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The Mosaic
Twin girls discover a mystical world contained within a crumbling mosaic, and they must restore it before an evil witch seizes its power, even if doing so could tear their family apart.
Secrets. It all started while looking for secret passages. Chloe Tozier’s impulsive twin, Zoe, insisted that all old mansions had them. Grandma denied the existence of any here. Except for the boarded-up service elevator that she conveniently forgot to mention before the girls discovered it, the elevator that didn’t seem to go anywhere. They had been living in this private museum with their grandparents since the death of their parents during an archaeology trip to Egypt.
Mysteries. Why have a museum in a tiny town in the middle of Kansas when what’s on display is nothing unusual? Sometimes packages arrived wrapped in plain brown paper that the girls never saw again. Grandpa disappeared overnight and they haven’t heard from him since. And before going to Egypt their parents had mentioned something about a mysterious mosaic. Maybe Zoe was right about family secrets. Maybe it was time to dig further.
Secrets. It all started while looking for secret passages. Chloe Tozier’s impulsive twin, Zoe, insisted that all old mansions had them. Grandma denied the existence of any here. Except for the boarded-up service elevator that she conveniently forgot to mention before the girls discovered it, the elevator that didn’t seem to go anywhere. They had been living in this private museum with their grandparents since the death of their parents during an archaeology trip to Egypt.
Mysteries. Why have a museum in a tiny town in the middle of Kansas when what’s on display is nothing unusual? Sometimes packages arrived wrapped in plain brown paper that the girls never saw again. Grandpa disappeared overnight and they haven’t heard from him since. And before going to Egypt their parents had mentioned something about a mysterious mosaic. Maybe Zoe was right about family secrets. Maybe it was time to dig further.
- GenresYoung Adult
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2016
4 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 19, 2019
The Mosaic checks most all of the fantasy genre boxes. The world building is fantasy blended into the real world which is rather interesting. Meanwhile the young twin girls, are growing up in an old mansion that is hiding a secret. The device created is unique and kept me interested.
Notably the characters are varied, complex and caught between good and evil. I would definitely say this is the strongest point of the book as I tend to be attracted to those with realistic development of relationships.
Best read of the year so far!
Notably the characters are varied, complex and caught between good and evil. I would definitely say this is the strongest point of the book as I tend to be attracted to those with realistic development of relationships.
Best read of the year so far!
February 26, 2018
I loved this! It reminded me a lot of Rick Riordan's The Kane Chronicles series, and would definitely appeal to fans of any of Riordan's series. It is impossible to resist secret passages and a mysterious elevator (even for adults!), so when these twins decide to investigate their family's secrets, it is no wonder that they discover more than they bargained for. This is very well-written and the story original and captivating, and while I would have liked to have seen more of Zoe's point of view, it didn't take away from the book as a whole. These two characters are so likable and fun, and I would love to see them as they grow up and continue their adventures together. Very well-crafted story with a fantastic cover - what's not to love?
June 22, 2018
The Mosaic is a great tale of magical discovery. The book is filled with dashes of great writing and world building that’s fancifully detailed and a pleasure to learn about.
I thought the novel opened with an intriguing start, but after the very first chapter focused on Severin, it was a bit of a slog waiting for Chloe and Zoe to enter the fantastical world. The novel is slow paced overall, and I much preferred Severin’s chapters, but that’s probably just me.
The villains were well done. I particularly like the Dream Reaper and the dynamic between him and with Severin, but I would’ve liked their sword fight to have been longer and more epic. I thought it had been building to it, but it was rather short in the end.
Zoe also seemed a far more likeable and complex character than Chloe, but I appreciate that the author spent time creating an authentic sibling bond between them.
Reminiscent of both the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and Wizard of Oz, Mosaic is a cosy fantasy read for people of all ages.
I thought the novel opened with an intriguing start, but after the very first chapter focused on Severin, it was a bit of a slog waiting for Chloe and Zoe to enter the fantastical world. The novel is slow paced overall, and I much preferred Severin’s chapters, but that’s probably just me.
The villains were well done. I particularly like the Dream Reaper and the dynamic between him and with Severin, but I would’ve liked their sword fight to have been longer and more epic. I thought it had been building to it, but it was rather short in the end.
Zoe also seemed a far more likeable and complex character than Chloe, but I appreciate that the author spent time creating an authentic sibling bond between them.
Reminiscent of both the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and Wizard of Oz, Mosaic is a cosy fantasy read for people of all ages.
February 10, 2018
Characters
Chloe and Zoe are super cute but very much cookie cutter characters. I never felt like they really broke out of their shell and were very two dimensional characters for most of the book. I also struggled with the story being primarily from Chloe's perspective and almost not at all from her sister's. That being said as the book progressed they grew on me. There are a plethora of supporting characters but most of them are amazing! Favorite character by far was Severin. He saved this book in the character department for me! I would read an entire book with just his story! The villain was a little flat, but decently evil.
Plot
This is for sure a YA plot. I loved the back story and was totally engaged in those chapters. Totally swept up in them and transported to a land before magic was taken. The plot was wrapped around a big baddie escaping and two twin teens being the only ones who can set everything right. After a wonderful opening chapter the rest started off a little slow but that was because it felt like the origin story to a series. Once you get past that introductory piece the plot focuses on the Mosaic and that is when the real fun begins. I consumed the last 40% of this book in one sitting because I JUST HAD TO KNOW!
Overall
The world building and originality of the plot behind the mosaic was this book's strength. It is a whirl wind adventure for the second half of the book and you won't want to put this book down once you reach that part. The writing was easy to follow and written for a YA crowd but adults who enjoy YA would enjoy as well. Vivid fantasy characters/creatures were woven throughout the book that were awesome! There were scenes that I could see playing as a movie in my head.
I was totally sucked in for the second half of the book! I'd get excited every flash back or Severin chapter showed up. They were by far the highlights of the book. The history of the Mosaic and their guardians is well with the rest of the book. If you'd like a fun adventure with a YA feel, but sure to pick this up!
My personal opinion was this would have made for an epic adult book and was actually limited by its YA characters. Although cute and fun it could have easily competed with other wonderful books had it shed its YA skin. Its YA main characters and YA friendly villain drained some of the excitement and originality of the story.
Rating
4.5 Stars
This is a solid 4 star book and well worth the time, particularly if you love YA books and characters that are tried and true. Overall a fantastically original plot/idea, but not very original heroines so I just couldn't give it 5 stars.
This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.
Chloe and Zoe are super cute but very much cookie cutter characters. I never felt like they really broke out of their shell and were very two dimensional characters for most of the book. I also struggled with the story being primarily from Chloe's perspective and almost not at all from her sister's. That being said as the book progressed they grew on me. There are a plethora of supporting characters but most of them are amazing! Favorite character by far was Severin. He saved this book in the character department for me! I would read an entire book with just his story! The villain was a little flat, but decently evil.
Plot
This is for sure a YA plot. I loved the back story and was totally engaged in those chapters. Totally swept up in them and transported to a land before magic was taken. The plot was wrapped around a big baddie escaping and two twin teens being the only ones who can set everything right. After a wonderful opening chapter the rest started off a little slow but that was because it felt like the origin story to a series. Once you get past that introductory piece the plot focuses on the Mosaic and that is when the real fun begins. I consumed the last 40% of this book in one sitting because I JUST HAD TO KNOW!
Overall
The world building and originality of the plot behind the mosaic was this book's strength. It is a whirl wind adventure for the second half of the book and you won't want to put this book down once you reach that part. The writing was easy to follow and written for a YA crowd but adults who enjoy YA would enjoy as well. Vivid fantasy characters/creatures were woven throughout the book that were awesome! There were scenes that I could see playing as a movie in my head.
I was totally sucked in for the second half of the book! I'd get excited every flash back or Severin chapter showed up. They were by far the highlights of the book. The history of the Mosaic and their guardians is well with the rest of the book. If you'd like a fun adventure with a YA feel, but sure to pick this up!
My personal opinion was this would have made for an epic adult book and was actually limited by its YA characters. Although cute and fun it could have easily competed with other wonderful books had it shed its YA skin. Its YA main characters and YA friendly villain drained some of the excitement and originality of the story.
Rating
4.5 Stars
This is a solid 4 star book and well worth the time, particularly if you love YA books and characters that are tried and true. Overall a fantastically original plot/idea, but not very original heroines so I just couldn't give it 5 stars.
