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Crossings
She screamed as she landed on the ground. Zerin fell at her side. A short, red-shafted arrow with yellow fletching impaled his ribs. He groaned. Blood flowed through his shirt around the arrow shaft.
Eliinka, a young, orphaned harp player, was born with the gift of influencing people around her with her music. But in her home country of Pelto, she’s forced to hide this ability to avoid persecution from government authorities. When she unwittingly contracts herself to Queen Jereni, the queen of the neighboring country with whom Pelto has been at war, she soon finds herself trying to reconcile the two countries. Can Eliinka use her musical gift to bring peace to Pelto and Viru while protecting the people she loves?
Eliinka, a young, orphaned harp player, was born with the gift of influencing people around her with her music. But in her home country of Pelto, she’s forced to hide this ability to avoid persecution from government authorities. When she unwittingly contracts herself to Queen Jereni, the queen of the neighboring country with whom Pelto has been at war, she soon finds herself trying to reconcile the two countries. Can Eliinka use her musical gift to bring peace to Pelto and Viru while protecting the people she loves?
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2017
1 person is currently reading
458 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Blake Johnson
2 books16 followersSarah has an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
She has stepped in quicksand in Brazil, walked on the frozen Baltic Ocean in Finland, cooked dinner in a geyser in Iceland, learned to play an ancient instrument in China, explored abandoned castle ruins in Germany, worked as an economist in Nigeria, and scuba dived in the Red Sea in Egypt, all countries where she has lived.
She has stepped in quicksand in Brazil, walked on the frozen Baltic Ocean in Finland, cooked dinner in a geyser in Iceland, learned to play an ancient instrument in China, explored abandoned castle ruins in Germany, worked as an economist in Nigeria, and scuba dived in the Red Sea in Egypt, all countries where she has lived.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 7, 2017
I seem to be the only person who didn't enjoy this book. The lack of any real understanding of rulership, the insta-friendship, wild coincidences, ridiculous selfish dangerous decisions by main heroine...all these things kept me rolling my eyes. I'm certainly not a fan of the brand of fiction where the hero/heroine can do anything or say anything and they will still be loved and thought of as great.
An additional niggle was that my personal sense of justice did not align with what both the main characters thought of as justice. The woman who was most guilty was judged not guilty (by the beliefs of all characters in the book) and all the responsibility went to the men. Does the writer think that the woman was so incapable of controlling her emotions that she could not help herself from being involved in an evil plot that killed a number of people? Must she have been controlled by the man? Why was he the villain and put to death and she was forgiven and made a princess ? Her betrayal was worse, her motives were more selfish, her violence more personal. There is no good reason outside of blatant sexism for the woman to be treated this way (in a book otherwise pretending to decry the lack of women's rights in the one country).
Rant over !
An additional niggle was that my personal sense of justice did not align with what both the main characters thought of as justice. The woman who was most guilty was judged not guilty (by the beliefs of all characters in the book) and all the responsibility went to the men. Does the writer think that the woman was so incapable of controlling her emotions that she could not help herself from being involved in an evil plot that killed a number of people? Must she have been controlled by the man? Why was he the villain and put to death and she was forgiven and made a princess ? Her betrayal was worse, her motives were more selfish, her violence more personal. There is no good reason outside of blatant sexism for the woman to be treated this way (in a book otherwise pretending to decry the lack of women's rights in the one country).
Rant over !
February 7, 2017
Eliinka is tricked into going to a neighboring country, all but kidnapped and thrust into a new culture, language and society. She must find her footing in court, making a life with the fickle princess who brought her there.
Why I started this book: Great review from one of my friends, she mentioned the authenticity of Johnson's homesick character.
Why I finished it: This book was problematic. Eliinka is a little too good, Queen Jereni has muddled motives; her actions don't always match her "character logic" and the plot substitutes motion for character development repeatedly.
Why I started this book: Great review from one of my friends, she mentioned the authenticity of Johnson's homesick character.
Why I finished it: This book was problematic. Eliinka is a little too good, Queen Jereni has muddled motives; her actions don't always match her "character logic" and the plot substitutes motion for character development repeatedly.
February 7, 2017
Crossings is a well crafted tale of intrigue, friendship and sacrifice. As Eliinka's life becomes intertwined with Queen Jereni's, she discovers the truth of legend and the power of her music while she seeks to bridge centuries of misunderstanding between their countries. Author Sarah Johnson is spot on with her descriptions of culture shock and prejudices as she weaves this captivating story. Great debut novel! I found it hard to put down. I hope there is a sequel.
February 4, 2017
I got so into this book that I read it even while washing the dishes and playing with my children. It's a page-turner--a story of a teenage girl who unknowingly makes an agreement with the barbaric ruler of a foreign land and then must find a way to stay true to herself while abiding by the agreement.
This fantasy novel deals with issues of peace and conflict, and of the irreconcilable differences that people have and whether it is possible to get past them.
It's also a story of moving to a new country and learning to adapt to a new culture. Having done so myself several times, I can say that this book perfectly captures the challenges and beauty of doing so.
This fantasy novel deals with issues of peace and conflict, and of the irreconcilable differences that people have and whether it is possible to get past them.
It's also a story of moving to a new country and learning to adapt to a new culture. Having done so myself several times, I can say that this book perfectly captures the challenges and beauty of doing so.
February 7, 2017
Excellent
Anyone who has an interest in foreign culture and traveling will love and appreciate the masterful story told in this novel. Growing and learning with the characters has been a pleasure. Experiencing their losses and hopes has created emotional connections that won't be soon forgot. And crossing between Pelto and Viru has been nothing short of a fantastic adventure. At the book's close, I wanted more. Hearing the legend of the crossing was a delightful and unexpected twist. I definitely recommend this book.
Anyone who has an interest in foreign culture and traveling will love and appreciate the masterful story told in this novel. Growing and learning with the characters has been a pleasure. Experiencing their losses and hopes has created emotional connections that won't be soon forgot. And crossing between Pelto and Viru has been nothing short of a fantastic adventure. At the book's close, I wanted more. Hearing the legend of the crossing was a delightful and unexpected twist. I definitely recommend this book.
May 30, 2017
I was really intrigued by this book. Could you imagine agreeing to work for someone, and then that someone turns out the be the queen of the country who is your enemy? Not only that, but this country is the complete opposite of everything you know and now you have to learn to adapt and be one of them. I read this book rather quickly, but I attribute that to the quality of writing that Sarah Johnson gives us.
There’s something I have to discuss though, and I guess this could be a SOMEWHAT SPOILER. But half way through the book, we have a character die and this made me mad. I don’t know why this was done. I think it ruined the story for me a little bit. There was already enough conflict going on that I don’t think this needed to happen. And I think this might turn some people off of the book. And this book has some romantic themes, but it is not a romance book. So be aware of that.
Besides that one (and actually it’s kind of big) part halfway through the book, I liked this. It was entertaining and it kept me guessing. I was surprised by a lot of things within these pages. We were give an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
There’s something I have to discuss though, and I guess this could be a SOMEWHAT SPOILER. But half way through the book, we have a character die and this made me mad. I don’t know why this was done. I think it ruined the story for me a little bit. There was already enough conflict going on that I don’t think this needed to happen. And I think this might turn some people off of the book. And this book has some romantic themes, but it is not a romance book. So be aware of that.
Besides that one (and actually it’s kind of big) part halfway through the book, I liked this. It was entertaining and it kept me guessing. I was surprised by a lot of things within these pages. We were give an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2018
Well, I feel like I just read 3/4 of a book. It ended so abruptly, with several points unresolved. I liked the story very much, I found it enjoyable and interesting. The whole "gift" thing bothered me for most of the book. Even if most of her religion were killed, there must be someone else with a 'gift' left, and eventually she meets someone else. It just seemed to be a thread left dangling. I could tell it was a debut novel, but great potential
February 4, 2017
A great debut novel, Crossings is a tale of friendship, love, and overcoming cultural differences. Eliinka is a young woman readers can look up to and grow to love.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews