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Maize: The Girl Who Can See the Dead
Maize is the story of a girl born in the American Midwest. Growing up on her family's farm, she knows all about corn and ranch animals, but she also possesses the ability to see and speak with the dead, while having the strangest dreams of battles and people she's never met. This makes growing up in a small town especially challenging, when no one believes you and thinks you're just an odd duck. Everything changes for her when an angel needs her help to solve a world-threatening puzzle, and the two embark on a whirlwind adventure to solve the mysteries of her dreams, and why she can see those who have passed beyond life.
86 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2018
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7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 8, 2019
This was a very cute and wholesome story! I enjoyed it immensely.
I love that Maize is portrayed as an intelligent young lady without being cast in a tropey light. The story treats her like an individual learning about herself and her abilities, so the reader can join her on her journey, rather than coddling her or the reader like some other novels I've read. I loved her take-it-as-it-comes approach to every hurdle. I also loved that there were issues she encountered that were terrifying to her, and that the story let her cope with them without being dismissive or trivial about it. This was very refreshing!
The parents and the cat were fabulous! Wessim was also a doll but I felt like his portrayal depended a little too much on the reader having a mental image of what an exhausted celestial being would be. I think the novel described his eyes as gold, for instance, but I don't remember him as much more than a shapeless ball of light with a hideous tie. This vagueness might be intentional? But I felt like he should have a little more shape given his role in the story.
The pacing on this story is also excellent. I never felt bored by a scene. I never felt rushed to get to the next scene, either. I often found myself wondering if what Maize was experiencing was real or a past life or a vision of the future, which left me reading at a steady pace, waiting to see what would happen next or how an event would pan out. I didn't realize I'd reached the end until the antagonist appeared and, to be perfectly honest, I felt a bit frightened by their description and intention. I wasn't sure how the heroes were going to pull through and I held my breath.
My only real beef with this novel is the lack of editing. I know the piece went through several iterations of proofing and review -- and the story proves it! The story is good, attentive, well-paced -- but there are several places where the perspective randomly shifts from first person to third person, the margins are indented strangely, and there are typos. I think the novel would be that much better with a little bit of editorial polish.
Check it out! It's worth a read! I loved this dip into urban fantasy and it was a very easy read. :)
I love that Maize is portrayed as an intelligent young lady without being cast in a tropey light. The story treats her like an individual learning about herself and her abilities, so the reader can join her on her journey, rather than coddling her or the reader like some other novels I've read. I loved her take-it-as-it-comes approach to every hurdle. I also loved that there were issues she encountered that were terrifying to her, and that the story let her cope with them without being dismissive or trivial about it. This was very refreshing!
The parents and the cat were fabulous! Wessim was also a doll but I felt like his portrayal depended a little too much on the reader having a mental image of what an exhausted celestial being would be. I think the novel described his eyes as gold, for instance, but I don't remember him as much more than a shapeless ball of light with a hideous tie. This vagueness might be intentional? But I felt like he should have a little more shape given his role in the story.
The pacing on this story is also excellent. I never felt bored by a scene. I never felt rushed to get to the next scene, either. I often found myself wondering if what Maize was experiencing was real or a past life or a vision of the future, which left me reading at a steady pace, waiting to see what would happen next or how an event would pan out. I didn't realize I'd reached the end until the antagonist appeared and, to be perfectly honest, I felt a bit frightened by their description and intention. I wasn't sure how the heroes were going to pull through and I held my breath.
My only real beef with this novel is the lack of editing. I know the piece went through several iterations of proofing and review -- and the story proves it! The story is good, attentive, well-paced -- but there are several places where the perspective randomly shifts from first person to third person, the margins are indented strangely, and there are typos. I think the novel would be that much better with a little bit of editorial polish.
Check it out! It's worth a read! I loved this dip into urban fantasy and it was a very easy read. :)
December 5, 2018
Great narrative & well written characters
A girl who can see the dead. An angel on a mission. A sweeping adventure you won't soon forget.
Laura DeGlopper's Maize is an achievement in creating a rich, detailed mythos that manages not to bog down the character-driven story or slow down the often pulse-pounding action. From small town USA to the streets of Paris to the river Styx, the book hustles the reader away on a journey to not only find a lost relic, but solve the mystery of Maize herself and her supernatural abilities. The book's premise is very original, and the plot twists will keep you guessing and engrossed right up until the end.
Recommended to fans of mystery, adventure, paranormal stories, and strong female leads. While I would call this a YA book, it definitely pleased this adult reader! I can't wait to see if there will be more adventures for Maize!
A girl who can see the dead. An angel on a mission. A sweeping adventure you won't soon forget.
Laura DeGlopper's Maize is an achievement in creating a rich, detailed mythos that manages not to bog down the character-driven story or slow down the often pulse-pounding action. From small town USA to the streets of Paris to the river Styx, the book hustles the reader away on a journey to not only find a lost relic, but solve the mystery of Maize herself and her supernatural abilities. The book's premise is very original, and the plot twists will keep you guessing and engrossed right up until the end.
Recommended to fans of mystery, adventure, paranormal stories, and strong female leads. While I would call this a YA book, it definitely pleased this adult reader! I can't wait to see if there will be more adventures for Maize!
December 22, 2018
This was fantastic. I'm usually not a huge fan of short stories or novellas because I enjoy delving deeper into worlds and characters. This still felt like it had all the depth and adventure of a full-length novel.
What I didn't like: There are a number of typos, although not so many as to be overly distracting. All the good certainly more than compensates for this.
What I liked: The lore and built-in mythology and worldbuilding was both easily followed and still felt like there was enough material to fill a full series. I was fairly certain I had figured out the heroine's big secret halfway through the book, only to be surprised later. It's not often I get surprised, so that was a welcome twist and I really loved it. The secondary characters were interesting, even if the protagonist wasn't past her gift. Highly recommended for a short read.
What I didn't like: There are a number of typos, although not so many as to be overly distracting. All the good certainly more than compensates for this.
What I liked: The lore and built-in mythology and worldbuilding was both easily followed and still felt like there was enough material to fill a full series. I was fairly certain I had figured out the heroine's big secret halfway through the book, only to be surprised later. It's not often I get surprised, so that was a welcome twist and I really loved it. The secondary characters were interesting, even if the protagonist wasn't past her gift. Highly recommended for a short read.
December 26, 2018
Interwoven mythology with lyrical tone
The writing is at times poetic in this wandering story of a girl exploring the world of the dead. It reads like an afterlife memoir. Though there is some excitement at the end, it’s very low on plot and mostly a wide-ranging narrative on multicultural theology. But it’s imaginative and entertaining and not hard to read. I wish the writer had been patient with it. A few more years of study in plot and storytelling plus many more edits/rewrites and it could have been something very special.
The writing is at times poetic in this wandering story of a girl exploring the world of the dead. It reads like an afterlife memoir. Though there is some excitement at the end, it’s very low on plot and mostly a wide-ranging narrative on multicultural theology. But it’s imaginative and entertaining and not hard to read. I wish the writer had been patient with it. A few more years of study in plot and storytelling plus many more edits/rewrites and it could have been something very special.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews