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The Essence Chronicles #1
Essence
When Abbey Shader is summoned to Ethra, a land where human qualities roam free in flesh known as Essences, her life and the universe as she knows it splits open before her.
With the expansive secrets of humanity at her fingertips, Abbey’s strength of will and heart are put to a test no amount of time or meticulous study could have prepared her for.
Left to decide between the comfort of the familiar and the potential enlightenment of the strange, Abbey is thrust into a journey that demands more of her at every turn. She must learn to trust what she sees, and trust what she can’t.
Essence marks the first instalment of the young adult fantasy series, The Essence Chronicles.
With the expansive secrets of humanity at her fingertips, Abbey’s strength of will and heart are put to a test no amount of time or meticulous study could have prepared her for.
Left to decide between the comfort of the familiar and the potential enlightenment of the strange, Abbey is thrust into a journey that demands more of her at every turn. She must learn to trust what she sees, and trust what she can’t.
Essence marks the first instalment of the young adult fantasy series, The Essence Chronicles.
- GenresFantasyYoung AdultEbooks
314 pages, Paperback
Published July 9, 2018
5 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Hayley Gabrielle
6 books45 followersMelbourne-based author of The Essence Chronicles and other works of young adult fiction, poetry and science fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 91 reviews
August 18, 2018
It’s safe to say that Essence quickly became one of my favorite summer reads! It is the story of Abbey, an ordinary teenage girl whose world is made up of her mom and her inseparable friends. But when a peculiar brooch transports her Ethra, a land where human qualities are called Essences and roam free in flesh that only she can see, Abbey learns that she is far from ordinary and that her world is much more complicated than she thinks. Torn between the desire to be reunited with her family and the draw of this strange new world, Abbey must choose where she belongs.
Hayley Gabrielle’s simple yet vivid writing was certainly the key element that made enjoying this book so easy. The world and its characters were presented with such attention to details that reading was like standing next to Abbey and discovering the peculiarities of Ethra and its denizens alongside her.
It is needless to say that the characters were the highlight of the book for me. The interactions were extremely fun to read, and the Essences were not only whimsical but incredibly relatable! I doubt that anyone who reads this book will not find one of their own traits emphasized in one of them and I found that extremely funny! (I myself think I might be a mixture of Gwin and Thorne with a sprinkle of Balvinder on top).
The bonds of friendship were a delight to read, but I won’t deny that the love story was yet another element that surprised me! It’s rare to find a book where an instant attraction story does not also turn into an insta-love trope, but Hayley Gabrielle managed to create such a beautiful chemistry between Abbey and Zac that was adorable and exasperating at the same time. The shipping is real, my friends!
This is a very fast paced book. I recommend it to every lover of fantasy who is looking for an original magic system and a quick read. But be warned: there is a cliffhanger and it’s breaking my heart. I am desperate to know what happens next!
Hayley Gabrielle’s simple yet vivid writing was certainly the key element that made enjoying this book so easy. The world and its characters were presented with such attention to details that reading was like standing next to Abbey and discovering the peculiarities of Ethra and its denizens alongside her.
It is needless to say that the characters were the highlight of the book for me. The interactions were extremely fun to read, and the Essences were not only whimsical but incredibly relatable! I doubt that anyone who reads this book will not find one of their own traits emphasized in one of them and I found that extremely funny! (I myself think I might be a mixture of Gwin and Thorne with a sprinkle of Balvinder on top).
The bonds of friendship were a delight to read, but I won’t deny that the love story was yet another element that surprised me! It’s rare to find a book where an instant attraction story does not also turn into an insta-love trope, but Hayley Gabrielle managed to create such a beautiful chemistry between Abbey and Zac that was adorable and exasperating at the same time. The shipping is real, my friends!
This is a very fast paced book. I recommend it to every lover of fantasy who is looking for an original magic system and a quick read. But be warned: there is a cliffhanger and it’s breaking my heart. I am desperate to know what happens next!
April 27, 2020
*I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Hayley! 😁
This was a surprising read for me! I was approached by Hayley on Instagram to read Essence, it had such an interesting concept I decided to give it a go and I don’t regret it! The synopsis may have originally drawn me in but the plot, characters and writing kept me reading 💖
”Age equates to experience,” he says “Experience is knowledge. Knowledge is intelligence. Something you’d do well to uphold, dear heart.”
“Okay,” I say a rush of boldness coming over me. “Experience is knowledge, yeah, but intelligence isn’t a result of knowledge. Intelligence is how you act upon what you know.”
So many quotes I could have picked from which is always good! But I loved this one cause of the sass and confidence and it made me smile 😋
Throughout Essence we follow Abbey - a young, sarcastic, sweet and funny girl. She ends up in the world of Ethra from touching a bizarre pin. Everything kind of pans out from there...
We follow this story through Abbey’s eyes so at first absolutely nothing in this world makes sense, but slowly and surely Abbey begins to figure out her place in this world and we do too! I enjoyed this as it felt like a true journey alongside the characters and gave an extra depth and enjoyment to the story for me!
Abbey discovers she is a Melder of the world - a responsibility she has no intention of taking on. The Melder is in charge of keeping the world in balance through Essences - which I won’t go into too much or that defeats the concept of reading this delightful story! Abbey learns things she never thought she would in terms of understanding, fighting and determination as well as gaining feelings for one of her companions - Zac.
One of my favourite characters has to be Balvinder - he’s actually so adorable, I could cuddle him 💖 my other favourite would have to be Gwin - she’s hilarious and super over the top - I loved her character! Of course I loved Abbey too, her sarcasm consistently made me laugh - she reminds me of one of my best friends 😂🙈
I highly recommend you give Essence a try - it’s so unique in its plot and magic system and it draws you in and keeps you reading! A very interesting read with a plethora of characters and personalities. It was definitely a lot of fun!
This was a surprising read for me! I was approached by Hayley on Instagram to read Essence, it had such an interesting concept I decided to give it a go and I don’t regret it! The synopsis may have originally drawn me in but the plot, characters and writing kept me reading 💖
”Age equates to experience,” he says “Experience is knowledge. Knowledge is intelligence. Something you’d do well to uphold, dear heart.”
“Okay,” I say a rush of boldness coming over me. “Experience is knowledge, yeah, but intelligence isn’t a result of knowledge. Intelligence is how you act upon what you know.”
So many quotes I could have picked from which is always good! But I loved this one cause of the sass and confidence and it made me smile 😋
Throughout Essence we follow Abbey - a young, sarcastic, sweet and funny girl. She ends up in the world of Ethra from touching a bizarre pin. Everything kind of pans out from there...
We follow this story through Abbey’s eyes so at first absolutely nothing in this world makes sense, but slowly and surely Abbey begins to figure out her place in this world and we do too! I enjoyed this as it felt like a true journey alongside the characters and gave an extra depth and enjoyment to the story for me!
Abbey discovers she is a Melder of the world - a responsibility she has no intention of taking on. The Melder is in charge of keeping the world in balance through Essences - which I won’t go into too much or that defeats the concept of reading this delightful story! Abbey learns things she never thought she would in terms of understanding, fighting and determination as well as gaining feelings for one of her companions - Zac.
One of my favourite characters has to be Balvinder - he’s actually so adorable, I could cuddle him 💖 my other favourite would have to be Gwin - she’s hilarious and super over the top - I loved her character! Of course I loved Abbey too, her sarcasm consistently made me laugh - she reminds me of one of my best friends 😂🙈
I highly recommend you give Essence a try - it’s so unique in its plot and magic system and it draws you in and keeps you reading! A very interesting read with a plethora of characters and personalities. It was definitely a lot of fun!
August 27, 2018
Essence follows Abbey, an average teenager stuck in choosing what she wants to do with her life, wishing there was something else.
When she finds a strange, beautiful brooch in her bedroom she’s unsure of where it came from and when she picks it up, she finds herself transported from the comfort and familiarity of Earth into the unbelievable world of Ethra where human qualities known as ‘Essences’ roam free in their own human form.
Things become more strange when she realises that she’s the only one who can see the Essences and that she has been summoned by the Overseer for a particular purpose, a purpose that will take her away from her Mum and her friends and give her life a whole new meaning.
Firstly, thank you to Hayley for sending me a copy of this to read, I really enjoyed it!
It’s a very promising start to what could be a brilliant series!
I love the characters. It’s fascinating to see each quality: good, evil, arrogant, honesty, optimism and pessimism, written as characters and their interactions with each other are pretty funny at times.
Abbey feels so relatable. She’s unsure what she wants to do with her life and she’s one of those who says she’s fine when she’s clearly not but rather that than people fussing which is much like me!
I also adore Balvinder and Zac. Not only their relationships with Abbey but their relationship with each other.
The world Hayley has created is magical in a way I haven’t seen before. The concept is so interesting and different to anything I’ve ever read that you immediately get drawn into it and want to be a part of it.
And the gang of Essences? I want to be a part of that too because that would be a whole lot of fun!
It’s a series that I will definitely want to carry on reading and I look forward to the next book. :)
When she finds a strange, beautiful brooch in her bedroom she’s unsure of where it came from and when she picks it up, she finds herself transported from the comfort and familiarity of Earth into the unbelievable world of Ethra where human qualities known as ‘Essences’ roam free in their own human form.
Things become more strange when she realises that she’s the only one who can see the Essences and that she has been summoned by the Overseer for a particular purpose, a purpose that will take her away from her Mum and her friends and give her life a whole new meaning.
Firstly, thank you to Hayley for sending me a copy of this to read, I really enjoyed it!
It’s a very promising start to what could be a brilliant series!
I love the characters. It’s fascinating to see each quality: good, evil, arrogant, honesty, optimism and pessimism, written as characters and their interactions with each other are pretty funny at times.
Abbey feels so relatable. She’s unsure what she wants to do with her life and she’s one of those who says she’s fine when she’s clearly not but rather that than people fussing which is much like me!
I also adore Balvinder and Zac. Not only their relationships with Abbey but their relationship with each other.
The world Hayley has created is magical in a way I haven’t seen before. The concept is so interesting and different to anything I’ve ever read that you immediately get drawn into it and want to be a part of it.
And the gang of Essences? I want to be a part of that too because that would be a whole lot of fun!
It’s a series that I will definitely want to carry on reading and I look forward to the next book. :)
August 3, 2019
Thank you so so much to Hailey for sending me this incredible story 🖤
It was so interesting! I would never have thought of plot like this one. The character were all so brilliant. I loved Belvinder and Zac! Abby was a great, strong character & I love it when a female lead is allowed to be afraid. Badass comes in all different forms 🖤
The only reason it didn’t get a 5/5 is (probably because of my own cluelessness) because I didn’t always understand all the explanations about Essences ?
And also Thorne deserved a good punch in the face and I’m mad he didn’t get one!! 😂
It was so interesting! I would never have thought of plot like this one. The character were all so brilliant. I loved Belvinder and Zac! Abby was a great, strong character & I love it when a female lead is allowed to be afraid. Badass comes in all different forms 🖤
The only reason it didn’t get a 5/5 is (probably because of my own cluelessness) because I didn’t always understand all the explanations about Essences ?
And also Thorne deserved a good punch in the face and I’m mad he didn’t get one!! 😂
August 22, 2018
[I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review]
— ❝ There’s no point in dwelling on the things we can’t change. And even less point blaming ourselves for them. ❞
Human qualities, like arrogance, honesty, and optimism, roam free in flesh in a place called Ethra. Abbey Shader is a girl with no plans of what she wants to be in the future. Suddenly her whole life changed and she found herself tangled in a world where impossible things exists and things aren't simply as she used to know. She must face unknowns, secrets, and hard choices. Her path is leading into somewhere dangerous and she must choose between her home or her duty.
First, I want to say that I'M SURPRISED!! I mean this book is definitely something else! The world, the story, the characters are awesome! I'm amazed with the Essences and how the whole things work. It's not something like I've ever read before. It has mystery, magic, friendship, and a new element. Fast pace storyline and an interesting concept, Essence is able to keep me reading until past midnight because I'm curious with what will happen next! This book is told from Abbey's POV. As a teenager, I could relate some things to her. How she didn't have a clue of what she wants to be, how she responds to foreign world, how she acts to things around her. It was fun to see the story goes through her eyes!
The Characters in Essence are unique. Most of them aren't human so that's what makes everything more interesting. The main character is Abbey Shader, 18 year old girl who lives with her mom. She's brave, independent, and smart. There's also Zacharias, a charismatic stranger from Ethra. He's sweet and a funny guy. Then there's Thorne, Gwin, Harlie, Peirce, and Kayna. My favorite is Balvinder. He's SUPER KIND, wise, patient, understanding. I hope I could get more of him in the second book! All of them are diverse so I had so much fun reading and getting to know them!
As a debut novel, Essence is great but it does have some minors. First, the world building doesn't really balancing how the author described that Ethra seems like a big and complicated world. Second, even though I reached certain chapters where Essences are being explained, I'm still a little confused. But I slowly but surely understand as the fog has shifted. The writing is actually great but it could be better.
Overall, I ENJOY READING ESSENCE! Hayley Gabrielle have successfully wrote a beautiful debut novel. The world is truly fascinating, the characters are amazing and the story is addicting! What I love most about this book is that it brings something new and different to Fantasy. Oh, and the cover is so pretty! If you enjoy fantasy, magic, and in need of a unique element in your read, I highly recommend Essence!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars
— ❝ There’s no point in dwelling on the things we can’t change. And even less point blaming ourselves for them. ❞
Human qualities, like arrogance, honesty, and optimism, roam free in flesh in a place called Ethra. Abbey Shader is a girl with no plans of what she wants to be in the future. Suddenly her whole life changed and she found herself tangled in a world where impossible things exists and things aren't simply as she used to know. She must face unknowns, secrets, and hard choices. Her path is leading into somewhere dangerous and she must choose between her home or her duty.
First, I want to say that I'M SURPRISED!! I mean this book is definitely something else! The world, the story, the characters are awesome! I'm amazed with the Essences and how the whole things work. It's not something like I've ever read before. It has mystery, magic, friendship, and a new element. Fast pace storyline and an interesting concept, Essence is able to keep me reading until past midnight because I'm curious with what will happen next! This book is told from Abbey's POV. As a teenager, I could relate some things to her. How she didn't have a clue of what she wants to be, how she responds to foreign world, how she acts to things around her. It was fun to see the story goes through her eyes!
The Characters in Essence are unique. Most of them aren't human so that's what makes everything more interesting. The main character is Abbey Shader, 18 year old girl who lives with her mom. She's brave, independent, and smart. There's also Zacharias, a charismatic stranger from Ethra. He's sweet and a funny guy. Then there's Thorne, Gwin, Harlie, Peirce, and Kayna. My favorite is Balvinder. He's SUPER KIND, wise, patient, understanding. I hope I could get more of him in the second book! All of them are diverse so I had so much fun reading and getting to know them!
As a debut novel, Essence is great but it does have some minors. First, the world building doesn't really balancing how the author described that Ethra seems like a big and complicated world. Second, even though I reached certain chapters where Essences are being explained, I'm still a little confused. But I slowly but surely understand as the fog has shifted. The writing is actually great but it could be better.
Overall, I ENJOY READING ESSENCE! Hayley Gabrielle have successfully wrote a beautiful debut novel. The world is truly fascinating, the characters are amazing and the story is addicting! What I love most about this book is that it brings something new and different to Fantasy. Oh, and the cover is so pretty! If you enjoy fantasy, magic, and in need of a unique element in your read, I highly recommend Essence!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars
October 25, 2018
* I was given this book to review by the author, so thank you Hayley! All of the opinions stated are my own and honest *
Wow, I’m in love with the concept of this book! So basically you have Abbey, normal teenager, worried with school, and one day she gets transported to this other place that she later learns is like an alternative world that co-exists with Earth. In this world, there are Essences that basically represent different traits like Optimism or Arrogance. This alone, is amazing, but there’s more. So Abbey was transported to this world because she was chosen to be the Melder. We know that the Melder is the only one that can see the Essences, otherwise you’re just able to hear them. The Melder also has the ability to regulate the Essences, but this book is more of an introduction to the world so we don’t see much of that, thou I am really intrigued to see how that will work! So after you’re introduced to all this, you follow Abbey’s journey trying to discover why she was chosen and trying to decide whether she should stay or go back to Earth.
Now for some of my favorite and least favorite aspects!
- I really like how Abbey doesn’t immediately want to stay in this new world and how she questions everything using earth logic, I feel like that would be a normal person’s reaction and it’s weird when characters immediately believe everything they’re told
- On the opposite side of that, I think maybe her mom/friend’s concerns could have been introduced earlier, even though later on this is addressed
- I loved how we meet the Essences but we aren’t told straight ahead what they represent cause it gives us a chance to guess (I guessed some of them right eheh)
- Balvinder gave me serious Gandalf/Dumbledore feelings and I’m all for that
- I understand that in books with new worlds it is necessary to have world building but the first quarter of the book, more or less, was a bit slow for me. The good news is that once you get into it, it is really fast paced
- Lastly, Zac is my new book boyfriend and I love him!
