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For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Flynn, moving into the heart of the Michigan woods with her family is the biggest adventure she’s ever had. A self-proclaimed geek girl with a penchant for Sherlock Holmes, she wonders if she’ll ever have an exciting quest of her own.
But when she discovers an antique carousel tucked into the woods near her new home, her life soon spins out of control. For the ponies are so much more than their faded paint portrays. Filled with primal magic, the ponies are alive, and they have been waiting for her for a long time.
With the help of a young carousel caretaker named Black, Charlotte soon discovers that the Flying Ponies are in danger from others who want to possess them and their magic. Drawn into a battle for the carousel and ultimately the entire world while navigating her first true romance, Charlotte may have more adventure than she ever bargained for . . .
But when she discovers an antique carousel tucked into the woods near her new home, her life soon spins out of control. For the ponies are so much more than their faded paint portrays. Filled with primal magic, the ponies are alive, and they have been waiting for her for a long time.
With the help of a young carousel caretaker named Black, Charlotte soon discovers that the Flying Ponies are in danger from others who want to possess them and their magic. Drawn into a battle for the carousel and ultimately the entire world while navigating her first true romance, Charlotte may have more adventure than she ever bargained for . . .
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
434 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Ransom
25 books45 followersL. M. Ransom lives in a place called Blooming Valley, located not too far off the shores of Lake Michigan. She is married to her best friend, and they have two adult children. She shares her home with an older black merle Jackshund, who always keeps things interesting. L. M. works at the library in her hometown, mostly behind the scenes in the back room. She would love to have a real-life AT-AT from Star Wars, but is settling for her collection of Walkers in her home office (for now). She enjoys watching TV and movies with her family. She adores The Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn 99, and The Middle, and she absolutely loves writing young adult romance. You can find L. M. on Instagram, Threads, and X at @lmransomwrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 7, 2018
Publishing Date: April 2018
Publisher: L. M. Ransom
ISBN: 9781732058804
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.1/5
Publisher’s Description: For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Flynn, moving into the heart of the Michigan woods with her family is the biggest adventure she’s ever had. A self-proclaimed geek girl with a penchant for Sherlock Holmes, she wonders if she’ll ever have an exciting quest of her own.
But when she discovers an antique carousel tucked into the woods near her new home, her life soon spins out of control. For the ponies are so much more than their faded paint portrays. Filled with primal magic, the ponies are alive, and they have been waiting for her for a long time.
Review: This was a real push to get through but it is my own fault. I got sucked in on another book description that sounds interesting but is a front for patterned YA fantasy. So I take full responsibility for stepping in it but waded through in stalwart fashion to the bitter end….or is it?
Charlotte (call her Char) is fooking speshul and likes boys…a boy, and then two boys so I guess it is a love tribangle but without the banging. She gets lot’s o’ shivers down her spine, eighteen in fact if you’re counting, and trembles, fumbles, blushes and pouts her way into your heart. Only she really can’t because she was not built as a solid and believable character. Translated: that means she doesn’t really grow with the movement, and the depth required to build a character that you care about fails to culminate. What we get is a whiny disbelieving asshat that constantly asks the wrong questions and accepts what everyone tells her. Awesome role model for the YA crowd, eh? Personally I like characters that are independent and gutsy, relying on their own “can-do” attitudes and not swoon or blush at the drop of a hat.
What was really the stone anchoring the mutinous seaman to the ocean’s depths was the constant overuse of descriptors. “She looked at his handsome face ….”, “He put his hands on his slender hips…”, “He raked his hand through his jet black hair “, and on and on and on. Do YA readers really need to be walked through the scenes in order to bring them to life? It was like reading a writers workshop 101 class project.
But thank your lucky little stars as this is first in the series which ended much like the book started. So yay for you if you hang in there.
You can read all of my reviews, here.
Publisher: L. M. Ransom
ISBN: 9781732058804
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.1/5
Publisher’s Description: For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Flynn, moving into the heart of the Michigan woods with her family is the biggest adventure she’s ever had. A self-proclaimed geek girl with a penchant for Sherlock Holmes, she wonders if she’ll ever have an exciting quest of her own.
But when she discovers an antique carousel tucked into the woods near her new home, her life soon spins out of control. For the ponies are so much more than their faded paint portrays. Filled with primal magic, the ponies are alive, and they have been waiting for her for a long time.
Review: This was a real push to get through but it is my own fault. I got sucked in on another book description that sounds interesting but is a front for patterned YA fantasy. So I take full responsibility for stepping in it but waded through in stalwart fashion to the bitter end….or is it?
Charlotte (call her Char) is fooking speshul and likes boys…a boy, and then two boys so I guess it is a love tribangle but without the banging. She gets lot’s o’ shivers down her spine, eighteen in fact if you’re counting, and trembles, fumbles, blushes and pouts her way into your heart. Only she really can’t because she was not built as a solid and believable character. Translated: that means she doesn’t really grow with the movement, and the depth required to build a character that you care about fails to culminate. What we get is a whiny disbelieving asshat that constantly asks the wrong questions and accepts what everyone tells her. Awesome role model for the YA crowd, eh? Personally I like characters that are independent and gutsy, relying on their own “can-do” attitudes and not swoon or blush at the drop of a hat.
What was really the stone anchoring the mutinous seaman to the ocean’s depths was the constant overuse of descriptors. “She looked at his handsome face ….”, “He put his hands on his slender hips…”, “He raked his hand through his jet black hair “, and on and on and on. Do YA readers really need to be walked through the scenes in order to bring them to life? It was like reading a writers workshop 101 class project.
But thank your lucky little stars as this is first in the series which ended much like the book started. So yay for you if you hang in there.
You can read all of my reviews, here.
Read
April 29, 2018Thought this book has a lot of potential I ended up losing interest on it. The story about the magic carousel is great, I already had read a book with a similar story and loved it, but sadly this wasn't the case with this one, even though as I've sait it has alot of potential and strength.
On the things that I didn't quite felt fitted were the Uncle, which I think wasn't doing a very good job of taking care of the family and the way he kept pushing Char to go to the ponies without telling her the whole story... seemed odd to me. Also I would have liked more character and relationship development because I felt like the kids had just arrived to live with their Uncle after some immediate tragedy, and it turns out they had been leaving together for a bit, only in the city, but to me it didn't feel like they had a relationship or any kinship. I felt like the situation was new to every one by the way in which they interacted.
Also the characters seemed like they had a lot of potential but were left underdeveloped and fitted into cliches.
On the other side, the idea was great: a magic carousel full of woden ponies with their own personalities, needing magic to go on and claiming their own human to help them out. And all the things surrounding it were great.... hidden in the woods because some of the ponies had already been stolen, it passing from family member to family member skipping some in between...
On the things that I didn't quite felt fitted were the Uncle, which I think wasn't doing a very good job of taking care of the family and the way he kept pushing Char to go to the ponies without telling her the whole story... seemed odd to me. Also I would have liked more character and relationship development because I felt like the kids had just arrived to live with their Uncle after some immediate tragedy, and it turns out they had been leaving together for a bit, only in the city, but to me it didn't feel like they had a relationship or any kinship. I felt like the situation was new to every one by the way in which they interacted.
Also the characters seemed like they had a lot of potential but were left underdeveloped and fitted into cliches.
On the other side, the idea was great: a magic carousel full of woden ponies with their own personalities, needing magic to go on and claiming their own human to help them out. And all the things surrounding it were great.... hidden in the woods because some of the ponies had already been stolen, it passing from family member to family member skipping some in between...
June 5, 2018
Ahoy there me mateys. I couldn't get into this book at all. I was confused how a group of children could go to another state and not have demanded at least some answers as to why they were going there. Also one of the siblings is 18 so why didn't they make more fuss? I did like that the siblings seemed to truly care about each other. But overall this book did not work for me. I abandoned ship pretty quickly.
August 8, 2020
FAN-MADE BOOK TRAILER: https://youtu.be/AmJX4D3CGNc
This was a really fun and unique read! I greatly enjoyed the concept of the magical carousel and think the author did a splendid job of bringing each of the ponies to life, especially the "crazy" one. Plus, the magical experience was simply fun to read about it! All around, had me glued to my Kindle with a story I've read anything like before.
I did know who the bad guy was early on, but again I think the author did a good job with his character. Due to Charlotte's loyalty, it WAS hard to really think if he could be a bad guy. It was a good struggle I had until the end, and even then, I was still second guessing. However, I am happy to say that one of the guys who I thought was in cahoots with the bad guy, was indeed not. Yay! I really liked his character and how sweet he was (even if he was secretive).
Definitely look forward to reading book two as I'm still a little tore up about how things unfolded at the end and want to see what happens next.
Recommend to YA readers who enjoy a good mystery mixed in with a fantasy twist.
*(I received an ARC from the author. I was not required to write a review and all thoughts expressed are my own.)*
This was a really fun and unique read! I greatly enjoyed the concept of the magical carousel and think the author did a splendid job of bringing each of the ponies to life, especially the "crazy" one. Plus, the magical experience was simply fun to read about it! All around, had me glued to my Kindle with a story I've read anything like before.
I did know who the bad guy was early on, but again I think the author did a good job with his character. Due to Charlotte's loyalty, it WAS hard to really think if he could be a bad guy. It was a good struggle I had until the end, and even then, I was still second guessing. However, I am happy to say that one of the guys who I thought was in cahoots with the bad guy, was indeed not. Yay! I really liked his character and how sweet he was (even if he was secretive).
Definitely look forward to reading book two as I'm still a little tore up about how things unfolded at the end and want to see what happens next.
Recommend to YA readers who enjoy a good mystery mixed in with a fantasy twist.
*(I received an ARC from the author. I was not required to write a review and all thoughts expressed are my own.)*
June 29, 2023
****Actual Rating 3.5 Stars****
Such a fun story! This reminded me a lot of the MG horse adventure books I used to read a lot of when I was younger full of mystery and magic and of course magical carousel horses but for teens!
The beginning really sucked me in the adventure with Charlotte but I will say the middle didn’t so much drag as it…went in circles. Charlotte kept asking the same questions and no one would answer so it would always come back around to it again and again and—you get the idea. It was never boring, but it DID get a little tedious, almost as if the author just got stuck and wasn’t sure what to do with the middle of the story despite the beginning and ending being good. I’m chalking this issue to the book being the author’s first one which doesn’t bother me as much as if this was her seventh or something like that, lol.
The magic is a bit confusing but I’m assuming we’ll get more explanations to things in the other two books. I also did guess who the bad guy was almost off the bat (and my mom didn’t believe me until I was proven right, haha) but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment any. I also got kinda annoyed at the siblings having vast, sudden mood swings with each other a few times, but this is also real so I can’t blame it too much.
I like Charlotte and Black a lot and the whole idea of a magical carousel coming to life is so fun and creative, so despite some of my gripes I really enjoyed this book and am excited to keep going with the series!
‼️Content‼️
Language: what the heck; gee; son of a—
Violence: a character hits a skeleton creature on the head when it tries to attack; whips are snapped at ponies; creepy creatures chase and try to attack characters; magical pain is inflicted on characters
Sexual: a kiss (not detailed)
Other: magic; a magical carousel, carousel horses, and house; creepy skeleton creatures
Such a fun story! This reminded me a lot of the MG horse adventure books I used to read a lot of when I was younger full of mystery and magic and of course magical carousel horses but for teens!
The beginning really sucked me in the adventure with Charlotte but I will say the middle didn’t so much drag as it…went in circles. Charlotte kept asking the same questions and no one would answer so it would always come back around to it again and again and—you get the idea. It was never boring, but it DID get a little tedious, almost as if the author just got stuck and wasn’t sure what to do with the middle of the story despite the beginning and ending being good. I’m chalking this issue to the book being the author’s first one which doesn’t bother me as much as if this was her seventh or something like that, lol.
The magic is a bit confusing but I’m assuming we’ll get more explanations to things in the other two books. I also did guess who the bad guy was almost off the bat (and my mom didn’t believe me until I was proven right, haha) but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment any. I also got kinda annoyed at the siblings having vast, sudden mood swings with each other a few times, but this is also real so I can’t blame it too much.
I like Charlotte and Black a lot and the whole idea of a magical carousel coming to life is so fun and creative, so despite some of my gripes I really enjoyed this book and am excited to keep going with the series!
‼️Content‼️
Language: what the heck; gee; son of a—
Violence: a character hits a skeleton creature on the head when it tries to attack; whips are snapped at ponies; creepy creatures chase and try to attack characters; magical pain is inflicted on characters
Sexual: a kiss (not detailed)
Other: magic; a magical carousel, carousel horses, and house; creepy skeleton creatures
May 8, 2018
When Charlotte Flynn wanders into the Michigan woods, she gets more than she bargained for including a boy named Black, a house that's alive, and a carousel full of magic horses.
I loved this story. It was the perfect upper Middle Grade / early YA reader - magic, a bit of young love (without the PG-13 rating), betrayals, mysteries, historic lies, and most of all a fabulous concept involving a Coney Island carousel in the middle of no-where with highly opinionated horses. If you loved movies like Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, or Monster House, this book is for you.
Loved it!
I loved this story. It was the perfect upper Middle Grade / early YA reader - magic, a bit of young love (without the PG-13 rating), betrayals, mysteries, historic lies, and most of all a fabulous concept involving a Coney Island carousel in the middle of no-where with highly opinionated horses. If you loved movies like Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, or Monster House, this book is for you.
Loved it!
May 16, 2018
A fantastical tale about magical carousel ponies coming to life? Yes, please! Such were my thoughts when I started to read this novel, which sits somewhere between middle grade and YA.
I think generally it is easy to identify with Charlotte, our main character, who is a young geeky girl who just longs to be special. Well, don’t we all! There were references to Doctor Who, Star Wars, Sherlock, etc, which did make her very relatable for . Was there a bit too much pointing out how geeky her tastes were? In my opinion, yes, a little, but I can get over that quite easily.
I did like the fact that Charlotte has lots of siblings that she shares some of her experiences with. They do not always get along, but they do rely on each other and I loved that dynamic (even if I sometimes got confused which brother was which!). The relationships between the youngsters and their uncle Baron sat more trickily with me. It just felt like an all too familar trope.
Also, the (little bit of) romance in this novel is on one hand quite cute, but when I think too much about it, a little creepy as well. This is also a trope that I have read a few times before and I have learned not to overthink it. Sometimes you should just enjoy a book for being a book.
I enjoyed meeting some of the ponies and I liked the idea of the magic system, though I have not quite figured out how it all worked yet. Sometimes it was a bit vague on that part. I feel there is much of this tale still to be told and I think I would happily continue this series when it becomes available.
For me this sits somewhere just under 4 stars, but I prefer to round up.
I think generally it is easy to identify with Charlotte, our main character, who is a young geeky girl who just longs to be special. Well, don’t we all! There were references to Doctor Who, Star Wars, Sherlock, etc, which did make her very relatable for . Was there a bit too much pointing out how geeky her tastes were? In my opinion, yes, a little, but I can get over that quite easily.
I did like the fact that Charlotte has lots of siblings that she shares some of her experiences with. They do not always get along, but they do rely on each other and I loved that dynamic (even if I sometimes got confused which brother was which!). The relationships between the youngsters and their uncle Baron sat more trickily with me. It just felt like an all too familar trope.
Also, the (little bit of) romance in this novel is on one hand quite cute, but when I think too much about it, a little creepy as well. This is also a trope that I have read a few times before and I have learned not to overthink it. Sometimes you should just enjoy a book for being a book.
I enjoyed meeting some of the ponies and I liked the idea of the magic system, though I have not quite figured out how it all worked yet. Sometimes it was a bit vague on that part. I feel there is much of this tale still to be told and I think I would happily continue this series when it becomes available.
For me this sits somewhere just under 4 stars, but I prefer to round up.
Read
August 30, 2018This book was a really cute, fun read that I would recommend to true young adults like fifth to eighth graders. I have always been a sucker for any stories, movies, or books about horses so of course, I had to request this one!
Magical ponies, a mystery, and an adventure! What else could a teenage girl ask for? There are twists and turns that lead to deceit and life lessons as well. The only thing that I could see improved would be an overall more eclectic storyline that feels more believable. The delivery of the book fell short and the characters could have seemed more believable. Like why wouldn’t 5 teens ask questions about their situation instead of just immediately adapting to a new weird situation? Which is the reason for my three-star review.
Magical ponies, a mystery, and an adventure! What else could a teenage girl ask for? There are twists and turns that lead to deceit and life lessons as well. The only thing that I could see improved would be an overall more eclectic storyline that feels more believable. The delivery of the book fell short and the characters could have seemed more believable. Like why wouldn’t 5 teens ask questions about their situation instead of just immediately adapting to a new weird situation? Which is the reason for my three-star review.
May 24, 2018
The short of it:
It was a cute children’s story that reminded me of both The Little White Horse and The Mysterious Benedict Society. I loved the idea of a magic carousel, and some of the other magical surprises, but overall it was an underwhelming read. The characters were very flat, and there was far too much telling and not enough showing in the plot, which was all over the place. However, it was clean in content, and younger readers might be able to enjoy this story more than I did. 3 stars.
For more reviews, follow me at gabriellenblog.wordpress.com.
It was a cute children’s story that reminded me of both The Little White Horse and The Mysterious Benedict Society. I loved the idea of a magic carousel, and some of the other magical surprises, but overall it was an underwhelming read. The characters were very flat, and there was far too much telling and not enough showing in the plot, which was all over the place. However, it was clean in content, and younger readers might be able to enjoy this story more than I did. 3 stars.
For more reviews, follow me at gabriellenblog.wordpress.com.
Want to read
April 26, 2018
March 7, 2018
Charlotte Flynn is a young teenager who is thrust into a magical world that she doesn’t understand. In a new novel, Lift by L.M. Ranson, Charlotte must try to understand a complex world of magical carousel horses and the forces that work to try and steal the magical ponies away to use for their own nefarious purposes.
Lead by her Uncle Baron, Charlotte and her five siblings are brought into the fold about missing carousel ponies and a long, family legacy. Charlotte is tasked to find the missing ponies from the suspected thieves, a group of mysterious men who called themselves the Tyranny. But Charlotte is frustrated; no one will tell her all the information about the carousel, include the carousel’s caretakers, the elderly Mr. Coal and his grandson, the resourceful Black. Being in the dark is a constant struggle for Charlotte, between the magical ponies, a magical mansion hidden in the woods, and creatures that prowl the forest at night, who pose a danger to anyone they come into contact with.
The target age range for this novel is young teenagers, and I feel that this age group could easily relate to the struggles of Charlotte and her many siblings.. The adults in the novel are the ones keeping information from her about the magic that surrounds her and her family. The lack of sharing information between the adults and the children seems to be the primary contention in the novel, with the magical ponies and the Tyranny as a close second.
Lift boasts a large cast of characters, all of whom have unique characteristics and mystery wrapped around themselves. Slowly, over the course of the novel, some of these mysteries are revealed, however, the author leaves enough open for a follow up novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel, though I wish there had been more character development that went deeper than a teenager becoming more obstinate over being kept in the dark. However, this novel is a part of a series, and I will be interested to see where the author takes the story line and the characters in the future.
Lead by her Uncle Baron, Charlotte and her five siblings are brought into the fold about missing carousel ponies and a long, family legacy. Charlotte is tasked to find the missing ponies from the suspected thieves, a group of mysterious men who called themselves the Tyranny. But Charlotte is frustrated; no one will tell her all the information about the carousel, include the carousel’s caretakers, the elderly Mr. Coal and his grandson, the resourceful Black. Being in the dark is a constant struggle for Charlotte, between the magical ponies, a magical mansion hidden in the woods, and creatures that prowl the forest at night, who pose a danger to anyone they come into contact with.
The target age range for this novel is young teenagers, and I feel that this age group could easily relate to the struggles of Charlotte and her many siblings.. The adults in the novel are the ones keeping information from her about the magic that surrounds her and her family. The lack of sharing information between the adults and the children seems to be the primary contention in the novel, with the magical ponies and the Tyranny as a close second.
Lift boasts a large cast of characters, all of whom have unique characteristics and mystery wrapped around themselves. Slowly, over the course of the novel, some of these mysteries are revealed, however, the author leaves enough open for a follow up novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel, though I wish there had been more character development that went deeper than a teenager becoming more obstinate over being kept in the dark. However, this novel is a part of a series, and I will be interested to see where the author takes the story line and the characters in the future.
May 10, 2018
Charlotte Flynn wasn't sure what to expect when her quirky uncle suddenly moved them to the middle of the woods in Michigan, but soon finds herself on one amazing adventure filled with flying carousel ponies, mayhem, stunning surprises, and, could it be the beginning of a new romance?
This is what readers will find when they embark on the adventure that is Lift, the first novel in a thrilling series by L.M. Ransom. Lift marks Ransom's debut and proves an ideal fit for readers young and young at heart. Best suited for ages 12 and up, Lift offers readers the opportunity to travel along with Charlotte as she discovers the truth about the mansion she and her siblings now reside in, as well as that of a magic carousel tucked away deep in the woods, not to mention her uncle.
Young readers will enjoy an engaging tale of magic, fantastical creatures, and the importance of courage, while parents will appreciate a book they can share with their children free of concerning language. Though Ransom tells a clean story, it is not without excitement and intrigue, and is a story that continues to build in anticipation until the last page, paving the way for the next book in the series.
Get on board with Charlotte and the Flying Ponies for an unforgettable ride!
This is what readers will find when they embark on the adventure that is Lift, the first novel in a thrilling series by L.M. Ransom. Lift marks Ransom's debut and proves an ideal fit for readers young and young at heart. Best suited for ages 12 and up, Lift offers readers the opportunity to travel along with Charlotte as she discovers the truth about the mansion she and her siblings now reside in, as well as that of a magic carousel tucked away deep in the woods, not to mention her uncle.
Young readers will enjoy an engaging tale of magic, fantastical creatures, and the importance of courage, while parents will appreciate a book they can share with their children free of concerning language. Though Ransom tells a clean story, it is not without excitement and intrigue, and is a story that continues to build in anticipation until the last page, paving the way for the next book in the series.
Get on board with Charlotte and the Flying Ponies for an unforgettable ride!
May 15, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy of this novel.
I thought that Lift was a sweet and wonderful story about a young girl who wants to save a group of magical horses. She faces danger, mystery, and adventures all while trying to understand her place in the world. I think the book would be great for children and teens, who enjoy horses and adventure, it has a great message about being kind and helping others.
I thought that Lift was a sweet and wonderful story about a young girl who wants to save a group of magical horses. She faces danger, mystery, and adventures all while trying to understand her place in the world. I think the book would be great for children and teens, who enjoy horses and adventure, it has a great message about being kind and helping others.
March 2, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this first novel by L.M. Ransom. I wasn't sure what to expect from this wonderful woman. We met over Jeeps and became friends over various fandoms and through our desire to share the worlds inside us with the world around us. My first thought, a few chapters in, was that this wasn't my usual cup of tea. After another chapter I realized it was, but I wasn't used to following a female lead through all the adventure and romance. This is a great read for you or your young adult reader. It's an enchanting read told through the eyes of the modern geek-girl teen. There are references to all the favorites -- Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Harry Potter -- but Ransom does a fine job of relating to each of these without trying to be any of them. She has a fine voice that is all her own and she keeps you guessing at every step of the way. She's set up a whopper of a follow-up. I can't wait to read the next installment.
May 19, 2018
Charlotte Flynn and her five siblings move in with their mysterious uncle Baron and get swept up in a strange new world of magic. Charlotte discovers she is the Capall, the one to bring magic back into a world that has largely forgotten about it, through her connection to a group of mystical carousel ponies.
When I read an author's first-ever book, I look for certain rookie mistakes. I am pleased to say that this book had very few. Yes, there was a lot of description, and a fair amount of repetition, but I suspect further books will see the author improve in that regard. Charlotte was a very good main character, and I loved the chemistry she had with Black, the handsome young carousel-keeper.
Perhaps my only real problem with the story is that Charlotte knows early on that her Uncle, and Black, and all of the people who are SUPPOSED to clue her into her grand destiny as the Capall, don't do so. She repeatedly demands answers, is promised them, and these answers then lead to even more questions, which she (and we) have to get answers to. It seemed repetitive, and it detracted from my enjoyment of the story. Charlotte's older brother Jared was well fleshed-out, and we got a little bit of her younger brother Rory, but I would have liked to get to know her other siblings as well. Perhaps they will be more prominent in Book 2.
