens Aurianna's and Branson's understanding of the forces at work in their lives, understanding that helps them to see the choices before them, and to accept the consequences of those decisions.
Brandon Gray delivers a powerful story while raising thought-provoking questions that challenge main character Branson’s do-what-you-want choices and values. The topics are hard-hitting at times, and though Gray handles them with respect and care, this is not an MG read.
For this reason, Brandon Gray, aka Braden Bell, wrote Orison, his first YA novel, under a pen name to make that distinction with his faithful readers. The much beloved author of the MG series, Middle School Magic, has been heralded for writing books that reflect and speak to his target audience. It is not by accident or merely good marketing. Bell/Gray—teacher, director, father, PhD—loves young people, and he continues to write books that make them think.
Orison’s measured beginning builds to a page-turning sprint as the dryad and human story lines converge. This reviewer could not foresee the final twists, and was extremely pleased to see that Orison is book one of a series.
I was thoroughly engrossed by this unique, powerful book, and recommend Orison, and all Gray/Bell’s books, to thoughtful readers who love beautiful writing. In fact, Bell’s books are my go-to gifts for my own grandchildren, and Orison’s powerful themes add another volume to his masterful collection.
If you have middle school-aged youth, get them Bell’s brilliant Middle School Magic series, but Orison will entertain and provoke thought in readers from savvy teens to adults. It's available on Kindle.
July 16, 2016
This was a book I read for review. I wasn't really sure what the book was about going into the book. As I began reading it was very slow. It took about 40% of the book before the story truly caught my attention. Once we got to that point I could not put the book down and had to see how it ended. After completing the book, I completely understand the set up of the book in the first 40%. This is definitely a fantasy book with the mythology world and the hills of Tennessee colliding together which was really neat. The author did a fantastic job meshing the two worlds together. This story was truly magical and included fantasy, mythology, mystery and romance all in one. I do love how the story evolves for the troubled teen, Branson, as he begins to discover his true self and begins the journey into adulthood making sacrifices and difficult choices. Aurianna is a passionate, loving, and caring dryad that makes a true sacrifice. I loved seeing her story unfold and the mysteries of her life played out.
The characters that were created are unique and strong characters. I was able to truly envision the characters and see the story play out as I read. I like when a book keeps me on my toes. I thought I could tell how the book would end and then the author would take me down a different path which would question the ending I had played out. I am excited that this book will be a series and can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I have included some of my favorite quotes from the book below.
"Testosterone doesn't make you dumb, but it sure can make you do dumb things. Add some adrenaline and you have an emotional Molotov cocktail that can blow up in your face."
"A hound dog in a ball gown is still gonna scratch for fleas."
"Be strong, I told myself. It is no sadder than a spider killing a butterfly. Or a falcon eating a baby rabbit. Life cannot exist without death. For one creature to live, another must die. That is the way of things. The natural order. I do not have power to change that."
"It made me realize that a naked heart doesn't have much protection."
"Anyway, sorry I freaked out. Most girls I know don't have superpowers."
"When I am with you, I feel thunderstorm love and sweet fire love, but also firefly love."
"Life is short. Death comes to all. So, if you find love it must be treasured and protected."
The characters that were created are unique and strong characters. I was able to truly envision the characters and see the story play out as I read. I like when a book keeps me on my toes. I thought I could tell how the book would end and then the author would take me down a different path which would question the ending I had played out. I am excited that this book will be a series and can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I have included some of my favorite quotes from the book below.
"Testosterone doesn't make you dumb, but it sure can make you do dumb things. Add some adrenaline and you have an emotional Molotov cocktail that can blow up in your face."
"A hound dog in a ball gown is still gonna scratch for fleas."
"Be strong, I told myself. It is no sadder than a spider killing a butterfly. Or a falcon eating a baby rabbit. Life cannot exist without death. For one creature to live, another must die. That is the way of things. The natural order. I do not have power to change that."
"It made me realize that a naked heart doesn't have much protection."
"Anyway, sorry I freaked out. Most girls I know don't have superpowers."
"When I am with you, I feel thunderstorm love and sweet fire love, but also firefly love."
"Life is short. Death comes to all. So, if you find love it must be treasured and protected."
July 25, 2016
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Shunned by the other dryads, Aurianna lives unloved and alone. When a beautiful human named Branson King crashes into a tree and kills her grandmother, the dryads force Aurianna to take an oath that she will find and kill Branson—or die herself. But instead of finding a hardened human heart, Aurianna discovers friendship, affection, and sparks of passion—along with a deadly secret. As her relationship with Branson grows, Aurianna is confronted with a harsh reality: in order to live, she must kill the only person that might ever love her.
MY TAKE
This was really an interesting book. At first, I didn't like Branson much. He was looking for trouble and took nothing serious. Not surprisingly, he was dealing (though not very well) with some pretty heavy issues. His change is rather significant by the end of the story though, and I liked him quite a bit.
Aurianna, with her naiveté, was actually rather funny. Her introduction into the human world and the things that she said made me laugh a few times. And she had a wonderful heart. She'd go to help anyone who was hurting. Even someone who'd just killed her grandmother's tree.
The book is obviously the first in a series. The main issue with Aurianna's blood oath is resolved in this book, but Branson commits to something toward the end that cannot be good. In fact, it's rather one of those "he's too stupid to live" moments. Ah, to be 17 again and in love.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars, rounded up.
Shunned by the other dryads, Aurianna lives unloved and alone. When a beautiful human named Branson King crashes into a tree and kills her grandmother, the dryads force Aurianna to take an oath that she will find and kill Branson—or die herself. But instead of finding a hardened human heart, Aurianna discovers friendship, affection, and sparks of passion—along with a deadly secret. As her relationship with Branson grows, Aurianna is confronted with a harsh reality: in order to live, she must kill the only person that might ever love her.
MY TAKE
This was really an interesting book. At first, I didn't like Branson much. He was looking for trouble and took nothing serious. Not surprisingly, he was dealing (though not very well) with some pretty heavy issues. His change is rather significant by the end of the story though, and I liked him quite a bit.
Aurianna, with her naiveté, was actually rather funny. Her introduction into the human world and the things that she said made me laugh a few times. And she had a wonderful heart. She'd go to help anyone who was hurting. Even someone who'd just killed her grandmother's tree.
The book is obviously the first in a series. The main issue with Aurianna's blood oath is resolved in this book, but Branson commits to something toward the end that cannot be good. In fact, it's rather one of those "he's too stupid to live" moments. Ah, to be 17 again and in love.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars, rounded up.
July 15, 2016
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay. I admit, I put this book off until the last minute because I still had classes to attend to, so I was more focused on my school than the book. But now that I've read, I wished I done it sooner. Orison was not what I expected. I presumed that this book would be about Aurianna's vengeance (which it partly was) taking place in a dystopian second world setting. I thought the characters were going to follow the cliche love-at-first-sight pattern (which they kinda did). However, the instant love connection that the protagonists Aurianna and Branson has been passed down from generations of both Branson's family tree and Aurianna's people-dryads.
When first started reading the scene of the death of Aurianna's grandmother, I assumed that she was an actual person. I never thought that she would be an actual tree, so I was confused until Aurianna went into detail about what she and her people were. Before that I thought she was Kitty from X-Men running into and through trees or had some camouflage power. The death of Aurianna's grandmother was caused by Branson who crashed his car into her while going 75 mph. Aurianna discovers the accident and now has to perform the Orison ceremony which is a ritual to release a tree spirit from their actual tree and send them to their Creater. Knowing that by releasing her grandmother and taking her place, Aurianna must root in the blood of the killer, but she sees something in him that makes her heart flutter. Instead of killing Branson, she saves him and earns the consequence of becoming an outcast to her people.
Going forward in the story, Aurianna finds herself becoming Branson's aunt Dorothy's nurse since she no longer has control over her mind. But what Branson doesn't know is that Aurianna is on a mission to kill him in order to fufill her oath and become a tree. However, everyday that passes Aurianna falls more in love with Branson. At first I was put off by that notion because she only has three days to kill Branson before she is forced to become a tree anyway; oath fufilled or not. But I soon found out through Abraham, that pleasing people, animals, trees, plants, or whatever is in their nature and they can't help but to grow attached.
Branson, not realizing this sooner, had almost killed Aurianna. If Aurianna were to have sex with Branson, then her spirit would have been intwined with his. Branson just saw it as nothing more than just sex for fun while for Aurianna it was more than that. This book turned out to be more than just some love story. This book was a mystery because of situations that happened in the King family that intersect with the dryads. Since the first King of the family tree settled on their land, their has always been an alliance to keep other from chopping down the dryads forest. That is until something happened along the line to make the dryads curse their family and their farm.
There was so much twists and turns throughout the story that it just left me wanting more by then end of the story. The only reason that I did not give this book a 5 star was because of the ending. I didn't like that wasn't any hints about what would happen in the next book since this is a series. The ending just seemed happily ever after to me, and that's not what's going to happen any time soon. Overall I highly recommend this book to those who like mysteries, thrillers, and romances with a fantasy based story.
Okay. I admit, I put this book off until the last minute because I still had classes to attend to, so I was more focused on my school than the book. But now that I've read, I wished I done it sooner. Orison was not what I expected. I presumed that this book would be about Aurianna's vengeance (which it partly was) taking place in a dystopian second world setting. I thought the characters were going to follow the cliche love-at-first-sight pattern (which they kinda did). However, the instant love connection that the protagonists Aurianna and Branson has been passed down from generations of both Branson's family tree and Aurianna's people-dryads.
When first started reading the scene of the death of Aurianna's grandmother, I assumed that she was an actual person. I never thought that she would be an actual tree, so I was confused until Aurianna went into detail about what she and her people were. Before that I thought she was Kitty from X-Men running into and through trees or had some camouflage power. The death of Aurianna's grandmother was caused by Branson who crashed his car into her while going 75 mph. Aurianna discovers the accident and now has to perform the Orison ceremony which is a ritual to release a tree spirit from their actual tree and send them to their Creater. Knowing that by releasing her grandmother and taking her place, Aurianna must root in the blood of the killer, but she sees something in him that makes her heart flutter. Instead of killing Branson, she saves him and earns the consequence of becoming an outcast to her people.
Going forward in the story, Aurianna finds herself becoming Branson's aunt Dorothy's nurse since she no longer has control over her mind. But what Branson doesn't know is that Aurianna is on a mission to kill him in order to fufill her oath and become a tree. However, everyday that passes Aurianna falls more in love with Branson. At first I was put off by that notion because she only has three days to kill Branson before she is forced to become a tree anyway; oath fufilled or not. But I soon found out through Abraham, that pleasing people, animals, trees, plants, or whatever is in their nature and they can't help but to grow attached.
Branson, not realizing this sooner, had almost killed Aurianna. If Aurianna were to have sex with Branson, then her spirit would have been intwined with his. Branson just saw it as nothing more than just sex for fun while for Aurianna it was more than that. This book turned out to be more than just some love story. This book was a mystery because of situations that happened in the King family that intersect with the dryads. Since the first King of the family tree settled on their land, their has always been an alliance to keep other from chopping down the dryads forest. That is until something happened along the line to make the dryads curse their family and their farm.
There was so much twists and turns throughout the story that it just left me wanting more by then end of the story. The only reason that I did not give this book a 5 star was because of the ending. I didn't like that wasn't any hints about what would happen in the next book since this is a series. The ending just seemed happily ever after to me, and that's not what's going to happen any time soon. Overall I highly recommend this book to those who like mysteries, thrillers, and romances with a fantasy based story.
June 24, 2016
This book came up as an option for a book review in exchange for a digital copy. It was the only book that didn't remind me of something that Emily Giffen or Jennifer Weiner would have a peer review for, so I immediately was interested. I like YA and I love the mental break from reality that most the genre gives. I'm also a diehard fan of things that go bump in the night or don't exist in the real world, so the fantasy elements were a major bonus.
So, I went into this book with apprehension because it seems that supernatural stories are the YA du jour. I've seen a trend in the post Twilight era of if it flies, sparkles or turns into things, YA audiences eat it up like bacon cheese fries. I was pleasantly surprised with the way this novel played out. I really enjoyed the dryad plot line...despite feeling the plot was a rehash of a bazillion things I've read before. Utilizing the wood spirits, satyrs and elemental creatures worked in a way that most of the YA novels don't.
Overall, the storyline was predictable, but so is the story of Romeo and Juliet. There's sacrifice, there's sadness, there's teenaged hormones with crushing lips and naughty bad things implied...but it doesn't seem like the dime a dozen paperback romance novels at all. Sure, I would have rather seen Branson less focused on what Aurianna looked like when she was in her vines...but it fit the character. His teenage hormones constantly reiterating the horn dog thoughts made Branson almost endearing. Aurianna's innocence was a tad over the top, but again, it works. These two are no Daisy and Jay, but they are a far cry from Bella and Jacob...I mean Edward...I mean the thing that broods...
I read a lot of books for my job. I like to be able to talk about what teenagers and tweens are reading away from their snapchat feeds. This book will be going on my list of recommendations and I honestly want to read the rest of the series so I know what happens. Overall, the writing was lacking and a little juvenile (Even for the genre), but it worked. It really did. Bell has a promising future in YA if they decide to keep writing for it.
So, I went into this book with apprehension because it seems that supernatural stories are the YA du jour. I've seen a trend in the post Twilight era of if it flies, sparkles or turns into things, YA audiences eat it up like bacon cheese fries. I was pleasantly surprised with the way this novel played out. I really enjoyed the dryad plot line...despite feeling the plot was a rehash of a bazillion things I've read before. Utilizing the wood spirits, satyrs and elemental creatures worked in a way that most of the YA novels don't.
Overall, the storyline was predictable, but so is the story of Romeo and Juliet. There's sacrifice, there's sadness, there's teenaged hormones with crushing lips and naughty bad things implied...but it doesn't seem like the dime a dozen paperback romance novels at all. Sure, I would have rather seen Branson less focused on what Aurianna looked like when she was in her vines...but it fit the character. His teenage hormones constantly reiterating the horn dog thoughts made Branson almost endearing. Aurianna's innocence was a tad over the top, but again, it works. These two are no Daisy and Jay, but they are a far cry from Bella and Jacob...I mean Edward...I mean the thing that broods...
I read a lot of books for my job. I like to be able to talk about what teenagers and tweens are reading away from their snapchat feeds. This book will be going on my list of recommendations and I honestly want to read the rest of the series so I know what happens. Overall, the writing was lacking and a little juvenile (Even for the genre), but it worked. It really did. Bell has a promising future in YA if they decide to keep writing for it.
June 15, 2016
This book started out a little slow for me - the lust between Branson and Aurianna seemed to be the main focus of the start of the story. But once you get past that (I thought parts of that were interesting like how dryads viewed things vs humans and seeing Aurianna's simultaneous desire and innocence, but I just thought it went on too long), they become more interesting and the story becomes more interesting.
There were some interesting ironies in this story - Aurianna is under an oath to kill Branson King, yet he shows her more kindness in their first brief encounters then she has known all her life from her "own" people. The Oath compels her to kill the one person (Branson) who might love her to avenge someone who never had (her grandmother). She is faced with some tough decisions to make, and she has no loving mentor to guide her.
I liked how Branson matured throughout the story and learned to be selfless and to face the consequences of what his earlier selfish actions had caused. As he learns to care for someone else more than himself, he learns decades-old family secrets that may keep him from being with that person.
Unlike Aurianna, Branson has a great mentor to guide him... Abraham Jones. Abraham is my favorite character of this story! He has a strong moral code and he does the right thing even when it's difficult. He made a great contrast to the rest of the crazy people in Branson's life.
The story didn't end on a cliffhanger (which I really, really appreciated), but there is a huge loose end that will most likely be the plot of the next novel.
Content: lust between teenagers that never goes beyond passionate kissing
Source: Review Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
There were some interesting ironies in this story - Aurianna is under an oath to kill Branson King, yet he shows her more kindness in their first brief encounters then she has known all her life from her "own" people. The Oath compels her to kill the one person (Branson) who might love her to avenge someone who never had (her grandmother). She is faced with some tough decisions to make, and she has no loving mentor to guide her.
I liked how Branson matured throughout the story and learned to be selfless and to face the consequences of what his earlier selfish actions had caused. As he learns to care for someone else more than himself, he learns decades-old family secrets that may keep him from being with that person.
Unlike Aurianna, Branson has a great mentor to guide him... Abraham Jones. Abraham is my favorite character of this story! He has a strong moral code and he does the right thing even when it's difficult. He made a great contrast to the rest of the crazy people in Branson's life.
The story didn't end on a cliffhanger (which I really, really appreciated), but there is a huge loose end that will most likely be the plot of the next novel.
Content: lust between teenagers that never goes beyond passionate kissing
Source: Review Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
July 14, 2016
This was a unique and intriguing sci-fi fantasy type novel. I really enjoyed this author and his unique take on this amazing world he creates.
A must read if you are into sci-fi, fantasy, or anything different from the normal.
I love when a fantasy novelist can build scenes so real you can feel, smell, and taste as well as see and hear everything. This novel covers all the senses. I also love a novel that leaves no loose ends--happily, everything was tied together well, with enough intrigue left for book two to make me say , "When is it coming out??" Bravo, Brandon Gray!
I expected that the first few chapters would be a bit of a struggle to read. I was pleasantly surprised to be quickly drawn in by the interesting characters and world the author has created. He also tackled the sensitive topic of young adult attraction and intimate relationships in a way that makes his moral stance very clear without being preachy or overbearing. This book will appeal to all ages, but is an especially important read for older teens and young adults who may be struggling with these same issues. The author is very clear about the feelings and circumstances the two main characters face without becoming uncomfortably explicit. This book is especially important for high school and public libraries.
There is no way for me to decide what character I like best, the two main characters are both equally amazing.
5 stars
A must read if you are into sci-fi, fantasy, or anything different from the normal.
I love when a fantasy novelist can build scenes so real you can feel, smell, and taste as well as see and hear everything. This novel covers all the senses. I also love a novel that leaves no loose ends--happily, everything was tied together well, with enough intrigue left for book two to make me say , "When is it coming out??" Bravo, Brandon Gray!
I expected that the first few chapters would be a bit of a struggle to read. I was pleasantly surprised to be quickly drawn in by the interesting characters and world the author has created. He also tackled the sensitive topic of young adult attraction and intimate relationships in a way that makes his moral stance very clear without being preachy or overbearing. This book will appeal to all ages, but is an especially important read for older teens and young adults who may be struggling with these same issues. The author is very clear about the feelings and circumstances the two main characters face without becoming uncomfortably explicit. This book is especially important for high school and public libraries.
There is no way for me to decide what character I like best, the two main characters are both equally amazing.
5 stars
June 23, 2016
Fantasy is not generally my preferred genre, but since I had enjoyed the author's previous books, I decided to give Orison a try. Because I don't read a lot of fantasy-type books, I expected that the first few chapters would be a bit of a struggle to read. I was pleasantly surprised to be quickly drawn in by the interesting characters and world the author has created. He also tackled the sensitive topic of young adult attraction and intimate relationships in a way that makes his moral stance very clear without being preachy or overbearing. This book will appeal to all ages, but is an especially important read for older teens and young adults who may be struggling with these same issues. The author is very clear about the feelings and circumstances the two main characters face without becoming uncomfortably explicit. This book is especially important for high school and public libraries.
June 17, 2016
**3.5 stars**
This book was part of a kindle scout program. I voted for it and when it was accepted, I received a copy to read.
I enjoyed the premise of the story. It is about dryads. The dryad culture was a different take than I have read before. The MC is a dryad who is forced from her community when she fails to take the life of a young man who killed her grandmother when he ran into her with his car. She has an oath to fulfill and may not return until it is completed.
This main male character is a trouble teen. Some of his thoughts and past mistakes would be mature for younger YA readers.
This book was part of a kindle scout program. I voted for it and when it was accepted, I received a copy to read.
I enjoyed the premise of the story. It is about dryads. The dryad culture was a different take than I have read before. The MC is a dryad who is forced from her community when she fails to take the life of a young man who killed her grandmother when he ran into her with his car. She has an oath to fulfill and may not return until it is completed.
This main male character is a trouble teen. Some of his thoughts and past mistakes would be mature for younger YA readers.
June 29, 2016
Orison is a beautiful story that combines romance, fantasy, and mystery. It's a story of a dryad who seeks to avenge a wrong done to her family. It also follows a young man who is trying to find himself. The story is well-written and the author creates beautiful images of the world from the dryad's perspective.
Unlike the other books by Braden Bell (who uses the pen name Brandon Gray for this book), this book is strongly YA and not for younger readers. There are mature themes that would be inappropriate for young teens. I highly recommend his other books for younger teens, though. The Kindling, Penumbras, and Luminescence are fantastic books for middle school kids or anyone!
Unlike the other books by Braden Bell (who uses the pen name Brandon Gray for this book), this book is strongly YA and not for younger readers. There are mature themes that would be inappropriate for young teens. I highly recommend his other books for younger teens, though. The Kindling, Penumbras, and Luminescence are fantastic books for middle school kids or anyone!
August 4, 2016
An interesting tale about a dryad who must atone for the accidental murder of her grandmother. But she is strangely drawn to the young man who hit the tree that caused the death. As she tries to resolve her feelings, she learns about her past.
October 9, 2024
With a life full of wrong choices and a growing list of women used and thrown to the side, Branson King seems to have hit rock bottom. It doesn’t help that he’s been targeted by a dryad, Aurianna, to pay for the death of her grandmother after he crashed his car into a tree killing her. Aurianna has been shunned by the other dryads, and in order to earn her place back with them, she must kill Branson. After the two meet, it seems that the heart has something else in store for them. Can they turn their back on the spark that they feel and go against everybody and everything that they are told or believe?
There is a lot of information that is given in the beginning of the book and I struggled for a little bit trying to figure out what was going on. I stuck with it and then wasn’t able to stop reading once it started making sense. If you take the time to get through the rough start, it’s worth reading.
I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is a lot of information that is given in the beginning of the book and I struggled for a little bit trying to figure out what was going on. I stuck with it and then wasn’t able to stop reading once it started making sense. If you take the time to get through the rough start, it’s worth reading.
I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2016
Orison - Brandon Gray
!! WARNING - Review might contain several (a lot) of spoilers and some quotes from the book - so beware!! For this review is dark and full of spoilers!!
Overall Rating: meh...
The second I finished this book, I just sat there with my eyes glazed over, trying to digest what I just read. So many of the books that I read have either been good, bad, really good or really bad. But this book's good characteristics (can a book have characteristics?) just cancel out the bad, and vice versa, ultimately smacking the book in the middle of my hypothetical scale. Yay. YA books usually end with the two main characters falling in love and together together beating the big bad wolf and proving their undying love. Orison was not an exception.
Basically, the book is about this girl (sorry, Dryad) named Aurianna. She's just chilling, playing with her satyr buddies (half dude half goat), planting trees and probably saving the whales, until something horrible happens...this hot guy named Branson (spoiler!) is drunk driving and sexting and crashes into a tree. Oh, Lord. But this particular tree happened to contain Aurianna's grammie's soul/spirit (don't ask) and so, since the tree died, grammie dyrad is stuck in a dead tree unless the other dryads sind the Orison, and with that, opening the tree to free her spirit so that it can be in dyrad heaven.
Because of tradition, Aurianna is forced to murder her grandma's murderer so that she can root in the soil that is soaked with the blood of her grandma's murderer. Well that's dramatic. She goes to Branson, who is lying next to the tree unconsious, and for some reason doesn't kill him. Then all of the other dryads realize: He is a King! (this confused me at first...he is not a king as in ruler, but his last name is literally King... as in Martin Kuther King Jr.) When Aurianna refuses to kill Branson, she becomes an outcast ''like her mother'' and the dryads sing the Orison for the grandma w/out Aurianna, excluding her.
I'll just call Aurianna ''A'' from now on.
A then can't receive any more nutrients from the earth because the other dryads have closed nature to her; at least that's what I understood. But she can't, however, enter the King's teritory to kill Branson, because whatever. So she goes to this slimy green goat god and he grants her a human form, but only for three days. Then she will turn into a tree. Does this part kinda sound familiar to you?
So: A has 3 days to kill B, otherwise she will turn into a hamadryad (I can't spell it), aka a tree. If she doesn't kill B, she will turn into a tree, but she will have no nutrients and therefore die a slow, painful death. #truelove
I think you can probably predict the rest of the story...hint...it is a romance fantasy novel...
Another thing:
This. Book. Is. The. Freaking. Motherload. Of. Clichés.
1. What would a young adult novel be without the beautiful, dainty, super-hot Marilyn Monroe chick, who is of course also modest, smart and completely oblivious to her charm?
2. Not to forget the insanely hot I'm-sexy-and-I-know-it male main character who's basically a playboy, and (spoiler!) falls in love with the fair maiden, which leads to him leaving his manslut reputation in the dust to please said maiden. Obviously, the dude MUST sport a six-pack, abs, etc. and have a badass thing going on...
There were also some moments where i was thinking...u gotta be KIDDING ME!!! and banging my head on the table. Repeatedly.
''You are wounded.'' She pointed at my scar.
I shrugged. ''It's nothing. I was in a car wreck last night-''
''I must touch your flesh.''
I looked at her and blinked. ''Excuse me?"
''I must make contact with your flesh."
Orison is chock full of long sentences and very descriptive and yes, sometimes slightly disturbing imagery.
"Warm dreams of friendship froze in my chest. I swallowed hard against the bitter lumps of frost-killed hope."
What I did like about the book was that it was written in two different povs. I think that Gray did an especially great job writing A's point of view, because her thoughts were just so...so...dryad-y-like. It was kinda strange how A wasn't used to 'feelings' and so she would always just blurt them outloud, which was half funny and half made me want to smother myself with a pillow. I didn't, though, which I'm pretty happy about because toward the end the book, it really picked up the pace and started to get interesting.
So I gotta say, the plot was pretty original, but I found myself not really feeling the characters very much. I would recommend this book to those who don't mind the one or the other cliché and like some mysterious and natur-y themed stuff (fairy stuff) and can take embarassing scenes. The beginning is a little slow, and you might not completely understand everything, but in general, Orison's really a pretty okay read and will get better toward the end.
Hope you liked my review!!
<3 kickawaga
!! WARNING - Review might contain several (a lot) of spoilers and some quotes from the book - so beware!! For this review is dark and full of spoilers!!
Overall Rating: meh...
The second I finished this book, I just sat there with my eyes glazed over, trying to digest what I just read. So many of the books that I read have either been good, bad, really good or really bad. But this book's good characteristics (can a book have characteristics?) just cancel out the bad, and vice versa, ultimately smacking the book in the middle of my hypothetical scale. Yay. YA books usually end with the two main characters falling in love and together together beating the big bad wolf and proving their undying love. Orison was not an exception.
Basically, the book is about this girl (sorry, Dryad) named Aurianna. She's just chilling, playing with her satyr buddies (half dude half goat), planting trees and probably saving the whales, until something horrible happens...this hot guy named Branson (spoiler!) is drunk driving and sexting and crashes into a tree. Oh, Lord. But this particular tree happened to contain Aurianna's grammie's soul/spirit (don't ask) and so, since the tree died, grammie dyrad is stuck in a dead tree unless the other dryads sind the Orison, and with that, opening the tree to free her spirit so that it can be in dyrad heaven.
Because of tradition, Aurianna is forced to murder her grandma's murderer so that she can root in the soil that is soaked with the blood of her grandma's murderer. Well that's dramatic. She goes to Branson, who is lying next to the tree unconsious, and for some reason doesn't kill him. Then all of the other dryads realize: He is a King! (this confused me at first...he is not a king as in ruler, but his last name is literally King... as in Martin Kuther King Jr.) When Aurianna refuses to kill Branson, she becomes an outcast ''like her mother'' and the dryads sing the Orison for the grandma w/out Aurianna, excluding her.
I'll just call Aurianna ''A'' from now on.
A then can't receive any more nutrients from the earth because the other dryads have closed nature to her; at least that's what I understood. But she can't, however, enter the King's teritory to kill Branson, because whatever. So she goes to this slimy green goat god and he grants her a human form, but only for three days. Then she will turn into a tree. Does this part kinda sound familiar to you?
So: A has 3 days to kill B, otherwise she will turn into a hamadryad (I can't spell it), aka a tree. If she doesn't kill B, she will turn into a tree, but she will have no nutrients and therefore die a slow, painful death. #truelove
I think you can probably predict the rest of the story...hint...it is a romance fantasy novel...
Another thing:
This. Book. Is. The. Freaking. Motherload. Of. Clichés.
1. What would a young adult novel be without the beautiful, dainty, super-hot Marilyn Monroe chick, who is of course also modest, smart and completely oblivious to her charm?
2. Not to forget the insanely hot I'm-sexy-and-I-know-it male main character who's basically a playboy, and (spoiler!) falls in love with the fair maiden, which leads to him leaving his manslut reputation in the dust to please said maiden. Obviously, the dude MUST sport a six-pack, abs, etc. and have a badass thing going on...
There were also some moments where i was thinking...u gotta be KIDDING ME!!! and banging my head on the table. Repeatedly.
''You are wounded.'' She pointed at my scar.
I shrugged. ''It's nothing. I was in a car wreck last night-''
''I must touch your flesh.''
I looked at her and blinked. ''Excuse me?"
''I must make contact with your flesh."
Orison is chock full of long sentences and very descriptive and yes, sometimes slightly disturbing imagery.
"Warm dreams of friendship froze in my chest. I swallowed hard against the bitter lumps of frost-killed hope."
What I did like about the book was that it was written in two different povs. I think that Gray did an especially great job writing A's point of view, because her thoughts were just so...so...dryad-y-like. It was kinda strange how A wasn't used to 'feelings' and so she would always just blurt them outloud, which was half funny and half made me want to smother myself with a pillow. I didn't, though, which I'm pretty happy about because toward the end the book, it really picked up the pace and started to get interesting.
So I gotta say, the plot was pretty original, but I found myself not really feeling the characters very much. I would recommend this book to those who don't mind the one or the other cliché and like some mysterious and natur-y themed stuff (fairy stuff) and can take embarassing scenes. The beginning is a little slow, and you might not completely understand everything, but in general, Orison's really a pretty okay read and will get better toward the end.
Hope you liked my review!!
<3 kickawaga
July 17, 2016
Title: Orison
Author: Brandon Gray
I received the ebook free in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Aurianna is a dryad who is shunned by the rest of the dryads including her grandmother. That all changed when a young man crashed into a tree that happened to be Aurianna’s grandmother, as she was dying she tried to tell her about her mother. But at the end wasn’t able to and the dryads forced her to become the next tree to replace her grandmother. In order to that she had to kill the young man that she saved and to complete the ritual in becoming one with a tree. She has a choice, kill the only person that loves her and finally be acknowledged by the dryads or die.
My thoughts:
At the beginning I was assuming that the young man, Branson, was older and find out that he is actually a teenager that was send to his aunt. The first time that Branson meets Aurianna was in the barn where she was only wearing leafs that covered her body. The only thing I didn’t like was when he mentions that she has zero fat and was very beautiful. My first thought was she will break (She might as well be a stick) and needs to have more meat in her body. After I found out how old Branson was, then I was that’s a typical teenager male way of thinking.
Anyway, before I stray from what I like about the book, I like the way Aurianna having no knowledge of the way of the humans. One example is where Branson (When he meets her the second time as a human) explained to her the he had to say Miss. Dorothy or Miss. Judith to his aunts. Following what he told her, she called him Miss Branson, he horrified corrects her not to put Miss in front of his name. It was pretty funny that she follows anything that Branson tells her and that she has a strong attraction to him. The new feelings have her confused and prevent her from killing him when she had a couple of opportunities to do so. Aurianna also found out that the Kings have a connection with her mother, and she wanted to find out any information about her.
I don’t want to spoil the rest of the book so I’ll just put my overall thoughts. In the beginning of the book it just starts with an accident that kills Aurianna’s grandmother. Then it jumps from Aurianna to Branson so it took me a while to get used to the point of view changing each chapter. At times, I felt that Aurianna was too trusting and never follow her instinct when she felt she was in danger. I also felt she fell in love with Branson too soon…I should say as soon as she laid her eyes on him. Overall, I like the book and give it a 3.5.
Author: Brandon Gray
I received the ebook free in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Aurianna is a dryad who is shunned by the rest of the dryads including her grandmother. That all changed when a young man crashed into a tree that happened to be Aurianna’s grandmother, as she was dying she tried to tell her about her mother. But at the end wasn’t able to and the dryads forced her to become the next tree to replace her grandmother. In order to that she had to kill the young man that she saved and to complete the ritual in becoming one with a tree. She has a choice, kill the only person that loves her and finally be acknowledged by the dryads or die.
My thoughts:
At the beginning I was assuming that the young man, Branson, was older and find out that he is actually a teenager that was send to his aunt. The first time that Branson meets Aurianna was in the barn where she was only wearing leafs that covered her body. The only thing I didn’t like was when he mentions that she has zero fat and was very beautiful. My first thought was she will break (She might as well be a stick) and needs to have more meat in her body. After I found out how old Branson was, then I was that’s a typical teenager male way of thinking.
Anyway, before I stray from what I like about the book, I like the way Aurianna having no knowledge of the way of the humans. One example is where Branson (When he meets her the second time as a human) explained to her the he had to say Miss. Dorothy or Miss. Judith to his aunts. Following what he told her, she called him Miss Branson, he horrified corrects her not to put Miss in front of his name. It was pretty funny that she follows anything that Branson tells her and that she has a strong attraction to him. The new feelings have her confused and prevent her from killing him when she had a couple of opportunities to do so. Aurianna also found out that the Kings have a connection with her mother, and she wanted to find out any information about her.
I don’t want to spoil the rest of the book so I’ll just put my overall thoughts. In the beginning of the book it just starts with an accident that kills Aurianna’s grandmother. Then it jumps from Aurianna to Branson so it took me a while to get used to the point of view changing each chapter. At times, I felt that Aurianna was too trusting and never follow her instinct when she felt she was in danger. I also felt she fell in love with Branson too soon…I should say as soon as she laid her eyes on him. Overall, I like the book and give it a 3.5.
July 1, 2016
Oh, ratings, why must you be so complicated? This is amongst the trickier books for me to rate, there are several reasons why and I encourage anyone reading this review to continue reading the "why" behind my rating.
This particular story involves two worlds, the world of dryads and the world of humans, it just so happens that these two worlds collide. There was once peace between the two worlds, kept in place by a pact that the eldest human of the realm [just so happens to be the "King" family] would offer their eldest male heir to the Dryad Queen or her daughter to keep the peace. There is much turmoil to be had from generation to generation and by the time Branson King comes along, a troubled seventeen-year-old who has lost his family due to a tragic accident who has recently been court ordered to live with his two kooky aunts, he finds trouble yet again - in the form of wrapping his tree around a car. A dryad, Aurianna, finds herself torn but is drawn to the human boy so she heals him, which leads her being dubbed as an outcast.
To begin with, this storyline is interesting, I haven't read a book that is like this before and I enjoyed the concept. The world that is created through text brings you exactly to the lines being read, so you experience, feel and taste the world around you, which kudos to Bell for that! The world is as we know it and yet not because there are magical elements added in. There were some aspects that were a little too far fetched for me that made it difficult to delve deeper into the fantasy element, but they were scattered here and there, not a constant thing.
What I wasn't keen on was the fact the majority of the book takes place over the course of two days and during those two days Aurianna and Branson topple head over heels. It was cute, but the hormonal drive behind Branson was tiresome and distracted from the overall story. I would have liked to see deeper connections here rather than a superficial love.
There are also a few moments that I found myself having to pause, go back and read a few passages more than once or even twice, because it seemed to have flown directly into a memory or a feeling of a memory.
Overall, though, I enjoyed it and read it quickly. It was difficult to rate, but I would give it a 3.2
Website - Facebook - Instagram
This particular story involves two worlds, the world of dryads and the world of humans, it just so happens that these two worlds collide. There was once peace between the two worlds, kept in place by a pact that the eldest human of the realm [just so happens to be the "King" family] would offer their eldest male heir to the Dryad Queen or her daughter to keep the peace. There is much turmoil to be had from generation to generation and by the time Branson King comes along, a troubled seventeen-year-old who has lost his family due to a tragic accident who has recently been court ordered to live with his two kooky aunts, he finds trouble yet again - in the form of wrapping his tree around a car. A dryad, Aurianna, finds herself torn but is drawn to the human boy so she heals him, which leads her being dubbed as an outcast.
To begin with, this storyline is interesting, I haven't read a book that is like this before and I enjoyed the concept. The world that is created through text brings you exactly to the lines being read, so you experience, feel and taste the world around you, which kudos to Bell for that! The world is as we know it and yet not because there are magical elements added in. There were some aspects that were a little too far fetched for me that made it difficult to delve deeper into the fantasy element, but they were scattered here and there, not a constant thing.
What I wasn't keen on was the fact the majority of the book takes place over the course of two days and during those two days Aurianna and Branson topple head over heels. It was cute, but the hormonal drive behind Branson was tiresome and distracted from the overall story. I would have liked to see deeper connections here rather than a superficial love.
There are also a few moments that I found myself having to pause, go back and read a few passages more than once or even twice, because it seemed to have flown directly into a memory or a feeling of a memory.
Overall, though, I enjoyed it and read it quickly. It was difficult to rate, but I would give it a 3.2
Website - Facebook - Instagram
October 22, 2016
If I have to categorize this book, it would be ya paranormal romance. It is a highly popular genre as of late, but I can’t say I’m altogether fond of it.
Here’s a quick summary of this book. Aurianna is a dryad, and her life is perfectly normal—as far as dryads goes—until the night a human teenager drives a car into her grandmother’s tree and kills her—the grandmother, not Aurianna. She tries to kill him, but discovered—shock of all shock—that he’s very attractive and she just couldn’t. Her people rejects her. To get back into the fold, she promises she’d kill him. For the next two days she tries. They meet, fall in lust—um, I mean love—and… Well, of course things don’t go to plan.
The good. Interesting world building, although it does leave you with lots of questions. I mean, dryads with names like Athena and Morganna? Those are blatantly European names. That probably means they’re European. What does that say about the world pre-Columbus? Are there dryads in Europe? Does it even make sense that dryads would be the same in Europe as they are in America? Where are the Native Americans? What were they doing? Surely they’d know more about the Dryads than even the Kings would? This is a whole lot more interesting than the lovebirds’ tragic love affair.
The bad. The characters. The only one I like for a fact is Abraham, and for that reason alone I’ll read the prequel. I don’t care for either Branson or Aurianna. Sure, they’re flawed, and yes, they’re interesting, but that still doesn’t mean I like them. The constant sexual tension doesn’t help matters.
Oh, and this.
"Her pale pink lips parted."
"Those pink lips trembled now."
What's with authors describing body parts like they're animated things independent of the body?
Physical beauty is probably part of the point, but when the author writes that Aurianna has "big light green eyes" and "soft, pale, pink lips," all I can think of is anime character, not beautiful teenage girl.
The plot is okay. There are neither twists nor turns, which is fine. Everything is obvious; nothing is mysterious, which is also fine. I understand I’m probably not the target audience for this novel, and that is also fine. My standards for romance are rather high, and I care little for teenage hormones, but I simply can’t pass up fantasy. I came for the Dryads, and I’ll stay for the dryads. Oh, and all the other fantasy creatures. And Abraham and Dorothy.
Here’s a quick summary of this book. Aurianna is a dryad, and her life is perfectly normal—as far as dryads goes—until the night a human teenager drives a car into her grandmother’s tree and kills her—the grandmother, not Aurianna. She tries to kill him, but discovered—shock of all shock—that he’s very attractive and she just couldn’t. Her people rejects her. To get back into the fold, she promises she’d kill him. For the next two days she tries. They meet, fall in lust—um, I mean love—and… Well, of course things don’t go to plan.
The good. Interesting world building, although it does leave you with lots of questions. I mean, dryads with names like Athena and Morganna? Those are blatantly European names. That probably means they’re European. What does that say about the world pre-Columbus? Are there dryads in Europe? Does it even make sense that dryads would be the same in Europe as they are in America? Where are the Native Americans? What were they doing? Surely they’d know more about the Dryads than even the Kings would? This is a whole lot more interesting than the lovebirds’ tragic love affair.
The bad. The characters. The only one I like for a fact is Abraham, and for that reason alone I’ll read the prequel. I don’t care for either Branson or Aurianna. Sure, they’re flawed, and yes, they’re interesting, but that still doesn’t mean I like them. The constant sexual tension doesn’t help matters.
Oh, and this.
"Her pale pink lips parted."
"Those pink lips trembled now."
What's with authors describing body parts like they're animated things independent of the body?
Physical beauty is probably part of the point, but when the author writes that Aurianna has "big light green eyes" and "soft, pale, pink lips," all I can think of is anime character, not beautiful teenage girl.
The plot is okay. There are neither twists nor turns, which is fine. Everything is obvious; nothing is mysterious, which is also fine. I understand I’m probably not the target audience for this novel, and that is also fine. My standards for romance are rather high, and I care little for teenage hormones, but I simply can’t pass up fantasy. I came for the Dryads, and I’ll stay for the dryads. Oh, and all the other fantasy creatures. And Abraham and Dorothy.
May 18, 2016
I have got a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This review contains spoilers!
I have read over a 100 fantasy books but this is the first one with dryads. I knew nothing about them that's why I really wanted to read Orison. You can tell that Branden Bell put a lot of thought in the storyline, everything happens for a reason, one thing connects to another and there are no loose ends which is great. Everything that happened is explained sooner or later so you're not gonna be scratching your head for too long. There were few things that felt weird though, like Aunt Dorothy driving the roadkill over and over again and then suddenly having an accident and breaking her wrists. That was just the strangest thing that didn't really seem possible.
I really liked the characters, Aurianna was just sweet, sweet girl and had incredible powers. I liked the way she changed from scared to confident, from only thinking of how to please people to thinking of her own happiness and doing what's right. It was great to read about her discovering her human body and feelings.
Branson was a really good character as well. At the beginning I thought he was sulking a bit but when I found out that he actually killed his parents then I felt so sorry for him. He acted like a horny teenager around Aurianna but he was just 17 so I guess that's ok. Even though he did drink and had fun with too many girls, he did have a good heart.
I loved the happy ending there, I know that Mr. Bell gave us a bit to think about what Marissa is going to ask Branson in the future but still it felt like a happy ending to me.
Good book, it makes you want to read more and more as you can't wait to find out what's gonna happen next.
I have read over a 100 fantasy books but this is the first one with dryads. I knew nothing about them that's why I really wanted to read Orison. You can tell that Branden Bell put a lot of thought in the storyline, everything happens for a reason, one thing connects to another and there are no loose ends which is great. Everything that happened is explained sooner or later so you're not gonna be scratching your head for too long. There were few things that felt weird though, like Aunt Dorothy driving the roadkill over and over again and then suddenly having an accident and breaking her wrists. That was just the strangest thing that didn't really seem possible.
I really liked the characters, Aurianna was just sweet, sweet girl and had incredible powers. I liked the way she changed from scared to confident, from only thinking of how to please people to thinking of her own happiness and doing what's right. It was great to read about her discovering her human body and feelings.
Branson was a really good character as well. At the beginning I thought he was sulking a bit but when I found out that he actually killed his parents then I felt so sorry for him. He acted like a horny teenager around Aurianna but he was just 17 so I guess that's ok. Even though he did drink and had fun with too many girls, he did have a good heart.
I loved the happy ending there, I know that Mr. Bell gave us a bit to think about what Marissa is going to ask Branson in the future but still it felt like a happy ending to me.
Good book, it makes you want to read more and more as you can't wait to find out what's gonna happen next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2016
I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK! THANK YOU EBOOKSFORREVIEW FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS BOOK :)
Okay there's quite a bit to be said, but noticing that I forget along the way, this review might not be as long as I have hoped.
This wasn't a bad book. It was actually pretty good. Learning about dryads and such was great. The plot I feel had a nice flow to it too for the most part. There were times when I screamed at the book because I was engrossed with the story.
The dialogue was almost great. I wish I didn't have to say almost. It might be just me, but I found a bit of the dialogue between Branson and Aurianna to be a bit bland. A bit straightforward? (And I don't mean Aurianna's straightforwardness if you know what I mean).
I feel that everything works including the little "steamy" parts, but then comes the emotional part between the two love interests and it's like I'm not feeling that it's there. It might be just me and my hypersensitive self, but I found their "love story" to be a bit frank and not taken to another level. I can't word things properly, so you may not understand what I mean until you read it, but I truly didn't really feel for the relationship. If I did, it was due to the circumstances that the plot brought upon these two.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I'll be on the lookout for Oblation, and I'm pretty excited to get to it!
ALSO MIGHT I ADD*** I don't believe the authors meant for this, but I read this as a The Little Mermaid retelling kind of. This is not a negative thing. Originality is overrated, okay? If anything, it made me enjoy the book a little more.
Okay there's quite a bit to be said, but noticing that I forget along the way, this review might not be as long as I have hoped.
This wasn't a bad book. It was actually pretty good. Learning about dryads and such was great. The plot I feel had a nice flow to it too for the most part. There were times when I screamed at the book because I was engrossed with the story.
The dialogue was almost great. I wish I didn't have to say almost. It might be just me, but I found a bit of the dialogue between Branson and Aurianna to be a bit bland. A bit straightforward? (And I don't mean Aurianna's straightforwardness if you know what I mean).
I feel that everything works including the little "steamy" parts, but then comes the emotional part between the two love interests and it's like I'm not feeling that it's there. It might be just me and my hypersensitive self, but I found their "love story" to be a bit frank and not taken to another level. I can't word things properly, so you may not understand what I mean until you read it, but I truly didn't really feel for the relationship. If I did, it was due to the circumstances that the plot brought upon these two.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I'll be on the lookout for Oblation, and I'm pretty excited to get to it!
ALSO MIGHT I ADD*** I don't believe the authors meant for this, but I read this as a The Little Mermaid retelling kind of. This is not a negative thing. Originality is overrated, okay? If anything, it made me enjoy the book a little more.
May 22, 2016
Wow. Just amazing. This YA fantasy is an absolute page turner. I loved this so much more than I expected to - I had high hopes, but they were surpassed. I am someone who loves fairies, so dryads were not that far off. I’m not normally a mythos reader, but I treasured every second with this. It was so well written and descriptive. It wasn’t a sappy story, but a true coming of age, making adult choices, and sacrificing for the ones you love kind of story.
Aurianna was written as such a strong character, who made her own decisions. Every character played an integral part of this story, and their past was revealed so cleverly and well. The transitioning between the two POVs was absolutely seamless. As everyone’s stories intertwine, this page turner (or should I say finger swiper?) had a lot of character development, and never failed to twist and turn.
I was so excited when I reached the end to see that this was going to be a series - a prequel and sequel are in the works. Nothing short of magical like the realm it is set in.
Get Orison by Brandon Gray: https://www.amazon.com/Orison-Brandon...
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Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aurianna was written as such a strong character, who made her own decisions. Every character played an integral part of this story, and their past was revealed so cleverly and well. The transitioning between the two POVs was absolutely seamless. As everyone’s stories intertwine, this page turner (or should I say finger swiper?) had a lot of character development, and never failed to twist and turn.
I was so excited when I reached the end to see that this was going to be a series - a prequel and sequel are in the works. Nothing short of magical like the realm it is set in.
Get Orison by Brandon Gray: https://www.amazon.com/Orison-Brandon...
Where you can find me on the interwebs:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Maskeddowsga...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissTrouble93
Snapchat: mrsmaskeddows
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Want to review free ebooks?: http://www.ebooksforreview.com/
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2016
**I received a copy of this book free from the Author and EbooksForReview.com in exchange for an honest review**
The concept of dryads, and them intermingling with humans was a very interesting concept. Initially, I found that the book was moving along rather slowly. I did not like Branson. I found him crude in his ideas about women. Additionally, I found his character unbelievable. He just seems so accepting about when he was told about the dryads. Regardless of that I found that I still wanted to read this book. I felt that there was something else going on, and I had to find out what it was. The story held my attention even through the slow times. Needless, to say the second half of the book is where the action happens and all of my questions were answered.
I think Brandon Gray did an excellent job of planting questions in your mind with his story. Through it all, I saw Branson change from crude to compassionate, kind and caring. Truths were revealed and alliances were built that were not unexpected. This book was more than just a dryad swearing an oath to kill a human after killing his grandmother, much more. With the help of flashbacks, Brandon helps you discover the secrets of a family, at least four generations, that threatens to destroy the present and the future.
The concept of dryads, and them intermingling with humans was a very interesting concept. Initially, I found that the book was moving along rather slowly. I did not like Branson. I found him crude in his ideas about women. Additionally, I found his character unbelievable. He just seems so accepting about when he was told about the dryads. Regardless of that I found that I still wanted to read this book. I felt that there was something else going on, and I had to find out what it was. The story held my attention even through the slow times. Needless, to say the second half of the book is where the action happens and all of my questions were answered.
I think Brandon Gray did an excellent job of planting questions in your mind with his story. Through it all, I saw Branson change from crude to compassionate, kind and caring. Truths were revealed and alliances were built that were not unexpected. This book was more than just a dryad swearing an oath to kill a human after killing his grandmother, much more. With the help of flashbacks, Brandon helps you discover the secrets of a family, at least four generations, that threatens to destroy the present and the future.
August 31, 2016
The Plot
Aurianna lives shunned and alone. When human named Branson King crashes into a tree and kills her grandmother, the dryads force Aurianna to take an oath that she will kill Branson—or die herself as punishment. But instead Aurianna discovers affection, and sparks of passion—along with a deadly secret. As her relationship with Branson grows, Aurianna realizes she must kill the only person that might ever love her.
The Review
This book is so fascinating. I have never read a book about dryads (tree spirits) before! This novel had me captivated since I read the description about it! The plot was genius and immerses you in a magical world that feels like its happening around you. I loved the idea of the Orison song they sing to release her grandmothers spirit and all of the by laws were very interesting. It was breath catching as you watched Aurianna make every decision for herself and watch the punishments she is given and how she learns to stand on her own. This book is a quick read, though not in a bad way. just one that you cant put down. This is a definite book to be on everyone's TBR list as it is so unique. Thank you Braden for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
Aurianna lives shunned and alone. When human named Branson King crashes into a tree and kills her grandmother, the dryads force Aurianna to take an oath that she will kill Branson—or die herself as punishment. But instead Aurianna discovers affection, and sparks of passion—along with a deadly secret. As her relationship with Branson grows, Aurianna realizes she must kill the only person that might ever love her.
The Review
This book is so fascinating. I have never read a book about dryads (tree spirits) before! This novel had me captivated since I read the description about it! The plot was genius and immerses you in a magical world that feels like its happening around you. I loved the idea of the Orison song they sing to release her grandmothers spirit and all of the by laws were very interesting. It was breath catching as you watched Aurianna make every decision for herself and watch the punishments she is given and how she learns to stand on her own. This book is a quick read, though not in a bad way. just one that you cant put down. This is a definite book to be on everyone's TBR list as it is so unique. Thank you Braden for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 29, 2016
I was given a copy of this book to read and write an honest review so here goes:
I read a lot of YA supernatural type books. I loved this story. It wasn't just a "human falls in love with (enter mythical creature here) story" I think what made it different and better in my opinion is aunt Judith. She was human. She was evil. And there was some sort of missing child mystery buried in the story.
I think this book would have been a lot better if they expanded more on the mystery of what had happened in the past and avoided all the "crush lips" parts. The romance told from auriannas pov was like listening to a toddler describe sex. It was awful. The character development with the two main characters was not very well done at all. However the character of Judith seemed deep and intense and I would read an entire book about her.
And can we please get some sort of explanation about the three kids that went missing. It's assumed they were the three trees locked away in the dungeon but who knows.
So many loose ends. Apparently there will be a sequel. Hopefully it's better than this one. I'll read it! But only because I did really enjoy the story. I just can't stand the characters.
I read a lot of YA supernatural type books. I loved this story. It wasn't just a "human falls in love with (enter mythical creature here) story" I think what made it different and better in my opinion is aunt Judith. She was human. She was evil. And there was some sort of missing child mystery buried in the story.
I think this book would have been a lot better if they expanded more on the mystery of what had happened in the past and avoided all the "crush lips" parts. The romance told from auriannas pov was like listening to a toddler describe sex. It was awful. The character development with the two main characters was not very well done at all. However the character of Judith seemed deep and intense and I would read an entire book about her.
And can we please get some sort of explanation about the three kids that went missing. It's assumed they were the three trees locked away in the dungeon but who knows.
So many loose ends. Apparently there will be a sequel. Hopefully it's better than this one. I'll read it! But only because I did really enjoy the story. I just can't stand the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2016
This was an absolutely fantastic read start to finish. It has wonderful elements of fantasy, betrayal, love, passion, and sacrifice.
"He took my heart the night he killed my grandmother, the night I swore the Blood Oath, binding my life to his death".
Orison begins with the tragic death of Aurianna's grandmother, which occurs when a boy named Branson King crashes into her grandmother's tree with his car. As a dryad, Aurianna must sing the Orison to release her grandmother's spirit from her tree and is bound to spill the blood of the one who killed her kin through the Blood Oath. Aurianna is unable to kill Branson as he lay at her feet and instead heals him. She's made an outcast by her people, but she can return if she fulfills the Oath.
"Now my Oath compelled me to kill the one person who might love me to avenge someone who never had".
Aurianna is in for a surprise as she ultimately finds out what happened to her mother as well as the secrets of both her kin and the King family.
This story wanted for nothing. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out!
Disclaimer: this book was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
"He took my heart the night he killed my grandmother, the night I swore the Blood Oath, binding my life to his death".
Orison begins with the tragic death of Aurianna's grandmother, which occurs when a boy named Branson King crashes into her grandmother's tree with his car. As a dryad, Aurianna must sing the Orison to release her grandmother's spirit from her tree and is bound to spill the blood of the one who killed her kin through the Blood Oath. Aurianna is unable to kill Branson as he lay at her feet and instead heals him. She's made an outcast by her people, but she can return if she fulfills the Oath.
"Now my Oath compelled me to kill the one person who might love me to avenge someone who never had".
Aurianna is in for a surprise as she ultimately finds out what happened to her mother as well as the secrets of both her kin and the King family.
This story wanted for nothing. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out!
Disclaimer: this book was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2016
Shunned by the other dryads, Aurianna lives unloved and alone. When a beautiful human named Branson King crashes into a tree and kills her grandmother, the dryads force Aurianna to take an oath that she will find and kill Branson—or die herself. But instead of finding a hardened human heart, Aurianna discovers friendship, affection, and sparks of passion—along with a deadly secret. As her relationship with Branson grows, Aurianna is confronted with a harsh reality: in order to live, she must kill the only person that might ever love her.
This book is definitely not original. An Orison is a prayer and that is truly what was needed here. The book is nonsensical, one dimensional, ordinary, and a waste of time. Predictable from the start. I love fantasy and fiction, but reading this book took real effort and stamina. Another thing I really don't like is when they write and place it in modern times. It just doesn't seem to go together. If you are thinking on getting this book, put it back on the shelf, don't waist your time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book is definitely not original. An Orison is a prayer and that is truly what was needed here. The book is nonsensical, one dimensional, ordinary, and a waste of time. Predictable from the start. I love fantasy and fiction, but reading this book took real effort and stamina. Another thing I really don't like is when they write and place it in modern times. It just doesn't seem to go together. If you are thinking on getting this book, put it back on the shelf, don't waist your time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 24, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the book! The overarching story line is a combination of original idea, "The Little Mermaid Disney version," and mythology. I appreciate how the story is told from the perspective of both Brayden and Auraria. The plot-line lends itself to a "whodunit" genre, and I could connect the dots to solve the puzzle by the back and forth between these two characters (almost! There was a big, unexpected change of events that made me rethink my conclusion!). I also appreciate how the romance aspect was kept within an appropriate frame for young adults; I would feel comfortable recommending this book to a teenager or adult without feeling embarrassed about or judged by what I read. This book was a relatively quick read and perfect for a day or two at the pool. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I feel 5-star books should captivate me so much that I can't function until I finish the book. This book was enjoyable, but I could put it down, and again, it was somewhat predictable.
August 22, 2016
This book was a difficult read for me. I started it a while back, got into about 20%, felt my interest in the storyline waver, and ended up reading several other books before returning to finish this one.
This book was a first introduction into the dryad world for me, and although it is a fairly interesting world, and a good spin the whole fantasy YA genre, I found this book to be a little cliché at times, and dragging due to the long sentences and stilted conversations sometimes. I understand Aurianna, the main character in this book isn’t familiar with the world she is sent into, but sometimes the way she describes certain emotions, situations or objects had me zoning out.
Having said this, upon returning to the book, I found myself getting more and more engrossed into the whole storyline, and turning the pages to find out how this was going to pan out.
I found the story of the past much more compelling, and the discovery of it a fascinating read, but I did not feel I connected with the main characters really, which leads me to my three-star rating.
This book was a first introduction into the dryad world for me, and although it is a fairly interesting world, and a good spin the whole fantasy YA genre, I found this book to be a little cliché at times, and dragging due to the long sentences and stilted conversations sometimes. I understand Aurianna, the main character in this book isn’t familiar with the world she is sent into, but sometimes the way she describes certain emotions, situations or objects had me zoning out.
Having said this, upon returning to the book, I found myself getting more and more engrossed into the whole storyline, and turning the pages to find out how this was going to pan out.
I found the story of the past much more compelling, and the discovery of it a fascinating read, but I did not feel I connected with the main characters really, which leads me to my three-star rating.
July 10, 2016
This was a cute story with a Little Mermaid twist.
Adrianna has 3 days to advenge the death of her grandmother by a human.
The synopsis basically tells what her struggles are. So my question is this, why did she agree to do this? The other dryards her grandmother included shunned her over the decisions made by her mother, a woman she never knew. Why does she feel she should give up her options in life for them?
My other problem throughout the book finally came to a rest when I got to the end and found out it was the first in a series. So I'm really hoping we'll learn what exactly it was Branson did to be put in his aunts custody.
I really hated Judith so I felt a little cheated Branson never got to confront her over what she did.
There's a preview to the prequel at the end and it made Abraham's story sound really interesting.
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics.
Adrianna has 3 days to advenge the death of her grandmother by a human.
The synopsis basically tells what her struggles are. So my question is this, why did she agree to do this? The other dryards her grandmother included shunned her over the decisions made by her mother, a woman she never knew. Why does she feel she should give up her options in life for them?
My other problem throughout the book finally came to a rest when I got to the end and found out it was the first in a series. So I'm really hoping we'll learn what exactly it was Branson did to be put in his aunts custody.
I really hated Judith so I felt a little cheated Branson never got to confront her over what she did.
There's a preview to the prequel at the end and it made Abraham's story sound really interesting.
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics.
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