Overall, it’s a really enjoyable read and I recommend it!
Wow, I’m in love with the concept of this book! So basically you have Abbey, normal teenager, worried with school, and one day she gets transported to this other place that she later learns is like an alternative world that co-exists with Earth. In this world, there are Essences that basically represent different traits like Optimism or Arrogance. This alone, is amazing, but there’s more. So Abbey was transported to this world because she was chosen to be the Melder. We know that the Melder is the only one that can see the Essences, otherwise you’re just able to hear them. The Melder also has the ability to regulate the Essences, but this book is more of an introduction to the world so we don’t see much of that, thou I am really intrigued to see how that will work! So after you’re introduced to all this, you follow Abbey’s journey trying to discover why she was chosen and trying to decide whether she should stay or go back to Earth.
Now for some of my favorite and least favorite aspects!
- I really like how Abbey doesn’t immediately want to stay in this new world and how she questions everything using earth logic, I feel like that would be a normal person’s reaction and it’s weird when characters immediately believe everything they’re told
- On the opposite side of that, I think maybe her mom/friend’s concerns could have been introduced earlier, even though later on this is addressed
- I loved how we meet the Essences but we aren’t told straight ahead what they represent cause it gives us a chance to guess (I guessed some of them right eheh)
- Balvinder gave me serious Gandalf/Dumbledore feelings and I’m all for that
- I understand that in books with new worlds it is necessary to have world building but the first quarter of the book, more or less, was a bit slow for me. The good news is that once you get into it, it is really fast paced
- Lastly, Zac is my new book boyfriend and I love him!
Overall, it’s a really enjoyable read and I recommend it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2018
ESSENCE (The Essence Chronicles #1)
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• ⭐:5,0/5
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•
💬: When Abbey Shader is summoned to Ethra, a land where human qualities roam free in flesh known as Essences, her life and the universe as she knows it splits open before her.With the expansive secrets of humanity at her fingertips, Abbey’s strength of will and heart are put to a test no amount of time or meticulous study could have prepared her for. Left to decide between the comfort of the familiar and the potential enlightenment of the strange, Abbey is thrust into a journey that demands more of her at every turn. She must learn to trust what she sees, and trust what she can’t.
>>I received and e-book of this incredible book from the author herself @hayleygabrielleauthor with the intentions of doing an honest review.
What an amazing ride! This story follows the relatable Abbey when she founds herself transported to Ethra another “world” where she learns about the Essences. The Essences are “people” that represent some personalities traits, we meet some of them during the story and I’m so excited to find more about them. I fell in love with Abbey’s sense of responsibility that she acquires throughout the story and how she learns to just let it go, let her feel things she wants without having to thinking too much. Belvinder is the perfect example of a perfect “guide”, because he is mysterious and also such a cinnamon roll that deserves to be happy (and he is such a father figure to Zac that it makes me emotional), while at the same time helping Abbey on her journey. Zac’s first appearance in the book made me think about the first time we see Aragorn in the movies of LOTR and that made me so excited and happy, Zac is one of my favorite characters of this series, with all his smiles and dimples. The “minor” essences were so funny to read them interact, pessimism and optimism were so adorable! And honesty got on my nerves but thats just because she was blunt about things you shouldn't be. Thorne well, he is that character you hate to like? I don’t know how to explain but I think he is intriguing and because of his essence he doesn’t have a place only in Good or Evil, but actually in between.
PS: ETHRA IS AMAZING AND HAVE GOLDEN RAINS?! goals
I intend to obsess over this book for awhile and maybe talk alot about it with my friends until they stop being my friends. lol
•
•
• ⭐:5,0/5
•
•
💬: When Abbey Shader is summoned to Ethra, a land where human qualities roam free in flesh known as Essences, her life and the universe as she knows it splits open before her.With the expansive secrets of humanity at her fingertips, Abbey’s strength of will and heart are put to a test no amount of time or meticulous study could have prepared her for. Left to decide between the comfort of the familiar and the potential enlightenment of the strange, Abbey is thrust into a journey that demands more of her at every turn. She must learn to trust what she sees, and trust what she can’t.
>>I received and e-book of this incredible book from the author herself @hayleygabrielleauthor with the intentions of doing an honest review.
What an amazing ride! This story follows the relatable Abbey when she founds herself transported to Ethra another “world” where she learns about the Essences. The Essences are “people” that represent some personalities traits, we meet some of them during the story and I’m so excited to find more about them. I fell in love with Abbey’s sense of responsibility that she acquires throughout the story and how she learns to just let it go, let her feel things she wants without having to thinking too much. Belvinder is the perfect example of a perfect “guide”, because he is mysterious and also such a cinnamon roll that deserves to be happy (and he is such a father figure to Zac that it makes me emotional), while at the same time helping Abbey on her journey. Zac’s first appearance in the book made me think about the first time we see Aragorn in the movies of LOTR and that made me so excited and happy, Zac is one of my favorite characters of this series, with all his smiles and dimples. The “minor” essences were so funny to read them interact, pessimism and optimism were so adorable! And honesty got on my nerves but thats just because she was blunt about things you shouldn't be. Thorne well, he is that character you hate to like? I don’t know how to explain but I think he is intriguing and because of his essence he doesn’t have a place only in Good or Evil, but actually in between.
PS: ETHRA IS AMAZING AND HAVE GOLDEN RAINS?! goals
I intend to obsess over this book for awhile and maybe talk alot about it with my friends until they stop being my friends. lol
September 9, 2018
(You can also find this review on my blog!)
The author gave me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review! The synopsis was intriguing, and the story was just enough to keep me on my toes.
The writing
The writing style was okay for me. There were some parts that did not entice me enough, but there were also scenes and lines that made me think about humanity and the world, and I really liked that.
The characters
The characters were really interesting, especially the Essences. The author truly captured their personalities and showed their "Essences" well. I also liked the fact that the Essence of Good was a man, and the Essence of Evil was a woman. In a way, it defies the norm/trope that women are the innocent ones, and men are the malicious ones. It was a nice change in the story. I would love to know how the author is going to continue that arc, and that story.
I liked the protagonist enough. Although, there was little that made me feel for her or connect with her. When I read, I try to relate myself to the narrator of the story but with Abbey Shader, I feel like I didn't get much feel of her personality. I saw her emotions, that was for sure, but her personality was a miss for me.
Zac, the other protagonist, was okay for me as well. There's a lot of story in his past, but I feel like it wasn't explored enough. Maybe the author will revisit that in the future installments of the series, and give it more significance, who knows?
The plot
The plot was interesting enough, although I found it a bit lacking. It was intriguing and fascinating, but I needed more. I needed something that will truly get me hooked and leave me craving for more.
It was simple, and that's good, there is nothing wrong about that. But it didn't captivate me enough like I thought it would. Maybe they will be more action and plot in the second book once we dive in deeper to their world.
The world-building
The world-building was also good. I liked the concept of the erodosphere and how the Essences move and exist and function in these different worlds and in different people. I would really love to know more about them and their system. And I'd also love to meet other Essences!
This was a good read, and my first for the month of September! I give this 3.5 stars!
The author gave me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review! The synopsis was intriguing, and the story was just enough to keep me on my toes.
The writing
The writing style was okay for me. There were some parts that did not entice me enough, but there were also scenes and lines that made me think about humanity and the world, and I really liked that.
The characters
The characters were really interesting, especially the Essences. The author truly captured their personalities and showed their "Essences" well. I also liked the fact that the Essence of Good was a man, and the Essence of Evil was a woman. In a way, it defies the norm/trope that women are the innocent ones, and men are the malicious ones. It was a nice change in the story. I would love to know how the author is going to continue that arc, and that story.
I liked the protagonist enough. Although, there was little that made me feel for her or connect with her. When I read, I try to relate myself to the narrator of the story but with Abbey Shader, I feel like I didn't get much feel of her personality. I saw her emotions, that was for sure, but her personality was a miss for me.
Zac, the other protagonist, was okay for me as well. There's a lot of story in his past, but I feel like it wasn't explored enough. Maybe the author will revisit that in the future installments of the series, and give it more significance, who knows?
The plot
The plot was interesting enough, although I found it a bit lacking. It was intriguing and fascinating, but I needed more. I needed something that will truly get me hooked and leave me craving for more.
It was simple, and that's good, there is nothing wrong about that. But it didn't captivate me enough like I thought it would. Maybe they will be more action and plot in the second book once we dive in deeper to their world.
The world-building
The world-building was also good. I liked the concept of the erodosphere and how the Essences move and exist and function in these different worlds and in different people. I would really love to know more about them and their system. And I'd also love to meet other Essences!
This was a good read, and my first for the month of September! I give this 3.5 stars!
August 12, 2018
Essence is the first book in the “The Essence Chronicles”.
When I read the synopsis of this book I really find it interesting.
“Human qualities roam free in flesh known as Essences”
Essence of Arrogance
Essence of Honesty
Essence of Optimism
Essence of Pessimism
Essence of Good
Essence of Evil
If you’ve watched Disney’s Inside Out you’ll meet Happy, Sad, Angry, Disgust and Fear. They act and only feel what they are supposed to be. That’s what Essences are, but they’re deeper and they’re in human form. (sounds cool to me, really)
This kind of fantasy is new to me and so to Abbey, so it’s kind of hard to adapt at first but the author’s introduction for its fantasy world (which is Ethra) didn’t make me bored. She didn’t just story tell everything, she made Abbey experience the things in Ethra and Zac explains more about it and I like that style. Introducing a fantasy world is really a tough job especially if its concept is new to the readers.
The introduction of Abbey went smooth. I like how it’s done. She’s an eighteen years old girl who still don’t know what to take in college, who has friends and a mother she really loves. I love her personality and her inner thoughts in the book. It became more fun because of her thoughts. She’s also an understanding and independent person that made me loves her more.
Curiosity almost kill me because of Balvinder. I’m already at ¾ of the book but I still don’t know what Essence he is. I’m not smart or a good observant like Abbey. But anyway, that curiosity didn’t make me hate this book. It actually gave me another reason to hold into it.
And the ESSENCESquad is so freakin’ adorable! How I wish they appear earlier in the book so I can enjoy it more. And I’m telling you guys, the Essence of Optimism and Pessimism are so cute when they’re together.
I’m not actually satisfied with its ending. It didn’t give an impact to me but I’m still looking forward for the things that will happen next.
Not bad for a debut book.
When I read the synopsis of this book I really find it interesting.
“Human qualities roam free in flesh known as Essences”
Essence of Arrogance
Essence of Honesty
Essence of Optimism
Essence of Pessimism
Essence of Good
Essence of Evil
If you’ve watched Disney’s Inside Out you’ll meet Happy, Sad, Angry, Disgust and Fear. They act and only feel what they are supposed to be. That’s what Essences are, but they’re deeper and they’re in human form. (sounds cool to me, really)
This kind of fantasy is new to me and so to Abbey, so it’s kind of hard to adapt at first but the author’s introduction for its fantasy world (which is Ethra) didn’t make me bored. She didn’t just story tell everything, she made Abbey experience the things in Ethra and Zac explains more about it and I like that style. Introducing a fantasy world is really a tough job especially if its concept is new to the readers.
The introduction of Abbey went smooth. I like how it’s done. She’s an eighteen years old girl who still don’t know what to take in college, who has friends and a mother she really loves. I love her personality and her inner thoughts in the book. It became more fun because of her thoughts. She’s also an understanding and independent person that made me loves her more.
Curiosity almost kill me because of Balvinder. I’m already at ¾ of the book but I still don’t know what Essence he is. I’m not smart or a good observant like Abbey. But anyway, that curiosity didn’t make me hate this book. It actually gave me another reason to hold into it.
And the ESSENCESquad is so freakin’ adorable! How I wish they appear earlier in the book so I can enjoy it more. And I’m telling you guys, the Essence of Optimism and Pessimism are so cute when they’re together.
I’m not actually satisfied with its ending. It didn’t give an impact to me but I’m still looking forward for the things that will happen next.
Not bad for a debut book.
August 16, 2018
Essence by Hayley Gabrielle is a unique fantasy book set in a world adjacent to our own.
I gave this book 3.5/5 stars.
Abbey Shader is about to graduate and has no foreseeable direction for her future, that is until she is transported to a different world and told that she is to take the place of the last Melder in order to keep balance in both our world and this strange new one. Though disbelieving of the entire experience, Abbey is forced to see the truth to the world of Ethra as she journeys along and meets Essences--beings whose breath she is meant to meld to humanity. Abbey is convinced that she will go back to her mum as soon as she can reach the portal, but along the way she realizes that her decision to leave might be harder than she thought.
This book had a slow start for me, and I didn’t really like Abbey at first, but I loved Balvinder and Zac straight-away, and I grew to like Abbey as well. After the first 50 pages or so of this book, I became really intrigued with the path that Abbey was venturing on, the budding romance between her and Zac, and the choices she would be forced to make. I particularly loved meeting the various Essences and trying to guess what aspect of humanity they embodied! After I started getting into it, I flew through this read in a little over a day!
I gave this book 3.5/5 stars.
Abbey Shader is about to graduate and has no foreseeable direction for her future, that is until she is transported to a different world and told that she is to take the place of the last Melder in order to keep balance in both our world and this strange new one. Though disbelieving of the entire experience, Abbey is forced to see the truth to the world of Ethra as she journeys along and meets Essences--beings whose breath she is meant to meld to humanity. Abbey is convinced that she will go back to her mum as soon as she can reach the portal, but along the way she realizes that her decision to leave might be harder than she thought.
This book had a slow start for me, and I didn’t really like Abbey at first, but I loved Balvinder and Zac straight-away, and I grew to like Abbey as well. After the first 50 pages or so of this book, I became really intrigued with the path that Abbey was venturing on, the budding romance between her and Zac, and the choices she would be forced to make. I particularly loved meeting the various Essences and trying to guess what aspect of humanity they embodied! After I started getting into it, I flew through this read in a little over a day!
August 18, 2018
I surprisingly really enjoyed reading this book, despite the very slow pace. My curiosity got the best of me and I found myself flying through the pages to see what will happen next.
The world, Ethra was enchanting and the characters were really likeable. I loved the aspect of the Essences, they were practically my favourite thing about the book. They reminded me a lot of the characters from the movie Inside Out, but of course there were huge differences.
I just wished there was a bigger plot. The ending was really abrupt and left me with a lot of questions, but hopefully everything will be clear in the next book.
Click for full review.
The world, Ethra was enchanting and the characters were really likeable. I loved the aspect of the Essences, they were practically my favourite thing about the book. They reminded me a lot of the characters from the movie Inside Out, but of course there were huge differences.
I just wished there was a bigger plot. The ending was really abrupt and left me with a lot of questions, but hopefully everything will be clear in the next book.
Click for full review.
September 13, 2018
Essence is a wonderfully told story. The dynamics between the characters were intresting and realistic. I rooted for them and felt their hope and anguish deeply. The plot was unique and pulled me in quickly. I needed to know this world inside and out. I needed to know how Abbey would choose. My only complaint about this story was that it was over to fast.
September 18, 2019
3.5 stars
BLOG || INSTA
AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.
This was interesting! I didn’t know quite what I would be getting into when I started this book. The author reached out and asked if I would like to review a copy and upon checking out Goodreads I accepted the offer because it did sound up my alley!
Do y’all remember the movie, Inside Out? With all of the girl’s emotions portrayed as actual creatures/people? THIS WAS THE BOOK FORM. The further I read and the more characters I met that embodied different essences, the more it reminded me of that movie. This isn’t a good or bad thing, I just saw the similarities. I rather enjoyed having characters completely polarized in their personalities. It made for fun conversation and some solid banter. Combining Joy, Pride, Good, Honesty, and Pessimism (the ones we met in this book) was a squad to watch.
Abbey grew on me over the book. At first I was shaky with her. But what I appreciated was that she didn’t run off and agree with everything everyone was trying to tell her. I hate when characters don’t question what the heck just happened and loved that Abbey asked all the questions. It gave her time to understand and slowly grasp what was happening around her.
The love story with Zac is cute! Even though it was over a shorter period of time it didn’t feel rushed. There’s still a lot of feelings to convey and bonds to form. I liked watching them interact and learn more about each other. Zac is charming and has a deep background that I want to know more about.
As far as magic systems go, this one was rather confusing. I felt as frustrated as Abbey sometimes trying to understand the Earth, erodosphere and Ethra interactions. Then throw on top the Melder, and the Breathing and it left me all sorts of flipped around. The more I read, the clearer everything became and I’m happy that by the end I better understood what was everything meant.
At times this book read more like a prequel. Not a lot honestly happened. Abbey and the crew around her went on an adventure to meet the Overseer who brought Abbey to Ethra in the first place. That scene lasted a whole 2 pages. Instead, we really created a background for the lands and an understanding of how Ethra works in conjunction with Earth. While I wished it had a bit more substance, I’m still really interested in book two. I always found myself wanting to pick up my Kindle to keep reading this and am curious where Abbey will take us next.
Overall audience notes:
- Young adult fantasy
- Language: some minor language throughout
- Romance: a few kisses
- Violence: knives, animal attacks, not super gory, but moderately descriptive
Thank you to the author for sending me a digital copy!
BLOG || INSTA
AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.
This was interesting! I didn’t know quite what I would be getting into when I started this book. The author reached out and asked if I would like to review a copy and upon checking out Goodreads I accepted the offer because it did sound up my alley!
Do y’all remember the movie, Inside Out? With all of the girl’s emotions portrayed as actual creatures/people? THIS WAS THE BOOK FORM. The further I read and the more characters I met that embodied different essences, the more it reminded me of that movie. This isn’t a good or bad thing, I just saw the similarities. I rather enjoyed having characters completely polarized in their personalities. It made for fun conversation and some solid banter. Combining Joy, Pride, Good, Honesty, and Pessimism (the ones we met in this book) was a squad to watch.
Abbey grew on me over the book. At first I was shaky with her. But what I appreciated was that she didn’t run off and agree with everything everyone was trying to tell her. I hate when characters don’t question what the heck just happened and loved that Abbey asked all the questions. It gave her time to understand and slowly grasp what was happening around her.
The love story with Zac is cute! Even though it was over a shorter period of time it didn’t feel rushed. There’s still a lot of feelings to convey and bonds to form. I liked watching them interact and learn more about each other. Zac is charming and has a deep background that I want to know more about.
As far as magic systems go, this one was rather confusing. I felt as frustrated as Abbey sometimes trying to understand the Earth, erodosphere and Ethra interactions. Then throw on top the Melder, and the Breathing and it left me all sorts of flipped around. The more I read, the clearer everything became and I’m happy that by the end I better understood what was everything meant.
At times this book read more like a prequel. Not a lot honestly happened. Abbey and the crew around her went on an adventure to meet the Overseer who brought Abbey to Ethra in the first place. That scene lasted a whole 2 pages. Instead, we really created a background for the lands and an understanding of how Ethra works in conjunction with Earth. While I wished it had a bit more substance, I’m still really interested in book two. I always found myself wanting to pick up my Kindle to keep reading this and am curious where Abbey will take us next.
Overall audience notes:
- Young adult fantasy
- Language: some minor language throughout
- Romance: a few kisses
- Violence: knives, animal attacks, not super gory, but moderately descriptive
Thank you to the author for sending me a digital copy!
March 12, 2024
"ARC Provided By the Author in Exchange for An Honest Review"
thank you
but sadly it wasn't for me
I'm sorry
I liked the sound of the book and the general concept of the story & I was curious. the book was well-written and I liked the protagonist at first, the beginning was interesting. the world building looked cool.
but the book didn't quite keep me interested. I slowly read it for months (many many months!) & my feelings didn't change.
the slow pace, the protagonist's resistance to believe what was happening & being annoyingly sarcastic, or must I say, scoffing (is this a word? because I don't mean sarcasm in a good, cool way that makes her look clever or funny. she just spouted things just to say something) all the time was tiring was a repetitive circle, also her being annoying. & I didn't care about any of the characters. (well, Zac was kind of interesting, I wished he was the story-teller)
all of these made the book boring & , it felt like nothing was happening in favour of progress of the plot.
it wasn't captivating enough to keep me intrigued, curious or attracted to know more, read or care.
thank you
but sadly it wasn't for me
I'm sorry
I liked the sound of the book and the general concept of the story & I was curious. the book was well-written and I liked the protagonist at first, the beginning was interesting. the world building looked cool.
but the book didn't quite keep me interested. I slowly read it for months (many many months!) & my feelings didn't change.
the slow pace, the protagonist's resistance to believe what was happening & being annoyingly sarcastic, or must I say, scoffing (is this a word? because I don't mean sarcasm in a good, cool way that makes her look clever or funny. she just spouted things just to say something) all the time was tiring was a repetitive circle, also her being annoying. & I didn't care about any of the characters. (well, Zac was kind of interesting, I wished he was the story-teller)
all of these made the book boring & , it felt like nothing was happening in favour of progress of the plot.
it wasn't captivating enough to keep me intrigued, curious or attracted to know more, read or care.
August 19, 2018
My Rating : 4.5🌟
'When something doesn't go to plan, rather than moping around, sulking in your own self-defeat, you can take it as an opportunity to build your character. Making it through these things could be vital to making it through bigger things. That's the theory anyways. '
*The author sent me an e-book in exchange for an honest review. All the views are my own and is not influenced in any way*
The story revolves around our main character Abbey Shader, who finds a mysterious brooch in her bedroom one day, and gets transported to another world. It then progresses with her learning about the new world along with her new guide/friends, figuring out whether she should accept the really big responsibility that is being pushed upon her.
The first thing i really loved about this book is the relationship Abbey and her mother has. Not a lot of ya books deals with this kind of family connection. The second is the actual concept of Earth and Ethra! I really loved reading about the alternate universe and i could see a lot of effort put into the research for explaining certain things right.
The plot reminded me of the movie Inside Out in a way, but it was dealt with differently and i quite enjoyed it! As you read, you get to explore the new world along with Abbey, and it gave a sense of an adventure to me! And i am always in for some good fantasy adventure with a book. The whole story happens while they travel from the place Abbey gets transported to, till they reach the portal that can help her go back to Earth if she rejects her role as a Melder. My favourite characters were hands down Gwin & Pierce and Zac. Common, who can say no to the handsome dimple? Or as Abbey says, 'His crooked dimple'
Abbey has been picked as the 'Melder' who helps with the balance of Essences(depiction of feelings in the form of human in Ethra) between Earth and Ethra. She is the only one who can actually see the essence's human forms since she controls them in a way.The concept of Major and Minor essences that gets absorbed by the human spirit, it was such a cool concept! I was feeling quite sad for Zac when he couldnt see any of the other essences but only hear their voices, and has to rely on Abbey to show any kind of expression that he can understand. It gets really funny towards the end when many more essences get together with the group and he hears only voices fighting. I fell in love with Gwin & Pierce fights, and i could relate to real life situations with extreme point of views! The relationship between Abbey & Zac was the cutest! It's not a new concept, but i just loved the characters so much that i didn't mind it! This book just kept getting better with each chapter and at one point, i almost forgot i had to be working instead of reading.
The only thing that was a let down was the revelation of Balvinder's essence. I could actually figure out what it was, and it kind of put me in an off towards the ending. It was by no means bad, but it was not my awesome revelation moment since i could guess it before! Apart from that i think this book has the perfect combination of character & plot development, along with really cute scenes in between. The story was more about Abbey trying to understand Ethra, her emotions, gaining new knowledge and people while trying to fight the evil, rather than the good fighting the evil alone. I loved that about this book. This book did not end in a cliffhanger, but leaves you wanting to know more about her decision and what happens because of it.
The concept of this fantasy world is not too difficult to wrap your head around, but its not easy either. If you are looking for a good fantasy book which deals with a lot of emotions, a teenage girl trying to deal with an entirely new environment, guy with dimples, then i would definitely recommend this book to you! I can't wait to read the second book in this series! Thankyou so much Hayley for sending me a copy to read and fall in love with all the characters!
'When something doesn't go to plan, rather than moping around, sulking in your own self-defeat, you can take it as an opportunity to build your character. Making it through these things could be vital to making it through bigger things. That's the theory anyways. '
*The author sent me an e-book in exchange for an honest review. All the views are my own and is not influenced in any way*
The story revolves around our main character Abbey Shader, who finds a mysterious brooch in her bedroom one day, and gets transported to another world. It then progresses with her learning about the new world along with her new guide/friends, figuring out whether she should accept the really big responsibility that is being pushed upon her.
The first thing i really loved about this book is the relationship Abbey and her mother has. Not a lot of ya books deals with this kind of family connection. The second is the actual concept of Earth and Ethra! I really loved reading about the alternate universe and i could see a lot of effort put into the research for explaining certain things right.
The plot reminded me of the movie Inside Out in a way, but it was dealt with differently and i quite enjoyed it! As you read, you get to explore the new world along with Abbey, and it gave a sense of an adventure to me! And i am always in for some good fantasy adventure with a book. The whole story happens while they travel from the place Abbey gets transported to, till they reach the portal that can help her go back to Earth if she rejects her role as a Melder. My favourite characters were hands down Gwin & Pierce and Zac. Common, who can say no to the handsome dimple? Or as Abbey says, 'His crooked dimple'
Abbey has been picked as the 'Melder' who helps with the balance of Essences(depiction of feelings in the form of human in Ethra) between Earth and Ethra. She is the only one who can actually see the essence's human forms since she controls them in a way.The concept of Major and Minor essences that gets absorbed by the human spirit, it was such a cool concept! I was feeling quite sad for Zac when he couldnt see any of the other essences but only hear their voices, and has to rely on Abbey to show any kind of expression that he can understand. It gets really funny towards the end when many more essences get together with the group and he hears only voices fighting. I fell in love with Gwin & Pierce fights, and i could relate to real life situations with extreme point of views! The relationship between Abbey & Zac was the cutest! It's not a new concept, but i just loved the characters so much that i didn't mind it! This book just kept getting better with each chapter and at one point, i almost forgot i had to be working instead of reading.
The only thing that was a let down was the revelation of Balvinder's essence. I could actually figure out what it was, and it kind of put me in an off towards the ending. It was by no means bad, but it was not my awesome revelation moment since i could guess it before! Apart from that i think this book has the perfect combination of character & plot development, along with really cute scenes in between. The story was more about Abbey trying to understand Ethra, her emotions, gaining new knowledge and people while trying to fight the evil, rather than the good fighting the evil alone. I loved that about this book. This book did not end in a cliffhanger, but leaves you wanting to know more about her decision and what happens because of it.
The concept of this fantasy world is not too difficult to wrap your head around, but its not easy either. If you are looking for a good fantasy book which deals with a lot of emotions, a teenage girl trying to deal with an entirely new environment, guy with dimples, then i would definitely recommend this book to you! I can't wait to read the second book in this series! Thankyou so much Hayley for sending me a copy to read and fall in love with all the characters!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2018
*4.5/5 stars
First of all, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity of reading this book. Always when I sent a book, I am afraid I will not enjoy it. I want my reviews to honest and a true summary of my feelings and thoughts during the reading experience, but I am also scared that I might hurt someone’s feelings. Fortunately for me, I enjoyed Essence – a lot! This book gave me butterflies in my stomach when I was reading it. That does not happen often.
Essence is an interesting YA story; I cannot exactly pinpoint the genre. It feels like fantasy but it also has a paranormal and sci-fi vibe to it. The main protagonist is Abbey, an “ordinary” teenage girl living on earth. She has a normal life with friends and family and she has insecurities about her future like the most of us. One day, she finds a brooch in her bedroom and she is transported towards a parallel world. In Ertha, she is considered to be the Medler, a chosen person who determines the balance character traits on Earth and Ertha. On Ertha, the character traits have human bodies and the Melder is supposed to keep them in control. In this strange world, Abbey embarks on a journey with a Essence Balvinder and his adopted human son Zac (who is very handsome) to see the Overseer. During this journey, Abbey has to decide if she will be the new melder of if she wants to go back to her friends and mum.
It took a while to get into the story, but when it happened this book captured my heart. Arc of the story felt very organic. There was no information dumping and the pacing of the story was constant throughout the story. I really enjoyed the travel aspect of the story. As the reader you got to see different aspects of the world, which were fascinating. The author mixes cliché plot twists with original scenes, which familiarises the reader while keeping him/her entertained. My main critique about the plot is that I felt a lack of suspense. Especially with the essence of evil on the loose, I would expected a more pressing atmosphere.
The characters made the story for me. Abbey is a lovely protagonist. She was relatable (especially her uncertainty about her future after high school). I love how sceptic and critical she was. She does not accept automatically what her is told, but very piece of information is hilariously evaluated in her head. Zac was an obvious love interest, but I would not have had it in any other way. He cannot see the Essences (only the Medler) can, but he can hear them. That caused hilarious situation because he cannot see what is going on. The characters of each Essence were well developed. You could definitely guess the trait of each Essence by the behaviour and the way they talked. They conversations and interactions were so funny. The author did a great job of developing each character especially the difference of the major Essences (Good and Evil have multiple traits) and the minor Essences (They have only one trait like honesty).
The writing style fitted the story well. It was quick and fun with a healthy dose of irony. The conversations between the different characters came across natural. Props for the author for making the jokes actually funny! She has great comical timing!
The world building is not the most complex or the most neat I have ever read. However, the world of Ertha was fascinating with interesting characters and nature. I loved the golden rain and trees shining with moonlight. For a short book (just over 200 pages) the world building is really good. The whole system with the major Essences and the minor Essences felt very original and was understandable when you had all the puzzle pieces. Lastly, I never read a book before where a complete fantasy planet coexists next to earth. That was very interesting too.
In conclusion, this was a very enjoyable read. The characters were the stars of the show. This book is perfect of people loving original fantasy worlds and people just looking into the ya fantasy genre.
First of all, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity of reading this book. Always when I sent a book, I am afraid I will not enjoy it. I want my reviews to honest and a true summary of my feelings and thoughts during the reading experience, but I am also scared that I might hurt someone’s feelings. Fortunately for me, I enjoyed Essence – a lot! This book gave me butterflies in my stomach when I was reading it. That does not happen often.
Essence is an interesting YA story; I cannot exactly pinpoint the genre. It feels like fantasy but it also has a paranormal and sci-fi vibe to it. The main protagonist is Abbey, an “ordinary” teenage girl living on earth. She has a normal life with friends and family and she has insecurities about her future like the most of us. One day, she finds a brooch in her bedroom and she is transported towards a parallel world. In Ertha, she is considered to be the Medler, a chosen person who determines the balance character traits on Earth and Ertha. On Ertha, the character traits have human bodies and the Melder is supposed to keep them in control. In this strange world, Abbey embarks on a journey with a Essence Balvinder and his adopted human son Zac (who is very handsome) to see the Overseer. During this journey, Abbey has to decide if she will be the new melder of if she wants to go back to her friends and mum.
It took a while to get into the story, but when it happened this book captured my heart. Arc of the story felt very organic. There was no information dumping and the pacing of the story was constant throughout the story. I really enjoyed the travel aspect of the story. As the reader you got to see different aspects of the world, which were fascinating. The author mixes cliché plot twists with original scenes, which familiarises the reader while keeping him/her entertained. My main critique about the plot is that I felt a lack of suspense. Especially with the essence of evil on the loose, I would expected a more pressing atmosphere.
The characters made the story for me. Abbey is a lovely protagonist. She was relatable (especially her uncertainty about her future after high school). I love how sceptic and critical she was. She does not accept automatically what her is told, but very piece of information is hilariously evaluated in her head. Zac was an obvious love interest, but I would not have had it in any other way. He cannot see the Essences (only the Medler) can, but he can hear them. That caused hilarious situation because he cannot see what is going on. The characters of each Essence were well developed. You could definitely guess the trait of each Essence by the behaviour and the way they talked. They conversations and interactions were so funny. The author did a great job of developing each character especially the difference of the major Essences (Good and Evil have multiple traits) and the minor Essences (They have only one trait like honesty).
The writing style fitted the story well. It was quick and fun with a healthy dose of irony. The conversations between the different characters came across natural. Props for the author for making the jokes actually funny! She has great comical timing!
The world building is not the most complex or the most neat I have ever read. However, the world of Ertha was fascinating with interesting characters and nature. I loved the golden rain and trees shining with moonlight. For a short book (just over 200 pages) the world building is really good. The whole system with the major Essences and the minor Essences felt very original and was understandable when you had all the puzzle pieces. Lastly, I never read a book before where a complete fantasy planet coexists next to earth. That was very interesting too.
In conclusion, this was a very enjoyable read. The characters were the stars of the show. This book is perfect of people loving original fantasy worlds and people just looking into the ya fantasy genre.
October 9, 2018
Initial Thoughts: This was a cute book that I wish I hadn't kept putting away for newer releases. The good thing about the book is that no matter how long I waited before picking it up again, I wasn't extra lost and that was nice. It was a simple read. Fun and interesting.
FULL REVIEW:
Essence by Hayley Gabrielle
Rating: 3-3.5/5
I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest book review. Overall, it was a really cute book and I see on GR that there’s a sort of prequel (???) that’s coming out and that sounds pretty interesting too!
So this book is about a girl named Abbey Shader that finds herself in a completely foreign world. She is essentially brought to a different planet to become the Melder of Essences. Basically, she’s supposed to wield her power to shape humanity because the Essences are basically entities of humanity (like Good, Evil, etc.).
