An Apprentice Escapes

The Daviron Chronicles #1

by Lillian Keith

At least we still had each other...until they came.

Thirteen year old Lyla is on the run, simply because she and her mother had an underground apothecary’s practice—the last in the whole province. Now, with Mama in jail, Lyla must escape the Daviron city officials who are bent on catching her. Befriending a runaway street boy, Lyla sets out for the only refuge she knows: the forest. Yet danger lurks in every dark shadow, and seemingly friendly people could be enemies in disguise.

Will her mama’s final words be enough to guide her forward and lead her to the safety of the forest? Or will Lyla be caught and sent away to an unknown fate?

Dive into this debut short story for middle grade readers.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade

119 pages, Paperback

Published September 13, 2021

About the author

Hi there, I'm Lily! I'm a children's/middle grade writer, Christian, and homeschool grad.

I grew up reading a huge stack of middle grade books, especially the Newberry Award Winners (my mom wanted all of us kids to be well read). Fun, meaningful stories are what I love as a reader, and aim for as an author. I'd say the biggest author who influenced me in that direction was Elizabeth George Speare.

Although I started writing middle-grade fantasy, I'm hoping to branch out and try other middle grade/children's genres like historical fiction, dystopian, and contemporary. Maybe someday I'll even try a bit of YA (who knows, we'll see!)

I love writing for kids and my hope as a writer is that my stories will inspire them, ignite their imagination, and cause them to see the world from a new perspective.

Reviews

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (4/10 hearts). This is a sweet short story, quite simple, very fast-paced, but with a deep, excellent little message, a good plot with action and betrayal (Horace *cries*) and enjoyable characters. I’d like to meet Finn and Lyla again :)

A Favourite Quote: Mama taught me to discard the rotten seeds and sow only the worthy ones. But what if I had worthy seeds that I never sowed? Wouldn’t they be just as useless as rotten ones? Maybe in order to reap something excellent, you have to be willing to sow the worthy seeds you have.

[Kristina Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters: Lyla was a great character. She had moments where she struggled with doing the right thing, but she came through in the end.

Language: Clean.

Moral: A main theme in An Apprentice Escapes was doing the right thing even when it's hard.

Plot: I loved that An Apprentice Escapes had lots of excitement and adventure.

Romance: This book didn't contain any romance.

Writing: This is the first book I've read by Lillian Keith, and I really enjoyed her writing style. It was easy to read and flowed well.

Overall: An Apprentice Escapes was an exciting read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and middle-grade books.

[Issabelle Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read to start off the new year!!! I can't wait to write my full review for it, so stay tuned. ;)

(And on a totally random, completely unprofessional note: *squeals and jumps up and down* LILY I AM SO CRAZY PROUD OF YOU FOR PUBLISHING THIS AND YOU ARE SUCH A WONDERFUL, TALENTED AUTHOR AND I AM SO READY FOR THE NEXT STORY YOU PUBLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *composes self* Okay, full review to come.)

[Katherine Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Absolutely. Love. This. Book!!!!!!!! Eeek, it was so good!!!!😀 I was hooked from the very first sentence, and it kept my interest all the way till the end!!!!!!!! I didn’t want to put it down!!! (Which is pretty amazing considering that there are even some short stories that I pause in the middle of and return to later.) I was impressed at how well-written this story was!! And I absolutely loved the characters, the plot, and the theme of this story!! Lyla and Finn, trying to escape city officials while questioning if their actions are worth it—this storyline is wonderful and perfect for the middle-grade genre! I also loved the images inside!! They were designed amazingly well and were a neat touch for this book!! (And can we just talk about how amazing the cover looks??)

One of the best things about this book (cause, to be honest, there are a LOT of best things) is that it is a clean read! The only language I noted was the word “stupid” used once and twice it was said that a character “cursed.” (Bad language is a pet peeve of mine, and I am always super happy when a book has clean language. So, thank you so much, Lily!!😀) An Apprentice Escapes is so enjoyable!! I totally recommend that you read it no matter your age!!!

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ack! Loved this just as much, if not more, than I did the first time I read the book!

Characters:
Lyla is such a sweet little charrie. Poor thing has so many decisions to make, but I love her sweet nature and how she clings to what her mother has told her.
Finn is just fun and cute and ack! Such a sweet boy, and I want more!

Themes:
The themes of this short story are sowing the worthy seeds, the deeds in our lives, which are worthwhile, such as helping others. It's such a beautiful and well-done demonstration!

Language:
N/A

Romance:
N/A

Overall:
This is a sweet story with plenty of adventure and heart! It would make a great family read aloud or is an awesome solo read!
Recommended for all ages!

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by this author and I was pleasantly pleased with the content. The story moved quickly, never lagging. I liked the Biblical themes of using our gifts rather than ignoring or wasting them and the importance of helping others despite the cost. While I couldn't 100% connect with our courageous MC, Lyla- my heart dropped with every betrayal she faced. Finn made a great sidekick. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were great additions and made the reading more fun.

I did think that there were some rather abrupt gaps between chapters. I had to go back and reread the last sentence of the previous one a few times to remember what happened last. The writing style was very simple but I'm fully taking into account that this is geared for Middle Grade readers. Lastly, it was difficult to get an idea of the time period and setting. The bio said it was 19th Century but it was hard to get a good feel for it.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read and a great debut! This is perfect for one of those quick and casual books one might look for for a break in-between series. If you like christian fiction with meaningful take-aways or Middle Grade reads, I recommend this. Giving it a 3.5!

[Lillian Keith]

Hey, just wanted to let you all know that from today (Sept. 20th) to Sept. 23rd, the ebook version of my MG story, AAE is free (link below). This is the last time my short story will be free on Kindle (with the exception of being free on Sept. 28th for the Five Fall Favorites event). After that, I'll do a final paperback discount sale in November, and then my sister and I will work on the new second edition we have planned. So, if you want a e-copy of the short story with the original collage-illustration, or just want to get caught up on the series before Because You Saw Me releases next month, check out the link below. Hope you enjoy!

Free Ebook Link

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so happy to have finally read this debut! 💚 It's a delightful little story with a big heart, perfect for fans of Enola Holmes or The Herbwitch's Apprentice (though this doesn't contain magic).

[Emme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK.
So I was in a reading slump, and couldn't find anything that piqued my interest, until THIS little gem popped up. It's a short book, yes, but THE WAY SHE WRITES! It's just AMAZING!! Would TOTALLY recommend to EVERYONE. It's a middle-grade book, but I know adults who've fallen in love with it! Buy it for a friend or family member, read it out loud to your kids, but READ THIS!!

[Jaiden Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a awesome book! This was so cool! I loved the story! And everything about this book!😍 I loved Finn! He was so fun!! And I have to say, I usually don't like the girl characters as much as the boys, but I absolutely LOVED Lyla!!!! She was so relatable! I loved all the characters! (Except the bad guys of course...lol...) This was an epic, fun story!!!! And so true too!!!!! I loved every minute of it!!!! It was so well written! Lillian Keith is such a good story teller! Totally recommend this book to all ages!! There is definitely a lot of good morals to learn from this book! So if you haven't read it yet, you should totally give it a read! You won't regret it! I loved it so much!!! Can't wait to read more by this amazing author!💖

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story (although "enjoy" might be a slightly off description considering the seriousness of the situations...) Lyla's troubles felt overwhelming at times, and it was hard to watch her continue to reach out and be betrayed over and over again. But the message was good, and I liked the way it ended, although it did feel more like a beginning than an ending. But I look forward to getting more resolution in future stories. ;)

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a TOTAL hidden gem. It's a short story that can be read in one sitting, but anyone of any age would love it! Looking for a Christmas present for those sisters, brothers, nieces, or nephews? This book is EVERYTHING! Can't wait to see more by this author!

[Faith Gilliosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It was a nice easy, short read, but the story felt fleshed out and well-paced. You could feel the dilemmas the characters faced and I think it was well-written. Also, something about the illustrations was soo satisfying and beautiful even though they had a fairly simple feel.

[Kimberly Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story of having the courage to do the right thing - even though you risk losing everything. Lyla's story is one of perseverance and inspires its readers to never give up 'sowing the worthy seeds'.
Lillian Keith's debut novel isn't one just for middle-grade ages, but one worthy of all ages.

[Ellie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I loved the characters, particularly Lyla’s compassionate heart! It’s a quick, easy read, and I loved the theme. It’s a great middle grade read that can be enjoyed by any age.

[Brian Stansell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, quick read, but well worth it!

This enchanting story has some deep and thoughtful truths planted within its fertile soil. Well worth the read! Lillian Keith’s debut story is accessible to readers of all ages, not just Middle Grade to YA.
She deftly crafts a tale that delivers poignant messaging without being heavy handed.
“Plant the worthy seeds” A message that will resonate long after you reach the end of this delightful tale.

[Jana Henderson (Reviews from the Stacks)]

Read the first two chapters and just wasn't enjoying it. The plot has potential, but the presentation is awfully simplistic. I would like to see more worldbuilding and overall development

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...This is incredible! Please excuse me if I'm a bit out in the open! I've never met you, but I do know people related to you. (I'm not goin to throw out names just for privacy's sake) And I must say I am quite impressed. My Mom heard that you had written and published a book, and I immediately ordered one. It came in the mail a few days later, and as I read in the car on the way home, I was immersed in a story of wonderful adventure. I simply read on and on, and though it was on the shorter side of stories, I savored every word. The poetry, the humor, and the relationships are to be congratulated. I myself have been inspired to write my own stories, and am currently working on a novel series entitled: Lynn. The first of the series is called: The Journey to Everglow. I am eleven years old, and I look forward to reading the next of your books. Yours sincerely, Charlie Mack.

[Saraina Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartfelt story with a powerful theme of choosing to do right (or "sow worthy seeds") in spite of danger and betrayal! The fantasy premise was so intriguing and realistic, the writing was clear and fast-paced, fitting the story well, and the characters were so endearing and sympathetic. (And the villains were awful. Those plot twists threw me for a loop!) Highly recommend!