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Perceiver
Moving to a new town was not on Hattie's to-do list for the summer.
Her arrival in Applewood brings nothing but strange things to her doorstep. A bendable boy guards an abandoned orchard. A cactus gives her a bullet. A monster made of oil stalks those around her.
And nobody can see them but her.
When traveling consultants show up on her doorstep, a chance encounter with the boy named Jack forces them to confront the monsters and their intertwined fates. Worse yet, the lives of the people she loves now hang by a thread.
When her world collides with another, Hattie must make a choice: save herself or save her parents.
Tsava awaits.
Perceiver is the first book in The Perceiver Trilogy, a YA fantasy series with magical creatures and grand adventures.
Her arrival in Applewood brings nothing but strange things to her doorstep. A bendable boy guards an abandoned orchard. A cactus gives her a bullet. A monster made of oil stalks those around her.
And nobody can see them but her.
When traveling consultants show up on her doorstep, a chance encounter with the boy named Jack forces them to confront the monsters and their intertwined fates. Worse yet, the lives of the people she loves now hang by a thread.
When her world collides with another, Hattie must make a choice: save herself or save her parents.
Tsava awaits.
Perceiver is the first book in The Perceiver Trilogy, a YA fantasy series with magical creatures and grand adventures.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2021
1 person is currently reading
93 people want to read
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November 20, 2021
“Applewood looked nice in the way that meant that everything interesting happened elsewhere.”
In this Alice-in-Wonderland-meets-The-Wizard-of-Oz-esque book, Hattie’s life is abruptly changed when a strange man steals her parents’ “selves” and she follows the man into the world of Tsava in a desperate attempt to get them back. But she gets more than she bargained for as she jumps down the fountain connecting her world to theirs, and the strangest things begin to happen before her very eyes.
This book is a lot. Very, very strong Alice in Wonderland vibes that both hook you into the story, but also baffle you with it. It’s exciting and fast-paced and the prose used to describe things is whimsical and captivating. But I’m so torn on how to feel upon finishing it.
I loved the storyline, I’m invested in the characters’ lives, and the world of Tsava is the first world I’ve ever encountered similar to Alice’s Wonderland,, which I really loved. However, I feel incredibly disrespected as a reader and I think that is because the author didn’t know if the book was middle grade or young adult. I can tell you now, that it has been incorrectly marketed as young adult. This story, as it is now, is a middle grade story with YA content. To be appropriately YA, a LOT should’ve been changed.
The primary reason that I feel disrespected and why the incorrect audience mistake matters so much, is because of how the author treated the reader. Hattie, first of all, is 12-years-old. There are very few young adult novels that feature 12-year-olds that remain 12 through the entire book. But I feel like the author thought the mild cursing, spooks, and graphic content towards the end made it ineligible to be middle grade and therefore just called it YA without bringing the rest of the content up to YA standards. And what I’m specifically referring to is the fact that we, as readers, are treated 12. There’s a quote at the end of the book that completely summarizes the entirety of Perceiver:
“‘Those are excellent questions,’ Limn said. ‘And I won’t answer them. The end.'”
That is an actual quote in the last chapter and I’ve never been so upset as a reader before. I just spent the better part of my week investing my very rare, spare time into this book, and the author ended the book with that attitude. The world of Tsava is so, so weird and unique, in a good way. And this world could have been so enthralling and captivating, but it just ended up being frustrating. Hattie would ask the very questions that I was asking or the author would ask a new question for me, and then completely change the subject with no answers to anything. And then, I love cliffhangers y’all (you know this!), she presented a brand new question in the last few paragraphs of the last chapter and ended the book. There are good cliffhangers, and there are poorly written cliffhangers, and that one breaks so many rules especially since we no longer trust the author to give us any answers at all.
This isn’t a book that I would have DNF’d, because I was so captivated. I was hooked from the very first page and I loved Hattie, I loved Jack, I loved Limn, I loved so much of this book. But I can’t tell you anything about this world. I can’t describe to you what happened. I have no earthly idea what I just read, because none of the important questions were answered and I’m stuck wondering if book two will even be worth reading because the author gave me no hope that she even has answers for how things work in her own world. For middle grade, that is somewhat acceptable–to an extent. For YA, this is unacceptable. YA readers expect incredible story worlds that are fleshed out, like the works of London Shah, Joan He, Marissa Meyers, and so many others that have captivated lovers of YA. This just disrespected my time and my immediate love for Hattie. I was hooked and promised so many things, and then left with nothing more than I started with. I’ve never felt like this after reading a book.
I want to say that I’m still dedicated enough to Hattie and Tsava to read the next book, but my fear is that it will leave me even more confused. I’ll just have to see what my decision will be once it releases. Though, if I had it in my hands right now, I’d be reading it the rest of the afternoon. This is why I have no idea what to rate this book, so I’m gonna say 2.5 stars but 3 on sites that don’t accept halves.
I received this book for free from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
In this Alice-in-Wonderland-meets-The-Wizard-of-Oz-esque book, Hattie’s life is abruptly changed when a strange man steals her parents’ “selves” and she follows the man into the world of Tsava in a desperate attempt to get them back. But she gets more than she bargained for as she jumps down the fountain connecting her world to theirs, and the strangest things begin to happen before her very eyes.
This book is a lot. Very, very strong Alice in Wonderland vibes that both hook you into the story, but also baffle you with it. It’s exciting and fast-paced and the prose used to describe things is whimsical and captivating. But I’m so torn on how to feel upon finishing it.
I loved the storyline, I’m invested in the characters’ lives, and the world of Tsava is the first world I’ve ever encountered similar to Alice’s Wonderland,, which I really loved. However, I feel incredibly disrespected as a reader and I think that is because the author didn’t know if the book was middle grade or young adult. I can tell you now, that it has been incorrectly marketed as young adult. This story, as it is now, is a middle grade story with YA content. To be appropriately YA, a LOT should’ve been changed.
The primary reason that I feel disrespected and why the incorrect audience mistake matters so much, is because of how the author treated the reader. Hattie, first of all, is 12-years-old. There are very few young adult novels that feature 12-year-olds that remain 12 through the entire book. But I feel like the author thought the mild cursing, spooks, and graphic content towards the end made it ineligible to be middle grade and therefore just called it YA without bringing the rest of the content up to YA standards. And what I’m specifically referring to is the fact that we, as readers, are treated 12. There’s a quote at the end of the book that completely summarizes the entirety of Perceiver:
“‘Those are excellent questions,’ Limn said. ‘And I won’t answer them. The end.'”
That is an actual quote in the last chapter and I’ve never been so upset as a reader before. I just spent the better part of my week investing my very rare, spare time into this book, and the author ended the book with that attitude. The world of Tsava is so, so weird and unique, in a good way. And this world could have been so enthralling and captivating, but it just ended up being frustrating. Hattie would ask the very questions that I was asking or the author would ask a new question for me, and then completely change the subject with no answers to anything. And then, I love cliffhangers y’all (you know this!), she presented a brand new question in the last few paragraphs of the last chapter and ended the book. There are good cliffhangers, and there are poorly written cliffhangers, and that one breaks so many rules especially since we no longer trust the author to give us any answers at all.
This isn’t a book that I would have DNF’d, because I was so captivated. I was hooked from the very first page and I loved Hattie, I loved Jack, I loved Limn, I loved so much of this book. But I can’t tell you anything about this world. I can’t describe to you what happened. I have no earthly idea what I just read, because none of the important questions were answered and I’m stuck wondering if book two will even be worth reading because the author gave me no hope that she even has answers for how things work in her own world. For middle grade, that is somewhat acceptable–to an extent. For YA, this is unacceptable. YA readers expect incredible story worlds that are fleshed out, like the works of London Shah, Joan He, Marissa Meyers, and so many others that have captivated lovers of YA. This just disrespected my time and my immediate love for Hattie. I was hooked and promised so many things, and then left with nothing more than I started with. I’ve never felt like this after reading a book.
I want to say that I’m still dedicated enough to Hattie and Tsava to read the next book, but my fear is that it will leave me even more confused. I’ll just have to see what my decision will be once it releases. Though, if I had it in my hands right now, I’d be reading it the rest of the afternoon. This is why I have no idea what to rate this book, so I’m gonna say 2.5 stars but 3 on sites that don’t accept halves.
I received this book for free from the author. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
October 7, 2021
"Applewood looked nice in the way that meant everything interesting happened elsewhere."
If you were a fan of Alice in Wonderland as a child, or loved the charming Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away, then this book is for you. I was so pleased to get this as an ARC through Booksirens.
Although billed as YA, I would argue that this book is more suitable for middle-grade readers, especially as the main character herself is 12-years-old. That doesn't mean older audiences won't enjoy it - I'm in my thirties and thought it was wonderful - but I think anyone expecting something in the upper age range of YA may be disappointed.
The world the author has created in this book is deeply rich and imaginative. The descriptions are so detailed, you feel completely immersed in this totally fantastical land full of all kinds of different creatures.
"Colored tiles patterned her square base in turquoise, poppy-red, spring-yellow, milk-white, algae-green, and oil-black."
You view it all through the eyes of Hattie, who has ended up in Tsava - the land of orex, wanderers, spirits and more - when her parents' Selves are kidnapped from Earth by an unscrupulous individual known as En Law. Tsava is full of things totally unbelievable and unbelievably mundane, and as Hattie navigates life working off a debt to win her parents back, we explore the lore, belief system, politics and hierarchy of the orex and the world they inhabit.
There's an evil corporation dealing in underhand deeds; there's an armed group of rebels trying to uncover their crimes. And as lines blur over who is the real enemy, a simple human girl is in the middle of it all trying to get her parents back and go home.
"She wore the mask of Hattie the Brave over Hattie the Human."
All that, and the cover is really gorgeous too, so props to the cover artist!
My only criticism would be that at times the world-building was so complicated that I had to keep re-reading it to get it into my head. It was sort of like, upper YA world-building with middle-grade subject matter. You do sort of get bombarded with a lot of information and terminology, but you get used to it quickly enough.
I'm very interested to see what direction the rest of the series will take.
If you were a fan of Alice in Wonderland as a child, or loved the charming Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away, then this book is for you. I was so pleased to get this as an ARC through Booksirens.
Although billed as YA, I would argue that this book is more suitable for middle-grade readers, especially as the main character herself is 12-years-old. That doesn't mean older audiences won't enjoy it - I'm in my thirties and thought it was wonderful - but I think anyone expecting something in the upper age range of YA may be disappointed.
The world the author has created in this book is deeply rich and imaginative. The descriptions are so detailed, you feel completely immersed in this totally fantastical land full of all kinds of different creatures.
"Colored tiles patterned her square base in turquoise, poppy-red, spring-yellow, milk-white, algae-green, and oil-black."
You view it all through the eyes of Hattie, who has ended up in Tsava - the land of orex, wanderers, spirits and more - when her parents' Selves are kidnapped from Earth by an unscrupulous individual known as En Law. Tsava is full of things totally unbelievable and unbelievably mundane, and as Hattie navigates life working off a debt to win her parents back, we explore the lore, belief system, politics and hierarchy of the orex and the world they inhabit.
There's an evil corporation dealing in underhand deeds; there's an armed group of rebels trying to uncover their crimes. And as lines blur over who is the real enemy, a simple human girl is in the middle of it all trying to get her parents back and go home.
"She wore the mask of Hattie the Brave over Hattie the Human."
All that, and the cover is really gorgeous too, so props to the cover artist!
My only criticism would be that at times the world-building was so complicated that I had to keep re-reading it to get it into my head. It was sort of like, upper YA world-building with middle-grade subject matter. You do sort of get bombarded with a lot of information and terminology, but you get used to it quickly enough.
I'm very interested to see what direction the rest of the series will take.
August 19, 2021
I received an ARC from the author via BookSirens
3
Hattie is already not happy to be moving to a strange small town, but things become completely terrible and out of her control once magical creatures over run it, stealing away her parent's Selves. Unsure why she can see things others can't, but having collected a few allies and leads to follow, Hattie forces her way into a magical world she shouldn't have been able to get to and makes a deal.
I have to first state that this book was listed as YA, which it is not, and had instead read it with the proper headspace of a Middlegrade book, I probably would have been less judgmental about certain aspects. For any who may be on the fence about the intended age range- the main character is 12 and the story itself is pretty juvenile, I do think the middlegrade audience might like this story, but it's too childish for teen or up.
What's nice about this book is the descriptions. Fuller clearly has a vivid picture of the things in this world, and can write them well. There are plenty of magical creatures and places that are described in such detail I feel I might actually be picturing what Fuller is. That's a skill, and it's used well, if not a bit overused.
There's also a quirky cast of characters that work well for a middlegrade. I think it's pretty easy to get excited about a demon in a lantern that operates an elevator, and I think kids would have a goof time with him, as well as the others.
I also think the ending of this book is well done in terms of expansion. If this does continue as a series, there's certainly a good set up for a sequel that makes you want to know what comes next.
Over all, beyond the mis-marketing, I think there are just a lot of issues with the way this book begins. The descriptions come fast and clog up the plot, there are a lot of assumptions made, the pacing is inconsistent and overly fast. And even afterwards, though you can tell Fuller is excited to explain the world a lot of it contradicts itself or makes the details flimsy.
This book feels like a lot like a Spirited Away clone, mixed with So You Want to Be a Wizard, and while I'm sure it has an audience, it doesn't seem like it's quite found its feet.
3
Hattie is already not happy to be moving to a strange small town, but things become completely terrible and out of her control once magical creatures over run it, stealing away her parent's Selves. Unsure why she can see things others can't, but having collected a few allies and leads to follow, Hattie forces her way into a magical world she shouldn't have been able to get to and makes a deal.
I have to first state that this book was listed as YA, which it is not, and had instead read it with the proper headspace of a Middlegrade book, I probably would have been less judgmental about certain aspects. For any who may be on the fence about the intended age range- the main character is 12 and the story itself is pretty juvenile, I do think the middlegrade audience might like this story, but it's too childish for teen or up.
What's nice about this book is the descriptions. Fuller clearly has a vivid picture of the things in this world, and can write them well. There are plenty of magical creatures and places that are described in such detail I feel I might actually be picturing what Fuller is. That's a skill, and it's used well, if not a bit overused.
There's also a quirky cast of characters that work well for a middlegrade. I think it's pretty easy to get excited about a demon in a lantern that operates an elevator, and I think kids would have a goof time with him, as well as the others.
I also think the ending of this book is well done in terms of expansion. If this does continue as a series, there's certainly a good set up for a sequel that makes you want to know what comes next.
Over all, beyond the mis-marketing, I think there are just a lot of issues with the way this book begins. The descriptions come fast and clog up the plot, there are a lot of assumptions made, the pacing is inconsistent and overly fast. And even afterwards, though you can tell Fuller is excited to explain the world a lot of it contradicts itself or makes the details flimsy.
This book feels like a lot like a Spirited Away clone, mixed with So You Want to Be a Wizard, and while I'm sure it has an audience, it doesn't seem like it's quite found its feet.
October 22, 2021
Magical and fantastical, reading Perceiver is like stepping into Spirited Away or an enchanting Ghibli movie.
In Perceiver, there are two worlds, the human world, and Tsava. Tsava is a magical world and I really like how richly the author describes this new world. It is very descriptive, and the author doesn’t spare any detail making it easier for the reader to imagine Tsava.
Another interesting factor of the book is that it has an amazing cast of creatures known as Orex. The Orex are so unique and otherworldly, they will tease your imagination as you try to visualize them in your head while you are reading and learning about the different types of Orex in Tsava. The assortment of Orex is mind-blowing! You will encounter a diversity of creatures ranging from a gigantic chicken that is also a living building that houses an entire casino all the way to computers that have a mind of their own.
Not only are the inhabitants in Tsava intriguing, but the magical system introduced in the book is also an added spice that piques the curiosity of the reader because it seems to have many sources. Though Tsava uses ‘tags’ which behave in a way that is similar to magic, some of the Orex living in Tsava have their own unique magic, and there are also mystical artifacts that are imbued with powerful magical properties which makes you wonder how those items were made.
With a rich world, an assortment of Orex, and a unique magical system, I feel that the world-building of Tsava is solid. Perceiver successfully manages to pull the reader into a completely different world. An incredibly interesting world that leaves the reader hungry to learn more about Tsava, its history, culture, inhabitants, and magical system.
Another aspect that I like in this book is how the author switches across styles to suit the situation in the book. When the malevolent Stroilmen were introduced. I was gripped with fear and anticipation when Hattie first encountered these monsters as she combined her narrative writing style with rich descriptions. This was present throughout the book and I felt that this was so effective because it added the extra element of fear and anticipation that the scenes required.
Furthermore, I enjoyed the subtle yet realistic character development that Hattie goes through during her stay in Tsava.
I loved the world-building, the author’s writing style, and the character development of the main character. However, there were certain things about the book that I wasn’t very fond of which I feel can be improved.
Firstly, I wished that the author delved more into the backstory of the other characters. I felt that most of the character development was focused on Hattie to the extent that I knew so little of the other characters by the time I finished reading the book. This is such a shame. I would have loved to learn more about Jack, Jane, and Limn. However, because Perceiver is the first part of a series, there probably wasn’t much focus on the character development of the other characters because there are still two books left in the series. Who knows, maybe in book 2 or three of the Perceiver Trilogy, those characters will be given the chance to grow.
Secondly, I struggled to imagine Tsava and its inhabitants. As much as I liked the world-building in the book, I found it difficult to visualize some scenes because the characters were interacting with unfamiliar creatures that can’t be found in reality. Though there were detailed descriptions, I found it difficult to imagine how those beasts looked like because they were not familiar to me. I think it would have been helpful if, by the end of the book, there are drawing to show how the creatures look like to help readers visualize.
Thirdly, I wouldn’t consider this as a critique as this is more based on my personal preference but the story ends with a cliffhanger and I felt a bit frustrated as I am not a fan of cliffhangers. However, because the author has done a good job in establishing the foundations of the story in Perceiver, I am curious about Hattie’s fate and I am looking forward to reading the next book.
Overall, though there were some parts that I did not like, this book is a good novel to read. Particularly so for fans of tropes where the main character is whisked away to another world such as Spirited Away and Alice in Wonderland. It is marketed for YA but somehow because the protagonist is only twelve years old, I believe that it can also appeal to a younger audience. However, a younger audience may find some of the scenes a bit scary.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens and I confirm that this is an honest review that I am writing voluntarily.
In Perceiver, there are two worlds, the human world, and Tsava. Tsava is a magical world and I really like how richly the author describes this new world. It is very descriptive, and the author doesn’t spare any detail making it easier for the reader to imagine Tsava.
Another interesting factor of the book is that it has an amazing cast of creatures known as Orex. The Orex are so unique and otherworldly, they will tease your imagination as you try to visualize them in your head while you are reading and learning about the different types of Orex in Tsava. The assortment of Orex is mind-blowing! You will encounter a diversity of creatures ranging from a gigantic chicken that is also a living building that houses an entire casino all the way to computers that have a mind of their own.
Not only are the inhabitants in Tsava intriguing, but the magical system introduced in the book is also an added spice that piques the curiosity of the reader because it seems to have many sources. Though Tsava uses ‘tags’ which behave in a way that is similar to magic, some of the Orex living in Tsava have their own unique magic, and there are also mystical artifacts that are imbued with powerful magical properties which makes you wonder how those items were made.
With a rich world, an assortment of Orex, and a unique magical system, I feel that the world-building of Tsava is solid. Perceiver successfully manages to pull the reader into a completely different world. An incredibly interesting world that leaves the reader hungry to learn more about Tsava, its history, culture, inhabitants, and magical system.
Another aspect that I like in this book is how the author switches across styles to suit the situation in the book. When the malevolent Stroilmen were introduced. I was gripped with fear and anticipation when Hattie first encountered these monsters as she combined her narrative writing style with rich descriptions. This was present throughout the book and I felt that this was so effective because it added the extra element of fear and anticipation that the scenes required.
Furthermore, I enjoyed the subtle yet realistic character development that Hattie goes through during her stay in Tsava.
I loved the world-building, the author’s writing style, and the character development of the main character. However, there were certain things about the book that I wasn’t very fond of which I feel can be improved.
Firstly, I wished that the author delved more into the backstory of the other characters. I felt that most of the character development was focused on Hattie to the extent that I knew so little of the other characters by the time I finished reading the book. This is such a shame. I would have loved to learn more about Jack, Jane, and Limn. However, because Perceiver is the first part of a series, there probably wasn’t much focus on the character development of the other characters because there are still two books left in the series. Who knows, maybe in book 2 or three of the Perceiver Trilogy, those characters will be given the chance to grow.
Secondly, I struggled to imagine Tsava and its inhabitants. As much as I liked the world-building in the book, I found it difficult to visualize some scenes because the characters were interacting with unfamiliar creatures that can’t be found in reality. Though there were detailed descriptions, I found it difficult to imagine how those beasts looked like because they were not familiar to me. I think it would have been helpful if, by the end of the book, there are drawing to show how the creatures look like to help readers visualize.
Thirdly, I wouldn’t consider this as a critique as this is more based on my personal preference but the story ends with a cliffhanger and I felt a bit frustrated as I am not a fan of cliffhangers. However, because the author has done a good job in establishing the foundations of the story in Perceiver, I am curious about Hattie’s fate and I am looking forward to reading the next book.
Overall, though there were some parts that I did not like, this book is a good novel to read. Particularly so for fans of tropes where the main character is whisked away to another world such as Spirited Away and Alice in Wonderland. It is marketed for YA but somehow because the protagonist is only twelve years old, I believe that it can also appeal to a younger audience. However, a younger audience may find some of the scenes a bit scary.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens and I confirm that this is an honest review that I am writing voluntarily.
August 15, 2021
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing an advance review copy of the e-book for consideration. This was an enjoyable portal fantasy employing the trope of the young girl with special powers, who is drawn into a magical world so as to fulfill a special task or destiny in order to reunite with her family, or to return home. This is a genre that with a lineage as old as Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, or more recently, The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Other people have also made comparisons to Miyazaki's Spirited Away.
So, you kind of know what to expect. But Fuller is very droll and imaginative in her world building. The alternate world (Tsava) into which our girl protagonist -- Hattie-- travels (through a fountain) is at times familiar and earthlike; and at times otherworldly, and filled with creatures and things that can be by turns preposterous or horrific. Hattie's mission is to rescue her parents and neighbors, whose essential "selves" have been severed from their bodies, which remain as zombies back on earth. The selves have been taken to Tsava by the evil Ran Corp for certain experiments involving the Tsavan kind of magic (zenzen).
The main bad guy, below the corporate boss himself, is an orex (one of the types of sentient beings in Tsava) named En Law. En Law is doing the corporation's bidding in order to obtain the resources to cure his wife and child of a congenital disease (another kind of trope, the villain with somewhat sympathetic motives). He is assisted by Jane, another Orex, who looks like a human skeleton -- she is jealous of Hattie and makes life difficult for her. Another trope is the female protagonist being aided by something like a fairy godmother or a good witch (as in Oz) as well as some local sidekicks. In this case, Hattie has the Queen of the Fengul (which a kind of wanderer, another kind of Tsavan being); an orex named Jack; and a spirit named Limn (this is yet another kind of being -- this kind can inhabit normally inanimate objects -- or living things).
As you can see, the book employs a lot of familiar themes and tropes; yet the way they are used can be pretty over-the-top. For example, you have monstrous corporate enforcers called Stroilmen that are, in effect, walking crude oil; the fungal and floating leaves with stick-figure faces -- yet they eat the faces of unsuspecting orex. The book can be pretty amusing with bar scenes out of Star Wars, and so on. The world-building reminded me somewhat of Ursula K. LeGuin's short story anthology, Changing Planes, in its craziness and hilarity. But those absurd things turn out to be major plot points later on, too: especially the living casino Baba, who is indentured to Ran Corp, like Hattie becomes on her arrival in Tsava.
Naturally, there is a home-grown resistance to the evil Ran Corp in Tsava, and Hattie rebuffs their attempt to recruit her, as she thinks that she must wait out her indenture period, working for Ran Corp in the casino for five years. A lot of the book is about Hattie learning the ways of life in Tsava, pretending to be a type of orex by wearing antlers; and going on errands for En Law with Jack and/or Jane. Thus we learn about Tsava, but much remains a mystery to the reader, as well as to the other orex, throughout. For example, how could Hattie see orex back on Earth, when other humans could not? Why is there a spirit named Frank who claims to have previously been a human? Why are some things in Tsava the same as on earth, and some things completely alien and different?
I think that this was a good book, and very entertaining, but with some flaws. I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
So, you kind of know what to expect. But Fuller is very droll and imaginative in her world building. The alternate world (Tsava) into which our girl protagonist -- Hattie-- travels (through a fountain) is at times familiar and earthlike; and at times otherworldly, and filled with creatures and things that can be by turns preposterous or horrific. Hattie's mission is to rescue her parents and neighbors, whose essential "selves" have been severed from their bodies, which remain as zombies back on earth. The selves have been taken to Tsava by the evil Ran Corp for certain experiments involving the Tsavan kind of magic (zenzen).
The main bad guy, below the corporate boss himself, is an orex (one of the types of sentient beings in Tsava) named En Law. En Law is doing the corporation's bidding in order to obtain the resources to cure his wife and child of a congenital disease (another kind of trope, the villain with somewhat sympathetic motives). He is assisted by Jane, another Orex, who looks like a human skeleton -- she is jealous of Hattie and makes life difficult for her. Another trope is the female protagonist being aided by something like a fairy godmother or a good witch (as in Oz) as well as some local sidekicks. In this case, Hattie has the Queen of the Fengul (which a kind of wanderer, another kind of Tsavan being); an orex named Jack; and a spirit named Limn (this is yet another kind of being -- this kind can inhabit normally inanimate objects -- or living things).
As you can see, the book employs a lot of familiar themes and tropes; yet the way they are used can be pretty over-the-top. For example, you have monstrous corporate enforcers called Stroilmen that are, in effect, walking crude oil; the fungal and floating leaves with stick-figure faces -- yet they eat the faces of unsuspecting orex. The book can be pretty amusing with bar scenes out of Star Wars, and so on. The world-building reminded me somewhat of Ursula K. LeGuin's short story anthology, Changing Planes, in its craziness and hilarity. But those absurd things turn out to be major plot points later on, too: especially the living casino Baba, who is indentured to Ran Corp, like Hattie becomes on her arrival in Tsava.
