What do you think?
Rate this book
Ether
Teenager Sam Timmins, school outcast and total nerd, is saved one day from getting run over by the wind. Only it isn’t the wind that saves him, but a mysterious wind-sprite named Esther. The result of a botched lab experiment, Esther and her mother, Nita, the lead scientist on a matter-transportation project, now exist as wind beings.
Sam begins a relationship with Esther, even though he cannot see or even hold Esther, but they grow as close as two people can under the circumstances. The forces of evil, though, will not be denied. Morton Ramsay, the head of the project, needs Esther and Nita back for his own purposes. He sends his two chief henchmen, Harsky and Stutch, to intimidate Sam. When that doesn’t work, they resort to murdering his mother.
Now, Sam is out for revenge. Aided by Esther and her mother, he finds out just who he is and what he is capable of. More than that, he finds out what science is capable of creating—and destroying.
Sam begins a relationship with Esther, even though he cannot see or even hold Esther, but they grow as close as two people can under the circumstances. The forces of evil, though, will not be denied. Morton Ramsay, the head of the project, needs Esther and Nita back for his own purposes. He sends his two chief henchmen, Harsky and Stutch, to intimidate Sam. When that doesn’t work, they resort to murdering his mother.
Now, Sam is out for revenge. Aided by Esther and her mother, he finds out just who he is and what he is capable of. More than that, he finds out what science is capable of creating—and destroying.
- GenresYoung Adult
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2018
5 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Frankel
92 books237 followersJ.S. Frankel was born in Toronto, Canada, many moons ago and managed to scrape through high school and university, earning a BA in English Literature and leaving no book unopened during his time at the University of Toronto. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Japan in order to teach English to the hapless residents of whichever city he happened to be living at the time.
In 1997, he married the charming Akiko Koike and their union produced two rather interesting children. Frankel and his family make their home in Osaka where he teaches during the day and attempts to write YA fiction at night.
In 1997, he married the charming Akiko Koike and their union produced two rather interesting children. Frankel and his family make their home in Osaka where he teaches during the day and attempts to write YA fiction at night.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 8, 2018
What does a nerdy teenager, wind-sprites, a matter-transporter, and murder have in common? The Novel ‘Ether’ by author J. S. Frankel. Sam Timmins is your ordinary nerdy teenager with a medical condition that causes his eye to droop. This leaves Sam open for bullies to pick on him. One typical day, Sam was confronted by a school bully who decided to pummel him because he thinks Sam is disrespecting his girlfriend. Out of nowhere a gust of wind forcefully shoves the bully out of Sam’s way in front of everyone. This creates a mysterious curiosity among his fellow students who believe Sam has special powers. This wind-sprite, known as Esther, befriends Sam and protects him from the elements of ordinary teenage life.
This mystery is explained to Sam but that would be a spoiler for the readers, so I will not discuss the nature of their relationship but believe me it will captivate you and leave you breathless. J. S. Frankel has a way of pulling you into the story and emotionally be invested in the characters.
Now meet the antagonist. Dr. Morton Ramsay who is desperate to catch the wind-sprite(s), yes there are two, to complete his teleportation experiment. The relationship between the sprites and Sam intensifies and murder becomes a part of the equation. Who is murdered and for what reason? The other characters, Harsky and Stutch, Dr. Ramsay’s henchmen are up to no good doing the bidding of an evil genius.
There is loyalty, friendship, anguish, hope, revenge, and compassion mixed in with a surprisingly good time. The twist in the end is what took me for a loop. I loved how J. S. Frankel ties the mess all together to get an ebb and flow of mixed emotions. The real star is the writing, vivid characters, dead on descriptions and bold dialogue. I would be very happy to read more from this author for I enjoyed the book. My only constructive criticism was some of the scenes were predictable but worth four stars. Thank sir for a delightful and engaging read!
This mystery is explained to Sam but that would be a spoiler for the readers, so I will not discuss the nature of their relationship but believe me it will captivate you and leave you breathless. J. S. Frankel has a way of pulling you into the story and emotionally be invested in the characters.
Now meet the antagonist. Dr. Morton Ramsay who is desperate to catch the wind-sprite(s), yes there are two, to complete his teleportation experiment. The relationship between the sprites and Sam intensifies and murder becomes a part of the equation. Who is murdered and for what reason? The other characters, Harsky and Stutch, Dr. Ramsay’s henchmen are up to no good doing the bidding of an evil genius.
There is loyalty, friendship, anguish, hope, revenge, and compassion mixed in with a surprisingly good time. The twist in the end is what took me for a loop. I loved how J. S. Frankel ties the mess all together to get an ebb and flow of mixed emotions. The real star is the writing, vivid characters, dead on descriptions and bold dialogue. I would be very happy to read more from this author for I enjoyed the book. My only constructive criticism was some of the scenes were predictable but worth four stars. Thank sir for a delightful and engaging read!
April 11, 2018
Title: Ether
Author: J. S. Frankel
Publisher: Extasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-1798-7
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Teenager Sam Timmins, school outcast and total nerd, is saved one day from getting run over by the wind. Only it isn’t the wind that saves him, but a mysterious wind-sprite named Esther. The result of a botched lab experiment, Esther and her mother, Nita, the lead scientist on a matter-transportation project, now exist as wind beings.
Sam begins a relationship with Esther, even though he cannot see or even hold Esther, but they grow as close as two people can under the circumstances. The forces of evil, though, will not be denied. Morton Ramsay, the head of the project, needs Esther and Nita back for his own purposes. He sends his two chief henchmen, Harsky and Stutch, to intimidate Sam. When that doesn’t work, they resort to murdering his mother.
Now, Sam is out for revenge. Aided by Esther and her mother, he finds out just who he is and what he is capable of. More than that, he finds out what science is capable of creating—and destroying.
Total Score: 5/5 and a Recommended Read
Summary:
Sam was like many teenagers in that he felt like he never fit in. Even with their frequent moves he never had a friend until the last move. Somehow the school bullies always choose him s their target leaving Sam isolated and alone. That is until the day he was rescued by the wind. Sam thought that he must be going crazy when he thought he heard a girls voice when the wind somehow kept the bully away form him. When this happened more than once Sam seemed to be the only one willing to accept the unacceptable. Sam began looking into nearby lab accident that killing all of the scientists or so they thought. The voice that Sam heard belongs to a young girl, Esther, who along with her mother lived, but was changed into wind beings who couldn't be seen. If that wasn't complicated enough add a mad scientist, Morton Ramsey, who is determined to capture Esther and her mother to obtain any information she still has. The danger spirals as Sam, Esther, and her mother struggle to find a cure before Morton finds them.
This was a fast paced and complex story that held me spellbound form the very beginning. The reader needs to know that there a some violent scenes so reader beware. This is a unique story with characters who came to life as the book unfolded. The growing feelings between Sam and Esther were inspiring as they didn't allow their differences to keep them apart. I hope that their story has just begun.
The book was received for an honest review.
Author: J. S. Frankel
Publisher: Extasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-1798-7
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Teenager Sam Timmins, school outcast and total nerd, is saved one day from getting run over by the wind. Only it isn’t the wind that saves him, but a mysterious wind-sprite named Esther. The result of a botched lab experiment, Esther and her mother, Nita, the lead scientist on a matter-transportation project, now exist as wind beings.
Sam begins a relationship with Esther, even though he cannot see or even hold Esther, but they grow as close as two people can under the circumstances. The forces of evil, though, will not be denied. Morton Ramsay, the head of the project, needs Esther and Nita back for his own purposes. He sends his two chief henchmen, Harsky and Stutch, to intimidate Sam. When that doesn’t work, they resort to murdering his mother.
Now, Sam is out for revenge. Aided by Esther and her mother, he finds out just who he is and what he is capable of. More than that, he finds out what science is capable of creating—and destroying.
Total Score: 5/5 and a Recommended Read
Summary:
Sam was like many teenagers in that he felt like he never fit in. Even with their frequent moves he never had a friend until the last move. Somehow the school bullies always choose him s their target leaving Sam isolated and alone. That is until the day he was rescued by the wind. Sam thought that he must be going crazy when he thought he heard a girls voice when the wind somehow kept the bully away form him. When this happened more than once Sam seemed to be the only one willing to accept the unacceptable. Sam began looking into nearby lab accident that killing all of the scientists or so they thought. The voice that Sam heard belongs to a young girl, Esther, who along with her mother lived, but was changed into wind beings who couldn't be seen. If that wasn't complicated enough add a mad scientist, Morton Ramsey, who is determined to capture Esther and her mother to obtain any information she still has. The danger spirals as Sam, Esther, and her mother struggle to find a cure before Morton finds them.
This was a fast paced and complex story that held me spellbound form the very beginning. The reader needs to know that there a some violent scenes so reader beware. This is a unique story with characters who came to life as the book unfolded. The growing feelings between Sam and Esther were inspiring as they didn't allow their differences to keep them apart. I hope that their story has just begun.
The book was received for an honest review.
February 9, 2019
I’m a huge fan of Jesse Frankel’s YA novels. Also an author of teen literature, our novels vary greatly—he uses exciting supernatural adventures with a hint of sweet romance to examine the hardships of human reality where I look at teen life through a contemporary and realistic, angsty lens. However, Frankel didn’t hold back on the angst in Ether—the nail-biting kind you find in a suspenseful action movie.
The characters in Ether are well-defined—Sam and Esther, teen outcasts, their supportive mothers, and the brutal and remorseless villains. The story’s events unfolded through Sam’s eyes, and I identified with him fully within the first few pages. But as much as I related to him, he was never predictable. His actions never ceased to surprise me. And although Esther remained a mystery until the very end, I knew her voice and liked her sassy personality immediately.
The bad guys in Ether are just so evil—close to over-the-top—which works well in this no-holds-barred story. There was no low to which they wouldn’t stoop. This leads me to my next observation—if you think Frankel will hold back and not “go there,” in terms of the actions of his characters—you will be wrong. He takes a giant leap from the relative safety of many YA stories and allows his characters—the protagonists and the antagonists—to commit uncompromising acts of cruelty and revenge. I found myself thinking “enough, enough—stop right now!” and “please don’t do it!” as I read. As you can imagine, Ether is quite a page-turner.
Having read several of Frankel’s novels, I deeply admire his creativity and ability to weave a plot that thrills the reader. I will admit that Ether grabbed hold of me and refused to release me until the last page, making it my favorite so far. I still have no idea how or where Frankel comes up with his ideas—they are unlike any I have ever conceived of. In conclusion, Ether needs to be a movie! The special effects would be incredible.
The characters in Ether are well-defined—Sam and Esther, teen outcasts, their supportive mothers, and the brutal and remorseless villains. The story’s events unfolded through Sam’s eyes, and I identified with him fully within the first few pages. But as much as I related to him, he was never predictable. His actions never ceased to surprise me. And although Esther remained a mystery until the very end, I knew her voice and liked her sassy personality immediately.
The bad guys in Ether are just so evil—close to over-the-top—which works well in this no-holds-barred story. There was no low to which they wouldn’t stoop. This leads me to my next observation—if you think Frankel will hold back and not “go there,” in terms of the actions of his characters—you will be wrong. He takes a giant leap from the relative safety of many YA stories and allows his characters—the protagonists and the antagonists—to commit uncompromising acts of cruelty and revenge. I found myself thinking “enough, enough—stop right now!” and “please don’t do it!” as I read. As you can imagine, Ether is quite a page-turner.
Having read several of Frankel’s novels, I deeply admire his creativity and ability to weave a plot that thrills the reader. I will admit that Ether grabbed hold of me and refused to release me until the last page, making it my favorite so far. I still have no idea how or where Frankel comes up with his ideas—they are unlike any I have ever conceived of. In conclusion, Ether needs to be a movie! The special effects would be incredible.
May 26, 2018
For this to be my first time reading a "fantasy" read, I really enjoyed it. I relate to it in so many ways. I know I say "well written" on alot of reviews but if the author did a great job in their writing, why not mention it? Thats the purpose of a review. Although, there were not even a handful of words missing and one time I felt a word was misspelled but, I understood what I was reading. One thing I did love about this book was the detail to the way the "wind spirit" moved, or the feelings of young Sam either when he were bullied, or in his interactions with the spirit. Certified tear jerker I will say, and I loved the fact that Sam understood his mothers actions, and her intent with her being gone all the time. Although this were fantasy, this could easily be compared to real life. (Other than talking to spirits I suppose.) The author did great by keeping my attention. Most may not enjoy the strong detail of certain events but I loved it. It puts you in the characters shoes. And most of all I love reading a book that makes me pick up a dictionary lol! Alot of words I had never heard before and I feel thats how you learn and expand your vocabulary. I have nothing bad to say about this read. I truly enjoyed it. Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy to review. Well done, sir.
June 23, 2018
If I could give this 6 stars, I would.
What an absolutely ripping read!
Frankel is a master of inventive stories that surprise and enthrall the reader. This book has all the ingredients of a page-turner - mystery, danger, teen angst, an unlikely romance, thugs, and surprise twists - and they're bundled into a highly unique storyline that hooks the reader in and keeps them hostage until the story is done.
The characters are all crafted with expertise. Sam is a regular guy with flaws, hopes, and struggles that readers will definitely relate to. His responses to the unpredictable turns that his life takes reinforce the reader's respect for him. Esther is refreshing and very individual, and presents a very strong female character who does far more than merely complementing Sam's character. Her leadership and initiative are driving forces in the story, which no doubt would have ended very differently without her.
'Ether' is one of those books that will leave you wondering what on earth you're going to read next that might possibly compete with the incredible ride you've just had.
What an absolutely ripping read!
Frankel is a master of inventive stories that surprise and enthrall the reader. This book has all the ingredients of a page-turner - mystery, danger, teen angst, an unlikely romance, thugs, and surprise twists - and they're bundled into a highly unique storyline that hooks the reader in and keeps them hostage until the story is done.
The characters are all crafted with expertise. Sam is a regular guy with flaws, hopes, and struggles that readers will definitely relate to. His responses to the unpredictable turns that his life takes reinforce the reader's respect for him. Esther is refreshing and very individual, and presents a very strong female character who does far more than merely complementing Sam's character. Her leadership and initiative are driving forces in the story, which no doubt would have ended very differently without her.
'Ether' is one of those books that will leave you wondering what on earth you're going to read next that might possibly compete with the incredible ride you've just had.
July 27, 2018
This was a great YA fantasy book for any age.
Sam has a genetic condition that makes his eye droop, which causes him to be the butt of hurtful jokes, comments, and gives him low self esteem. Sam's mom has to relocate often for her job, so he always has people to bully him. Even with no friends, no permanent home, and a deceased dad, Sam is a pretty good 17 year old boy. When Sam is being terrorized by a familiar bully, a gust of wind seems to come to his rescue. He later learns the gist of wind is Ester. Now I'm not going to tell you Ester's story, because that's worth reading for yourself.
This story is really quite original. It also took some research into science to attempt to explain Ester and Nina.
The story has action and adventure. It has an awkward kid taking on the bad guys for the girl he can't really have. The boy loses everything but never gives up. This story has detemination, loyalty, vengeance, determination and so much more! I liked everything about this book and the ending was totally not what I expected!
Sam has a genetic condition that makes his eye droop, which causes him to be the butt of hurtful jokes, comments, and gives him low self esteem. Sam's mom has to relocate often for her job, so he always has people to bully him. Even with no friends, no permanent home, and a deceased dad, Sam is a pretty good 17 year old boy. When Sam is being terrorized by a familiar bully, a gust of wind seems to come to his rescue. He later learns the gist of wind is Ester. Now I'm not going to tell you Ester's story, because that's worth reading for yourself.
This story is really quite original. It also took some research into science to attempt to explain Ester and Nina.
The story has action and adventure. It has an awkward kid taking on the bad guys for the girl he can't really have. The boy loses everything but never gives up. This story has detemination, loyalty, vengeance, determination and so much more! I liked everything about this book and the ending was totally not what I expected!
September 23, 2018
This was a very well written and edited book. Characters were clearly drawn and interesting, and the action was compelling. I enjoyed everything about the story, and could relate to Sam's loneliness because heck, we've all been there. I really enjoyed the science notes as well.
I have a few issues that have nothing to do with the story, which was pretty close to flawless in its' uniqueness. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I hate the cover. It doesn't even remotely reflect the story and neither does the title, however with a better cover the title might work better. Also, I'm not sure how this book should be adequately marketed. It's YA romance with paranormal elements...or is it a suspenseful mystery? Who is the audience? I think about these things because that's my background, and I wish this author success. A better cover might help people understand what genre the book is in, and decide whether it's for them.
Other than that, the book is good and not like anything I've ever read before. Give it a chance, even if the cover and/or title aren't changed, because it's definitely worth it!
I have a few issues that have nothing to do with the story, which was pretty close to flawless in its' uniqueness. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I hate the cover. It doesn't even remotely reflect the story and neither does the title, however with a better cover the title might work better. Also, I'm not sure how this book should be adequately marketed. It's YA romance with paranormal elements...or is it a suspenseful mystery? Who is the audience? I think about these things because that's my background, and I wish this author success. A better cover might help people understand what genre the book is in, and decide whether it's for them.
Other than that, the book is good and not like anything I've ever read before. Give it a chance, even if the cover and/or title aren't changed, because it's definitely worth it!
March 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this story!! Sam is the boy that has been bullied his whole life. When a wind sprite comes to his rescue he is shocked and intrigued, especially when he finds out that sprite is a human who was changed by an evil scientist! Great book to read and enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews