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Lost #1
Invisi Gir1
"Exciting, funny, clever and positively crackling with energy."
Award winning YA author, Brian Keaney
Emma Deacon, known to the web as Invisi_Gir1, is one computer hack away from a jail cell. She knows it and her dad knows it too. That’s why he’s traded their New York home for a village in England where he can better control her weird addiction.
But he can’t control the weird kids Emma meets. Especially boys like Halo Ironstone. With his missing eye, missing arm, and pallor mortis skin, he’s fried the freak-o-meter. But as Emma soon learns, Halo’s otherworldliness goes far deeper than his appearance. And he’s only interested in one thing—baiting the hacker known as Invisi_Gir1.
Award winning YA author, Brian Keaney
Emma Deacon, known to the web as Invisi_Gir1, is one computer hack away from a jail cell. She knows it and her dad knows it too. That’s why he’s traded their New York home for a village in England where he can better control her weird addiction.
But he can’t control the weird kids Emma meets. Especially boys like Halo Ironstone. With his missing eye, missing arm, and pallor mortis skin, he’s fried the freak-o-meter. But as Emma soon learns, Halo’s otherworldliness goes far deeper than his appearance. And he’s only interested in one thing—baiting the hacker known as Invisi_Gir1.
- GenresScience Fiction
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2022
1 person is currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 11, 2023
INVIS GIR1 BY CONNER STEEL
This is an extraordinary historical fiction book. It is the first in a “Lost” series. The heroine, Emma (preferred name, Emde), is lost. She has lost her mother through death. She has lost the excitement of New York City, having moved to a small English village. She has lost her father’s approval to be on the internet because she hacked US sites. She has lost her American classmates and friends. Finally, Emde has lost her online identity and lost the use of the one talent in which she excelled. She signs out of her internet account for what she believes is the last time and she messages: INSIVI GIR1 LOST.
Almost immediately, her only friend, Pete, finds her in the library. Unlike Emde, Pete has a level of emotional maturity, identifying himself as gay. Although Pete is very supportive and attempts to engage Emde in present high school activities, she eventually becomes entwined in paranormal adventures. Why and how this happens is explained by the demand for her exceptional hacking skill. Emde has been found by VANTABLACK and called to engage her former talents and assume her former identity as INVISI GIR1.
The book is full of adventures and historical places as Emde aids the Fierd to locate the Stone of Scone. The book has lots of action and excitement with: fiendish characters, several distinguished historical persons, ‘admirable’ heroes, and even Queen Elizabeth I. The violence is consistent with both the age group and the plot (after all scary creatures like Viscount Morpeth and Greenteeth need more than a slap on the wrist).
INVISI GIR1 is well written, action-packed, and entertaining. At times, author, Conner Steel, provides the most enthralling thoughts; such as: “…oftentimes the most extraordinary things can happen with the least fanfare…” I enjoyed reading this book and it is time for it to get some fanfare.
This is an extraordinary historical fiction book. It is the first in a “Lost” series. The heroine, Emma (preferred name, Emde), is lost. She has lost her mother through death. She has lost the excitement of New York City, having moved to a small English village. She has lost her father’s approval to be on the internet because she hacked US sites. She has lost her American classmates and friends. Finally, Emde has lost her online identity and lost the use of the one talent in which she excelled. She signs out of her internet account for what she believes is the last time and she messages: INSIVI GIR1 LOST.
Almost immediately, her only friend, Pete, finds her in the library. Unlike Emde, Pete has a level of emotional maturity, identifying himself as gay. Although Pete is very supportive and attempts to engage Emde in present high school activities, she eventually becomes entwined in paranormal adventures. Why and how this happens is explained by the demand for her exceptional hacking skill. Emde has been found by VANTABLACK and called to engage her former talents and assume her former identity as INVISI GIR1.
The book is full of adventures and historical places as Emde aids the Fierd to locate the Stone of Scone. The book has lots of action and excitement with: fiendish characters, several distinguished historical persons, ‘admirable’ heroes, and even Queen Elizabeth I. The violence is consistent with both the age group and the plot (after all scary creatures like Viscount Morpeth and Greenteeth need more than a slap on the wrist).
INVISI GIR1 is well written, action-packed, and entertaining. At times, author, Conner Steel, provides the most enthralling thoughts; such as: “…oftentimes the most extraordinary things can happen with the least fanfare…” I enjoyed reading this book and it is time for it to get some fanfare.
May 16, 2022
This highly imaginative, part techno-thriller, part fantasy-adventure, starts off innocently enough for young Emma Deacon. After some minor legal trouble as a hacker in New York, Emma and her father move to London, where she is set on reforming her ways, staying out of trouble, and leading a normal high-schoolers life. On a seemingly innocent day trip to Westminster Abbey though, plans go awry. It's suddenly announced that the entire royal family has been murdered and the Abbey and entire city go into lockdown. During the ensuing chaos, Emma (Emde for short) gets trampled and then saved by a strange, somewhat mythical figure named Halo Ironstone, who proceeds to steal a few rather important heirlooms, ensnaring Emde in the act. As the Unseelie Court assumes control of the government, a million-pound reward for the capture of the perpetrator is declared and so begins the high-stakes, conundrum Emde finds herself in. Despite trying to leave her hacking days behind, it seems her unique skill has caught the attention of the Fierd, a resurrected group looking to usurp the Unseelie Court and restore order to the British government.
Fantasy lovers will find a lot to love about this book, but so will those who enjoy action and historical fiction. It's a fast-paced read and peppered throughout with surprising appearances from historical figures, including naval commanders, poets, and mathematicians. Their words, mannerisms, and characteristics are intriguing on their own, but their greatest contribution to the story is the way they interact with Emde, and play on her internal struggle, which to me, is the real battle being waged. Emde has recently lost her mother, is navigating the trials and tribulations of teenhood, trying to understand the opposite sex, and dealing with all the emotions that go with it:
"I turn around so he can't read my face, my emotions so wild it's impossible to hide them. A mixture of hatred, confusion, and worst of all, longing ride rodeo through my body. God, I wish I was invisible. I want to disappear forever." What teenager can't relate?
I rarely read fantasy as it doesn't appeal to me on its own, but the multiple genres of adventure and historical fiction provided added value and enjoyment. This was a great first book in the series, leaving much to explore in the evolution of Emma's character.
Fantasy lovers will find a lot to love about this book, but so will those who enjoy action and historical fiction. It's a fast-paced read and peppered throughout with surprising appearances from historical figures, including naval commanders, poets, and mathematicians. Their words, mannerisms, and characteristics are intriguing on their own, but their greatest contribution to the story is the way they interact with Emde, and play on her internal struggle, which to me, is the real battle being waged. Emde has recently lost her mother, is navigating the trials and tribulations of teenhood, trying to understand the opposite sex, and dealing with all the emotions that go with it:
"I turn around so he can't read my face, my emotions so wild it's impossible to hide them. A mixture of hatred, confusion, and worst of all, longing ride rodeo through my body. God, I wish I was invisible. I want to disappear forever." What teenager can't relate?
I rarely read fantasy as it doesn't appeal to me on its own, but the multiple genres of adventure and historical fiction provided added value and enjoyment. This was a great first book in the series, leaving much to explore in the evolution of Emma's character.
July 25, 2022
Invisi Gir1 is a page-turner about a girl who moves from the US to England to start fresh after her hacking almost get her in trouble. She's a teenager in school so she faces a lot of the realistic troubles that a teen would when moving to a new country and a new school. But Emde also finds herself facing things completely out of the ordinary when mythical creatures and people from history begin returning to England. I started reading this book thinking I would take it slow over several days, reading a tiny bit whenever I had a few minutes. I quickly found myself looking for time to read and staying up more than I should so I could read just one more chapter.
When words like faerie and unseelie pop up in a book description I often avoid it because I think that I don't have enough background knowledge of the folklore that those stories are written from, but this book was so well-written and introduced the concepts very smoothly so that I never felt like I was missing anything. In fact, it made me curious to find out more about these kinds of folktales and read more stories based around them.
With a young teen protagonist there was bound to be a love story and even though I usually don't like love stories in my fiction I found myself getting invested in this one. Unfortunately, this is the only part of the storyline whose resolution was not satisfactory by the end of the book (this is book 1 in a series!) I was so engrossed in it that I felt the ending was a bit abrupt, but it was a good ending for the first book in a series and all the major plotlines were resolved, opening the way for future plotlines in a nice way. Basically, I'm going to be looking for book 2 in this series when it comes out!
Overall, this is an excellent book that blends modern tech, British folklore, and a great plot into one fast-paced story. I highly recommend it!
When words like faerie and unseelie pop up in a book description I often avoid it because I think that I don't have enough background knowledge of the folklore that those stories are written from, but this book was so well-written and introduced the concepts very smoothly so that I never felt like I was missing anything. In fact, it made me curious to find out more about these kinds of folktales and read more stories based around them.
With a young teen protagonist there was bound to be a love story and even though I usually don't like love stories in my fiction I found myself getting invested in this one. Unfortunately, this is the only part of the storyline whose resolution was not satisfactory by the end of the book (this is book 1 in a series!) I was so engrossed in it that I felt the ending was a bit abrupt, but it was a good ending for the first book in a series and all the major plotlines were resolved, opening the way for future plotlines in a nice way. Basically, I'm going to be looking for book 2 in this series when it comes out!
Overall, this is an excellent book that blends modern tech, British folklore, and a great plot into one fast-paced story. I highly recommend it!
January 21, 2023
Invisi_Gir1 by Conner Steel is a very relatable and enjoyable book from start to finish. Emde, the main character, is passionate about her computer skills, but often errs on the side of thinking herself awkward and unlikeable.
To me, the cover and description said “modern,” “cyber,” and “thriller.” Computer hacking was important to the overall plot, but only happened in a few short scenes, and required no computer knowledge for the non-hackers among us. Most of the book was heavy on fantasy, involving legendary creatures and fairies in a power battle with historical figures from Britain’s past – but it reads much better than I’m describing it! The fairies are not the sweet, pretty kind, but the terrifying monsters and devious tricksters of campfire stories.
Fast paced, well-written, and creative, it was an easy and fun read. My one gripe was that there was a rescue scene that seemed too easy (maybe because of the limited point of view during that scene – I’m being vague to avoid spoilers), and the ending was not as much a resolution as it was a lead-in for the sequel. I’m willing to forgive that because the rest of the book was a satisfying story.
To me, the cover and description said “modern,” “cyber,” and “thriller.” Computer hacking was important to the overall plot, but only happened in a few short scenes, and required no computer knowledge for the non-hackers among us. Most of the book was heavy on fantasy, involving legendary creatures and fairies in a power battle with historical figures from Britain’s past – but it reads much better than I’m describing it! The fairies are not the sweet, pretty kind, but the terrifying monsters and devious tricksters of campfire stories.
Fast paced, well-written, and creative, it was an easy and fun read. My one gripe was that there was a rescue scene that seemed too easy (maybe because of the limited point of view during that scene – I’m being vague to avoid spoilers), and the ending was not as much a resolution as it was a lead-in for the sequel. I’m willing to forgive that because the rest of the book was a satisfying story.
May 11, 2022
A Fun Ride
I am not typically an adult who likes to read YA fiction, so I was more than a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, the first in the Lost series. Part techno-thriller, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction, Invisi Girl 1 follows the adventures of Emma Deacon, a young hacker who has sworn to give up hacking. Of course, once she meets Halo Ironstone, a strange young man who enlists her in an otherworldly fight of good versus evil, all bets are off. Her computer skills may very well save the world as she knows it.
With its breakneck pacing, tongue-in-cheek narration, and snappy dialogue Invis Girl 1 nevers fails to entertain. As a British history geek, I especially enjoyed the historical figures (some well known, others not) who pop up in the plotline. I will not spoil anyone's fun by naming any of them, but each adds interest, and I, for one, could not help wondering who might show up next. Perhaps the only notable weakness I saw was in its ending. Even though the book is clearly the first installment of a series, the cliffhanger ending was so abrupt that I found myself a little bewildered by its conclusion.
Still, I suppose that leaving the reader hanging is all part of series drama. I know that I hope to read the second installment. I am sure I will be in for another fun ride.
I am not typically an adult who likes to read YA fiction, so I was more than a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, the first in the Lost series. Part techno-thriller, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction, Invisi Girl 1 follows the adventures of Emma Deacon, a young hacker who has sworn to give up hacking. Of course, once she meets Halo Ironstone, a strange young man who enlists her in an otherworldly fight of good versus evil, all bets are off. Her computer skills may very well save the world as she knows it.
With its breakneck pacing, tongue-in-cheek narration, and snappy dialogue Invis Girl 1 nevers fails to entertain. As a British history geek, I especially enjoyed the historical figures (some well known, others not) who pop up in the plotline. I will not spoil anyone's fun by naming any of them, but each adds interest, and I, for one, could not help wondering who might show up next. Perhaps the only notable weakness I saw was in its ending. Even though the book is clearly the first installment of a series, the cliffhanger ending was so abrupt that I found myself a little bewildered by its conclusion.
Still, I suppose that leaving the reader hanging is all part of series drama. I know that I hope to read the second installment. I am sure I will be in for another fun ride.
May 17, 2022
A roller-coaster of imagination. A virtual friend of mine sent me a copy of Invisi Gir1, and I started reading it randomly. However, after reading its first page, I was unable to put it down. The story, characters, events, and intertwined elements of wit make this book an utterly captivating read. It's amazing how the author combined famous people from the past with modern-day characters and wove a fantastic story that takes readers into a realm of fantasy. I swooned at the unexpected appearance of Alan Turing (my all-time favorite) and loved the core notion of an enigmatic adventure. The Rush and Willen enhanced the overall essence of the narrative. It seems like watching a most spellbinding series, or enjoying an enthralling game of hidden objects. Kudos to the author... I can't wait for the sequel.
April 29, 2022
I loved this story. When reading the blurb I was reminded of Koontz or Stephen Crane and it didn’t disappoint. The layers of plot were distinct early on but gradually enmeshed and by the end everything had drawn together beautifully. I liked Emma/Emde very much and I’m sure could have chatted to her happily for ages if we had chanced on a table at Starbucks together. The leaps between the time periods, and the reasons for doing so, were well written and the story was seamless from start to finish. Discovery of Witches? Pah! This is better.
I’m looking forward to #2 in the series! I highly recommend this.
I’m looking forward to #2 in the series! I highly recommend this.
April 17, 2022
An engaging and entertaining read! I received a copy of Invisi Gir1 as a courtesy from the author. I was gripped straight away by the premise of a secret organization embroiled in a cold-war with the British government. Dragged into the middle is the heroine Emde who finds herself the unwilling accomplice to Halo Ironstone, a eypatch- wearing, one armed agent of the Fierd; made up of Britain's greatest historical figures returned as teens but with extra powers. Now Emde and Halo strive to stay one step ahead of the Unseele Court; ancient faeries who've secretly taken over the government. Their goal, resurrect Queen Elizabeth the 1st and the legendary Merlin himself! I loved the interweaving of the modern with ancient myths and classic spy-craft. An entertaining read for an adult, and what will be a consuming page-turner for younger readers! Thoroughly recommend!
April 18, 2022
From start to finish Invisi Gir1 offers a fun, action packed adventure following Emde (a talented hacker) and a team of adolescent famous Brits from the past who have come back to foil the sinister plots of supernatural beings that have taken over the UK government. Emma Deacon is a fantastically complex character; it was so much fun watching her grow and interact with the other characters, especially the pain in the ass with a heart of gold; Halo. Would recommend to any fan of young adult fantasy, thrillers and romance.
February 10, 2023
I'm a bit older than the intended YA audience for this book (maybe OA or Old Adult might fit better), but I found the book entertaining, engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend it to be read by any age, but especially YA readers.
The heroine, Emde (Invisi-gir1) is well written as a believable, understandable teen, albeit brilliant with computers (kudos to Steel for how she carries that off). She then gets thrust into supernatural circumstances and life threatening situations, all while trying to figure herself and others out as she has to navigate a weirdly changing world and her views of the people around her. Besides the engaging dialog and well scripted action, there are life lessons to be seen in Conner Steel's terrific story. Not the least of which is that you really should not judge a book by its cover. Or a person.
Twists and turns with historical as well as mythical references and characters make this a truly good read and I highly recommend it.
The heroine, Emde (Invisi-gir1) is well written as a believable, understandable teen, albeit brilliant with computers (kudos to Steel for how she carries that off). She then gets thrust into supernatural circumstances and life threatening situations, all while trying to figure herself and others out as she has to navigate a weirdly changing world and her views of the people around her. Besides the engaging dialog and well scripted action, there are life lessons to be seen in Conner Steel's terrific story. Not the least of which is that you really should not judge a book by its cover. Or a person.
Twists and turns with historical as well as mythical references and characters make this a truly good read and I highly recommend it.
April 9, 2022
This book was seriously weird - but in a good way. It wasn't what I expected at ALL. I got a copy pre-release after replying to an offer. The story starts off as a hacker thriller kind of thing and then goes into an urban fantasy with well known people brought back from the dead but with supernatural powers. They fight the British government who are secretly a bunch of blood-sucking goblins. It's fast paced with a slow burning romance. It's hard not to say more without giving major spoilers and I really enjoyed how different it was and don't want to spoil that feeling for any other readers out there. Best thing about it was the kick-ass heroine, Emma Deacon.
June 18, 2022
There are some spoilers in this review because I found it hard to write it without giving some.
This is an entertaining and fast paced YA urban fantasy. A teenage American girl comes to the UK and discovers magic both good and bad and a plot by the faerie Unseelie Court to take over the country. I did like the blend of folklore and technology.
The author has a great imagination. I thought it was the Field was a fantastic premise - famous British people from the past coming back as their teenage selves to fight the evil Unseelie Court. These include Lord Nelson, Flora MacDonald, Lord Byron, Mary Seacole, Alan Turing, etc. I also liked the idea of the Rush – that the Fierd can transmit energy to humans. And I loved the Drone Fairies.
I thought the author introduced an interesting villain, Viscount Morpeth but then didn’t make much use of him. Perhaps he’ll appear more in the next one.
Another standard trope in YA fiction is the romantic triangle and this novel has that with Emde, Halo and Connell MacLeod, a hot boy at Emde’s new school. At one point I thought it was going to be a romantic quadrangle with Emde, Halo, Connell and Byron but no.
Emde is both beautiful and clumsy which instantly reminded me of Bella from "Twilight".
I was quite taken with Nelson (called Halo Ironstone (an anagram of Horatio Nelson) being the romantic hero. Byron was a fun character.
I did laugh when you find out near the end when it’s revealed that Emde’s other name is Emma Hamilton, the name of Lord Nelson’s mistress. I think I can guess how the romantic triangle will end.
I did have an issue with the plausibility sometimes. For example, in Westminster Abby, I’m pretty sure security wouldn’t ask visitors to exit while telling them that the royal family had been killed at Buckingham Palace, and London was now in lockdown as it would be bound to create a panic. It was rather clearly a plot device for Emde to be injured and Halo to rescue her.
Also, I don’t believe that the entire British population would start wearing black after the death of the royal family. But my biggest bugbear was SCAH – The Surveillance and Communications Assistance House. It’s a government department that doesn’t exist and sounds far too American to me. And what’s wrong with using the MI5 or 6 departments? But I’m sure that I was bothered because I’m British and readers from other countries wouldn’t have this issue.
There were a few places where I would have liked a little more information. What was the name of the little girl who was now queen? Exactly how had Viscount Morpeth the Unseelie Court infiltrated the British government? It felt a little as if the author couldn’t be bothered with those details.
The end of the novel did seem a little rushed with Emde being rather easily rescued from Morpeth’s dungeons. I did like the end of the novel and am looking forward to meeting Merlin in the next one.
In summary, I enjoyed the novel even if I did have a few quibbles and would be interested to see what happens next.
This is an entertaining and fast paced YA urban fantasy. A teenage American girl comes to the UK and discovers magic both good and bad and a plot by the faerie Unseelie Court to take over the country. I did like the blend of folklore and technology.
The author has a great imagination. I thought it was the Field was a fantastic premise - famous British people from the past coming back as their teenage selves to fight the evil Unseelie Court. These include Lord Nelson, Flora MacDonald, Lord Byron, Mary Seacole, Alan Turing, etc. I also liked the idea of the Rush – that the Fierd can transmit energy to humans. And I loved the Drone Fairies.
I thought the author introduced an interesting villain, Viscount Morpeth but then didn’t make much use of him. Perhaps he’ll appear more in the next one.
Another standard trope in YA fiction is the romantic triangle and this novel has that with Emde, Halo and Connell MacLeod, a hot boy at Emde’s new school. At one point I thought it was going to be a romantic quadrangle with Emde, Halo, Connell and Byron but no.
Emde is both beautiful and clumsy which instantly reminded me of Bella from "Twilight".
I was quite taken with Nelson (called Halo Ironstone (an anagram of Horatio Nelson) being the romantic hero. Byron was a fun character.
I did laugh when you find out near the end when it’s revealed that Emde’s other name is Emma Hamilton, the name of Lord Nelson’s mistress. I think I can guess how the romantic triangle will end.
I did have an issue with the plausibility sometimes. For example, in Westminster Abby, I’m pretty sure security wouldn’t ask visitors to exit while telling them that the royal family had been killed at Buckingham Palace, and London was now in lockdown as it would be bound to create a panic. It was rather clearly a plot device for Emde to be injured and Halo to rescue her.
Also, I don’t believe that the entire British population would start wearing black after the death of the royal family. But my biggest bugbear was SCAH – The Surveillance and Communications Assistance House. It’s a government department that doesn’t exist and sounds far too American to me. And what’s wrong with using the MI5 or 6 departments? But I’m sure that I was bothered because I’m British and readers from other countries wouldn’t have this issue.
There were a few places where I would have liked a little more information. What was the name of the little girl who was now queen? Exactly how had Viscount Morpeth the Unseelie Court infiltrated the British government? It felt a little as if the author couldn’t be bothered with those details.
The end of the novel did seem a little rushed with Emde being rather easily rescued from Morpeth’s dungeons. I did like the end of the novel and am looking forward to meeting Merlin in the next one.
In summary, I enjoyed the novel even if I did have a few quibbles and would be interested to see what happens next.
September 8, 2022
INVISI GIR1Review of Conner Steel's Invisi-Gir1
Conner Steel's Invisi-Gir1 is a story aimed for middle school readers and young adults, recounting the adventures of Emma Deacon. Emma faces many of the problems facing other youths, the kloss of her mother, followed by a move, not merely to another town, but from the United States to Britain. The poor kid must struggle to adjust to a good many of life's sorrows all at once and at an early age.
If this wasn't enough, Emma must also face problems associated with the loss of her preferred hobby, computer hacking. Just as she is about to comply with her father's wishes, and completely delete her computer accounts, she receives a mysterious message from an unknown stranger, asking for help.
With this message, Emma is transported against her will, into a world of mystery and intrigue, involving both magical and diabolical forces beyond her comprehension, against the backdrop of a sinister plot to overturn the government of Britain, and, perhaps, civilized life in the country itself.
In the process, she discovers that life isn't as it seems, and that the legends of supernatural forces, like faeries and hobgoblins, have a very real basis. They also pose a very real danger, which Emma must fight against if she and her friends are to prevail. She is assisted by legendary helpers, as they struggle to restore order, law, and right-ness to [that] “royal throne of kings” [and] “sceptered isle.”
Steel has accomplished a masterful work in Invisi-Gir1, weaving together not merely the history of Britain, but also its deeply ingrained and ancient legends, all of which he has clearly mastered at a very high level. His tale is original, modern, relevant and compelling. While it is clearly aimed at a younger audience, even adults, especially adults with an interest in history, will find Invisi-Gir1 to be immensely entertaining reading.
Invisi-Gir1 is definitely worth picking up, and I look forward to seeing more from Conner Steel.
Conner Steel's Invisi-Gir1 is a story aimed for middle school readers and young adults, recounting the adventures of Emma Deacon. Emma faces many of the problems facing other youths, the kloss of her mother, followed by a move, not merely to another town, but from the United States to Britain. The poor kid must struggle to adjust to a good many of life's sorrows all at once and at an early age.
If this wasn't enough, Emma must also face problems associated with the loss of her preferred hobby, computer hacking. Just as she is about to comply with her father's wishes, and completely delete her computer accounts, she receives a mysterious message from an unknown stranger, asking for help.
With this message, Emma is transported against her will, into a world of mystery and intrigue, involving both magical and diabolical forces beyond her comprehension, against the backdrop of a sinister plot to overturn the government of Britain, and, perhaps, civilized life in the country itself.
In the process, she discovers that life isn't as it seems, and that the legends of supernatural forces, like faeries and hobgoblins, have a very real basis. They also pose a very real danger, which Emma must fight against if she and her friends are to prevail. She is assisted by legendary helpers, as they struggle to restore order, law, and right-ness to [that] “royal throne of kings” [and] “sceptered isle.”
Steel has accomplished a masterful work in Invisi-Gir1, weaving together not merely the history of Britain, but also its deeply ingrained and ancient legends, all of which he has clearly mastered at a very high level. His tale is original, modern, relevant and compelling. While it is clearly aimed at a younger audience, even adults, especially adults with an interest in history, will find Invisi-Gir1 to be immensely entertaining reading.
Invisi-Gir1 is definitely worth picking up, and I look forward to seeing more from Conner Steel.
October 3, 2022
Invisi Gir1 is a crisp, action-packed YA thriller by Brit writer Conner Steel. I’ll assume Conner Steel is a pen name, or else someone has a much cooler legal name than I do (and a much better author photo).
I believe this is the author’s debut work, and as a former journalist, he is clearly a good writer. The story moves along at a great clip, integrating elements of fantasy and history with modern cyber-sleuthing. The protagonist’s inner narrative is compelling and fun, and it will really resonate with teenage girls.
“I remember, when my mom was alive, going on holiday and waking up with the strange sensation of unfamiliarity before opening my eyes. That sensation of knowing that you are not in your own bed or your own home, and the flit of panic before realizing that actually you are someplace else and it’s someplace good”
Discerning readers will note there is an occasional formatting error in the E-Book (a few paragraph breaks) but this is a minor, soon-to-be-rectified issue in a book that’s otherwise flawlessly edited.
Although this is a terrific YA book, and very innovative with its blending of numerous genres, I don’t think this book will be completely engaging for adult readers. Considering the pacing, themes, and dialogue, this is clearly YA fiction, but it is outstanding YA fiction.
Readers seeking a brisk, unconventional YA thriller that transcends genre will devour Invisi Girl and will anxiously await future offerings in the series.
I believe this is the author’s debut work, and as a former journalist, he is clearly a good writer. The story moves along at a great clip, integrating elements of fantasy and history with modern cyber-sleuthing. The protagonist’s inner narrative is compelling and fun, and it will really resonate with teenage girls.
“I remember, when my mom was alive, going on holiday and waking up with the strange sensation of unfamiliarity before opening my eyes. That sensation of knowing that you are not in your own bed or your own home, and the flit of panic before realizing that actually you are someplace else and it’s someplace good”
Discerning readers will note there is an occasional formatting error in the E-Book (a few paragraph breaks) but this is a minor, soon-to-be-rectified issue in a book that’s otherwise flawlessly edited.
Although this is a terrific YA book, and very innovative with its blending of numerous genres, I don’t think this book will be completely engaging for adult readers. Considering the pacing, themes, and dialogue, this is clearly YA fiction, but it is outstanding YA fiction.
Readers seeking a brisk, unconventional YA thriller that transcends genre will devour Invisi Girl and will anxiously await future offerings in the series.
July 7, 2022
What seams upon first reading to be a hacker plot with political ties quickly twists to a creative fantasy novel that includes British historical figures, fantastic creatures and a story that weaves current trends with fantasy ideas. Conner Steel’s writing for Invisgir1 keeps you engaged throughout.
On a school trip, Emma Deacon is unknowingly thrusted into a war that many would find hard to believe. She meets Halo Ironstone who steals the golden ampulla and leaves Emde hanging after he flees. As she finds out the government has been assassinated and a new Surveillance firm has kept strict tabs on the British Civilians. She meets other historical whom call themselves the fierd.
The fierd is protecting everyone from the unseelie. A group of fairies and vampires bent on removing the current government regime. Emde is reluctantly recruited by the fierd for hacking skills. She is needed to find the stone of scone and a ring. The unseelie uses their surveillance and to keep the citizens at bay. They are eventually able to abduct Emde.
This is a beautifully written novel with great twists and turns. For fantasy lovers, the inclusion of historical British figures is an addition that adds to the intrigue of the book. Want to know what happens to Emde? This book is a great read to that engages you to find out.
On a school trip, Emma Deacon is unknowingly thrusted into a war that many would find hard to believe. She meets Halo Ironstone who steals the golden ampulla and leaves Emde hanging after he flees. As she finds out the government has been assassinated and a new Surveillance firm has kept strict tabs on the British Civilians. She meets other historical whom call themselves the fierd.
The fierd is protecting everyone from the unseelie. A group of fairies and vampires bent on removing the current government regime. Emde is reluctantly recruited by the fierd for hacking skills. She is needed to find the stone of scone and a ring. The unseelie uses their surveillance and to keep the citizens at bay. They are eventually able to abduct Emde.
This is a beautifully written novel with great twists and turns. For fantasy lovers, the inclusion of historical British figures is an addition that adds to the intrigue of the book. Want to know what happens to Emde? This book is a great read to that engages you to find out.
June 16, 2022
A promising debut!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Whilst I am a lover of YA paranormal fiction, I wasn’t sure what I’d think of this story, but I found it so easy to read. I’ve been super busy lately so it took me longer than usual to get through it, but on those moments I managed to sit and read a chapter or two I really enjoyed it.
The story has some complex elements with its links to historical figures and places, yet it never felt too forced or boring and I found the mix of reality and fantasy worked well.
Emde, as she’s known to her friends, is a great protagonist. Though at times I did want her to be a little stronger but that was no reflection on the author - just the characters personality and my personal taste.
The introduction of “Halo” at the start really pulled me in and I found myself completely fascinated by him and his backstory.
The ending was satisfying enough for a first book in a series and hints at what to expect next time we see Emde.
A really refreshing thrilling read, that’s easy to digest and keeps you hooked throughout.
For a debut this is absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to see what the author brings out next!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Whilst I am a lover of YA paranormal fiction, I wasn’t sure what I’d think of this story, but I found it so easy to read. I’ve been super busy lately so it took me longer than usual to get through it, but on those moments I managed to sit and read a chapter or two I really enjoyed it.
The story has some complex elements with its links to historical figures and places, yet it never felt too forced or boring and I found the mix of reality and fantasy worked well.
Emde, as she’s known to her friends, is a great protagonist. Though at times I did want her to be a little stronger but that was no reflection on the author - just the characters personality and my personal taste.
The introduction of “Halo” at the start really pulled me in and I found myself completely fascinated by him and his backstory.
The ending was satisfying enough for a first book in a series and hints at what to expect next time we see Emde.
A really refreshing thrilling read, that’s easy to digest and keeps you hooked throughout.
For a debut this is absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to see what the author brings out next!
December 11, 2022
This is a great YA read! From the get go, our heroine, Emma Deacon, or Emde, is thrown into a non-stop whirlwind that combines history with fantasy in an exciting adventure. At a museum, she and her classmates get some heartstopping bad news, she finds a--historical something that she picks up, and it goes from there.
Emde is a likable, brave character, and will appeal to YA readers. I don't think older adult readers would be as drawn to the story, but its target audience would be. Even so, I as an older adult still enjoyed the story, so who knows?
The writing is crisp and well done, and you can tell that the author knows how to create an engaging tale. The characters are well rounded and fascinating. And each has their own voice.
An example:
"When Greenteeth bites you and you see me, I see you too," says Abfero. He motions to the hair. "This was only interesting thing in your head." He pokes the side of my head so hard that I instantly get a headache. "Now I sends you there to Abbey," he says, madly buzzing around the room."
I would recommend this story to YA readers, or readers who enjoy YA, and like history mixed with fantasy. They won't regret reading this exciting story!
Emde is a likable, brave character, and will appeal to YA readers. I don't think older adult readers would be as drawn to the story, but its target audience would be. Even so, I as an older adult still enjoyed the story, so who knows?
The writing is crisp and well done, and you can tell that the author knows how to create an engaging tale. The characters are well rounded and fascinating. And each has their own voice.
An example:
"When Greenteeth bites you and you see me, I see you too," says Abfero. He motions to the hair. "This was only interesting thing in your head." He pokes the side of my head so hard that I instantly get a headache. "Now I sends you there to Abbey," he says, madly buzzing around the room."
I would recommend this story to YA readers, or readers who enjoy YA, and like history mixed with fantasy. They won't regret reading this exciting story!
May 14, 2022
Imaginative fantasy. This tangled fantasy is a creative metaphor for British politics. Monarchy, gay-rights, and general civic-liberties opposing forces emerge as poisonous green-toothed creatures, dog-like monsters, and bureaucratic Molochs. In the midst of a terrorist crisis, a league of notorious creatures called the Fierd wants to make Britain great again, with unlikely heroes like a resurrected stuttering Alan Turing, Byron, and Nelson crowding the cast. The prose and phrasing are excellent. For example, I liked "If two mountains collided and somehow produced offspring, Conall McLeod would be their offspring." However, the plot isn't very compact and neither is the storytelling. I felt the story had too many threads and didn't approach a satisfactory closure. The characters grapple with a wide range of issues from resurrecting mythical monarchs to embarrassment about jammies. Nevertheless, the skillful use of language makes the book readable especially for those who are into fantasy.
October 30, 2022
It is a techno-thriller fantasy filled with adventure that takes us on a roller coaster journey of Emma Deacon, a hacker from New York, who is trying to quit hacking, but destiny had decided something else for her. She gets dragged into hacking again after she gets recruited by Fierd, a secret organisation protecting people from Unseelie.
It is a highly imaginative story with a clever writing and there is a perfect mix of modern life, historical fantasy, and a slow burning romance.
With such an intriguing plot, interesting characters, well paced story, and elements that bring history to life, it’s hard to keep this book down. Definitely a page turner.
I look forward to reading what’s in store for Emma in the next series.
It is a highly imaginative story with a clever writing and there is a perfect mix of modern life, historical fantasy, and a slow burning romance.
With such an intriguing plot, interesting characters, well paced story, and elements that bring history to life, it’s hard to keep this book down. Definitely a page turner.
I look forward to reading what’s in store for Emma in the next series.
June 1, 2022
Can't decide whether to go for 3 or 4 stars with this one...4 stars for story, I like the idea of Britain's best coming back for a second round at life, writing was also 4 stars, but then 3 stars for having some tired old tropes there, (loner girl struggling with inner conflicts and death of mum meets heroic guy and falls in love etc) but then, lots of people do like the old tropes, hmmm....tough one!!! Plumping for the 3 stars, even though I think this would appeal to a lot of people other than fussy me.
May 27, 2022
A fast paced exciting & unexpected fantasy thriller.
The story brings to life fun and vivid characters, taking unexpected turns as it follows Emde, the Invisi Gir1, hurtling through her adventure in a magical landscape which merges our real world with the fantastical.
Emde is a strong, relatable hero as she works through her personal struggles and the challenges of the world she has been thrown into - in both the world we see every day and the other, hiding just beneath the surface
The story brings to life fun and vivid characters, taking unexpected turns as it follows Emde, the Invisi Gir1, hurtling through her adventure in a magical landscape which merges our real world with the fantastical.
Emde is a strong, relatable hero as she works through her personal struggles and the challenges of the world she has been thrown into - in both the world we see every day and the other, hiding just beneath the surface
June 25, 2022
Faerie and the modern world collide! Clever. Clever. Clever. From the title to the plot to the characters themselves, everything about this book is so incredibly imaginative. Fascinating creatures of Faerie are made vividly authentic at every turn. History quite literally comes to life. And through it all, our young heroine offers up the greatest surprises—to us and to herself. I will definitely be reading the entire series! Can’t wait!
September 19, 2022
The protagonist's voice is clever and feels genuine, while the book is well edited and intriguing with only very few typos. I found the story to be very easy to follow which is unusual since I usually read different genres. Give it a chance, you won't regret it, it's a diamond in the rough. You follow a modern hacker but the story introduces many historical figures and even more unexpectedly delightful cameos. I do agree that the British government are a bunch of blood-suckers.
October 7, 2022
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book, recommended by my hairdresser. I have read very few YA novels and Fantasy is not really my thing. However, this had some good characters, with a romance (or two) against a historical background including Nelson, Alan Turing, Flora MacDonald and others, which drew me in. I would recommend this to teenagers interested in computing and/or history.
June 16, 2022
Being a romantic reader this book was something new for me. The drama and the adventure were mind-blowing. It felt as if I was inside a Dan Brown's novel. The elements and the suspense will keep you at the edge of your seat. Totally recommended.
October 28, 2022
A brilliant hacker plot with historical elements (which I always love), ridiculous creatures, and mind-bending fantasy. The writing is fluid, and the Author has done a great job not overcomplicating or losing the reading with so much diversity.
April 29, 2022
I couldn't stop reading! Amazing story line with well created characters. Perfect for a new read in my opinion.
June 20, 2022
Interesting plot and characters, and quite engaging writing style. Well-paced and plotted. I hope to read more from Conner Steel - thumbs up
January 28, 2024
What exactly is this book? A cyber-thriller, fantasy-adventure, fairy story, historical fiction, romantic comedy, or a primer on United Kingdom geography—perhaps it is all this, but mostly it is a captivating read. A perfect balance of colorful literary prose and fast-paced plot makes this story a sure-fire page-turner, even for those who don’t often read fantasy stories. Thrust into the world of the fearless Fierd fighters, teenage Emde is forced to choose between her simple life at a small-town British school or joining the likes of Halo Ironstone (aka Horatio Nelson—one of many wronged British heroes returned to life as teenagers) to oppose the malicious Unseelie Court. These wicked goblins have killed all in the Royal family and taken over the British parliament. To help the Fierd, Emde must defy her father and return to her old computer hacking ways. Although a fantastical good versus evil hero story, this book is much more. Emde, also known by her hacker name Invisi Gir1, must battle her past with the loss of her mother and translocation from NYC to nowhere, U.K., and abandon her cynical teenage worldview to become a worthy heroine. All the while, she must tolerate typical teenage embarrassment and negotiate complex romantic entanglements. The dialogue is witty and funny, and the scenes are vividly and creatively constructed. My only criticism is that the ending seemed abrupt. There appeared to be closure for the main character, but not so for the crew she was assisting. I assume missing answers will come in subsequent issues of the Lost Series. If later parts of this series are as good as the first, readers will clamour to get more.
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