Naturally, there is a home-grown resistance to the evil Ran Corp in Tsava, and Hattie rebuffs their attempt to recruit her, as she thinks that she must wait out her indenture period, working for Ran Corp in the casino for five years. A lot of the book is about Hattie learning the ways of life in Tsava, pretending to be a type of orex by wearing antlers; and going on errands for En Law with Jack and/or Jane. Thus we learn about Tsava, but much remains a mystery to the reader, as well as to the other orex, throughout. For example, how could Hattie see orex back on Earth, when other humans could not? Why is there a spirit named Frank who claims to have previously been a human? Why are some things in Tsava the same as on earth, and some things completely alien and different?
I think that this was a good book, and very entertaining, but with some flaws. I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 17, 2021
Fans of Spirited Away will find a lot to love in this rich world, which hints at myth and imagination.
Twelve-year-old Hattie isn't thrilled about moving to a new town. Immediately, she starts to see strange men and even stranger creatures, but if that were odd enough, no one but her seems to notice them. When a boy named Jack explains that he's an Orex and that as a human, she shouldn't be able to notice any of this, she's not sure what to think. But before she can digest any of this, her parents are kidnapped and taken to a world called Tsava. There, Hattie must work to pay off the debt of purchasing her parents back if she ever wants to live with them again.
This book is sold as a young adult novel, but I see it as a much better fit for the middle grade audience. Hattie is twelve and acts her age, but even the story plot has the atmosphere of a middle grade novel as Hattie travels to this other world, meets many creatures, and tries her best to cope with the new life while struggling to make it through. It's quick paced, imaginative, but stays lighter on the depth end, making it great for the middle age audience.
The world building is very well done as all sorts of fantastic creatures run across Hattie's path. These are well described and vary greatly, making each one original and intriguing. Tsava also comes across nicely as Hattie explores the sometimes a bit familiar, but usually vastly different world. Here imagination takes flight and lets the most fantastic things spring from the page. There's a sense of spirits and magic as well, which takes different forms and add all sorts of unexpected, small twists and turns. It's not hard to understand Hattie's amazement and feel for her as she copes to deal with this bunch, especially since she is up against a tough enemy.
While I did find myself caught up in Hattie's adventure, I did have trouble connecting with the first pages, characters, and even some scenes. Some moments were a bit disconnected and bounced too quick from one thing to the other without enough explanation. Still, as the story went along, I didn't want to put it down either. Hattie is easy to sympathize with and get to know. Plus, it was a treat to venture with her as she discovered the strange places and met new friends. Unfortunately, the other characters in the book missed depth. There were more than a couple, which I wished I could have known more about, but since this is the first book in the trilogy, I'm hoping there is more to come on this end.
All in all, this is an interesting tale for those who love the idea of spirits and imagination.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the rich world building.
Twelve-year-old Hattie isn't thrilled about moving to a new town. Immediately, she starts to see strange men and even stranger creatures, but if that were odd enough, no one but her seems to notice them. When a boy named Jack explains that he's an Orex and that as a human, she shouldn't be able to notice any of this, she's not sure what to think. But before she can digest any of this, her parents are kidnapped and taken to a world called Tsava. There, Hattie must work to pay off the debt of purchasing her parents back if she ever wants to live with them again.
This book is sold as a young adult novel, but I see it as a much better fit for the middle grade audience. Hattie is twelve and acts her age, but even the story plot has the atmosphere of a middle grade novel as Hattie travels to this other world, meets many creatures, and tries her best to cope with the new life while struggling to make it through. It's quick paced, imaginative, but stays lighter on the depth end, making it great for the middle age audience.
The world building is very well done as all sorts of fantastic creatures run across Hattie's path. These are well described and vary greatly, making each one original and intriguing. Tsava also comes across nicely as Hattie explores the sometimes a bit familiar, but usually vastly different world. Here imagination takes flight and lets the most fantastic things spring from the page. There's a sense of spirits and magic as well, which takes different forms and add all sorts of unexpected, small twists and turns. It's not hard to understand Hattie's amazement and feel for her as she copes to deal with this bunch, especially since she is up against a tough enemy.
While I did find myself caught up in Hattie's adventure, I did have trouble connecting with the first pages, characters, and even some scenes. Some moments were a bit disconnected and bounced too quick from one thing to the other without enough explanation. Still, as the story went along, I didn't want to put it down either. Hattie is easy to sympathize with and get to know. Plus, it was a treat to venture with her as she discovered the strange places and met new friends. Unfortunately, the other characters in the book missed depth. There were more than a couple, which I wished I could have known more about, but since this is the first book in the trilogy, I'm hoping there is more to come on this end.
All in all, this is an interesting tale for those who love the idea of spirits and imagination.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the rich world building.
August 29, 2021
I would like to thank Book Sirens and E.C. Fuller for an advanced reader copy. Perceiver follows 12-year-old Hattie. Hattie and her parents moved to a new town. In this new town they meet their new neighbour’s. Her parents are happy with the new move and don’t suspect a thing. However, Hattie can’t shake the feeling that something is off. After finding out that she can see mysterious monsters and her new neighbours can too she ends up traveling to another world called Tsava to save her parents. My favourite thing about Perceiver is how realistic it is. This might sound unusual for a fantasy however the way it depicted 12-year-old Hattie was realistic. Her confusion and the fact that she wasn’t flawless and always extraordinary was great. As in today’s books that feature teenagers written by adults they are often depicted as babies. The world building was heavy and long as any good fantasy should have. The pacing with the heavy world building was done where it felt natural and not explanatory. Perceiver’s world building had just the right amount of show and not tell. The characters were also made well. All of the characters had backstories, feelings and most importantly their lives didn’t revolve around the main character. The only thing that felt unnecessary was some of the details. There were a lot of details yet at some parts there was attention and time spent on unnecessary detail. Putting all this aside it was a remarkable book. The ending to book one of this trilogy was done right. Although it did end on a cliff-hanger it ended naturally and at a place it should have ended. This is something that usually takes a few books for authors to master yet E.C Fuller was able to do this for her debut. I cannot absolutely wait for the sequel as the book was refreshing and enjoyable. Although the book is marketed as Young Adult, both young adults, teens and middle grade readers can enjoy Perceiver. The one thing that saddens me is that it is very unlikely that Perceiver will be read by millions and get the praise it deserves. This is by no fault of E.C. Fuller but much rather the industries. As the book industry is overpopulated and dominated by publishers like penguin random house. Since this book is self-published it is going to be very difficult and almost impossible for it to reach the audience it deserves to reach. If this book was published by one of Penguin random houses many publishing houses it would be a hit and probably a best seller. I cannot wait to read the sequel and the rest of the trilogy when it comes out.
July 19, 2021
I think that this book should be read by everyone, for a multitude of reasons - but I have to completely fawn over one aspect first.
This is a magical, fantastical read with a wide cast of amazing creatures and monsters. The biggest draw for me however, was how very Ghibli this read felt!
We are first introduced to the "stroilmen" which can do nothing but make me think of Howl's Moving Castle and thus I was greatly excited to read on. A Spirited Away type of story then followed with scenes reminiscent of the bath house and it would do a disservice for me to not mention Baba. A building with chicken legs. The inspiration behind these parts was absolutely wonderful, whilst retaining a unique and exciting setting.
The creatures in this book, both from living things and devices, are so creative and wondrous that I spent so much of my time enjoying visualising them and wishing I could have them all drawn down in front of me. The story also flows nicely with a cast and crew that don't expand to too many and Hattie's mission remains at heart.
This book is said to be YA but it didn't read to me that way. Hattie is a 12 year old who speaks her mind and does behave as a child would, but she does read as older and nothing in the book felt like more than MG. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, I love both YA and MG, but I feel readers may pick this up wanting something different than they get.
I cannot wait for this series to continue, and please can we acknowledge the most beautiful book cover? I genuinely loved this book and devoured it whole in one sitting because I just had to.
Read thanks to the author and BookSirens.
This is a magical, fantastical read with a wide cast of amazing creatures and monsters. The biggest draw for me however, was how very Ghibli this read felt!
We are first introduced to the "stroilmen" which can do nothing but make me think of Howl's Moving Castle and thus I was greatly excited to read on. A Spirited Away type of story then followed with scenes reminiscent of the bath house and it would do a disservice for me to not mention Baba. A building with chicken legs. The inspiration behind these parts was absolutely wonderful, whilst retaining a unique and exciting setting.
The creatures in this book, both from living things and devices, are so creative and wondrous that I spent so much of my time enjoying visualising them and wishing I could have them all drawn down in front of me. The story also flows nicely with a cast and crew that don't expand to too many and Hattie's mission remains at heart.
This book is said to be YA but it didn't read to me that way. Hattie is a 12 year old who speaks her mind and does behave as a child would, but she does read as older and nothing in the book felt like more than MG. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, I love both YA and MG, but I feel readers may pick this up wanting something different than they get.
I cannot wait for this series to continue, and please can we acknowledge the most beautiful book cover? I genuinely loved this book and devoured it whole in one sitting because I just had to.
Read thanks to the author and BookSirens.
July 6, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book follows 12YO Hattie who moves to a new town. She is able to see things that adults cannot. She finds out that there is another world out there and her parent are taken to this strange world. Hattie is determined to get her parents back so she travels there and her adventure begins.
This is definitely a middle grade book. I was not aware of that fact when I picked it up. I do not believe it is YA so that is the major problem I have with the book. The description never mentions Hatties age and that to me is misleading. The writing is very good and the world building is incredible. The little girl Hattie is very strong and determined to get her parents back but Im not sure a12 year old would be as brave as the writer made her out to be and I do not believe she could do the things that Hattie did. I realize that this is a fantasy book but maybe making the little girl 16 or 17 instead of 12. Other than those items I felt the book was entertaining and a great middle school adventure book. The cover is beautiful and if I saw it in a store I would pick it up. Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
This book follows 12YO Hattie who moves to a new town. She is able to see things that adults cannot. She finds out that there is another world out there and her parent are taken to this strange world. Hattie is determined to get her parents back so she travels there and her adventure begins.
This is definitely a middle grade book. I was not aware of that fact when I picked it up. I do not believe it is YA so that is the major problem I have with the book. The description never mentions Hatties age and that to me is misleading. The writing is very good and the world building is incredible. The little girl Hattie is very strong and determined to get her parents back but Im not sure a12 year old would be as brave as the writer made her out to be and I do not believe she could do the things that Hattie did. I realize that this is a fantasy book but maybe making the little girl 16 or 17 instead of 12. Other than those items I felt the book was entertaining and a great middle school adventure book. The cover is beautiful and if I saw it in a store I would pick it up. Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
November 24, 2021
Thank you to BookSirens for the advance review copy I received for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First of all, I am now impatiently waiting for the rest of the series.
Was I aware this was aimed at a much younger audience than I anticipated? No. Did that hinder me from enjoying this story? Not at all! Do I admit that I picked up this book mostly for the absolutely stunning cover? Absolutely.
This book feels very Alice Through The Looking Glass mixed with Spirited Away and Coraline. It's spooky, and genuinely got my heart racing through several portions of the book. Hattie's determination to do her best to navigate the bizarre circumstances she finds herself in is inspiring. This story had me gripped pretty strongly, and I think the imagery it conjured up will live in my mind for a long time to come. I honestly did not expect it to sink its claws into me the way it did, and I'm really excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
I think I only have one main gripe with this novel: it took me a little while to understand all the different creatures, and to grasp all the terminology. However, much of it was explained quite well as Hattie discovers more about Tsava.
First of all, I am now impatiently waiting for the rest of the series.
Was I aware this was aimed at a much younger audience than I anticipated? No. Did that hinder me from enjoying this story? Not at all! Do I admit that I picked up this book mostly for the absolutely stunning cover? Absolutely.
This book feels very Alice Through The Looking Glass mixed with Spirited Away and Coraline. It's spooky, and genuinely got my heart racing through several portions of the book. Hattie's determination to do her best to navigate the bizarre circumstances she finds herself in is inspiring. This story had me gripped pretty strongly, and I think the imagery it conjured up will live in my mind for a long time to come. I honestly did not expect it to sink its claws into me the way it did, and I'm really excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
I think I only have one main gripe with this novel: it took me a little while to understand all the different creatures, and to grasp all the terminology. However, much of it was explained quite well as Hattie discovers more about Tsava.
November 8, 2021
This book is the first in the YA perceiver trilogy.
I didn't have any expectations when I started this book. It's the first book in the young adult perceiver trilogy.
The world building is amazing. There are 2 worlds Tsava, the magical world and the human world. The author made sure to write a very detailed description of the world and its creatures so it is very easy for the readers to image what the characters and Tsava could look like.
The character development was mainly focused on the main character Hattie so I do hope the author is going to give the other characters more character growth and give them a well-developed background story in the second/third book.
There were some parts I didn't like and could use some work but it's a good story and it still has so much potential.
It's a good start for the trilogy. I definitely want to find out what's next for these characters and I can't wait to read the second installment in the perceiver trilogy.
*This book is suitable for a younger audience as well. The main character is only twelve.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I didn't have any expectations when I started this book. It's the first book in the young adult perceiver trilogy.
The world building is amazing. There are 2 worlds Tsava, the magical world and the human world. The author made sure to write a very detailed description of the world and its creatures so it is very easy for the readers to image what the characters and Tsava could look like.
The character development was mainly focused on the main character Hattie so I do hope the author is going to give the other characters more character growth and give them a well-developed background story in the second/third book.
There were some parts I didn't like and could use some work but it's a good story and it still has so much potential.
It's a good start for the trilogy. I definitely want to find out what's next for these characters and I can't wait to read the second installment in the perceiver trilogy.
*This book is suitable for a younger audience as well. The main character is only twelve.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 19, 2021
This is the first in a series and the author does set up an immersive fantasy world with weird creatures and magical elements. There is good imagination and creativity at work here. I think much use of CGI would be needed to bring the story to a screen. The main character is a twelve year old girl and she is faced with several dilemmas including whom she should trust and who is trying to hurt or help her. She is not afraid to ask for help and some of these beings explain the society and rules of the world where she finds herself.
The beginning of the book is more polished and credible with some confusion arising around action scenes and the later chapters are not so thoroughly edited.
I found the resolution of several story arcs unsatisfying and the cliff-hanger ending left the door open for more exploits of characters introduced, but I'm not so sure I cared about all of them enough to be excited about the next book. I am curious enough, though, to give it a go.
I received a free advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The beginning of the book is more polished and credible with some confusion arising around action scenes and the later chapters are not so thoroughly edited.
I found the resolution of several story arcs unsatisfying and the cliff-hanger ending left the door open for more exploits of characters introduced, but I'm not so sure I cared about all of them enough to be excited about the next book. I am curious enough, though, to give it a go.
I received a free advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 21, 2021
Where to start!
The book has a great storyline - a young girl moves home and finds out she can see things others can’t, she travels to another dimension to save her parents and along the way meets some wonderfully magic people.
I enjoyed the action scenes and thought they were written well. Hattie - the main character was likeable and very much a 12 year old! The bad guys were evil and made you feel for Hattie and Jack and wonder how they can get out of the situation, hence why I kept reading!
I agree with another reviewer that the story isn’t YA, the story has science related themes but I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to a 10/11 year old.
Apart from a couple of blips where I didn’t fully understand what was going on, the story is exciting and had me wanting to know what happened next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book has a great storyline - a young girl moves home and finds out she can see things others can’t, she travels to another dimension to save her parents and along the way meets some wonderfully magic people.
I enjoyed the action scenes and thought they were written well. Hattie - the main character was likeable and very much a 12 year old! The bad guys were evil and made you feel for Hattie and Jack and wonder how they can get out of the situation, hence why I kept reading!
I agree with another reviewer that the story isn’t YA, the story has science related themes but I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to a 10/11 year old.
Apart from a couple of blips where I didn’t fully understand what was going on, the story is exciting and had me wanting to know what happened next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 8, 2022
Perceiver was my third read of the year and when I started the book first I saw sure that this would be a great read for me. But it didn't happen that way.
The action in itself is easy to understand but I had a really hard time keeping up with all the details and characters and stuff the author decided to introduce. There are lots of things to process and one can see why a reader may be tempted to give up and DNF. Even if I found the writing style too much I decided to go on and read the whole book.
I would have loved more detailed aspects of the characters instead of the story so I could understand what exactly they are in this story. I feel like I barely know Hattie and while there are lots of side characters we find just a tiny bit about Jack and Limn.
I got a review copy from BookSirens and this in my sincere review.
The action in itself is easy to understand but I had a really hard time keeping up with all the details and characters and stuff the author decided to introduce. There are lots of things to process and one can see why a reader may be tempted to give up and DNF. Even if I found the writing style too much I decided to go on and read the whole book.
I would have loved more detailed aspects of the characters instead of the story so I could understand what exactly they are in this story. I feel like I barely know Hattie and while there are lots of side characters we find just a tiny bit about Jack and Limn.
I got a review copy from BookSirens and this in my sincere review.
January 30, 2022
Perceiver tells a story about two worlds, the human world and Tsava, a magical realm. The books gives off the Spirited Away vibes.
The magical system of using 'tags' is quite interesting. I enjoyed the world-building, the interesting characters and their development.
I realised that it is not YA, more like middle-grade. I've no problem with that but would have preferred to be aware before starting my read as it does affect my world imagination of the book.
At some points, it was a little draggy and disconnected in terms of the flow of the story. I took awhile to finish the book. I felt no attachments to any of the characters which made it less enjoyable.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and it does leave me feeling intrigued and curious.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The magical system of using 'tags' is quite interesting. I enjoyed the world-building, the interesting characters and their development.
I realised that it is not YA, more like middle-grade. I've no problem with that but would have preferred to be aware before starting my read as it does affect my world imagination of the book.
At some points, it was a little draggy and disconnected in terms of the flow of the story. I took awhile to finish the book. I felt no attachments to any of the characters which made it less enjoyable.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and it does leave me feeling intrigued and curious.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 16, 2021
Perceiver is a children's book that I enjoyed reading. I can't really rate it higher because even though I enjoyed it, it was at first difficult for me to get into the story. The beginning was slow paced and I did not quite bond with the main character.
The hero is a resourceful little girl who is forced into a new fantastic world. The beginning of the novel made me think a lot about Ghibli's Spirited Away. There were similar things but let me reassure you, the story is quite different.
A positive point is that even though it is a first volume, there is some sort of resolution in the end, as well as openings to invite you to read the next books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The hero is a resourceful little girl who is forced into a new fantastic world. The beginning of the novel made me think a lot about Ghibli's Spirited Away. There were similar things but let me reassure you, the story is quite different.
A positive point is that even though it is a first volume, there is some sort of resolution in the end, as well as openings to invite you to read the next books.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 24, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a good read and I enjoyed the magical elements of this story .it had a likable heroine and i also enjoyed the character of jack a lot. The villains motivative are not wholly clear but this is the first of a coming series
twelve year old hattie enters a contract to save her parents who had been kidnapped by a sinister corporation hattie along the way meets many different creatures and gains the title of perceiver and is drawn it the conflict to take down the corporation and liberate those trapped
This was a good read and I enjoyed the magical elements of this story .it had a likable heroine and i also enjoyed the character of jack a lot. The villains motivative are not wholly clear but this is the first of a coming series
twelve year old hattie enters a contract to save her parents who had been kidnapped by a sinister corporation hattie along the way meets many different creatures and gains the title of perceiver and is drawn it the conflict to take down the corporation and liberate those trapped
August 19, 2021
Thank you BookSirens for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
What an interesting read. This book is packed full of wildly vivid imagery and incredible monsters known as orex, that our lead Hattie navigates so bravely. I can only imagine what this authors dreams must be like if she’s able to write such a fascinating plot with unbelievable worlds. It was such a fun break for my brain to let my imagination run wild while reading this. I did find myself lost a couple times as the plot can jump quickly at times. But, all in all this is a super fun read, definitely not like anything I’ve read before. The cliffhanger ending has me looking forward to what’s next!
September 2, 2021
Before I even started this book I was drawn in by the amazing cover. Then once I started it I knew I was going to enjoy it. The genre listing is misleading. It says YA but I feel it’s MG. Hattie is the 12 year old MC who is a true 12 year old. Very opinionated and not afraid to let you know what she’s thinking.
I absolutely love the way the author describes everything. I can feel the enthusiasm of the author coming through in every description written. It’s amazing and drew me in. This magical world is definitely one that I would gladly return to if allowed.
I received this ARC for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely love the way the author describes everything. I can feel the enthusiasm of the author coming through in every description written. It’s amazing and drew me in. This magical world is definitely one that I would gladly return to if allowed.
I received this ARC for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 5, 2021
Maybe it was just me but I had such a difficult time getting into this book, it took me longer to finish them any other book I’ve read this year. The story and two worlds were build so fast I felt rushed and shoved into it that I had to go back several times and reread to be sure the story made sense. I wanted more detail of Tsava, more of a background before being submerged or perhaps being submerged and then driven back up for air again. The action was great but the pace was rushed. It felt difficult to relate to the characters which made it hard to stay engaged.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 6, 2021
The feature I liked most about this book was the vivid imagery. I sort of enjoyed the read. Cons for me outweighed the pros unfortunately. The book goes at a remarkable slow pace, although the plot jumped quickly and I felt at times lost in a rabbit hole-esque fashion. The world building I found confusing and I just couldn’t grab any attachment to the characters. Great action, but rushed pace. The ending did offer a glimmer of hope. The author has the skills to turn it around, but I’m not sure I can continue the ride.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 25, 2021
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
an easily freaked-out Dressmaker, a Talking Cactus, kisses from goldfish, a girl that can turn into a skeleton... E.C. Fuller has made their own attempt at a Ghibli Wonderland, what has come out is a well-detailed land without any lack of creativity if a bit clumped together. this story of a girl who sees her parents vanish into the forest one night and finds herself roped into being a servant for the alien? dead? I'm still not sure, seems to be intended as a middle-grade fantasy as I am not sure it makes it all the way to YA. a light and decent read if you're looking for that rather than a gargantuan.
an easily freaked-out Dressmaker, a Talking Cactus, kisses from goldfish, a girl that can turn into a skeleton... E.C. Fuller has made their own attempt at a Ghibli Wonderland, what has come out is a well-detailed land without any lack of creativity if a bit clumped together. this story of a girl who sees her parents vanish into the forest one night and finds herself roped into being a servant for the alien? dead? I'm still not sure, seems to be intended as a middle-grade fantasy as I am not sure it makes it all the way to YA. a light and decent read if you're looking for that rather than a gargantuan.
November 22, 2021
Perceiver is Book 1 in The Perceiver Trilogy by Erin Fuller. Hattie and her family have moved to a new town, Applewood. Hattie sees someone on the hill that no one sees. Neighbors come to welcome the Flores family and tell them about working at En Law's Consulting Firm. What the family was not told was that En Law was a gateway to a different dimension. This is a contemporary fantasy with kidnapping, aliens, and Hattie trying to save everyone! I had to pay attention to what I was reading or I would get lost in the story. I found Perceiver to be interesting with good characters. I am looking forward to reading Book 2. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 9, 2021
This was such an interesting story when it comes to otherworld beings. Instead of the basic vampires, werewolves, ghosts, aliens, we get a talking cactus, a friendly lantern, a giant whose body is housing and homing other beings as well as a casino, and many more creatures. I thought that the main character fit her age well, with being a direct 12 year old who will literally come out to say she hate's someone or something. The cliffhanger did increase my interest for the next book, which I'm sure will be another adventure.
July 23, 2021
Hattie is swept away into a world by a boy who can stretch and an evil cooperation in order to save her family that has been captured.
This book took me awhile to get into. The beginning felt much like I had fallen down the rabbit hole into Hattie's adventure without much investment in her character or the relationships. The world building is confusing; with that being said the author does a remarkable job utilizing vivid imagery that made me invested in the story.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book took me awhile to get into. The beginning felt much like I had fallen down the rabbit hole into Hattie's adventure without much investment in her character or the relationships. The world building is confusing; with that being said the author does a remarkable job utilizing vivid imagery that made me invested in the story.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 15, 2021
This book has strong "Stranger things" and "Something wicked this way comes" vibes. Though the plot and the characters do seem original, the spirit of the book… does not. It is not badly written, but I just did not really feel hooked. It felt generic, though in a very subtle way.
I have received this book for free and leave this review voluntarily.
I have received this book for free and leave this review voluntarily.
July 10, 2021
the cover is what drew me in and I'm glad I was able to read this. The storyline was amazing and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. I look forward to more in the series and from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 25, 2021
I unfortunately did not enjoy this book. The first half of the book felt very much like it was strongly based on the movie "Spirited Away", and the section half of the book was a very under explained confusing battle sequence.
Wouldn't recommend.
Wouldn't recommend.
August 3, 2021
Has vibes of Miyazaki's Spired Away and is quite enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 31, 2021
Overall, this book was not bad! The fantasy elements were great, very Studio Ghibli–esc, although they did seem a bit out of the blue at times. The author has a wonderful gift for describing and was able to build the world and character's appearances wonderfully. There were characters I disliked, like Hattie's mom and sometimes even Hattie, but they established the story well. What diminished my reading experience the most was probably the errant marketing—if you read this as a YA fantasy like it's marketed as, you're not likely to be impressed. It's not the most unique or coherent, and won't measure up with other YA books in the same genre. However, reading it as a middle-grade book changes the ballgame. Hattie is only twelve, so it makes sense as an MG read, and it's great for readers of that age category. I would have loved to have a book like this a few years ago. Now, not so much. Another thing I'd say is the pacing seemed a little too fast, and it was unrealistic how quickly Hattie comprehended and accepted all the fantastical changes in her life. All in all, I'd give this book a 3.5 rating, recommended for kids in elementary or middle school.
--Thanks to E.C. Fuller and BookSirens for providing a free e-copy of the book in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own.
--Thanks to E.C. Fuller and BookSirens for providing a free e-copy of the book in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own.
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