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The Stories of Evergreen Book I The Life of Billy Blaine
Billy Blaine and Josh Collins meet in a magical place but their friendship is as real as it gets. After Josh experiences devastating heartbreak, Billy does something that may change the course of history. The boys journey through the world of Evergreen, collecting a small but formidable group along the way, battling evil in all its forms in the pursuit of finding their way home. A world with equal parts dragons, sword fights and mythical adventures combines with relationships built on love, trust and what it means to discover who you are and what you are made of. These are The Stories of Evergreen.
379 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2021
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 14, 2022
This book wasn't one I would usually read but I throughly enjoyed it. I wasn't sure if it was written as a YA novel but think it would appeal to both adults and young alike.
The author has done a fabulous job with character development and scene development but I did want a wee bit more back story to them (personal preference)
Overall a fabulous imaginative and fun read.
The author has done a fabulous job with character development and scene development but I did want a wee bit more back story to them (personal preference)
Overall a fabulous imaginative and fun read.
February 15, 2022
Fantasy fan or not, this story is not to be missed! I truly didn't think that I could be so swept away, so utterly lost, in the world and relationships here. Evergreen transcends typical fantasy fare and makes a lasting mark in the literary world. A mighty fine debut by an incredible new talent. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
February 12, 2022
I liked the story. It was easy to read. I don't remember any inconsistencies in the story or logic, which would have bugged me. The title character is 12 (in the first sentence, so not much of a spoiler) and much of the story tells how a 12 year old would see the world and learns about life. The story has some fatalities, but does not get gory, and would probably be okay for teens and up. There were some interesting characters that played small roles. It would be nice to hear more about them. Women don't play play big roles in the story. This is book one, so maybe those will come out in later books. As a middle aged reader, the story didn't get too deep, and would probably be more of a 3 star rating. I gave it 4 stars because if I was a few decades younger, I would really like it.
March 8, 2023
The Stories of Evergreen, Book 1 The Life of Billy Blaine by R.S. Hamilton is an engaging fantasy centered on two boys who become friends when they meet in a magical world. When one boy suffers a devastating loss, his friend sets out to make it right. By doing so, he puts into motion what becomes a journey to Evergreen.
The boys, Billy and Josh, come from very different backgrounds. Though Billy’s name is included in the title, the story is about an entire array of characters, including the denizens of Evergreen.
I liked the story very much and, though the main characters are young, feel this is a book adults will enjoy too. My favorite parts were those that took place in Evergreen, a world of little technology. This place put me in mind of Tolkien’s Shire. The antagonist will stop at nothing to get what he wants and causes much suffering. I am especially curious about the dragons and hope they will feature more in book 2.
The ending came as a surprise and makes me wonder what the second book will be like in terms of characters, setting, and theme. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for it and look forward to seeing what the author comes up with as an encore.
The boys, Billy and Josh, come from very different backgrounds. Though Billy’s name is included in the title, the story is about an entire array of characters, including the denizens of Evergreen.
I liked the story very much and, though the main characters are young, feel this is a book adults will enjoy too. My favorite parts were those that took place in Evergreen, a world of little technology. This place put me in mind of Tolkien’s Shire. The antagonist will stop at nothing to get what he wants and causes much suffering. I am especially curious about the dragons and hope they will feature more in book 2.
The ending came as a surprise and makes me wonder what the second book will be like in terms of characters, setting, and theme. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for it and look forward to seeing what the author comes up with as an encore.
May 27, 2023
The Stories of Evergreen, Volume 1 Two boys meet in a wonderful realm and become friends in R.S. Hamilton's captivating tale, The Life of Billy Blaine. After one of the boys suffers a terrible loss, his companion decides to make things right. By doing that, he begins what ultimately becomes a pilgrimage to Evergreen.
Josh and Billy experienced quite different upbringings. The novel features a range of characters, including those from Evergreen, even though Billy's name appears in the title.
Although the main characters are children, I believe adults would also like this novel because of the premise. My favorite scenes took place in Evergreen, a less technologically advanced society. This place made me think of Tolkien's Shire. The antagonist causes much suffering and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. The dragons have my interest, and I anticipate seeing more in book 2.
I'm making assumptions about the people, setting, and the overarching theme of the sequel because of how surprising the climax was. I recommend this.
Josh and Billy experienced quite different upbringings. The novel features a range of characters, including those from Evergreen, even though Billy's name appears in the title.
Although the main characters are children, I believe adults would also like this novel because of the premise. My favorite scenes took place in Evergreen, a less technologically advanced society. This place made me think of Tolkien's Shire. The antagonist causes much suffering and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. The dragons have my interest, and I anticipate seeing more in book 2.
I'm making assumptions about the people, setting, and the overarching theme of the sequel because of how surprising the climax was. I recommend this.
October 7, 2025
4.5 stars
I REALLY enjoyed this book
It’s exactly what I wanted to read right now
There was magic, and time travel, and dragons and it wasn’t overwhelmingly complicated. I’m looking forward to the next part of this story
I REALLY enjoyed this book
It’s exactly what I wanted to read right now
There was magic, and time travel, and dragons and it wasn’t overwhelmingly complicated. I’m looking forward to the next part of this story
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews