Vera: A Tale of Pelythia

by J.A. Knight

The time has come for Vera to complete her Ceremony, a coming-of-age tradition of the mountain people of Torsti. To claim her place as an adult of her village, she must use her wits to survive a week of isolation in the wilderness of the mountain.

58 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2018

About the author

With a cat by her side and a mountain of tea at her back, Joan has vowed to defeat reality with the colourful tales in her mind. A true hermit, Joan rarely leaves the comfort of her home, instead eager to travel through the rich worlds she has created and bring forth stories to excite and delight those that read them.
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JA-Knight-58...

Reviews

[Jiyhe Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heavily enjoyed the setup of the world in the book. It was vivid with plenty of detail to give you a sense of what the author wanted to convey while still allowing you to come to your own conclusions of how things looked. At first I thought a few of the elements were cliche but as I read further in they became well implemented tools serving to familiarise you with a beautiful fantasy setting. A humble approach is taken in the book's narrative where the main character isn't born into a large city and instead placed in a small mountainside village with an interesting culture.

The core premise is simple enough. A young girl is sent into the woods for a coming age trial. However it is through the skill of the author that such a simple idea becomes a complex, intriguing read. I would recommend this book to any who ask for a fantasy story that is low in magic yet high in impact.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow everything and nothing happened in these 50 pages.

The concept is so interesting and I feel like it could have been well developed if given more time, but as it stands things were too rushed to be effective.

Also, I'd love some contractions in the grammer.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Quick great read.
Left me wanting more.
Vera’s story will be excitingly complicated I feel.
The character Vera reads as a very strong willed woman
Recommend to all.

[Amy (Lost in a Good Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was loaned a copy of this book and I was pleasantly surprised. This easily stands alone as a short story, there is impressive world building and character development and with a few lines and few words Knight can convey meaning and intent. I understood who Vera was, what she wanted to achieve and why, and I understood the villagers and their opinion.

This is also a wonderful introduction to a bigger, longer series if that’s where Knight is headed. There is space to grow and the events after Vera’s journey to unfold. The ending leaves you with questions and curiosity and while it’s impactful on its own, there’s a temptation to find the answers and further the story.

Vera’s a character who is young but isn’t looking for pity. Her own coming-of-age journey is one she ventures into with pride and determination. Her youth and naivety is evident but so is her strength and intellect. Knight brings her to life with her vulnerabilities, jealousy, and her insecurities that are relatable even for this fantasy world.

While I wasn’t expecting to hate it, I was impressed at how much I enjoyed reading this short story. I look forward to reading more about Vera and Pelythia if that is on the cards. Knight has the beginnings of a well thought out and creative world, not to mention strong and relatable characters like Vera.

[Josh Munce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very well written for a short story. It sucks you in to where you can't put it down. I can't wait for other books that further expand on the world of Pelythia.