Confused? So is Abbey. Usually having a confused narrator makes me dislike them, but Abbey has this energy and wit that makes me laugh. She just wants to go back home, and is skeptical about everything that is happening, which is great. She isn’t just like “ok cool let’s do this”. No, she just wants to get out. I enjoyed reading in her point of view (especially when she meets Balvinder and Zac).
This story felt like a combination of the movie TomorrowLand and Inside Out, with a hint of Percy Jackson’s sarcasm and fun. But obviously, the author did a great job creating her own world filled with its own unique magic! It was really interesting meeting the Essences (the conversations were honestly some of my favorite scenes to read, just because they were just cute and fun!) and seeing Abbey’s journey through this foreign world.
The one thing I truly enjoyed about this book was the fact that even when I put it down for some time to read other books, I would come back to this and not feel any more lost (than usual, I mean… Abbey has a lot to learn about Ethra). Abbey would recap some major points every once in a while (nothing to make it redundant, but just enough to make everything easy to understand without having to think too much) and that helped a lot because I’m literally the worst at remembering things.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a nice, light read. If you like magic, sarcasm, teenagers that literally have no idea what they’re doing, and exploring traits of humanity in a fun an interesting way, this book may be the right fit for you! It was just a fun story!
FULL REVIEW:
Essence by Hayley Gabrielle
Rating: 3-3.5/5
I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest book review. Overall, it was a really cute book and I see on GR that there’s a sort of prequel (???) that’s coming out and that sounds pretty interesting too!
So this book is about a girl named Abbey Shader that finds herself in a completely foreign world. She is essentially brought to a different planet to become the Melder of Essences. Basically, she’s supposed to wield her power to shape humanity because the Essences are basically entities of humanity (like Good, Evil, etc.).
Confused? So is Abbey. Usually having a confused narrator makes me dislike them, but Abbey has this energy and wit that makes me laugh. She just wants to go back home, and is skeptical about everything that is happening, which is great. She isn’t just like “ok cool let’s do this”. No, she just wants to get out. I enjoyed reading in her point of view (especially when she meets Balvinder and Zac).
This story felt like a combination of the movie TomorrowLand and Inside Out, with a hint of Percy Jackson’s sarcasm and fun. But obviously, the author did a great job creating her own world filled with its own unique magic! It was really interesting meeting the Essences (the conversations were honestly some of my favorite scenes to read, just because they were just cute and fun!) and seeing Abbey’s journey through this foreign world.
The one thing I truly enjoyed about this book was the fact that even when I put it down for some time to read other books, I would come back to this and not feel any more lost (than usual, I mean… Abbey has a lot to learn about Ethra). Abbey would recap some major points every once in a while (nothing to make it redundant, but just enough to make everything easy to understand without having to think too much) and that helped a lot because I’m literally the worst at remembering things.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a nice, light read. If you like magic, sarcasm, teenagers that literally have no idea what they’re doing, and exploring traits of humanity in a fun an interesting way, this book may be the right fit for you! It was just a fun story!
August 19, 2018
I wasn't sure what to expect from this read, but from reading the summary I knew it was right up my alley! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Essence and am excited to read the rest of the books in the series.
Essence follows a young woman named Abbey Shader as she is swept into a different realm, similar to our own. Abbey is definitely a likable character. She has some quirks, but I think that Hayley Gabrielle perfectly portrayed what it would be like if a normal girl woke up in a different world. I know I'd react similarly to Abbey!
I was hooked into the book from the beginning. The way Hayley Gabrielle wrote the into made me hungry for more. The language and flow were beautifully written and I knew I had to read on. Overall, the book read like a typical YA/teen fantasy novel; not that is a bad thing. I knew what to expect at certain points in reference to Abbey and Zac, but it felt comfortable. I was able to correctly guess several of the characters' essence because of the context clues and hints Gabrielle left throughout the book. It can be so satisfying to see those assumptions proved true!
I thought that Hayley Gabrielle was able to explain the erodosphere, Ethra, and the essences very well. Sometimes when I read fantasy books it can be hard to follow the made up terminology, but not with this book!
The only downside to the book was that the plot was a bit weak. I thought that some of the questions that were answered later on in the book would lead to something more fantastical and mysterious, but they didn't. The ending ended abruptly, but I would guess that's because Gabrielle is intending to write more books in the series. I'm interested in what these will be about. A lot of the issues were resolved in this book so I'm not sure where it will go next.
Overall, I recommend giving Essence a shot! It's a quick, light read and totally satisfies the YA craving.
Essence follows a young woman named Abbey Shader as she is swept into a different realm, similar to our own. Abbey is definitely a likable character. She has some quirks, but I think that Hayley Gabrielle perfectly portrayed what it would be like if a normal girl woke up in a different world. I know I'd react similarly to Abbey!
I was hooked into the book from the beginning. The way Hayley Gabrielle wrote the into made me hungry for more. The language and flow were beautifully written and I knew I had to read on. Overall, the book read like a typical YA/teen fantasy novel; not that is a bad thing. I knew what to expect at certain points in reference to Abbey and Zac, but it felt comfortable. I was able to correctly guess several of the characters' essence because of the context clues and hints Gabrielle left throughout the book. It can be so satisfying to see those assumptions proved true!
I thought that Hayley Gabrielle was able to explain the erodosphere, Ethra, and the essences very well. Sometimes when I read fantasy books it can be hard to follow the made up terminology, but not with this book!
The only downside to the book was that the plot was a bit weak. I thought that some of the questions that were answered later on in the book would lead to something more fantastical and mysterious, but they didn't. The ending ended abruptly, but I would guess that's because Gabrielle is intending to write more books in the series. I'm interested in what these will be about. A lot of the issues were resolved in this book so I'm not sure where it will go next.
Overall, I recommend giving Essence a shot! It's a quick, light read and totally satisfies the YA craving.
February 16, 2019
Essence was a refreshing story in the fantasy genre leaning towards the mysteries of human emotions and characteristics, and its relation to the soul mixing up science and, as I interpret it, religion. There was this one scene that felt like a metaphor for Jesus' sacrifice to save humanity from the consequences of sin/evil deeds. If the author did it on purpose or was just coincidence, that I don't know. What I know was that, the concept of the story definitely pulled me in and got me swiping through the book until almost all my questions were answered.
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The story was told through the perspective of Abbey Shader, that though her parents were divorced, was living a normal life as an 18-year old who's struggling about what to do after high school. One day, she found a mysterious brooch that transported her to a world where "Essences" — human emotions/characteristics, take a physical form. She found out that she's been summoned as the new Melder — the one who helps maintain the balance of Essences, for humanity's sake.
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The narrative was well-done, with just the right pacing making me want to keep swiping and zoom through the pages and at the same time allow me to still know the characters by heart. The world-building was good but I believe it could still be better. Maybe because of how broad the concept is that at first I found it difficult to grasp it even if it's being explained.
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The characters was amazingly written. The author definitely captured each Essence's attributes through her writing. And Abbey, though I felt like their was not much "development" to her character, I like her. She was so human and I like how the author portrayed it through her thoughts and sassy quips.
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I gave this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ . Hayley has brought to life an amazing debut novel and I can't wait where she's gonna take us next.
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I received a free ebook copy from tge author for a fair and honest review.
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The story was told through the perspective of Abbey Shader, that though her parents were divorced, was living a normal life as an 18-year old who's struggling about what to do after high school. One day, she found a mysterious brooch that transported her to a world where "Essences" — human emotions/characteristics, take a physical form. She found out that she's been summoned as the new Melder — the one who helps maintain the balance of Essences, for humanity's sake.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The narrative was well-done, with just the right pacing making me want to keep swiping and zoom through the pages and at the same time allow me to still know the characters by heart. The world-building was good but I believe it could still be better. Maybe because of how broad the concept is that at first I found it difficult to grasp it even if it's being explained.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The characters was amazingly written. The author definitely captured each Essence's attributes through her writing. And Abbey, though I felt like their was not much "development" to her character, I like her. She was so human and I like how the author portrayed it through her thoughts and sassy quips.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I gave this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ . Hayley has brought to life an amazing debut novel and I can't wait where she's gonna take us next.
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I received a free ebook copy from tge author for a fair and honest review.
October 9, 2018
I absolutely loved the fast pace of this read, it jumped right into the action. The writing style was brilliant, everthing flowed so smoothly. It was even poetic at times drawing me in further. The whole concept of the Essences is something I've never read before and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The world the author created was so magical. I was really impressed with how everything was practically painted for me through the authors writing. I especially appreciated all of the details, it made me feel like I was on Ethra traveling through the Petrified Forest along with the characters. Even when it rained in Ethra it was enchanting, it was all so captivating.
There were so many amazing characters all with different personalities. I felt so connected to all of them, they were very relatable; because in a way I'm a little like all of them. I enjoyed the relationship between the Essences, and how they were so familiar with each other. The characters were my favorite part about the book.
Abbey, was a great main character, her development throughout the book was fun to read. She was thrust into a new world and didn't whine the whole time like some main character do. I lived for the romance between Abbey and Zac. It was so adorable, I completely ship it. Zac, is easily one of my favorite book boyfriend of this year.
I recommend this book to all YA Fantasy lovers. It's a fast read that you won't be able to put down. It kind of reminded me of the Disney movie Inside Out, which I loved. I can't wait for the second book to come out. I rate this book 4.75 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
The world the author created was so magical. I was really impressed with how everything was practically painted for me through the authors writing. I especially appreciated all of the details, it made me feel like I was on Ethra traveling through the Petrified Forest along with the characters. Even when it rained in Ethra it was enchanting, it was all so captivating.
There were so many amazing characters all with different personalities. I felt so connected to all of them, they were very relatable; because in a way I'm a little like all of them. I enjoyed the relationship between the Essences, and how they were so familiar with each other. The characters were my favorite part about the book.
Abbey, was a great main character, her development throughout the book was fun to read. She was thrust into a new world and didn't whine the whole time like some main character do. I lived for the romance between Abbey and Zac. It was so adorable, I completely ship it. Zac, is easily one of my favorite book boyfriend of this year.
I recommend this book to all YA Fantasy lovers. It's a fast read that you won't be able to put down. It kind of reminded me of the Disney movie Inside Out, which I loved. I can't wait for the second book to come out. I rate this book 4.75 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
July 10, 2018
I was sent this book for reviewing. I didn’t know what to really expect and I went in blind. The main character is a very independent and sure about herself girl called Abbey Shader who lives a typical life with her divorced mother. One day unexpectedly she gets thrown into another work connected to Earth called Ethra where everything is different and there is magic. To control the word and have balance there are Essences ( Good, Evil, Optimism...). Together ok a long journey they help Abbey reach a deduction if to stay and be a Melder ( person who controls them ) or go back home.
This is the first fantasy book that I have read in a while and I dare say that I have quite enjoyed it. The magical elements and the characters were very charming and I have enjoyed writing about them a lot. As I understand this is going to be a series and I am looking forward to read the second one. I really recommend it if you are looking for an easy-going fantasy.
This is the first fantasy book that I have read in a while and I dare say that I have quite enjoyed it. The magical elements and the characters were very charming and I have enjoyed writing about them a lot. As I understand this is going to be a series and I am looking forward to read the second one. I really recommend it if you are looking for an easy-going fantasy.
September 24, 2018
First off, I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of Essence from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much, Hayley!
The book started off really slow but I really liked how everything was revealed. The world building in this was enchanting and there was such an interesting and unique concept of Essences which took up the form of human qualities of Good, Evil, Arrogance, Honesty, Optimism, and Pessimism. Each Essence was written so well and stuck true to what they were.
I was really surprised how I connected I felt with the characters that portrayed each Essence and it felt so refreshing to be able to relate to something as you read it. It makes you feel so aware and real. I fell in love with them and they now hold a special place in my heart. Beautiful writing that had a lot of depth to it. My heart feels so full. If you love fantasy, I'd definitely recommend this one!
The book started off really slow but I really liked how everything was revealed. The world building in this was enchanting and there was such an interesting and unique concept of Essences which took up the form of human qualities of Good, Evil, Arrogance, Honesty, Optimism, and Pessimism. Each Essence was written so well and stuck true to what they were.
I was really surprised how I connected I felt with the characters that portrayed each Essence and it felt so refreshing to be able to relate to something as you read it. It makes you feel so aware and real. I fell in love with them and they now hold a special place in my heart. Beautiful writing that had a lot of depth to it. My heart feels so full. If you love fantasy, I'd definitely recommend this one!
August 15, 2018
This was beautifully unique and enchanting. This book was actually sent to me by Hayley Gabrielle for reviewing. I read the synopsis and I was very excited. It was a fresh story and different from today's civil war, futuristic, and monarchy themed stories. I really appreciate that Hayley Gabrielle put out a story which is truly fresh. I've encountered stories like these maybe when I was in high school (probably 7 years ago) but not quite like this. There is similarity in feel and mystical elements but the plot of this story is still very much different.
(More details on this review on my blog http://www.alexinreverie.wordpress.com)
(More details on this review on my blog http://www.alexinreverie.wordpress.com)
August 25, 2018
I would give this book a 3.5 stars but I’m rounding up to 4 stars. I really enjoyed this book, the writing is simple and easy to read definitely at the teenage/young adult level. I loved the various characters and there were a quite few moments I found myself smiling while reading. Being from Melbourne myself it was entertaining to read a book with a protagonist from my area, there were quite a few cultural references that I enjoyed. I love to support local authors and I’m looking forward to reading Hayley’s next book! I won’t say too much about the book other than what I have already mentioned, if you are interested I suggest giving it a go! Well done Hayley!
February 17, 2019
I want to thank the author for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was sooo good!!! I gave it 4 stars because the beginning was a little slow, but once things started to happen it was so interesting and I couldn't put it down.
I loved the concept of Essences and each one of them was written so well and really stayed true to their nature. The interactions between them were also hilarious and fun to read.
I should also mention Zac aka the perfect boy, please be real and take me to Ethra!! I really appreciated that his relationship with Abby didn't transform into an insta-love trope.
Overall, the world, the story and the characters are amazing!!
This was sooo good!!! I gave it 4 stars because the beginning was a little slow, but once things started to happen it was so interesting and I couldn't put it down.
I loved the concept of Essences and each one of them was written so well and really stayed true to their nature. The interactions between them were also hilarious and fun to read.
I should also mention Zac aka the perfect boy, please be real and take me to Ethra!! I really appreciated that his relationship with Abby didn't transform into an insta-love trope.
Overall, the world, the story and the characters are amazing!!
August 18, 2018
Essence is an incredible fantasy story that dives into a world of separate essences. The essences need to remained balanced for the worlds to coexist properly. One day Abbey is swept into this other world and goes on a journey that will change her life forever.
This is an incredibly unique story. The characters are all so incredibly likable, well most of them, and well rounded. This book moves at a great pace, constantly keeping your attention, and keeps you wanting to know what will happen next!
This is an incredibly unique story. The characters are all so incredibly likable, well most of them, and well rounded. This book moves at a great pace, constantly keeping your attention, and keeps you wanting to know what will happen next!
August 21, 2018
This book was great! It has quite a slow start with world building (as any fantasy series would) and then the explanation of what the essence's are and how the main character's role fits into that world. However, I loved the second half of the book! I read through it so fast I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see what book 2 has in store and can't wait till it comes out to read it!
*Was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
*Was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
April 5, 2020
I really really enjoyed this story!
It was just what I needed, I craved a bit of high fantasy and while this technically falls into urban fantasy there isn't a lot that happens in the urban setting.
I can't wait to read the sequel!
It was just what I needed, I craved a bit of high fantasy and while this technically falls into urban fantasy there isn't a lot that happens in the urban setting.
I can't wait to read the sequel!
September 26, 2018
This was a fantastic read for a debut-novel by Hayley Gabrielle! Certain moments throughout (especially after the half-way point) reminded me of The Hunger Games series. Following the journey of Abbey Shader into a world entirely unlike her own created a wonderful utopian feel to the novel from start to finish.
The characters are multi-faceted and engage with Abbey in a variety of ways which I really enjoyed. Gabrielle's writing style is captivating, illustrating a playful balance between poetic and witty (depending on what character you are reading). Gabrielle created a nice amount of suspense so that as the reader, you were never quite sure what was happening next, and that's what makes for brilliant writing.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment of what I know will be a fantastic trilogy. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves creative fiction with a supernatural/utopian element to it!
The characters are multi-faceted and engage with Abbey in a variety of ways which I really enjoyed. Gabrielle's writing style is captivating, illustrating a playful balance between poetic and witty (depending on what character you are reading). Gabrielle created a nice amount of suspense so that as the reader, you were never quite sure what was happening next, and that's what makes for brilliant writing.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment of what I know will be a fantastic trilogy. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves creative fiction with a supernatural/utopian element to it!
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