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Resistance
With their sixteenth birthday fast approaching, orphaned twins Lia and Tyler Ford are still settling into their new normal in Sydney, Australia. Life with their paternal grandmother—their sole remaining, living family member—is a million miles removed from their former life with their parents in Ardsley, New York. Their grandmother is wonderful, their new school friends are nice, and Sydney is a perfectly fine place to live, but life these days for the Ford twins is not what anyone expected it to be.
Lia wouldn't have thought life could surprise her any more than it already has, but the arrival of a strange young man with an even stranger message turns what's left of her fractured world upside down in an instant. She and Tyler suddenly have more questions than ever before about their family's mysterious past, but also—finally—the chance to maybe fill in some of the many gaps in their knowledge of their family's history. That possibility has them readily following their unexpected visitor, Coen, to Gaea: a parallel universe which perfectly mirrored Earth millennia ago, though the two worlds have evolved to be markedly different realms today.
Gaea is in crisis. The North has already fallen, and the people of the South live in fear of a force so evil and powerful it may be impossible to defeat. With an empire hanging in the balance, the stakes are impossibly high, as are the expectations being placed on Lia. She must rise to the challenge and play her part in the resistance, or die trying—as the people of Gaea surely will if she fails. And, if Lia and Tyler can stay alive long enough on their treacherous journey, they might find out not only who they really are, but who they're destined to be.
Lia wouldn't have thought life could surprise her any more than it already has, but the arrival of a strange young man with an even stranger message turns what's left of her fractured world upside down in an instant. She and Tyler suddenly have more questions than ever before about their family's mysterious past, but also—finally—the chance to maybe fill in some of the many gaps in their knowledge of their family's history. That possibility has them readily following their unexpected visitor, Coen, to Gaea: a parallel universe which perfectly mirrored Earth millennia ago, though the two worlds have evolved to be markedly different realms today.
Gaea is in crisis. The North has already fallen, and the people of the South live in fear of a force so evil and powerful it may be impossible to defeat. With an empire hanging in the balance, the stakes are impossibly high, as are the expectations being placed on Lia. She must rise to the challenge and play her part in the resistance, or die trying—as the people of Gaea surely will if she fails. And, if Lia and Tyler can stay alive long enough on their treacherous journey, they might find out not only who they really are, but who they're destined to be.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2021
6 people are currently reading
1177 people want to read
About the author
C.E. Ord
2 books14 followersAuthor of the Of Ember and Flame series.
Happy and grateful soul.
Fortunate and so thankful to be living a life that turned out better than anything I could have ever written. Happily raising two epic main characters with my leading man. Writing into the wee hours most nights, inspired by the beautifully broken chaos of this hurtling, spectacular catastrophe called life, and the power of words to move us. Fueled mostly by Diet Coke, chocolate, and the promise of sleep one day. Wouldn’t have any of it any other way.
Happy and grateful soul.
Fortunate and so thankful to be living a life that turned out better than anything I could have ever written. Happily raising two epic main characters with my leading man. Writing into the wee hours most nights, inspired by the beautifully broken chaos of this hurtling, spectacular catastrophe called life, and the power of words to move us. Fueled mostly by Diet Coke, chocolate, and the promise of sleep one day. Wouldn’t have any of it any other way.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 23, 2023
16 August 2023
4.5 stars!
My rating is changing. I love Resistance just as much as the first time I read it! I've been very busy as student, and I'm horrified that it's taken me so long to finish my reread. I couldn't get back into it whenever I'd go to pick it up, but that's 100% because I never gave myself the time to get back into the world. Once I gave myself that time (which for the record was like less than 10 minutes lol), I FLEW through the book. It was really that good.
Anyway, I gotta get back to book 2 — full review below!
4.5 stars!
--------------------------------------------------
7 February 2022
4.5 stars!
Yep, I'm back with the full review.
I know I already said it, but I really did love this book. I mean, it earned its place on my favorites shelf. However, I have to be completely honest. No book, not even one of my favorites, is ever perfect. And this book is far from perfect. But, I just can't bring myself to care. I just don't care.
I enjoyed reading it, and I really enjoyed seeing what would happen! And that's all that really matters, right?
Wow. What a CREATIVE world!
I've read my fair share of YA fantasy. I've seen a bunch of different worlds, some like Earth and others trying and failing to create another Earth. (Not really, but it sounded cool 😂 ) Nonetheless, I have read a lot of books that take place on a psuedo–Earth, and this book just added to the count.
I liked the idea of it taking place in Sydney, Australia in the "real" Earth and in a parallel universe in a land called Gaea. Now, I'm no Aussie, and I won't even pretend that I have any idea of how real Aussies live. However, I did really like how Sydney was described, even if it was completely inaccurate. I also thought it was really cool that Resistance was set in such a unique location. Still, I really feel like the setting could have been anywhere else, and it wouldn't have changed things. The world just wasn't built up enough.
A similar thing happened with Gaea. It was such a cool idea, but I wish there were more to the description of the world. I get that it was basically Earth minus the continental drift, but still, couldn't I have a bit more of the setting??
History–wise, I loved reading about the culture and history of Gaea. It was in no way an info dump, and it fit seamlessly into the actual plot, which is a major plus!
So I guess, overall it was undoubtedly good. There just could have been a bit more.
I loved the characters. There wasn't really a huge cast, so it was very easy to get invested in the characters.
I'll highlight Lia and Coen more separately, but I'd like to take a second to rant and rave about Tyler, Cassedia, and Sebastian. I absolutely loved these three supporting characters, Tyler and Cassedia more than Sebastian. Sebastian was an amazing mentor and teacher. Not as good as Iroh, but who is? Now, Tyler and Cassedia — they were amazing, and I wish we saw more of them. Still, I loved how supportive they were of Lia.
~Lia~
Lia is our MC and only POV. Personality–wise, I really liked her. Actually, generally, I liked her overall.
I thought her character development and the development of her powers were especially interesting. When she was once outgoing, she had withdrawn into her shell a bit after her parents' deaths. But throughout the story, we get to see her become a bit more steady and less reliant on her twin, Tyler, for support. She definitely wasn't a wallflower at the start, and she didn't turn into a 100% confident and sure person at the end, so her development was much more lowkey. However, I feel as though that this particular development was true to her character. Anything more would have felt unnatural.
However, I had 2 minor problems with her. Sometimes she didn't seem 15. Also, her powers seemed to come a bit too easily for her. Look, I get that she is the , but I wish she had to struggle more.
Other than that, I thought she was an amazing MC, and I can't wait to see more of her in the next book!
~Coen~
Coen is my spirit animal.
He is absolutely amazing. I love how kind and considerate he is. He's just an amazing person, and I want even more of him. He technically did not change, not like Lia (or even Tyler), but he remained a steady constant (shut up, I know that's redundant). I liked how he always remained this aware and self–confident man without being arrogant. I also liked how he always was optimistic and encouraging especially when it came to Lia.
I think the whole plot was quite captivating! I enjoyed reading about Lia's training and preparation for her big "quest."
However, I was slightly surprised to hit about 50% for them to still be training. I really thought something big was going to happen. The main quest didn't actually hit until about the 75% mark, which I thought was pretty late. This isn't to say that nothing happened up to that point. Things did, and actually those things were actually pretty important. Plus, they were interesting, so I wasn't too concerned. I just thought it was interesting how long it took for the "big thing" to occur.
Once that happened though, this picked up even more! And then, it stopped at a nasty cliffhanger. Not the type of cliffhanger where a character is about to lose a fight to the death, but more like the type of cliffhanger where a character is about to drop a huge bomb on their history. GIMME MORE!!!!!
Technically, I think this book was kind of a backstory and a filler novel, but I loved it anyway. (I know I definitely will be reading the next one, whenever that'll be.) Still, even though "backstory" and especially "filler" make it sound bad, I think it really set the stage for the next book. So while I say "filler," I still think it's pretty important to the whole plot and the character development.
There weren't a whole lot of friendships and relationships, but the main ones were amazing. I'm going to highlight them individually:
~Lia & Tyler~
I loved how close these twins were. I'm sure many twins are close and understand each other even more so that "normal" siblings. That's at least how Lia and Tyler were. I loved how much they understood and loved each other. I also loved how much they respected each other and how in tune to the other's feelings they were.
That being said, I really wish they had more page time, just being siblings. Just so we could get more of their close relationship.
~Lia & Coen~
I'm about to surprise all of you. There was no romance. None, zilch, nada, nothing.
I definitely think there's potential for one between them, but at this stage, Lia and Coen are really just friends. And while I was secretly hoping for a romance between them, I don't think it would have felt real. I think the whole book takes place over a couple weeks, at most? So, for them to just fall in love, it just would have felt too much like an insta–love.
Nonetheless, they have such an amazing friendship. Coen really helps Lia cultivate her powers, and he's always there for moral support, and it's amazing. I really like how much they evidently trust each other. If they ever do become a couple, they've definitely built a solid foundation!
Overall, I really had no problems with CEO's prose and pacing. The writing was just so easy to consume. Also, given that this is an indie book, I was prepared to find some grammatical errors, just as I had with A Sword of Greed and Envy and The Night Orchid, 2 of my recent indie reads. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find perfect grammar! And for this grammar Nazi, that makes me extremely happy, as it can be a good indication of rigorous proofreading.
However, one thing I think CEO could have done differently is to separate the chapters. A lot of the chapters were extremely long but were split up into "sections" (like when authors change a scene but not a chapter). I feel like the chapters could have been broken up more at the section changes, and it wouldn't have made a real difference. But that's just a personal preference.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, I feel like the pacing could have used some work. Don't get me wrong, I think it was almost perfect! I just thought it was odd that the main thing wouldn't happen until after the 50% mark. But then again, I think this happens with most books. So, I guess, I just wanted a bit more from the plot.
This section contains spoilers for the entire book. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE FINISHED THE BOOK!!!!!!! You have been warned.
Yep, I liked it. That much is clear. There really wasn't anything I didn't like. CEO, please write fast! I NEED the next book! Aach!
4.5 stars!
~~~~~
Major thanks to #Netgalley for providing me a free e–copy in exchange for an honest review!
#Netgalley #Resistance
--------------------------------------------------
7 February 2022
4.5 stars!
Wow, this was just sooooo good! I'm always a sucker for a good YA fantasy, and lemme tell you — Resistance DID NOT disappoint!
I loved the whole concept, the characters, the world, the writing style. Everything!
The only thing I "hated" was that cliffhanger!! That was cruel, and I just cannot wait for the sequel! Please do write fast, C.E. Ord!
Full RTC!
4.5 stars!
--------------------------------------------------
4 February 2022
*Currently Reading*
I was provided a free e–copy from Netgalley on behalf of BooksGoSocial, in exchange for an honest review
#Resistance #Netgalley
~~~~~
Want more bookish stuff?
・ Comment below to discuss this book more. I'd love to hear what you think!
・ Send me a message to discuss anything — bookish and nonbookish!
・ Join Book Nerds Unite to chat with fellow book nerds!!
・ Like this review, and follow me for more reviews.
・ Subscribe to my blog, Adventures with Asia Minor! https://www.adventureswithasiaminor.com/
・ Follow my bookstagram, @asia.booknerd117!
Happy Reading!
4.5 stars!
My rating is changing. I love Resistance just as much as the first time I read it! I've been very busy as student, and I'm horrified that it's taken me so long to finish my reread. I couldn't get back into it whenever I'd go to pick it up, but that's 100% because I never gave myself the time to get back into the world. Once I gave myself that time (which for the record was like less than 10 minutes lol), I FLEW through the book. It was really that good.
Anyway, I gotta get back to book 2 — full review below!
4.5 stars!
--------------------------------------------------
7 February 2022
4.5 stars!
Yep, I'm back with the full review.
I know I already said it, but I really did love this book. I mean, it earned its place on my favorites shelf. However, I have to be completely honest. No book, not even one of my favorites, is ever perfect. And this book is far from perfect. But, I just can't bring myself to care. I just don't care.
I enjoyed reading it, and I really enjoyed seeing what would happen! And that's all that really matters, right?
World Building ~ 9/10
Wow. What a CREATIVE world!
I've read my fair share of YA fantasy. I've seen a bunch of different worlds, some like Earth and others trying and failing to create another Earth. (Not really, but it sounded cool 😂 ) Nonetheless, I have read a lot of books that take place on a psuedo–Earth, and this book just added to the count.
I liked the idea of it taking place in Sydney, Australia in the "real" Earth and in a parallel universe in a land called Gaea. Now, I'm no Aussie, and I won't even pretend that I have any idea of how real Aussies live. However, I did really like how Sydney was described, even if it was completely inaccurate. I also thought it was really cool that Resistance was set in such a unique location. Still, I really feel like the setting could have been anywhere else, and it wouldn't have changed things. The world just wasn't built up enough.
A similar thing happened with Gaea. It was such a cool idea, but I wish there were more to the description of the world. I get that it was basically Earth minus the continental drift, but still, couldn't I have a bit more of the setting??
History–wise, I loved reading about the culture and history of Gaea. It was in no way an info dump, and it fit seamlessly into the actual plot, which is a major plus!
So I guess, overall it was undoubtedly good. There just could have been a bit more.
Characters ~ 8/10
I loved the characters. There wasn't really a huge cast, so it was very easy to get invested in the characters.
I'll highlight Lia and Coen more separately, but I'd like to take a second to rant and rave about Tyler, Cassedia, and Sebastian. I absolutely loved these three supporting characters, Tyler and Cassedia more than Sebastian. Sebastian was an amazing mentor and teacher. Not as good as Iroh, but who is? Now, Tyler and Cassedia — they were amazing, and I wish we saw more of them. Still, I loved how supportive they were of Lia.
~Lia~
Lia is our MC and only POV. Personality–wise, I really liked her. Actually, generally, I liked her overall.
I thought her character development and the development of her powers were especially interesting. When she was once outgoing, she had withdrawn into her shell a bit after her parents' deaths. But throughout the story, we get to see her become a bit more steady and less reliant on her twin, Tyler, for support. She definitely wasn't a wallflower at the start, and she didn't turn into a 100% confident and sure person at the end, so her development was much more lowkey. However, I feel as though that this particular development was true to her character. Anything more would have felt unnatural.
However, I had 2 minor problems with her. Sometimes she didn't seem 15. Also, her powers seemed to come a bit too easily for her. Look, I get that she is the , but I wish she had to struggle more.
Other than that, I thought she was an amazing MC, and I can't wait to see more of her in the next book!
~Coen~
Coen is my spirit animal.
He is absolutely amazing. I love how kind and considerate he is. He's just an amazing person, and I want even more of him. He technically did not change, not like Lia (or even Tyler), but he remained a steady constant (shut up, I know that's redundant). I liked how he always remained this aware and self–confident man without being arrogant. I also liked how he always was optimistic and encouraging especially when it came to Lia.
Plot ~ 8/10
I think the whole plot was quite captivating! I enjoyed reading about Lia's training and preparation for her big "quest."
However, I was slightly surprised to hit about 50% for them to still be training. I really thought something big was going to happen. The main quest didn't actually hit until about the 75% mark, which I thought was pretty late. This isn't to say that nothing happened up to that point. Things did, and actually those things were actually pretty important. Plus, they were interesting, so I wasn't too concerned. I just thought it was interesting how long it took for the "big thing" to occur.
Once that happened though, this picked up even more! And then, it stopped at a nasty cliffhanger. Not the type of cliffhanger where a character is about to lose a fight to the death, but more like the type of cliffhanger where a character is about to drop a huge bomb on their history. GIMME MORE!!!!!
Technically, I think this book was kind of a backstory and a filler novel, but I loved it anyway. (I know I definitely will be reading the next one, whenever that'll be.) Still, even though "backstory" and especially "filler" make it sound bad, I think it really set the stage for the next book. So while I say "filler," I still think it's pretty important to the whole plot and the character development.
Relationships ~ 8.5/10
There weren't a whole lot of friendships and relationships, but the main ones were amazing. I'm going to highlight them individually:
~Lia & Tyler~
I loved how close these twins were. I'm sure many twins are close and understand each other even more so that "normal" siblings. That's at least how Lia and Tyler were. I loved how much they understood and loved each other. I also loved how much they respected each other and how in tune to the other's feelings they were.
That being said, I really wish they had more page time, just being siblings. Just so we could get more of their close relationship.
~Lia & Coen~
I'm about to surprise all of you. There was no romance. None, zilch, nada, nothing.
I definitely think there's potential for one between them, but at this stage, Lia and Coen are really just friends. And while I was secretly hoping for a romance between them, I don't think it would have felt real. I think the whole book takes place over a couple weeks, at most? So, for them to just fall in love, it just would have felt too much like an insta–love.
Nonetheless, they have such an amazing friendship. Coen really helps Lia cultivate her powers, and he's always there for moral support, and it's amazing. I really like how much they evidently trust each other. If they ever do become a couple, they've definitely built a solid foundation!
Prose & Pacing ~ 9/10
Overall, I really had no problems with CEO's prose and pacing. The writing was just so easy to consume. Also, given that this is an indie book, I was prepared to find some grammatical errors, just as I had with A Sword of Greed and Envy and The Night Orchid, 2 of my recent indie reads. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find perfect grammar! And for this grammar Nazi, that makes me extremely happy, as it can be a good indication of rigorous proofreading.
However, one thing I think CEO could have done differently is to separate the chapters. A lot of the chapters were extremely long but were split up into "sections" (like when authors change a scene but not a chapter). I feel like the chapters could have been broken up more at the section changes, and it wouldn't have made a real difference. But that's just a personal preference.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, I feel like the pacing could have used some work. Don't get me wrong, I think it was almost perfect! I just thought it was odd that the main thing wouldn't happen until after the 50% mark. But then again, I think this happens with most books. So, I guess, I just wanted a bit more from the plot.
Spoiler Section ~ not rated
This section contains spoilers for the entire book. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE FINISHED THE BOOK!!!!!!! You have been warned.
Overall
Yep, I liked it. That much is clear. There really wasn't anything I didn't like. CEO, please write fast! I NEED the next book! Aach!
4.5 stars!
~~~~~
Major thanks to #Netgalley for providing me a free e–copy in exchange for an honest review!
#Netgalley #Resistance
--------------------------------------------------
7 February 2022
4.5 stars!
Wow, this was just sooooo good! I'm always a sucker for a good YA fantasy, and lemme tell you — Resistance DID NOT disappoint!
I loved the whole concept, the characters, the world, the writing style. Everything!
The only thing I "hated" was that cliffhanger!! That was cruel, and I just cannot wait for the sequel! Please do write fast, C.E. Ord!
Full RTC!
4.5 stars!
--------------------------------------------------
4 February 2022
*Currently Reading*
I was provided a free e–copy from Netgalley on behalf of BooksGoSocial, in exchange for an honest review
#Resistance #Netgalley
~~~~~
Want more bookish stuff?
・ Comment below to discuss this book more. I'd love to hear what you think!
・ Send me a message to discuss anything — bookish and nonbookish!
・ Join Book Nerds Unite to chat with fellow book nerds!!
・ Like this review, and follow me for more reviews.
・ Subscribe to my blog, Adventures with Asia Minor! https://www.adventureswithasiaminor.com/
・ Follow my bookstagram, @asia.booknerd117!
Happy Reading!
May 21, 2022
This was a really fun and fast read! I really enjoyed the relationship Lia and Tyler had and I'm excited to see what's going to happen in book two.
The middle felt a bit slow paced because of all the training they had to do for the final battle, but after that it picked up again. I did think that the final battle felt a little bit rushed, I would've liked to see it a bit more complicated and longer.
Overal it was a fun, easy to read fantasy and I definitely recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The middle felt a bit slow paced because of all the training they had to do for the final battle, but after that it picked up again. I did think that the final battle felt a little bit rushed, I would've liked to see it a bit more complicated and longer.
Overal it was a fun, easy to read fantasy and I definitely recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2022
It's been almost a year since twins Lia and Tyler Ford lost both of their parents in a car crash and had to leave everything they knew in New York and move to Australia to live with their paternal grandmother. Tyler is adjusting better than Lia, but on the last day of school she agrees to go with him to meet up with some of his friends from school. There she is approached by a strange boy by the name of Coen, with an even stranger tale.
Quote: "I'm from a world called Gaea," he said evenly, his eyes never wavering from mine.
"A---a world . . . a world? WORLD?" I looked from Coen over to Tyler and then back again. Maybe this guy was a crackpot after all.
"Yes," Coen said evenly, his gaze still fixed firmly on mine. "A world. A world your mother and grandmother came from. A world that needs your help."
Needless to say, Lia and Tyler's world is turned upside down. They agree to go to Gaea with Coen, and that's when their adventure starts.
I'm just going to say it, I loved this book! I loved the twins and their relationship, and the fact that Tyler left everything up to Lia, but said that no matter what she decided, he was with her 100%, and Coen was adorable, too. The world building was done well, although I would have liked a little bit more of a lead up to this. The pacing was also great, and this was a very fast read because of that. The characters grew and matured from the start of the book to the end as more and more responsibility was thrust upon them, which was written in a very believable way. And there was a great twist at the end, another plus!
In summary, I loved this book and can't wait to see where the next book takes us.
5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Quote: "I'm from a world called Gaea," he said evenly, his eyes never wavering from mine.
"A---a world . . . a world? WORLD?" I looked from Coen over to Tyler and then back again. Maybe this guy was a crackpot after all.
"Yes," Coen said evenly, his gaze still fixed firmly on mine. "A world. A world your mother and grandmother came from. A world that needs your help."
Needless to say, Lia and Tyler's world is turned upside down. They agree to go to Gaea with Coen, and that's when their adventure starts.
I'm just going to say it, I loved this book! I loved the twins and their relationship, and the fact that Tyler left everything up to Lia, but said that no matter what she decided, he was with her 100%, and Coen was adorable, too. The world building was done well, although I would have liked a little bit more of a lead up to this. The pacing was also great, and this was a very fast read because of that. The characters grew and matured from the start of the book to the end as more and more responsibility was thrust upon them, which was written in a very believable way. And there was a great twist at the end, another plus!
In summary, I loved this book and can't wait to see where the next book takes us.
5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 3, 2022
Wow! What an adventure! The book as a whole is really well written. The setting is unique and the plot is exciting. I love the growth of the characters and the characters themselves. But the best part of the book was the ending. I don’t want to ruin it but I love how you think it’s all wrapping up and then…a cliffhanger! I absolutely will be reading the second book! I must know what happens next!!!!!
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only and I reviewed it because I truly enjoyed it!
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only and I reviewed it because I truly enjoyed it!
January 22, 2022
Resistance: of Ember and Flame is Book 1 by C E Ord. Lia and her twin, Tyler, are living with their father's mother after the death of their parents. At the end of their Sophomore year in High School, Lia met Coen, and the twin's life was forever changed. I enjoyed this fantasy book. Resistance has magic, adventure, fighting, great characters, and the evil Samuel, simply everything I enjoy in a good fantasy. Lia and Tyler joined Coen in the World of Gaea and they must both decide if they are staying in Gaea to fight or return to their grandmother in Australia. I will have to wait for Book 2 to discover the next adventure for Lia and Tyler. I felt that this fantasy was so good, I sure hope C E Ord writes book 2 quick! I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
January 25, 2022
interesting plot
I enjoyed the idea behind the story and the author did a good job of weaving the dialogue into the world building.
I will say that it's clearly the first in a series as there's far too much to wrap up in one book with the story.
I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next books in the series.
I enjoyed the idea behind the story and the author did a good job of weaving the dialogue into the world building.
I will say that it's clearly the first in a series as there's far too much to wrap up in one book with the story.
I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next books in the series.
February 23, 2022
Wow. Just wow. This book held my attention the whole way through and the way it ended, I just have to read the next book. Absolutely loved it
February 4, 2022
A set of orphan twins discover that they come from a parallel world, in wich Chosen people have magical abilities. They are asked to come back to Gaea to retrive a ruby and help in the war against Samael, as Lia is the heir to Gaea’s throne. A real page turner, full of magic and action, with brave well written characters. I was shocked at the ending, definitely looking foward to book 2.
**I got this book for free on netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
**I got this book for free on netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
September 13, 2023
3⭐️ Although I believe this book is categorised as a YA I found it may be better suited as a middle grade story.
I would have devoured this book as a teenager. Escaping a world that feels so hard, to go on an adventure where you’re no longer under the control of parents and teachers but instead the leader, the one who makes the decisions. The empowering feeling that this brings during a time of your life where you want more control over your life but feel like you have none. The Australian references were also something I craved as an Australian teenager who loved reading books where most of our books were American or British.
A big part of why OEAF feels more like a middle grade book is that there is a lot of info dumping. The writing does a lot of explaining, talking at each other to get in as much information about the world and the backstory as possible. This made it hard to engage with the world and invest in the characters but I can see how this would be helpful for young readers who need a bit more hand holding as they read about a fantasy world.
In saying that, I also found parts of the writing where it was a teenage character thinking, but felt like it was written for an adult as opposed to the story so far which feels written for a teenager. The shift was a little off-putting. An example of this: “Though Sebastian’s vocabulary wasn’t really any different from ours, he had a slightly different cadence to his speech than that of Tyler and I, or the people of Earth in general. A gentle formality that effortlessly commanded attention. Even if what he was saying had not been fascinating, his manner of speech alone was captivating.”
The first 75% of the story was a build up to what ended up being a short battle. I did appreciate the realism in this allowing our MC, who was thrown into a new world and new powers the time to learn enough to play her role
During this large part of the story I had so many questions. Many of which I could pass off as not being necessary for younger readers, such as why a young person without any experience with magic or the world she was visiting was to lead the people to battle. Some questions which were explained away by the end of the book, such as why one twin has enormous powers while the other had none.
Overall, this was an easy, enjoyable read which I think many Aussie teenagers will love.
Thank you to the author for an advanced readers copy.
I would have devoured this book as a teenager. Escaping a world that feels so hard, to go on an adventure where you’re no longer under the control of parents and teachers but instead the leader, the one who makes the decisions. The empowering feeling that this brings during a time of your life where you want more control over your life but feel like you have none. The Australian references were also something I craved as an Australian teenager who loved reading books where most of our books were American or British.
A big part of why OEAF feels more like a middle grade book is that there is a lot of info dumping. The writing does a lot of explaining, talking at each other to get in as much information about the world and the backstory as possible. This made it hard to engage with the world and invest in the characters but I can see how this would be helpful for young readers who need a bit more hand holding as they read about a fantasy world.
In saying that, I also found parts of the writing where it was a teenage character thinking, but felt like it was written for an adult as opposed to the story so far which feels written for a teenager. The shift was a little off-putting. An example of this: “Though Sebastian’s vocabulary wasn’t really any different from ours, he had a slightly different cadence to his speech than that of Tyler and I, or the people of Earth in general. A gentle formality that effortlessly commanded attention. Even if what he was saying had not been fascinating, his manner of speech alone was captivating.”
The first 75% of the story was a build up to what ended up being a short battle. I did appreciate the realism in this allowing our MC, who was thrown into a new world and new powers the time to learn enough to play her role
During this large part of the story I had so many questions. Many of which I could pass off as not being necessary for younger readers, such as why a young person without any experience with magic or the world she was visiting was to lead the people to battle. Some questions which were explained away by the end of the book, such as why one twin has enormous powers while the other had none.
Overall, this was an easy, enjoyable read which I think many Aussie teenagers will love.
Thank you to the author for an advanced readers copy.
May 26, 2022
Recently orphaned Main Character, Lia, and her twin brother, Tyler have moved to Australia to live with their paternal grandmother. On the final day of the school year, they meet Coen, a visitor from a parallel world in which Lia is the presumed heir to the royal bloodline, and she possesses several unique abilities that can help her to save this new world from an Evil Threat.
This is the first book in a series, with the second book due to be released in June 2022.
This is a fairly short read - at 211 pages I was able to read this within a day. I obtained a copy via Kindle Unlimited.
There was a lot I liked about this book. Firstly, the writing was succinct whilst still explaining everything about the new world well. There was quite a bit of world-building dialogue which helped to move the story forward. I didn't feel that there was anything that was left unexplained. The main character is well developed, but there isn't much detail around the rest of the other characters. It is written from the 1st person perspective of the MC, so we only hear about the other characters from her perspective, which can be limiting when you are trying to get to know the characters. We only get minimal details about their appearance and their roles within the story.
I enjoyed the plot - there were aspects that reminded me of Doctor Strange (portals), and Lord Of the Rings (retrieving an object, a journey etc).
Whilst these aspects were good, there were also a few things that I felt the book was lacking (hence the 4 star review!) The plot, while steadily told, is rather slow. There are a couple of events within the plot that makes it feel like it is picking up the pace, but then it seems to slow back down to a glacial pace. These events within the plot are good and well written, but don't seem to show any progression towards the main plot.
I also felt that the MC didn't show any character development for the majority of the book, once you get past the first couple of chapters. She has to complete a series of "tests" to train her abilities, and as such, there doesn't seem to be any "Struggle" with any of these - she appears to only have a short period of doubt, before then being able to complete the tasks with relative ease. And considering she has only been in the new world for a week (a point that is repeated several times within the book, even where it is not needed), she manages to hone her abilities to perfection in a short space of time. This seems like too quick a timeframe for me! Also, in minimising the "struggle" aspect, we as readers miss out on that character development.
In terms of the "Evil Threat" - I didn't feel like there was enough detail about this to really comprehend the level of the threat. It was mentioned by a couple of the characters but only in a vague sense. I didn't feel that there was enough information to really form an opinion about the villain. A well-written villain is a struggle - but in this case I know hardly anything about them!
I enjoyed the final few chapters, and the ending. This book does finish on a cliffhanger - and one that quite nicely sets up some intrigue to come in the next instalment of this series.
So, overall, 4 stars. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys light, YA fantasy, but I suspect the target audience would be early teenagers, rather than an older YA audience due to the style of writing.
This is the first book in a series, with the second book due to be released in June 2022.
This is a fairly short read - at 211 pages I was able to read this within a day. I obtained a copy via Kindle Unlimited.
There was a lot I liked about this book. Firstly, the writing was succinct whilst still explaining everything about the new world well. There was quite a bit of world-building dialogue which helped to move the story forward. I didn't feel that there was anything that was left unexplained. The main character is well developed, but there isn't much detail around the rest of the other characters. It is written from the 1st person perspective of the MC, so we only hear about the other characters from her perspective, which can be limiting when you are trying to get to know the characters. We only get minimal details about their appearance and their roles within the story.
I enjoyed the plot - there were aspects that reminded me of Doctor Strange (portals), and Lord Of the Rings (retrieving an object, a journey etc).
Whilst these aspects were good, there were also a few things that I felt the book was lacking (hence the 4 star review!) The plot, while steadily told, is rather slow. There are a couple of events within the plot that makes it feel like it is picking up the pace, but then it seems to slow back down to a glacial pace. These events within the plot are good and well written, but don't seem to show any progression towards the main plot.
I also felt that the MC didn't show any character development for the majority of the book, once you get past the first couple of chapters. She has to complete a series of "tests" to train her abilities, and as such, there doesn't seem to be any "Struggle" with any of these - she appears to only have a short period of doubt, before then being able to complete the tasks with relative ease. And considering she has only been in the new world for a week (a point that is repeated several times within the book, even where it is not needed), she manages to hone her abilities to perfection in a short space of time. This seems like too quick a timeframe for me! Also, in minimising the "struggle" aspect, we as readers miss out on that character development.
In terms of the "Evil Threat" - I didn't feel like there was enough detail about this to really comprehend the level of the threat. It was mentioned by a couple of the characters but only in a vague sense. I didn't feel that there was enough information to really form an opinion about the villain. A well-written villain is a struggle - but in this case I know hardly anything about them!
I enjoyed the final few chapters, and the ending. This book does finish on a cliffhanger - and one that quite nicely sets up some intrigue to come in the next instalment of this series.
So, overall, 4 stars. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys light, YA fantasy, but I suspect the target audience would be early teenagers, rather than an older YA audience due to the style of writing.
June 13, 2022
Resistance is a YA fantasy novel and is the first in a series.
Lia is sitting in detention. Okay, maybe she shouldn’t have said what she did, but life is unfair and she feels angry a lot lately. She and her twin, Tyler, lost their parents recently and had to move from New York to Australia to live with their grandmother. She’s good to them, but it’s not the same.
So now school is out, and she and Tyler have gone to meet some friends. Lia feels as though she is being watched. She doesn’t know how she knows… she just does. Soon she is approached by someone who calls himself Coen. And he comes with a tale that she and Tyler are going to have a hard time believing.
It turns out that there is another world, similar to Earth, called Gaea, that is in desperate need of a hero to rescue it from war and a coming evil in the form of Samael and Achlaya. And, as it happens, she and Tyler have familial bonds with the royalty of Gaea. So, if she and Tyler go with Coen and allow him to help her unleash her hidden magical powers, well, they have a chance at defeating their foes.
Alrighty then… just another day at the office…
Hmmm. Not sure where I stand with this book. I read it in fits and starts the first time, so read it again to make sure I got everything. I liked it, but it wasn’t a standout for me. There was a lot of explaining about things – history, the worlds, feelings, and powers, and this slowed the story somewhat. Lia only has a short time to get ready for what will ultimately be a battle, and while the tasks have their necessity explained, it just felt like she went from no powers to full powers in a few days far too easily. And for a fifteen-year-old, she seemed to make decisions that were more mature than we were led to believe about her.
I also found it strange that the twins leave for Gaea after they get permission from their grandmother to go on “vacation” and yet since Gaea has no technology and they can’t use their phones, they don’t contact her to let her know they have arrived at their “destination” safely. Would she not be worried? And seeing as they have an important birthday in Gaea but are not able to be contacted, would this not compound things if she phoned them to wish them happy birthday? It just stuck in my head.
Tyler has a very small role to play in this book, which makes me think he will come into his own in the next one. At least there is a glimmer at the end of the book to signal this.
The ending of the book and the climax was very rushed. In fact, the most important part was over in 2% of the book and just as you thought it was about to get going, it finished. And with a conclusion to the climax where I went: “Oh, really????”
At least the story was written comfortably without glaring grammar and punctuation errors, so that reading was smooth and easy. I’m sure others will love this as there is nothing wrong with the book… it just didn’t make me go “Wow!”.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
Lia is sitting in detention. Okay, maybe she shouldn’t have said what she did, but life is unfair and she feels angry a lot lately. She and her twin, Tyler, lost their parents recently and had to move from New York to Australia to live with their grandmother. She’s good to them, but it’s not the same.
So now school is out, and she and Tyler have gone to meet some friends. Lia feels as though she is being watched. She doesn’t know how she knows… she just does. Soon she is approached by someone who calls himself Coen. And he comes with a tale that she and Tyler are going to have a hard time believing.
It turns out that there is another world, similar to Earth, called Gaea, that is in desperate need of a hero to rescue it from war and a coming evil in the form of Samael and Achlaya. And, as it happens, she and Tyler have familial bonds with the royalty of Gaea. So, if she and Tyler go with Coen and allow him to help her unleash her hidden magical powers, well, they have a chance at defeating their foes.
Alrighty then… just another day at the office…
Hmmm. Not sure where I stand with this book. I read it in fits and starts the first time, so read it again to make sure I got everything. I liked it, but it wasn’t a standout for me. There was a lot of explaining about things – history, the worlds, feelings, and powers, and this slowed the story somewhat. Lia only has a short time to get ready for what will ultimately be a battle, and while the tasks have their necessity explained, it just felt like she went from no powers to full powers in a few days far too easily. And for a fifteen-year-old, she seemed to make decisions that were more mature than we were led to believe about her.
I also found it strange that the twins leave for Gaea after they get permission from their grandmother to go on “vacation” and yet since Gaea has no technology and they can’t use their phones, they don’t contact her to let her know they have arrived at their “destination” safely. Would she not be worried? And seeing as they have an important birthday in Gaea but are not able to be contacted, would this not compound things if she phoned them to wish them happy birthday? It just stuck in my head.
Tyler has a very small role to play in this book, which makes me think he will come into his own in the next one. At least there is a glimmer at the end of the book to signal this.
The ending of the book and the climax was very rushed. In fact, the most important part was over in 2% of the book and just as you thought it was about to get going, it finished. And with a conclusion to the climax where I went: “Oh, really????”
At least the story was written comfortably without glaring grammar and punctuation errors, so that reading was smooth and easy. I’m sure others will love this as there is nothing wrong with the book… it just didn’t make me go “Wow!”.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
January 15, 2022
⭐️⭐️ but with the potential to be at least⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I really hate giving bad reviews but I have to be honest.
Gaea is in danger. The North has already fallen, and the people
of the South live in fear, constantly battling the dark and powerful evil that haunts their world. The only hope for the future lies in a ruby that only the heir to the throne can find and harness.
Recently orphaned twins Lia and Tyler are trying to settle into their new life when a mysterious stranger shows up and turns their world upside down.
Grieving the loss of their parents Lia and Tyler never imagined life could surprise them anymore than it already had. But Coen’s arrival brings questions about their family’s mysterious past, news of parallel worlds they had never imagined and powers they didn’t know existed. Together the twins venture into a parallel world in the hopes of getting answers and saving Gaea.
I really struggled to write this review about ‘Resistance’ by C. E. Ord because whilst I think this book has great potential to be a popular fantasy book for many teenagers I also think that it needs a little bit of work for it to reach that level.
At the start of the book I found the authors narrative style to be a bit rocky but as you get further into the story she seems to find her rhythm dragging you into the magical world that she is creating.
The plot line for the story is enjoyable and has great potential I just felt that the climax of the story was rushed. I felt like I was cheated out of something that had been promised to me throughout the rest of the book.
I really liked the side characters, they were a calming presence throughout the story. The many characters however were a little confusing. The words on the paper were telling me that they were 18, the way that they acted was as if they were moody, confused kids but the decisions, pressure and way they spoke was as if they were young adults. It made the book feel slightly awkward and prevented me from reaching that stage where it feels impossible to put the book down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Gaea is in danger. The North has already fallen, and the people
of the South live in fear, constantly battling the dark and powerful evil that haunts their world. The only hope for the future lies in a ruby that only the heir to the throne can find and harness.
Recently orphaned twins Lia and Tyler are trying to settle into their new life when a mysterious stranger shows up and turns their world upside down.
Grieving the loss of their parents Lia and Tyler never imagined life could surprise them anymore than it already had. But Coen’s arrival brings questions about their family’s mysterious past, news of parallel worlds they had never imagined and powers they didn’t know existed. Together the twins venture into a parallel world in the hopes of getting answers and saving Gaea.
I really struggled to write this review about ‘Resistance’ by C. E. Ord because whilst I think this book has great potential to be a popular fantasy book for many teenagers I also think that it needs a little bit of work for it to reach that level.
At the start of the book I found the authors narrative style to be a bit rocky but as you get further into the story she seems to find her rhythm dragging you into the magical world that she is creating.
The plot line for the story is enjoyable and has great potential I just felt that the climax of the story was rushed. I felt like I was cheated out of something that had been promised to me throughout the rest of the book.
I really liked the side characters, they were a calming presence throughout the story. The many characters however were a little confusing. The words on the paper were telling me that they were 18, the way that they acted was as if they were moody, confused kids but the decisions, pressure and way they spoke was as if they were young adults. It made the book feel slightly awkward and prevented me from reaching that stage where it feels impossible to put the book down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a pretty quick read. The story starts with twins Lia and Tyler who lost their parents and were forced to relocate from New York to Sydney to live with their last remaining relative, their paternal grandmother.
There, Lia meets Coen. Coen has been following Lia as he believed she is the granddaughter of the late Queen of Gaea. Gaea, a parallel World where the Tectonic plates never shifted so it’s one large continent. Lia’s grandmother and mom fled Gaea through a portal when it encountered a great threat. Lia and Tyler decide to go with Coen to Gaea to figure out if Lia is in fact who Coen is looking for. They meet Sebastian who is a Seer. They go through a lot of tests and trials to confirm then decide to show her a photo of the Queen and Lia confirms it’s indeed her grandmother. They could have just done that in the first place and skipped a lot of the jumping through hoops. Sebastian and Coen need Lia to find and retrieve her grandmother’s Power Ruby…I’ll leave it there to not reveal too much.
Overall views
1. Lots of over explaining about the parallel worlds
2. A LOT of world building. Could have balanced the action with the world building a bit more.
3. Coen and Sebastian don’t want to “pressure” Lia but they do pressure her a lot to make a decision with very little time to make it
4. Very slow moving then the end felt a bit rushed
5. Tyler was very much a background character and for being Lia’s twin that is very close to her, it didn’t feel very authentic. I am curious about his role in book 2
I give this 2.5 stars. The series has potential. I think the author focused book one as the setup to the rest of the series vs hooking you in with book one. I will read book 2 when it comes out because I’m curious to see what happens next. I think this is a good starting point for someone who wants to get into fantasy. It doesn’t introduce a ton of characters that you have to try to remember and it has a lot of world building.
This was a pretty quick read. The story starts with twins Lia and Tyler who lost their parents and were forced to relocate from New York to Sydney to live with their last remaining relative, their paternal grandmother.
There, Lia meets Coen. Coen has been following Lia as he believed she is the granddaughter of the late Queen of Gaea. Gaea, a parallel World where the Tectonic plates never shifted so it’s one large continent. Lia’s grandmother and mom fled Gaea through a portal when it encountered a great threat. Lia and Tyler decide to go with Coen to Gaea to figure out if Lia is in fact who Coen is looking for. They meet Sebastian who is a Seer. They go through a lot of tests and trials to confirm then decide to show her a photo of the Queen and Lia confirms it’s indeed her grandmother. They could have just done that in the first place and skipped a lot of the jumping through hoops. Sebastian and Coen need Lia to find and retrieve her grandmother’s Power Ruby…I’ll leave it there to not reveal too much.
Overall views
1. Lots of over explaining about the parallel worlds
2. A LOT of world building. Could have balanced the action with the world building a bit more.
3. Coen and Sebastian don’t want to “pressure” Lia but they do pressure her a lot to make a decision with very little time to make it
4. Very slow moving then the end felt a bit rushed
5. Tyler was very much a background character and for being Lia’s twin that is very close to her, it didn’t feel very authentic. I am curious about his role in book 2
I give this 2.5 stars. The series has potential. I think the author focused book one as the setup to the rest of the series vs hooking you in with book one. I will read book 2 when it comes out because I’m curious to see what happens next. I think this is a good starting point for someone who wants to get into fantasy. It doesn’t introduce a ton of characters that you have to try to remember and it has a lot of world building.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2022
A really fun read!
Plot: Orphaned teenage twins Lia and Tyler are approached by a stranger with seemingly magical abilities, Coen, who introduces them to a parallel world ... their world. A YA fantasy book, this book follows Lia's perspective during this adventure in a world similar yet different to our own, where the tectonic plates had not separated the continents. In a world where humans focused on enhancing skills we would consider 'magic' rather than technological developments - this story has set up an interesting parallel world.
Characters: The characters are likeable but as the first book in a series, we don't get as much character development for characters apart from Lia who has to take some serious decisions and consider those around her. I loved the dynamic between Lia/Tyler, Lia/Coen, Coen/Sebastian and Tyler/Cassedia!
Overall thoughts: I absolutely loved this and read it in a day. This is a YA (possibly for slightly younger audiences within that bracket) but as a 23 year old I enjoyed it all the same. The pacing was alright though there was a lot of exposition - we had to get explanations for a number of things in the new world so a lot of conversations were explanatory to that end. I think the dynamic between Lia and Coen is great but I definitely wanted to learn more about him, and hope that this develops in the next book. I do also wish we could have seen more of her twin brother Tyler - I love their relationship and would like to see it grow, and him to grow in his own right.
The book doesn't round everything off (but has set up a number of very intriguing things), and it is certainly a great beginning to a series - I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via VoraciousReadersOnly.
Plot: Orphaned teenage twins Lia and Tyler are approached by a stranger with seemingly magical abilities, Coen, who introduces them to a parallel world ... their world. A YA fantasy book, this book follows Lia's perspective during this adventure in a world similar yet different to our own, where the tectonic plates had not separated the continents. In a world where humans focused on enhancing skills we would consider 'magic' rather than technological developments - this story has set up an interesting parallel world.
Characters: The characters are likeable but as the first book in a series, we don't get as much character development for characters apart from Lia who has to take some serious decisions and consider those around her. I loved the dynamic between Lia/Tyler, Lia/Coen, Coen/Sebastian and Tyler/Cassedia!
Overall thoughts: I absolutely loved this and read it in a day. This is a YA (possibly for slightly younger audiences within that bracket) but as a 23 year old I enjoyed it all the same. The pacing was alright though there was a lot of exposition - we had to get explanations for a number of things in the new world so a lot of conversations were explanatory to that end. I think the dynamic between Lia and Coen is great but I definitely wanted to learn more about him, and hope that this develops in the next book. I do also wish we could have seen more of her twin brother Tyler - I love their relationship and would like to see it grow, and him to grow in his own right.
The book doesn't round everything off (but has set up a number of very intriguing things), and it is certainly a great beginning to a series - I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via VoraciousReadersOnly.
June 13, 2022
Lia and Tyler lost their parents in a car crash and have moved to Sydney to be with their grandmother. Adjusting to their new life came easier for Tyler than Lia, but they're making it work. That is until a mysterious man comes to Lia and tells her his world is in danger and he needs her help to save it. Now Lia's world is turned upside down yet again, but this time she may unravel the mysteries that surround their families history.
First thoughts is I loved the world building. The author did a perfect parallel between our world and Gaea, while still giving us unique features to this world. I'm not from Australia, but I feel the descriptions of it were accurate and clearly defined to the point I could visualize it without ever having been there.
Lia is 15, but at times she acts much older than that. She has a strong arc already, and has jumped into this new world quickly and with ease. I liked that she is independent and doesn't rely on anyone to help her if she doesn't need to. Tyler is very similar, but takes a back seat to Lia in this story. The powers that they have are interesting and where they come from and are connected to was also interesting.
This is about YA novel and has its moments that make it clear is a YA based novel (i.e. the way everything is handled by Lia and Tyler). But the story is intriguing and great for anyone who enjoys fantasy.
First thoughts is I loved the world building. The author did a perfect parallel between our world and Gaea, while still giving us unique features to this world. I'm not from Australia, but I feel the descriptions of it were accurate and clearly defined to the point I could visualize it without ever having been there.
Lia is 15, but at times she acts much older than that. She has a strong arc already, and has jumped into this new world quickly and with ease. I liked that she is independent and doesn't rely on anyone to help her if she doesn't need to. Tyler is very similar, but takes a back seat to Lia in this story. The powers that they have are interesting and where they come from and are connected to was also interesting.
This is about YA novel and has its moments that make it clear is a YA based novel (i.e. the way everything is handled by Lia and Tyler). But the story is intriguing and great for anyone who enjoys fantasy.
January 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, I ended up bingeing it in 24 hours. The story is from Lia's perspective, a 15 year old girl who has a twin brother named Tyler. Lia and Tyler are living in Australia with their paternal grandmother, after their parents died in the United States, and are asked by a stranger to go to another world called Gaea with him. Adventure ensues
Things I Liked-
-Magic system was well explained
-Main character was well developed, likeable, and relatable
-The side characters were all fun and loveable
-I was invested in the story right from the beginning
Things I Didn't Like-
-For being so close to her twin he wasn't featured very much in the book
-The "battle"/ending was rushed
The story was great, the ending was a bit of a let down, and Tyler needs more page time. This story is appropriate for younger to older teens, but as an adult I still really enjoyed it. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the sequel. I rate this 3.5/5
Things I Liked-
-Magic system was well explained
-Main character was well developed, likeable, and relatable
-The side characters were all fun and loveable
-I was invested in the story right from the beginning
Things I Didn't Like-
-For being so close to her twin he wasn't featured very much in the book
-The "battle"/ending was rushed
The story was great, the ending was a bit of a let down, and Tyler needs more page time. This story is appropriate for younger to older teens, but as an adult I still really enjoyed it. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the sequel. I rate this 3.5/5
February 17, 2022
Lia and Tyler, twins recently resettled in Australia after the death of their parents, meet a calm stranger, Coen, with fantastical abilities, who changes their entire lives. Descended from a royal line in a parallel world, Lia has the power to help Coen’s people against a force of darkness.
I enjoyed the similarities and differences between Earth and Gaea. The sibling relationship was supportive and sweet. This was a well-paced, easy read that kept me engaged and turning pages.
The pace slowed just a bit around the midpoint when they are training for their quest—and almost every new skill they attempt, they master easily. I would have enjoyed a few more roadblocks along the way for them to struggle through, but other than that, this was a fun read.
It also had a good twist at the end that made me intrigued for book two.
Thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary electronic copy in exchange for a review.
I enjoyed the similarities and differences between Earth and Gaea. The sibling relationship was supportive and sweet. This was a well-paced, easy read that kept me engaged and turning pages.
The pace slowed just a bit around the midpoint when they are training for their quest—and almost every new skill they attempt, they master easily. I would have enjoyed a few more roadblocks along the way for them to struggle through, but other than that, this was a fun read.
It also had a good twist at the end that made me intrigued for book two.
Thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary electronic copy in exchange for a review.
January 22, 2022
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review
This book was an interesting one. I really like the plot and thought the characters have a lot of potential. But I also felt like there was a lot of minute details that weren't needed.
After about half way through the book I started losing interest because there was so much detail. I understand that detail is needed, but for example there was a paragraph full of details about a ball that the FMC threw into a wall. Details like that don't add to the story and instead tend to make it feel drawn out.
Overall I think the story was an interesting one and has a lot of potential but didn't find myself pulled to the story because I felt like I was wadding through pages and pages of details before I got to anything that actually applied to the story
This book was an interesting one. I really like the plot and thought the characters have a lot of potential. But I also felt like there was a lot of minute details that weren't needed.
After about half way through the book I started losing interest because there was so much detail. I understand that detail is needed, but for example there was a paragraph full of details about a ball that the FMC threw into a wall. Details like that don't add to the story and instead tend to make it feel drawn out.
Overall I think the story was an interesting one and has a lot of potential but didn't find myself pulled to the story because I felt like I was wadding through pages and pages of details before I got to anything that actually applied to the story
March 5, 2022
"Resistance" started off slowly for me and the world-building wasn't all it could've been. Gaea was essentially Earth without technology, which is a great plan, but the fact that Lia and Tyler could still use cellphones, diving watches, etc. in Gaea killed the fantasy world the author was building. On the other hand, the plot is solid, if a bit similar to other fantasy novels, and the characters were likeable. The story picked up about halfway through, and the cliffhanger at the end hooked me into wanting to read the next book in the series.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.
January 15, 2022
It’s starts out with an awkward lilt to the authors writing, but as you read further you can tell they’re getting more comfortable in their writing voice. The lore and story are easy to follow. It’s complex enough for a beginner in fantasy, but will also catch the interest of an avid fantasy reader. I love all the magic elements and history of their world Gaea. Loved this book so much.
August 4, 2022
Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.
I liked this one! I thought the premise was very interesting and the characters well written. Some points felt a little more like a history lesson to get all of the world building crammed in, but it fit. I will definitely look into reading what comes next!
I liked this one! I thought the premise was very interesting and the characters well written. Some points felt a little more like a history lesson to get all of the world building crammed in, but it fit. I will definitely look into reading what comes next!
January 23, 2022
This book was so refreshing. It was nice to read a simple fantasy book without draw out details, overdone romance scenes, and way to many names/places to remember. This book was a simple, fun YA fantasy. It was super fast paced which keeps your interest the entire time. I’m looking forward to reading the second book.
***the author did send me this ebook
***the author did send me this ebook
October 14, 2022
Fast, nice read. Good YA fantasy.
June 16, 2022
I really loved the idea of this story, focusing on human beauty on earth and in other worlds. I was intrigued throughout the whole book and I’m very happy that I read it. However, I don’t think the writing was too great. It was very matter of fact, telling and not showing, and it made it seem more like a middle grade book. Because of that, I think this would be an amazing middle grade book if it didn’t have the occasional romantic thoughts that this one does. Take those three or four thoughts out, and this would be maybe a 4 star middle grade book. But because of the slight romance it really counts as young adult, and compared to a normal young adult book I’d say it’s only 2 or 3 stars max. However, I am super excited to read the next book as I was very intrigued this whole time.
THE REST OF THIS REVIEW IS MY REACTIONS TO THE PLOT AND WRITING SO IT CONTAINS SPOILERS
THE REST OF THIS REVIEW IS MY REACTIONS TO THE PLOT AND WRITING SO IT CONTAINS SPOILERS
March 8, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
This book was a great start to a new series! The book was engaging and fast paced. The concept grabbed my attention from the start and held me through the whole book. I cannot wait to see what comes next.
This book was a great start to a new series! The book was engaging and fast paced. The concept grabbed my attention from the start and held me through the whole book. I cannot wait to see what comes next.
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