All in all, a worthy first effort. I would recommend this book to lovers of YA fantasy (or horses).
When I read an author's first-ever book, I look for certain rookie mistakes. I am pleased to say that this book had very few. Yes, there was a lot of description, and a fair amount of repetition, but I suspect further books will see the author improve in that regard. Charlotte was a very good main character, and I loved the chemistry she had with Black, the handsome young carousel-keeper.
Perhaps my only real problem with the story is that Charlotte knows early on that her Uncle, and Black, and all of the people who are SUPPOSED to clue her into her grand destiny as the Capall, don't do so. She repeatedly demands answers, is promised them, and these answers then lead to even more questions, which she (and we) have to get answers to. It seemed repetitive, and it detracted from my enjoyment of the story. Charlotte's older brother Jared was well fleshed-out, and we got a little bit of her younger brother Rory, but I would have liked to get to know her other siblings as well. Perhaps they will be more prominent in Book 2.
All in all, a worthy first effort. I would recommend this book to lovers of YA fantasy (or horses).
May 21, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the idea of this book, magical ponies and a carousel, and a young girl’s quest to be special. However it
didn't live up to my expectations. The characters, Charlotte our main character is a young self-proclaimed geeky girl which meant a lot of reference to Doctor Who, Star Wars, Sherlock, etc, which could have made her likable. Except there a bit too much pointing out how geeky her tastes were. It was almost as if we were starting to see real development in her then “geeky reference” and she went back to a kind of childish character. Overall I felt the other characters were just not realistic, and were not well developed. The dialogue felt forced at times and there was too much repetition throughout the story.
I wish world building was solid and as a reader you actually understood what the world of magic means at the end of this book. The purpose of magic in this world is NEVER explained, just that IT IS. As the first book in a series there was too much repetition and not enough development of characters, plot, world, or anything that would have helped this book. Everything about it is rather ambiguous. You never really do get the full story, and no, it doesn't add to the mystery of the story. It's exasperating!! And there was no wrap up at the end. This book fell extremely flat.
This is not a series I will continue.
I liked the idea of this book, magical ponies and a carousel, and a young girl’s quest to be special. However it
didn't live up to my expectations. The characters, Charlotte our main character is a young self-proclaimed geeky girl which meant a lot of reference to Doctor Who, Star Wars, Sherlock, etc, which could have made her likable. Except there a bit too much pointing out how geeky her tastes were. It was almost as if we were starting to see real development in her then “geeky reference” and she went back to a kind of childish character. Overall I felt the other characters were just not realistic, and were not well developed. The dialogue felt forced at times and there was too much repetition throughout the story.
I wish world building was solid and as a reader you actually understood what the world of magic means at the end of this book. The purpose of magic in this world is NEVER explained, just that IT IS. As the first book in a series there was too much repetition and not enough development of characters, plot, world, or anything that would have helped this book. Everything about it is rather ambiguous. You never really do get the full story, and no, it doesn't add to the mystery of the story. It's exasperating!! And there was no wrap up at the end. This book fell extremely flat.
This is not a series I will continue.
May 31, 2018
Charlotte Flynn and her five siblings have just moved from town to the countryside with their uncle. Having already lost their parents, the six teenagers don't find the idea of living in an old, big house in the middle of nowhere very appealing. That is, until Charlotte realizes that the Flying Ponies are calling to her.
The Flynn family has protected the Magical Carousel Ponies for decades, and it's Charlotte they have now chosen for their leader. Can a sixteen-year-old girl help them win their stolen friends back? Is the Flynn family strong enough to protect the magic? Why is uncle Baron so cryptic about everything?
Lift is a teenage-young adult targeted fantasy book with a very interesting concept. The story grasp the reader's attention, and the concept of magical carousel ponies is very charming. However, the concept is poorly executed. While the idea is very good, there is a repetitive pattern along the plot, especially around the cryptic behavior of the family's uncle. After the first third of the story, it becomes very clear, and quite tiring, since the characters seem to go round and round the same topic. Moreover, the characters make strange choices, and it felt like the whole story could easily have been shorter and denser, thus keeping the reader's interest more easily.
All in all, Lift was an interesting read, although poorly executed, which is why I have rated it 3 stars. I believe that if a second book is going to eventually come out in the series, it could be very much improved with the help of an editor.
The Flynn family has protected the Magical Carousel Ponies for decades, and it's Charlotte they have now chosen for their leader. Can a sixteen-year-old girl help them win their stolen friends back? Is the Flynn family strong enough to protect the magic? Why is uncle Baron so cryptic about everything?
Lift is a teenage-young adult targeted fantasy book with a very interesting concept. The story grasp the reader's attention, and the concept of magical carousel ponies is very charming. However, the concept is poorly executed. While the idea is very good, there is a repetitive pattern along the plot, especially around the cryptic behavior of the family's uncle. After the first third of the story, it becomes very clear, and quite tiring, since the characters seem to go round and round the same topic. Moreover, the characters make strange choices, and it felt like the whole story could easily have been shorter and denser, thus keeping the reader's interest more easily.
All in all, Lift was an interesting read, although poorly executed, which is why I have rated it 3 stars. I believe that if a second book is going to eventually come out in the series, it could be very much improved with the help of an editor.
September 19, 2018
A Good Story, That Has More To Come
I am not quite the audience this was intended , but it was still an enjoyable story and I know that "Lift" will eventually be a three part series, which will definitely make it even better. It has some good twist in it that changed stuff up pretty well. So it's not just a boring predictable story. I did notice some grammatical errors, that personally doesn't bother me, and it didn't make anything confusing or anything. That definitely does bother some people though, so in the next two just get them proof read by a couple more people. Definitely a good read and recommend if your looking for a new fantasy book or series to get into too. And with a female main character, which in my time as a book reader have not encountered much. Plus its only 5 bucks on kindle so why not just read it. Looking forward to the others in the series. I always love reading books from small authors, and local (the book being based in Michigan was pretty cool.) Best of luck with your endeavours.
I am not quite the audience this was intended , but it was still an enjoyable story and I know that "Lift" will eventually be a three part series, which will definitely make it even better. It has some good twist in it that changed stuff up pretty well. So it's not just a boring predictable story. I did notice some grammatical errors, that personally doesn't bother me, and it didn't make anything confusing or anything. That definitely does bother some people though, so in the next two just get them proof read by a couple more people. Definitely a good read and recommend if your looking for a new fantasy book or series to get into too. And with a female main character, which in my time as a book reader have not encountered much. Plus its only 5 bucks on kindle so why not just read it. Looking forward to the others in the series. I always love reading books from small authors, and local (the book being based in Michigan was pretty cool.) Best of luck with your endeavours.
February 6, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a free review copy through NetGalley.
This book started off giving me Narnia vibes, and I’m obsessed with old houses, family secrets and carousels but unfortunately the story and characters just didn’t click with me. I wish the siblings had been better developed and fleshed out, and maybe if there was less of them there would have been time but for me they all blended together.
Certain plot points are muddy and not well presented. At first it seemed like the book opens with the kids just moving in with their uncle but later we find out they’ve been living with him for awhile. The uncle’s refusal to explain anything in the first half of the book is frustrating and not the best way to pace the plot, because his silence makes little sense.
This book reads a little more like.a middle grade novel than a YA book.
Ultimately I wish I had clicked with this book because the premise really drew me in but I guess it just wasn’t for me.
This book started off giving me Narnia vibes, and I’m obsessed with old houses, family secrets and carousels but unfortunately the story and characters just didn’t click with me. I wish the siblings had been better developed and fleshed out, and maybe if there was less of them there would have been time but for me they all blended together.
Certain plot points are muddy and not well presented. At first it seemed like the book opens with the kids just moving in with their uncle but later we find out they’ve been living with him for awhile. The uncle’s refusal to explain anything in the first half of the book is frustrating and not the best way to pace the plot, because his silence makes little sense.
This book reads a little more like.a middle grade novel than a YA book.
Ultimately I wish I had clicked with this book because the premise really drew me in but I guess it just wasn’t for me.
June 19, 2018
I don't normally read fantasy novels because they are bogged down in description and stuff that isn't actually needed to further the story. So when I do read fantasy, I tend to gravitate towards magical realism where the fantasy stuff happens in our world. From the very beginning the author had me hooked. The main character Charlotte is realistic and relatable and so are her siblings, I often imagined myself having the same conversations and arguments with my own siblings. The magical elements of the carousel and the horses brought in a unique and wonderful perspective to the story. And I liked how it showed that magic is unpredictable at times and can be both good and bad. I cannot wait for the second book in the series to come out next year!!!
July 18, 2018
I received an ARC of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book looked interesting and I initially requested it because I liked the cover. I was slightly disappointed though. The story seems to go around in circles with young Charlotte always asking people to share the secrets of her family’s legacy. It seems everyone always says they’ll tell her but no one actually does. The end result is a bit of a surly teenager trying to get a grip on her new reality of having flying carousel horses, a magical house, and a quest to somehow find some missing carousel horses. The plot was weak, the story dragged on and I didn’t enjoy the authors writing style. It just wasn’t for me.
I thought this book looked interesting and I initially requested it because I liked the cover. I was slightly disappointed though. The story seems to go around in circles with young Charlotte always asking people to share the secrets of her family’s legacy. It seems everyone always says they’ll tell her but no one actually does. The end result is a bit of a surly teenager trying to get a grip on her new reality of having flying carousel horses, a magical house, and a quest to somehow find some missing carousel horses. The plot was weak, the story dragged on and I didn’t enjoy the authors writing style. It just wasn’t for me.
May 19, 2018
I liked the idea of this book, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The characters were shallow and just not realistic to me. The dialogue felt forced at times and there was too much repetition through. Over and over Charlotte feels she's not being told the truth, then someone agrees to tell her everything and then they don't. It just got old. End leads into book2. the story could have been told in 1/4 of the length. without suffering.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2019
A great first installment to the Flying Ponies series! An easy read with a lot of interesting characters. It kept my interest and I found myself eager to see where the story would go and how the magic intertwined in everything. Can’t wait to see what happens as the series develops!
May 5, 2020
Mystery, wonderful characters, crazy family heirlooms, and a lot of magic make for a wild, fun tail (ha! Get it?).
Definitely recommend and definitely still waiting for a ride on the Flying Ponies Carousel!
Definitely recommend and definitely still waiting for a ride on the Flying Ponies Carousel!
January 5, 2021
Though a little bit slow to start, the rest of the book was very well written. It had me intrigued all the way through, I couldn't put it down. A story for anyone who loves carousels, magic, and a little bit of mystery.
December 18, 2018
This was an amazing book full of fun adventures and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
May 25, 2018
I was really excited to read this one based on the synopsis, but it did fall a bit flat for me. The characters needed more development, but the fantasy aspect was pretty good. It just didn't feel like a cohesive story, which continually pulled me away. It look much longer to read it than a book I'm really enjoying. I do appreciate the opportunity to read it!
May 26, 2018
"This is a great read for young adult readers’. It's a charming read told through the eyes of the modern geek-girl teen. There are references to all the favorites -- Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Harry Potter -- but Ransom does a fine job of relating to each of these without trying to be any of them.
I found the book an exciting read, full of adventure, magic, love and fantasy! If you like C.S. Lewis, you’ll love this book. This is the first installment of The Flying Ponies Trilogy and I can’t wait for book 2!
I found the book an exciting read, full of adventure, magic, love and fantasy! If you like C.S. Lewis, you’ll love this book. This is the first installment of The Flying Ponies Trilogy and I can’t wait for book 2!
July 20, 2018
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book was great, it had magic, ponies, strong female lead and a little bit of love everything a YA book could want. Personally I struggled with it a little bit just because it took a while to get into the story and the actual magic stuff. I also found it very frustrating that the answers were being withheld from the main character as I felt it was just to extend the plot slowly.
As a book for a younger audience however it was well suited, and having the sibling and family unconditional love gave it a side that isn't often utilised quite as much. Charlotte really leans on her family at all times which is nice to see and not always the norm these days.
As for the main character Charlotte, yes she could be a little whiny in places as well as naive but let's not forget she is supposed to be a child (well 16 but still). She is not supposed to be as wise as Gandalf at this point. I didn't need the CONSTANT reminders that she was a 'geek girl' by referring to Doctor Who and Sherlock which by the way was at very thin depth and were she actually into those things would have known more about them, but that's another story.
There was so much set up in this story that all of the action (and some of the explanation) happened right at the end of the book and then it suddenly finished. The author is clearly setting up for more of these books, also the very close knit family suddenly had 3 of the characters just disappear and not be used for 40% of the book?
I did enjoy the book however and a good sign is that each night i wanted to read as much as I could and it was an easy read and refreshing read after a long slog with a previous book.
Let's see what happens with Charlotte and the ponies in the future..!
The premise of this book was great, it had magic, ponies, strong female lead and a little bit of love everything a YA book could want. Personally I struggled with it a little bit just because it took a while to get into the story and the actual magic stuff. I also found it very frustrating that the answers were being withheld from the main character as I felt it was just to extend the plot slowly.
As a book for a younger audience however it was well suited, and having the sibling and family unconditional love gave it a side that isn't often utilised quite as much. Charlotte really leans on her family at all times which is nice to see and not always the norm these days.
As for the main character Charlotte, yes she could be a little whiny in places as well as naive but let's not forget she is supposed to be a child (well 16 but still). She is not supposed to be as wise as Gandalf at this point. I didn't need the CONSTANT reminders that she was a 'geek girl' by referring to Doctor Who and Sherlock which by the way was at very thin depth and were she actually into those things would have known more about them, but that's another story.
There was so much set up in this story that all of the action (and some of the explanation) happened right at the end of the book and then it suddenly finished. The author is clearly setting up for more of these books, also the very close knit family suddenly had 3 of the characters just disappear and not be used for 40% of the book?
I did enjoy the book however and a good sign is that each night i wanted to read as much as I could and it was an easy read and refreshing read after a long slog with a previous book.
Let's see what happens with Charlotte and the ponies in the future..!
July 31, 2018
I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review, so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
The cover and title is what originally drew me to this book. I really wanted to like it, but I couldn’t get into it. It was so slow and I just couldn't do it.
This was my first book by this author, It was okay. It was slow paced but it was alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a
2.5 star rating!
The cover and title is what originally drew me to this book. I really wanted to like it, but I couldn’t get into it. It was so slow and I just couldn't do it.
This was my first book by this author, It was okay. It was slow paced but it was alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a
2.5 star rating!
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