This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.
February 26, 2018
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: +13 (violence)
Pages: 312
Author Website
Amazon Link
I received a free copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Twin girls discover a mystical world contained within a crumbling mosaic, and they must restore it before an evil witch seizes its power, even if doing so could tear their family apart. Secrets. It all started while looking for secret passages. Chloe Tozier’s impulsive twin, Zoe, insisted that all old mansions had them. Grandma denied the existence of any here. Except for the boarded-up service elevator that she conveniently forgot to mention before the girls discovered it, the elevator that didn’t seem to go anywhere. They had been living in this private museum with their grandparents since the death of their parents during an archaeology trip to Egypt. Mysteries. Why have a museum in a tiny town in the middle of Kansas when what’s on display is nothing unusual? Sometimes packages arrived wrapped in plain brown paper that the girls never saw again. Grandpa disappeared overnight and they haven’t heard from him since. And before going to Egypt their parents had mentioned something about a mysterious mosaic. Maybe Zoe was right about family secrets. Maybe it was time to dig further.
So this book was honestly surprisingly good. I didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did! The world building was amazing and the character development was as well. The book didn’t really have any love interests and the story really focused on the twins relationship which is special in the YA genre. The book also had a good plot and interesting storyline that kept me intrigued throughout the whole of it.
However, the book read really young (maybe because of the no love interests) and the book’s pacing was a little slow for me (but it may not be for you).
Verdict: Overall, I thought this book was marvelous and I liked it. Read if you’re interested in a book without romance and a true sisterly bond.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: +13 (violence)
Pages: 312
Author Website
Amazon Link
I received a free copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Twin girls discover a mystical world contained within a crumbling mosaic, and they must restore it before an evil witch seizes its power, even if doing so could tear their family apart. Secrets. It all started while looking for secret passages. Chloe Tozier’s impulsive twin, Zoe, insisted that all old mansions had them. Grandma denied the existence of any here. Except for the boarded-up service elevator that she conveniently forgot to mention before the girls discovered it, the elevator that didn’t seem to go anywhere. They had been living in this private museum with their grandparents since the death of their parents during an archaeology trip to Egypt. Mysteries. Why have a museum in a tiny town in the middle of Kansas when what’s on display is nothing unusual? Sometimes packages arrived wrapped in plain brown paper that the girls never saw again. Grandpa disappeared overnight and they haven’t heard from him since. And before going to Egypt their parents had mentioned something about a mysterious mosaic. Maybe Zoe was right about family secrets. Maybe it was time to dig further.
So this book was honestly surprisingly good. I didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did! The world building was amazing and the character development was as well. The book didn’t really have any love interests and the story really focused on the twins relationship which is special in the YA genre. The book also had a good plot and interesting storyline that kept me intrigued throughout the whole of it.
However, the book read really young (maybe because of the no love interests) and the book’s pacing was a little slow for me (but it may not be for you).
Verdict: Overall, I thought this book was marvelous and I liked it. Read if you’re interested in a book without romance and a true sisterly bond.
December 2, 2017
Well Wrought YA Fantasy
"Why do Grandpa and Grandma own a museum? Why are our parents gone? Why did Grandpa disappear? That makes for one ginormous mystery, don’t ya think?"
Zoe and Chloe are twins who live in a mansion that has been turned into a Museum. With their parents killed in a cave in on an archaeological expedition, they now live with their Grandmother and help run the museum. But this summer when the twins are fifteen, their world is transformed by a strange discovery in the museum. Hidden away at the back of a basement they did not know was there, the girls find a mysterious partially complete mosaic. This leads them to more discoveries about the world of magic and their own unique family heritage.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the wonderful cover. It is a sort of snakeskin tiled-effect in jewel-bright colours with the central ring of runes that looks really intriguing. The story inside did not disappoint - a well written and well-crafted tale with lots of action and fantasy, nice touches of humour and some very cool concepts. Unlike many YA fantasies of this type, I found it mercifully free from romance and the twins are allowed to be strong and adventurous characters without needing any boyfriend to hold their hands through those adventures.
'With a brilliant flash, a perfect male form that looked as if it had been dipped in gold flapped the wings on its back.'
The fantasy worldbuilding was very strong in this book - with explorations of the magical world trapped in the mosaic. The foundation for the existence of the magical world was the weakest aspect of this, in my opinion, pretty much left as 'just cos'. But once over that step, the rest was rich and deep. The characters are decently fleshed out on the whole, although many of the supernatural beings tended to be a little more than 'gallery' characters - those with an appearance or ability that the reader could admire or wonder at. Chloe and Zoe were a little stereotyped between the rebellious adventurous one and the studious more common-sense one, but they did escape these templates to become a bit more fully rounded as the story progressed.
“Being a prince is highly overrated. People expect stereotypical behaviour and proper decorum from a prince.”
The downside for me was the story seemed set up about a third of the way through and then there was a kind of hiatus in pace until the last third. Things happened, but they didn't really seem to progress events too much. A lot of time was spent on the searches for individual mosaic pieces. Each mini-adventure had its appeal but it still felt like marking-time - things happening rather than story progressing.
I think this is one of the better YA fantasies I have read, certainly one of the better-written ones and one with believable, strong, female characters who don't spend their time fending off inappropriately adoring males. So if you are up for some YA high adventure with fantasy, I recommend this book.
"Why do Grandpa and Grandma own a museum? Why are our parents gone? Why did Grandpa disappear? That makes for one ginormous mystery, don’t ya think?"
Zoe and Chloe are twins who live in a mansion that has been turned into a Museum. With their parents killed in a cave in on an archaeological expedition, they now live with their Grandmother and help run the museum. But this summer when the twins are fifteen, their world is transformed by a strange discovery in the museum. Hidden away at the back of a basement they did not know was there, the girls find a mysterious partially complete mosaic. This leads them to more discoveries about the world of magic and their own unique family heritage.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the wonderful cover. It is a sort of snakeskin tiled-effect in jewel-bright colours with the central ring of runes that looks really intriguing. The story inside did not disappoint - a well written and well-crafted tale with lots of action and fantasy, nice touches of humour and some very cool concepts. Unlike many YA fantasies of this type, I found it mercifully free from romance and the twins are allowed to be strong and adventurous characters without needing any boyfriend to hold their hands through those adventures.
'With a brilliant flash, a perfect male form that looked as if it had been dipped in gold flapped the wings on its back.'
The fantasy worldbuilding was very strong in this book - with explorations of the magical world trapped in the mosaic. The foundation for the existence of the magical world was the weakest aspect of this, in my opinion, pretty much left as 'just cos'. But once over that step, the rest was rich and deep. The characters are decently fleshed out on the whole, although many of the supernatural beings tended to be a little more than 'gallery' characters - those with an appearance or ability that the reader could admire or wonder at. Chloe and Zoe were a little stereotyped between the rebellious adventurous one and the studious more common-sense one, but they did escape these templates to become a bit more fully rounded as the story progressed.
“Being a prince is highly overrated. People expect stereotypical behaviour and proper decorum from a prince.”
The downside for me was the story seemed set up about a third of the way through and then there was a kind of hiatus in pace until the last third. Things happened, but they didn't really seem to progress events too much. A lot of time was spent on the searches for individual mosaic pieces. Each mini-adventure had its appeal but it still felt like marking-time - things happening rather than story progressing.
I think this is one of the better YA fantasies I have read, certainly one of the better-written ones and one with believable, strong, female characters who don't spend their time fending off inappropriately adoring males. So if you are up for some YA high adventure with fantasy, I recommend this book.
May 4, 2018
Missing parents and grandfather, an evil escaped queen, guardians of magical mosaics, witches, and curious twins create the plot to this YA Fantasy.
Keaton does a wonderful job creating the settings, and describing the actions in a way that the reader is engaged, never confused, and turning the page to wonder what is going to happen next. You dislike the bad characters, and want the good to succeed. Though there are differences in pacing throughout the book, ultimately I never felt chapters were unnecessary. Not everything needs non-stop action, especially when introductions and story-setting are needed.
My only hesitation in giving this fantasy book a five star rating is some of the character development and parts of the story-line. When I read a story, regardless of the age of the protagonists, for me to really get into a book, I need to place myself in their shoes and become the characters. I could never do that with this book. The characters were a bit two-dimensional and their reactions didn't mimic my own, or what I thought would be the standard response to some of their situations. Story wise, although fast-paced and engaging, they were reminiscent of many fantasy stories I've read before. Nothing blew me away with originality.
Overall, this story was a fun read packed with action in the second half, and easy to imagine the fantastical world that the writer created.
Keaton does a wonderful job creating the settings, and describing the actions in a way that the reader is engaged, never confused, and turning the page to wonder what is going to happen next. You dislike the bad characters, and want the good to succeed. Though there are differences in pacing throughout the book, ultimately I never felt chapters were unnecessary. Not everything needs non-stop action, especially when introductions and story-setting are needed.
My only hesitation in giving this fantasy book a five star rating is some of the character development and parts of the story-line. When I read a story, regardless of the age of the protagonists, for me to really get into a book, I need to place myself in their shoes and become the characters. I could never do that with this book. The characters were a bit two-dimensional and their reactions didn't mimic my own, or what I thought would be the standard response to some of their situations. Story wise, although fast-paced and engaging, they were reminiscent of many fantasy stories I've read before. Nothing blew me away with originality.
Overall, this story was a fun read packed with action in the second half, and easy to imagine the fantastical world that the writer created.
September 28, 2018
The Mosaic, by Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold, is an action-packed adventure for young adults that features a bowl full of fantastical creatures, a heap of magic & a sprinkling of heart. Twin sisters Chloe and Zoe are its teenage protagonists, each with a strong and unique personality that drives the story.
The sisters live with their Grandma in a museum in rural Kansas; their parents were archeologists who died on a dig when they were young kids and their Grandpa left two years before. When they find a secret passageway inside the museum that leads them to a hidden basement, things in their relatively quiet, rural life suddenly change. Their Grandma has been hiding a secret from them that is more amazing than they could have ever imagined, and soon they find themselves on an exciting journey to help her recover the pieces of The Mosaic so that it may be restored - and dangerous magic may be contained.
The Mosaic offers readers many magical characters of interest, with Severin (The Black Knight), and the Witch and Elf Queens being among the most highlighted. Yet what sparked my intrigue most some of the minor characters inspired from myths & fantasy - including Spriggans, Yetis, a Frost Dragon, a Troll, Kobolds, Tak - and more. The battle action reaches its climax in the story's final chapters, as the characters all converge on the museum in Kansas to fight for The Mosaic and determine the future of man & magical beings on Earth.
A fast-paced adventure with plenty of action, magic, and zany characters - The Mosaic is a young adult fantasy that will have readers caught in its spell.
The sisters live with their Grandma in a museum in rural Kansas; their parents were archeologists who died on a dig when they were young kids and their Grandpa left two years before. When they find a secret passageway inside the museum that leads them to a hidden basement, things in their relatively quiet, rural life suddenly change. Their Grandma has been hiding a secret from them that is more amazing than they could have ever imagined, and soon they find themselves on an exciting journey to help her recover the pieces of The Mosaic so that it may be restored - and dangerous magic may be contained.
The Mosaic offers readers many magical characters of interest, with Severin (The Black Knight), and the Witch and Elf Queens being among the most highlighted. Yet what sparked my intrigue most some of the minor characters inspired from myths & fantasy - including Spriggans, Yetis, a Frost Dragon, a Troll, Kobolds, Tak - and more. The battle action reaches its climax in the story's final chapters, as the characters all converge on the museum in Kansas to fight for The Mosaic and determine the future of man & magical beings on Earth.
A fast-paced adventure with plenty of action, magic, and zany characters - The Mosaic is a young adult fantasy that will have readers caught in its spell.
November 12, 2018
A mosaic that had trapped all magically beings was broken apart thousands of years earlier. The remains are in the basement of a small museum in a small midwestern town. Twins Chloe and Zoe’s grandmother runs the museum with their help. When they discover missing pieces, and Chloe realizes she can put them in, their adventures begin. Filled with all sorts of magical creatures, including good and bad witches, this was a scary but fun read.
May 7, 2018
This exciting young adult fantasy has all the ingredients to make an exciting fantasy read, which is what it accomplished. It has well-written characters, dark secrets and fast-paced action. As Chloe and Zoe explore the house they cause a chain of events to happen. A great beginning to the novel, with an almost Nania feel.
As the children dig further into the family secrets, it has you on the edge of your seat. Although I'm not an avid fantasy reader, I really enjoyed this story. The author talentedly created a plot you couldn't help but fall into and become lost within the magic of the words. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me enthralled and although the characters of the twins did grate on me a tiny bit, I invested in them enough to really want to find out what happened. The author knew how to create characters to make you hate them or invest in them.
With an exciting ending, this story would easily be easy to recommend for fantasy lovers.
As the children dig further into the family secrets, it has you on the edge of your seat. Although I'm not an avid fantasy reader, I really enjoyed this story. The author talentedly created a plot you couldn't help but fall into and become lost within the magic of the words. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me enthralled and although the characters of the twins did grate on me a tiny bit, I invested in them enough to really want to find out what happened. The author knew how to create characters to make you hate them or invest in them.
With an exciting ending, this story would easily be easy to recommend for fantasy lovers.
April 22, 2018
3.5 stars
This is a YA fantasy/fairy story with all the things that a YA audience would love: secret passageways, witchcraft, an Elf Queen, an old mansion, and dark secrets in the family of twin girls, Chloe and Zoe. The story centres around the mosaic, which has existed for thousands of years, but the pieces are scattered all over the world and have magical powers. And the twins are on a mission, that could prove deadly, to discover the mysteries contained within the crumbling mosaic. They battle evil forces, along the way, and discover even deadlier secrets within their own family.
From a YA point of view I much preferred the chapters with the voices of the twins rather than those with Severin, whose voice I felt was too adult at times, with words used that a YA audience wouldn't necessarily empathise with or understand.
There were a few things that didn't make sense though: Why the twins are apparently identical, but one is blonde and the other brunette. And one of the twins, Chloe, wonders if her sister, Zoe, was really her sister or a 'clone gone wrong', because they didn't look that much alike. In that case why call them 'identical'? It's stated that the 'identical' link is because it's biological, but it's down to whether they look identical or not at birth that states that fact. Non-identical twins can look very different from each other so that didn't make sense.
I also felt sometimes the responses from the twins to shocking news was a bit inauthentic at times. For example, without giving any plot spoilers, the grandmother tells the twins, about a family member who dies, 'a stranger, another collector killed him'.
And the response from Zoe is 'Eew!' which is a very odd response to that kind of news, and more apt for a response to a bad smell or taste. And responses such as these made me feel at time that the twins lacked depth, and weren't fully fleshed out as characters.
There have been several TV shows and books centred around a mosaic - I was reminded whilst reading of the Supernatural TV show, '666 Park Avenue' that has a mysterious mosaic in the basement of an expensive Manhattan high rise apartment, where mysterious deaths happen. The show was loosely based on a novel with the same name - so this concept wasn't particularly original - but overall this is an enjoyable read and a creative fantasy that most children and adults who like fantasy YA novels, will enjoy.
This is a YA fantasy/fairy story with all the things that a YA audience would love: secret passageways, witchcraft, an Elf Queen, an old mansion, and dark secrets in the family of twin girls, Chloe and Zoe. The story centres around the mosaic, which has existed for thousands of years, but the pieces are scattered all over the world and have magical powers. And the twins are on a mission, that could prove deadly, to discover the mysteries contained within the crumbling mosaic. They battle evil forces, along the way, and discover even deadlier secrets within their own family.
From a YA point of view I much preferred the chapters with the voices of the twins rather than those with Severin, whose voice I felt was too adult at times, with words used that a YA audience wouldn't necessarily empathise with or understand.
There were a few things that didn't make sense though: Why the twins are apparently identical, but one is blonde and the other brunette. And one of the twins, Chloe, wonders if her sister, Zoe, was really her sister or a 'clone gone wrong', because they didn't look that much alike. In that case why call them 'identical'? It's stated that the 'identical' link is because it's biological, but it's down to whether they look identical or not at birth that states that fact. Non-identical twins can look very different from each other so that didn't make sense.
I also felt sometimes the responses from the twins to shocking news was a bit inauthentic at times. For example, without giving any plot spoilers, the grandmother tells the twins, about a family member who dies, 'a stranger, another collector killed him'.
And the response from Zoe is 'Eew!' which is a very odd response to that kind of news, and more apt for a response to a bad smell or taste. And responses such as these made me feel at time that the twins lacked depth, and weren't fully fleshed out as characters.
There have been several TV shows and books centred around a mosaic - I was reminded whilst reading of the Supernatural TV show, '666 Park Avenue' that has a mysterious mosaic in the basement of an expensive Manhattan high rise apartment, where mysterious deaths happen. The show was loosely based on a novel with the same name - so this concept wasn't particularly original - but overall this is an enjoyable read and a creative fantasy that most children and adults who like fantasy YA novels, will enjoy.
December 3, 2017
Originally published at Risingshadow.
I'll start this review by saying that I'm glad I had an opportunity to read Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold's The Mosaic, because it's one of the most entertaining YA fantasy novels I've read this year. I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience that left me wanting more.
The Mosaic is one of those YA novels that can be recommended to young adults and adults alike, because its contents will please both readerships. It's an exciting and fast-paced novel with plenty of magic, because it has been written in the vein of classic YA fantasy novels. Depending on how you examine its contents, it can be classified either as fantasy or as urban fantasy.
I have a soft spot for this kind of YA fantasy novels, because I find them charming. It's great that Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold have written an engaging story and blended classic fantasy elements with modern storytelling, because it creates a compelling atmosphere.
Here's a bit of information about how the story begins:
Severin enters a building to steal and avoids the trap has been set for thieves. Soon he spots his objective: a piece of the Mosaic. Soon something goes a bit wrong and Severin accidentally releases Bacu, the Dream Reaper and the Witch Queen who have been in the Elf Queen's prison. He hopes that her unfamiliarity with the modern world will delay her... The twin girls, Chloe and Zoe Tozier, are spending the summer in their private museum in Riley, Kansas. Zoe thinks that grandma, Sintra, is hiding something. She is convinced that there's something hidden in the mansion. Chloe and Zoe have noticed that grandma gets packages, but they never see any of them again. One day they find a secret passage and decide to investigate it. Soon they find the Mosaic and learn about its power and find out about their own family heritage...
As you can see by this brief description about the happenings, there's quite a lot going on in this novel. I can reveal that this is merely the beginning, because the authors have much more in store for readers as the story begins to unfold.
I was surprised by how fluent and effortless the worldbuilding is in this novel, because the authors present readers with a fascinating vision of what has happened to the Magic Beings. It was interesting to find out what was revealed about the Magic World, the Elf Queen, the Witch Queen and the various Magic Beings. It was also fascinating to read about why the Mosaic was created and how important it was to repair it.
The characterisation is good, because the authors write well about the twins and what kind of a relationship they have. My first impression about Chloe and Zoe was that they felt a bit stereotypical YA characters, because Chloe was the sensible one and Zoe was the rebellious one, but fortunately their characters developed as the story began to unfold.
I enjoyed reading about the Magic Beings, because the authors made me marvel at their apperance and their abilities. For example, the dust bunnies were intriguing beings, because they could easily become quite a severe problem if allowed to multiply. The Sparrow was also an interesting and well-created being.
One of the best things about this novel is that it doesn't have any romantic elements, which have become the bane of way too many YA fantasy novels (I'm personally fed up with romantic YA fantasy novels, because most of them are anything but good and feature horrendous prose). It's great that the authors have concentrated on other matters than romance, because it makes a big difference to the quality of the story.
I like Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold's writing style, because they write good and solid prose. I've noticed that several YA novels have often been written in haste and too many authors seem to aim their stories at those who want instant action and little worldbuilding from their stories. Fortunately, Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold have managed to avoid these pitfalls and have paid attention to writing their story as well as possible.
If you're interested in YA fantasy and are looking for something entertaining to read, Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold's The Mosaic is a good choice, because it's charming entertainment from start to finish. It will charm everybody who allows themselves to be immersed in a good and fast-paced story.
My final words are:
The Mosaic is entertaining, fast-paced and well written YA fantasy!
I'll start this review by saying that I'm glad I had an opportunity to read Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold's The Mosaic, because it's one of the most entertaining YA fantasy novels I've read this year. I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience that left me wanting more.
The Mosaic is one of those YA novels that can be recommended to young adults and adults alike, because its contents will please both readerships. It's an exciting and fast-paced novel with plenty of magic, because it has been written in the vein of classic YA fantasy novels. Depending on how you examine its contents, it can be classified either as fantasy or as urban fantasy.
I have a soft spot for this kind of YA fantasy novels, because I find them charming. It's great that Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold have written an engaging story and blended classic fantasy elements with modern storytelling, because it creates a compelling atmosphere.
Here's a bit of information about how the story begins:
Severin enters a building to steal and avoids the trap has been set for thieves. Soon he spots his objective: a piece of the Mosaic. Soon something goes a bit wrong and Severin accidentally releases Bacu, the Dream Reaper and the Witch Queen who have been in the Elf Queen's prison. He hopes that her unfamiliarity with the modern world will delay her... The twin girls, Chloe and Zoe Tozier, are spending the summer in their private museum in Riley, Kansas. Zoe thinks that grandma, Sintra, is hiding something. She is convinced that there's something hidden in the mansion. Chloe and Zoe have noticed that grandma gets packages, but they never see any of them again. One day they find a secret passage and decide to investigate it. Soon they find the Mosaic and learn about its power and find out about their own family heritage...
As you can see by this brief description about the happenings, there's quite a lot going on in this novel. I can reveal that this is merely the beginning, because the authors have much more in store for readers as the story begins to unfold.
I was surprised by how fluent and effortless the worldbuilding is in this novel, because the authors present readers with a fascinating vision of what has happened to the Magic Beings. It was interesting to find out what was revealed about the Magic World, the Elf Queen, the Witch Queen and the various Magic Beings. It was also fascinating to read about why the Mosaic was created and how important it was to repair it.
The characterisation is good, because the authors write well about the twins and what kind of a relationship they have. My first impression about Chloe and Zoe was that they felt a bit stereotypical YA characters, because Chloe was the sensible one and Zoe was the rebellious one, but fortunately their characters developed as the story began to unfold.
I enjoyed reading about the Magic Beings, because the authors made me marvel at their apperance and their abilities. For example, the dust bunnies were intriguing beings, because they could easily become quite a severe problem if allowed to multiply. The Sparrow was also an interesting and well-created being.
One of the best things about this novel is that it doesn't have any romantic elements, which have become the bane of way too many YA fantasy novels (I'm personally fed up with romantic YA fantasy novels, because most of them are anything but good and feature horrendous prose). It's great that the authors have concentrated on other matters than romance, because it makes a big difference to the quality of the story.
I like Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold's writing style, because they write good and solid prose. I've noticed that several YA novels have often been written in haste and too many authors seem to aim their stories at those who want instant action and little worldbuilding from their stories. Fortunately, Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold have managed to avoid these pitfalls and have paid attention to writing their story as well as possible.
If you're interested in YA fantasy and are looking for something entertaining to read, Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold's The Mosaic is a good choice, because it's charming entertainment from start to finish. It will charm everybody who allows themselves to be immersed in a good and fast-paced story.
My final words are:
The Mosaic is entertaining, fast-paced and well written YA fantasy!
April 1, 2018
When Chloe and Zoe Tozier, orphaned teenage twins growing-up in their grandmothers quirky but seemingly dull Kansas museum/mansion, follow a wayward sparrow down a mysterious secret hallway to a basement they never knew existed—odd things start to happen fast. They discover a huge mosaic, hidden in the secret room, but it’s half destroyed. Replacing just one tile sets of a chime that alerts all of the magical creatures left on Earth—and war begins!
Fast-paced, written with verve and pluck, that can be both modern and nostalgic, this YA fantasy will enchant and entertain you (or your teen self). Plenty of scrapes and adventures, creatures of every type, complex relationships, magic, and danger for a whole series packed into one book. Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold have created a thoroughly believable magical adventure—and I’m looking forward to the next book!
Fast-paced, written with verve and pluck, that can be both modern and nostalgic, this YA fantasy will enchant and entertain you (or your teen self). Plenty of scrapes and adventures, creatures of every type, complex relationships, magic, and danger for a whole series packed into one book. Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold have created a thoroughly believable magical adventure—and I’m looking forward to the next book!
December 11, 2016
An epic fantasy masterpiece!
A spectacular fantasy novel, with a beautiful book cover!
A brilliant plot accompanied by brilliant writing- perfect pacing, exquisitely descriptive narrative and flawless dialogue.
An engaging, vivid assortment of characters- mythical, magical and ordinary human.
Chris Keaton is an extraordinary storyteller; from page 1 his words bring the pages to life.
Every page I turned left me more and deeper immersed in The Mosaic world of magic, myths and creatures of ancient legends.
Both dialogue and narrative are so spellbindingly vivid its as if I'm actually with the characters - seeing their adventures firsthand with my own eyes.
I can't wait for the release of the next Mosaic book!
A spectacular fantasy novel, with a beautiful book cover!
A brilliant plot accompanied by brilliant writing- perfect pacing, exquisitely descriptive narrative and flawless dialogue.
An engaging, vivid assortment of characters- mythical, magical and ordinary human.
Chris Keaton is an extraordinary storyteller; from page 1 his words bring the pages to life.
Every page I turned left me more and deeper immersed in The Mosaic world of magic, myths and creatures of ancient legends.
Both dialogue and narrative are so spellbindingly vivid its as if I'm actually with the characters - seeing their adventures firsthand with my own eyes.
I can't wait for the release of the next Mosaic book!
May 14, 2018
This is a fun fast-paced fantasy. I absolutely loved the premise of The Mosaic and the world-building made it come to life. There was a real sense of stakes and urgency that kept me reading. Even though this is geared toward a younger audience it is woven in a way that will hold more mature readers in suspense as well. The cast was filled with creatures like Charming and the Taks who are familiar but with twists that made it a unique tale. Perhaps because of the age, perhaps not, nether of twins grabbed me as they should have. Though that said, I appreciated that they were individuals who showed bravery and ingenuity. My favorite character was Severin as he seemed the most well-rounded. The fantasy aspects were easily my favorite part and I would love to read more backstory about this world as well as what happens next. Fantasy fans will enjoy this and it is safe for family reading with only mild violence.
April 2, 2019
I love stories that take place in creepy houses, and this is one of them. Twins, Chloe and Zoe, live with their grandmother above a museum in rural Kansas. Like typical teenagers, they're bored and decide to search for secret passages in the large house. They find a boarded-up service elevator, which arouses their curiosity. Even though their grandmother insists that the elevator leads to nowhere special, they investigate.
In the basement, they find the Mosaic, an artifact that holds mysteries. Parts of the Mosaic are missing.
The Mosaic reminds me of the artifacts on the TV show, Warehouse 13. Artifacts hold powers that can be dangerous.
The girls are no longer bored as they meet magical creatures, some good and some bad. They race to find the missing pieces before the forces converge on the mansion.
In the basement, they find the Mosaic, an artifact that holds mysteries. Parts of the Mosaic are missing.
The Mosaic reminds me of the artifacts on the TV show, Warehouse 13. Artifacts hold powers that can be dangerous.
The girls are no longer bored as they meet magical creatures, some good and some bad. They race to find the missing pieces before the forces converge on the mansion.
June 13, 2018
Chloe and Zoe Tozier, two teenage twins, are being raised by their grandmother who runs a small museum of curiosities in the lower floor of her home. They have lived normal lives for four years since the death of their parents during an Egyptian expedition, or so they believe. But grandma is no mere mortal. When the girls find this out and they also discover that their heritage is linked to the reconstruction a large mosaic that’s older than history the story really takes off. The girls discover interdimensional travel, all sorts of extra human creatures and fey and come face to face with an ancient evil and a conflict to defeat.
I’m not usually a fan of YA genre but this one was fast paced and a real page turner.
My best thought was that I wanted to read it to my Grandchildren as who love adventure stories as soon as I could!
I’m not usually a fan of YA genre but this one was fast paced and a real page turner.
My best thought was that I wanted to read it to my Grandchildren as who love adventure stories as soon as I could!
May 10, 2018
I liked The Mosaic, it was a fun read with plenty of magic and adventure. The Prose was decent, excellent for a book geared toward Young Adults, and the plot never drifted into the predictable. That's not to say there was some immense twist in the book, just that I never found the reading tedious because I felt like the conclusion was obvious; there were enough bumps in the road to keep me interested throughout.
The one minor criticisms I have, and this is more for adult readers I imagine, is that the characters felt a little too straightforward/simple. THey're not shallow, just lacking in exploration and true breadth of emotion and history. The main exception to this, is the juxtaposition between Chloe and Zoe's personalities, which are contradictory and make for an extremely authentic relationship.
The one minor criticisms I have, and this is more for adult readers I imagine, is that the characters felt a little too straightforward/simple. THey're not shallow, just lacking in exploration and true breadth of emotion and history. The main exception to this, is the juxtaposition between Chloe and Zoe's personalities, which are contradictory and make for an extremely authentic relationship.
March 17, 2018
When the author approached me to read The Mosaic, I was on the fence with it after reading the blurb. But, something called me to review the book. I am glad that I did because The Mosaic was what I needed to break the boredom of reading YA. This book was a joy to read.
The Mosaic’s plotline is pretty basic. Twin girls find hidden rooms in the basement of their museum/house. In those hidden rooms are pieces of a mosaic. The mosaic is more than what it seems to be. The girls come to find out that their grandmother is more than what she seems. They also come to find out that they are more than what they seem. When an ancient evil threatens to revive a war from before history, the girls have to prove themselves. Can they do it or will this ancient evil win?
I liked Zoe and Chloe. I will admit that Zoe drove me a little crazy at times in the book. Mainly because she reminded me of my 12-year-old daughter who is also impulsive. But I liked her heart. She had a big one and she did not fold under pressure. Chloe took a little more time for me to warm up to. Mainly because she was the exact opposite of Zoe. Where Zoe was impulsive, Chloe was almost too cautious. Like Zoe, Chloe also had a huge heart. I feel that they would be very relatable characters for any young teenagers.
I couldn’t figure out if Severin was one of the good guys at first. I figured that he was one of those characters who were gray. I was kind of right.
The girls’ grandmother did confuse me. I wasn’t expecting her revelation. I also wasn’t expecting what happened to her at the end of the book. I was a little upset about that.
I loved the fantasy aspect of The Mosaic. I loved seeing all my favorite mythical/fantasy creatures. I also loved seeing the author’s creative way of writing some of them into the book. Mr. and Mrs. Tok were my favorite.
I do wish that more time was spent on the girls’ powers. I did feel that part of the book was a little rushed. But in the grand scheme of things, it is a small complaint. I also wish that more time was spent on the mythical creatures. I thought that the author did a great job in giving them a different spin and was a little disappointed that more background was given. I also wish that the battle scenes were a little more drawn out or limited to one person. I felt that having 3 different major battles, as well as the smaller ones, were distracting.
The end of the book was interesting. I will not get into it except to say I was not expecting what went down. The twist at the end was very well done. I also liked how the author left it open for a second book (if there was to be one).
Pros of The Mosaic:
A) Relatable characters
B) A different take on fantasy/mythological creatures
C) Strong storyline
Cons of The Mosaic:
A) Not enough time spent on the girls’ powers
B) Not enough time spent on the mythological/fantasy creatures
C) Battles scenes could have been more drawn out and having 3 different battles along with the smaller ones were distracting
I would give The Mosaic a rating of Tween. This is a book that I would feel comfortable letting anyone of the age of 10 read. There is mild violence. Other than that, the book is clean. No swearing or sex.
There are no trigger warnings in The Mosaic.
I would recommend The Mosaic to family and friends. I would reread this book.
I would like to thank Chris Keaton for allowing me to read and review The Mosaic.
All opinions stated in this review of The Mosaic are mine.
**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**
The Mosaic’s plotline is pretty basic. Twin girls find hidden rooms in the basement of their museum/house. In those hidden rooms are pieces of a mosaic. The mosaic is more than what it seems to be. The girls come to find out that their grandmother is more than what she seems. They also come to find out that they are more than what they seem. When an ancient evil threatens to revive a war from before history, the girls have to prove themselves. Can they do it or will this ancient evil win?
I liked Zoe and Chloe. I will admit that Zoe drove me a little crazy at times in the book. Mainly because she reminded me of my 12-year-old daughter who is also impulsive. But I liked her heart. She had a big one and she did not fold under pressure. Chloe took a little more time for me to warm up to. Mainly because she was the exact opposite of Zoe. Where Zoe was impulsive, Chloe was almost too cautious. Like Zoe, Chloe also had a huge heart. I feel that they would be very relatable characters for any young teenagers.
I couldn’t figure out if Severin was one of the good guys at first. I figured that he was one of those characters who were gray. I was kind of right.
The girls’ grandmother did confuse me. I wasn’t expecting her revelation. I also wasn’t expecting what happened to her at the end of the book. I was a little upset about that.
I loved the fantasy aspect of The Mosaic. I loved seeing all my favorite mythical/fantasy creatures. I also loved seeing the author’s creative way of writing some of them into the book. Mr. and Mrs. Tok were my favorite.
I do wish that more time was spent on the girls’ powers. I did feel that part of the book was a little rushed. But in the grand scheme of things, it is a small complaint. I also wish that more time was spent on the mythical creatures. I thought that the author did a great job in giving them a different spin and was a little disappointed that more background was given. I also wish that the battle scenes were a little more drawn out or limited to one person. I felt that having 3 different major battles, as well as the smaller ones, were distracting.
The end of the book was interesting. I will not get into it except to say I was not expecting what went down. The twist at the end was very well done. I also liked how the author left it open for a second book (if there was to be one).
Pros of The Mosaic:
A) Relatable characters
B) A different take on fantasy/mythological creatures
C) Strong storyline
Cons of The Mosaic:
A) Not enough time spent on the girls’ powers
B) Not enough time spent on the mythological/fantasy creatures
C) Battles scenes could have been more drawn out and having 3 different battles along with the smaller ones were distracting
I would give The Mosaic a rating of Tween. This is a book that I would feel comfortable letting anyone of the age of 10 read. There is mild violence. Other than that, the book is clean. No swearing or sex.
There are no trigger warnings in The Mosaic.
I would recommend The Mosaic to family and friends. I would reread this book.
I would like to thank Chris Keaton for allowing me to read and review The Mosaic.
All opinions stated in this review of The Mosaic are mine.
**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**
December 29, 2017
Chloe and Zoe Tozier are orphaned teenage twins, growing up in the care of their grandmother who runs a modest, but rather popular museum in Riley, Kansas.
The family live together on the top floor of the establishment, a converted turn of the 19th century mansion. The thing is, having lived there for four years, life has become something of a bore, especially during school holidays … or so the girls think.
You see, grandma is hiding a secret about her past that would make your toes curl. What’s more, there’s something hidden away in the museum that’s far more precious than silver or gold, antiques or relics, or indeed, all the treasures of Solomon: a partly reconstructed mosaic. An artifact that is – to put it mildly – priceless beyond compare.
But, what makes the mosaic so special? If it’s so valuable, how did it come to be at the museum? Why are so many devious collectors from around the world itching to grab a piece? Even more intriguing, why is one person in particular so keen to see it destroyed?
Thus begins a wonderful tale possessing an originality I’ve not seen since reading Clive Barker’s “Weaveworld.”
To use an apt analogy: Chris Keaton sets out the pieces of a jigsaw and gradually nudges them together in a way that not only helps us fathom the setting, but the fact that there’s a much bigger picture involved. As we begin to work out the puzzle, things get deeper through the introduction of some fascinating characters. Characters you will be drawn to; characters who will annoy and frustrate you; characters who are downright evil and hateful and who need a spot of swift justice.
The thing is, the enigma surrounding the mosaic means the pieces don’t always fall into place the way you think they will. Obviously, this entails a lot of action and adventure, thrills and spills, and some down-to-earth Pink Pantheresque wheeling and dealing/espionage. (You’ll see what I mean).
I’ve got to say, it’s darn good fun, and the perfect story to end the year with – or indeed, see in the new one.
Enjoy a Kansas Dorothy never saw.
The family live together on the top floor of the establishment, a converted turn of the 19th century mansion. The thing is, having lived there for four years, life has become something of a bore, especially during school holidays … or so the girls think.
You see, grandma is hiding a secret about her past that would make your toes curl. What’s more, there’s something hidden away in the museum that’s far more precious than silver or gold, antiques or relics, or indeed, all the treasures of Solomon: a partly reconstructed mosaic. An artifact that is – to put it mildly – priceless beyond compare.
But, what makes the mosaic so special? If it’s so valuable, how did it come to be at the museum? Why are so many devious collectors from around the world itching to grab a piece? Even more intriguing, why is one person in particular so keen to see it destroyed?
Thus begins a wonderful tale possessing an originality I’ve not seen since reading Clive Barker’s “Weaveworld.”
To use an apt analogy: Chris Keaton sets out the pieces of a jigsaw and gradually nudges them together in a way that not only helps us fathom the setting, but the fact that there’s a much bigger picture involved. As we begin to work out the puzzle, things get deeper through the introduction of some fascinating characters. Characters you will be drawn to; characters who will annoy and frustrate you; characters who are downright evil and hateful and who need a spot of swift justice.
The thing is, the enigma surrounding the mosaic means the pieces don’t always fall into place the way you think they will. Obviously, this entails a lot of action and adventure, thrills and spills, and some down-to-earth Pink Pantheresque wheeling and dealing/espionage. (You’ll see what I mean).
I’ve got to say, it’s darn good fun, and the perfect story to end the year with – or indeed, see in the new one.
Enjoy a Kansas Dorothy never saw.
December 22, 2017
Zoe and Chloe are twins who live in a mansion that has been turned into a Museum, which is run by their grandmother and grandfather-(who has mysteriously disappeared). They live with their Grandmother and help run the museum since the unfortunate deaths of their parents during a cave-in at an archaeological site.
While sneaking about the museum grounds, the girls discover a hidden passageway which leads to a basement they never knew existed, where they come across a giant mosaic. The magic and mystery of this extraordinary piece of art is only beginning to reveal itself.
I don't want to add too much more as to prevent any spoilers, or simply reiterate what others have already said.
Some things I didn't like. There was no real explanation of this magical world, it simply coexists with humans. Some more background to its history would have been beneficial and added more more to the story IMO. It was also a bit slow developing and kind of stagnant at parts. For example, in the middle of the book, while the twins are in search of Mosaic pieces, they travel to a number of different places, find themselves in a pickle and need to escape again. It was a bit repetitive. I think it would have read better if there was less of these "examples" and rather go into more detail in a few of them. A lot of them were pretty quick, and they jumped right into another. I also think the battle scenes could have used some more actions and description.
For the most part, I thought the book was written well with a good flow, and good description for the most part. I think I would rate it around 3.5 stars. Do to its originality (I haven't read anything quite like it anyway), I've bumped it up to 4. Any fans of YA and magic-filled fantasy would enjoy this read.
While sneaking about the museum grounds, the girls discover a hidden passageway which leads to a basement they never knew existed, where they come across a giant mosaic. The magic and mystery of this extraordinary piece of art is only beginning to reveal itself.
I don't want to add too much more as to prevent any spoilers, or simply reiterate what others have already said.
Some things I didn't like. There was no real explanation of this magical world, it simply coexists with humans. Some more background to its history would have been beneficial and added more more to the story IMO. It was also a bit slow developing and kind of stagnant at parts. For example, in the middle of the book, while the twins are in search of Mosaic pieces, they travel to a number of different places, find themselves in a pickle and need to escape again. It was a bit repetitive. I think it would have read better if there was less of these "examples" and rather go into more detail in a few of them. A lot of them were pretty quick, and they jumped right into another. I also think the battle scenes could have used some more actions and description.
For the most part, I thought the book was written well with a good flow, and good description for the most part. I think I would rate it around 3.5 stars. Do to its originality (I haven't read anything quite like it anyway), I've bumped it up to 4. Any fans of YA and magic-filled fantasy would enjoy this read.
March 13, 2018
The Mosiac is a great read with lots of wild ideas, magic and action. The twins Chloe and Zoe Tozier discover their family’s secret link to an ancient magical mosaic and join the battle against the Witch Queen and her minions. The central relationship between the sisters rings true, and their reactions to their world spiralling into weirdness feels like a logical progression. There are plenty of strange creatures on display, and a slightly skewed view on the adult world which is a lot of fun.
I have quibbles. The pacing in the first quarter of the book is a little slow, under-mined by flash-backs, including one to thousands of years before the action which seemed at odds with the main plot. (Incidentally, the inconsistencies the big flashback raises were odd, but perhaps seed future action in planned sequels, so I won’t ding marks for that). The use of “magic beings” to describe a myriad of peoples and creatures felt a little… pedestrian. A couple of the side characters were unnecessary.
But none of the detracted from how much I enjoyed this read. It’s a classic base under siege story with lots of weird and wonderful flourishes and is well worth your time. I think kids would love it. 4.5 stars, round to 5.
I have quibbles. The pacing in the first quarter of the book is a little slow, under-mined by flash-backs, including one to thousands of years before the action which seemed at odds with the main plot. (Incidentally, the inconsistencies the big flashback raises were odd, but perhaps seed future action in planned sequels, so I won’t ding marks for that). The use of “magic beings” to describe a myriad of peoples and creatures felt a little… pedestrian. A couple of the side characters were unnecessary.
But none of the detracted from how much I enjoyed this read. It’s a classic base under siege story with lots of weird and wonderful flourishes and is well worth your time. I think kids would love it. 4.5 stars, round to 5.
March 21, 2018
Mosaic, by Chris Keaton and Rick Taubold, is a fast-paced adventure that keeps you turning the pages.
Long ago, a war occurred between the Witch Queen and the Elf Queen, with various Magical Beings choosing sides. To win the war, the Elf Queen created a mosaic, which sucked all Magical Beings into it, where they were to remain, safely away from the world of man.
Over time, pieces of the mosaic break off, releasing some Magical Beings back into the world. Eventually, the mosaic ends up at a museum in Kansas, watched over by the grandmother of twin girls, Chloe and Zoe.
But when the Witch Queen returns, all bets are off, and the Magical Beings converge on the mosaic once again.
This story is well written, with only an odd word choice here and there. Otherwise, it is engaging, fun, and highly imaginative. Keaton and Taubold pull from a variety of legends and folklore to populate their tale, and it works well. The main characters, Chloe and Zoe, are interesting and believable, and you cheer them on as they discover who they really are, and what they can do.
The ending wraps things up nicely, and leaves you wanting more.
Overall, an excellent book. Worth reading.
Long ago, a war occurred between the Witch Queen and the Elf Queen, with various Magical Beings choosing sides. To win the war, the Elf Queen created a mosaic, which sucked all Magical Beings into it, where they were to remain, safely away from the world of man.
Over time, pieces of the mosaic break off, releasing some Magical Beings back into the world. Eventually, the mosaic ends up at a museum in Kansas, watched over by the grandmother of twin girls, Chloe and Zoe.
But when the Witch Queen returns, all bets are off, and the Magical Beings converge on the mosaic once again.
This story is well written, with only an odd word choice here and there. Otherwise, it is engaging, fun, and highly imaginative. Keaton and Taubold pull from a variety of legends and folklore to populate their tale, and it works well. The main characters, Chloe and Zoe, are interesting and believable, and you cheer them on as they discover who they really are, and what they can do.
The ending wraps things up nicely, and leaves you wanting more.
Overall, an excellent book. Worth reading.
March 20, 2018
I do not enjoy stories about witches. I do not enjoy stories about traditional 'magical beings' like faeries, gnomes, trolls, etc. Given that, I was all set to dislike The Mosaic.
But I couldn’t — it's too well written! In fact I couldn’t find any reason to dock a star. I can't say I fully enjoyed it, given the subject matter, but I appreciated it. The setup was intriguing, the plot well developed, the reader's interest was held all the way through, and the main characters were engaging. I did enjoy the interaction between the twins, and the way their contrasting personalities were brought out.
There were a few places where I felt explanations for some of the events were too brief, and it wasn't entirely clear what was happening. But these were minor irritations, not enough to spoil the whole.
So while this may be an impersonal 5-star rating, it's not a reluctant one. I believe the book fully deserves that level of approval.
But I couldn’t — it's too well written! In fact I couldn’t find any reason to dock a star. I can't say I fully enjoyed it, given the subject matter, but I appreciated it. The setup was intriguing, the plot well developed, the reader's interest was held all the way through, and the main characters were engaging. I did enjoy the interaction between the twins, and the way their contrasting personalities were brought out.
There were a few places where I felt explanations for some of the events were too brief, and it wasn't entirely clear what was happening. But these were minor irritations, not enough to spoil the whole.
So while this may be an impersonal 5-star rating, it's not a reluctant one. I believe the book fully deserves that level of approval.
February 2, 2018
Start in Germany, where the Black Knight’s botched theft of a magical object unleashes the Witch Queen. Now shoot over to Kansas, USA to meet orphaned teens Chloe and Zoe, who live with their grandmother in the family’s museum. When the girls discover a secret passage leading to a cellar full of crates and an incomplete mosaic, you know their placid life with granny is going to get a whole lot more complicated.
Soon, they’re caught up in an epic struggle between good and evil with warriors from myth and fairytale. But the girls aren’t mere humans. Chloe and Zoe learn of their heritage and use their newly discovered talents to aid their side. Their efforts are exciting and sometimes funny as they take their place in the magical world.
Intrigue, humor, good characters and suspense make The Mosaic an enjoyable read. I recommend it for young adults and adults with imagination.
Soon, they’re caught up in an epic struggle between good and evil with warriors from myth and fairytale. But the girls aren’t mere humans. Chloe and Zoe learn of their heritage and use their newly discovered talents to aid their side. Their efforts are exciting and sometimes funny as they take their place in the magical world.
Intrigue, humor, good characters and suspense make The Mosaic an enjoyable read. I recommend it for young adults and adults with imagination.
May 25, 2017
I loved reading this book! The characters are wonderful and draw you into their stories. The story is unique and I loved discovering alongside the main characters! I can't wait to see what is in store next!
April 12, 2019
The Mosaic has an interesting premise. What if all the world's magical beings were trapped in a mosaic but were released slowly as the ancient artifact suffered damaged and pieces broke off? It creates a lot of scope for the imagination, and the authors certainly have imagination.
I liked seeing the "real" versions of all sorts of different magical creatures which our myths and stories are based on—sometimes quite accurately, sometimes not.
It was fun seeing the weird places Chloe and Zoe went to retrieve pieces of the Mosaic. It reminded me of episodes of Stargate.
The writing was well edited and fairly smooth, though some of the characters' dialogue and reactions felt just a little off—especially Zoe's.
I personally thought it went on a little long some places, especially in the final action sequence…but I often feel that way about the action scenes of books.
The characters mostly took a back seat to the plot, but Severin had his moments of interesting complexity.
I personally prefer magic that is less powerful, harder to learn and master, and has some sort of cost.
My main question was about character motivation. SPOILER ALERT: Perhaps I misunderstood, but it seemed that the magical creatures inside the mosaic were, as Grandma explained, "in a sleep-like state until they could return to the world." So the whole book I was picturing them in a sort of non-existence, unaware of anything, not really living. But maybe they exist in the mosaic as some sort of consciousness. Maybe they're able to live and move and interact with each other in meaningful ways in a setting that seems real. Maybe they can find happiness there. If so, ignore this entire paragraph. If not… if the creatures within the mosaic are trapped in a sleep-like state for millennia…basically a form of death…I have a hard time believing most of the characters' actions. Why would so many beings still support the mosaic-maker, who essentially sentenced entire species to a form of death? Why would they defend the mosaic? And wouldn't they fear the mosaic's power to perhaps trap them again? Some people are noble enough to willingly forfeit their lives for the greater good, but…in this case it's the greater good of mankind, not the greater good of their own kind. And who's to say that mankind is the most important? That they're the ones everyone else needs to sacrifice their lives for? If the witch queen was too powerful and was destroying the equilibrium between mankind and magical kind, why not find a way to defeat her but let all the other innocents live? I really, really hope I misunderstood. I hope all the magical creatures are living a happy life within the mosaic. Otherwise, this is a very disturbing book. One that celebrates putting the good of one species above the lives of all the others…which I'm sure is not what the authors intended. END SPOILERS
The Mosaic is unarguably creative. I love that it's a clean read and refreshingly free of romance, showing that not every book need a love story.
If you're looking for a book full of interesting magical creatures, powerful magic, and an action-packed final battle, you'll like this book.
More accurate rating: 3.5
I liked seeing the "real" versions of all sorts of different magical creatures which our myths and stories are based on—sometimes quite accurately, sometimes not.
It was fun seeing the weird places Chloe and Zoe went to retrieve pieces of the Mosaic. It reminded me of episodes of Stargate.
The writing was well edited and fairly smooth, though some of the characters' dialogue and reactions felt just a little off—especially Zoe's.
I personally thought it went on a little long some places, especially in the final action sequence…but I often feel that way about the action scenes of books.
The characters mostly took a back seat to the plot, but Severin had his moments of interesting complexity.
I personally prefer magic that is less powerful, harder to learn and master, and has some sort of cost.
My main question was about character motivation. SPOILER ALERT: Perhaps I misunderstood, but it seemed that the magical creatures inside the mosaic were, as Grandma explained, "in a sleep-like state until they could return to the world." So the whole book I was picturing them in a sort of non-existence, unaware of anything, not really living. But maybe they exist in the mosaic as some sort of consciousness. Maybe they're able to live and move and interact with each other in meaningful ways in a setting that seems real. Maybe they can find happiness there. If so, ignore this entire paragraph. If not… if the creatures within the mosaic are trapped in a sleep-like state for millennia…basically a form of death…I have a hard time believing most of the characters' actions. Why would so many beings still support the mosaic-maker, who essentially sentenced entire species to a form of death? Why would they defend the mosaic? And wouldn't they fear the mosaic's power to perhaps trap them again? Some people are noble enough to willingly forfeit their lives for the greater good, but…in this case it's the greater good of mankind, not the greater good of their own kind. And who's to say that mankind is the most important? That they're the ones everyone else needs to sacrifice their lives for? If the witch queen was too powerful and was destroying the equilibrium between mankind and magical kind, why not find a way to defeat her but let all the other innocents live? I really, really hope I misunderstood. I hope all the magical creatures are living a happy life within the mosaic. Otherwise, this is a very disturbing book. One that celebrates putting the good of one species above the lives of all the others…which I'm sure is not what the authors intended. END SPOILERS
The Mosaic is unarguably creative. I love that it's a clean read and refreshingly free of romance, showing that not every book need a love story.
If you're looking for a book full of interesting magical creatures, powerful magic, and an action-packed final battle, you'll like this book.
More accurate rating: 3.5
May 21, 2019
I really liked this book! I had it on my TBR for a long time, but I just hadn't gotten to it. Now that I have, I'm pretty excited that I did!
Chloe Tozier was a phenomenal character. She was someone that I could easily relate to as a curious bookworm. Although she has a twin, she's just more believable. I can't think of anyone as fearless or as reckless as Zoe Tozier, but I can think of several people who are as reserved and cautious as Chloe. Together, they make a fabulous team because they balance each other out.
The world-building in this book was done excellently as well. I loved that I could picture each place that the girls visited to retrieve pieces of the mosaic. The descriptions of each of the mythical creatures came to life in very vivid ways.
Unfortunately, I felt like a lot of the action was rushed through. A lot of time is spent bringing Dahwen to the mosaic. Once she arrives, however, the battle ends rather quickly. I think that it would have been a huge improvement if the authors would have brought some more description to the battle. The audience is so invested in the characters that it would have kept us on the edge of our seats were there more details.
Overall, I thought this was a really good book! There were parts that made me want to cry and others that I thought were absolutely beautifully written. I look forward to seeing what Keaton and Taubold give us next.
Chloe Tozier was a phenomenal character. She was someone that I could easily relate to as a curious bookworm. Although she has a twin, she's just more believable. I can't think of anyone as fearless or as reckless as Zoe Tozier, but I can think of several people who are as reserved and cautious as Chloe. Together, they make a fabulous team because they balance each other out.
The world-building in this book was done excellently as well. I loved that I could picture each place that the girls visited to retrieve pieces of the mosaic. The descriptions of each of the mythical creatures came to life in very vivid ways.
Unfortunately, I felt like a lot of the action was rushed through. A lot of time is spent bringing Dahwen to the mosaic. Once she arrives, however, the battle ends rather quickly. I think that it would have been a huge improvement if the authors would have brought some more description to the battle. The audience is so invested in the characters that it would have kept us on the edge of our seats were there more details.
Overall, I thought this was a really good book! There were parts that made me want to cry and others that I thought were absolutely beautifully written. I look forward to seeing what Keaton and Taubold give us next.
June 30, 2018
The Mosaic is a fascinating story idea.
Twin teens live in a museum with their grandmother, in a big mansion, just outside of a tiny town in Kansas. Chloe is a book worm and loves to learn. Zoe is a tomboy and prefers action to sitting at a computer. The story begins two years after their grandfather mysteriously left and some odd things have been happening lately. Zoe and Chloe find a service elevator behind a pile of boxes, but it is broken and doesn't appear to go anywhere. Their grandmother won't talk about it and only claims she didn't tell them about it because it's not working and could be dangerous. Strange packages are delivered by messengers who don't appear to work for any delivery company and the girls never get to see what's inside. Then grandma gets an odd phone call. Next a little bird flies inside a vent and the girls accidentally discover... (well I'll let the reader find out.) That's when the real adventure begins.
Great premise with some nice world building. The Mosaic has a good solid ending with no cliff hanger, but also hints of what might be to come in the next book. If you like fantasy and coming of age stories, this is a good read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and will likely pick up Pieces of the Mosaic as well.
Twin teens live in a museum with their grandmother, in a big mansion, just outside of a tiny town in Kansas. Chloe is a book worm and loves to learn. Zoe is a tomboy and prefers action to sitting at a computer. The story begins two years after their grandfather mysteriously left and some odd things have been happening lately. Zoe and Chloe find a service elevator behind a pile of boxes, but it is broken and doesn't appear to go anywhere. Their grandmother won't talk about it and only claims she didn't tell them about it because it's not working and could be dangerous. Strange packages are delivered by messengers who don't appear to work for any delivery company and the girls never get to see what's inside. Then grandma gets an odd phone call. Next a little bird flies inside a vent and the girls accidentally discover... (well I'll let the reader find out.) That's when the real adventure begins.
Great premise with some nice world building. The Mosaic has a good solid ending with no cliff hanger, but also hints of what might be to come in the next book. If you like fantasy and coming of age stories, this is a good read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and will likely pick up Pieces of the Mosaic as well.
October 11, 2018
The story is about two sisters Chloe and Zoe (14 year old twins) who make some amazing discoveries regarding their family and the house they live in.
I loved the first few chapters - very well thought out way of drawing the reader in without being too ambiguous. There were moments of "What was that?" but everything was explained real fast, and the best part, there were no annoying info dumps! I hate having to slog through pages of those.
If you are a fan of fantasy / fairytale creatures, then this is definitely the book for you. The authors seem to have made a checklist of mythical creatures and tried to cram in as many as they could - but it works! My favourite was the werefrog and I even highlighted the amazing "Being a prince is highly overrated. People expect stereotypical behaviour and proper decorum from a prince. A frog on the other hand can do what it wants. Personally, I find all that fancy clothing far too confining. No one thinks twice about a naked frog..."
The story build up well towards the end and the twist was something I did not see coming.
I couldn't put the book down until I got to the end, and I'm sure the sequel will be as good.
(I received a free copy for an unbiased review)
I loved the first few chapters - very well thought out way of drawing the reader in without being too ambiguous. There were moments of "What was that?" but everything was explained real fast, and the best part, there were no annoying info dumps! I hate having to slog through pages of those.
If you are a fan of fantasy / fairytale creatures, then this is definitely the book for you. The authors seem to have made a checklist of mythical creatures and tried to cram in as many as they could - but it works! My favourite was the werefrog and I even highlighted the amazing "Being a prince is highly overrated. People expect stereotypical behaviour and proper decorum from a prince. A frog on the other hand can do what it wants. Personally, I find all that fancy clothing far too confining. No one thinks twice about a naked frog..."
The story build up well towards the end and the twist was something I did not see coming.
I couldn't put the book down until I got to the end, and I'm sure the sequel will be as good.
(I received a free copy for an unbiased review)
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