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Incensa
When seventeen-year-old Ashley meets Alex, little did she know that she would be catapulted into a realm meant for the after-life
A realm she never knew existed
Alone and clueless, she needs to find her way back… that is, if she does not die there and become a lost soul forever.
Join Ashley as she embarks into a magical journey in search of the truth...
A realm she never knew existed
Alone and clueless, she needs to find her way back… that is, if she does not die there and become a lost soul forever.
Join Ashley as she embarks into a magical journey in search of the truth...
- GenresFantasy
235 pages, Paperback
Published July 27, 2018
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
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Vidhya V.L
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 6, 2018
Story is about a seventeen year old girl Ashley who lived in London. One day she realised she had a ghost in her bedroom. After few days, she gathered courage to talk to him and came to know that his name is Alex and he died in a car accident. After few days, Alex suddenly stopped visiting her. And another creature/ soul came to visit her and told her that Alex is caught in Incensa- the place where souls are trapped when they have unfulfilled desires. Alex fell in love with Ashley and so he had been trapped and only she can free him. So she decided to go in Incensa, that soul opened up the portal and she entered in that world. Read further to know more about her adventures.
My take-
▶️ I liked the plot and concept, different one.
▶️ Quite different then O imagined. The whole time while reading, it was like I was watching a fairy tale.
▶️ Unpredictable story with lots of twists and turns.
▶️ Good use of language and vocabulary.
▶️ In some parts of story, I felt the character of Ashley is behaving juvenile, but that is what made me feel like fairy tale.
▶️ Overall good one.
September 28, 2018
First, I need to say how much I love this cover. It's so beautiful.
The story itself is very unique, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, but I felt like I needed more - more description and depth. I was also a bit confused as certain points, and I think it would be better without the prologue. That aside - I think this is very clever and entertaining story, and as someone who loves fantasy and otherwordly tales, I would be interested in continuing to read this series.
The story itself is very unique, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, but I felt like I needed more - more description and depth. I was also a bit confused as certain points, and I think it would be better without the prologue. That aside - I think this is very clever and entertaining story, and as someone who loves fantasy and otherwordly tales, I would be interested in continuing to read this series.
September 8, 2018
Ashley finds herself in the afterlife modeled after a mix of mythology fighting for a dead boy that fell for her....or is there something else at play? I find the mishmash of known mythlogies and others reinvented entertaining. It pretty much works, sometimes I was tripped up because I have a strong picture of a what a Kobold looks like so a different description tripped me up. That was a small gripe, the big problem I found was that it had the depth of a screenplay with many paragraphs so short on description they read like poetry. That could all work, but it didn't give me enough to get attached to any of these characters so it made it hard for me to get into this book. The changing between first person and then into other characters heads was alright because I personally find first person very constraining. I'll be interested to see what this author produces in the future.
September 3, 2018
Incensa is fantasy/ghost story about a girl named Ashley who befriends a ghost named Alex, the spirit of a young man killed recently, and what happens as a result of their friendship. Ashley finds herself mixed up with demi-gods, reapers, and all sorts of beings in a world beyond ours that was meant only to be seen by people who have died.
I appreciated that Ashley had her friend Jesse and a family that she loved and who loved her. It was good to see a protagonist with a support system, rather than her being completely on her own the entire book.
I was a little confused about when Ashley met Alex. She explains that she met him when she was sixteen, but she seemed to be seventeen when the story began. There was a little bit of back and forth in time that seemed a bit abrupt and wasn’t explained fully.
Also, the prologue was rather confusing. I wonder if an editor would advise its being taken out. I like it when stories present mysteries and questions for the reader to ponder and figure out as the story goes along, but when the prologue confuses a reader to the point of frustration, s/he might put the book down and choose not to buy it.
I didn’t mind that the story went back and forth between first person, Ashley’s point of view, and third person, the various points of view of folks she was associating with throughout the story as she tried to help Alex. But there were spots where POV jumped from head to head, which threw me off. I don’t mind POV shifts, but only when there’s a chapter break, or at least a dingbat to separate them. Also, I noted several typos throughout the story, which were distracting, and the writing style made it difficult for me to really see a picture of what was going on. There was a great deal of telling the reader what was going on, rather than show the reader a picture. For example, “Hand in hand we walked. We passed the lake towards a stretch of shrubs that led to the huge palatial structure I had seen from the golden steps. Up closer, it looked even more magnificent and glorious.” Doesn’t really help me see a picture. I get that there must be a lovely palace there, but I can’t really see it as well as I would if the paragraph was worded something like, --Foamy waves lapped at the shore of the lake to our left as we passed, our fingers woven together. The slope of the hill, edged by low shrubs, rose up to the alabaster palace I had seen from the golden steps. Its gleaming towers rose above my head now, so that I had to tip my eyes up to take it all in, my lips parting in wonder.--
I do understand that the story is written mostly from the 1st person point of view of a teenager. Even so, the writing could be written with more description so that the reader can more easily see what’s going on, and still sound like it’s coming from someone in her late teens.
I also wonder if the story might be honed down a bit, without taking out the real meat of the story.
The story itself is highly imaginative, and the author should be commended for its creation. I feel that if the story were to be polished up a bit with scenes that show more of a picture, and passed by a professional editor, an already brilliantly thought out story could become even better.
I appreciated that Ashley had her friend Jesse and a family that she loved and who loved her. It was good to see a protagonist with a support system, rather than her being completely on her own the entire book.
I was a little confused about when Ashley met Alex. She explains that she met him when she was sixteen, but she seemed to be seventeen when the story began. There was a little bit of back and forth in time that seemed a bit abrupt and wasn’t explained fully.
Also, the prologue was rather confusing. I wonder if an editor would advise its being taken out. I like it when stories present mysteries and questions for the reader to ponder and figure out as the story goes along, but when the prologue confuses a reader to the point of frustration, s/he might put the book down and choose not to buy it.
I didn’t mind that the story went back and forth between first person, Ashley’s point of view, and third person, the various points of view of folks she was associating with throughout the story as she tried to help Alex. But there were spots where POV jumped from head to head, which threw me off. I don’t mind POV shifts, but only when there’s a chapter break, or at least a dingbat to separate them. Also, I noted several typos throughout the story, which were distracting, and the writing style made it difficult for me to really see a picture of what was going on. There was a great deal of telling the reader what was going on, rather than show the reader a picture. For example, “Hand in hand we walked. We passed the lake towards a stretch of shrubs that led to the huge palatial structure I had seen from the golden steps. Up closer, it looked even more magnificent and glorious.” Doesn’t really help me see a picture. I get that there must be a lovely palace there, but I can’t really see it as well as I would if the paragraph was worded something like, --Foamy waves lapped at the shore of the lake to our left as we passed, our fingers woven together. The slope of the hill, edged by low shrubs, rose up to the alabaster palace I had seen from the golden steps. Its gleaming towers rose above my head now, so that I had to tip my eyes up to take it all in, my lips parting in wonder.--
I do understand that the story is written mostly from the 1st person point of view of a teenager. Even so, the writing could be written with more description so that the reader can more easily see what’s going on, and still sound like it’s coming from someone in her late teens.
I also wonder if the story might be honed down a bit, without taking out the real meat of the story.
The story itself is highly imaginative, and the author should be commended for its creation. I feel that if the story were to be polished up a bit with scenes that show more of a picture, and passed by a professional editor, an already brilliantly thought out story could become even better.
September 16, 2018
Book for fiction freaks
Awesome... I really loved this book. Specially the change in Alex was awesome. I would recommend this book to all the fiction freaks.
Awesome... I really loved this book. Specially the change in Alex was awesome. I would recommend this book to all the fiction freaks.
January 28, 2019
💝Incensa By Vidhya V.L💝
Genre: YA, Horror
Publisher: Notion Press
.
Plot: When seventeen-year-old Ashley meets Alex, little did she know that she would be catapulted into a realm meant for the after-lifeA realm she never knew existed. Alone and clueless, she needs to find her way back… that is, if she does not die there and become a lost soul forever.
.
My Opinion: After reading the blurb I was so very desperate the book. It's a lengthy read of about 400 pages but I bet you it's a worthy read. Definitely yes, I completed in early because the font is really big & the book is spacious so every page felt real short. When Ashley discovered the truths & when she entered the half live- half dead world of souls and spirits there starts the real book. I am too much into this genre & love reading many books of this genre but Indian authors with such books are rare and after Inkredia I must say this book is something which I really loved by an Indian author. She has done an amazing job with her vivid description. When you pick the book at first you will feel lengthy but as you read you will immensely start involving in the world Ashley is. The cover is really beautiful & catchy. The the title is unique. I am happy that notion press is publishing such good books.
.
Pros: The language is easy to moderate. The plotline is amazing and the book is unpredictable till the end. When things were taking place I could feel them taking place near me. The author has amazing narration skills and has potential to do more in this genre. The words and characters had a flow. Specially, Ashley is amazingly portrayed & any teenager would consider themselves in her place. The author actually made imagine things which is the best part.
Cons: I was expecting more creativity and a more better ending. The plot losses it track at times.
.
Rating: 4🌟
Genre: YA, Horror
Publisher: Notion Press
.
Plot: When seventeen-year-old Ashley meets Alex, little did she know that she would be catapulted into a realm meant for the after-lifeA realm she never knew existed. Alone and clueless, she needs to find her way back… that is, if she does not die there and become a lost soul forever.
.
My Opinion: After reading the blurb I was so very desperate the book. It's a lengthy read of about 400 pages but I bet you it's a worthy read. Definitely yes, I completed in early because the font is really big & the book is spacious so every page felt real short. When Ashley discovered the truths & when she entered the half live- half dead world of souls and spirits there starts the real book. I am too much into this genre & love reading many books of this genre but Indian authors with such books are rare and after Inkredia I must say this book is something which I really loved by an Indian author. She has done an amazing job with her vivid description. When you pick the book at first you will feel lengthy but as you read you will immensely start involving in the world Ashley is. The cover is really beautiful & catchy. The the title is unique. I am happy that notion press is publishing such good books.
.
Pros: The language is easy to moderate. The plotline is amazing and the book is unpredictable till the end. When things were taking place I could feel them taking place near me. The author has amazing narration skills and has potential to do more in this genre. The words and characters had a flow. Specially, Ashley is amazingly portrayed & any teenager would consider themselves in her place. The author actually made imagine things which is the best part.
Cons: I was expecting more creativity and a more better ending. The plot losses it track at times.
.
Rating: 4🌟
December 22, 2019
This book has an interesting and unique plot whereby a teenage girl, Ashley, who is highly sensitive and quite lonely, starts seeing a ghost named Alex in her room. For months she interacts with Alex and she becomes quite attached to him. Alex suddenly disappears and a short while later a monster, with red eyes appears in his place. This monster, which turns out to be a demi-god from Incensa, a place where disturbed souls who are not ready to go to Heaven get help so that they can reach a state of peacefulness and move on to Heaven. The demi-god, called Tristan, convinces Ashley to accompany him to Incensa to help save Alex who has been sentenced to a long and terrible exile until his death because he has fallen in love with her. Ashley chooses to go and help Alex, but when she arrives in Incensa she starts to realise that everything is not as Tristan has told her. This book has a good pace and keeps the reader interested.
There are a large number of characters in this book and, as a result, I found the story difficult to follow in some parts when new characters where introduced who were connected to other characters but whom had their own agendas with regards to Incensa. The author's style of writing also involves a lot of telling instead of showing and I think more dialogue would have been helpful in breaking up some of the narrative.
I didn't particularly like Ashley, I thought she was rather a silly girl and I didn't feel much sympathy for her when she repeatedly got herself into trouble. I couldn't connect well with any of the characters because there were to many and their roles in the story to quick. In saying that, however, this is a young adult book and the intended audience is likely to connect with Ashley better than I did as they would relate better to her naivety and lack of experience with life generally.
There are a large number of characters in this book and, as a result, I found the story difficult to follow in some parts when new characters where introduced who were connected to other characters but whom had their own agendas with regards to Incensa. The author's style of writing also involves a lot of telling instead of showing and I think more dialogue would have been helpful in breaking up some of the narrative.
I didn't particularly like Ashley, I thought she was rather a silly girl and I didn't feel much sympathy for her when she repeatedly got herself into trouble. I couldn't connect well with any of the characters because there were to many and their roles in the story to quick. In saying that, however, this is a young adult book and the intended audience is likely to connect with Ashley better than I did as they would relate better to her naivety and lack of experience with life generally.
December 25, 2018
First of all, I loved the cover. It's really pretty and captivating with a smooth texture.
Now moving on to the story, Ashley, a teenager finds that there's a ghost in her room who she befriends. The ghost is Alex. They form an unusual bond and just when things seemed to work out for Ashley, despite the weird situation she was in, Alex disappears, leaving her confused. As the story progresses, another creature pays her a visit and tells her how Alex's attachment to Ashley has made him a prisoner in the realm called Incensa, where his soul is entrapped because of his desire and how only Ashley can free him. Ashley decides to go into the world of dead to help Alex.
The concept was refreshing but also complex. The bond between Ashley and Alex was quite unique and defies the norm. It's fantasy and hence it's understandable. The characters weren't too relatable or entertaining. They're often bland and the choices they make doesn't make sense.
I liked the plot. The author has used her imagination and did justice to the genre but sadly it was hard to see what she saw because of the narration, it lacked vividness. The writing style is not that great, it's simple and easy to understand but nothing extraordinary and the constant switching of POVs makes it difficult to connect to the story and makes it rather frustrating.
The author wasn't descriptive enough at places and the story lacked depth at a lot of points. The pacing wasn't great either. There were some exciting twists but the writing style didn't do justice to it.
The idea was good, the execution wasn't.
Read full review on blog: www.whatireadandreviewed.wordpress.com
Now moving on to the story, Ashley, a teenager finds that there's a ghost in her room who she befriends. The ghost is Alex. They form an unusual bond and just when things seemed to work out for Ashley, despite the weird situation she was in, Alex disappears, leaving her confused. As the story progresses, another creature pays her a visit and tells her how Alex's attachment to Ashley has made him a prisoner in the realm called Incensa, where his soul is entrapped because of his desire and how only Ashley can free him. Ashley decides to go into the world of dead to help Alex.
The concept was refreshing but also complex. The bond between Ashley and Alex was quite unique and defies the norm. It's fantasy and hence it's understandable. The characters weren't too relatable or entertaining. They're often bland and the choices they make doesn't make sense.
I liked the plot. The author has used her imagination and did justice to the genre but sadly it was hard to see what she saw because of the narration, it lacked vividness. The writing style is not that great, it's simple and easy to understand but nothing extraordinary and the constant switching of POVs makes it difficult to connect to the story and makes it rather frustrating.
The author wasn't descriptive enough at places and the story lacked depth at a lot of points. The pacing wasn't great either. There were some exciting twists but the writing style didn't do justice to it.
The idea was good, the execution wasn't.
Read full review on blog: www.whatireadandreviewed.wordpress.com
August 31, 2019
BOOK-- Incensa
AUTHOR-- vidhya V.L.
FORMAT-- kindle
PAGE-- 234
ABOUT BOOK:-
Story is about 17 yrs old girl name Ashley who lives in London....once she found ghost in her room and after some days finally she decide to talk with ghost...during that she come to know his name is Alex and he died in car accident...after some days suddenly Alex stopped coming in her room....n suddenly another ghost came in her room who have evil kind of look so Ashley got afraid after seeing him...n try to talk with him n she get to know that Alex was taken to incensa- a place where souls are taken whose wishes are unfulfilled...n Alex soul will not rest in peace as he fallen for you...so you have to come Incensa to free him....then she went to incensa- with him...after going Incensa,what will happen ? Would his soul be free? What twist n turns she will have to face? To know this answer keep going with Ashley in Incensa and know the answer!
MY REVIEW:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First of all I like to say...the cover of book is sooo attaractive and Mysterious 😍💕💕 I loved it💞....language of book is easy and I love the plot and concept of book it's very unique one🔥....it's unpredictable as at any point twist n turn comes, I liked that🙈 I loved your story so much I feeled like I m watching any fairy tail👀💞💞 ....lovely story💞
Thank you so much♥️♥️
AUTHOR-- vidhya V.L.
FORMAT-- kindle
PAGE-- 234
ABOUT BOOK:-
Story is about 17 yrs old girl name Ashley who lives in London....once she found ghost in her room and after some days finally she decide to talk with ghost...during that she come to know his name is Alex and he died in car accident...after some days suddenly Alex stopped coming in her room....n suddenly another ghost came in her room who have evil kind of look so Ashley got afraid after seeing him...n try to talk with him n she get to know that Alex was taken to incensa- a place where souls are taken whose wishes are unfulfilled...n Alex soul will not rest in peace as he fallen for you...so you have to come Incensa to free him....then she went to incensa- with him...after going Incensa,what will happen ? Would his soul be free? What twist n turns she will have to face? To know this answer keep going with Ashley in Incensa and know the answer!
MY REVIEW:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First of all I like to say...the cover of book is sooo attaractive and Mysterious 😍💕💕 I loved it💞....language of book is easy and I love the plot and concept of book it's very unique one🔥....it's unpredictable as at any point twist n turn comes, I liked that🙈 I loved your story so much I feeled like I m watching any fairy tail👀💞💞 ....lovely story💞
Thank you so much♥️♥️
January 1, 2020
Very promising.
First off, there is an awful lot to like in this book. It is clear that Vidhya is a storyteller with great imagination. The story progresses in a strong clear fashion that makes it an easy read even in the wildly imaginative setting.
The most important element in storytelling is the ability to connect with the reader. Vidhya does an excellent job at that. I got a true sense of who Ashley is in the first part of the book. While her love story with Alex wasn't presented in the best way, the feeling that Ashley would respond to the message “your friend is in trouble” and go through hell, literally in this case, to help was because that is who she is.
Others have mentioned the technical problems with this book, so I won't repeat them. To me, it is not seeing the forest through the trees.
Overall this book focuses on the elements that can't be taught, true storytelling and imagination. So I'm taking a point off for the things that come with time and practice, the work is solid and would easily get a five star rating with a little polish.
The nice thing is this is “Book 1”. If Vidhya keeps the storytelling and imagination in the rest of the series I can see it being great as the technical stuff becomes second nature.
First off, there is an awful lot to like in this book. It is clear that Vidhya is a storyteller with great imagination. The story progresses in a strong clear fashion that makes it an easy read even in the wildly imaginative setting.
The most important element in storytelling is the ability to connect with the reader. Vidhya does an excellent job at that. I got a true sense of who Ashley is in the first part of the book. While her love story with Alex wasn't presented in the best way, the feeling that Ashley would respond to the message “your friend is in trouble” and go through hell, literally in this case, to help was because that is who she is.
Others have mentioned the technical problems with this book, so I won't repeat them. To me, it is not seeing the forest through the trees.
Overall this book focuses on the elements that can't be taught, true storytelling and imagination. So I'm taking a point off for the things that come with time and practice, the work is solid and would easily get a five star rating with a little polish.
The nice thing is this is “Book 1”. If Vidhya keeps the storytelling and imagination in the rest of the series I can see it being great as the technical stuff becomes second nature.
October 1, 2018
Incensa, by Vidha V.L, is the first book in The Quadrant, a fantasy series for young adults. Told in varying points of view, it's the story of Ashley, a teenage girl - who finds herself amongst ghosts and creatures of the underworld, including Alex, a dead boy who shows up in her bedroom.
Ashley's first person voice dominates throughout the book, with her contemporary teenage perspective moving the story forward. The prose is an interesting mix of poetic description and sparse verse, and while this may intrigue some readers - it may also confuse them, with the shift between Ashley's voice and the voices of those she meets causing readers to have to make many shifts as they read.
With a gorgeous cover, a fantastical theme and the fascinating inclusion of ghosts and creatures from the underworld - Incensa is a book that will likely appeal to readers of YA fantasy. With a young, contemporary feel to its prose - in particular, the voice of protagonist Ashley - Incensa seems most appropriate for teen readers. Fans of ghost stories and teen thrillers like Twilight, where relationships between humans, the dead, and creatures of the night are explored - may enjoy it as well.
Ashley's first person voice dominates throughout the book, with her contemporary teenage perspective moving the story forward. The prose is an interesting mix of poetic description and sparse verse, and while this may intrigue some readers - it may also confuse them, with the shift between Ashley's voice and the voices of those she meets causing readers to have to make many shifts as they read.
With a gorgeous cover, a fantastical theme and the fascinating inclusion of ghosts and creatures from the underworld - Incensa is a book that will likely appeal to readers of YA fantasy. With a young, contemporary feel to its prose - in particular, the voice of protagonist Ashley - Incensa seems most appropriate for teen readers. Fans of ghost stories and teen thrillers like Twilight, where relationships between humans, the dead, and creatures of the night are explored - may enjoy it as well.
December 31, 2019
Incensa has an intriguing premise- a young girl meets a ghost who then disappears. After learning he has been exiled to a horrifying realm because he has fallen in love with her she agrees to travel to the realm to fight for his freedom.
While this premise is intriguing, I found the way the story unraveled, especially in the beginning, to be disappointing. Instead of the story happening in real time before our eyes, so that the reader can experience it with the character, the author has the action take place in the immediate past. The narrator tells us what has happened and as a result I felt like I was reading a summary of the exciting parts, rather than the whole story.
The story does get more interesting in the second part when we catch up to our protagonist in real time and get to experience the action directly through her eyes and the other characters.
While this premise is intriguing, I found the way the story unraveled, especially in the beginning, to be disappointing. Instead of the story happening in real time before our eyes, so that the reader can experience it with the character, the author has the action take place in the immediate past. The narrator tells us what has happened and as a result I felt like I was reading a summary of the exciting parts, rather than the whole story.
The story does get more interesting in the second part when we catch up to our protagonist in real time and get to experience the action directly through her eyes and the other characters.
October 17, 2018
Although YA fantasy isn’t generally my cup of tea, and I can see the appeal here, it's just not for me. Firstly, I enjoyed some of the back and forth between Alex and Ashley. However, I want to say that this book feels like it was written by a poetic teenager but when I recall that the first person POV we get is just that, I don’t know whether I can use that as a criticism if I also saw it in their dialogue. I can’t say whether or not I enjoyed much of this story simply because of how it was written. The parts I did enjoy were mythology and I learned a bit from it, which is great. I just wish that the “show” was bit clearer to balance out the more abstract and purple descriptions. Other than that, neat idea, but needed a few more critical betas to try fill out some details.
November 5, 2018
YA Exploration of the After Life
’This place, it was eating into my soul.’
Ashley is a teen who lives near London has a sister at university and a best friend who is very popular - although she is not herself. Then one day she finds a ghost called Alex in her bedroom. She befriends the ghost and is quite lost when he disappears as suddenly as he appeared. Then she is told by a demi-god that Alex is in danger and only she can save him, but to do so she must enter another realm - the realm of the dead. There she faces duplicity, betrayal and an epic battle.
This is a YA portal fantasy book with a lot of the classic features you would expect in a YA book including a teenage girl who is not at all popular, adoring males, special powers, and supernatural adventures. But it does have a number of very unique takes on the genre too.
The future that looked so vague. So, unclear. A friendship that had crossed boundaries. A decision that would propel me to the unknown.
What I Really Liked:
- The sense of a genuine teen. The book is written in a very naive style, so believably in the way a teen might write up the events.
- Interesting concepts. Some of the ideas especially about the afterlife were very creative with epic wars raging and.. well, spoilers.
’I could hear it. It was excruciatingly painful. It was deafening.’
What I Struggled With:
- The mix of first and third person. It never works for me and is a major stylistic no-no. I think if the whole had been written in third-person it would have worked so much better, or if Ashley’s first-person sections had been clearly demarcated as being her diary, maybe.
- Being ‘locked out’. The way the book was written, whilst feeling like an authentic teen voice meant that the reader was never really ‘in’ the story, more always listening to someone else talking about it. I didn’t find it an immersive read.
- The over description of unnecessary details whilst needed ones were missed out. For example, we might get told the exact order of movements a character makes but not what the room they are in was like.
- The misuse of words. This takes the ‘naive’ writing style a bit too far when there are mistakes like ‘endorse in some friendly banter’ instead of ‘indulge’. there are quite a number of such misuses throughout the book.
- The use of non-British terminology in a book about someone from the UK - e.g. the use of ‘school’ for university.
Overall:
This is an interesting take on the usual YA themes and has some really creative elements which I enjoyed. I did struggle with the writing, though.
Star Rating: 2.5
Who Would Enjoy this Book:
I would recommend this book to any enthusiastic reader of YA fiction who enjoys a very naive writing style and is looking for something a bit different.
’This place, it was eating into my soul.’
Ashley is a teen who lives near London has a sister at university and a best friend who is very popular - although she is not herself. Then one day she finds a ghost called Alex in her bedroom. She befriends the ghost and is quite lost when he disappears as suddenly as he appeared. Then she is told by a demi-god that Alex is in danger and only she can save him, but to do so she must enter another realm - the realm of the dead. There she faces duplicity, betrayal and an epic battle.
This is a YA portal fantasy book with a lot of the classic features you would expect in a YA book including a teenage girl who is not at all popular, adoring males, special powers, and supernatural adventures. But it does have a number of very unique takes on the genre too.
The future that looked so vague. So, unclear. A friendship that had crossed boundaries. A decision that would propel me to the unknown.
What I Really Liked:
- The sense of a genuine teen. The book is written in a very naive style, so believably in the way a teen might write up the events.
- Interesting concepts. Some of the ideas especially about the afterlife were very creative with epic wars raging and.. well, spoilers.
’I could hear it. It was excruciatingly painful. It was deafening.’
What I Struggled With:
- The mix of first and third person. It never works for me and is a major stylistic no-no. I think if the whole had been written in third-person it would have worked so much better, or if Ashley’s first-person sections had been clearly demarcated as being her diary, maybe.
- Being ‘locked out’. The way the book was written, whilst feeling like an authentic teen voice meant that the reader was never really ‘in’ the story, more always listening to someone else talking about it. I didn’t find it an immersive read.
- The over description of unnecessary details whilst needed ones were missed out. For example, we might get told the exact order of movements a character makes but not what the room they are in was like.
- The misuse of words. This takes the ‘naive’ writing style a bit too far when there are mistakes like ‘endorse in some friendly banter’ instead of ‘indulge’. there are quite a number of such misuses throughout the book.
- The use of non-British terminology in a book about someone from the UK - e.g. the use of ‘school’ for university.
Overall:
This is an interesting take on the usual YA themes and has some really creative elements which I enjoyed. I did struggle with the writing, though.
Star Rating: 2.5
Who Would Enjoy this Book:
I would recommend this book to any enthusiastic reader of YA fiction who enjoys a very naive writing style and is looking for something a bit different.
December 29, 2019
Incensa is a story about a teenage girl who is haunted by a ghost, makes friends with him, and then goes to the world of Incensa to try and save him from eternal imprisonment. This concept is very YA - and I'm not a fan of YA at all, so it didn't really work for me. But there was a lot going on in the world of Incensa that could have been interesting, with grim reapers, demi-gods, sphinxes, kobolds, and all kinds of other creatures. The problem was that I, as a reader, was never given a reason to care about any of the characters or get immersed in that world and its many plots and betrayals.
There were a lot of things that prevented me from getting immersed, but the main one was that we were constantly told everything as if someone was just reciting a list of events without being shown the emotional details behind them. For example, when Ashley befriends the ghost, Alex, we're just told that they talk and become friends, without being shown any of their conversations or anything that would make us care about their friendship. The same thing goes for all the other big events in the book, characters just show up and do things and proclaim that they're betrayed, but we have no connection to these events because the writing doesn't let us in, doesn't let us sympathize.
As other reviewers mentioned there are some grammatical errors and wrong word usages, such as constantly using "too" instead of "to" and "off" instead of "of", but I really don't think that would have stood out as much if it hadn't been for the lack of emotional connection. As a reader, I can ignore a lot of issues with grammar if I'm given a reason to care.
Other readers who are into YA and who like stories that have a take on the afterlife might be able to look past these issues and enjoy it. Anyway, it's free on Amazon today so check it out if you think you might like that type of tale.
There were a lot of things that prevented me from getting immersed, but the main one was that we were constantly told everything as if someone was just reciting a list of events without being shown the emotional details behind them. For example, when Ashley befriends the ghost, Alex, we're just told that they talk and become friends, without being shown any of their conversations or anything that would make us care about their friendship. The same thing goes for all the other big events in the book, characters just show up and do things and proclaim that they're betrayed, but we have no connection to these events because the writing doesn't let us in, doesn't let us sympathize.
As other reviewers mentioned there are some grammatical errors and wrong word usages, such as constantly using "too" instead of "to" and "off" instead of "of", but I really don't think that would have stood out as much if it hadn't been for the lack of emotional connection. As a reader, I can ignore a lot of issues with grammar if I'm given a reason to care.
Other readers who are into YA and who like stories that have a take on the afterlife might be able to look past these issues and enjoy it. Anyway, it's free on Amazon today so check it out if you think you might like that type of tale.
November 5, 2018
Incensa is the story of Ashley, a teenage girl living outside London, who is haunted then befriended by the ghost of a boy named Alex. When he suddenly disappears, Ashley begins a quest to find him in Incensa, a heaven-like dimension for troubled souls seeking peace after death. There she meets a long list of characters: The Superior, demigods, reapers, and ghosts (including Alex’s brother Jerome to whom Ashley is immediately attracted). Ashley senses that something is not right in this “heaven.” War is brewing between rival factions, and each side seems to want to use Ashley, Alex, and Jerome for their own ends.
The book read like a first draft, with so many sentence fragments, odd word choices, and grammatical errors that I found it difficult to get caught up in the story. Many pages in, I was still wondering when the story would start. The descriptions of Ashley’s life, family, and friends in the first few chapters are long, but we’re never shown her becoming friends with Alex. This seems like a big omission if she is willing to go on a quest for him in another dimension.
Few of the characters beyond Ashley are well fleshed-out. The author doesn’t take the time to show their relationships as we jump from one character’s point of view to another. We are simply told the character’s history by the narrator.
I applaud the author’s blueprint of an intriguing afterlife world, with its many unusual beings. After a re-write and edit, she could have a great story.
The book read like a first draft, with so many sentence fragments, odd word choices, and grammatical errors that I found it difficult to get caught up in the story. Many pages in, I was still wondering when the story would start. The descriptions of Ashley’s life, family, and friends in the first few chapters are long, but we’re never shown her becoming friends with Alex. This seems like a big omission if she is willing to go on a quest for him in another dimension.
Few of the characters beyond Ashley are well fleshed-out. The author doesn’t take the time to show their relationships as we jump from one character’s point of view to another. We are simply told the character’s history by the narrator.
I applaud the author’s blueprint of an intriguing afterlife world, with its many unusual beings. After a re-write and edit, she could have a great story.
December 27, 2019
Ashley is a seventeen-year-old girl who’s haunted by a ghost and abducted to a heavenly place called Incensa. Incensa is inhabited by demi-gods, grim reapers, kobolds, sphinxes, fairies, and souls waiting to cross into a peaceful eternity. Except the peace and beauty are in jeopardy as traitors are staging a rebellion. Ashley, the only human in the realm, is key to the conspirators’ plans.
The book starts with a couple of (first-person) chapters of backstory about Ashley, her family, and her friends. When Ashley is abducted into Incensa, quite a few (third-person) characters enter the story. The point of view is shared and frequently changes within a scene. Ashley is a strong character with a compelling point of view that I would have liked to see more of.
The writing style is characterized by a large number of one-sentence paragraphs, a minimal sense of place, and a significant amount of “telling” about the characters. This distance from the characters’ experiences made it hard for me to get to know or relate to them. One problem that I found quite distracting was the overwhelming number of grammar and punctuation errors. The story has potential, but it reads like an early draft and needs significant editing.
The book starts with a couple of (first-person) chapters of backstory about Ashley, her family, and her friends. When Ashley is abducted into Incensa, quite a few (third-person) characters enter the story. The point of view is shared and frequently changes within a scene. Ashley is a strong character with a compelling point of view that I would have liked to see more of.
The writing style is characterized by a large number of one-sentence paragraphs, a minimal sense of place, and a significant amount of “telling” about the characters. This distance from the characters’ experiences made it hard for me to get to know or relate to them. One problem that I found quite distracting was the overwhelming number of grammar and punctuation errors. The story has potential, but it reads like an early draft and needs significant editing.
March 31, 2020
This is the first time I read anything in the fantasy horror genre so there was a tiny bit of uncertainty about it. I loved the book cover, complete with an air of mystery and complements the plot.
Incensa is the jouney of Ashley, a young girl who finds herself in the other world, mixing up with beings like the Demigods, etc. and how she meets Alex, the spirit of a young man recently killed.
All through the book, one thing which stood out like a sore for me were the misspelled words. Typos really break the magic of any book and this was no exception! The other thing which could've been worked on more is the scene shifts. You can expect any character to start speaking up at any point in time. There is no proper threadwork done in weaving the story.
While, these are the things that put me off the reading a bit, I really appreciate the author for using the first person account for narration. That's a tough nut to crack sometimes. Also, while the story needed to be polished and made crispier a bit, nevertheless this is a good attempt at a YA fiction.
Incensa is the jouney of Ashley, a young girl who finds herself in the other world, mixing up with beings like the Demigods, etc. and how she meets Alex, the spirit of a young man recently killed.
All through the book, one thing which stood out like a sore for me were the misspelled words. Typos really break the magic of any book and this was no exception! The other thing which could've been worked on more is the scene shifts. You can expect any character to start speaking up at any point in time. There is no proper threadwork done in weaving the story.
While, these are the things that put me off the reading a bit, I really appreciate the author for using the first person account for narration. That's a tough nut to crack sometimes. Also, while the story needed to be polished and made crispier a bit, nevertheless this is a good attempt at a YA fiction.
January 9, 2020
2.5 stars
This plot is quite unique and an entire series could have fit into this book alone. A teenage girl can suddenly see ghosts and befriends one that is haunting her bedroom. When he disappears, she is tricked into going to the afterlife to find him, putting herself smack dab in the middle of a brewing war between demi-gods and reapers.
I say this book could have been three because of all the storylines. In addition to Ashley's plot, there are central demi-god characters and reapers all with their own back stories. Because there is so much going on, the author does a lot of explaining—how people feel, why they feel that way, what they are thinking, etc. Without any character action, I was not very interested in this story nor invested in the characters. I do enjoy fast-paced stories, but here was just too much telling. The characters were all one dimensional as their actions were explained and rarely shown.
This plot is quite unique and an entire series could have fit into this book alone. A teenage girl can suddenly see ghosts and befriends one that is haunting her bedroom. When he disappears, she is tricked into going to the afterlife to find him, putting herself smack dab in the middle of a brewing war between demi-gods and reapers.
I say this book could have been three because of all the storylines. In addition to Ashley's plot, there are central demi-god characters and reapers all with their own back stories. Because there is so much going on, the author does a lot of explaining—how people feel, why they feel that way, what they are thinking, etc. Without any character action, I was not very interested in this story nor invested in the characters. I do enjoy fast-paced stories, but here was just too much telling. The characters were all one dimensional as their actions were explained and rarely shown.
December 2, 2019
Seventeen-year-old Ashley meets Alex who just appears one day in her room. He's recently dead and a ghost. They become friends and then he disappears. Alex's brother appears next, also a ghost, and tells her Alex is trapped in Incensa, a realm between life and judgment. Alex's soul has become a prisoner because of his ties to Ashley and only she can free him. She's convinced she has to save him and enters Incensa. The problem is that she doesn't belong there—not living. It's an exciting concept.
While the story moves rather quickly, it is liberally peppered with typos on almost every page and lots of POV (point of view) shifts. Both were distracting to the point I became more focused on them than the story. With a good edit this could be a good read. As it is, I can only give it 2 stars.
While the story moves rather quickly, it is liberally peppered with typos on almost every page and lots of POV (point of view) shifts. Both were distracting to the point I became more focused on them than the story. With a good edit this could be a good read. As it is, I can only give it 2 stars.
December 11, 2018
Incensa is the tale of Ashley who befriends a ghost named Alex. When Alex unexpectedly disappears, she begins a quest to find him.
Her search brings her into contact with Tristan, a demigod. With him she enters a dimension where she encounters numerous characters from demigods, reapers, ghosts, and the superior. All are seeking peace after death.
What I liked:
The pace of the story
The portrayal of Ashley
Interesting afterlife concepts
What I struggled with:
The mingling of first person and third person
Misused words and major grammatical errors
Hard to become immersed in the story.
I recommend this book to readers of YA fantasy or paranormal fiction.
Her search brings her into contact with Tristan, a demigod. With him she enters a dimension where she encounters numerous characters from demigods, reapers, ghosts, and the superior. All are seeking peace after death.
What I liked:
The pace of the story
The portrayal of Ashley
Interesting afterlife concepts
What I struggled with:
The mingling of first person and third person
Misused words and major grammatical errors
Hard to become immersed in the story.
I recommend this book to readers of YA fantasy or paranormal fiction.
November 4, 2018
3/20 - rounded up to two stars.
I was offered a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Full critique here: https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...
I was offered a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Full critique here: https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...
November 6, 2018
Incenza is the tale of a teenage girl, Ashley, who becomes haunted by one particular ghost. At first fearful, she begins to talk to the ghost and even befriends him. Then one day he simply doesn’t come anymore. She becomes distraught and then confused. How does a person go about searching for someone who’s already dead?
This book has an interesting premise and intriguing ideas in the story. Unfortunately, it needs a good editor (as do most books). Missed punctuation drove me nuts, and there was some empty dialogue and scenes that could be cut. Certain connections needed to be made more explicit. In places, more description would be helpful.
It does have a likeable protagonist with a strong voice and a unique quest. This could be a gripping story. It simply needs some editorial help to knock it into shape.
This book has an interesting premise and intriguing ideas in the story. Unfortunately, it needs a good editor (as do most books). Missed punctuation drove me nuts, and there was some empty dialogue and scenes that could be cut. Certain connections needed to be made more explicit. In places, more description would be helpful.
It does have a likeable protagonist with a strong voice and a unique quest. This could be a gripping story. It simply needs some editorial help to knock it into shape.
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