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Stillwaters
How did she rise from the shrouds of obscurity to become one of the world’s most influential figures? The enigmatic author J. S. Freeman breaks her long silence and tells the whole tale.
In Stillwaters, the first of her three-part story, she brings us into the steamy, untamed land of her feral birth. When the City invaders capture her—they call it a rescue, but it sure doesn’t feel like it—her first life ends. She wants only to run free again on Freemansland, but circumstances take her ever farther from home, until one snowy day, her second life ends as well.
Come and see. The truth she tells is better than her fiction.
In Stillwaters, the first of her three-part story, she brings us into the steamy, untamed land of her feral birth. When the City invaders capture her—they call it a rescue, but it sure doesn’t feel like it—her first life ends. She wants only to run free again on Freemansland, but circumstances take her ever farther from home, until one snowy day, her second life ends as well.
Come and see. The truth she tells is better than her fiction.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 11, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 16, 2018
Thanks to the author, Yvonne Anderson, for providing me with a review copy of this book.
This is not the kind of book I'd usually pick up. I'm not a big fan of genre fiction written in the style of a memoir, but every now and then I like to read outside my comfort zone. It turned out to be a great experience.
The premise is simple: welcome to the autobiography of Jem Freeman, who is famous on a planet that is not Earth.
The book is told in the first person, and I really enjoyed Jem's voice. It's very distinct, natural and I enjoyed reading about her life.
Stillwaters opens with Jem's rather feral childhood and the neglect she endured at the hands of her family. Jem grew up in the countryside under terrible living conditions, and she mistrusts the City for a very long time, even though they saved her life. The only person sticking with her throughout her childhood and later years is her twin brother, and the two have an exceptionally strong bond.
Yvonne Anderson has a vast imagination and describes each scene with vivid details, creating memorable visuals. Jem is an interesting and well developed character and there's a lot of humour in the writing.
The story slows down a bit every now and then, and, especially in the first part, there are a few lulls where the pacing felt off. All in all, it takes a long time for the plot to really get going, and Jem's formative years make up the biggest part of this book.
It takes Jem a long time to let go of her dream of going back to Freemansland, and she feels confined by the City. Her prejudices are strong, and as the reader you're not sure whether to look at the City as a benevolent institution or an oppressive power. Over the next few years, Jem slowly adapts, changes her views and learns to become a part of the City.
At first, Jem holds onto her brother. He speaks for her, shields her, protects her, and one of the things I found fascinating was just how much Jem gets to grow until she's her own person in charge of her own destiny.
I recommend Stillwaters to anyone who likes reading about a world that isn't ours and enjoys memoir-style fiction.
This is not the kind of book I'd usually pick up. I'm not a big fan of genre fiction written in the style of a memoir, but every now and then I like to read outside my comfort zone. It turned out to be a great experience.
The premise is simple: welcome to the autobiography of Jem Freeman, who is famous on a planet that is not Earth.
The book is told in the first person, and I really enjoyed Jem's voice. It's very distinct, natural and I enjoyed reading about her life.
Stillwaters opens with Jem's rather feral childhood and the neglect she endured at the hands of her family. Jem grew up in the countryside under terrible living conditions, and she mistrusts the City for a very long time, even though they saved her life. The only person sticking with her throughout her childhood and later years is her twin brother, and the two have an exceptionally strong bond.
Yvonne Anderson has a vast imagination and describes each scene with vivid details, creating memorable visuals. Jem is an interesting and well developed character and there's a lot of humour in the writing.
The story slows down a bit every now and then, and, especially in the first part, there are a few lulls where the pacing felt off. All in all, it takes a long time for the plot to really get going, and Jem's formative years make up the biggest part of this book.
It takes Jem a long time to let go of her dream of going back to Freemansland, and she feels confined by the City. Her prejudices are strong, and as the reader you're not sure whether to look at the City as a benevolent institution or an oppressive power. Over the next few years, Jem slowly adapts, changes her views and learns to become a part of the City.
At first, Jem holds onto her brother. He speaks for her, shields her, protects her, and one of the things I found fascinating was just how much Jem gets to grow until she's her own person in charge of her own destiny.
I recommend Stillwaters to anyone who likes reading about a world that isn't ours and enjoys memoir-style fiction.
April 3, 2018
A novel written like an autobiography… about someone who’s famous on another planet. How’s that for a premise?
At the opening of Stillwaters, Jem (the narrator) is a feral child of perhaps twelve. Her “death” is the end of everything she ever knew and the beginning of a new life in a new place. The bulk of the novel traces her second life.
Although Jem’s home planet is much different than ours, some of the interpersonal struggles are quite relatable. We see the distrust between country and city folk (here, there’s the one City: either a benefactor or an oppressor, depending on your point of view). There’s distrust between the uneducated poor and the educated rich.
It’s interesting to watch a character like Jem, with deeply-held opinions and prejudices, learn to see her world differently as she becomes like those she once despised. Watch how she views her new surroundings soon after being taken from her wild existence:
And, much later:
This is in some ways a difficult novel to read. Jem’s traumatic beginnings have made her a foul-mouthed, hard-edged person. (Her world has different cuss words than ours, but the sheer volume wearied me at times.) Her experiences, past and in the novel, include some moments that are hard to read but discreetly presented.
In other ways it’s a treat to read. Yvonne Anderson nails world-building. I always enjoy the setting details she creates, exotic and yet relatable. In the middle of a tense time, there’ll be a spot of humour. And there’s heart. It’s good to see Jem grow and make something of herself.
Faith… Jem’s world has a number of religions, much like the gods and goddesses of Earth’s past. Jem doesn’t have much use for any of them. In the novel we find casual mention of a minor religion called Sonmanism, where “one god had a son who became a man.” [Kindle location 2947]
From the progression of the story, I think we’ll see the development of a Christian thread as the series progresses. For now, it’s begun but this isn’t your grandmother’s Christian fiction. It is, however, a well-written and worthwhile read. I’m glad I toughed through the hard parts.
Yvonne Anderson has previously written the Christian science fiction series, Gateway to Gannah. She describes her writing as “telling ‘the old, old story.’ In surprising new ways.” Stillwaters is book 1 in the series The Four Lives of J.S. Freeman. For more about the author and her work, visit yswords.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
At the opening of Stillwaters, Jem (the narrator) is a feral child of perhaps twelve. Her “death” is the end of everything she ever knew and the beginning of a new life in a new place. The bulk of the novel traces her second life.
Although Jem’s home planet is much different than ours, some of the interpersonal struggles are quite relatable. We see the distrust between country and city folk (here, there’s the one City: either a benefactor or an oppressor, depending on your point of view). There’s distrust between the uneducated poor and the educated rich.
It’s interesting to watch a character like Jem, with deeply-held opinions and prejudices, learn to see her world differently as she becomes like those she once despised. Watch how she views her new surroundings soon after being taken from her wild existence:
All the plant life was tamed, confined to pots or standing alone and afraid in a bare expanse of gravel. [Kindle location 611]
And, much later:
At a time when many were discovering what an ugly place the world could be, I saw its beauty for the first time, now viewing it through the narrow lens of love. [Kindle location 4583]
This is in some ways a difficult novel to read. Jem’s traumatic beginnings have made her a foul-mouthed, hard-edged person. (Her world has different cuss words than ours, but the sheer volume wearied me at times.) Her experiences, past and in the novel, include some moments that are hard to read but discreetly presented.
In other ways it’s a treat to read. Yvonne Anderson nails world-building. I always enjoy the setting details she creates, exotic and yet relatable. In the middle of a tense time, there’ll be a spot of humour. And there’s heart. It’s good to see Jem grow and make something of herself.
Faith… Jem’s world has a number of religions, much like the gods and goddesses of Earth’s past. Jem doesn’t have much use for any of them. In the novel we find casual mention of a minor religion called Sonmanism, where “one god had a son who became a man.” [Kindle location 2947]
From the progression of the story, I think we’ll see the development of a Christian thread as the series progresses. For now, it’s begun but this isn’t your grandmother’s Christian fiction. It is, however, a well-written and worthwhile read. I’m glad I toughed through the hard parts.
Yvonne Anderson has previously written the Christian science fiction series, Gateway to Gannah. She describes her writing as “telling ‘the old, old story.’ In surprising new ways.” Stillwaters is book 1 in the series The Four Lives of J.S. Freeman. For more about the author and her work, visit yswords.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
June 16, 2018
Stillwaters captures your attention with a tragic opening. Readers get a glimpse into the feral childhood of Jem and the neglect she endures from her only family members. Having grown up in the rural country of her unique planet, Jem is forced to care for herself under terrible living conditions because her father wants nothing to do with her. It is very clear that she has developed a tough exterior to prevent herself from getting hurt by anyone else and to survive the tough terrain of her home. The one person she finds herself vulnerable with is her brother. Jem's character reminds me of so many people who must maintain a solid exterior, but who ultimately have the some of the most loving hearts. It is clear she feels very strong for her brother and it was heartwarming to witness his kindness towards her, despite the rest of their family's cruelty.
After what appears to be a normal day for Jem and her brother, Jem ends up encountering a heart-wrenching situation that lands her in the City's medical care center. From this moment on, the story shifts focus while she embarks on a new adventure. Although the tragic beginning was difficult to digest, that part of the plot helped readers understand the amount of growth Jem experienced as her journey progressed.
Yvonne has a fantastic way of setting each scene with vivid details that engross you into the world she has created. I could picture exactly what Jem's planet looked like and how although it is vastly different from our own planet, there were still structural similarities I could relate it to. It is clear Yvonne utilized this novel to discuss a variety of topics that run parallel to organized religion, geographical cultures, and hierarchical societies. Doing this can be incredibly tricky because the parallel often ends up merging into a blurred reflection. However, Yvonne has a very keen eye for creating a unique plot premise that entails a variety of humanistic issues while still making the story relatable.
I think a variety of individuals would enjoy this novel as it encompasses many different scenarios that provoke insightful thinking. It also follows a strong female lead who manages to overcome a lot of obstacles throughout her adventures.
After what appears to be a normal day for Jem and her brother, Jem ends up encountering a heart-wrenching situation that lands her in the City's medical care center. From this moment on, the story shifts focus while she embarks on a new adventure. Although the tragic beginning was difficult to digest, that part of the plot helped readers understand the amount of growth Jem experienced as her journey progressed.
Yvonne has a fantastic way of setting each scene with vivid details that engross you into the world she has created. I could picture exactly what Jem's planet looked like and how although it is vastly different from our own planet, there were still structural similarities I could relate it to. It is clear Yvonne utilized this novel to discuss a variety of topics that run parallel to organized religion, geographical cultures, and hierarchical societies. Doing this can be incredibly tricky because the parallel often ends up merging into a blurred reflection. However, Yvonne has a very keen eye for creating a unique plot premise that entails a variety of humanistic issues while still making the story relatable.
I think a variety of individuals would enjoy this novel as it encompasses many different scenarios that provoke insightful thinking. It also follows a strong female lead who manages to overcome a lot of obstacles throughout her adventures.
June 5, 2018
The Four Lives of J.S. Freeman is a three-part science fiction serial written by Yvonne Anderson and Stillwaters is the first offering, promising readers a diverting journey into a mirror-Earth with its own histories, religions, and wonders. Studying the map of the fictitious world Umban, I see four major lands – the one called Centre City being the biggest to the south – and more or less eight islands in total, one of which, situated to the west, is called Freemansland, an island that was man-built and came to be known as “The Land of Many Mysteries”.
Jemima Freeman’s first life ended when she was around what she believed to be eleven years old. The last thing she remembers about that life is being dragged away by her older brother Ibro who had been in the process of doing something unthinkable, but was fortuitously stopped when her brother Jeriah showed up. Having learned that Ibro killed their father,
Jemima’s second life is set to begin outside of Freedom, the level of Freemansland that Jemima is originally from. Jemima and her brother thus go on to live with their uncle, aunt, and cousins. The two attend school and Jemima, ever the Freemanslander, isn’t fond of this second life at all. As she ages in and outside of Freedom, can she learn to accept the ways of the City?
From eleven year old Jemima Freeman’s perspective, we learn that Freemansland is a not a natural island and that it was built long ago for a purpose long since forgotten in the time of her first life. Centuries prior to this first life of hers there had been a great war that had wiped almost everyone out. The young protagonist, who is also the first-person narrator, talks of fruits, vegetables, and animals – even dragons – that exist in her world. The island is made up of levels. No doubt a unique idea. Freedom, the one on which Jemima has lived all her life, is the second one from the bottom.
Jemima, fond of the cuss word “Cityslime,” is a protagonist with a self-willed personality, adding humor to the writing whenever it comes into play. When she wakes up after the whole Ibro event she Cityslimes the doctor, the first ever “citizen” she’s ever seen, like you wouldn’t believe. For the better part of her teen years, she hates just about everything that is the City; they are outsiders who live a more advanced life than Freemanslanders. As she gets older, her views change somewhat. She becomes a part of this whole other world that she hated as a little girl. But she is not just a little girl whose views have changed over the years.
She is a stellasede. Something icky is in Jemima’s brain, a worm that entered her while swimming in the stillwater back on Freedom. This is both good news and bad news for the protagonist. The stelli worms in her are asleep and while they are, Jemima can enjoy a couple of mental advantages like having a superior memory. The bad, she’s a ticking time bomb because if the stelli worms ever wake up, that’s it for her. At the school that Jemima and Jeriah end up attending, the girls in Jemima’s class learn about the worms in her brain and proceed to avoid her like she’s carrying a terrible disease. Jeriah, however, becomes popular and manages to turn a couple of heads from the girls and even some of the female teachers.
Mayne, a friend from Jemima’s first life, starts attending Freemansland City Academy East as well. There is great potential for something of a romantic nature between the two friends. This potential starts dying out as the story goes on, however. Greatly disappointing for me, sure. Mayne is taken out of Jemima’s picture when she, Jeriah and Mayne enlist in the City’s army. It is when she is older that another character, a true blood citizen of the City named Ashgrey Standtall who is also a military man and a superior to Jemima, gives readers hope that our protagonist can actually have a happy ending.
Considering that a more solid conflict is offered in the second half of the book when Jemima is already grown, I have to say that I wished that the author hadn’t devoted so much time as she did to her formative years. Anderson could’ve made do without some of the stages in her protagonist’s growth because the adult version of Jemima leads an interesting enough life to fill more chapters. My biggest disappointment is that Mayne didn’t play as big a role in the story as I thought he would. More could’ve been done with him if the author chose to.
In our world, the British empire set sail to conquer lands. Centuries later, most of the world are on equal grounds. What the author subtly explores in this unique world of hers is whether war is necessary for world advancement. If an advanced people choosing to invade a lesser world to ultimately elevate them to their level are absolutely within their rights. If this reason justifies it all. If everyone should just accept living by the rules of the greater power. “They invaded with the purpose of restoration. They hurt in order to heal.”
Imagine the autobiography of a talented female spy with a small chance of finding a man to spend her life with, but one that has grown up in an entirely different world than ours. If you like the sound of that, then this book is for you. The comparisons between our world and that of the author’s are without a doubt interesting to take a look at, but readers will marvel at Yvonne Anderson’s stubborn proclivity to make the issues of normal human beings the grand attraction of Umban, a fantasy realm that I still want to learn more of and can’t wait to return to. I wouldn’t say it’s as enjoyable as a regular fiction novel, but it’s definitely worth a read.
Jemima Freeman’s first life ended when she was around what she believed to be eleven years old. The last thing she remembers about that life is being dragged away by her older brother Ibro who had been in the process of doing something unthinkable, but was fortuitously stopped when her brother Jeriah showed up. Having learned that Ibro killed their father,
Jemima’s second life is set to begin outside of Freedom, the level of Freemansland that Jemima is originally from. Jemima and her brother thus go on to live with their uncle, aunt, and cousins. The two attend school and Jemima, ever the Freemanslander, isn’t fond of this second life at all. As she ages in and outside of Freedom, can she learn to accept the ways of the City?
From eleven year old Jemima Freeman’s perspective, we learn that Freemansland is a not a natural island and that it was built long ago for a purpose long since forgotten in the time of her first life. Centuries prior to this first life of hers there had been a great war that had wiped almost everyone out. The young protagonist, who is also the first-person narrator, talks of fruits, vegetables, and animals – even dragons – that exist in her world. The island is made up of levels. No doubt a unique idea. Freedom, the one on which Jemima has lived all her life, is the second one from the bottom.
Jemima, fond of the cuss word “Cityslime,” is a protagonist with a self-willed personality, adding humor to the writing whenever it comes into play. When she wakes up after the whole Ibro event she Cityslimes the doctor, the first ever “citizen” she’s ever seen, like you wouldn’t believe. For the better part of her teen years, she hates just about everything that is the City; they are outsiders who live a more advanced life than Freemanslanders. As she gets older, her views change somewhat. She becomes a part of this whole other world that she hated as a little girl. But she is not just a little girl whose views have changed over the years.
She is a stellasede. Something icky is in Jemima’s brain, a worm that entered her while swimming in the stillwater back on Freedom. This is both good news and bad news for the protagonist. The stelli worms in her are asleep and while they are, Jemima can enjoy a couple of mental advantages like having a superior memory. The bad, she’s a ticking time bomb because if the stelli worms ever wake up, that’s it for her. At the school that Jemima and Jeriah end up attending, the girls in Jemima’s class learn about the worms in her brain and proceed to avoid her like she’s carrying a terrible disease. Jeriah, however, becomes popular and manages to turn a couple of heads from the girls and even some of the female teachers.
Mayne, a friend from Jemima’s first life, starts attending Freemansland City Academy East as well. There is great potential for something of a romantic nature between the two friends. This potential starts dying out as the story goes on, however. Greatly disappointing for me, sure. Mayne is taken out of Jemima’s picture when she, Jeriah and Mayne enlist in the City’s army. It is when she is older that another character, a true blood citizen of the City named Ashgrey Standtall who is also a military man and a superior to Jemima, gives readers hope that our protagonist can actually have a happy ending.
Considering that a more solid conflict is offered in the second half of the book when Jemima is already grown, I have to say that I wished that the author hadn’t devoted so much time as she did to her formative years. Anderson could’ve made do without some of the stages in her protagonist’s growth because the adult version of Jemima leads an interesting enough life to fill more chapters. My biggest disappointment is that Mayne didn’t play as big a role in the story as I thought he would. More could’ve been done with him if the author chose to.
In our world, the British empire set sail to conquer lands. Centuries later, most of the world are on equal grounds. What the author subtly explores in this unique world of hers is whether war is necessary for world advancement. If an advanced people choosing to invade a lesser world to ultimately elevate them to their level are absolutely within their rights. If this reason justifies it all. If everyone should just accept living by the rules of the greater power. “They invaded with the purpose of restoration. They hurt in order to heal.”
Imagine the autobiography of a talented female spy with a small chance of finding a man to spend her life with, but one that has grown up in an entirely different world than ours. If you like the sound of that, then this book is for you. The comparisons between our world and that of the author’s are without a doubt interesting to take a look at, but readers will marvel at Yvonne Anderson’s stubborn proclivity to make the issues of normal human beings the grand attraction of Umban, a fantasy realm that I still want to learn more of and can’t wait to return to. I wouldn’t say it’s as enjoyable as a regular fiction novel, but it’s definitely worth a read.
July 25, 2018
My first comment is simply, "Wow." I honestly loved this book - so much so that as soon as I finished reading it (late into the night, I might add because i didn't want to stop...) I ordered the second in the series (called CITIZEN), because i didn't want the story to end. It is both beautiful and disturbing - an epic tale about the life of a damaged little girl who grows up into a damaged young woman, but who somehow finds love and purpose in her life anyway - and not in the way we might expect. Told from the main character Jemima's point of view, we get a deep glimpse into her feelings - her struggle to survive; her prejudices; her fears and how she compensates for them. I don't actually know what else to say except READ IT! Since it stretches over a long period in her life, I'd call it 'epic' in the actual sense of the word (not some trendy version of epic) I must admit that I went into reading this book not sure what to expect. Based on the cover and the title, I just wasn't sure what it was about. But don't either fool you. This book is amazing.
March 21, 2018
A girl survives childhood abuse, joins the military, and finds love.
This is a hard-to-categorise science fiction. Written as a biography in first person, it follows one girl’s life as she recovers from a miserable childhood and finds a place in the world. Which isn’t Earth, though some aspects seem rather familiar. She joins the military, but I wouldn’t say this is military-SF: there’s a lack of people being shot. I’d be inclined to call it romance, but the romance kicks in fairly late on.
So this is unusual, and if you’re expecting lasers and spaceships you may be disappointed. But I enjoyed it. The first person voice is distinctive and natural, and from the start I wanted to know where this character was going. Although there’s not a great deal of action, I didn’t miss it.
Overall, a quiet but very interesting story centred on a great character. Well written and well edited, very readable throughout.
This is a hard-to-categorise science fiction. Written as a biography in first person, it follows one girl’s life as she recovers from a miserable childhood and finds a place in the world. Which isn’t Earth, though some aspects seem rather familiar. She joins the military, but I wouldn’t say this is military-SF: there’s a lack of people being shot. I’d be inclined to call it romance, but the romance kicks in fairly late on.
So this is unusual, and if you’re expecting lasers and spaceships you may be disappointed. But I enjoyed it. The first person voice is distinctive and natural, and from the start I wanted to know where this character was going. Although there’s not a great deal of action, I didn’t miss it.
Overall, a quiet but very interesting story centred on a great character. Well written and well edited, very readable throughout.
October 2, 2018
Great! Very enjoyable and I liked the reality mixed within the tale to show Gods grace before she even knew she needed it.
Liked the way the author told the story and how she introduced her characters and the back and forth between present and past.
Liked the way the author told the story and how she introduced her characters and the back and forth between present and past.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews