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Breaking Away
Life is hard in the poverty-stricken village of Rabylon, where rabbits work every day from sun up to sun down, earning just enough carrots to survive—except for Mayor Monty Cottonsworth III, who lives in the lap of luxury as his villagers starve. Twin bunnies Remy and Rhea, fed up with working so long and so hard with nothing to show for it, desperately desire a better life, but don’t know how to achieve it. Just when they are about to give up hope, they are inspired by the story of a mythical carrot paradise that may exist on the other side of a big, green hill outside of their village. Now they face the most difficult decision they’ve ever had to Do they “play it safe” by staying in Rabylon and settle for a life of lack, loss, and limitation? Or do they risk it all—up to and including their lives—on the chance that out there somewhere is a life worth dying for?
'Breaking Book One of the Rabylon Series' is the first book by ManifestationMachine.com founder and acclaimed anti-hero Cory Groshek. Following in the footsteps of classics like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and drawing comparisons to acclaimed novels 'Animal Farm' and 'Watership Down', this timeless children's tale is not only highly entertaining, but highly educational as well, with the stated aim of teaching children and parents alike the value of dreaming big, taking risks, trusting their gut, and choosing faith over fear in everything they do.
If you or your child is a fan of action-adventure fantasy series like The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, then you and they will absolutely love the Rabylon series. And it is Cory Groshek's sincerest hope that, by the time you are finished reading it, you will come to know what he learned through the writing of this enchanting little book, which is that “if you truly believe in something—that is, if you care enough about it to not just dream about it, but to do something about it—your belief will bring it to you”.
'Breaking Book One of the Rabylon Series' is the first book by ManifestationMachine.com founder and acclaimed anti-hero Cory Groshek. Following in the footsteps of classics like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and drawing comparisons to acclaimed novels 'Animal Farm' and 'Watership Down', this timeless children's tale is not only highly entertaining, but highly educational as well, with the stated aim of teaching children and parents alike the value of dreaming big, taking risks, trusting their gut, and choosing faith over fear in everything they do.
If you or your child is a fan of action-adventure fantasy series like The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, then you and they will absolutely love the Rabylon series. And it is Cory Groshek's sincerest hope that, by the time you are finished reading it, you will come to know what he learned through the writing of this enchanting little book, which is that “if you truly believe in something—that is, if you care enough about it to not just dream about it, but to do something about it—your belief will bring it to you”.
- GenresFiction
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2016
18 people are currently reading
990 people want to read
About the author
Cory Groshek
5 books37 followersCory Groshek was born in 1983 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, the youngest of four children (by five minutes). As a child, he adored stories such as ‘Rikki-Tikki-Tavi’ (1893), ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ (1922), ‘Animal Farm’ (1945), ‘The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe’ (1950), ‘Charlotte’s Web’ (1952), and ‘The Land Before Time’ (1988). He began writing short stories and poems at age 11 and producing and recording music at age 17. Since then, he has operated his own record label, run a YouTube fitness channel, and created his personal growth and development brand, Manifestation Machine, and its associated blog and online community at ManifestationMachine.com. He currently resides in Green Bay, Wisconsin with his wife and two cats. ‘Breaking Away: Book One of the Rabylon Series’ is his first book.
Cory Groshek is an author/blogger, investor, musician/entertainer, consumer rights advocate, metaphysician, and founder/CEO of Manifestation Machine. He is also known in the music industry as Cory Crush and considered an expert on intermittent fasting in the YouTube fitness community as Low Carb Cory. His debut book, ‘Breaking Away: Book One of the Rabylon Series’, an action-adventure/fantasy novel intended to teach children ages 9-12 the value of dreaming big, taking risks, trusting their gut, and choosing faith over fear, was published via Manifestation Machine Books in December of 2016 and is now available on Kindle, as an Audible audio book, and in Paperback.
Cory Groshek is an author/blogger, investor, musician/entertainer, consumer rights advocate, metaphysician, and founder/CEO of Manifestation Machine. He is also known in the music industry as Cory Crush and considered an expert on intermittent fasting in the YouTube fitness community as Low Carb Cory. His debut book, ‘Breaking Away: Book One of the Rabylon Series’, an action-adventure/fantasy novel intended to teach children ages 9-12 the value of dreaming big, taking risks, trusting their gut, and choosing faith over fear, was published via Manifestation Machine Books in December of 2016 and is now available on Kindle, as an Audible audio book, and in Paperback.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2017
Good for preschool kids
The main story line was average with elements of several popular children's stories. It was definitely aimed at young readers or more likely, preschoolers with parents reading.
The lessons were obvious and sometimes rather heavy handed. But they were important ones for kids & grownups alike.
The main story line was average with elements of several popular children's stories. It was definitely aimed at young readers or more likely, preschoolers with parents reading.
The lessons were obvious and sometimes rather heavy handed. But they were important ones for kids & grownups alike.
January 7, 2019
This is a very easy read that goes by super fast. The characters are predictable but enjoyable. It leaves enough questions about whats going to happen next that I want to read the next book.
April 9, 2017
Where's Book two?
What a romp! Every character is roughed out and lovable enough to leave a mystery yet carry the story. Rene and Rhea are wonderful, but Grandpa and Casper have much to teach. Hurry hurry book two, book two.
What a romp! Every character is roughed out and lovable enough to leave a mystery yet carry the story. Rene and Rhea are wonderful, but Grandpa and Casper have much to teach. Hurry hurry book two, book two.
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May 5, 2018This review contains spoilers.. I was disappointed in the ending and want to discuss it.
This is middle grade or below fiction. Though I would suggest it be read by an adult, as I think some of the ideas too advanced for such readers. Basically, a man (or male rabbit) sells a town on the idea of a communist heaven and then enslaves them as soon as he has control of the resources. As many such books, the plot is predicated on the idea that all knowledge can somehow be lost in a generation or two, if you just take away the books. I always have trouble with this idea. (As if parents wouldn't teach their children what is safe to eat from memory, even if they don't have a book, for example.) But we'll overlook this. We'll also overlook the strange feelings and mysterious ideas that pop into Remy and Rhea's head from seemingly outside sources that I interpreted as being from God. (I'm not religious and didn't find this a particularly welcome addition, but whatever.)
What I want to discuss is the ending. Remy and Rhea reach their magical carrot paradise. They have adventures and learn and grow in the process. This is all wonderful and allows for some good lessons for young readers. But that's it. They reach the town and presumably live happily ever after. But....but what about their family and friends and everyone they left behind living under a tyrant? What good is all their hard earned knowledge if they don't take it home and share it, don't use it to right the wrongs in their collective lives? It left the book feeling pointless, IMO. I'll grant that it is a first book in a series, so hopefully the bunnies go home in some future books. But there's no clue that that's the plan in this one.
The writing and editing seemed clean and easy to read though.
This is middle grade or below fiction. Though I would suggest it be read by an adult, as I think some of the ideas too advanced for such readers. Basically, a man (or male rabbit) sells a town on the idea of a communist heaven and then enslaves them as soon as he has control of the resources. As many such books, the plot is predicated on the idea that all knowledge can somehow be lost in a generation or two, if you just take away the books. I always have trouble with this idea. (As if parents wouldn't teach their children what is safe to eat from memory, even if they don't have a book, for example.) But we'll overlook this. We'll also overlook the strange feelings and mysterious ideas that pop into Remy and Rhea's head from seemingly outside sources that I interpreted as being from God. (I'm not religious and didn't find this a particularly welcome addition, but whatever.)
What I want to discuss is the ending. Remy and Rhea reach their magical carrot paradise. They have adventures and learn and grow in the process. This is all wonderful and allows for some good lessons for young readers. But that's it. They reach the town and presumably live happily ever after. But....but what about their family and friends and everyone they left behind living under a tyrant? What good is all their hard earned knowledge if they don't take it home and share it, don't use it to right the wrongs in their collective lives? It left the book feeling pointless, IMO. I'll grant that it is a first book in a series, so hopefully the bunnies go home in some future books. But there's no clue that that's the plan in this one.
The writing and editing seemed clean and easy to read though.
April 3, 2018
Very interesting book to be read to children by an
adult. Some of the concepts in the book would need to
he explained. I enjoyed this book. I recommend this book.
Received a arc.
adult. Some of the concepts in the book would need to
he explained. I enjoyed this book. I recommend this book.
Received a arc.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews