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Ancient Canada
When two sisters are exiled from their native home, they embark on an epic journey throughout the mythological world of Ancient Canada.
Using Lavender's unique ability to see life and death, she and elder sister, Marigold, must stay within the narrow margins of survival in an alternate Arctic Circle.
Ancient Canada is told by the various characters and creatures Lavender and Marigold encounter along their journey. The revolving narrators not only bring you the story of the two sisters but those of a stone giant, a tremendous bird-warrior, a fugitive bog man, a spoiled prince, and the assassins sent to hunt down Lavender and Marigold.
Drawing from classic literature but told from a modern mythological perspective, Ancient Canada may be unlike anything you've read in a thousand years.
Using Lavender's unique ability to see life and death, she and elder sister, Marigold, must stay within the narrow margins of survival in an alternate Arctic Circle.
Ancient Canada is told by the various characters and creatures Lavender and Marigold encounter along their journey. The revolving narrators not only bring you the story of the two sisters but those of a stone giant, a tremendous bird-warrior, a fugitive bog man, a spoiled prince, and the assassins sent to hunt down Lavender and Marigold.
Drawing from classic literature but told from a modern mythological perspective, Ancient Canada may be unlike anything you've read in a thousand years.
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First published October 11, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 22, 2012
This book is fascinating in many ways and the author has an incredible imagination. Set in an ancient land of semi-medieval technology, it resembles fantasy more than anything, while there are shreds of our world there, especially in the names, the world is extremely different from ours.
From Lichen to the feathermen, there is a lot of creativity here. We have a vast array of characters and creatures that largely dodge previous stories and patterns we have seen over and over again in fantasy. Lavender’s gift is also pretty unusual – not least of which because the power creep that is so common was resisted. Yet, despite not expanding her powers to control life and death, we still see a lot of very creative uses for it – from writing their book about poisonous food, to using it as a guide for safety, avoiding those paths where her death is imminent in favour of safer ones. It’s a unique way to give someone the limited ability of a Seer.
This is also a book that analyses a lot of issues (albeit not in a way that I found ideal). We have in depth discussions on the nature of evil, on passive and aggressive personalities, on ways to negotiate a homogenous culture when one is Other, on class, on welfare, on being fat, on sexism, on privatisation vs nationalisation, on mental illness, on freedom, on selfishness and self-perception, on self-worth, on the value of diversity and many more. Every story had at least one intense debate or examination of one of these concepts and more besides. There’s a lot of deep thinking in this book and a lot of urges to think as well – it encourages the reader to explore these concepts and follow the character’s paths.
Marigold and Lavender also work extremely well together. Lavender is overly serious, but Marigold is fun and often hilariously funny, adding a lightness to the book (albeit, also adding considerable, inappropriate distractions as well).
The story is as much a story of the world as much as it is Lavender and Marigold, with many of the chapters focused on the countries and cultures and creatures within it rather than just their story. It was a sight seeing tour in many ways – occasionally creating redundancies and distractions, but serving to show case these lands and the debates that arise from them
The problem is that this book has a writing style I don’t care for. It is over-written, it may be the most over-written book I’ve read – and I’ve read Dickens. The most glaring of this is the descriptions – things are described in incredible, and unnecessary, detail; people talk in extremely over-wordy and stilted fashion, conversations more a series of speeches delivered to each other. Frankly, the book is over 700 pages long and could quite possibly be halved without loss.
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From Lichen to the feathermen, there is a lot of creativity here. We have a vast array of characters and creatures that largely dodge previous stories and patterns we have seen over and over again in fantasy. Lavender’s gift is also pretty unusual – not least of which because the power creep that is so common was resisted. Yet, despite not expanding her powers to control life and death, we still see a lot of very creative uses for it – from writing their book about poisonous food, to using it as a guide for safety, avoiding those paths where her death is imminent in favour of safer ones. It’s a unique way to give someone the limited ability of a Seer.
This is also a book that analyses a lot of issues (albeit not in a way that I found ideal). We have in depth discussions on the nature of evil, on passive and aggressive personalities, on ways to negotiate a homogenous culture when one is Other, on class, on welfare, on being fat, on sexism, on privatisation vs nationalisation, on mental illness, on freedom, on selfishness and self-perception, on self-worth, on the value of diversity and many more. Every story had at least one intense debate or examination of one of these concepts and more besides. There’s a lot of deep thinking in this book and a lot of urges to think as well – it encourages the reader to explore these concepts and follow the character’s paths.
Marigold and Lavender also work extremely well together. Lavender is overly serious, but Marigold is fun and often hilariously funny, adding a lightness to the book (albeit, also adding considerable, inappropriate distractions as well).
The story is as much a story of the world as much as it is Lavender and Marigold, with many of the chapters focused on the countries and cultures and creatures within it rather than just their story. It was a sight seeing tour in many ways – occasionally creating redundancies and distractions, but serving to show case these lands and the debates that arise from them
The problem is that this book has a writing style I don’t care for. It is over-written, it may be the most over-written book I’ve read – and I’ve read Dickens. The most glaring of this is the descriptions – things are described in incredible, and unnecessary, detail; people talk in extremely over-wordy and stilted fashion, conversations more a series of speeches delivered to each other. Frankly, the book is over 700 pages long and could quite possibly be halved without loss.
Read More
December 7, 2011
Clinton Festa writes about his novel "The mythological world of Ancient Canada (http://ancientcanada.com) may be unlike anything you've read in 1,000 years. Two sisters, Lavender and Marigold, are exiled into an epic journey of their alternate Arctic Circle. Lavender has the unique ability to see life and death in all its forms. Marigold has no unique gift, just the ability to support her sister at the right time and tell a joke at the wrong one."
I have read several novels dealing with "Alternate History". This is not an easy genre to tackle, as the writer must have both a knowledge of the "real" location as well as a vivid imagination of the "Alternate" location, and the impressive writing skills to pull this knowledge all together. Happily, Clinton Festa has this ability in abundance and ANCIENT CANADA is a brilliant and most unique novel.
The reader is literaly transported by the superb phrasiology and characterizations in this book to a land full of magic, myths and adventure. Mr. Festa's knowledge of Canada, and his ability to utilize what is common knowledge...the Arctic Circle ect..and transform this into an incredible, yet completely believable alternative is a teatament to a very promising writer.
The two main protagonists, Lavender and Marigold are so finely word-sculpted by Clinton Festa that the reader is able to feel an attachment to each. This is no easy task in a novel of this genre.
Lavender is gifted with an innate ability to truly see life and the world (again so finely created by Mr. Festa)around her in a way most of us can only hope for. Her sister, Marigold does well in the pivotal role of support for her most complex of sisters. There are so many twists and turns, tales and myths in ANCIENT CANADA, that the each page is chock full of tasty nuggets. As the sisters embark on a quest which brings them in contact with some very animated characters, to say the least, Mr Festa expertly creates a sense of tension and offsets it with a fine wit at just the right time (Though Marigold might dissagree!)
This is a truly a book for those who like their stories unique and their time very well spent!
AN JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
I have read several novels dealing with "Alternate History". This is not an easy genre to tackle, as the writer must have both a knowledge of the "real" location as well as a vivid imagination of the "Alternate" location, and the impressive writing skills to pull this knowledge all together. Happily, Clinton Festa has this ability in abundance and ANCIENT CANADA is a brilliant and most unique novel.
The reader is literaly transported by the superb phrasiology and characterizations in this book to a land full of magic, myths and adventure. Mr. Festa's knowledge of Canada, and his ability to utilize what is common knowledge...the Arctic Circle ect..and transform this into an incredible, yet completely believable alternative is a teatament to a very promising writer.
The two main protagonists, Lavender and Marigold are so finely word-sculpted by Clinton Festa that the reader is able to feel an attachment to each. This is no easy task in a novel of this genre.
Lavender is gifted with an innate ability to truly see life and the world (again so finely created by Mr. Festa)around her in a way most of us can only hope for. Her sister, Marigold does well in the pivotal role of support for her most complex of sisters. There are so many twists and turns, tales and myths in ANCIENT CANADA, that the each page is chock full of tasty nuggets. As the sisters embark on a quest which brings them in contact with some very animated characters, to say the least, Mr Festa expertly creates a sense of tension and offsets it with a fine wit at just the right time (Though Marigold might dissagree!)
This is a truly a book for those who like their stories unique and their time very well spent!
AN JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
June 24, 2012
Before we begin, I must give props to Mr. Festa for originality. Ancient Greece. Ancient Rome. Ancient Egypt. All of the above mentioned are superb places, titles and are chock full of possibilities. Ancient Canada stands alone because it is relatively unknown. And, it should not be unknown. Canada is a sleeping giant, perched above the noise of America and far from the rallies and cries of the rest of the world. It is both beautiful and inhospitable. It’s ties to Russia and the Artic make it a very dangerous yet mysterious place. This is all before we dive into Festa’s alternate history. For that, I applaud the author.
Ancient Canada lets us into the world of two sisters, Lavender and Marigold. Lavender is born with remarkable, fantastical gifts while her sister’s are more subdued. The writing is good in that you don’t notice it. The story tells itself, and the characters are intriguing, likable, and memorable. I found myself comparing the girls to the March sisters. Little women is one of my all-time favorite books. Marigold is a writer, and the girls set out on a whirl-wind adventure as Lavender uses her special gifts of both life and death. Marigold’s role isn’t quite so glamorous, but she is funny and fascinating, and I could not help but be reminded of Jo March.
Being a history buff and a literal geek has its moments, and reading Ancient Canada made a great impression upon me as a completely encompassing novel of historical, mythological, fantasy and literal fiction. Smart is always a fun read, this was smart as well as poignant and overall entertaining. It even made me want to read a little bit about Canada, our lovely neighbors to the north.
Ancient Canada lets us into the world of two sisters, Lavender and Marigold. Lavender is born with remarkable, fantastical gifts while her sister’s are more subdued. The writing is good in that you don’t notice it. The story tells itself, and the characters are intriguing, likable, and memorable. I found myself comparing the girls to the March sisters. Little women is one of my all-time favorite books. Marigold is a writer, and the girls set out on a whirl-wind adventure as Lavender uses her special gifts of both life and death. Marigold’s role isn’t quite so glamorous, but she is funny and fascinating, and I could not help but be reminded of Jo March.
Being a history buff and a literal geek has its moments, and reading Ancient Canada made a great impression upon me as a completely encompassing novel of historical, mythological, fantasy and literal fiction. Smart is always a fun read, this was smart as well as poignant and overall entertaining. It even made me want to read a little bit about Canada, our lovely neighbors to the north.
September 13, 2012
Incredibly well written and a must for all mythology fans. Though the book is long, its nice to read something where every single word is carefully chosen. If you're looking for a quick page turner, Ancient Canada probably isn't for you, but if in search of something more substantial, a rich text that is incredibly memorable, it's a must read.
You can tell a lot of time and effort was put into the book and you will not be disappointed with the result!
You can tell a lot of time and effort was put into the book and you will not be disappointed with the result!
February 11, 2023
Lavender has a magical ability that allows her to see life and death. But when she and her sister are exiled for her ability, they find themselves journeying through Ancient Canada, stumbling across various creatures and beings as they go. Little do they know, they’re also being hunted by assassins. (I know my blurb is awful; you’ll see why when you read below).
The concept for this work was fascinating as was the concept of the setting. I liked the creative ways that Lavender used her gift of knowing if someone will live or die (e.g., determining if plants were poisonous, avoiding certain paths, etc.), but those were the only positives about this work.
There was no explanation for anything. There’s some sort of magic related to fortune telling; there’s a large war raging between Siberians (who may or may not be cannibals and are covered in thorns) and Canada; there are some odd fantasy animals with giant udders; etc. There are some modern names/concepts used but then also pseudo-medieval technology and fantastical things. There are jumps between characters (and jumps in the timeline) from chapter to chapter, with zero information to ground the reader in where or when the chapter is taking place. There were also long monologues (multiple pages) from people that the protagonists ran into that should have been interesting, but as we knew nothing about the person talking nor how the protagonist got to them, it wasn’t engaging at all. The chapters weren’t connected to each other in any way, making this read erratic, confusing, and lacking in any sort of cohesiveness. And the plot? It was there somewhere I believe, but it was lost more often than not.
On top of having zero information to ground the plot, world, or characters, the author also tried to provide commentary on many social issues. Some of these include analyzing the true nature of evil, the treatment of Others in a rigid society, class, sexism, self-worth, and more. These were not explored in a meaningful way, largely due to the author’s writing style. It feels like this author read everything Charles Dickens has ever written, then took it as a challenge to over-write even more than him. There are so many unnecessarily detailed descriptions of things that are irrelevant to the characters and plot, and the dialogue was so stilted and wordy that it felt robotic.
The narrator was not a good choice for this book. There were many different male characters, and she was unable to do their voices without sounding strained. And at first it was difficult to tell if the dialogue was written poorly or if it was poor narration – but I think it was both. If you are going to pick up this book, try the e-book rather than the audiobook. Due to how this work was written, it was impossible to engage with the characters as there was no information included about them, making them lack in depth, development, and personality.
This reads more like a first draft rather than a finished book, and though it was only 400 or so pages, it easily felt like double that. I hope the author takes this book as it is currently and spends some time reworking it, as the concepts are fascinating and would normally be something I got excited about. As it is now, I can’t recommend this disjointed and frustrating read. My thanks to NetGalley and CamCat Books for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The concept for this work was fascinating as was the concept of the setting. I liked the creative ways that Lavender used her gift of knowing if someone will live or die (e.g., determining if plants were poisonous, avoiding certain paths, etc.), but those were the only positives about this work.
There was no explanation for anything. There’s some sort of magic related to fortune telling; there’s a large war raging between Siberians (who may or may not be cannibals and are covered in thorns) and Canada; there are some odd fantasy animals with giant udders; etc. There are some modern names/concepts used but then also pseudo-medieval technology and fantastical things. There are jumps between characters (and jumps in the timeline) from chapter to chapter, with zero information to ground the reader in where or when the chapter is taking place. There were also long monologues (multiple pages) from people that the protagonists ran into that should have been interesting, but as we knew nothing about the person talking nor how the protagonist got to them, it wasn’t engaging at all. The chapters weren’t connected to each other in any way, making this read erratic, confusing, and lacking in any sort of cohesiveness. And the plot? It was there somewhere I believe, but it was lost more often than not.
On top of having zero information to ground the plot, world, or characters, the author also tried to provide commentary on many social issues. Some of these include analyzing the true nature of evil, the treatment of Others in a rigid society, class, sexism, self-worth, and more. These were not explored in a meaningful way, largely due to the author’s writing style. It feels like this author read everything Charles Dickens has ever written, then took it as a challenge to over-write even more than him. There are so many unnecessarily detailed descriptions of things that are irrelevant to the characters and plot, and the dialogue was so stilted and wordy that it felt robotic.
The narrator was not a good choice for this book. There were many different male characters, and she was unable to do their voices without sounding strained. And at first it was difficult to tell if the dialogue was written poorly or if it was poor narration – but I think it was both. If you are going to pick up this book, try the e-book rather than the audiobook. Due to how this work was written, it was impossible to engage with the characters as there was no information included about them, making them lack in depth, development, and personality.
This reads more like a first draft rather than a finished book, and though it was only 400 or so pages, it easily felt like double that. I hope the author takes this book as it is currently and spends some time reworking it, as the concepts are fascinating and would normally be something I got excited about. As it is now, I can’t recommend this disjointed and frustrating read. My thanks to NetGalley and CamCat Books for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 20, 2011
Philosophy, wisdom, history - fantasy, paranormal, entertainment - these are two groups of words that are never put together when speaking about the literary world. Novels are separated by invisible barriers, allowing them to fall expertly into the categories of romance, suspense, YA, etc. Although there have been crossovers, where a romance is set in the paranormal world, or the historical figure comes to present day to have a few laughs, literary genres are still very individualized. However, when Ancient Canada came along, a world was opened up where the fantastical, mystical, paranormal, dramatic, historical, and entertaining all came together in a perfect blend by the hand of author, Clinton Festa.
There comes a time in every reviewer’s life when they come up against a book that is so large - not in pages, mind you, but in the scope and depth of the actual story - that the reviewer finds themselves on a true journey, constantly riveted and wondering what the next chapter will bring. This amazing novel spoke to me on so many levels that to do a ‘write-up’ in ‘so many words or less’ is an impossibility. But this novel is so grand and so interesting, that I am desperate to do my best.
In the simplest form…Lavender and Marigold are sisters who have no idea upon birth that they are about to take a journey that will lead them to the most amazing locations, meet the most fantastical creatures, and walk a path that will eventually bring them back to square one. In essence, their lives come full circle, with almost every chapter being told from another character’s viewpoint that they meet along the way.
Polaris is the leader of the people of Canada and its capital of York. He is the main villain in this story, which begins with a woman by the name of Heather who is traveling to see her beloved husband, Simon. Heather is the mother of Marigold, her first daughter who has remained at home while she takes her journey to Fort Alert. Heather is heavily pregnant with her second daughter and spends most of her time during her travels with her precious tollimore, an animal who takes care of her along the way. Heather first meets up with a green-eyed peddler who is more than happy to trade Heather her animals for supplies that Heather desperately needs in order to continue. The tollimore, however, will not be separated from Heather, and she and the peddler soon come to believe that this creature will always be there to ‘steer’ Heather away from death.
Upon arrival at the Fort to see her beloved husband, Heather gives birth to a child with lavender eyes and a power that no one else will ever understand. Unfortunately, her husband perishes, and Heather is returned to York so she can be tried for a crime. Heather avoids an executable charge and returns home with Lavender in her arms and a broken heart. As this child grows, it is soon seen by her family that she has a gift; Lavender can actually see the glow of a creature or a human and can tell if life or death is going to occur. (She first proves this skill when the tollimore is about to be killed by her grandfather, but she sees the bright red energy of the three babies in its stomach.)
As time moves forward, Lavender and Marigold open up a business of sorts, called The Mystic Garden - a place where people can come so that Lavender can address their needs. Through a very interesting set of circumstances, the girls are placed into exile and ordered to leave York and never return. Thus, the duo travels the world compiling a book on The Aliments of Life and Death, regarding poisonous materials, cures, and all kinds of things that the world should know for their basic survival.
From a stone beast named Brother Lichen to an orphan boy named Sam; from a commandant in the Canadian military whose story of a wooden sword is beyond fascinating, to a Prince who must find his bride - chapter after chapter tells the stories of each and every encounter that various characters have with these two amazing women.
This author has done an extraordinary job of putting together a story that is impossible to even guess at the conclusion. Lessons are taught - from what heroism really means, to the treatment of others less fortunate, to the power of the heart, to the love of two sisters who try desperately to make things right in a world full of wrongs. The discoveries of new places, artifacts, people, poisons - it never ends. This book is almost a museum of curiosities where each page is something new and undiscovered by the reading public. A stunning book with charm, passion, thrills, characters that are truly fantastical and extraordinary, to say the least, and an all-out adventure that you won’t soon forget!
There comes a time in every reviewer’s life when they come up against a book that is so large - not in pages, mind you, but in the scope and depth of the actual story - that the reviewer finds themselves on a true journey, constantly riveted and wondering what the next chapter will bring. This amazing novel spoke to me on so many levels that to do a ‘write-up’ in ‘so many words or less’ is an impossibility. But this novel is so grand and so interesting, that I am desperate to do my best.
In the simplest form…Lavender and Marigold are sisters who have no idea upon birth that they are about to take a journey that will lead them to the most amazing locations, meet the most fantastical creatures, and walk a path that will eventually bring them back to square one. In essence, their lives come full circle, with almost every chapter being told from another character’s viewpoint that they meet along the way.
Polaris is the leader of the people of Canada and its capital of York. He is the main villain in this story, which begins with a woman by the name of Heather who is traveling to see her beloved husband, Simon. Heather is the mother of Marigold, her first daughter who has remained at home while she takes her journey to Fort Alert. Heather is heavily pregnant with her second daughter and spends most of her time during her travels with her precious tollimore, an animal who takes care of her along the way. Heather first meets up with a green-eyed peddler who is more than happy to trade Heather her animals for supplies that Heather desperately needs in order to continue. The tollimore, however, will not be separated from Heather, and she and the peddler soon come to believe that this creature will always be there to ‘steer’ Heather away from death.
Upon arrival at the Fort to see her beloved husband, Heather gives birth to a child with lavender eyes and a power that no one else will ever understand. Unfortunately, her husband perishes, and Heather is returned to York so she can be tried for a crime. Heather avoids an executable charge and returns home with Lavender in her arms and a broken heart. As this child grows, it is soon seen by her family that she has a gift; Lavender can actually see the glow of a creature or a human and can tell if life or death is going to occur. (She first proves this skill when the tollimore is about to be killed by her grandfather, but she sees the bright red energy of the three babies in its stomach.)
As time moves forward, Lavender and Marigold open up a business of sorts, called The Mystic Garden - a place where people can come so that Lavender can address their needs. Through a very interesting set of circumstances, the girls are placed into exile and ordered to leave York and never return. Thus, the duo travels the world compiling a book on The Aliments of Life and Death, regarding poisonous materials, cures, and all kinds of things that the world should know for their basic survival.
From a stone beast named Brother Lichen to an orphan boy named Sam; from a commandant in the Canadian military whose story of a wooden sword is beyond fascinating, to a Prince who must find his bride - chapter after chapter tells the stories of each and every encounter that various characters have with these two amazing women.
This author has done an extraordinary job of putting together a story that is impossible to even guess at the conclusion. Lessons are taught - from what heroism really means, to the treatment of others less fortunate, to the power of the heart, to the love of two sisters who try desperately to make things right in a world full of wrongs. The discoveries of new places, artifacts, people, poisons - it never ends. This book is almost a museum of curiosities where each page is something new and undiscovered by the reading public. A stunning book with charm, passion, thrills, characters that are truly fantastical and extraordinary, to say the least, and an all-out adventure that you won’t soon forget!
December 12, 2011
Disclaimer: Mr. Festa sent me an e-copy in exchange for a review.
Ancient Canada presents an alternate history and two girls - Marigold and her somewhat strange sister Lavender. It is a story of journey, and reminds me, I hope intentionally, of those quest myths that one connects with the far north. The story is told by different people as they encounter the sisters.
I also think, if I am being honest, this isn't quite my cup of tea, which is why I gave it three stars. So Mr. Festa, it's me, not you.
Mr. Festa can write. His language is rich and when he uses big words, he uses them with purpose and correctly. He does repeat information a tend bit too much, and some of the digressions seem out of place; HOWEVER, the language is so good and the ideas behind it interesting enough, that though you notice, most people will not care.
The point of all myth and even of fairy tales or folktales is to help explain things - things being both big and little questions. Festa keeps to this tradition, not only in the style, but in the thinking that his characters. The book is quest, but also a quest for ideas and meaning, like any mythology. There is much philosophy here (and I had a horrible philosophy professor in college, so philosophy is not my cup of tea). Much debate about ideas. I liked that. (I think Mr. Festa would have made a good philosophy teacher. Maybe if he had taught philosophy in my college, I wouldn't hate it so much).
Festa captures the feel of the sagas and the old myths here. I can see the Inuit in the story, if that makes sense. I will admit, however, I felt that the story would have been more as more formal short stories than a novel strung together from different perspectives. It is this shifting that creates problems. Too many of the voices sound alike. For instance, the six year old who takes over the story at one point does not sound like a six year old. In fairness, Festa counters this by indicating someone else is transcribing, but I would have preferred more variety in the narrative voice. Additionally, because this is a story about a quest told largely from outsider’s point of view, the feeling of the novel isn’t quite present. Think of Malory’s Arthur. That’s what Lavender is like. And while this might be intentional, the Morte d’Arthur was a work of smaller works. I think this would have work better if the stories had more self contained.
Mr. Festa’s world building, however, (yes, I’m using the word too much) is great. I will be reading his short fiction as it appears on his website and hope to see more books by him in the future.
Ancient Canada presents an alternate history and two girls - Marigold and her somewhat strange sister Lavender. It is a story of journey, and reminds me, I hope intentionally, of those quest myths that one connects with the far north. The story is told by different people as they encounter the sisters.
I also think, if I am being honest, this isn't quite my cup of tea, which is why I gave it three stars. So Mr. Festa, it's me, not you.
Mr. Festa can write. His language is rich and when he uses big words, he uses them with purpose and correctly. He does repeat information a tend bit too much, and some of the digressions seem out of place; HOWEVER, the language is so good and the ideas behind it interesting enough, that though you notice, most people will not care.
The point of all myth and even of fairy tales or folktales is to help explain things - things being both big and little questions. Festa keeps to this tradition, not only in the style, but in the thinking that his characters. The book is quest, but also a quest for ideas and meaning, like any mythology. There is much philosophy here (and I had a horrible philosophy professor in college, so philosophy is not my cup of tea). Much debate about ideas. I liked that. (I think Mr. Festa would have made a good philosophy teacher. Maybe if he had taught philosophy in my college, I wouldn't hate it so much).
Festa captures the feel of the sagas and the old myths here. I can see the Inuit in the story, if that makes sense. I will admit, however, I felt that the story would have been more as more formal short stories than a novel strung together from different perspectives. It is this shifting that creates problems. Too many of the voices sound alike. For instance, the six year old who takes over the story at one point does not sound like a six year old. In fairness, Festa counters this by indicating someone else is transcribing, but I would have preferred more variety in the narrative voice. Additionally, because this is a story about a quest told largely from outsider’s point of view, the feeling of the novel isn’t quite present. Think of Malory’s Arthur. That’s what Lavender is like. And while this might be intentional, the Morte d’Arthur was a work of smaller works. I think this would have work better if the stories had more self contained.
Mr. Festa’s world building, however, (yes, I’m using the word too much) is great. I will be reading his short fiction as it appears on his website and hope to see more books by him in the future.
January 12, 2014
Trouble Maker and a Soothsayer
Ancient Canada tells of the life of Lavender through the accounts of others. Lavender is a modest child of York the largest City in Canada. Robbed of the promise of meeting her father, her hard working salt of the earth family makes their living through farming and bartering produce—but not Lavender. To earn a living Lavender, and her boy-crazed rebellious older sister Marigold, run a studio called Mystic Garden where Lavender harnesses her peculiar talent. She can see a luminescent aura which in weakness or intensity foretells how close one is to their own demise.
After being discovered by a stealthy summoner, the secret of her celestial gift is craved by Polaris, the supreme ruler of all of York. Polaris sends out a brigade of summoners and soldiers to search through all of York and its outskirts to capture Lavender’s eyes. All the while the two sisters are chased from their home in York and travel all throughout Canada and Siberian enemy territory. Lavender manifests her channeling ability while Marigold uses her quick-wit and fearlessness to survive in a world fraught with enemies of the likes of the Bogman, trolls, and summoners. Yet the two find unlikely friends in the Lichens and a prince of an ancient civilization.
In an harrowing story about expectations of family, staying alive, and coming of age in a mysterious land, Ancient Canada by Clinton Festa is a hearty whimsical narrative about wits, but full of heart.
Ancient Canada tells of the life of Lavender through the accounts of others. Lavender is a modest child of York the largest City in Canada. Robbed of the promise of meeting her father, her hard working salt of the earth family makes their living through farming and bartering produce—but not Lavender. To earn a living Lavender, and her boy-crazed rebellious older sister Marigold, run a studio called Mystic Garden where Lavender harnesses her peculiar talent. She can see a luminescent aura which in weakness or intensity foretells how close one is to their own demise.
After being discovered by a stealthy summoner, the secret of her celestial gift is craved by Polaris, the supreme ruler of all of York. Polaris sends out a brigade of summoners and soldiers to search through all of York and its outskirts to capture Lavender’s eyes. All the while the two sisters are chased from their home in York and travel all throughout Canada and Siberian enemy territory. Lavender manifests her channeling ability while Marigold uses her quick-wit and fearlessness to survive in a world fraught with enemies of the likes of the Bogman, trolls, and summoners. Yet the two find unlikely friends in the Lichens and a prince of an ancient civilization.
In an harrowing story about expectations of family, staying alive, and coming of age in a mysterious land, Ancient Canada by Clinton Festa is a hearty whimsical narrative about wits, but full of heart.
December 29, 2017
Lavender and Marigold are sisters. Lavender can see life and death while Marigold writes up the stories. Each chapter is told from a different character. This is what I loved most about the book. Not only does Clinton write wonderful character that you can attach yourself too the research is remarkable. Watching the girls grow up through life was interesting they had to adjust to a lot of different things. The tales of myths and the twists and turns will keep you turning the pages in this wonderful read.
June 25, 2012
Incredibly well written and a must for all mythology fans. Though the book is long, its nice to read something where every single word is carefully chosen. If you're looking for a quick page turner, Ancient Canada probably isn't for you, but if in search of something more substantial, a rich text that is incredibly memorable, it's a must read.
You can tell a lot of time and effort was put into the book and you will not be disappointed with the result!
You can tell a lot of time and effort was put into the book and you will not be disappointed with the result!
January 23, 2023
This review is for the audio version of the book from NetGalley
Funny from the first line ("If I were to describe my sister in one word, it would be...oversimplified.") Clinton Festa's Ancient Canada: A Mythological Tale tells the story of two teenagers whose gifts, both natural and supernatural, enable them to change the course of warring nations.
In interviews, Festa has said that the book was inspired by a trip to New York City, where a friend's neighborhood restaurants came from diverse cultures that never could have met in the ancient world. In Ancient Canada, sisters Marigold and Lavender have no such limitations. They are able to travel by land, sea, and air from their native Canada to other countries surrounding an ancient Arctic Circle.
In this alternative Earth, the people of the different northern cultures wage war on each other while otherworldly creatures exist just outside their perception. Crossing repeatedly between the "real" world and the fantastical, the sisters work to undo the misunderstandings that drive people apart. Their consistently witty dialog lightens tragic events without making light of them.
Though this independently published book is expertly narrated by voice actor Deanna Larson, the audio quality leaves something to be desired compared to audio books from the big publishing houses. That said, Larson does a great job of differentiating the voices of the many characters, both male and female, and the excellent quality of the story soon eclipses any imperfections in the audio.
Funny from the first line ("If I were to describe my sister in one word, it would be...oversimplified.") Clinton Festa's Ancient Canada: A Mythological Tale tells the story of two teenagers whose gifts, both natural and supernatural, enable them to change the course of warring nations.
In interviews, Festa has said that the book was inspired by a trip to New York City, where a friend's neighborhood restaurants came from diverse cultures that never could have met in the ancient world. In Ancient Canada, sisters Marigold and Lavender have no such limitations. They are able to travel by land, sea, and air from their native Canada to other countries surrounding an ancient Arctic Circle.
In this alternative Earth, the people of the different northern cultures wage war on each other while otherworldly creatures exist just outside their perception. Crossing repeatedly between the "real" world and the fantastical, the sisters work to undo the misunderstandings that drive people apart. Their consistently witty dialog lightens tragic events without making light of them.
Though this independently published book is expertly narrated by voice actor Deanna Larson, the audio quality leaves something to be desired compared to audio books from the big publishing houses. That said, Larson does a great job of differentiating the voices of the many characters, both male and female, and the excellent quality of the story soon eclipses any imperfections in the audio.
January 28, 2023
Ancient Canada
by Clinton Festa
A story of a book created in a world of give and prejudice. Two sisters lives are tied together as they are exiled into the wild. Many diverse characters with many divergent ideals and conflicts. These two sisters find out the hidden story of the country. Hidden by past, but also their countries leader, and the war with the neighboring country. Their attempt to find the truths, find the story tellers of their world and find unity.
This is an imaginative story that would be great for reading with students focusing on perception, description and prejudice without real world examples. The book allows students to see that labels, and misinformation cause many of the problems in society. That open discussion, and truth will not only lead to a better world, but help others as the sisters did unconsciously.
by Clinton Festa
A story of a book created in a world of give and prejudice. Two sisters lives are tied together as they are exiled into the wild. Many diverse characters with many divergent ideals and conflicts. These two sisters find out the hidden story of the country. Hidden by past, but also their countries leader, and the war with the neighboring country. Their attempt to find the truths, find the story tellers of their world and find unity.
This is an imaginative story that would be great for reading with students focusing on perception, description and prejudice without real world examples. The book allows students to see that labels, and misinformation cause many of the problems in society. That open discussion, and truth will not only lead to a better world, but help others as the sisters did unconsciously.
February 23, 2023
Audiobook.
1.5 rounded up.
I listened to ~50% and stopped because I basically was not enjoying the story.
The opening was intriguing, but shortly after the amount of detail became overwhelming. The author has created a fantasy world where an interesting story could take place, but this story seems to be lost in the detail and tangents. The audiobook is also excessively long. This novel seems more like a rough draft or a brain dump rather than a finished work.
Some people may like the detail more than I did. I chose this because I wanted something different. This just was not my cup of tea.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest revie.w
1.5 rounded up.
I listened to ~50% and stopped because I basically was not enjoying the story.
The opening was intriguing, but shortly after the amount of detail became overwhelming. The author has created a fantasy world where an interesting story could take place, but this story seems to be lost in the detail and tangents. The audiobook is also excessively long. This novel seems more like a rough draft or a brain dump rather than a finished work.
Some people may like the detail more than I did. I chose this because I wanted something different. This just was not my cup of tea.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest revie.w
May 14, 2023
When Marigold and her younger sister Lavender are exiled from Ancient Canada due to Lavender’s powers, they rely on her ability to see life and death to stay alive as they wander the Arctic Circle in this alternate universe. Each chapter is told by a different person or creature they encounter.
This unique tale was entertaining, if a bit slow in parts. My favorite part was getting to meet the various creatures the girls met during their travels. Deanna Larson did a nice job narrating the audiobook. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy verbose fantasy.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
This unique tale was entertaining, if a bit slow in parts. My favorite part was getting to meet the various creatures the girls met during their travels. Deanna Larson did a nice job narrating the audiobook. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy verbose fantasy.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
January 23, 2023
Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.
I wanted to like this more than I did unfortunately... It had some really interesting scenes, but the audio was rough and it was almost too wordy at times. Beautifully written overall, don't get me wrong- but the banter between characters at times felt too sculpted and not natural. It might have been better for me to read a physical copy as opposed to the audio but oh well.
I wanted to like this more than I did unfortunately... It had some really interesting scenes, but the audio was rough and it was almost too wordy at times. Beautifully written overall, don't get me wrong- but the banter between characters at times felt too sculpted and not natural. It might have been better for me to read a physical copy as opposed to the audio but oh well.
February 6, 2022
I found the book to be very interesting for those who like the epic tales on par with Tolkien or the graphic novel Bones.
Without providing spoilers I will say that the concept of gifts being a double edged sword is explored well here. The various sub tales are stand alone good and Festa does a great job weaving those into the journey. Greatly enjoyed this!
Without providing spoilers I will say that the concept of gifts being a double edged sword is explored well here. The various sub tales are stand alone good and Festa does a great job weaving those into the journey. Greatly enjoyed this!
December 29, 2023
I would like to thank Goodreads and the author, Clinton Festa, for the copy of “Ancient Canada” that I won through one of their giveaways. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write this review but it took me a long time to read the book for various reasons. Initially, the error was mine in applying for the giveaway. I was under the impression that this was a non-fiction account of two sisters in actual Canada, not some fictitious country being called Canada. I am not a fan of fantasy novels such as this one.
It was difficult to read the same account from a different perspective as each chapter changed narrators. Also the technical verbiage became tedious at times, as did the formal speech of most of the characters.
That being said, although I did not enjoy this book as I had hoped to, it did have its moments thanks to some of the characters. I enjoyed Brother Lichen and also Agrippin turned out to be quite an endearing character which surprised me. By the end of the novel I even liked the sisters.
Unfortunately I cannot recommend this novel, but that is only my opinion.
It was difficult to read the same account from a different perspective as each chapter changed narrators. Also the technical verbiage became tedious at times, as did the formal speech of most of the characters.
That being said, although I did not enjoy this book as I had hoped to, it did have its moments thanks to some of the characters. I enjoyed Brother Lichen and also Agrippin turned out to be quite an endearing character which surprised me. By the end of the novel I even liked the sisters.
Unfortunately I cannot recommend this novel, but that is only my opinion.
December 8, 2022
I won a copy of this book awhile back. Very good story. I loved the mystical nature of the characters and the world as it might have been.
February 14, 2022
This is the story of Lavender and Marigold who are expulsed from their country because of their seer powers, or so they think.
In their adventures they meet mythical creatures, royalty, new friendships but most importantly the truth about their father and their expulsion.
Each chapter is written in the first person, each with the perspective of the character whose name is the name of the chapter. This gets a little confusing at first.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to build a rapport or empathy with the two main characters because of the way the book is written where each chapter is written in the first person, from the perspective of different characters.
I did love the story with each character from different 'islands/cities' come together to save the Ancient Canadians.
It was intriguing to know where Polaris came from and his history, as well as which 'race' were the 'same' but at war.
I also love the fact that Lavender and Marigold's mother is pregnant, that they found other people with an assortment of gifts and some of our questions unanswered; this is good material for a second book.
In their adventures they meet mythical creatures, royalty, new friendships but most importantly the truth about their father and their expulsion.
Each chapter is written in the first person, each with the perspective of the character whose name is the name of the chapter. This gets a little confusing at first.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to build a rapport or empathy with the two main characters because of the way the book is written where each chapter is written in the first person, from the perspective of different characters.
I did love the story with each character from different 'islands/cities' come together to save the Ancient Canadians.
It was intriguing to know where Polaris came from and his history, as well as which 'race' were the 'same' but at war.
I also love the fact that Lavender and Marigold's mother is pregnant, that they found other people with an assortment of gifts and some of our questions unanswered; this is good material for a second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2012
Lavender and Marigold are sisters who has been exiled from their home in Canada. Lavender has a gift where she can tell if someone is going to live or die just by looking at them. This gift is the reason that they are exiled. They are taken to the edge of the woods and dropped off. They use this gift of life and death to survive on their journey. On their journey they meet a man made out of stone. This stone creature tells them stories of all the people and animals that have come to visit him in his life time. Most of his visitors eat the plants and they don't know which plants are good for them or which ones are poison. Lavender with her gift knows which plants are poison and which ones are not. Marigold will start to eat the plants and if she glows white then Lavender knows they are poison. This is how they survive on their journey through the woods.
Lavender and Marigold meet a lot of very interesting people on their journey. They meet a prince and a princess to be along with the king and queen and Quinby the king's taste tester. I really enjoyed reading about the prince and the princess to be. Their story was one of my favorites and the book really picked up here for me and I started liking it more. The king thought that someone was trying to kill him and everyone was a suspect. The queen and everyone else thought he was crazy but it turned out he was not. There really was someone plotting to murder him.
I liked Horus a Featherman who had wings and could fly. The Feathermen were 2 or 4 times bigger than a human. Horus would fly Lavender and Marigold around with one in each of his talons. They had some pretty funny times with Horus. It seems being so high up in the air caused you to have gas. There was a few times there that Marigold and Lavender would have me rolling on the floor laughing when they were with Horus.
Lavender and Marigold were two sisters that really cared a lot about each other. I don't think either one of them could have made it out on their own at that time in their life with out the other one. They are two very smart girls for their age. Lavender is fifteen and Marigold is seventeen. Both girls did a lot of growing up on their journey together.
Lavender and Marigold meet a lot of very interesting people on their journey. They meet a prince and a princess to be along with the king and queen and Quinby the king's taste tester. I really enjoyed reading about the prince and the princess to be. Their story was one of my favorites and the book really picked up here for me and I started liking it more. The king thought that someone was trying to kill him and everyone was a suspect. The queen and everyone else thought he was crazy but it turned out he was not. There really was someone plotting to murder him.
I liked Horus a Featherman who had wings and could fly. The Feathermen were 2 or 4 times bigger than a human. Horus would fly Lavender and Marigold around with one in each of his talons. They had some pretty funny times with Horus. It seems being so high up in the air caused you to have gas. There was a few times there that Marigold and Lavender would have me rolling on the floor laughing when they were with Horus.
Lavender and Marigold were two sisters that really cared a lot about each other. I don't think either one of them could have made it out on their own at that time in their life with out the other one. They are two very smart girls for their age. Lavender is fifteen and Marigold is seventeen. Both girls did a lot of growing up on their journey together.
February 5, 2012
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Little known fact about me is that I could not decide between being a literature major or a history major. Ultimately books won out, but anytime a book comes my way with a story history elements, I have to admit I do get kind of excited about it. I love to see people's interpretations about how history played out, but this book is particularly looks at history in a new light, in a way creating an alternate history.
Even though I was excited about the history aspect of this book, ultimately what a book comes down to for me is the characters. If I can identify with the characters, and when I flip the pages of the book I want the character to do well; well those are the kind of books I like and enjoy reading more than anything else. Luckily in this book there are two characters that I easily felt a connection to, both of the sisters are not only well written, but interesting in their own right. While it is easy to assume that Lavender would be the so called star of the book because of her talent to see life and death, her sister Marigold written so well that she is equally as unique and interesting to read.
Now just because the book has characters I like in it does not mean that the story line is unimportant, because without a doubt the story line is very important. I really enjoyed followed the sisters on their journey through life together. The sisters are constantly having to adapt to life and the things that keep getting thrown their way. I think the thing that works the best in this book is that the girls are going through a lot of change, so it keeps the story fresh and moving. To me that keeps the reader interested in the story as a whole.
Overall, I have to say that the book was pretty good. I think it was well researched, and that the author put a lot of time and effort into this book and it shows in spades. The world building is really good, and the falling in love with the characters is easy. I think I would recommend this book to urban fantasy readers, but also to readers who have a love for history as well (even if it is an alternate history so to speak).
Little known fact about me is that I could not decide between being a literature major or a history major. Ultimately books won out, but anytime a book comes my way with a story history elements, I have to admit I do get kind of excited about it. I love to see people's interpretations about how history played out, but this book is particularly looks at history in a new light, in a way creating an alternate history.
Even though I was excited about the history aspect of this book, ultimately what a book comes down to for me is the characters. If I can identify with the characters, and when I flip the pages of the book I want the character to do well; well those are the kind of books I like and enjoy reading more than anything else. Luckily in this book there are two characters that I easily felt a connection to, both of the sisters are not only well written, but interesting in their own right. While it is easy to assume that Lavender would be the so called star of the book because of her talent to see life and death, her sister Marigold written so well that she is equally as unique and interesting to read.
Now just because the book has characters I like in it does not mean that the story line is unimportant, because without a doubt the story line is very important. I really enjoyed followed the sisters on their journey through life together. The sisters are constantly having to adapt to life and the things that keep getting thrown their way. I think the thing that works the best in this book is that the girls are going through a lot of change, so it keeps the story fresh and moving. To me that keeps the reader interested in the story as a whole.
Overall, I have to say that the book was pretty good. I think it was well researched, and that the author put a lot of time and effort into this book and it shows in spades. The world building is really good, and the falling in love with the characters is easy. I think I would recommend this book to urban fantasy readers, but also to readers who have a love for history as well (even if it is an alternate history so to speak).
June 7, 2012
I liked this book. The author has a writing style that is all his own. At times I did feel that some parts of the story were a little too wordy but I did not notice this through the whole book. I give this story 4 stars. It was not 5 stars, only because it did take me a while to get in to the story much the same way that sometimes it takes me a while to get in to a Stephen King book.
The book tells the story of Marigold and Lavender from the point of views of the many people and mythical beings that they meet along the way. The writing style was unique and the changes in POV I really liked. Each chapter is told by somebody different plus it also gives a little back story on each person or creature that is telling that part of the story. Marigold also narrates several parts of it. If you didn’t like one of the characters just finish the chapter and you would meet a new character.
There are many different mythical creatures and countries that the girls visit along their journey. I found the different world descriptions and creatures to be well thought out and each little back story that each chapter starts out with were very descriptive and informative. I also liked the different gifts that several characters exhibited and how you could identify them by their eyes. That was probably my favorite part.
All in all I found this book to be a fascinating adventure through an alternate Canada. The myths in the story were well thought out and I loved how the author tied everything together by the end of the book. I was kind of curious about Agrippin and if he will ever see Lavender again or not? All in all if you like a longer book with many different points of view telling the story then this is a book for you.
The book tells the story of Marigold and Lavender from the point of views of the many people and mythical beings that they meet along the way. The writing style was unique and the changes in POV I really liked. Each chapter is told by somebody different plus it also gives a little back story on each person or creature that is telling that part of the story. Marigold also narrates several parts of it. If you didn’t like one of the characters just finish the chapter and you would meet a new character.
There are many different mythical creatures and countries that the girls visit along their journey. I found the different world descriptions and creatures to be well thought out and each little back story that each chapter starts out with were very descriptive and informative. I also liked the different gifts that several characters exhibited and how you could identify them by their eyes. That was probably my favorite part.
All in all I found this book to be a fascinating adventure through an alternate Canada. The myths in the story were well thought out and I loved how the author tied everything together by the end of the book. I was kind of curious about Agrippin and if he will ever see Lavender again or not? All in all if you like a longer book with many different points of view telling the story then this is a book for you.
March 1, 2013
I don't usually read fantasy. I was so immersed in this world that was so vividly described by Clinton Festa. There is so much originality. This is NOT a formula book. It makes you think a lot too. I participated in a group read here at Good Reads where I had access to a free file. I liked it so much that I bought my own copy. This is what is meant by Epic Journey! You can read it for the plot with the twists and the turns or you can read it for the layers of meaning or both.
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January 10, 2014The writing is sometimes (maybe intentionally) wordy & I didn't get the post-apocalyptic setting fully on first read. Overall it's a nice read, and the ending is satisfying. The MCs have some angsty buffy feel in them (which is also nice imo).
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August 29, 2015Couldn't finish...
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