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The Dawnvel Druids #1
The Dawnvel Druids
For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed and the Dresden Files.
As a druid, seventeen-year-old Simone Singh lives by three rules: gargoyles must be destroyed, her identity remains secret, and she can never attempt dark sorcery. Only now the number of gargoyles are growing, her identity has been uncovered and her best friend has been murdered by dark magic.
Simone and the damaged oddballs she calls friends pretend to be normal students at Dawnvel Academy, but are secretly gargoyle slaying, wand-wielding druids, who occasionally time travel.
On the same day her clan leader is killed, the new boy at Dawnvel, Bobby, sees her slay a gargoyle. Simone soon learns the hapless Bobby is a druid too, he just doesn’t know it. She decides to train Bobby whilst she leads the clan, which includes the tormented ex-boyfriend she might still be in love with and the pansexual party girl who has always loathed her. Worse, the dark druid is trying to knock them off one by one.
As she hunts down the killer hiding amongst them, Simone and Bobby’s friendship begins turning into something more, before Bobby displays signs of dark magic himself. She can’t believe anyone she cares for could be the dark druid, but the killer can only be someone she knows and trusts. Her own life and everyone she cares about is at risk.
Told from the dual viewpoints of Simone and Bobby.
As a druid, seventeen-year-old Simone Singh lives by three rules: gargoyles must be destroyed, her identity remains secret, and she can never attempt dark sorcery. Only now the number of gargoyles are growing, her identity has been uncovered and her best friend has been murdered by dark magic.
Simone and the damaged oddballs she calls friends pretend to be normal students at Dawnvel Academy, but are secretly gargoyle slaying, wand-wielding druids, who occasionally time travel.
On the same day her clan leader is killed, the new boy at Dawnvel, Bobby, sees her slay a gargoyle. Simone soon learns the hapless Bobby is a druid too, he just doesn’t know it. She decides to train Bobby whilst she leads the clan, which includes the tormented ex-boyfriend she might still be in love with and the pansexual party girl who has always loathed her. Worse, the dark druid is trying to knock them off one by one.
As she hunts down the killer hiding amongst them, Simone and Bobby’s friendship begins turning into something more, before Bobby displays signs of dark magic himself. She can’t believe anyone she cares for could be the dark druid, but the killer can only be someone she knows and trusts. Her own life and everyone she cares about is at risk.
Told from the dual viewpoints of Simone and Bobby.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2019
68 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 17, 2019
The magic of young adult fantasy! Enter William Collins’s world of THE DAWNVEL DRUIDS – Episode 1 and meet a group of teens who, on the outside are the “elite” of their academy but in truth are the protectors of the gates into a realm of dark monsters and evil that would like nothing better than to snack on humanity.
When the leader of the young druids is killed, it is stated that a new druid will be found, but the clueless Bobby has no idea that is the reason he has been sent to the exclusive academy, nor does he actually believe what he thinks he has seen, gargoyles, ghosts and more. As the minions of darkness become a greater threat, this group of teens must convince Bobby they are real, unleash his hidden powers and hope for the best that good will triumph over evil.
William Collins has fired off a an exciting beginning to this new series with a kaleidoscope of characters, an unusually heavy amount of evil infiltration and the awakening of a young teen’s powers to a world he never suspected even existed. Then, right when readers are rushing into the next twist…BAM…it ends and my craving for the next episode has begun as I hang there at the edge of the cliff! Um, a little help here, please…I need the next book!
I received a complimentary copy from William Collins! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: The Dawnvel Druids - Episode 1
Publication Date: June 15, 2019
Publisher: William Collins
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 191 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
When the leader of the young druids is killed, it is stated that a new druid will be found, but the clueless Bobby has no idea that is the reason he has been sent to the exclusive academy, nor does he actually believe what he thinks he has seen, gargoyles, ghosts and more. As the minions of darkness become a greater threat, this group of teens must convince Bobby they are real, unleash his hidden powers and hope for the best that good will triumph over evil.
William Collins has fired off a an exciting beginning to this new series with a kaleidoscope of characters, an unusually heavy amount of evil infiltration and the awakening of a young teen’s powers to a world he never suspected even existed. Then, right when readers are rushing into the next twist…BAM…it ends and my craving for the next episode has begun as I hang there at the edge of the cliff! Um, a little help here, please…I need the next book!
I received a complimentary copy from William Collins! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: The Dawnvel Druids - Episode 1
Publication Date: June 15, 2019
Publisher: William Collins
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 191 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
July 30, 2019
ARC provided by LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an honest review.
I found myself conflicted while reading this book. The story itself had potential and while I can usually look past flaws in editing, they drew my attention away from the story a bit too often. For that reason, I gave this book 2.5 stars.
“Well, they’re all a bit weird. More than a bit, actually […] Some of the stories about them are positively bonkers. Loads of people think they’re in some sort of cult who do dark rituals or something.” - Mo
The Dawnvel Druids is a fantasy novel about a group of teenage druids charged with protecting the curious town of Dawnvel from the threat of other supernatural creatures - namely, a race of evil faeries known as the Cairnath and their gargoyle minions. Bobby, a seemingly regular boy, gets drawn into the battle between the druids and the Cairnath and comes to realise that there’s a lot about his past that he has yet to discover.
I liked the characterisation in this book. Each character had a distinct personality that was consistent and worked well with the story. Bobby was likeable and I appreciated the little bits of humour he offered. It was also interesting to see creatures I hadn’t previously read about. The story had a clever take on gargoyles that I hadn’t expected, and I was pleasantly surprised by the absence of the more ‘mainstream’ supernatural creatures.
The mystery was also well written. There were many questions raised throughout the story that urged me to read on, and that was definitely one of my favourite aspects of this book. However, the ending leaves a lot of these questions unanswered. I understand that this was probably intentional in anticipation of the next book, but I didn’t get the sense that there was a clear resolution for this story. It almost felt like I’d stopped reading halfway through, and while I'm the type to enjoy a good cliffhanger, it might frustrate others.
Overall, I really do think The Dawnvel Druids has potential. With additional editing, there is an interesting story here that I would likely continue reading. Unfortunately, I couldn’t give this particular book a higher rating, but I look forward to seeing how the story develops.
I found myself conflicted while reading this book. The story itself had potential and while I can usually look past flaws in editing, they drew my attention away from the story a bit too often. For that reason, I gave this book 2.5 stars.
“Well, they’re all a bit weird. More than a bit, actually […] Some of the stories about them are positively bonkers. Loads of people think they’re in some sort of cult who do dark rituals or something.” - Mo
The Dawnvel Druids is a fantasy novel about a group of teenage druids charged with protecting the curious town of Dawnvel from the threat of other supernatural creatures - namely, a race of evil faeries known as the Cairnath and their gargoyle minions. Bobby, a seemingly regular boy, gets drawn into the battle between the druids and the Cairnath and comes to realise that there’s a lot about his past that he has yet to discover.
I liked the characterisation in this book. Each character had a distinct personality that was consistent and worked well with the story. Bobby was likeable and I appreciated the little bits of humour he offered. It was also interesting to see creatures I hadn’t previously read about. The story had a clever take on gargoyles that I hadn’t expected, and I was pleasantly surprised by the absence of the more ‘mainstream’ supernatural creatures.
The mystery was also well written. There were many questions raised throughout the story that urged me to read on, and that was definitely one of my favourite aspects of this book. However, the ending leaves a lot of these questions unanswered. I understand that this was probably intentional in anticipation of the next book, but I didn’t get the sense that there was a clear resolution for this story. It almost felt like I’d stopped reading halfway through, and while I'm the type to enjoy a good cliffhanger, it might frustrate others.
Overall, I really do think The Dawnvel Druids has potential. With additional editing, there is an interesting story here that I would likely continue reading. Unfortunately, I couldn’t give this particular book a higher rating, but I look forward to seeing how the story develops.
December 29, 2019
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Review Also At Words Like Stars | Amazon | B&N
The Dawnvel Druids is the tale of a young man who is given the opportunity to attend the college of Dawnvel in England and becomes embroiled in the goings-on of its group of druids, soon learning that he is a druid himself.
The premise of the story is that the druids exist because there is a portal to the Otherworld—the realm where other beings and beasts live—and therefore they are there to guard that portal, always needing seven to be the number of druids needed. After one of them is murdered, one of our leads—Simone--brings Bobby (our unlikely hero) forward as the next possible druid. Once he undergoes the Joining, which is the magical initiation ceremony of their kind, it is proven that he is indeed a druid.
Story-wise, the novel is entertaining. Not once did I feel a need to put it aside, it has a brisk pace that's easy to follow. And there are a lot of moments when comedy steps in and makes a scene well worthwhile, especially whenever Bobby attempts to get away from the rest of the cast, refusing to believe that he is one of them while he accuses the lot of being a cult. As a matter of fact, Bobby is one of my favorite parts of the novel, and I highly appreciated the fact that he doesn't fall into the category of leads who easily accept something that is out of their realm of knowledge and belief just because it looks “cool” or “amazing”. He resists right up and 'til the end, which is as realistic as it can be for someone suddenly put into a position such as he is.
The writing, however, was rather underdeveloped. And the brisk pace of the story gave way to it being rushed, which became even more evident when crucial moments happened: such as the Joining, or the breaking in of Tarin and her gang into the home of the druids.
I was left with questions as to why Simone's father needs the drug Orachun—or what the drug really is/does—nor do I yet know why seven druids are specifically needed to secure the portal. Then Bobby states at the start of the novel that he has anxiety issues around others, proven when Warren first confronts him and he cowers from him, yet he is so comfortable confronting his roommate despite the lesser level of harassment he receives from him compared to Warren. It's such a leap.
Despite these points, there is a nice diversity in the characters' personalities—no one is a cookie cutter version of anyone else. And while I wish I would know who is the culprit in Zander's murder, I enjoyed the idea of a mystery surrounding it, albeit one that was not seen to fruition. The ending of the novel holds its promise and the possible realization of Warren and Lana's suspicions about who and what Bobby really is. Although, I do hope that he doesn't easily give into the sudden dark desires his new wand seems to want to explore, as seemed to be the case at the closing of the last chapter. Hopefully, he continues to use that charming resistance of his and grow.
Review Also At Words Like Stars | Amazon | B&N
The Dawnvel Druids is the tale of a young man who is given the opportunity to attend the college of Dawnvel in England and becomes embroiled in the goings-on of its group of druids, soon learning that he is a druid himself.
The premise of the story is that the druids exist because there is a portal to the Otherworld—the realm where other beings and beasts live—and therefore they are there to guard that portal, always needing seven to be the number of druids needed. After one of them is murdered, one of our leads—Simone--brings Bobby (our unlikely hero) forward as the next possible druid. Once he undergoes the Joining, which is the magical initiation ceremony of their kind, it is proven that he is indeed a druid.
Story-wise, the novel is entertaining. Not once did I feel a need to put it aside, it has a brisk pace that's easy to follow. And there are a lot of moments when comedy steps in and makes a scene well worthwhile, especially whenever Bobby attempts to get away from the rest of the cast, refusing to believe that he is one of them while he accuses the lot of being a cult. As a matter of fact, Bobby is one of my favorite parts of the novel, and I highly appreciated the fact that he doesn't fall into the category of leads who easily accept something that is out of their realm of knowledge and belief just because it looks “cool” or “amazing”. He resists right up and 'til the end, which is as realistic as it can be for someone suddenly put into a position such as he is.
The writing, however, was rather underdeveloped. And the brisk pace of the story gave way to it being rushed, which became even more evident when crucial moments happened: such as the Joining, or the breaking in of Tarin and her gang into the home of the druids.
I was left with questions as to why Simone's father needs the drug Orachun—or what the drug really is/does—nor do I yet know why seven druids are specifically needed to secure the portal. Then Bobby states at the start of the novel that he has anxiety issues around others, proven when Warren first confronts him and he cowers from him, yet he is so comfortable confronting his roommate despite the lesser level of harassment he receives from him compared to Warren. It's such a leap.
Despite these points, there is a nice diversity in the characters' personalities—no one is a cookie cutter version of anyone else. And while I wish I would know who is the culprit in Zander's murder, I enjoyed the idea of a mystery surrounding it, albeit one that was not seen to fruition. The ending of the novel holds its promise and the possible realization of Warren and Lana's suspicions about who and what Bobby really is. Although, I do hope that he doesn't easily give into the sudden dark desires his new wand seems to want to explore, as seemed to be the case at the closing of the last chapter. Hopefully, he continues to use that charming resistance of his and grow.
August 24, 2019
2.5 rounded up. This felt quite undeveloped to me in terms of characterisation and writing style and most context about this magical world was revealed through conversation. The story itself had potential: magic, dark magic, gargoyles, vampire faeries, druids and ghosts, a boarding school setting: all of these the ingredients and elements for an urban fantasy story. Many thanks to the author for offering me an arc of this book.
August 7, 2019
Bobby Biscuit just wants to keep a roof over his head and go to school. So, he leaps at the chance to attend the Dawnvel Academy, a boarding school, on a scholarship. Even if some of the rumors of crime syndicates and poltergeists are true, hey, he’s survived worse in foster care. How bad can it get?
Worse than he ever imagined. Turns out there’s such a thing as fairies and gargoyles, and neither of them are friendly—in fact they prey on humans. Only the group of no-kidding druids at the Academy—the Dawnvel Druids—stand in their way, risking their lives to take out the evil fae. And they’re claiming that Bobby is one of them, and it’s his job to stand with them. Will he stand or run?
I enjoyed the book overall, despite a few reservations about things like comma splices and POV shifts. Bobby is a relatable character, and I liked seeing things from his POV. If you like fantasy reads with actions scenes and a lot of world-building, it would be worth checking out The Dawnvel Druids.
Worse than he ever imagined. Turns out there’s such a thing as fairies and gargoyles, and neither of them are friendly—in fact they prey on humans. Only the group of no-kidding druids at the Academy—the Dawnvel Druids—stand in their way, risking their lives to take out the evil fae. And they’re claiming that Bobby is one of them, and it’s his job to stand with them. Will he stand or run?
I enjoyed the book overall, despite a few reservations about things like comma splices and POV shifts. Bobby is a relatable character, and I liked seeing things from his POV. If you like fantasy reads with actions scenes and a lot of world-building, it would be worth checking out The Dawnvel Druids.
March 27, 2020
Instead of being out doing teenage things with her friends on Friday night, Simone is scoring drugs for her father and battling supernaturals.
Bobby had come to Dawnvel Academy after hearing about the missing students. His favorite TV show was about solving murders done by supernaturals, but he’s not the heroic type. Will he rise above his fears? His first nite, another missing student.
Many supernaturals appear as Dawnel Academy and the town come under attack. Dawnvel Academy is an Otherworld gateway. Druids are the protectors, but a helpful weretiger, gargoyles, and ghost lend a hand.
How did Bobby get into the academy? He’s a foster child. Doesn’t know who his parents are. And who are the Perfect?
As the action picks up, Bobby finds his place, as will Simone.
There is the usual teenage angst of going to a new school, but Dawnvel is so much more and even though Bobby seems an unlikely candidate for what is to come, he must face it head on.
We have monsters and danger and though I found no book surprises, I enjoyed the Dawnvel Druids and look forward to finding out what happens next.
See more at fundinmental
Bobby had come to Dawnvel Academy after hearing about the missing students. His favorite TV show was about solving murders done by supernaturals, but he’s not the heroic type. Will he rise above his fears? His first nite, another missing student.
Many supernaturals appear as Dawnel Academy and the town come under attack. Dawnvel Academy is an Otherworld gateway. Druids are the protectors, but a helpful weretiger, gargoyles, and ghost lend a hand.
How did Bobby get into the academy? He’s a foster child. Doesn’t know who his parents are. And who are the Perfect?
As the action picks up, Bobby finds his place, as will Simone.
There is the usual teenage angst of going to a new school, but Dawnvel is so much more and even though Bobby seems an unlikely candidate for what is to come, he must face it head on.
We have monsters and danger and though I found no book surprises, I enjoyed the Dawnvel Druids and look forward to finding out what happens next.
See more at fundinmental
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September 28, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/28/2019)! 🎁
June 15, 2019
Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
‘Dawnvel’s grand castle stood on the biggest hill he’d ever seen, leering over the town beyond. It was a brooding brown fortress, the rock weathered and crawling with ivy. The castle looked older than Dawnvel’s medieval town itself, like it should’ve crumbled into dust long ago and was chock-full of vengeful ghosts.’
Firstly I just want to say that I do find the blurb for this novel a little bit misleading in some ways as several of the events mentioned in it don’t seem to have happened yet. I’m not sure if this is because it covers more than one of the books in the series but I honestly didn’t feel like Simone had started to train Bobby yet and some of the other mentioned events didn’t seem to have taken place yet either. I also felt like the blurb suggested that this was Simone’s story yet reading it, it definitely feels more like Bobby’s. This isn’t a bad thing, I quite enjoyed his point of view, but it is something that I felt needed to be mentioned as Simone wasn’t featured as much as I’d have expected.
On the positive side of things the world that the author has created is an interesting one that merges fantasy and reality nicely. I loved the atmosphere that was created at Dawnvel when you first meet Bobby in the book and found it fascinating to learn what was rumoured to have taken place there in the past. Admittedly I would have liked to have seen this explored further – along with the school buildings themselves – but what I got to see of the setting was intriguing and did create a sense of foreboding. There was also a vast mix of supernatural beings mentioned, some of which were very different to what you usually come across in fiction. And the future potential for time travelling is definitely another enticing element with this book.
There was an interesting mix of characters who were just as quirky as I was expecting. They were rather varied from one another and I’d be intrigued to know more about each of them. There was background to them all too – such as family connections and past events which helped to shape who they were as people. Each individual also felt different enough to the others so that, when multiple points of view were used, I could tell them apart without difficulty. There were some characters that I’d like to have known better but I’d imagine that would come with later books in the series.
One of the issues I had with this book was that I didn’t feel that there was enough focus on the murders that were mentioned within the blurb. Before picking this novel up I was expecting there to be a real sense of danger and urgency surrounding the murder but I didn’t really feel that there was. It worried the characters at times, naturally, but it wasn’t a focus to the story like I was expecting it to be. So personally I would have liked a larger sense of danger but, again, I guess that could come in the next book.
Lastly the writing is something that I felt a bit conflicted over at times. The author obviously has talent as they used some beautiful comparisons, metaphors and imagery at various points throughout this book and there were some sections that I was hooked on. At other times I did find the structure to the writing a little bit basic though with sentences seeming to state that ‘he did this and she did that’ without enough extra details to break it up a little. This is something that I noticed most during the larger stretches of conversation. At times, but not always, I did find little bits and pieces of what was said slightly awkward too. There was a run in between two characters at one point in particular that I felt was switching between fear and sarcasm a little bit too frequently for example. Despite sometimes finding this I was happy to see that the author didn’t overuse the word ‘said’ as I’ve noticed several others do in the past.
Overall I feel like this book had a lot of promise and potential to it but the plot didn’t go into as much depth around certain elements as I was hoping it would. The characters were intriguing and the vast array of supernatural beings enough to spike my interest. And the writing had wonderful descriptions in places but felt a little basic in others. With a bit of polish, and a bit more depth and background in places, this could be something special; as it is, it’s still a fast and fairly entertaining read, it just has a bit of room for improvement.
‘Dawnvel’s grand castle stood on the biggest hill he’d ever seen, leering over the town beyond. It was a brooding brown fortress, the rock weathered and crawling with ivy. The castle looked older than Dawnvel’s medieval town itself, like it should’ve crumbled into dust long ago and was chock-full of vengeful ghosts.’
Firstly I just want to say that I do find the blurb for this novel a little bit misleading in some ways as several of the events mentioned in it don’t seem to have happened yet. I’m not sure if this is because it covers more than one of the books in the series but I honestly didn’t feel like Simone had started to train Bobby yet and some of the other mentioned events didn’t seem to have taken place yet either. I also felt like the blurb suggested that this was Simone’s story yet reading it, it definitely feels more like Bobby’s. This isn’t a bad thing, I quite enjoyed his point of view, but it is something that I felt needed to be mentioned as Simone wasn’t featured as much as I’d have expected.
On the positive side of things the world that the author has created is an interesting one that merges fantasy and reality nicely. I loved the atmosphere that was created at Dawnvel when you first meet Bobby in the book and found it fascinating to learn what was rumoured to have taken place there in the past. Admittedly I would have liked to have seen this explored further – along with the school buildings themselves – but what I got to see of the setting was intriguing and did create a sense of foreboding. There was also a vast mix of supernatural beings mentioned, some of which were very different to what you usually come across in fiction. And the future potential for time travelling is definitely another enticing element with this book.
There was an interesting mix of characters who were just as quirky as I was expecting. They were rather varied from one another and I’d be intrigued to know more about each of them. There was background to them all too – such as family connections and past events which helped to shape who they were as people. Each individual also felt different enough to the others so that, when multiple points of view were used, I could tell them apart without difficulty. There were some characters that I’d like to have known better but I’d imagine that would come with later books in the series.
One of the issues I had with this book was that I didn’t feel that there was enough focus on the murders that were mentioned within the blurb. Before picking this novel up I was expecting there to be a real sense of danger and urgency surrounding the murder but I didn’t really feel that there was. It worried the characters at times, naturally, but it wasn’t a focus to the story like I was expecting it to be. So personally I would have liked a larger sense of danger but, again, I guess that could come in the next book.
Lastly the writing is something that I felt a bit conflicted over at times. The author obviously has talent as they used some beautiful comparisons, metaphors and imagery at various points throughout this book and there were some sections that I was hooked on. At other times I did find the structure to the writing a little bit basic though with sentences seeming to state that ‘he did this and she did that’ without enough extra details to break it up a little. This is something that I noticed most during the larger stretches of conversation. At times, but not always, I did find little bits and pieces of what was said slightly awkward too. There was a run in between two characters at one point in particular that I felt was switching between fear and sarcasm a little bit too frequently for example. Despite sometimes finding this I was happy to see that the author didn’t overuse the word ‘said’ as I’ve noticed several others do in the past.
Overall I feel like this book had a lot of promise and potential to it but the plot didn’t go into as much depth around certain elements as I was hoping it would. The characters were intriguing and the vast array of supernatural beings enough to spike my interest. And the writing had wonderful descriptions in places but felt a little basic in others. With a bit of polish, and a bit more depth and background in places, this could be something special; as it is, it’s still a fast and fairly entertaining read, it just has a bit of room for improvement.
September 6, 2019
A Harry Potter type of adventure for grown-ups
Sixteen-year-old Bobby Biscuit gets the school placement of his dreams, or so he thinks, at Dawnvel. Soon he starts to see odd, inexplicable apparitions followed by the death of one member of the clique in the school known as the Perfects. He cannot possibly fathom what is going on or how he fits in.
The Dawnvel Druids throws you into the action straight away, and the pace continues quite relentlessly, which makes this book a quick read because it keeps your attention. The characters of the Perfects are interesting and diverse, apart from all being gorgeous, another reason why Bobby wonders why he is involved with them.
This first book lays the groundwork for the rules of the fantasy world Collins is creating. The exposition is detailed and solid, ready for the books to come. Harry Potter fans will enjoy the transition of Bobby from weak, nerdy geek as many parallels can be drawn, including several name alliterations. However, this story is more for those who grew up with those books and are ready for more adult themes.
I would definitely suggest another edit. There are several typos, and times when I was confused as to who ‘he’ or ‘she’ referred to. Any use of the word ‘moron’ is not PC, in my opinion, and there are plenty of alternatives.
While the ending of the book is pitched to provide some tension over what is to come for Bobby, I felt dissatisfaction that there was no conclusion to the exciting opening scene nor the murder of one of the druids. In fact, this first book does not deliver on everything in its book blurb. Obviously, much of that is to come, and I am sure fans will clamor for the next in the series to find out what happens.
All in all, a good world-building start.
Sixteen-year-old Bobby Biscuit gets the school placement of his dreams, or so he thinks, at Dawnvel. Soon he starts to see odd, inexplicable apparitions followed by the death of one member of the clique in the school known as the Perfects. He cannot possibly fathom what is going on or how he fits in.
The Dawnvel Druids throws you into the action straight away, and the pace continues quite relentlessly, which makes this book a quick read because it keeps your attention. The characters of the Perfects are interesting and diverse, apart from all being gorgeous, another reason why Bobby wonders why he is involved with them.
This first book lays the groundwork for the rules of the fantasy world Collins is creating. The exposition is detailed and solid, ready for the books to come. Harry Potter fans will enjoy the transition of Bobby from weak, nerdy geek as many parallels can be drawn, including several name alliterations. However, this story is more for those who grew up with those books and are ready for more adult themes.
I would definitely suggest another edit. There are several typos, and times when I was confused as to who ‘he’ or ‘she’ referred to. Any use of the word ‘moron’ is not PC, in my opinion, and there are plenty of alternatives.
While the ending of the book is pitched to provide some tension over what is to come for Bobby, I felt dissatisfaction that there was no conclusion to the exciting opening scene nor the murder of one of the druids. In fact, this first book does not deliver on everything in its book blurb. Obviously, much of that is to come, and I am sure fans will clamor for the next in the series to find out what happens.
All in all, a good world-building start.
June 9, 2020
I was contacted by the author, William Collins, who asked if I would be interested in reading his book, The Dawnvel Druids and Oh boy! (please read this with an Irish accent 🤭). This is a short Urban Fantasy book (circa 200 pages) in which we follow Bobby Biscuit (love that name, and it has a background story, believe me) and Simone, a young druid. We also meet her "clan of druids", a group of teenagers who attend school. We start the book in an intense and interesting way, and then a dead happens (not a spolier, this is in the synopsis), the clan that always needs to have seven members has now one less. We get to know not only druids but also goblins and gargoyles, carnaith and shapeshifters, and I was all for it. I enjoyed how the characters were built, Bobby felt like "the boy next door", and his reaction to certain news was pretty down to earth and believable (thank you for making this character so relatable!) . I would definitely love to know more about Simone in the coming books, she's a badass! As the blurp says, this is an excellent story for those who like The Dresden files, for example. As en extra point - for me, that is - knowing how to pronounce names and reading Irish expressions was great! I lived in Ireland for over six years and I miss it there, this book made me feel a bit closer! The only complaint I would have, and that I will turn into a suggestion, is the editing. There were a number of typos and some errors in the grammatical construction of sentences, which is a pity cause this book is great and could definitely benefit from some editorial work, this can go from "great" to "Awesome", it has everything for it!! Now, allow me... I need to start book 2 😏
June 6, 2020
ONE AVALANCHE OF MAGICAL PROPORTION!!!
Dogging demons! William brought out the heavy artillery, locked and loaded, revving up the exuberance and intensity, riding this flawlessly composed work of art, laying out one killer storyline and gripping plot, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Bearing the burdens and towing the line, imparting this action packed, hard hitting, pulse racing, heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, page flipping, block busting bombshell, blasting this baby to a whole new realm. Shattering the boundaries and pushing the limits, displaying the strengths and weaknesses being weighed and balanced, propelling this jewel forward without a hitch, slamming it into overdrive, launching it into a tailspin with a mind boggling realization. Shenanigans, escapades and mayhem rule the roost rolling with the drama, turmoil, intrigue, danger, spiraling suspense and unnerving situations, along with a double dose of moxie while dodging deadly intents, you have one intoxicating masterpiece. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow, transforming into genuinely relatable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and depictions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Amazing job William, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Dogging demons! William brought out the heavy artillery, locked and loaded, revving up the exuberance and intensity, riding this flawlessly composed work of art, laying out one killer storyline and gripping plot, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Bearing the burdens and towing the line, imparting this action packed, hard hitting, pulse racing, heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, page flipping, block busting bombshell, blasting this baby to a whole new realm. Shattering the boundaries and pushing the limits, displaying the strengths and weaknesses being weighed and balanced, propelling this jewel forward without a hitch, slamming it into overdrive, launching it into a tailspin with a mind boggling realization. Shenanigans, escapades and mayhem rule the roost rolling with the drama, turmoil, intrigue, danger, spiraling suspense and unnerving situations, along with a double dose of moxie while dodging deadly intents, you have one intoxicating masterpiece. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow, transforming into genuinely relatable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and depictions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Amazing job William, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
May 26, 2020
3.5 stars!
The book follows a group of teenage druids in an unusual town in England, they are tasked with the responsibility of upholding their secrecy, as well as protecting the town from other-worldly creatures.
I found it very entertaining and fast-paced, as well as creative. The world building around the druids and other creatures had a lot of originality. The book also has a bit of mystery central to the story, but it was not fully explored.
Although I had mixed feelings about the ending, it's definitely a series I would love to keep reading.
I highly recommend for fans of YA fantasy.
The book follows a group of teenage druids in an unusual town in England, they are tasked with the responsibility of upholding their secrecy, as well as protecting the town from other-worldly creatures.
I found it very entertaining and fast-paced, as well as creative. The world building around the druids and other creatures had a lot of originality. The book also has a bit of mystery central to the story, but it was not fully explored.
Although I had mixed feelings about the ending, it's definitely a series I would love to keep reading.
I highly recommend for fans of YA fantasy.
November 20, 2024
‘The Dawnvel Druids’ by William Collins is a book about a strange group on campus and the mysterious fight they are involved in.
Bobby avoids the weird kids at school until he stumbles on a secret and learns he is supposed to be one of them. Now he is taking a dangerous test to become a Druid like them, but not all of his fellow Druids think he should be one. Along the way, he discovers the monsters they fight and the boy who recently died fighting them.
It’s an interesting concept that falters on execution. The characters and world are fine, but the prose kept taking me out of the book. Your mileage may vary.
Bobby avoids the weird kids at school until he stumbles on a secret and learns he is supposed to be one of them. Now he is taking a dangerous test to become a Druid like them, but not all of his fellow Druids think he should be one. Along the way, he discovers the monsters they fight and the boy who recently died fighting them.
It’s an interesting concept that falters on execution. The characters and world are fine, but the prose kept taking me out of the book. Your mileage may vary.
June 25, 2024
The plot is interesting, the grammar needs another pass - there are a few typos and the action scenes feel a bit clunky.
It is good enough I read the second book, which has fewer typos.
It is good enough I read the second book, which has fewer typos.
October 21, 2019
The Dawnvel Druids is a fun YA fantasy escapade, reminiscent of the TV series "Charmed" and the more recent "Legacies". It's urban fantasy at its sauciest, set at a school brimming with secretly aspiring, magic-wielding, time-hopping young druids who battle fairies and gargoyles. While it would most likely cater more to a younger audience, I enjoyed being plunged immediately into the heart of things from page one, and the story doesn't run out of steam until the final cliffhanger. The writing is fast-paced and dynamic, though a seasoned proofreader's eye would have elevated the narrative to its full potential and smoothed out grammatical, stylistic, and formatting kinks -- while small things when examined separately, the spectrum of these kept me from reading enjoying the narrative as smoothly as I otherwise could have.
The dialogue generally has a natural cadence, and the descriptions are vivid enough to effectively open my eyes to Collins' world, though sometimes I yearned for more. In this sense, the writing style often reminded me more of a screenplay than a novel, making me wonder if the word choice of "episode one" is indeed that purposeful. All in all, Collins' world is a welcoming one, with beautifully blurred lines that make it easily accessible (e.g. the female MC's got a pill-popping dad, was hung up on an old flame, and her London reeks of pollution, too :)).
The dialogue generally has a natural cadence, and the descriptions are vivid enough to effectively open my eyes to Collins' world, though sometimes I yearned for more. In this sense, the writing style often reminded me more of a screenplay than a novel, making me wonder if the word choice of "episode one" is indeed that purposeful. All in all, Collins' world is a welcoming one, with beautifully blurred lines that make it easily accessible (e.g. the female MC's got a pill-popping dad, was hung up on an old flame, and her London reeks of pollution, too :)).
January 31, 2020
Provided by LibraryThing Members Giveaway for an honest review.
Overall Review: 3.5/5
I was really excited to read this first installment of The Dawnvel Druids. The book starts off mid-action and introduces the reader to one of the characters we later learn is one of the Perfects, a group of popular students at Dawnvel Academy who are, in fact, a clan of Druids. The story’s primary focus is on Bobby, an orphan foster student invited to attend Dawnvel Academy on scholarship and, based on what he witnesses, a Druid whose powers have yet to be unlocked. This brings the Perfects and Bobby into the same world and keeps them intertwined for the rest of the novel.
The pros of this storyline are the mystery surrounding the death of one of the Perfects and the innocence of Bobby. I think if any reader was in Bobby’s shoes, they would respond the same way. The story’s plot line helps introduce the readers to the history and lore surrounding Dawnvel.
I think the biggest con of this is the simplicity of the story and several loose ends, including Simone’s father, Bobby’s roommate, and ultimately who is after the Perfects. Part of this may have to do with continuing the story but I think some of the gaps have to do with a lack of fleshed out thoughts and ideas.
Despite its flaws I think the story has a lot of potential and I’m excited to see where it goes. It was a fun and enjoyable read, and as a fan of Harry Potter and the Fallen series I think there is an audience who will enjoy this as well!
Overall Review: 3.5/5
I was really excited to read this first installment of The Dawnvel Druids. The book starts off mid-action and introduces the reader to one of the characters we later learn is one of the Perfects, a group of popular students at Dawnvel Academy who are, in fact, a clan of Druids. The story’s primary focus is on Bobby, an orphan foster student invited to attend Dawnvel Academy on scholarship and, based on what he witnesses, a Druid whose powers have yet to be unlocked. This brings the Perfects and Bobby into the same world and keeps them intertwined for the rest of the novel.
The pros of this storyline are the mystery surrounding the death of one of the Perfects and the innocence of Bobby. I think if any reader was in Bobby’s shoes, they would respond the same way. The story’s plot line helps introduce the readers to the history and lore surrounding Dawnvel.
I think the biggest con of this is the simplicity of the story and several loose ends, including Simone’s father, Bobby’s roommate, and ultimately who is after the Perfects. Part of this may have to do with continuing the story but I think some of the gaps have to do with a lack of fleshed out thoughts and ideas.
Despite its flaws I think the story has a lot of potential and I’m excited to see where it goes. It was a fun and enjoyable read, and as a fan of Harry Potter and the Fallen series I think there is an audience who will enjoy this as well!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2019
British based YA Fantasy series with a strong story. Full of druids, goblins, ghosts, gargoyles, earth-suckers, demons, and Cairnaths.
We’re introduced to Simone Singh at the start of the story. Attempting to buy an illegal drug for her addict father, she’s attacked by goblins and then the drug dealer who’d been put under a spell to kill her.
Then we meet Bobby Biscuit, a sixteen-year-old orphan, who has been accepted to the Dawnvel Academy. He knows something isn’t right because of some online whispers about murders on campus. He senses a vague but palpable evilness emanating from the medieval Dawnvel castle.
Bobby soon meets the “Perfects”, an elite and cliquish group of weird students. Simone is part of the Perfects and events lead Simone to realize that Bobby is a druid like the rest of the Perfects.
This first part of the series is mostly about Bobby’s emotional journey (skepticism and fear) as he comes to terms with being a druid. We don’t learn much about the Otherworld, except that the Perfects must have a seven-druid clan to protect the Dawnvel gateway.
There’s plenty to propel the story forward, a murder of one of the Perfects, backstory on Simone’s relationship with Warren (one of the Perfects with anger issues) and several dangling questions at the end. Like whatever happened to Bobby’s mysterious roommate and Simone’s addict father.
Several editing issues kept this one from being a 4 stars rating.
We’re introduced to Simone Singh at the start of the story. Attempting to buy an illegal drug for her addict father, she’s attacked by goblins and then the drug dealer who’d been put under a spell to kill her.
Then we meet Bobby Biscuit, a sixteen-year-old orphan, who has been accepted to the Dawnvel Academy. He knows something isn’t right because of some online whispers about murders on campus. He senses a vague but palpable evilness emanating from the medieval Dawnvel castle.
Bobby soon meets the “Perfects”, an elite and cliquish group of weird students. Simone is part of the Perfects and events lead Simone to realize that Bobby is a druid like the rest of the Perfects.
This first part of the series is mostly about Bobby’s emotional journey (skepticism and fear) as he comes to terms with being a druid. We don’t learn much about the Otherworld, except that the Perfects must have a seven-druid clan to protect the Dawnvel gateway.
There’s plenty to propel the story forward, a murder of one of the Perfects, backstory on Simone’s relationship with Warren (one of the Perfects with anger issues) and several dangling questions at the end. Like whatever happened to Bobby’s mysterious roommate and Simone’s addict father.
Several editing issues kept this one from being a 4 stars rating.
August 5, 2019
The Dawnvel Druids is a very good story, I would definitely suggest having the second book in the series ready as you will not want to stop after the first one.
Dawnvel is a small town with an academy somewhere near London. This story follows a band of Druids protecting the town/academy and their new recruit Bobby. Bobby is an orphan who has been passed around between foster homes until he somehow receives a scholarship to the Dawnvel Academy. He arrives to find the typical strange mix of people as in any school but a few are stranger than most. The other students call them the “perfects”. They seem too perfect and seem to be above the rules living in their own house near campus with strange occurrences happening. They are Dawnvel’s Druids. Their magic and more than human abilities have them as the only ones to take care of dark beings that keep coming through the nearby gateway. Vampires, ghosts, goblins, etc, and the dark druids that hunt Dawnvel’s Druids as well. Bobby has no idea he could be a Druid as he doesn’t have any abilities other than seeing spectre’s so far and he has no idea why. The Druids, Simone, Mo, Warren, Zander, Dreg, Lana and Niahm. Seven, always seven in the clan, until Zander is killed. This sets off Bobby’s adventure. Such a good story, you definitely can’t stop with the first book.
Dawnvel is a small town with an academy somewhere near London. This story follows a band of Druids protecting the town/academy and their new recruit Bobby. Bobby is an orphan who has been passed around between foster homes until he somehow receives a scholarship to the Dawnvel Academy. He arrives to find the typical strange mix of people as in any school but a few are stranger than most. The other students call them the “perfects”. They seem too perfect and seem to be above the rules living in their own house near campus with strange occurrences happening. They are Dawnvel’s Druids. Their magic and more than human abilities have them as the only ones to take care of dark beings that keep coming through the nearby gateway. Vampires, ghosts, goblins, etc, and the dark druids that hunt Dawnvel’s Druids as well. Bobby has no idea he could be a Druid as he doesn’t have any abilities other than seeing spectre’s so far and he has no idea why. The Druids, Simone, Mo, Warren, Zander, Dreg, Lana and Niahm. Seven, always seven in the clan, until Zander is killed. This sets off Bobby’s adventure. Such a good story, you definitely can’t stop with the first book.
September 8, 2019
First of all, many thanks to William Collins for the free PDF copy!!! Much appreciated...
So, basically this book a about the process of Bobby to become one of the druids!!! It was interesting... I love the adventure of Bobby and The Perfects!!! It was brilliant idea... I love that Mr. Collins included some unexpected humors which made really enjoy reading it 😂😂😂. Like Bobby Biscuit really??? LoL... Maybe you should consider Catie Cookies, Charlie Cupcake or Paulina Pavlova for the next books... Lol jkjk 😂😂😂.
I love the diversity in the characters as well... Bobby, someone who's always curious and scared at the same time... The curiousity makes him cute tbh... Simone the brave one and definitely a heroine material... I can imagine who will play her character it this book becomes a movie in the future lol... Niamh is the nice one ugh I feel like she's the one everyone wants to date in real life!!! Mo and Lana are the funniest... I love how they are both so confident with themselves... Lana is the hot chic here... Duhhh... And nothing much to say about Warren because he's always moody and I don't find it interesting 😅😅😅. And there's Dreg, the weirdo, emotionless, nerd freak... I love him !!! LoL
Overall, I really enjoy the whole stories... And the unexpected ending ... I- 💀💀💀. Great book tho!!!
So, basically this book a about the process of Bobby to become one of the druids!!! It was interesting... I love the adventure of Bobby and The Perfects!!! It was brilliant idea... I love that Mr. Collins included some unexpected humors which made really enjoy reading it 😂😂😂. Like Bobby Biscuit really??? LoL... Maybe you should consider Catie Cookies, Charlie Cupcake or Paulina Pavlova for the next books... Lol jkjk 😂😂😂.
I love the diversity in the characters as well... Bobby, someone who's always curious and scared at the same time... The curiousity makes him cute tbh... Simone the brave one and definitely a heroine material... I can imagine who will play her character it this book becomes a movie in the future lol... Niamh is the nice one ugh I feel like she's the one everyone wants to date in real life!!! Mo and Lana are the funniest... I love how they are both so confident with themselves... Lana is the hot chic here... Duhhh... And nothing much to say about Warren because he's always moody and I don't find it interesting 😅😅😅. And there's Dreg, the weirdo, emotionless, nerd freak... I love him !!! LoL
Overall, I really enjoy the whole stories... And the unexpected ending ... I- 💀💀💀. Great book tho!!!
November 6, 2019
The Dawnvel Druids serves as an effective entryway into the world of Dawnvel Academy, a boarding school protected by seven magical druids who are also students. The main focus of the book is on Bobby, an orphan who arrives at the school as a meek student, but soon finds out he’s more than just an average kid. As an increasing number of dangers reveal themselves to Bobby, he’s drawn further into the inner circle of the Dawnvel Druids.
Readers may find themselves drawing parallels to the Harry Potter stories – and there are many similarities, indeed – but there are also some distinct differences, including the fact that this has a more adult feel than the HP series. There are other ways to compare and contrast the two, but not without spoiling too much. Suffice to say this is its own, distinctive work.
This is an effective, well-written book, though those of you who are looking for a complete story will have to get the next book. Though there are some fun action sequences, this mostly serves as an introduction to the characters. My impression is that it feels like the first act of a three-act work, and the book ends right when it gets most interesting. As of this writing it's perma-free on Amazon, which seems smart to me, as there’s just enough story to draw you in without really resolving anything. I’m guessing that part II will deliver the goods.
Readers may find themselves drawing parallels to the Harry Potter stories – and there are many similarities, indeed – but there are also some distinct differences, including the fact that this has a more adult feel than the HP series. There are other ways to compare and contrast the two, but not without spoiling too much. Suffice to say this is its own, distinctive work.
This is an effective, well-written book, though those of you who are looking for a complete story will have to get the next book. Though there are some fun action sequences, this mostly serves as an introduction to the characters. My impression is that it feels like the first act of a three-act work, and the book ends right when it gets most interesting. As of this writing it's perma-free on Amazon, which seems smart to me, as there’s just enough story to draw you in without really resolving anything. I’m guessing that part II will deliver the goods.
August 4, 2019
THE DAWNVEL DRUIDS is Book One in a new young adult urban fantasy series by William Collins, author of The Realmers Series (4 books) and The Realmer Chronicals Series (2 books).
The book centers on sixteen-year-old Bobby Biscuit, an English foster home loner newly arrived at Dawnvel Academy boarding school. He soon learns of Dawnvel's seven elite pupils, known as the Perfects, but can't believe his eyes when he witnesses one of them blast a wraith with light from a wand late at night right outside his dorm room window. Bobby fears for his own life after witnessing another of the Perfects, seventeen-year-old Simone Singh, apparently murdering another pupil in a basement. While Simone does no harm after catching him, she instead reveals to Bobby something about himself that shocks him even more than all he's seen up to that point.
The writing is clean. Most of the scenes are in Bobby's perspective and told in third person limited, but the few interspersed scenes in the POVs of the Perfects add some interesting variation. I would recommend THE DAWNVEL DRUIDS to any who enjoy David Baldacci's Vega Jane Series of magical YA novels, and am looking forward to seeing more books from this new series.
The book centers on sixteen-year-old Bobby Biscuit, an English foster home loner newly arrived at Dawnvel Academy boarding school. He soon learns of Dawnvel's seven elite pupils, known as the Perfects, but can't believe his eyes when he witnesses one of them blast a wraith with light from a wand late at night right outside his dorm room window. Bobby fears for his own life after witnessing another of the Perfects, seventeen-year-old Simone Singh, apparently murdering another pupil in a basement. While Simone does no harm after catching him, she instead reveals to Bobby something about himself that shocks him even more than all he's seen up to that point.
The writing is clean. Most of the scenes are in Bobby's perspective and told in third person limited, but the few interspersed scenes in the POVs of the Perfects add some interesting variation. I would recommend THE DAWNVEL DRUIDS to any who enjoy David Baldacci's Vega Jane Series of magical YA novels, and am looking forward to seeing more books from this new series.
October 11, 2019
This story felt like a creative thrill ride. The imagery was wonderful and the characters for the most part were relatable and well-drawn. The world of Dawnvel is well-crafted and filled with intrigue and danger. Simone is one of a clan of druids who attends the academy at Dawnvel. The story begins as she battles against two goblins who were arrogant, sarcastic thieves. An exciting beginning to this fast-paced adventure.
While Simone is an accepted member of the Perfects – a group of students that are terribly misunderstood and living at the edge of acceptance, Bobby is anything but. He has been kicked around the foster care system practically since birth. Though he is searching for a safe place to fit in, he quickly realizes that Dawnvel is far from any sort of safe haven.
The pacing is on point and the story compelling as the Academy begins to be overrun with otherworld creatures. The only issue I had was in the dialogue portions, I found Warren’s constant angst somewhat irritating, and the waffling emotions of Bobby going from bravado to curiosity and on to terror a bit confusing, but he is a teen-age boy dealing with extreme circumstances. Loved the descriptions and concept – highly recommended!
While Simone is an accepted member of the Perfects – a group of students that are terribly misunderstood and living at the edge of acceptance, Bobby is anything but. He has been kicked around the foster care system practically since birth. Though he is searching for a safe place to fit in, he quickly realizes that Dawnvel is far from any sort of safe haven.
The pacing is on point and the story compelling as the Academy begins to be overrun with otherworld creatures. The only issue I had was in the dialogue portions, I found Warren’s constant angst somewhat irritating, and the waffling emotions of Bobby going from bravado to curiosity and on to terror a bit confusing, but he is a teen-age boy dealing with extreme circumstances. Loved the descriptions and concept – highly recommended!
June 27, 2019
3.5/5 stars
Read my full review at between-the-shelves.com!
The author, William Collins, sent me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was such a quick, fun read! I basically read the entire thing in one sitting one night on my porch, and it fit the current fantasy mood I've been in. The world that Collins has created is a unique twist on the typical magic boarding school story, and I loved the intricate world of the Druids.
However, the world-building was a bit difficult to follow at the beginning. We open with Simone, but then jump to Bobby. At times, you feel a bit confused (like Bobby) does at the laws and rules governing this new world.
Overall, I loved that this book merged fantasy and reality, making us think that anything can be possible.
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Read my full review at between-the-shelves.com!
The author, William Collins, sent me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was such a quick, fun read! I basically read the entire thing in one sitting one night on my porch, and it fit the current fantasy mood I've been in. The world that Collins has created is a unique twist on the typical magic boarding school story, and I loved the intricate world of the Druids.
However, the world-building was a bit difficult to follow at the beginning. We open with Simone, but then jump to Bobby. At times, you feel a bit confused (like Bobby) does at the laws and rules governing this new world.
Overall, I loved that this book merged fantasy and reality, making us think that anything can be possible.
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July 18, 2019
This book was kindly send to me by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
When the author contacted me I immediately got excited about reading this book. Somewhere in the prompt it said a combination of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and (something else) and I was in. I did not read the rest of the summary, since I like to go in knowing as little as possible.
What I really enjoyed was the druid magic, the various enemies and how all sexualities were treated as normal and a normal part of life. There was no judgement on that front and that was so refreshing.
I had on of those noooooo moments when the book came to a close, because I had to know more after that ending! I had so many questions left unanswered, like: How did Lana and Warren become the people they are? Because you can't tell me there isn't a story there, those two annoy the living daylight out of me. Who is the were-tiger and how will he play into this story? And where is Freddy?
Basically, things to look forward to in book 2.
3.5 stars
When the author contacted me I immediately got excited about reading this book. Somewhere in the prompt it said a combination of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and (something else) and I was in. I did not read the rest of the summary, since I like to go in knowing as little as possible.
What I really enjoyed was the druid magic, the various enemies and how all sexualities were treated as normal and a normal part of life. There was no judgement on that front and that was so refreshing.
I had on of those noooooo moments when the book came to a close, because I had to know more after that ending! I had so many questions left unanswered, like: How did Lana and Warren become the people they are? Because you can't tell me there isn't a story there, those two annoy the living daylight out of me. Who is the were-tiger and how will he play into this story? And where is Freddy?
Basically, things to look forward to in book 2.
October 17, 2019
Bobby is something of a misfit. He shows up at a Dawnvel, a boarding school occupying an old castle, and is immediately intimidated by the Perfects, an eclectic clique of students that other students steer clear of. They aren’t all mean, but they aren’t welcoming either. And that doesn’t change when Bobby begins to show signs that he might be one of them.
The first book in a series, The Dawnvel Druids sets the stage for future action. It doesn’t conclude with many threads tied up, but does end with a nice hook for the next book. The pace moves along quickly and the writing is straightforward.
I enjoyed the druid characters and how each was written with a thoroughly distinct personality: the self-absorbed queen bee, the muscled hulk with a chip on his shoulder, the mystic who communicates with animals, the mellow nice guy, and the highly competent Simone who shares the lead with Bobby. Readers get to see the main protagonists’ inner worlds without the story bogging down with teenage drama and angst. A fun YA fantasy read for teens of all ages.
The first book in a series, The Dawnvel Druids sets the stage for future action. It doesn’t conclude with many threads tied up, but does end with a nice hook for the next book. The pace moves along quickly and the writing is straightforward.
I enjoyed the druid characters and how each was written with a thoroughly distinct personality: the self-absorbed queen bee, the muscled hulk with a chip on his shoulder, the mystic who communicates with animals, the mellow nice guy, and the highly competent Simone who shares the lead with Bobby. Readers get to see the main protagonists’ inner worlds without the story bogging down with teenage drama and angst. A fun YA fantasy read for teens of all ages.
July 16, 2019
I recieved this book in a LibraryThing member giveaway in exchange for a review.
This was an easy and fun read. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
I quite enjoyed this introduction to the series and look forward to reading more about the lore and overall world of these Druids. This book did leave me wanting to know more about the characters, Simone especially, and their histories, but I would expect to learn more in future installments. Some grammatical editing is needed, but overall very enjoyable.
This was an easy and fun read. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
I quite enjoyed this introduction to the series and look forward to reading more about the lore and overall world of these Druids. This book did leave me wanting to know more about the characters, Simone especially, and their histories, but I would expect to learn more in future installments. Some grammatical editing is needed, but overall very enjoyable.
December 26, 2019
A good start for a new to me urban fantasy series.
It's fast paced and action packed, full of humour and with a cast of interesting and well thought characters.
I'd like to read the other book in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's fast paced and action packed, full of humour and with a cast of interesting and well thought characters.
I'd like to read the other book in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
October 26, 2019
Review to follow...
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