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The Watchers of Moniah
"A tale of intrigue and romance, set in a unique and skillfully rendered world, THE WATCHERS OF MONIAH will keep readers riveted from first page to last. Highly recommended!" —David B. Coe/D.B. Jackson, author of the Thieftaker Chronicles
An elite Watcher trainee, fifteen-year-old Princess Adana had everything going for her. Everything, that is, until her mother, the queen, dies. Too young to be queen herself, her mother's last royal act is a decree that seals Adana's fate—she's to be sent to the neighboring Kingdom of Elwar for her own protection. She'll be alone there, as the only person Adana knew in Elwar—her betrothed, Prince Serrin—dies at the same time as her mother.
The three-year stay in Elwar seems like a death sentence, as she will be separated from her telepathically-bonded giraffe and removed from her Watcher training. It only gets worse when she meets the person who will be teaching her about the rules of court protocol and politics—Serrin's stepmother, Queen Quilla, a sharp-tongued woman who dislikes everything Adana stands for.
When a vision shows her the existence of Maligon—a tyrant thought killed twenty years prior—she realizes everything is not as it seems in the Four Kingdoms. Evil is at work in the shadows, and Maligon will stop at nothing short of total control over the Four Kingdoms. Will she be ready in time to claim her birthright, or will Maligon succeed with his malevolent plans?
An elite Watcher trainee, fifteen-year-old Princess Adana had everything going for her. Everything, that is, until her mother, the queen, dies. Too young to be queen herself, her mother's last royal act is a decree that seals Adana's fate—she's to be sent to the neighboring Kingdom of Elwar for her own protection. She'll be alone there, as the only person Adana knew in Elwar—her betrothed, Prince Serrin—dies at the same time as her mother.
The three-year stay in Elwar seems like a death sentence, as she will be separated from her telepathically-bonded giraffe and removed from her Watcher training. It only gets worse when she meets the person who will be teaching her about the rules of court protocol and politics—Serrin's stepmother, Queen Quilla, a sharp-tongued woman who dislikes everything Adana stands for.
When a vision shows her the existence of Maligon—a tyrant thought killed twenty years prior—she realizes everything is not as it seems in the Four Kingdoms. Evil is at work in the shadows, and Maligon will stop at nothing short of total control over the Four Kingdoms. Will she be ready in time to claim her birthright, or will Maligon succeed with his malevolent plans?
- GenresFantasy
Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2020
15 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Barbara V. Evers
7 books25 followersBarbara V. Evers is the author of THE WATCHERS OF MONIAH epic fantasy trilogy as well as several short stories and essays.
From the mysterious Dark Corner of South Carolina, she crafts fantasy stories with strong women matriarchies and unusually gifted and clever animals. A two-time Imadjinn Best Fantasy Novelist, she’s won several awards for her writing over the years including a Pushcart Prize nomination.
Barbara is a supporter and advocate for animal conservation and seeks to educate others about endangered species. The giraffes in THE WATCHERS OF MONIAH are no longer endangered, but giraffes in our world are suffering a silent extinction. As an advocate, Barbara contributes a portion of her royalties to support the work of The Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
When she’s not writing, Barbara uses her degrees in Zoology and Communication to conduct training workshops for businesses. Maybe she really can speak to animals!
Any other time, she can be found herding her husband, two grandchildren, and her rescue dog, Roxy (but don’t tell them).
For more information, visit her website, BarbaraVEvers.com (writing site and blog), Eversworks.com (business), or her inspirational blog: TheWorkbenchofFaith.Wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 4, 2021
I agree with the reviewer who called this a unique and special story. I mean, telepathic giraffes, people! And while I'm not drawn to fantasy or coming-of-age novels, THE WATCHERS OF MONIAH pulled me in from page one with multi-layered characters, rich world-building, and non-stop political intrigue. This is a tightly plotted and beautifully written page-turner. (I have already started book two.) Ignore labels with this one. It will appeal to anyone who enjoys a heart-pounding read--part thriller, part romance, part women's fiction, part mystery.
February 19, 2021
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Fantasy / Romance
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
The Watchers of Moniah is the first installment in author Barbara V. Evers series by the same name. In this world, there are four countries: Moniah, Elwar, Belwyn, and Teletia. The story manly takes place in Moniah and Elwar with brief glimpses at Belwyn and Teletia. 20 years ago, Queen Chiora of Chiora was forced to banish a man named Maligan who she deemed to be a traitor to the crown and the country. Maligon's Treacherous War is still being read by royals 20 years later. Maligan was trusted by Chiora so his betrayal cut deeply. At the same time, she has a vision of a child who will face insurmountable struggles. That child is Adana.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Fantasy / Romance
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
The Watchers of Moniah is the first installment in author Barbara V. Evers series by the same name. In this world, there are four countries: Moniah, Elwar, Belwyn, and Teletia. The story manly takes place in Moniah and Elwar with brief glimpses at Belwyn and Teletia. 20 years ago, Queen Chiora of Chiora was forced to banish a man named Maligan who she deemed to be a traitor to the crown and the country. Maligon's Treacherous War is still being read by royals 20 years later. Maligan was trusted by Chiora so his betrayal cut deeply. At the same time, she has a vision of a child who will face insurmountable struggles. That child is Adana.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
March 8, 2021
I read this book on the recommendation of one of my favorite authors, Barbara Claypole White. She did not steer me wrong. This is a wonderful fantasy story and a great start to this trilogy. I’m always amazed at the ability of an author to create a whole world that you can enter and believe is real. Barbara V. Evers is such an author. One of my favorite parts of her world is telepathic giraffes! Giraffes are one of my favorite animals so I absolutely loved that part of this world. Of course, since this is a trilogy, the ending left me wanting to know what happens next. I will definitely be reading the next installment!
January 8, 2021
This one is... unique!
First book I ever read with the hero bonded to a giraffe!
More seriously, it is a coming of age story set in a very egalitarian fantasy setting (the monarch is a queen and she is no puppet on strings). At the age of 15, Adana must watch her mother die of disease, accept that the arch-enemy of her people, who was condemned to death before her birth, managed to survive the dreadful manner of execution his crimes deserved, deepen her bond with her giraffe, which is, something most important for her as a future queen and... she is sent in exile right away, away from her enemy, away from her father, away from her friends.
Meanwhile....
I won't spoil anything, just that I will look the next installment of Adana story as soon as it comes out!
First book I ever read with the hero bonded to a giraffe!
More seriously, it is a coming of age story set in a very egalitarian fantasy setting (the monarch is a queen and she is no puppet on strings). At the age of 15, Adana must watch her mother die of disease, accept that the arch-enemy of her people, who was condemned to death before her birth, managed to survive the dreadful manner of execution his crimes deserved, deepen her bond with her giraffe, which is, something most important for her as a future queen and... she is sent in exile right away, away from her enemy, away from her father, away from her friends.
Meanwhile....
I won't spoil anything, just that I will look the next installment of Adana story as soon as it comes out!
May 24, 2021
Great Fantasy
I was hooked from the moment we met the giraffes! This story has just about everything from good characters to villains, romance, mystery and intrigue. Thank you MS. Evers for introducing me to this series.
I was hooked from the moment we met the giraffes! This story has just about everything from good characters to villains, romance, mystery and intrigue. Thank you MS. Evers for introducing me to this series.
December 27, 2020
This is a great debut novel. It's a coming-of-age story with tons of political intrigue, romance, spies, an evil villain ... and giraffes! What's not to love? The Watchers, a band of warrior women who are bonded to their giraffe companions, must train the princess and keep her safe after the queen dies. They do this by removing her to their neighboring kingdom and allowing her to be trained as a "lady." Poor Adana must not only cope with the loss of her mother but must learn how to walk in long skirts, how to set a proper table, and how to handle a frisky nobleman. And all this on top of developing the bond with her chosen giraffe. If you like political fantasy and coming-of-age stories -- or giraffes -- get a copy of this book and read it!
March 19, 2024
3.5/5 Stars - looking forward to book two
The Watchers of Moniah, by Barbara V. Evers, is book one in a young adult fantasy series. The thing that initially attracted me to this series was the fact that the main character (a Monian princess) had a telepathic connection with her giraffe.
This is one of many awesome worldbuilding choices connected to Moniah. Moniah also has Watchers, who are female warriors with heightened senses. On top of that, there is a lot more lore surrounding the giraffes. For example, giraffe tears hold powers, and the lives of giraffes and the humans they bond with are intertwined (when one character dies at the beginning of the book, her giraffe dies as well).
I found the Monian worldbuilding fascinating, but I was disappointed when the main character, Adara, leaves Moniah early in the book. The bulk of Watchers actually takes place in the nearby kingdom of Elwar, which is very different than Moniah. It was interesting seeing Adara adapt to this new culture and there were some fun (and some not-so-fun) characters that she interacted with in Elwar, but I really wish we had gotten to experience more of Moniah in the first book.
That being said, I did really like the villain, Maligon. Well, I didn’t like him, but I found him interesting and compelling. I enjoyed how he played puppetmaster, and think that his plans will be very interesting as they progress in book two.
As for characters, Adana was a good MC, although she didn’t really stick with me. I liked Kiffen and Leera and hope we’ll get to know Empress Gabriella better in a later book. While I loved the Watchers as a group, I had a hard time keeping track of all of them (particularly since there were a few whose names all started with “K”).
The Watchers of Moniah was more courtly/poltical intrigue than I was expecting (I think I stopped paying attention to the synopsis after “telepathic giraffe”), but I’m not complaining. I enjoyed reading it and will definitely be continuing the series.
The Watchers of Moniah, by Barbara V. Evers, is book one in a young adult fantasy series. The thing that initially attracted me to this series was the fact that the main character (a Monian princess) had a telepathic connection with her giraffe.
This is one of many awesome worldbuilding choices connected to Moniah. Moniah also has Watchers, who are female warriors with heightened senses. On top of that, there is a lot more lore surrounding the giraffes. For example, giraffe tears hold powers, and the lives of giraffes and the humans they bond with are intertwined (when one character dies at the beginning of the book, her giraffe dies as well).
I found the Monian worldbuilding fascinating, but I was disappointed when the main character, Adara, leaves Moniah early in the book. The bulk of Watchers actually takes place in the nearby kingdom of Elwar, which is very different than Moniah. It was interesting seeing Adara adapt to this new culture and there were some fun (and some not-so-fun) characters that she interacted with in Elwar, but I really wish we had gotten to experience more of Moniah in the first book.
That being said, I did really like the villain, Maligon. Well, I didn’t like him, but I found him interesting and compelling. I enjoyed how he played puppetmaster, and think that his plans will be very interesting as they progress in book two.
As for characters, Adana was a good MC, although she didn’t really stick with me. I liked Kiffen and Leera and hope we’ll get to know Empress Gabriella better in a later book. While I loved the Watchers as a group, I had a hard time keeping track of all of them (particularly since there were a few whose names all started with “K”).
The Watchers of Moniah was more courtly/poltical intrigue than I was expecting (I think I stopped paying attention to the synopsis after “telepathic giraffe”), but I’m not complaining. I enjoyed reading it and will definitely be continuing the series.
June 18, 2022
Author Barbara Evers has created a unique world in her compelling first novel of this series. Strong female characters, imaginative world building and an animal bond like no other. As other reviewers have said, this story has everything a reader could want: intrigue, romance, revenge, conspiracies and giraffes (a remarkably wonderful part of this tale).
The writing is rich and evocative, characters roundly developed. I became hooked on the story and outcome from page one. The worlds are so expertly crafted you can see the landscape, smell the grasses & flowers and feel the change in temperatures. Beautifully imagined and artfully written. I’m thoroughly looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
The writing is rich and evocative, characters roundly developed. I became hooked on the story and outcome from page one. The worlds are so expertly crafted you can see the landscape, smell the grasses & flowers and feel the change in temperatures. Beautifully imagined and artfully written. I’m thoroughly looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
December 18, 2020
Reminiscent of LOTR, this well written story takes you on some unique adventures. Fifteen year old Adana, heir to the throne of Moniah, must survive assassination attempts and learn all she needs to know to become queen when she turns eighteen. Meanwhile, an evil former soldier gathers followers and seeks to take over the world. Adana has some special resources on her side: the Watchers and her telepathic bond with a giraffe.
A unique and delightful story.
A unique and delightful story.
February 8, 2021
Fascinating fantasy that includes royals, giraffes with magical connections to royals (sounds weird, but author Evers makes you believe it), and Watchers (female warriors). The writing is great, the characterization of all the main characters is very well done so that you can see them, hear their different voices. The plot is a mix of intrigue, war, murder, love, and more. This is a trilogy, and I’m on my way to reading book #2!
February 21, 2021
This book was great! Thank you Barbara White for recommending it, I am drawn to the urban fantasy genre. The uniqueness of the storyline is great and it's incredibly well written. As the story moves along, you learn more about each character, some you love and others, well, you just don't trust, lol. There are a lot of twists and turns. Reading the book reminded me of being a young teenager and reading Madeleine L'Engle's books.
March 27, 2021
Wonderful book! Very imaginative plot, rich characterizations, well written with none of the grammar problems that I see so frequently (and I make eve in my brief comments in my reviews). I tend to think of books in three ways: plot, pacing, and style. I would give five stars to this book for all three areas.
November 25, 2021
The Watchers of Moniah is my first fantasy novel and I couldn’t put it down. The theme of a telepathic bond between human and giraffe is unique and heartwarming. I look forward to starting Book Two. Congratulations to Barbara V. Evers!
February 19, 2022
Poor imitation of Valdemar
So many parallels to Mercedes Lackeys’ World of Valdemar that it can’t be a coincidence. Not very entertaining and lacking in too many ways to be enjoyable. Pale imitation at best.
So many parallels to Mercedes Lackeys’ World of Valdemar that it can’t be a coincidence. Not very entertaining and lacking in too many ways to be enjoyable. Pale imitation at best.
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December 15, 2023This book has it all. It has proud warriors, a princess that needs to learn and take over the throne, an old grudge, and a struggle involving four kingdoms. Oh, and there's telepathic giraffes. You cannot forget the telepathic giraffes.
May 6, 2023
Took me to another world
I haven’t read a similar fantasy for many years so the setting, culture, character development, and the unique giraffe connection were fun for me.
I haven’t read a similar fantasy for many years so the setting, culture, character development, and the unique giraffe connection were fun for me.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews