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Bewilderness #1
Bewilderness
When a sixteen-year-old wakes up in an unknown world and encounters dark forces that threaten the universe, only she can change its destiny.
Accessing portals to other realms, Ambrielle journeys across multiple worlds as she desperately tries to find her way home.
Sixteen-year-old Ambrielle has no memory of her life. In fact, she doesn’t even know if her name is Ambrielle, the name her new alien friend gave her when she woke up mysteriously stranded in a desolate world with no humans. As she slowly cobbles together bits and pieces of her life, Ambrielle tries to fit in with the many alien species she encounters and settle their divisive conflicts, all while avoiding the dark forces of The Shadows and trying to return to Earth.
Accessing portals to other realms, Ambrielle journeys across multiple worlds as she desperately tries to find her way home.
Sixteen-year-old Ambrielle has no memory of her life. In fact, she doesn’t even know if her name is Ambrielle, the name her new alien friend gave her when she woke up mysteriously stranded in a desolate world with no humans. As she slowly cobbles together bits and pieces of her life, Ambrielle tries to fit in with the many alien species she encounters and settle their divisive conflicts, all while avoiding the dark forces of The Shadows and trying to return to Earth.
308 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2021
76 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 30, 2023
Just finished J. Kevin Cox debut novel "Bewilderness" after reading it with my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
This book is a YA fantasy story that resembles (in its own good way, of course), the stories of Narnia or Alice's in wonderland.
The story presents a girl with amnesia (she doesn't even know her name) in a foreign world, that seems to be another planet with strange intelligent creatures which are immersed in their own local strife with another alien community. The moment this girl (called Ambrielle later on) starts exploring the world and meeting "people", this book is converted in a world-building masterclass given by the author. The definitions, names, descriptions of everything Ambrielle sees and interacts with, is simply fascinating.
But the author does not leave it in one single world, as the story of Ambrielle develops, the reader gets absorbed in another totally different world described as superbly as the first one. Great and amazing work here by the author.
If I have to set a "But" in this book, It's true that I found some of the dialogues between Ambrielle and the rest of the protagonists repetitive and slow some times, but that was not a huge issue for me.
I honestly enjoyed this reading and I'm sure you will do it as well!
This book is a YA fantasy story that resembles (in its own good way, of course), the stories of Narnia or Alice's in wonderland.
The story presents a girl with amnesia (she doesn't even know her name) in a foreign world, that seems to be another planet with strange intelligent creatures which are immersed in their own local strife with another alien community. The moment this girl (called Ambrielle later on) starts exploring the world and meeting "people", this book is converted in a world-building masterclass given by the author. The definitions, names, descriptions of everything Ambrielle sees and interacts with, is simply fascinating.
But the author does not leave it in one single world, as the story of Ambrielle develops, the reader gets absorbed in another totally different world described as superbly as the first one. Great and amazing work here by the author.
If I have to set a "But" in this book, It's true that I found some of the dialogues between Ambrielle and the rest of the protagonists repetitive and slow some times, but that was not a huge issue for me.
I honestly enjoyed this reading and I'm sure you will do it as well!
November 23, 2022
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the author.
Bewilderness is the first book in a new fantasy series with philosophy and sci-fi mixed within. I enjoyed the plot of this book and enjoyed the way the story unfolded. We follow Ambrielle who has memory loss and doesn't reconmgnize the world around her. Ambrielle tries to escape this world which is full of dark creatures but ends up in yet another world. She meets many different species and humans upon her travels and I found this part of the book interesting and intriguing. Ambrielles relationship with Gavian was the only thing that didn't gel very well for me I this book. I think a different trope would have been a better fit as the romance just didn't seem to fit between them. But I did enjoy both characters besides that. What I found very clever was the way the author dropped a complete bomb shell at the end that blew my mind. I will definitely be picking up book two to find out what will happen next.
Bewilderness is the first book in a new fantasy series with philosophy and sci-fi mixed within. I enjoyed the plot of this book and enjoyed the way the story unfolded. We follow Ambrielle who has memory loss and doesn't reconmgnize the world around her. Ambrielle tries to escape this world which is full of dark creatures but ends up in yet another world. She meets many different species and humans upon her travels and I found this part of the book interesting and intriguing. Ambrielles relationship with Gavian was the only thing that didn't gel very well for me I this book. I think a different trope would have been a better fit as the romance just didn't seem to fit between them. But I did enjoy both characters besides that. What I found very clever was the way the author dropped a complete bomb shell at the end that blew my mind. I will definitely be picking up book two to find out what will happen next.
May 22, 2022
Wow! I don’t actually know what it feels like to be in the middle of a tornado, but I’d imagined it is similar to what I felt while reading Bewilderness by Kevin Cox!
The novel follows a girl who has lost her memory and is in an entirely unrecognizable world. She soon discovers that this world is filled with dark and dangerous entities, and ends up accidentally traveling to yet another world while trying to flee. Throughout the book she faces much adversity, meets new friends, and has an adventure of a lifetime learning more about herself and existence as a whole.
There were so many things about this book that I enjoyed, but the depth and world-building were a whirlwind! I love philosophy, but very rarely do SciFi and Fantasy books incorporate it well, if at all. Bewilderness is the existential crisis that I’ve been wanting to read for years! The novel raises philosophical questions about our experiences of the world and the meaning of life. I feel as though I could immediately read it again and take away a ton of messages and ideas that I missed the first time.
While there were many moving and philosophical moments throughout the book, my favorite was towards the beginning when the main character, Ambrielle, briefly experiences a memory in which she felt as though she had a greater understanding of the universe for a split second. Cox described this particular phenomenon extremely well because I instantly knew the feeling he was talking about, and I did not think there were words to truly convey an experience like that.
Additionally, the world-building in Bewilderness was mind-boggling! Cox describes, not one, not two, but three unique worlds in such depth, that I felt as though I had explored them myself! Truly, the world-building in this book is a feat that is exceptionally difficult to accomplish, and can only be compared to authors like Laini Taylor and S.A. Chakraborty. I am excited to read the sequel, for many reasons, but mainly because I cannot wait to read the ways that Cox further develops and enriches these worlds!
The only aspects of the story that I didn’t absolutely love were the romance and, occasionally, the descriptions. I honestly feel torn about both of these things because I think they could be improved upon through development in the second book, so they didn’t negatively influence my overall enjoyment of the novel. However, I did not feel the chemistry between Ambrielle and Gavian. I would have preferred either no romance, or a stronger connection between the two characters. As I said, I think there is potential for development in this aspect, which could completely change my opinion of their relationship.
Similarly, there were certain points in the novel that went into great detail, but almost too much detail. Whenever I’m reading a book, I love losing myself in it, but a couple times while reading Bewilderness, the length and detail in the descriptions were overwhelming, to the point where I felt myself briefly disconnect. That being said, there is a fine line between too much detail and not enough, and I am a reader that would certainly prefer too much, so I can’t complain.
As a whole I was entirely impressed with Bewilderness! It addresses so many deep and significant topics, both philosophically and in a way that is easily understood. Overall, I know this book will stay with me for a long time!
The novel follows a girl who has lost her memory and is in an entirely unrecognizable world. She soon discovers that this world is filled with dark and dangerous entities, and ends up accidentally traveling to yet another world while trying to flee. Throughout the book she faces much adversity, meets new friends, and has an adventure of a lifetime learning more about herself and existence as a whole.
There were so many things about this book that I enjoyed, but the depth and world-building were a whirlwind! I love philosophy, but very rarely do SciFi and Fantasy books incorporate it well, if at all. Bewilderness is the existential crisis that I’ve been wanting to read for years! The novel raises philosophical questions about our experiences of the world and the meaning of life. I feel as though I could immediately read it again and take away a ton of messages and ideas that I missed the first time.
While there were many moving and philosophical moments throughout the book, my favorite was towards the beginning when the main character, Ambrielle, briefly experiences a memory in which she felt as though she had a greater understanding of the universe for a split second. Cox described this particular phenomenon extremely well because I instantly knew the feeling he was talking about, and I did not think there were words to truly convey an experience like that.
Additionally, the world-building in Bewilderness was mind-boggling! Cox describes, not one, not two, but three unique worlds in such depth, that I felt as though I had explored them myself! Truly, the world-building in this book is a feat that is exceptionally difficult to accomplish, and can only be compared to authors like Laini Taylor and S.A. Chakraborty. I am excited to read the sequel, for many reasons, but mainly because I cannot wait to read the ways that Cox further develops and enriches these worlds!
The only aspects of the story that I didn’t absolutely love were the romance and, occasionally, the descriptions. I honestly feel torn about both of these things because I think they could be improved upon through development in the second book, so they didn’t negatively influence my overall enjoyment of the novel. However, I did not feel the chemistry between Ambrielle and Gavian. I would have preferred either no romance, or a stronger connection between the two characters. As I said, I think there is potential for development in this aspect, which could completely change my opinion of their relationship.
Similarly, there were certain points in the novel that went into great detail, but almost too much detail. Whenever I’m reading a book, I love losing myself in it, but a couple times while reading Bewilderness, the length and detail in the descriptions were overwhelming, to the point where I felt myself briefly disconnect. That being said, there is a fine line between too much detail and not enough, and I am a reader that would certainly prefer too much, so I can’t complain.
As a whole I was entirely impressed with Bewilderness! It addresses so many deep and significant topics, both philosophically and in a way that is easily understood. Overall, I know this book will stay with me for a long time!
September 21, 2021
Bewilderness is a book filled with modernized nostalgia. With elements of Alice and Wonderland and Narnia, I gathered quite a few Kingdom Hearts vibes along the way as well!
The beginning drops us into a colorful, though quiet landscape. Ambrielle has been trapped without memories on a desert world. Confused and without direction, Abriel is unwilling to stay that way and begins to explore. By accident, she discovers a portal that doesn't take her home, but now she has hope of finding it, or at least not being alone. As her memories of a past life trickle in, there's one warning that guides her path. Beware of the Hollow.
I'm loving the Alice in Wonderland meets Narnia as our main character explores different worlds and cultures, trying to fit in without giving up the sense of self she clings to as her memories return. As readers, we ease into Ambrielle's confusion and grow with her as she learns to navigate and then use the portals and the new friends she discovers along the way.
Though the plot waves more than arcs in this debut, the descriptions of the world and the lessons Ambrielle gains are true to any well developed adventure. I enjoyed tagging along with Ambrielle and felt as proud as she did with her personal growth.
This is a 3.5 star read for me (rounded up to 4), and I'm really looking forward to what comes next in the series!
The beginning drops us into a colorful, though quiet landscape. Ambrielle has been trapped without memories on a desert world. Confused and without direction, Abriel is unwilling to stay that way and begins to explore. By accident, she discovers a portal that doesn't take her home, but now she has hope of finding it, or at least not being alone. As her memories of a past life trickle in, there's one warning that guides her path. Beware of the Hollow.
I'm loving the Alice in Wonderland meets Narnia as our main character explores different worlds and cultures, trying to fit in without giving up the sense of self she clings to as her memories return. As readers, we ease into Ambrielle's confusion and grow with her as she learns to navigate and then use the portals and the new friends she discovers along the way.
Though the plot waves more than arcs in this debut, the descriptions of the world and the lessons Ambrielle gains are true to any well developed adventure. I enjoyed tagging along with Ambrielle and felt as proud as she did with her personal growth.
This is a 3.5 star read for me (rounded up to 4), and I'm really looking forward to what comes next in the series!
August 9, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Bewilderness in exchange for an honest review.
hbijoinbhospijhbedos Bewilderness has such a cool world but the narration really, really, made this tricky to read. When we meet our character, she doesn't know who she is. That's a hard thing to narrate as a storyteller and Cox tries to work around it by referring to her as "the girl" until she finally receives a name, but it just made me less connected to her and the confusing narrative. I think a lot could have been cut here. Especially near the beginning of the book, she has near identical conversations with multiple characters where we watch them go through every step of introducing themselves. Dialogue tags are practically non-existant in long conversations and something about the way this was narrated always gave me vague "maybe this is supposed to be disorienting" conversations a la Alice Through the Looking Glass but that kind of narration doesn't suit a plot based story like this one.
hbijoinbhospijhbedos Bewilderness has such a cool world but the narration really, really, made this tricky to read. When we meet our character, she doesn't know who she is. That's a hard thing to narrate as a storyteller and Cox tries to work around it by referring to her as "the girl" until she finally receives a name, but it just made me less connected to her and the confusing narrative. I think a lot could have been cut here. Especially near the beginning of the book, she has near identical conversations with multiple characters where we watch them go through every step of introducing themselves. Dialogue tags are practically non-existant in long conversations and something about the way this was narrated always gave me vague "maybe this is supposed to be disorienting" conversations a la Alice Through the Looking Glass but that kind of narration doesn't suit a plot based story like this one.
August 1, 2021
First of all I'd like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
It was an interesting read for sure.
My favourite part of it was all the different worlds that Ambrielle would travel to, the different species / people she would meet. I did find that it lacked a bit of excitement, something that would make me want to keep reading and not want to put the book down, so it took me a bit longer to finish it than I would have preferred.
Things started picking up about 20% before the end.
If I'm being honest, up until the last 10 pages, I didn't see myself carrying on with the series and was willing to leave it at that.
But then something happened and now I'm super intrigued! I kept swiping my Kindle right thinking "this can't be it! Surely I'm missing a page or 2!".
Well played Kevin Cox, well played! ;)
If you want to be transported to a different world (or 2, or 3), then give this a go!
It was an interesting read for sure.
My favourite part of it was all the different worlds that Ambrielle would travel to, the different species / people she would meet. I did find that it lacked a bit of excitement, something that would make me want to keep reading and not want to put the book down, so it took me a bit longer to finish it than I would have preferred.
Things started picking up about 20% before the end.
If I'm being honest, up until the last 10 pages, I didn't see myself carrying on with the series and was willing to leave it at that.
But then something happened and now I'm super intrigued! I kept swiping my Kindle right thinking "this can't be it! Surely I'm missing a page or 2!".
Well played Kevin Cox, well played! ;)
If you want to be transported to a different world (or 2, or 3), then give this a go!
August 19, 2022
I really enjoyed this adventurous tale. Ambrielle is a very nice main character and I loved meeting all these different cultures with her. The story is fast paced, partially because it is dialogue driven (which is always a plus in my book). Yet, at the same time, sufficient attention is given to worldbuilding, resulting in a believable and interesting set of realms. There's also some romance (another plus ;) ) but it is not the main focus of the story. And maybe a peculiar thing to like, but there was something enchanting about the way water and light (or darkness) are woven throughout the story. I'm weird, I know ;)
June 16, 2022
Bewilderness
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Very good story line and character development. The plot was a little slow to me in a few parts, but overall well paced. I felt as though the story got much better as it progressed — I finished the last half of the book in one sitting.
Spoilers Below for the Ending!!
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.
.
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I’m not sure how I feel about Ambrielle going back to Earth and just leaving everyone behind without a word. Having Gavain show up at the very end (literally the last page), makes me very interested in reading another book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Very good story line and character development. The plot was a little slow to me in a few parts, but overall well paced. I felt as though the story got much better as it progressed — I finished the last half of the book in one sitting.
Spoilers Below for the Ending!!
.
.
.
.
I’m not sure how I feel about Ambrielle going back to Earth and just leaving everyone behind without a word. Having Gavain show up at the very end (literally the last page), makes me very interested in reading another book.
June 26, 2022
Epic! Gripping fantasy with a delicate touch of sci-fi. Lovers of either genre should enjoy this though sci-fi fans may find the beginning a bit slow. Stick with it; the reward is worth it!
May 18, 2023
A journey of growth and self discovery
This is a tale about overcoming devastating loss and the importance of friendship and treating others with compassion. I felt the resolution was a little rushed, but the positive message, the growth of Ambrielle as she learns more about herself, and the fascinating worlds she explores all work together to make this a fun and satisfying story. Would recommend for young adults, as there is nothing objectionable and I consider this a clean book.
This is a tale about overcoming devastating loss and the importance of friendship and treating others with compassion. I felt the resolution was a little rushed, but the positive message, the growth of Ambrielle as she learns more about herself, and the fascinating worlds she explores all work together to make this a fun and satisfying story. Would recommend for young adults, as there is nothing objectionable and I consider this a clean book.
October 13, 2023
I do not usually read sci-fi/fantasy books. However, this was a recommendation, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. It had me from the beginning, and the story held me all the way through. The characters were fun, and I loved reading about all the adventures. I highly recommend this book. It is the first of five, and I am told they are all worth reading!
October 13, 2022
actual rating 2.5⭐️
thanks to the author who reached out to me to read and possibly review their book but I'm so sorry for being honest
thanks to the author who reached out to me to read and possibly review their book but I'm so sorry for being honest
October 16, 2022
This story starts off with the female MC waking up in a desert world with no memories of anything. She’s just in an oasis in the middle of a desert and hears whispers in her head. She decides to find out who she is, where she is, and where she’s from and while trying to figure that out, she stumbles upon portals that lead to different worlds.
From the start of this book, I was just trying to find out why the female MC lost her memories because as you read the book, it just seems like there is more to her story and as she’s trying to figure it out, so am I! 😂 I also love books with portals! I’m always curious to see what worlds I will get to experience 🤩 The details of the worlds and those that live in those worlds are quite exceptional. The author goes into depth for each of the worlds we get to experience in this book.
The reason I gave this 3 stars is because the detail in this book was good, but also took away from the story for me. I will admit I got a bit bored in the middle of the book because I was waiting for our MC to do something to get her memories back or just figure out what is going on, but instead she just stayed in the worlds she visited and basically lived in those worlds forgetting her true purpose, thus leaving me wondering what is actually going on with the MC and why she has no memories and wondering when I will find out. I think the details in the worlds would have worked with the story if the MC kept her main purpose and focus in line instead of allowing her to be distracted with the world she visits and their politics.
I enjoyed the characters, the uniqueness of the world and story, and the details are well written about each world. I would have given this a higher rating if the story remained focused on the MC and her trying to get her memories back and helping me, the reader, learn what is going on, or at least hints of what is going on by the middle of the book, rather than wait until the end where I still don't have enough of an explanation. And maybe that would be in the next book, there may be more of an explanation in the next book, which would keep me reading if I could understand better what is going on. That being said, if you enjoy books with portals and an MC that suffers from amnesia, then you may enjoy this book! Just because I did not enjoy it as much as I anticipated I would, does not mean someone else won't!
I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
From the start of this book, I was just trying to find out why the female MC lost her memories because as you read the book, it just seems like there is more to her story and as she’s trying to figure it out, so am I! 😂 I also love books with portals! I’m always curious to see what worlds I will get to experience 🤩 The details of the worlds and those that live in those worlds are quite exceptional. The author goes into depth for each of the worlds we get to experience in this book.
The reason I gave this 3 stars is because the detail in this book was good, but also took away from the story for me. I will admit I got a bit bored in the middle of the book because I was waiting for our MC to do something to get her memories back or just figure out what is going on, but instead she just stayed in the worlds she visited and basically lived in those worlds forgetting her true purpose, thus leaving me wondering what is actually going on with the MC and why she has no memories and wondering when I will find out. I think the details in the worlds would have worked with the story if the MC kept her main purpose and focus in line instead of allowing her to be distracted with the world she visits and their politics.
I enjoyed the characters, the uniqueness of the world and story, and the details are well written about each world. I would have given this a higher rating if the story remained focused on the MC and her trying to get her memories back and helping me, the reader, learn what is going on, or at least hints of what is going on by the middle of the book, rather than wait until the end where I still don't have enough of an explanation. And maybe that would be in the next book, there may be more of an explanation in the next book, which would keep me reading if I could understand better what is going on. That being said, if you enjoy books with portals and an MC that suffers from amnesia, then you may enjoy this book! Just because I did not enjoy it as much as I anticipated I would, does not mean someone else won't!
I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 15, 2021
Bewilderness is an easy-to-read young adult fantasy that just about anyone would enjoy. The author does an excellent job of keeping you guessing on what exactly is going on, which encourages you to keep reading.
There were a few things that I really enjoyed, including the world-building and the vast array of unique characters. The author is able to paint a very clear picture of the settings, including three different worlds. Every time the character found herself in a new world, I never struggled to imagine the landscape and visual elements of the new setting.
You are also introduced to a large number of characters in this book, but Cox seems to have a good understanding of how many characters is too much. I found all of the characters very unique; they each stood out in their own way and added depth to the story. They also contrasted the main character well.
That being said, there were also a few elements that held me back from fully enjoying the story. Even though the synopsis of the book claims that the protagonist is "desperate" to find her way home, I never felt that urgency. Sometimes she seemed a bit too nonchalant, which made the story drag in some places.
The dialogue also felt a bit forced, but this didn't bother me too much. However, Some actions of the main character confused me, such as how she curtsey's to people when she introduces herself. Unless she was royalty back on earth, it doesn't quite make sense.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be a light, fast and enjoyable read. It is obvious that the author has a vast imagination, and Cox did a great job of pulling the reader into this new universe. However, I think the novel would have benefited from getting feedback regarding plot points and character development. It does feel a bit like a first/second draft to me.
The ending definitely felt abrupt and did not have a bow tie finish, but I think it was intentional. While I was left with even more questions, it made me want to read the second book even more!
There were a few things that I really enjoyed, including the world-building and the vast array of unique characters. The author is able to paint a very clear picture of the settings, including three different worlds. Every time the character found herself in a new world, I never struggled to imagine the landscape and visual elements of the new setting.
You are also introduced to a large number of characters in this book, but Cox seems to have a good understanding of how many characters is too much. I found all of the characters very unique; they each stood out in their own way and added depth to the story. They also contrasted the main character well.
That being said, there were also a few elements that held me back from fully enjoying the story. Even though the synopsis of the book claims that the protagonist is "desperate" to find her way home, I never felt that urgency. Sometimes she seemed a bit too nonchalant, which made the story drag in some places.
The dialogue also felt a bit forced, but this didn't bother me too much. However, Some actions of the main character confused me, such as how she curtsey's to people when she introduces herself. Unless she was royalty back on earth, it doesn't quite make sense.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be a light, fast and enjoyable read. It is obvious that the author has a vast imagination, and Cox did a great job of pulling the reader into this new universe. However, I think the novel would have benefited from getting feedback regarding plot points and character development. It does feel a bit like a first/second draft to me.
The ending definitely felt abrupt and did not have a bow tie finish, but I think it was intentional. While I was left with even more questions, it made me want to read the second book even more!
October 27, 2022
When Ambrielle, who doesn't even know her real name but is named that by an alien friend, wakes up with no memories of her life on an oasis in a desert world, she runs into a dangerous darkness that can destroy the whole universe. On the run from this darkness, she ends up in multiple different worlds and must navigate the societies of aliens on these other planets to fit in and survive. As she starts to piece her old life back together she must also help resolve conflicts on these alien worlds as well as avoid the darkness and get back to Earth.
It was a unique story with a very interesting twist to other worlds and how to travel to them. I loved Ambrielle's character! You really see how she grows throughout the book and really steps up to help not only herself to get home but the friends she makes in these new worlds. I really liked how she didn't have memories of her life on Earth and we had to go with her through the story slowly remembering, it made for a really great tension-filled plot as we fit in these missing pieces of her life.
I wish we hadn't been left on such a cliffhanger. But truthfully it just made the story more tense and gripping, leaving you wanting to know what will come next for Ambrielle. I loved how the descriptions helped in imagining the amazing worlds we are taken to following Ambrielle and her adventure. It really helped bring the story to life.
It was a captivating YA Fantasy that I would definitely recommend reading if you enjoy a unique space travel story with a tension-filled mystery!
It was a unique story with a very interesting twist to other worlds and how to travel to them. I loved Ambrielle's character! You really see how she grows throughout the book and really steps up to help not only herself to get home but the friends she makes in these new worlds. I really liked how she didn't have memories of her life on Earth and we had to go with her through the story slowly remembering, it made for a really great tension-filled plot as we fit in these missing pieces of her life.
I wish we hadn't been left on such a cliffhanger. But truthfully it just made the story more tense and gripping, leaving you wanting to know what will come next for Ambrielle. I loved how the descriptions helped in imagining the amazing worlds we are taken to following Ambrielle and her adventure. It really helped bring the story to life.
It was a captivating YA Fantasy that I would definitely recommend reading if you enjoy a unique space travel story with a tension-filled mystery!
July 5, 2023
Ambrielle wakes up in a new world where she has no memory of where she is or how she even got there. All she knows is that she is from Earth, and she is a human.
So, attempting to make the best of her situation, she explores this world and comes across Maetha. Maetha is a species that she has never seen before and knew she had to adapt quickly.
Maetha introduces her to this new world and takes her under her wing. There is a whole new world that Ambrielle didn’t even realize existed. She introduces Ambrielle to many different characters and species that threaten Maetha’s race.
As Ambrielle is there, she wonders how in the world she will get back to Earth. As she is there, she starts to slowly regain bits and pieces of her memory on Earth.
The story unfolds as there is danger, action, romance and the mystery of how she ended up on the planet in the first place.
I found that the author's skill in world building was amazing and the characters that we are introduced to were unique and super creative. He really knew how to draw a reader into a fictional world.
But I find though that the pacing of the plot was slow, and I didn't feel the plot of the story wasn't really developing at a good pace. So, I was having a hard time staying engaged with the book.
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So, attempting to make the best of her situation, she explores this world and comes across Maetha. Maetha is a species that she has never seen before and knew she had to adapt quickly.
Maetha introduces her to this new world and takes her under her wing. There is a whole new world that Ambrielle didn’t even realize existed. She introduces Ambrielle to many different characters and species that threaten Maetha’s race.
As Ambrielle is there, she wonders how in the world she will get back to Earth. As she is there, she starts to slowly regain bits and pieces of her memory on Earth.
The story unfolds as there is danger, action, romance and the mystery of how she ended up on the planet in the first place.
I found that the author's skill in world building was amazing and the characters that we are introduced to were unique and super creative. He really knew how to draw a reader into a fictional world.
But I find though that the pacing of the plot was slow, and I didn't feel the plot of the story wasn't really developing at a good pace. So, I was having a hard time staying engaged with the book.
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October 9, 2022
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review!
Starting off, I want to say that I would rate this 3.5 but I always round down on goodreads.
When we are introduced to our main character, she doesn't know who she is. I've read plenty of books with this narrative, and it is a narrative that's really hard to pull off. It's hard to connect with a character who doesn't know who she is which makes the initial story feel a little detached for me. However, this book excels in worldbuilding. The different worlds our MC finds herself in are lushly described and contains all kinds of different species and characters which we are introduced to.
It poses a lot of philosophical questions without being too much on the nose, which is always something I enjoy in books! I did find the start a little slow, (due to the narrative with our MC) but boy, did the ending throw me. To be honest, a lot of books that are the first in a series get a similar rating for me because (understandably) they spend a lot of time setting things up and explaining how things work. 3.5 might seem low but for me, it honestly isn't! This book makes me curious and sets the scene which, imo, is the job of a first book in a series.
It gives you some Alice in Wonderland vibes and I find the mix between fantasy and Sci fi to be really refreshing! I'm usually more of a fantasy fan and don't read a lot of sci fi but I liked the mix.
Starting off, I want to say that I would rate this 3.5 but I always round down on goodreads.
When we are introduced to our main character, she doesn't know who she is. I've read plenty of books with this narrative, and it is a narrative that's really hard to pull off. It's hard to connect with a character who doesn't know who she is which makes the initial story feel a little detached for me. However, this book excels in worldbuilding. The different worlds our MC finds herself in are lushly described and contains all kinds of different species and characters which we are introduced to.
It poses a lot of philosophical questions without being too much on the nose, which is always something I enjoy in books! I did find the start a little slow, (due to the narrative with our MC) but boy, did the ending throw me. To be honest, a lot of books that are the first in a series get a similar rating for me because (understandably) they spend a lot of time setting things up and explaining how things work. 3.5 might seem low but for me, it honestly isn't! This book makes me curious and sets the scene which, imo, is the job of a first book in a series.
It gives you some Alice in Wonderland vibes and I find the mix between fantasy and Sci fi to be really refreshing! I'm usually more of a fantasy fan and don't read a lot of sci fi but I liked the mix.
December 30, 2022
Bewilderness by Kevin Cox is a unique fantasy story of sixteen year old human Ambrielle who is lost in another realm and wants to find her way back home on planet Earth.
I love the parallel worlds in this story, each location is different from one another and so are the array of characters in each world. The three locations are so vividly imaginable it’s as if you are right there looking through Ambrielle's eyes.
I found it fascinating how Ambrielle could jump from one place to another. I was constantly looking for clues as to why these worlds were connected and what was Ambrielle's role in these worlds. The book kept me captivated throughout the whole story.
But on the other hand, I found Ambrielle’s dialogue a bit challenging and it didn’t work for me because I found Ambrielle a bit repetitive (introducing herself to everyone) and a little bit forced. Sadly I didn’t get the urgency of Ambrielle wanting to go back home either. I felt she “might be” too comfortable in the worlds she visited. It made me feel a bit suspicious of her and her true intentions. This also could be the fact the book is aimed at younger readers of ages between 12-18 years.
Other than that I enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading the next book which is set prior to this story. Which I think sounds very intriguing especially after how the Bewilderness ended.
Thank you to Kevin for providing a digital copy of Bewilderness for reviewing purposes.
I love the parallel worlds in this story, each location is different from one another and so are the array of characters in each world. The three locations are so vividly imaginable it’s as if you are right there looking through Ambrielle's eyes.
I found it fascinating how Ambrielle could jump from one place to another. I was constantly looking for clues as to why these worlds were connected and what was Ambrielle's role in these worlds. The book kept me captivated throughout the whole story.
But on the other hand, I found Ambrielle’s dialogue a bit challenging and it didn’t work for me because I found Ambrielle a bit repetitive (introducing herself to everyone) and a little bit forced. Sadly I didn’t get the urgency of Ambrielle wanting to go back home either. I felt she “might be” too comfortable in the worlds she visited. It made me feel a bit suspicious of her and her true intentions. This also could be the fact the book is aimed at younger readers of ages between 12-18 years.
Other than that I enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading the next book which is set prior to this story. Which I think sounds very intriguing especially after how the Bewilderness ended.
Thank you to Kevin for providing a digital copy of Bewilderness for reviewing purposes.
November 3, 2022
I’m always happy when I get to know new authors and engage with them and I didn’t regret it even a minute agreeing to review Kevin’s book.
The book is an adventure in another universe but underneath that there is a very educational story. We see the main character having lost her identity and hopping from world to world but not losing her true self in the process. She learns about acceptance, diversity, loss, friendship and love. She learns to value simple things and being grateful for what she has.
The world building is well-structured, interesting and very decent I would say, considering that in less than 300 pages, Ambrielle is visiting 3 totally different worlds. The magic connecting the worlds is not something we haven’t seen before but it brings seamlessly together the whole story and feels natural in the plot.
The main character is interesting, brave and we can see the layers of her personality through the situations she goes through. My only objection in this book is that I would prefer the main character more mature for a 16year old as she is being presented a bit naive. This makes the book better fit for middle grade rather than a young adult audience.
Regardless, I had a great time reading it and I would like to see Ambrielle’s next adventure!
The book is an adventure in another universe but underneath that there is a very educational story. We see the main character having lost her identity and hopping from world to world but not losing her true self in the process. She learns about acceptance, diversity, loss, friendship and love. She learns to value simple things and being grateful for what she has.
The world building is well-structured, interesting and very decent I would say, considering that in less than 300 pages, Ambrielle is visiting 3 totally different worlds. The magic connecting the worlds is not something we haven’t seen before but it brings seamlessly together the whole story and feels natural in the plot.
The main character is interesting, brave and we can see the layers of her personality through the situations she goes through. My only objection in this book is that I would prefer the main character more mature for a 16year old as she is being presented a bit naive. This makes the book better fit for middle grade rather than a young adult audience.
Regardless, I had a great time reading it and I would like to see Ambrielle’s next adventure!
September 20, 2021
What started out as an interesting premise quickly became tedious and confusing.
It was a chore to read past the first few pages, as the main character had no idea who she was (so the narrative voice was unclear and vague) and there was no discernible purpose for much of the opening chapters. The main character doesn't know who she is or where she is, which means the reader has no access point to her.
Overall, this reads like a first draft. (Does EVERY character need a name with "ae" in it? We get it, it's a fantasy, it's a different planet, but man, it was so hard to keep track of characters when they all had similar names!) So while it isn't necessarily bad, it's just not polished and that makes it incredibly difficult to follow all the way through. I would be interested in picking this book up again--and reading other works this author may publish in the future--if the basic story elements can be nailed down a bit more solidly.
Or, okay, a lot more solidly. The ideas are there, but the plot and the revision need some work in order to make those ideas really shine.
Thank you to Netgalley, who sent an advance ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It was a chore to read past the first few pages, as the main character had no idea who she was (so the narrative voice was unclear and vague) and there was no discernible purpose for much of the opening chapters. The main character doesn't know who she is or where she is, which means the reader has no access point to her.
Overall, this reads like a first draft. (Does EVERY character need a name with "ae" in it? We get it, it's a fantasy, it's a different planet, but man, it was so hard to keep track of characters when they all had similar names!) So while it isn't necessarily bad, it's just not polished and that makes it incredibly difficult to follow all the way through. I would be interested in picking this book up again--and reading other works this author may publish in the future--if the basic story elements can be nailed down a bit more solidly.
Or, okay, a lot more solidly. The ideas are there, but the plot and the revision need some work in order to make those ideas really shine.
Thank you to Netgalley, who sent an advance ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2021
I recieved an arc of this ebook in exchange for a review. Unpaid promotion.
Bewilderness is a YA fantasy novel. It follows the story of a girl who ends up in a different world to what she knows.
The book starts with a girl who has no memory of who she is. She is simply referred to as the girl which I thought was an interesting approach and it was something that didn't affect the story for me. It made sense that if she didn't know who she was then the audience should learn that information as she did.
She is eventually given a name and I liked seeing the fantasy world build as she discovers more of it and other characters come into the story.
To me it has an element of Alice in wonderland or perhaps Narnia, where someone from a different land accidently ends up where they shouldn't be.
I liked the writing. It was descriptive and allowed me to imagine fully the world that was created.
If you enjoy Narnia, Alice in wonderland or just YA fantasy in general check this out, it is released soon. You can follow the link in the author @kevincoxauthor bio (on Instagram) for more information on both the book and the characters.
Bewilderness is a YA fantasy novel. It follows the story of a girl who ends up in a different world to what she knows.
The book starts with a girl who has no memory of who she is. She is simply referred to as the girl which I thought was an interesting approach and it was something that didn't affect the story for me. It made sense that if she didn't know who she was then the audience should learn that information as she did.
She is eventually given a name and I liked seeing the fantasy world build as she discovers more of it and other characters come into the story.
To me it has an element of Alice in wonderland or perhaps Narnia, where someone from a different land accidently ends up where they shouldn't be.
I liked the writing. It was descriptive and allowed me to imagine fully the world that was created.
If you enjoy Narnia, Alice in wonderland or just YA fantasy in general check this out, it is released soon. You can follow the link in the author @kevincoxauthor bio (on Instagram) for more information on both the book and the characters.
September 6, 2022
Bewilderness by Kevin Cox is an unforgettable YA fantasy/sci-fi mashup, & I was lucky enough to be given a copy thanks to the generosity of the author!
Bewilderness begins with a teenage girl who has lost her memory. She doesn’t know where she is, & there’s a terrifying message nearby that says “BEWARE THE HOLLOW”. Ambrielle must dive deep into the water to escape a menacing presence, and she soon finds herself in another new world... When a massive betrayal occurs, it is left up to Ambrielle to fix what’s been broken. But can a teenager fix a world? Will she have any allies? And will Ambrielle find her way home, or is she stuck amongst alien races forever?
Kevin kept adding to the intriguing darkness & characters of Bewilderness, & I just couldn’t stop turning more pages. I don’t normally read books with a lot of sci-fi in them, but I’m so glad I did for this one! Bewilderness by Kevin Cox is the perfect blend of fantasy and sci-fi, with nature at the heart of the story...
And you can read my full review via my blog here: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/bewil...
Bewilderness begins with a teenage girl who has lost her memory. She doesn’t know where she is, & there’s a terrifying message nearby that says “BEWARE THE HOLLOW”. Ambrielle must dive deep into the water to escape a menacing presence, and she soon finds herself in another new world... When a massive betrayal occurs, it is left up to Ambrielle to fix what’s been broken. But can a teenager fix a world? Will she have any allies? And will Ambrielle find her way home, or is she stuck amongst alien races forever?
Kevin kept adding to the intriguing darkness & characters of Bewilderness, & I just couldn’t stop turning more pages. I don’t normally read books with a lot of sci-fi in them, but I’m so glad I did for this one! Bewilderness by Kevin Cox is the perfect blend of fantasy and sci-fi, with nature at the heart of the story...
And you can read my full review via my blog here: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/bewil...
January 17, 2023
Bewilderness is the right title for Kevin Cox’s story as the protagonist, Ambrielle, suffers from amnesia and the reader follows her travels to several imaginative worlds. I enjoyed how the author used Ambrielle’s circumstances to prompt flashbacks that provide glimpses into her past life. I particularly liked the futuristic metallic angel, Avo’Doria, and enjoyed Ambrielle’s experience of the Elyravess world the most.
The stakes are high as resourceful Ambrielle attempts to reconcile feuding aliens, prevent the complete takeover of dark forces, and find her way home. This makes the reading satisfying as there are several references to Ambrielle feeling as though she’s not smart. I wondered why Ambrielle didn’t experience more anxiety over not remembering her past life and her current circumstances, but otherwise I found this to be a fascinating read.
If you are fantasy lover who enjoys reading about a likeable female protagonist’s journey to various realms then Bewilderness is a great epic fantasy choice as the author builds several engaging worlds.
The stakes are high as resourceful Ambrielle attempts to reconcile feuding aliens, prevent the complete takeover of dark forces, and find her way home. This makes the reading satisfying as there are several references to Ambrielle feeling as though she’s not smart. I wondered why Ambrielle didn’t experience more anxiety over not remembering her past life and her current circumstances, but otherwise I found this to be a fascinating read.
If you are fantasy lover who enjoys reading about a likeable female protagonist’s journey to various realms then Bewilderness is a great epic fantasy choice as the author builds several engaging worlds.
March 15, 2023
This YA fantasy is extremely imaginative! It blew me away! The details are precise and exquisite!
It felt like I was reading a blend of something between Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal and LOT!
This is a slow-paced adventure book where the fifteen year old female hero travels back and forth between different dimensions, meeting new creatures and living entities on different worlds!
She wakes having amnesia to eventually discovering her fate is more important than it could ever be - to overcome a superior darkness and bring back a world only she has the power to do.
It took me some time to get into the book, as there's a lot of detail you're not sure you need to know for the remainder, however the author keeps pushing you forward with the ultimate question as to how it all ties in together.
I'm excited to sit down with @kevincoxauthor and @tanger_read to discuss this book among the other two in the series to really find out the ins and outs of these worlds, and to dissect his mind on how he was able to navigate the creativity!
It felt like I was reading a blend of something between Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal and LOT!
This is a slow-paced adventure book where the fifteen year old female hero travels back and forth between different dimensions, meeting new creatures and living entities on different worlds!
She wakes having amnesia to eventually discovering her fate is more important than it could ever be - to overcome a superior darkness and bring back a world only she has the power to do.
It took me some time to get into the book, as there's a lot of detail you're not sure you need to know for the remainder, however the author keeps pushing you forward with the ultimate question as to how it all ties in together.
I'm excited to sit down with @kevincoxauthor and @tanger_read to discuss this book among the other two in the series to really find out the ins and outs of these worlds, and to dissect his mind on how he was able to navigate the creativity!
March 16, 2023
I don’t know where to begin! I absolutely loved this book! It’s a mix of fantasy and sci-fi. For me I loved the fact that it was a slow start because it was building the world so that we could see it how the author does. It gave me Crescent City vibes from all the imagery of the world. I finished this book in only 2 days! I definitely will be reading the next two in this series!
It starts off with a 16 year old girl who has no idea what her name is or where she is. She soon discovers another Oasis and decides to follow a blue light in the spring and follows it to a whole new world! There she meets Maetha a Kavekkian who helps her, and names her Ambrielle, Maetha brings her to her home. While she is in this world she meets another human Gavian. Ambrielle is then banished and thrown into a lake only for her to end back up where she started. She then travels to a different oasis trying to get back to Gavian and ends up in a whole other world!
If you love fantasy and Sci-fi then this is definitely the book for you! If I could give more than five stars I would!
It starts off with a 16 year old girl who has no idea what her name is or where she is. She soon discovers another Oasis and decides to follow a blue light in the spring and follows it to a whole new world! There she meets Maetha a Kavekkian who helps her, and names her Ambrielle, Maetha brings her to her home. While she is in this world she meets another human Gavian. Ambrielle is then banished and thrown into a lake only for her to end back up where she started. She then travels to a different oasis trying to get back to Gavian and ends up in a whole other world!
If you love fantasy and Sci-fi then this is definitely the book for you! If I could give more than five stars I would!
May 26, 2023
‘BEWILDERNESS’ by Kevin Cox is a young- adult fantasy about our protagonist Ambrielle. She has amnesia and is totally unaware of her surroundings. She cannot remember where she’s from, where she is, who she is and even what her name is. She takes the readers with her on a journey through different worlds and introduces us to different characters. It is a story about our protagonist and her journey to get back her memories while finding her way back to Earth. It is filled with drama, danger, action, mystery, romance and is uniquely creative. But, to me somehow the story felt slow which made it a little hard to get hooked to it. also, the character development felt a bit slow as well which made me think the main character got a bit deviated from her actual motive, that is to find her memory back and get back to her own world and the ending felt a bit abrupt.
The writing style was unique and if you’re a Narnia or Alice in wonderland fan, this is a go-to-book for you.
Thankyou so much @kevincox for sending me an ARC copy of the book .
The writing style was unique and if you’re a Narnia or Alice in wonderland fan, this is a go-to-book for you.
Thankyou so much @kevincox for sending me an ARC copy of the book .
August 3, 2022
This book reminded me of all of the books we obsessed over during my childhood. The overwhelming sense of sweet nostalgia that came from reading this story brought me back to the Chronicles of Narnia and the sense of adventure that those stories contained.
The writing here is super descriptive, you could practically feel the setting and see yourself there. Ambrielle, the main character, reads a bit younger than her age, more like a preteen or early teen, but that is more due to the sense of innocence she had.
While the idea of world jumping isn’t unique, the way this book handled a classic sort of fantasy trope was very well done.
There were a few points that were a bit slow, but the majority of the book was a easy read with lots of interesting characters and adventure.
I think this book could appeal to a wide audience due to its nostalgic feel. We even get a little sweet, innocent romance thrown in there that was honestly super adorable.
Overall, a nice read!
The writing here is super descriptive, you could practically feel the setting and see yourself there. Ambrielle, the main character, reads a bit younger than her age, more like a preteen or early teen, but that is more due to the sense of innocence she had.
While the idea of world jumping isn’t unique, the way this book handled a classic sort of fantasy trope was very well done.
There were a few points that were a bit slow, but the majority of the book was a easy read with lots of interesting characters and adventure.
I think this book could appeal to a wide audience due to its nostalgic feel. We even get a little sweet, innocent romance thrown in there that was honestly super adorable.
Overall, a nice read!
April 3, 2023
it was a great read
The book starts with a girl (later named Ambrielle) who had memory loss. She is stuck on another planet she knows she’s not from. She stays in a quiet spot scared to travel the desert world she’s in until she can’t take it anymore. She then accidentally finds a portal to another world which I wasn’t expecting! She ends up meeting new people in this world and has memories flash up here and there. The world building is amazing and so detailed I actually felt like I was there which is what I live in a good book. Her character development and her finding out her purpose, is so worth the read and kept me flipping pages.
I gave it a 4 out of 5 because it didn’t really hook me in the beginning which usually if it can’t I won’t continue, but definitely glad I did. Also I am a huge romance person but just wasn’t sure on the romance between the main character Ambrielle and Gavian. BUT why don’t you read it and see how you feel about the romance? 😉
The book starts with a girl (later named Ambrielle) who had memory loss. She is stuck on another planet she knows she’s not from. She stays in a quiet spot scared to travel the desert world she’s in until she can’t take it anymore. She then accidentally finds a portal to another world which I wasn’t expecting! She ends up meeting new people in this world and has memories flash up here and there. The world building is amazing and so detailed I actually felt like I was there which is what I live in a good book. Her character development and her finding out her purpose, is so worth the read and kept me flipping pages.
I gave it a 4 out of 5 because it didn’t really hook me in the beginning which usually if it can’t I won’t continue, but definitely glad I did. Also I am a huge romance person but just wasn’t sure on the romance between the main character Ambrielle and Gavian. BUT why don’t you read it and see how you feel about the romance? 😉
September 23, 2022
Ambrielle has no memory of her life. In fact, she doesn’t even know if her name is Ambrielle, the name her new alien friend gave her when she woke up mysteriously stranded in a desolate world with no humans. As she slowly cobbles together bits and pieces of her life, Ambrielle tries to fit in with the many alien species she encounters and settle their divisive conflicts, all while avoiding the dark forces of The Shadows and trying to return to Earth.
I love this cover, especially the usage of blue and yellow. This book had Alice in Wonderland vibes and I loved it. The detail in this book makes it easy to picture the world. This is a book you can easily get lost in while reading. If you are looking for a face paced young adult fantasy, I recommend this one. This book is also available on kindle unlimited.
I love this cover, especially the usage of blue and yellow. This book had Alice in Wonderland vibes and I loved it. The detail in this book makes it easy to picture the world. This is a book you can easily get lost in while reading. If you are looking for a face paced young adult fantasy, I recommend this one. This book is also available on kindle unlimited.
January 18, 2023
Bewilderness
I really liked this book! It was a good story.
It starts with a girl that wakes up and doesn’t know where she is, she doesn’t know who she is, and she doesn’t have any memories. She is stranded someplace and she has to try and put all the pieces of the puzzle together. As she gets a little braver and starts to wonder in the world she is in, she starts to discover things. The first person, well alien she comes across is Maetha. She is kind and gives her the name Ambrielle.
Ambrielle starts to learn about this alien race and their world and all the troubles they face. During this time she starts to have flash backs and memories that resurface about her life and where she came from.
This book was really well done and very intriguing. A couple of reviews I read said that the beginning was confusing because she didn’t even have a name but I didn’t find that to be the case.
I really liked this book! It was a good story.
It starts with a girl that wakes up and doesn’t know where she is, she doesn’t know who she is, and she doesn’t have any memories. She is stranded someplace and she has to try and put all the pieces of the puzzle together. As she gets a little braver and starts to wonder in the world she is in, she starts to discover things. The first person, well alien she comes across is Maetha. She is kind and gives her the name Ambrielle.
Ambrielle starts to learn about this alien race and their world and all the troubles they face. During this time she starts to have flash backs and memories that resurface about her life and where she came from.
This book was really well done and very intriguing. A couple of reviews I read said that the beginning was confusing because she didn’t even have a name but I didn’t find that to be the case.
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