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Asper
A mission to avenge her father's murder turns to a harrowing quest for 16-year-old Milla to save two worlds from a tyrannical queen. But when a spell her father cast to suppress her memories begins to wane, Milla discovers her entire life is a lie. Shattered, she's left questioning everything. What is good? What is evil? And more importantly, what is she.
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2017
About the author
Rhonda Smiley
3 books18 followersRhonda Smiley lives in Glendale, California with her partner, James Hereth, and their spoiled terrier-mix, Jojo.
After earning her BFA in Film Production from Concordia University in her native Montreal, she returned to L.A. to pursue screenwriting. She started out as an assistant to filmmaker (and Academy Award winner) Zoran Perisic, while also freelancing as a story analyst for several production companies.
She went on to co-found Hyper Image, providing animation, special effects, and post production for movies and series, including “Starship Troopers: The Roughneck Chronicles,” “Liberty’s Kids,” “Strawberry Shortcake,” and the Emmy-nominated “Our Friend, Martin.”
During that time, her writing took off and she wrote and story-edited for many series, including “Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation,” “Tarzan: The Epic Adventures,” “Born Free,” “Rescue Heroes,” and the Rick Springfield show, “High Tide.” She also wrote and produced the sci-fi animated movie, “Race,” which aired on the Showtime Network.
In May 2017, she published her first novel, “Asper,” for young adults who enjoy the darker side of fantasy. It received the B.R.A.G. Medallion with a 5-star rating.
Currently, she’s working on a graphic novel “Blowback” with her oft-writing partner, James Hereth, due out in 2018.
After earning her BFA in Film Production from Concordia University in her native Montreal, she returned to L.A. to pursue screenwriting. She started out as an assistant to filmmaker (and Academy Award winner) Zoran Perisic, while also freelancing as a story analyst for several production companies.
She went on to co-found Hyper Image, providing animation, special effects, and post production for movies and series, including “Starship Troopers: The Roughneck Chronicles,” “Liberty’s Kids,” “Strawberry Shortcake,” and the Emmy-nominated “Our Friend, Martin.”
During that time, her writing took off and she wrote and story-edited for many series, including “Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation,” “Tarzan: The Epic Adventures,” “Born Free,” “Rescue Heroes,” and the Rick Springfield show, “High Tide.” She also wrote and produced the sci-fi animated movie, “Race,” which aired on the Showtime Network.
In May 2017, she published her first novel, “Asper,” for young adults who enjoy the darker side of fantasy. It received the B.R.A.G. Medallion with a 5-star rating.
Currently, she’s working on a graphic novel “Blowback” with her oft-writing partner, James Hereth, due out in 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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June 9, 2026"She stumbled out of her daze, toward the doorway, and the captain grabbed her by the throat, hoisting her up against the wall with her feet off the ground."Milla lived with her father deep in the forest, in a shack of sorts, as she studied to become a sorcerer. However, she wasn't the most dutiful study and she frequently argued with her Quodex (her sentient spellbook).
At least the two of them were happy in their own little world... that is until the queen's soldiers rip through her life in search of a sacred scroll - that her father had hidden away with them.
Her father was murdered and Milla was barely able to escape. She quickly portals into a new land - in the middle of an elderly earth couple's home.
No amount of explaining about portals, magic, and dimensional worlds can convince the humans that Milla belongs to another world. And so she's shipped off to a hospital and confined to the psychiatric ward.
"There's something not right about that girl. I know she's pretty and she seems harmless, but there's something going on insider her that isn't normal."
But she cannot stay there long, for the queen's soldiers draw ever nearer. Shadows from her past soon cover her until she cannot see a way out but through the trauma.
First off, I have to commend the author on the creativity shown in this book - lots of really neat ideas and plot points. The magic system felt diverse and intriguing! And I quite liked the way futuristic elements were woven in as well.
"I fought to be a soldier for you, lest you forget."
"We were children. We didn't know better."
The characters were likeable, especially Milla though I did like Parker's quick wit as well. The humor (in general) worked very well for me!
That being said, this book did feel choppy. I loved all the cool ideas, but it often felt like we were leapfrogging across the worldbuilding rather than a smoother build and introduction to the concepts.
Also, I did feel that the emotions showcased were very abrupt - emotional scenes often felt like outbursts rather than building to an crescendo of tension or release. The flip flopping of feelings made it a bit difficult for me to initially connect to the characters.
I do think this book could've been about twice as long - to really smooth out the transitions and world building - but it does provide a nice overview of Milla's story as written.
Overall, I think the creativity shown really highlights the potential and I'm really looking forward to what the author writes next!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2019
Rhonda Smiley creates a really cool adventure in Asper. When Milla loses her father at the hands of an evil queen, she flees the magical realm of Asper to Earth where she can plot her revenge in secret. There she meets Parker, a kind boy who pushes her in directions she never thought possible. I loved Smiley’s dual world concept and especially love the dynamic between Milla and Parker. With good twists and well-crafted narration, this one’s perfect for anyone that loves fantasy out there!
February 28, 2019
*SENT BY AUTHOR
**FOR INDIE ADVENT CALENDAR
If you are reading a book and then you take a break from said book then try to get back into it, don't do it. That is what I did with this book and I felt lost for the remaining part of the book. I knew it was something along the lines of a girl having her Codex (magic spell book) and she had to jump in between worlds, I felt like that was just unnecessary. I felt like if we were just stuck in one world, the book would have been a lot shorter and the author could have made the world building a lot easier. I felt like the whole idea of going to Earth made this reading experience not as fun as I would have hoped it would have been. It also plays with the trope of girl trying to overthrow the kingdom/monarchy by killing off the queen because she sent guards to kill her father. Overall, I just feel like this book was just not meant for me.
**FOR INDIE ADVENT CALENDAR
If you are reading a book and then you take a break from said book then try to get back into it, don't do it. That is what I did with this book and I felt lost for the remaining part of the book. I knew it was something along the lines of a girl having her Codex (magic spell book) and she had to jump in between worlds, I felt like that was just unnecessary. I felt like if we were just stuck in one world, the book would have been a lot shorter and the author could have made the world building a lot easier. I felt like the whole idea of going to Earth made this reading experience not as fun as I would have hoped it would have been. It also plays with the trope of girl trying to overthrow the kingdom/monarchy by killing off the queen because she sent guards to kill her father. Overall, I just feel like this book was just not meant for me.
January 26, 2020
This book drew me in right from the start and I am not a reader of fantasy at all. I loved the world building and the characters, and that it took unexpected turns. I particularly liked Inferno, the "pet" flame of the queen and Mirtha, the wall that came to life. Parker, the earther, could have had a larger role, but I like how Milla remained committed to helping to save her world. Very enjoyable!
June 7, 2017
Fables meets Game of Thrones. What starts as a light-hearted YA fairy tale turns bloody. Milla has to hop between worlds while evading monsters and soldiers wearing Mi Go armor in an attempt to stop a spell from destroying existence as we know it. If you want a dark fantasy YA novel, this is it.
July 2, 2018
We are proud to announce that ASPER by Rhonda Smiley is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
November 5, 2017
This was a really fun read. Swords... Sorcery... Secrets... What more could you ask for? Well, a motorcycle, obviously. And you get that too!
As a reader, I’ve always been intrigued by high fantasy, though maybe not the YA flavor so much. When it came to Asper, the cover art pulled me in despite my reluctance, and the novel inside rewarded me for taking a chance to broaden my perspective.
The first thing that stands out are the distinct characters. Every time someone new shows up on the page, they have a unique personality and point of view, from the main protagonist and antagonist, all the way down to the minor characters who grace just a paragraph or two.
And, of course, there’s the story itself. In addition to the epic adventure that our heroine, Milla, is thrust into, the moving of the narrative from the mythical world of Asper into familiar present-day Earth (and back again) creates a mirrored set of fish-out-of-water scenarios that add a whole other dimension (pun unintended, but I’ll embrace it nevertheless).
What starts out as a tale of revenge gradually morphs, along with the maturing Milla, into a story of relentless determination in the face of incredible odds and self-sacrifice for the greater good.
Unlike some other books in the genre, Asper happily avoids a dry or overly-serious (okay, I’ll just say it - pretentious) storyline. Instead, it’s infused with a rich dose of humor threaded throughout. Primarily, this comes from the witty dialogue - both Milla and Parker have an especially funny and combative banter that perfectly punctuates their evolving love/hate/but-mostly-love relationship. And I’d be remiss in not mentioning Milla’s mischievous friend, Tobly, who - despite only communicating telepathically - wields quite the rapier wit himself.
In short, if you find any of those aspects alluring, Asper is definitely worth checking out. You won’t regret it. And with a little luck, maybe we’ll get a chance to see more of these characters in the future…
As a reader, I’ve always been intrigued by high fantasy, though maybe not the YA flavor so much. When it came to Asper, the cover art pulled me in despite my reluctance, and the novel inside rewarded me for taking a chance to broaden my perspective.
The first thing that stands out are the distinct characters. Every time someone new shows up on the page, they have a unique personality and point of view, from the main protagonist and antagonist, all the way down to the minor characters who grace just a paragraph or two.
And, of course, there’s the story itself. In addition to the epic adventure that our heroine, Milla, is thrust into, the moving of the narrative from the mythical world of Asper into familiar present-day Earth (and back again) creates a mirrored set of fish-out-of-water scenarios that add a whole other dimension (pun unintended, but I’ll embrace it nevertheless).
What starts out as a tale of revenge gradually morphs, along with the maturing Milla, into a story of relentless determination in the face of incredible odds and self-sacrifice for the greater good.
Unlike some other books in the genre, Asper happily avoids a dry or overly-serious (okay, I’ll just say it - pretentious) storyline. Instead, it’s infused with a rich dose of humor threaded throughout. Primarily, this comes from the witty dialogue - both Milla and Parker have an especially funny and combative banter that perfectly punctuates their evolving love/hate/but-mostly-love relationship. And I’d be remiss in not mentioning Milla’s mischievous friend, Tobly, who - despite only communicating telepathically - wields quite the rapier wit himself.
In short, if you find any of those aspects alluring, Asper is definitely worth checking out. You won’t regret it. And with a little luck, maybe we’ll get a chance to see more of these characters in the future…
February 27, 2021
This is the first book I read from this author and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! I just didn´t expect it! Can´t wait to read other books from this great writer! Amazing job! a must-read! A fantastic book that has it all! I happily endorse this story to any and all who are looking for a fantasy enjoyable read and a completely different experience than anyone could imagine on their own. ¡Great book!
July 23, 2020
Finally
A story that can spark my imagination! I would love to see this book turned into a movie. Write more. I'm hooked.
A story that can spark my imagination! I would love to see this book turned into a movie. Write more. I'm hooked.
December 26, 2019
I read a lot of YA book but I am definitely not in the age target for this book, it was quite juvenile.
In only the first chapter, Asper’s father gets killed for a magical scroll, she sworn vengeance and plan to kill the evil Queen right away.
A little bit later, she realizes that she is no match for the sorceress and travel to earth through a portal, not really knowing what she is doing.
She then meets Parker, a human boy and his grand-parents. There is also his ex-girlfriend who is over the top jealous and obsessive. The baby drama was rush and unnecessary. Teen pregnancy doesn’t have it place in a so call adventure fantasy story.
I could see the story twist right away and I felt I was in a bad episode of the show “Once Upon a time’’ with all the family tide between the characters.
I couldn’t care less about Asper and her quest for vengeance, nor remember why the magical scroll was so important.
In only the first chapter, Asper’s father gets killed for a magical scroll, she sworn vengeance and plan to kill the evil Queen right away.
A little bit later, she realizes that she is no match for the sorceress and travel to earth through a portal, not really knowing what she is doing.
She then meets Parker, a human boy and his grand-parents. There is also his ex-girlfriend who is over the top jealous and obsessive. The baby drama was rush and unnecessary. Teen pregnancy doesn’t have it place in a so call adventure fantasy story.
I could see the story twist right away and I felt I was in a bad episode of the show “Once Upon a time’’ with all the family tide between the characters.
I couldn’t care less about Asper and her quest for vengeance, nor remember why the magical scroll was so important.
Want to Read
February 28, 2019Unsure if I'll read this, but I will say that cover is BEAUTIFUL!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews