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Ambrosia Hill #1
Amethyst
She was sent away because of her feelings for another girl. But what she discovered at her aunts’ lake house was a birthright of magic.
Thirteen-year-old Zinnia is about to turn fourteen when her life is flipped upside down. With her parents on the brink of a divorce, Zinnia is sent to spend the summer with her eccentric great-aunts at their lake house away from her home in Manhattan. Zinnia arrives at her aunts’ massive Victorian house with a heavy heart after a recent falling out with her best friend Charlotte, who betrayed her trust by showing the meanest and most popular girl in school a letter Zinnia wrote confessing her feelings for Charlotte. The aunts rely on practical magic, acceptance and old family friends to help heal their great-niece in more ways than one.
What Zinnia discovers on Ambrosia Hill is more than just her birthright to magic—she meets Billie, a girl who conjures feelings inside Zinnia that she can no longer deny.
Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of homophobia and mild peril.
Thirteen-year-old Zinnia is about to turn fourteen when her life is flipped upside down. With her parents on the brink of a divorce, Zinnia is sent to spend the summer with her eccentric great-aunts at their lake house away from her home in Manhattan. Zinnia arrives at her aunts’ massive Victorian house with a heavy heart after a recent falling out with her best friend Charlotte, who betrayed her trust by showing the meanest and most popular girl in school a letter Zinnia wrote confessing her feelings for Charlotte. The aunts rely on practical magic, acceptance and old family friends to help heal their great-niece in more ways than one.
What Zinnia discovers on Ambrosia Hill is more than just her birthright to magic—she meets Billie, a girl who conjures feelings inside Zinnia that she can no longer deny.
Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of homophobia and mild peril.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2022
1 person is currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Henry
10 books261 followersRebecca Henry is an American author who spent the past decade living abroad. During her time overseas, she garnered invaluable information and life lessons about the world around her, gaining perspective from every day life in other countries. She has now permanently returned to the States after her previous move to Thailand. Rebecca spent this time as a housewife and mother trying to understand her issues with sexuality and identity when she was inspired to write the LBGTQIA+ Ambrosia Hill Series. While living in South East Asia for four years, Rebecca found her faith and became a practicing Buddhist, sending her on a deeply personal healing journey and ultimately leading her to become a medical massage therapist, sharing this passion with others in the West by opening up her own practice.
Besides writing fiction, Rebecca is also the author of her vegan holiday cookbook collection and green living lifestyle book, encouraging her audience to select healthy dietary choices and environmentally friendly alternatives to common household items. You can find all Rebecca's books on Amazon.
Besides writing fiction, Rebecca is also the author of her vegan holiday cookbook collection and green living lifestyle book, encouraging her audience to select healthy dietary choices and environmentally friendly alternatives to common household items. You can find all Rebecca's books on Amazon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
March 16, 2022
On the cusp of turning fourteen, Zinnia is spending her summer holidays with her Aunts Luna and Stella. She wants to be away from the stress of her parents fighting, being outed to her whole school and the betrayal from her best friend.
Amethyst is a coming of age in a family of green witches YA novel. Even though some of the topics are heavyweights the writing carries the reader delicately through them. It helps that Zinnia is resilient and knows her own mind.
As this is the first novel in a series it has set the groundwork for what is to come. It is an enjoyable read.
I received an advanced review copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Amethyst is a coming of age in a family of green witches YA novel. Even though some of the topics are heavyweights the writing carries the reader delicately through them. It helps that Zinnia is resilient and knows her own mind.
As this is the first novel in a series it has set the groundwork for what is to come. It is an enjoyable read.
I received an advanced review copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It’s all about difficult beginnings what we all faced in our life and magic what I love so much . Zinnia, ashamed about her feelings to another girl , spend her summer holidays with her aunts. Their house full of magical secrets, what only aunt Luna and her sister knows . I love Zinnia evolution, how she accept who she really is thankful to her aunts and Billie, her new girlfriend.
The magic works well all the way, beginning from the potion and ending with a horrible storm and secret of the Cauldron lake.
I hope this reading will help to teenagers to be open to their feelings , gays or lesbians it doesn’t matter till magic of true love unites them.
Ps. Impatient to read the second book !
The magic works well all the way, beginning from the potion and ending with a horrible storm and secret of the Cauldron lake.
I hope this reading will help to teenagers to be open to their feelings , gays or lesbians it doesn’t matter till magic of true love unites them.
Ps. Impatient to read the second book !
March 29, 2024
Amethyst is the first book In a new YA series that revolves around the life of Zinnia.
After confessing her feelings for another girl, Zinnia is sent to Ambrosia Hill to spend the summer with her great aunts. However, despite the fact that she didn’t want to go. Zinnia may just end up finding herself and discovering a birthright of magic she didn’t know she possessed.
Amethyst has such a huge place in my heart, because I love it’s purpose. Featuring a young and Queer MC, this book is an inspiration to young children that are still discovering themselves.
It fills a very important gap in the market and I can’t wait for people to give it a read!
After confessing her feelings for another girl, Zinnia is sent to Ambrosia Hill to spend the summer with her great aunts. However, despite the fact that she didn’t want to go. Zinnia may just end up finding herself and discovering a birthright of magic she didn’t know she possessed.
Amethyst has such a huge place in my heart, because I love it’s purpose. Featuring a young and Queer MC, this book is an inspiration to young children that are still discovering themselves.
It fills a very important gap in the market and I can’t wait for people to give it a read!
November 21, 2022
“Fairy tales screw kids up. It wasn’t who I wanted to rescue me that was the issue— it was the fact I thought I needed to be rescued by anyone.”
🏔️The story is of our protagonist Zinnia and her magical discovery at Ambrosia Hill.
🏔️Zinnia is a 13-year-old who has come to stay with her aunts at Ambrosia Hill, because of her parent’s divorce being on the table.
🏔️She was also bullied at her school because she confessed her feelings to her best friend in a letter and in return, the letter had gone around the whole school.
🏔️The book has a distinct storyline, it was a fun and light read.
🏔️Great fantasy books show us the world in another guise, yet each is also a universe unto itself, and this is one of those books. You will the same excitement and thrill that Zinnia was going through and yet you’ll crave more.
🏔️This is indeed a vibrant addition to the field of Fiction and I would surely read more from the author.
🏔️The story is of our protagonist Zinnia and her magical discovery at Ambrosia Hill.
🏔️Zinnia is a 13-year-old who has come to stay with her aunts at Ambrosia Hill, because of her parent’s divorce being on the table.
🏔️She was also bullied at her school because she confessed her feelings to her best friend in a letter and in return, the letter had gone around the whole school.
🏔️The book has a distinct storyline, it was a fun and light read.
🏔️Great fantasy books show us the world in another guise, yet each is also a universe unto itself, and this is one of those books. You will the same excitement and thrill that Zinnia was going through and yet you’ll crave more.
🏔️This is indeed a vibrant addition to the field of Fiction and I would surely read more from the author.
March 11, 2022
Setting: I enjoyed the setting of this story. It was fairly simple, as this is a magical realism story, but there was enough detail to give me a pretty clear picture of the town and especially the house where Zinnia and the aunts live.
Plot: I have mixed feelings about the plot. To some degree it felt anticlimactic to me, but that could be due to my own expectations going into it. However, as a coming of age story I think it was fairly well done. I remember being 14 years old and struggling with the same sort of experiences Zinnia was having, so it was very believable in that aspect. I just wish the book had been longer so as to better develop the plot.
Characters: I mostly enjoyed the characters. I loved the aunts and am interested to read more about them in future installments. Zinnia was lovable and sympathetic. She reminded me a lot of me at 14 years old. I would’ve liked to have Billie’s character more fleshed out. As with the plot, my one complaint is that the length of the book somewhat impeded the development of the characters. Additionally, I don’t have a clear picture of what any of them look like, so I would’ve liked to have better descriptions of them.
Pacing: Considering how short the book is, I felt that the pacing was fairly good. The events of the book did unfold rather quickly, but it didn’t necessarily feel like it was rushed.
Writing: I don’t have a lot to say about the writing. The author’s descriptions were fairly good. I enjoyed that the author really did manage to make me feel like I was back in 14 year old me’s head. I can remember saying and thinking a lot of similar things at that age.
Additional thoughts: Overall I just wanted more. I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I think it could’ve benefitted greatly from being longer. It would’ve given more time to develop the characters and the plot because, as it stands, both aspects fell a little flat for me. That being said, I am interested to see where it goes in the future. This is marketed as book #1 and was a decent start to a series, so I look forward to picking up future installments.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Plot: I have mixed feelings about the plot. To some degree it felt anticlimactic to me, but that could be due to my own expectations going into it. However, as a coming of age story I think it was fairly well done. I remember being 14 years old and struggling with the same sort of experiences Zinnia was having, so it was very believable in that aspect. I just wish the book had been longer so as to better develop the plot.
Characters: I mostly enjoyed the characters. I loved the aunts and am interested to read more about them in future installments. Zinnia was lovable and sympathetic. She reminded me a lot of me at 14 years old. I would’ve liked to have Billie’s character more fleshed out. As with the plot, my one complaint is that the length of the book somewhat impeded the development of the characters. Additionally, I don’t have a clear picture of what any of them look like, so I would’ve liked to have better descriptions of them.
Pacing: Considering how short the book is, I felt that the pacing was fairly good. The events of the book did unfold rather quickly, but it didn’t necessarily feel like it was rushed.
Writing: I don’t have a lot to say about the writing. The author’s descriptions were fairly good. I enjoyed that the author really did manage to make me feel like I was back in 14 year old me’s head. I can remember saying and thinking a lot of similar things at that age.
Additional thoughts: Overall I just wanted more. I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I think it could’ve benefitted greatly from being longer. It would’ve given more time to develop the characters and the plot because, as it stands, both aspects fell a little flat for me. That being said, I am interested to see where it goes in the future. This is marketed as book #1 and was a decent start to a series, so I look forward to picking up future installments.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 15, 2022
The Review
I instantly fell in love with this story. The author did such an incredible job of crafting a unique and beautiful world that felt real and yet held incredible magic that kept the paranormal and fantasy elements of this narrative alive. The sheer volume of backstory and narrative the author was able to pour into this fairly quick read was breathtaking to behold, as were the little bits of mystery and suspense that the author peppered throughout the read, especially with a tease of future storylines in the next book in this series.
Yet it was the heartfelt character development that really played well in this story. The magic and wonder of the world the author crafted only elevated the emotional story of these characters, from the backstory and history of Billie, who brings a sense of edge and pain to her meeting with Zinnia. Then there is Zinnia herself, who not only struggles with the pain of her family falling apart due to her parents impending divorce but the struggles to feel accepted for her LGBTQ status.
What I love about the story is that the author doesn’t portray Zinnia as someone in doubt necessarily of who they are, but struggling because she does know who she is and who she loves, and wants the world and those around her to accept her as she is. I feel there are so many people, especially teens, in this world who feel the same who could use an inspirational protagonist like Zinnia to connect with and follow, and I applaud the author for this amazing story development for the character.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, emotional, and magical, author Rebecca Henry’s “Amethyst” is a must-read novel of 2022 and the perfect first entry into this brilliant paranormal and fantasy YA series. The balance of realism and magic, along with the positive outlook on witchcraft and magic that is often overlooked in the world, made this world stand out, and the positive exploration of LGBTQ themes made this a home run in my book.
I instantly fell in love with this story. The author did such an incredible job of crafting a unique and beautiful world that felt real and yet held incredible magic that kept the paranormal and fantasy elements of this narrative alive. The sheer volume of backstory and narrative the author was able to pour into this fairly quick read was breathtaking to behold, as were the little bits of mystery and suspense that the author peppered throughout the read, especially with a tease of future storylines in the next book in this series.
Yet it was the heartfelt character development that really played well in this story. The magic and wonder of the world the author crafted only elevated the emotional story of these characters, from the backstory and history of Billie, who brings a sense of edge and pain to her meeting with Zinnia. Then there is Zinnia herself, who not only struggles with the pain of her family falling apart due to her parents impending divorce but the struggles to feel accepted for her LGBTQ status.
What I love about the story is that the author doesn’t portray Zinnia as someone in doubt necessarily of who they are, but struggling because she does know who she is and who she loves, and wants the world and those around her to accept her as she is. I feel there are so many people, especially teens, in this world who feel the same who could use an inspirational protagonist like Zinnia to connect with and follow, and I applaud the author for this amazing story development for the character.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, emotional, and magical, author Rebecca Henry’s “Amethyst” is a must-read novel of 2022 and the perfect first entry into this brilliant paranormal and fantasy YA series. The balance of realism and magic, along with the positive outlook on witchcraft and magic that is often overlooked in the world, made this world stand out, and the positive exploration of LGBTQ themes made this a home run in my book.
December 3, 2022
Book~ Rebecca Henry
Author~ Amethyst
4 ⭐
Amethyst (Ambrosia Hill) by Rebecca Henry the cover of the book is aptly designed. The title is totally relevant. The plot of the story is interesting.
Zinnia, 14, was a city girl and both were parents are in the law firm. They were on the verge of a divorce and hence they felt that it's best for her to stay at Ambrosia hill, a countryside where her mom was raised.
The concept of the book is interesting, engaging and unique. The way the author created the plot of the story is just amazing.
The aunts and their hilarious banter is my favorite. I live for when they argue, they are just so funny! I cackle at just about everything that comes out of their mouths.
I instantly fell in love with this story. The author did such an incredible job of crafting a unique and beautiful world that felt real.
I absolutely loved every page of it. Of course I would recommend this book to all readers.
Author~ Amethyst
4 ⭐
Amethyst (Ambrosia Hill) by Rebecca Henry the cover of the book is aptly designed. The title is totally relevant. The plot of the story is interesting.
Zinnia, 14, was a city girl and both were parents are in the law firm. They were on the verge of a divorce and hence they felt that it's best for her to stay at Ambrosia hill, a countryside where her mom was raised.
The concept of the book is interesting, engaging and unique. The way the author created the plot of the story is just amazing.
The aunts and their hilarious banter is my favorite. I live for when they argue, they are just so funny! I cackle at just about everything that comes out of their mouths.
I instantly fell in love with this story. The author did such an incredible job of crafting a unique and beautiful world that felt real.
I absolutely loved every page of it. Of course I would recommend this book to all readers.
November 24, 2022
Amethyst (Ambrosia Hill) by Rebecca Henry the cover of the book is aptly designed. The title is totally relevant. The plot of the story is interesting, engaging and realistic.Usually, I don't judge a book by its cover or title, but this time, I will admit that the title is unique and appropriate because of the way she labelled and delivered the story, which was also highly fascinating. The concept of the book is interesting, engaging and unique. The way the author created the plot of the story is just amazing. Each title piqued my interest in finding out what would happen next.so without wasting time let start the story Zinnia, 14, was a city girl and both were parents are in the law firm. They were on the verge of a divorce and hence they felt that it's best for her to stay at Ambrosia hill, a countryside where her mom was raised.Then there is Zinnia herself, who not only struggles with the pain of her family falling apart due to her parents impending divorce . Zinnia as someone in doubt necessarily of who they are, but struggling because she does know who she is and whom she loves, and wants the world and those around her to accept her as she is.Zinnia went to stay with her aunts Luna and Stella in their Victorian house in summer. There, she met a girl Billie. Though they started off on a rough note, there was surely something about her though the author makes it in a lucid manner every line has got a strong connection with the reader's emotion the writer worked effectively in writing down this piece, which was so incredibly composed and perfectly created. I was truly charmed by this book as the actual title Through his marvellous writing,The whole plot is intensely engaging the characters are also very well built.
I absolutely loved every page of it. Of course I would recommend this book to all readers...
Outstanding Read.....
I absolutely loved every page of it. Of course I would recommend this book to all readers...
Outstanding Read.....
April 21, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book! It gave ‘Sabrina the teenage witch vibes’ with the loving aunts and the cat as a familiar. Having a cat as a familiar is something I wish would happen to me! Hmm… maybe I have 5 familiars? #petmom Zinnia is at the precipice of turning 14, becoming an official witch and starting high school😮💨 That’s a lot right?! Add to the fact that her parents’ marriage is not doing so well. Enter Billie; new to Ambrosia Hill. She’s also 14 and feisty. Zinnia is reluctantly interested… what happens next?! Check out Amethyst💜 I’m so grateful to the author for this complimentary review copy, I leave this review voluntarily and without influence.
December 1, 2022
The book Amethyst by Rebecca Henry.
The tale of Zinnia, changed into a town woman and each were dad and mom are inside the regulation organization. They were on the verge of a divorce and for this reason they felt that it is best for her to live at Ambrosia hill, a countryside in which her mother turned into raised.Then there is Zinnia herself, who now not handiest struggles with the ache of her family falling aside because of her parents coming near near divorce .
Zinnia went to stay along with her aunts Luna and Stella in their Victorian residence in summer. There, she met a female Billie. Though they began off on a difficult notice, there was absolutely some thing about her. Also, her aunts had been called witches via the entire village.
The narration of the storytelling is clean and language used is lucid and easy to understand.
Happy Reading!
The tale of Zinnia, changed into a town woman and each were dad and mom are inside the regulation organization. They were on the verge of a divorce and for this reason they felt that it is best for her to live at Ambrosia hill, a countryside in which her mother turned into raised.Then there is Zinnia herself, who now not handiest struggles with the ache of her family falling aside because of her parents coming near near divorce .
Zinnia went to stay along with her aunts Luna and Stella in their Victorian residence in summer. There, she met a female Billie. Though they began off on a difficult notice, there was absolutely some thing about her. Also, her aunts had been called witches via the entire village.
The narration of the storytelling is clean and language used is lucid and easy to understand.
Happy Reading!
January 13, 2023
"Amethyst" via way of means of Rebecca Henry is a great e book. The tale is set a female Zinnia, she changed into 14, changed into a metropolis younger female and each had been guardians are withinside the regulation office. Zinnia went to live together along with her aunts Luna and Stella of their Victorian residence in summer. There, she met a female Billie. The name is particular and suitable due to the manner she labelled and introduced the tale, which changed into additionally incredibly fascinating. The idea of the e book is thrilling, enticing and particular.
Author has carried out a commendable process at the same time as weaving the tale thru traits of Sun Sign. The Language of the e book is good. The narration of the plot is going nicely with the plot. The finishing is likeable and the duvet is apt. Engaging study overall.
Author has carried out a commendable process at the same time as weaving the tale thru traits of Sun Sign. The Language of the e book is good. The narration of the plot is going nicely with the plot. The finishing is likeable and the duvet is apt. Engaging study overall.
November 30, 2022
Mind blowing I just finished reading. This books by Rebecca Henry gives you permanant Hangover. The author did such an incredible job by Expressing the Fiction is one such genre which have the ability to leave you speechless by the imagination .
A thirteen year old girl "Zinnia, who had been innocent by heart . Her world came crashing now when she conveyed her feelings for another girl of her class Charlotte. Her parents did not like each other and they always fight with each other And they were at the verge of Divorce.
She sent away from family to her aunt's place where she realise about her hidden inherited treasure was the power of magic.
Conclusion- its an amazing book which has everything that book lovers love. Just go for it.
A thirteen year old girl "Zinnia, who had been innocent by heart . Her world came crashing now when she conveyed her feelings for another girl of her class Charlotte. Her parents did not like each other and they always fight with each other And they were at the verge of Divorce.
She sent away from family to her aunt's place where she realise about her hidden inherited treasure was the power of magic.
Conclusion- its an amazing book which has everything that book lovers love. Just go for it.
November 25, 2022
Fiction is one such genre which have the ability to leave you speechless by the imagination of the writer. The variation in story plot and the intricacy of characters make every book an entertainment package.
Let's read about thirteen year old Zinnia,who had been innocent by heart and sober by soul. Her world came crashing now when she conveyed her feelings for another girl of her class Charlotte.
Sent away from family to her aunt's place where she realise about her hidden inherited treasure was the power of magic. Whil her parents were at the verge of a divorce,Zinna had too many storms to survive.
The first book in the Ambrosia Hill series is no less than an exceptionally well written story with a plot beyond one's imagination. Too many twists and turns in the tale will keep you intact with every phase. Written to leave a unique mark on the reader's mind. Loved it ❤️
Let's read about thirteen year old Zinnia,who had been innocent by heart and sober by soul. Her world came crashing now when she conveyed her feelings for another girl of her class Charlotte.
Sent away from family to her aunt's place where she realise about her hidden inherited treasure was the power of magic. Whil her parents were at the verge of a divorce,Zinna had too many storms to survive.
The first book in the Ambrosia Hill series is no less than an exceptionally well written story with a plot beyond one's imagination. Too many twists and turns in the tale will keep you intact with every phase. Written to leave a unique mark on the reader's mind. Loved it ❤️
November 25, 2022
✍️ A child with a bad childhood memories, a girl who had to live far away from her parents, a child who betrayed by her own best friend - a gloomy life, lots of negative effects and many unspoken words which turned into a mystery.
👉 This book is like getting a new plot in every alternate chapter.
🥀There are few scenes where we witness the helplessness of a poor child.
On the very next moment there is realisation that maybe some of us 'readers', too had experienced the same in some point of time.
🍀 The story is about a girl and her momentum days in her aunt's house. She was trying to recover her old wounds. But then she discover a new magical world through her aunt. She discovered meaning of her life and finally got the taste of love.
👉 A simple story with emotional touches makes the story beautiful.
👍👍👍👍
👉 This book is like getting a new plot in every alternate chapter.
🥀There are few scenes where we witness the helplessness of a poor child.
On the very next moment there is realisation that maybe some of us 'readers', too had experienced the same in some point of time.
🍀 The story is about a girl and her momentum days in her aunt's house. She was trying to recover her old wounds. But then she discover a new magical world through her aunt. She discovered meaning of her life and finally got the taste of love.
👉 A simple story with emotional touches makes the story beautiful.
👍👍👍👍
November 23, 2022
just finished Amethyst and the prose is still washing over me. First, I have to talk about the writing: This book reads so beautifully!
Zinnia, goes through some hard challenges in this coming of age story, but she manages to overcome these obstacles with the help of her quirky and lovable aunts.
The author did such an incredible job of crafting a unique and beautiful world that felt real and yet held incredible magic that kept the paranormal and fantasy elements of this narrative alive.
What I love about the story is that the author doesn’t portray Zinnia as someone in doubt necessarily of who they are, but struggling because she does know who she is and whom she loves, and wants the world and those around her to accept her as she is
Zinnia, goes through some hard challenges in this coming of age story, but she manages to overcome these obstacles with the help of her quirky and lovable aunts.
The author did such an incredible job of crafting a unique and beautiful world that felt real and yet held incredible magic that kept the paranormal and fantasy elements of this narrative alive.
What I love about the story is that the author doesn’t portray Zinnia as someone in doubt necessarily of who they are, but struggling because she does know who she is and whom she loves, and wants the world and those around her to accept her as she is
October 12, 2024
A short novella about a young girl visiting her family for the summer and reconnecting with her witchy ways.
The story felt a little slow even for a novella, and the ending happened quite abruptly. There was enough of a hook at the end to hint at what will happen in future installments, but I wish it was built upon throughout the story.
If you're looking for a witchy YA perspective, this might be for you!
The story felt a little slow even for a novella, and the ending happened quite abruptly. There was enough of a hook at the end to hint at what will happen in future installments, but I wish it was built upon throughout the story.
If you're looking for a witchy YA perspective, this might be for you!
April 18, 2022
I found this to be an absolutely enchanting read. As someone with high levels of anxiety, this book brought me back to my middle school days in Upstate New York at my grandparents' lake house. I find this book to be extremely comforting and securing, and each character is developed and well-rounded, much like real people in society. The aunts are filled with quirks and idiosyncrasies; their conversations with each other feel much like conversations between real people. The author makes it clear that she can describe many different scenarios and people of all walks of life, whilst still being able to accurately relate to teenagers such as myself. I also enjoy how she touches upon topics relating to the LGBTQ+ community. I identify as pansexual, and I used to struggle with my sexuality when I was younger, often denying my feelings for other girls or people of any other gender other than male. Society enforces that you must be heterosexual; Ambrosia Hill denies this logic. I really appreciate the recent movement of LGBTQ+ content, especially children and teenagers' books.
Overall, brilliant read. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Overall, brilliant read. I would recommend this book to anyone.
November 19, 2022
"I'll be lucky if my parents are still together when I get home."
Zinnia, 14, was a city girl and both were parents are in the law firm. They were on the verge of a divorce and hence they felt that it's best for her to stay at Ambrosia hill, a countryside where her mom was raised.
Zinnia loved Charlotte, her classmate and felt very natural about her liking a girl. When Charlotte broke the news to Zinnia's bestie Liv, who inturn told the whole school. Zinnia felt betrayed because the 2 people she liked the most had been terrible.
Zinnia went to stay with her aunts Luna and Stella in their Victorian house in summer. There, she met a girl Billie. Though they started off on a rough note, there was surely something about her. Also, her aunts were called witches by the whole village.
Grab this book to experience some fantasy and magic in a young teen's life.
Zinnia, 14, was a city girl and both were parents are in the law firm. They were on the verge of a divorce and hence they felt that it's best for her to stay at Ambrosia hill, a countryside where her mom was raised.
Zinnia loved Charlotte, her classmate and felt very natural about her liking a girl. When Charlotte broke the news to Zinnia's bestie Liv, who inturn told the whole school. Zinnia felt betrayed because the 2 people she liked the most had been terrible.
Zinnia went to stay with her aunts Luna and Stella in their Victorian house in summer. There, she met a girl Billie. Though they started off on a rough note, there was surely something about her. Also, her aunts were called witches by the whole village.
Grab this book to experience some fantasy and magic in a young teen's life.
November 18, 2022
This book is about love, magic, possession loaded with multiple emotions.
It is the story of a teenage girl Zinnia who loves another girl Charlotte. Things haven't been easy for her due to her love for Charlotte and her parents broken marriage. Followed by a chain of events Zinnia's life takes a turn whe she meets Billie in the lake house. To know more grab your copy NOW.
Coming back to the review, I really loved the LGBTQ representation in the story as we don't see much in these sort of stories. The characterisation was really good and I liked the magical realism. I liked Zinnia's character alot, it's very strong and inspirational for teenagers her age.
I somehow feel the book is a very short read and it could've been more descriptive.
Overall, it's a nice book. Go for it you enjoy magic and fantasy.
It is the story of a teenage girl Zinnia who loves another girl Charlotte. Things haven't been easy for her due to her love for Charlotte and her parents broken marriage. Followed by a chain of events Zinnia's life takes a turn whe she meets Billie in the lake house. To know more grab your copy NOW.
Coming back to the review, I really loved the LGBTQ representation in the story as we don't see much in these sort of stories. The characterisation was really good and I liked the magical realism. I liked Zinnia's character alot, it's very strong and inspirational for teenagers her age.
I somehow feel the book is a very short read and it could've been more descriptive.
Overall, it's a nice book. Go for it you enjoy magic and fantasy.
June 24, 2022
What’s better than a summer in the countryside?
It can be hard for kids to understand topics like divorce and marital conflict. Zinnia was a smart teenager, but even she struggled with the idea that her parents were fighting and might not stay together. Some of the most memorable scenes in this novella were the ones that explored her feelings on this topic and tried to explain her parents’ anger with each other in ways that were appropriate for a fourteen-year-old to hear. These aren’t easy things to discuss by any means, but they are quite important. The author did a great job of giving Zinnia a chance to understand her parents a little better than she had before and to learn about how adult relationships sometimes work.
I would have loved to see more character development in this piece. As intrigued as I was by the setting and plot, it was disappointing to meet characters whose personalities weren’t well defined and who didn’t seem to grow very much as a result of their experiences even when they were the main focus of the storyline. There seemed to be plenty of opportunities for them to do so. I simply needed more examples of them reacting to those moments, sharing their personalities in more complex ways, and showing the audience how they’d changed.
The world building was delightful. I loved the way magic was woven into every facet of the characters’ daily lives, from the messages that were left in the arrangements of soggy tea leaves in the bottom of a teacup to the spells the aunts cast to help their visitors reach any number of personal goals. It wasn’t always clear to me where the magic ended and ordinary explanations for certain events began. I reveled in how beautifully ordinary the author made certain scenes feel even if they included moments that can’t be explained with modern science or physics. There is something special about visiting a world that accepts these shades of grey and invites the reader to come up with their own explanations for them.
Amethyst was a playful read.
It can be hard for kids to understand topics like divorce and marital conflict. Zinnia was a smart teenager, but even she struggled with the idea that her parents were fighting and might not stay together. Some of the most memorable scenes in this novella were the ones that explored her feelings on this topic and tried to explain her parents’ anger with each other in ways that were appropriate for a fourteen-year-old to hear. These aren’t easy things to discuss by any means, but they are quite important. The author did a great job of giving Zinnia a chance to understand her parents a little better than she had before and to learn about how adult relationships sometimes work.
I would have loved to see more character development in this piece. As intrigued as I was by the setting and plot, it was disappointing to meet characters whose personalities weren’t well defined and who didn’t seem to grow very much as a result of their experiences even when they were the main focus of the storyline. There seemed to be plenty of opportunities for them to do so. I simply needed more examples of them reacting to those moments, sharing their personalities in more complex ways, and showing the audience how they’d changed.
The world building was delightful. I loved the way magic was woven into every facet of the characters’ daily lives, from the messages that were left in the arrangements of soggy tea leaves in the bottom of a teacup to the spells the aunts cast to help their visitors reach any number of personal goals. It wasn’t always clear to me where the magic ended and ordinary explanations for certain events began. I reveled in how beautifully ordinary the author made certain scenes feel even if they included moments that can’t be explained with modern science or physics. There is something special about visiting a world that accepts these shades of grey and invites the reader to come up with their own explanations for them.
Amethyst was a playful read.
May 29, 2022
I was lucky enough to get an advance reader copy of Amethyst, Ambrosia Hill by Rebecca Henry in exchange for an honest review.
The cover design on this is beautiful. The blurb was intriguing. I loved the concept of this idea but it didn't fully give me what I hoped for based on the blurb alone. I'm not fully sure why the title has Amethyst in it either but the subtitle fits the setting.
I wanted to love this. The author has some great descriptive skills in places and she definitely sets the scene. She definitely puts you in the world. The main character is likeable. In fact, all the characters are generally so even when they're not being. The Aunts, while well written, put me in mind of the Aunts from Practical Magic and I couldn't unsee that. In fact a number of scenes reminded me of the movie and while not necessarily a bad thing, it just took a uniqueness from the story a little bit. I like the premise of this and I would like to know more about their lives. So if there was a sequel I would be intrigued enough to read it.
There are two things, I would say that was a down side for me and that was the over usage of nicknames. Unrealistically used in sentences multiple times. The other thing was snippets of story or description that took you meandering down a path that really had nothing to do with the storyline nor did it bring anything to the story, in my opinion.
Also, this was far shorter than I would have liked. O think it was ended well but the scene right before the end seemed very random to me. Albeit interesting, but seemed to come out of nowhere. Then suddenly the story had finished.
I would definitely recommend reading if you're looking for a cutesy, cottage core feel read with a hint of magicky goodness and a little bit coming of age.
The cover design on this is beautiful. The blurb was intriguing. I loved the concept of this idea but it didn't fully give me what I hoped for based on the blurb alone. I'm not fully sure why the title has Amethyst in it either but the subtitle fits the setting.
I wanted to love this. The author has some great descriptive skills in places and she definitely sets the scene. She definitely puts you in the world. The main character is likeable. In fact, all the characters are generally so even when they're not being. The Aunts, while well written, put me in mind of the Aunts from Practical Magic and I couldn't unsee that. In fact a number of scenes reminded me of the movie and while not necessarily a bad thing, it just took a uniqueness from the story a little bit. I like the premise of this and I would like to know more about their lives. So if there was a sequel I would be intrigued enough to read it.
There are two things, I would say that was a down side for me and that was the over usage of nicknames. Unrealistically used in sentences multiple times. The other thing was snippets of story or description that took you meandering down a path that really had nothing to do with the storyline nor did it bring anything to the story, in my opinion.
Also, this was far shorter than I would have liked. O think it was ended well but the scene right before the end seemed very random to me. Albeit interesting, but seemed to come out of nowhere. Then suddenly the story had finished.
I would definitely recommend reading if you're looking for a cutesy, cottage core feel read with a hint of magicky goodness and a little bit coming of age.
September 4, 2022
I received an early reviewers copy of Amethyst by Rebecca Henry from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review.
I do not read very many young adult books, nor the genre of magic realism, but the description of this one pulled me in. Overall, I found the story to be pretty good, and the "voices" of the younger characters seem to ring truer than those of the older generation. I was a little skeptical at first as some of the witch/occult symbolism was a bit overdone as the book started. I thought it was going to be cheesy, but luckily the story developed nicely and later descriptions to set the scene were better.
I understand this is the first of a series, and I definitely felt enough interest in the characters to want to read more in the Ambrosia Hill series. The ending felt a bit incomplete, rather than just a set-up for a sequel, and that last part accounts for my not giving it more stars.
I do not read very many young adult books, nor the genre of magic realism, but the description of this one pulled me in. Overall, I found the story to be pretty good, and the "voices" of the younger characters seem to ring truer than those of the older generation. I was a little skeptical at first as some of the witch/occult symbolism was a bit overdone as the book started. I thought it was going to be cheesy, but luckily the story developed nicely and later descriptions to set the scene were better.
I understand this is the first of a series, and I definitely felt enough interest in the characters to want to read more in the Ambrosia Hill series. The ending felt a bit incomplete, rather than just a set-up for a sequel, and that last part accounts for my not giving it more stars.
April 17, 2022
Bullied in her NYC middle school after her note to the girl she likes is broadcast to the whole school, thirteen-year-old Zinnia is sent away for the summer to Ambrosia Hill, the home of her two great aunts, who are green witches. Unhappy about this at first, Zinnia soon enjoys the time with her great aunts, who assure her that when she soon turns 14, she will come into her own powers. Zinnia meets Billie, a local girl who at first annoys her, but who she comes to like. Then Zinnia's mother shows up to take her home early.
This short novella is the first in a series. There is some foreshadowing of challenges to come. While I usually like books with characters who practice witchcraft, this one didn't engage me. While the book is told from Zinnia's POV, there were insights that felt more like an adult's than the young characters and conflicts were resolved too easily.
This short novella is the first in a series. There is some foreshadowing of challenges to come. While I usually like books with characters who practice witchcraft, this one didn't engage me. While the book is told from Zinnia's POV, there were insights that felt more like an adult's than the young characters and conflicts were resolved too easily.
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May 5, 2022I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
After the betrayal of her best friend and being outed Zinnia is sent to live with her aunts. The story revolves around new beginnings after that event. The characters are pretty well flushed out for how sort the book is and its pretty evenly paced and doesn't overstay its welcome. The story isn't gonna blow anyone away but its overall pretty enjoyable. Maybe with a few more page certain aspects of the story that felt hollow could be fleshed out a bit more. Overall if you want a solid coming of age story with witches then I say give it a shot.
After the betrayal of her best friend and being outed Zinnia is sent to live with her aunts. The story revolves around new beginnings after that event. The characters are pretty well flushed out for how sort the book is and its pretty evenly paced and doesn't overstay its welcome. The story isn't gonna blow anyone away but its overall pretty enjoyable. Maybe with a few more page certain aspects of the story that felt hollow could be fleshed out a bit more. Overall if you want a solid coming of age story with witches then I say give it a shot.
June 18, 2022
A fab read. It’s a well written journey about Zinna who is betrayed by her friend at school plus her parents are getting divorced so is having a rough time when she is sent to stay with her eccentric great-aunts. I absolutely love the aunts, they are strong, quirky and so much fun and help Zinna to overcome her issues and grow. With a great world building that’s truly magical I look forward to more from this author.
July 27, 2022
This book was such a quick, lovely read with some real Practical Magic vibes that I absolutely loved! A beautifully written story about Zinnia, who is visiting her aunts for the summer of her fourteenth birthday. During this summer, she's overcoming her parent's potential divorce and bullying back home in the city for being gay. During this summer, as a reader you see her truly come into her own and learn what is important to her. Beautiful story!
May 28, 2022
A clean uplifting slice of life summer adventure with some healing from trauma and a touch of romance. I love the imagery of the detailed descriptions and yay for some witches! Charming from the first chapter on, recommended.
June 13, 2022
Beautifully written and stunning imagery. The characters were charming and easy to like. The story sucks you in from the beginning. I can see the author becoming a best seller. I highly recommend her books.
June 16, 2022
Lovely coming of age story about, love, life, family, and being true to yourself. I want more of these characters.
December 14, 2022
"Amethyst" is a fictional fantasy thriller by Rebecca Henry. Congratulations to the author Rebecca Henry for writing a wonderful book which will not only keep you hooked till the last page, but also force you towards deep thinking. The concept of the book is interesting, engaging and unique. The way the author created the plots of the story is just amazing. The story and the narration is really fast paced. And the storytelling style is really amazing and it can make the readers totally engaged with the book. The book The story revolves around the 13 year old girl, Zinnia who lives at Manhattan. She is kinda attracted towards her own best friend and when this news is spread across her entire school because of a letter she wrote to her, she finds herself in a bad state being embarrassed.
Moreover, the simplicity of the language and the brilliance of the words show the expression of the novel ideas of the author. Moreover, the amount of knowledge that the author has to accumulate to write the book is clear in the author's pen. And I can say with confidence that you will not be disappointed if you read the book. The story is of struggles, love, passion, acceptance and vivid imagery. I really liked the story and the character development of Zinnia. For readers 'aunts' will be on the spotlight. The narration of the storytelling is smooth and language used is lucid and easy to understand. The cover of the book is fascinating. So go and grab this book to experience some fantasy and magic in a young teen's life.
Whether you are a fantasy thriller Story e book fan or not. You must read this book. I am sure you will like this book Overall, I liked the book . The title is quite appropriate. The writing style of the book is interesting. It's my best read so far, I absolutely loved every page of it. Of course I would recommend this book to all readers...
Outstanding Read.....
Overall If you want to read a amazing fantasy thriller e book then this book is for you.....
Moreover, the simplicity of the language and the brilliance of the words show the expression of the novel ideas of the author. Moreover, the amount of knowledge that the author has to accumulate to write the book is clear in the author's pen. And I can say with confidence that you will not be disappointed if you read the book. The story is of struggles, love, passion, acceptance and vivid imagery. I really liked the story and the character development of Zinnia. For readers 'aunts' will be on the spotlight. The narration of the storytelling is smooth and language used is lucid and easy to understand. The cover of the book is fascinating. So go and grab this book to experience some fantasy and magic in a young teen's life.
Whether you are a fantasy thriller Story e book fan or not. You must read this book. I am sure you will like this book Overall, I liked the book . The title is quite appropriate. The writing style of the book is interesting. It's my best read so far, I absolutely loved every page of it. Of course I would recommend this book to all readers...
Outstanding Read.....
Overall If you want to read a amazing fantasy thriller e book then this book is for you.....
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