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Forget everything you thought you knew about unicorns and maidens...
A unicorn is not supposed to survive the death of its rider, but Majherri did. Now he is a pariah, mistrusted by the Greater Herd. To reclaim his lost honor and status, he will entrust the remnants of his life to a new human female while unraveling the mystery of his continued existence.
Kayleigh Reese is not Battle Maiden material. She's three years older than any other recruit and has enjoyed a peaceful, nomadic life working with her artist mother. The rigors of joining the High-King's elite unicorn cavalry are clearly not for her. Now, with a bond to Majherri, she must overcome her mother's disapproval, the ire of her commanding officer and fellow trainees, and, most importantly, the secrets of her unicorn's past if she is to become a legendary warrior.
To prevail, they must quickly come together as a team and unlock the powerful and dangerous magic inside them.
A unicorn is not supposed to survive the death of its rider, but Majherri did. Now he is a pariah, mistrusted by the Greater Herd. To reclaim his lost honor and status, he will entrust the remnants of his life to a new human female while unraveling the mystery of his continued existence.
Kayleigh Reese is not Battle Maiden material. She's three years older than any other recruit and has enjoyed a peaceful, nomadic life working with her artist mother. The rigors of joining the High-King's elite unicorn cavalry are clearly not for her. Now, with a bond to Majherri, she must overcome her mother's disapproval, the ire of her commanding officer and fellow trainees, and, most importantly, the secrets of her unicorn's past if she is to become a legendary warrior.
To prevail, they must quickly come together as a team and unlock the powerful and dangerous magic inside them.
248 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2010
About the author
Jim Bernheimer
33 books440 followersJim lives in Chesapeake, Virginia with his wife Kim, and daughters Laura and Marissa. By day, he works as a Systems Administrator on a government contract and runs his own side Information Technology consulting firm, EJB Networking, which can be found at www.ejbnetworking.com
Blessed (or cursed depending on your point of view) with an overactive imagination, Jim has long been a fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Seeking to put that imagination to use, he has started to write his own orginal works in hopes of making his mark on the literary world.
Jim's literary influences include well known writers such as Robert Heinlein, Edgar Allen Poe, J.R.R Tolkien, and the not so well-known C.T. Westcott.
Blessed (or cursed depending on your point of view) with an overactive imagination, Jim has long been a fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Seeking to put that imagination to use, he has started to write his own orginal works in hopes of making his mark on the literary world.
Jim's literary influences include well known writers such as Robert Heinlein, Edgar Allen Poe, J.R.R Tolkien, and the not so well-known C.T. Westcott.
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March 17, 2016
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! WHY?!?!?!!?!
Whywhywhywhywhy?! Why did this wonderful book have to end? Now I have to wait for the second one. >.<
Review.
Rider is what you'd call an unknown gem. Not many people know about this book. The only way I found out about it was through Goodreads Recommendations. So, guys, check those recommendations. You never know what you'll find.
When I saw this book, I was a little suspicious. Looking at the cover through the computer made it look like one of those self-published books. Not that anything is wrong with that. But, reading the synopsis, the plot was original and it had, wait for it, unicorns!
Although, even with that, I was still skeptical. So, I read a sample.
Have you ever read a book where right when you start reading it, you're immediately transported into it? And that you just love, love, love it? And you can't stop reading it?! I have. And that's my most favorite series of all time. Now, I have another series to add to my Best Books Ever shelf. And that series is the Spirals of Destiny series.
After gleefully ordering it I had to wait a few days before I could read it. When I received the book, the cover was actually quite beautiful and I loved it.
Reading the first chapter, we meet Majherri. He's the only unicorn ever to survive the death of his rider, Danella. And he doesn't know why. He is an outcast to his own kind, and frankly he's given up on life. This unicorn is broken, and it seems he'll never be fixed.
Then he meets Kayleigh Reese. And he feels something amazing: the Bondspark! The Bondspark is when a unicorn has found his rider. And Majherri thought he'd never feel that again. Now, his life has meaning again.
Now, I won't spoil this because I want you to read it, but I'll tell you that things get complicated from there on out.
The Characters:
I loved Majherri. He's stubborn and a rebel, so you can't help but love him. He bears both physical and emotional scars from losing his rider. But the thing is, he can't remember what happened. The memories are lost to him.
Unicorns and humans alike shun him, but he's strong. You can't get at this unicorn! Honestly, I'd constantly fume over how everyone treated Majherri, especially his sister and her rider, who were real b*****s if you'd ask me. I'd constantly be like "Are you kidding me?" because of how they acted. They acted like brats, or, as Majherri says, "temperamental females." Just reading the conversations Majherri has between other unicorns was hilarious.
Kayleigh Reese was very lovable as well. She's sweet, clever, hardworking, and never gives up. She's a very inspiring girl character, and I think Jim Bernheimer did her perfectly. She's a great example of girl-power!! :D
The brats:
The two main brats in this book were Meghan Lynch and Rebekah Morganstern. T'rsa is counted as Meghan since she is influenced by her and is her unicorn.
Meghan Lynch. This woman was almost completely unbelievable as the character she was supposed to represent. She is supposed to be a fair instructor and that treats all her students equally. Instead, she acts completely unprofessional and acts like a tall two year old.
Oooooooohhhh buuuuuuurrrrrnnnn!!!
Yes, I just slammed a fictional character. Bite me.
Seriously, how she manages to keep her job as an instructor is beyond me. She treats Kayleigh so unfairly and Majherri knows it. Actually, everyone knows it and don't do a thing to defend this poor confused student caught in a conflict between Majherri and Lynch. Meghan blames Majherri for Danella's death, who was her sister. But that does not give her the right to bully Kayleigh. An instructor does not bully a student. I don't know why but it bothered me so much that I had to slam her in my review. :D
And, not to mention T'rsa who treats her own brother like a piece of stinky trash! Jim Bernheimer, if your goal was to make me hate the guts out of these characters than you succeeded!! :D
Now here's another one, Rebekah Morganstern. Don't even get me started with that brat!
Now, one thing that you've probably read about in other reviews is that this book needs editing. They weren't kidding. Most of these mistakes had to do with commas, but there were also bigger issues such as misspelled words, missing words, extra wording/letters, and thoughts that weren't italicized. Some mistakes were so painfully obvious that you'd think the author would know better. For instance, the word "roll" was used for "role" and "there" for "their" in some places. Some extra letters in sentences such as "t the" (Sorry, I can't remember the rest of the sentence.) and missing letters like "is (For his)."
But, don't abandon reading this because of that. The word mistakes were few, and they didn't bother me too much even though I correct my family's grammar and spelling all the time. There were a lot of comma mistakes, but they're easy to forgive. Plus, I was too engaged in the story to notice too much and had already moved on.
This book slightly reminded me of Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, and Eragon because it has trolls, wizards, etc., so that was another plus for me. It was really good.
I'm trying to be professional here but I've now made a specific paragraph for fangirling/ranting that doesn't sound very professional. :D
**OMG I loved this book so much! It's right on my shelf with the Pegasus series which is my most favorite series ever. I need the second book right now!!! Right now!! NOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!! I need it!! I love Majherri and Kayleigh they're the best what do you think is gonna happen in the second book?! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!**
Ahem.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's move on.
The plot was very original. It had good pacing to it, and dang those twists!!
You'll find plot twists that you would've never known were coming. Some the author gave no indication that it would happen. It was really surprising how great those twists were.
*Minor spoiler*
-
-
-
-
-
There was some action, though most of it was toward the end. The author described his action scenes really well.
Overall this book was amazing and I loved it a lot. I would've read it all in one day if I hadn't been busy with a cold and puppy. ;)
People have been saying that the ending was kind of abrupt but I thought it ended good, even though I am figuratively dying right now to get my hands on the sequel. But you should've seen me after I read the book! I was raging and squealing and running around and yelling "Noooo!! Why did you end!?!?! Why did you EEEEEEEENNNNNNDDDD?!" for about five minutes. Most of my family ignored me because they were used to it. :P
All in all, I loved this book to pieces and can't wait for the sequel! :D
Whywhywhywhywhy?! Why did this wonderful book have to end? Now I have to wait for the second one. >.<
Review.
Rider is what you'd call an unknown gem. Not many people know about this book. The only way I found out about it was through Goodreads Recommendations. So, guys, check those recommendations. You never know what you'll find.
When I saw this book, I was a little suspicious. Looking at the cover through the computer made it look like one of those self-published books. Not that anything is wrong with that. But, reading the synopsis, the plot was original and it had, wait for it, unicorns!
Although, even with that, I was still skeptical. So, I read a sample.
Have you ever read a book where right when you start reading it, you're immediately transported into it? And that you just love, love, love it? And you can't stop reading it?! I have. And that's my most favorite series of all time. Now, I have another series to add to my Best Books Ever shelf. And that series is the Spirals of Destiny series.
After gleefully ordering it I had to wait a few days before I could read it. When I received the book, the cover was actually quite beautiful and I loved it.
Reading the first chapter, we meet Majherri. He's the only unicorn ever to survive the death of his rider, Danella. And he doesn't know why. He is an outcast to his own kind, and frankly he's given up on life. This unicorn is broken, and it seems he'll never be fixed.
Then he meets Kayleigh Reese. And he feels something amazing: the Bondspark! The Bondspark is when a unicorn has found his rider. And Majherri thought he'd never feel that again. Now, his life has meaning again.
Now, I won't spoil this because I want you to read it, but I'll tell you that things get complicated from there on out.
The Characters:
I loved Majherri. He's stubborn and a rebel, so you can't help but love him. He bears both physical and emotional scars from losing his rider. But the thing is, he can't remember what happened. The memories are lost to him.
Unicorns and humans alike shun him, but he's strong. You can't get at this unicorn! Honestly, I'd constantly fume over how everyone treated Majherri, especially his sister and her rider, who were real b*****s if you'd ask me. I'd constantly be like "Are you kidding me?" because of how they acted. They acted like brats, or, as Majherri says, "temperamental females." Just reading the conversations Majherri has between other unicorns was hilarious.
Kayleigh Reese was very lovable as well. She's sweet, clever, hardworking, and never gives up. She's a very inspiring girl character, and I think Jim Bernheimer did her perfectly. She's a great example of girl-power!! :D
The brats:
The two main brats in this book were Meghan Lynch and Rebekah Morganstern. T'rsa is counted as Meghan since she is influenced by her and is her unicorn.
Meghan Lynch. This woman was almost completely unbelievable as the character she was supposed to represent. She is supposed to be a fair instructor and that treats all her students equally. Instead, she acts completely unprofessional and acts like a tall two year old.
Oooooooohhhh buuuuuuurrrrrnnnn!!!
Yes, I just slammed a fictional character. Bite me.
Seriously, how she manages to keep her job as an instructor is beyond me. She treats Kayleigh so unfairly and Majherri knows it. Actually, everyone knows it and don't do a thing to defend this poor confused student caught in a conflict between Majherri and Lynch. Meghan blames Majherri for Danella's death, who was her sister. But that does not give her the right to bully Kayleigh. An instructor does not bully a student. I don't know why but it bothered me so much that I had to slam her in my review. :D
And, not to mention T'rsa who treats her own brother like a piece of stinky trash! Jim Bernheimer, if your goal was to make me hate the guts out of these characters than you succeeded!! :D
Now here's another one, Rebekah Morganstern. Don't even get me started with that brat!
Now, one thing that you've probably read about in other reviews is that this book needs editing. They weren't kidding. Most of these mistakes had to do with commas, but there were also bigger issues such as misspelled words, missing words, extra wording/letters, and thoughts that weren't italicized. Some mistakes were so painfully obvious that you'd think the author would know better. For instance, the word "roll" was used for "role" and "there" for "their" in some places. Some extra letters in sentences such as "t the" (Sorry, I can't remember the rest of the sentence.) and missing letters like "is (For his)."
But, don't abandon reading this because of that. The word mistakes were few, and they didn't bother me too much even though I correct my family's grammar and spelling all the time. There were a lot of comma mistakes, but they're easy to forgive. Plus, I was too engaged in the story to notice too much and had already moved on.
This book slightly reminded me of Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, and Eragon because it has trolls, wizards, etc., so that was another plus for me. It was really good.
I'm trying to be professional here but I've now made a specific paragraph for fangirling/ranting that doesn't sound very professional. :D
**OMG I loved this book so much! It's right on my shelf with the Pegasus series which is my most favorite series ever. I need the second book right now!!! Right now!! NOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!! I need it!! I love Majherri and Kayleigh they're the best what do you think is gonna happen in the second book?! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!**
Ahem.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's move on.
The plot was very original. It had good pacing to it, and dang those twists!!
You'll find plot twists that you would've never known were coming. Some the author gave no indication that it would happen. It was really surprising how great those twists were.
*Minor spoiler*
-
-
-
-
-
There was some action, though most of it was toward the end. The author described his action scenes really well.
Overall this book was amazing and I loved it a lot. I would've read it all in one day if I hadn't been busy with a cold and puppy. ;)
People have been saying that the ending was kind of abrupt but I thought it ended good, even though I am figuratively dying right now to get my hands on the sequel. But you should've seen me after I read the book! I was raging and squealing and running around and yelling "Noooo!! Why did you end!?!?! Why did you EEEEEEEENNNNNNDDDD?!" for about five minutes. Most of my family ignored me because they were used to it. :P
All in all, I loved this book to pieces and can't wait for the sequel! :D
April 3, 2012
Decent book, though it could use a good read-out-loud session to catch the multiple missed words, spelling. and grammar errors. I will admit that the author wrote a great story and I really liked Reese. The personalities of the unicorns were not as I expected, but I liked that because it makes them more "real" and less mythical. I did find their mode of communication confusing though. It seemed like sometimes their conversations were in quotes, sometimes italicized with or without quotes, and other times in plain text. Made it hard distinguish between when the unicorns were communicating with each other and when they were having personal thoughts.Congrats on being one of the few male authors, that I have read, to write well from a female perspective :)
March 5, 2014
Originally I was going to rate this with three stars, mostly due to the number of typos that kept popping up. Not so many that it detracted from the story, but enough to be a bit of distraction for a grammar-and-spelling watcher like me to notice.
Also, the middle part of the story seemed a bit slow. Not bad - it was all interesting and well-written, with good character development throughout. The middle third of the book, though, just felt like a little bit too much of the main character's day-to-day life without much advancement of the overall plot. In the final third of the book, the plot finally heated up, and there were some very cool and surprising twists at the end.
I don't know if this book is technically rated YA or not, but I would highly recommend it for YA or even advanced MG audiences - and of course for adults who like a well-told coming-of-age fantasy story. The two main characters were total opposites in every way, yet worked together perfectly as they played off each others' strengths and weaknesses. The cliff-hanger ending left me wanting more, and I'm looking forward to the next book.
Also, the middle part of the story seemed a bit slow. Not bad - it was all interesting and well-written, with good character development throughout. The middle third of the book, though, just felt like a little bit too much of the main character's day-to-day life without much advancement of the overall plot. In the final third of the book, the plot finally heated up, and there were some very cool and surprising twists at the end.
I don't know if this book is technically rated YA or not, but I would highly recommend it for YA or even advanced MG audiences - and of course for adults who like a well-told coming-of-age fantasy story. The two main characters were total opposites in every way, yet worked together perfectly as they played off each others' strengths and weaknesses. The cliff-hanger ending left me wanting more, and I'm looking forward to the next book.
March 2, 2012
Spirals of Destiny, Book One: Rider, by Jim Bernheimer is the first book in the Rider series. Spirals of Destiny is a Sci-Fi Fantasy tale told from the perspective of teenager, Kayleigh Reese and Majherri, a unicorn.
In Spirals of Destiny, it is the dream of young girls to someday become battle maidens. Battle maidens are warriors who are selected based on a magical bond which they develop with a unicorn. Few girls manage such a bond; therefore, any one selected is in elite company. Kayleigh didn’t believe such a bond was possible for her. An outsider in her town of Helden, Kayleigh mostly spent her time helping her mother, an artist, while avoiding the cruel girls in town. Therefore, when Kayleigh touches Majherri and ignites a bond, it is beyond surprising. Hoping for a better future, a world in which she can finally belong, Kayleigh chooses to take the road towards the path of becoming a battle maiden/rider, despite the objections from her mother.
Majherri has something in common with Kayleigh, he’s also an outsider, mostly due to the fact that he is the only unicorn to ever survive the death of his/her rider. Ostracized by his fellow riders, as well as humans, Majherri had pretty much given up on life that is until he met Kayleigh. Not only had he become the first unicorn to survive the death of his/her rider, he also becomes the only one to bond with another rider. He is reluctant about the new bond, but believes that perhaps it’s a start in the right direction; after all, he’s no longer alone....
http://www.simplystacie.net/2011/06/b...
In Spirals of Destiny, it is the dream of young girls to someday become battle maidens. Battle maidens are warriors who are selected based on a magical bond which they develop with a unicorn. Few girls manage such a bond; therefore, any one selected is in elite company. Kayleigh didn’t believe such a bond was possible for her. An outsider in her town of Helden, Kayleigh mostly spent her time helping her mother, an artist, while avoiding the cruel girls in town. Therefore, when Kayleigh touches Majherri and ignites a bond, it is beyond surprising. Hoping for a better future, a world in which she can finally belong, Kayleigh chooses to take the road towards the path of becoming a battle maiden/rider, despite the objections from her mother.
Majherri has something in common with Kayleigh, he’s also an outsider, mostly due to the fact that he is the only unicorn to ever survive the death of his/her rider. Ostracized by his fellow riders, as well as humans, Majherri had pretty much given up on life that is until he met Kayleigh. Not only had he become the first unicorn to survive the death of his/her rider, he also becomes the only one to bond with another rider. He is reluctant about the new bond, but believes that perhaps it’s a start in the right direction; after all, he’s no longer alone....
http://www.simplystacie.net/2011/06/b...
January 8, 2013
In Rider: Spirals of Destiny Book 1, Mr. Bernheimer tells the story of the bond between a unicorn, Majherri, who shouldn’t have survived the loss of his rider, and Kayleigh Reese, an outcast seeking a place to belong. Disclaimer: I wouldn’t normally purchase a novel about a unicorn, but I so loved Confessions of a D-List Supervillain that I was desperate to read something else by this author.
Why to buy this book: The writer clearly has talent. He was able to draw me into the story despite the subject matter (again, I’m just not into high fantasy elements). Overall, I found it enjoyable and well worth the $3 I paid for it.
Why not to buy the book: Though I enjoyed it overall, the writing simply did not meet my expectations, which, admittedly, were pretty high after how much I enjoyed the previous book that I read by this author. Punctuation mistakes and typos abounded. Worse, the text badly needed another round of editing for tightening; some of the dialogue was literally cringe-worthy. Readers less forgiving than I may also not like the “conclusion” as the author’s chosen ending for the book seems more like a good place for a chapter break.
Bottom Line: It says something that I, overall, enjoyed the book despite the noticeable flaws, and, because of that enjoyment, I considered giving it a higher star rating. In the end, though, the mistakes grated and the story wasn’t strong enough, or special enough, to compel more than 3 stars.
Why to buy this book: The writer clearly has talent. He was able to draw me into the story despite the subject matter (again, I’m just not into high fantasy elements). Overall, I found it enjoyable and well worth the $3 I paid for it.
Why not to buy the book: Though I enjoyed it overall, the writing simply did not meet my expectations, which, admittedly, were pretty high after how much I enjoyed the previous book that I read by this author. Punctuation mistakes and typos abounded. Worse, the text badly needed another round of editing for tightening; some of the dialogue was literally cringe-worthy. Readers less forgiving than I may also not like the “conclusion” as the author’s chosen ending for the book seems more like a good place for a chapter break.
Bottom Line: It says something that I, overall, enjoyed the book despite the noticeable flaws, and, because of that enjoyment, I considered giving it a higher star rating. In the end, though, the mistakes grated and the story wasn’t strong enough, or special enough, to compel more than 3 stars.
January 18, 2016
It's a rare high fantasy which attracts my attention. While I enjoy just about anything set in Medieval lands where sorcery and dragons are commonplace, I tend to favor the grim and grittier side of the spectrum. Spirals of Destiny, with its fair-maiden next to a unicorn in a pastoral paradise, didn't exactly inspire me to believe this would that kind of story. However, it's by Jim Bernheimer, a man who I have come to trust as the writer of such gems as Confessions of a D-List Supervillain and Prime Suspects: A Clone Detective Mystery.
And I'm very pleased I decided to pick this up.
Spirals of Desiny is a Young Adult fantasy novel set in a picturesque kingdom where one of the greatest honors a young woman can receive is to be picked as a Battle Maiden or Unicorn Rider. Such women, chosen at thirteen, gain the ability to wield magic and are the vanguard of the war effort against the brutal desert nomads surrounding the kingdom.
This is the story Kayleigh grew up with and, as we'll find out later, is not quite the truth she was led to believe. The bonding with a unicorn is, however, and Kayleigh manages to achieve it with a battle-worn survivor named Majherri. The only problems are Kayleigh is sixteen rather than thirteen and Majherri is the survivor of a previous unicorn rider's death, something which should be impossible. The two misfits are a mismatched pair, one veteran and one naive, but come to rely on each other as they prepare for what is likely to be a new war with the nomads.
Rider is an interesting book: part Harry Potter, part boot-camp, and part magical unicorn story. However, I enjoyed it a lot. Part of the reason is the fact, despite its somewhat filly premise (*rimshot*), the events are never taken as anything other than deadly serious. The reason the latter Harry Potter books were so successful, in my opinion, is because it didn't talk down to readers and I have similar feelings regarding the Hunger Games and other YA successes.
Poor Kayleigh is worked twice as hard to achieve half as much because she's considered inferior due to everything from her social standing to her lack of training and a large amount between. The fact Kayleigh's unicorn was the mount of her superior officer's sister also makes things more difficult for her. Captain Lynch believes Majherri should have died with her sister and the fact he didn't is an insult to her memory.
I like how Jim Bernheimer writes unicorns as Majherri's perspective occupies a large part
of the narrative. The unicorn perspective manages to be human-enough to be relatable while also being distinct and well, horse-like, enough to be alien. I like how the unicorns are more like the creatures of myth, wild and war-like, versus the softer presentation they're given in modern days. Unicorns are a race of warriors and a proud one at that, which went a long way to selling the series to me.
A great deal of attention went into this world's setting with Jim making ample use of "show, don't tell." We get a sense of how magic in the world works, its politics, how the people see the monarchy, the traditions of the Battle Maidens, Unicorn ecology, and the class divisions affecting the people all without anyone ever having to give us an info-dump. It's a traditional fantasy setting but it's a well-written fantasy setting and that can make all of the difference in the world.
The ending of the book is a cliffhanger and readers hoping for a self-contained story will be disappointed. However, while the initial twist didn't surprise me, the subsequent results of this twist were genuinely shocking. Jim Bernheimer isn't afraid to shake things up and I was genuinely interested in heading to the next book immediately thereafter. So, despite the traditional fantasy nature of the story and I'm not a big fan of YA, I actually loved this book and recommend it to fantasy lovers interested in something lighthearted.
9/10
And I'm very pleased I decided to pick this up.
Spirals of Desiny is a Young Adult fantasy novel set in a picturesque kingdom where one of the greatest honors a young woman can receive is to be picked as a Battle Maiden or Unicorn Rider. Such women, chosen at thirteen, gain the ability to wield magic and are the vanguard of the war effort against the brutal desert nomads surrounding the kingdom.
This is the story Kayleigh grew up with and, as we'll find out later, is not quite the truth she was led to believe. The bonding with a unicorn is, however, and Kayleigh manages to achieve it with a battle-worn survivor named Majherri. The only problems are Kayleigh is sixteen rather than thirteen and Majherri is the survivor of a previous unicorn rider's death, something which should be impossible. The two misfits are a mismatched pair, one veteran and one naive, but come to rely on each other as they prepare for what is likely to be a new war with the nomads.
Rider is an interesting book: part Harry Potter, part boot-camp, and part magical unicorn story. However, I enjoyed it a lot. Part of the reason is the fact, despite its somewhat filly premise (*rimshot*), the events are never taken as anything other than deadly serious. The reason the latter Harry Potter books were so successful, in my opinion, is because it didn't talk down to readers and I have similar feelings regarding the Hunger Games and other YA successes.
Poor Kayleigh is worked twice as hard to achieve half as much because she's considered inferior due to everything from her social standing to her lack of training and a large amount between. The fact Kayleigh's unicorn was the mount of her superior officer's sister also makes things more difficult for her. Captain Lynch believes Majherri should have died with her sister and the fact he didn't is an insult to her memory.
I like how Jim Bernheimer writes unicorns as Majherri's perspective occupies a large part
of the narrative. The unicorn perspective manages to be human-enough to be relatable while also being distinct and well, horse-like, enough to be alien. I like how the unicorns are more like the creatures of myth, wild and war-like, versus the softer presentation they're given in modern days. Unicorns are a race of warriors and a proud one at that, which went a long way to selling the series to me.
A great deal of attention went into this world's setting with Jim making ample use of "show, don't tell." We get a sense of how magic in the world works, its politics, how the people see the monarchy, the traditions of the Battle Maidens, Unicorn ecology, and the class divisions affecting the people all without anyone ever having to give us an info-dump. It's a traditional fantasy setting but it's a well-written fantasy setting and that can make all of the difference in the world.
The ending of the book is a cliffhanger and readers hoping for a self-contained story will be disappointed. However, while the initial twist didn't surprise me, the subsequent results of this twist were genuinely shocking. Jim Bernheimer isn't afraid to shake things up and I was genuinely interested in heading to the next book immediately thereafter. So, despite the traditional fantasy nature of the story and I'm not a big fan of YA, I actually loved this book and recommend it to fantasy lovers interested in something lighthearted.
9/10
May 14, 2011
I confess: I am a unicorn girl. I have all kinds of figurines and my room growing up had all kinds of posters and memorabilia, kind of like the girl from Dodgeball, although I didn't have the life size unicorn in the living room. But I digress.
Anyone, my history as a fan of the ethereal yet imaginary creatures made accepting Rider: Spirals of Destiny for review a logical choice. I was not disappointed- this is a quick yet vivid fantasy story that will appeal to fans of adventure, mystery, and magic.
Kayleigh is one of those female heroines who's likable because she's authentic, honest, and hardworking. Her position as a recruit for the battle maidens at the age of sixteen is unprecedented and she's very aware that most folks don't want her around. She has a strong moral compass and a need to do the right thing, which means that other people take advantage of her pretty much from day one. They love to be around her when she's doing something that benefits them, but the minute that she needs help or support they're running away like a horde of angry weiner dogs is snapping at their heels.
If Majherri were to have a book consisting exclusively of his thoughts, it would be entitled "Rantings of a Cranky Old Unicorn." As if it weren't enough that he has to deal with having survived what should have been a death blow (in this world, unicorns do not survive the deaths of their riders) but now, because he's not only survived but has bonded with someone else, he's back at training with other unicorns who are babies compared to him. He has nobody to talk to, nobody to confide in, and again, everyone who does associate with him has ulterior motives. He finds the idea of leaving and striking out on his own very appealing to say the least.
Much of the book focuses on Kayleigh's time as a first year recruit and her training, and if one element comes through loud and clear, it's the role that prejudice has in poisoning relationships (Kayleigh's commanding officer is the sister of Majherri's dead first rider) and the danger of becoming locked into an unyielding methodology and mindset (instead of being celebrated as potential assets, Kayleigh's unprecedented abilities and strength are viewed as dangerous and detrimental because the trainers don't know how to handle them.) This failure to grow with the times and to move on is very interesting in light of the events at the end of the book, which show that not only is Kayleigh destined for bigger and better things, but that people's refusal to see what's right in front of their faces can lead to deadly consequences, especially when folks with rather loose morals decide to shake off their yolks and do something unexpected.
According to the author, the second installment in this series will be ready for summer 2011, and I for one can't wait to find out what else is happening in this universe. The cliffhanger ending, the mysterious developments in the final chapters, and some twists and turns that I didn't expect mean that there are a lot of secrets to unravel in the next volume.
Overall Grade: A
Check out more reviews and other fun stuff at What Book is That?!
Anyone, my history as a fan of the ethereal yet imaginary creatures made accepting Rider: Spirals of Destiny for review a logical choice. I was not disappointed- this is a quick yet vivid fantasy story that will appeal to fans of adventure, mystery, and magic.
Kayleigh is one of those female heroines who's likable because she's authentic, honest, and hardworking. Her position as a recruit for the battle maidens at the age of sixteen is unprecedented and she's very aware that most folks don't want her around. She has a strong moral compass and a need to do the right thing, which means that other people take advantage of her pretty much from day one. They love to be around her when she's doing something that benefits them, but the minute that she needs help or support they're running away like a horde of angry weiner dogs is snapping at their heels.
If Majherri were to have a book consisting exclusively of his thoughts, it would be entitled "Rantings of a Cranky Old Unicorn." As if it weren't enough that he has to deal with having survived what should have been a death blow (in this world, unicorns do not survive the deaths of their riders) but now, because he's not only survived but has bonded with someone else, he's back at training with other unicorns who are babies compared to him. He has nobody to talk to, nobody to confide in, and again, everyone who does associate with him has ulterior motives. He finds the idea of leaving and striking out on his own very appealing to say the least.
Much of the book focuses on Kayleigh's time as a first year recruit and her training, and if one element comes through loud and clear, it's the role that prejudice has in poisoning relationships (Kayleigh's commanding officer is the sister of Majherri's dead first rider) and the danger of becoming locked into an unyielding methodology and mindset (instead of being celebrated as potential assets, Kayleigh's unprecedented abilities and strength are viewed as dangerous and detrimental because the trainers don't know how to handle them.) This failure to grow with the times and to move on is very interesting in light of the events at the end of the book, which show that not only is Kayleigh destined for bigger and better things, but that people's refusal to see what's right in front of their faces can lead to deadly consequences, especially when folks with rather loose morals decide to shake off their yolks and do something unexpected.
According to the author, the second installment in this series will be ready for summer 2011, and I for one can't wait to find out what else is happening in this universe. The cliffhanger ending, the mysterious developments in the final chapters, and some twists and turns that I didn't expect mean that there are a lot of secrets to unravel in the next volume.
Overall Grade: A
Check out more reviews and other fun stuff at What Book is That?!
November 4, 2010
As much as it pains me to say this, my favorite character from Rider (Spirals of Destiny) is the unicorn, Majherri. My friends will probably never let me live this down but I want to explain myself before they kick down my door and drag me off for some re-education over shots of tequila.
Majherri is not like the unicorns you know from other fantasy tales. His personality, like his appearance, sets him apart from the herd. He and this book are a different breed.
Majherri and all of the characters are interesting, well thought out and most of all human. Kayleigh, the other main character, is also outstanding. Even the stereotypical adversary who has it in for the heroine is fleshed out and believable.
The setting is fresh and new. The author paints a vivid picture of the world and the society. A few things were missing that would have made the story more enjoyable for me. You know there are sorcerers and sorceresses but you know very little about them. I can understand why the author did this. The world is seen through the characters’ eyes. There is no all knowing narrator to give us answers. It helps set the tone for the book.
As for the writing style, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It for a reason why I read the book so fast. It is definitely a page turner. The descriptions and scenes were clear as crystal and easy for me to visualize.
The plot might not be new but it works. It is made more enjoyable by the unique characters, setting and stellar writing.
I’m glad I read this book. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Well, that’s all I got. I hear them coming for me now. If you don’t hear from me in a day or two, you know the reason why. Damn unicorns…..
Majherri is not like the unicorns you know from other fantasy tales. His personality, like his appearance, sets him apart from the herd. He and this book are a different breed.
Majherri and all of the characters are interesting, well thought out and most of all human. Kayleigh, the other main character, is also outstanding. Even the stereotypical adversary who has it in for the heroine is fleshed out and believable.
The setting is fresh and new. The author paints a vivid picture of the world and the society. A few things were missing that would have made the story more enjoyable for me. You know there are sorcerers and sorceresses but you know very little about them. I can understand why the author did this. The world is seen through the characters’ eyes. There is no all knowing narrator to give us answers. It helps set the tone for the book.
As for the writing style, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It for a reason why I read the book so fast. It is definitely a page turner. The descriptions and scenes were clear as crystal and easy for me to visualize.
The plot might not be new but it works. It is made more enjoyable by the unique characters, setting and stellar writing.
I’m glad I read this book. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Well, that’s all I got. I hear them coming for me now. If you don’t hear from me in a day or two, you know the reason why. Damn unicorns…..
April 6, 2012
I really enjoyed this book! I like things that mix it up and take old mythological characters and turn them into something more. I liked that they were warriors!! Not something you usually see unicorns doing. I ride and love horses and know how much they like to work and do things with their partners. I can only imagine what having a partner that is that intelligent that you can communicate with that effectively would be like. The unicorns remind me a little of Mercedes Lackey's horses. There is also a nice twist at the end that I didn’t really see coming. I am interested to see what happens to Ms. Reese now that she has discovered how truly different she is and what will happen with "her' unicorn when all is said and done. Will he choose to go with her? Will he let her bond him to someone else? Will this be the end of the dying out of the unicorns now that they can be saved? Or will tradition rule? Very excited to learn more!!!
March 15, 2011
Marvellous read, sincerely hope there will be a sequel.
I love unicorns and it was great to see them portrayed with individual characters. Could not put this book down, definitely one of my favourites
I love unicorns and it was great to see them portrayed with individual characters. Could not put this book down, definitely one of my favourites
May 24, 2012
This book was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! The unicorn is my favorite; he's so sarcastic and rebellious, you can't help but love him!
September 21, 2012
I really liked this book! I LOVE magical Creature ect so this was a perfect book for me! It is a cliff Hanger sao if you plan to read it I would suggest that you get a hold of the second book first
March 16, 2018
Three stars is perhaps too generous, but I did eventually check out the sequel and I've reread this book (more than once, I believe) so it gets points for that.
In this book, Battle Maidens ride and fight astride unicorns, wielding elemental magic. The unicorn Majherri lost his human partner in battle, but instead of dying like the other unicorns whose partners died, he lives on. He ends up feeling a connection to a second rider, Kayleigh Reese.
The girl and her new unicorn companion begin training with the other Battle Maidens, but it's an uphill battle all the way. Kayleigh's captain is the twin sister of Majherri's first rider, and the woman holds a grudge against the unicorn, whom she blames for her sister's disappearance. Her disapproval is transferred to Kaylegih, who can't seem to do anything right in the woman's eyes.
Another girl in Kayleigh's year group torments her and ridicules her. Friends are few and far between, and most of the book is focused on how alienated Kayleigh and Majherri are. In fact, life at the Battle Maiden Academy sucks for Kayleigh. While the bullying is not too violent, it makes the book as a whole a bit of a bummer, since she and Majherri face injustice after injustice.
The poor grammar really brings the book down as well. There is almost a mistake per paragraph. The author is particularly inconsistent with how the unicorns' speech is conveyed (it fluctuates wildly from being italicized, to placed within quotation marks, to no punctuation at all, making it look like part of the narrative). The writing in general is not great, but it's serviceable.
I liked the large cast of strong female characters (the unicorns only partner with girls, and there is only one male human who is given much in the way of characterization). Unfortunately, however, most of the interactions are full of girl-on-girl hate, as mentioned above.
The book is told in alternating chapters from Kayleigh and Majherri's perspectives. I think it was a very smart choice to include Majherri's point of view. I prefer his chapters, and I have a better sense of him as a character than I do Kayleigh or any of the others. He has some pretty interesting views on human society. All in all, his perspective adds a lot to the book.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger after some major revelations, so that encourages people who got through it to pick up the next one, which is an improvement on this first in the series.
Books about unicorns are much rarer than books about, say, dragons, so Rider stands out a little because of that. However, I think most fantasy readers have seen this story done better elsewhere.
In this book, Battle Maidens ride and fight astride unicorns, wielding elemental magic. The unicorn Majherri lost his human partner in battle, but instead of dying like the other unicorns whose partners died, he lives on. He ends up feeling a connection to a second rider, Kayleigh Reese.
The girl and her new unicorn companion begin training with the other Battle Maidens, but it's an uphill battle all the way. Kayleigh's captain is the twin sister of Majherri's first rider, and the woman holds a grudge against the unicorn, whom she blames for her sister's disappearance. Her disapproval is transferred to Kaylegih, who can't seem to do anything right in the woman's eyes.
Another girl in Kayleigh's year group torments her and ridicules her. Friends are few and far between, and most of the book is focused on how alienated Kayleigh and Majherri are. In fact, life at the Battle Maiden Academy sucks for Kayleigh. While the bullying is not too violent, it makes the book as a whole a bit of a bummer, since she and Majherri face injustice after injustice.
The poor grammar really brings the book down as well. There is almost a mistake per paragraph. The author is particularly inconsistent with how the unicorns' speech is conveyed (it fluctuates wildly from being italicized, to placed within quotation marks, to no punctuation at all, making it look like part of the narrative). The writing in general is not great, but it's serviceable.
I liked the large cast of strong female characters (the unicorns only partner with girls, and there is only one male human who is given much in the way of characterization). Unfortunately, however, most of the interactions are full of girl-on-girl hate, as mentioned above.
The book is told in alternating chapters from Kayleigh and Majherri's perspectives. I think it was a very smart choice to include Majherri's point of view. I prefer his chapters, and I have a better sense of him as a character than I do Kayleigh or any of the others. He has some pretty interesting views on human society. All in all, his perspective adds a lot to the book.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger after some major revelations, so that encourages people who got through it to pick up the next one, which is an improvement on this first in the series.
Books about unicorns are much rarer than books about, say, dragons, so Rider stands out a little because of that. However, I think most fantasy readers have seen this story done better elsewhere.
July 6, 2018
These aren’t your mama’s unicorns. Jim Bernheimer weaves a thrilling story about two outcast individuals thrown together by chance. The point of view alternates between Kayleigh Reese, the sixteen-year-old daughter of an artist in a small village, and Majherri, a battle-scarred unicorn, ostracized for surviving the death of his last rider. Most unicorns wither and die when they lose their riders. His survival is an anomaly that no one can explain.
Kayleigh and Majherri touch by chance and bond instantly. Being a battle maiden is a dream Kayleigh never thought possible, but her mother forbids her to go forcing Kayleigh to make a heart-wrenching decision. On top of that, one of Kayleigh’s tormentors also bonds with a unicorn and follows her to the academy.
Rider is filled with the kind of intrigue and tension that keeps you reading until late at night. If you like fantasy, you’ll love this book.
Kayleigh and Majherri touch by chance and bond instantly. Being a battle maiden is a dream Kayleigh never thought possible, but her mother forbids her to go forcing Kayleigh to make a heart-wrenching decision. On top of that, one of Kayleigh’s tormentors also bonds with a unicorn and follows her to the academy.
Rider is filled with the kind of intrigue and tension that keeps you reading until late at night. If you like fantasy, you’ll love this book.
January 29, 2023
I think most of us are here because we love jbern. I wasn’t expecting this out of the snarky, sarcasm driven tone of TLIL. But it was pretty freaking awesome. My only problem was that it was only half a story. It’s a part one.
I listened to the audiobook version and I don’t know if it’s just me but the voice for the main unicorn (I don’t remember his name, it’s been a minute) was super gruff and creepy. I want to read part 2 but I have to buy the written version to reread first because I need a refresher but can’t handle that voice again.
I listened to the audiobook version and I don’t know if it’s just me but the voice for the main unicorn (I don’t remember his name, it’s been a minute) was super gruff and creepy. I want to read part 2 but I have to buy the written version to reread first because I need a refresher but can’t handle that voice again.
November 13, 2017
I had high hopes for it and really struggled to get into the book. think I will reread it and see if my opinion has changed.
April 17, 2022
A light-hearted fantasy tale of a girl bonded to a unicorn; a unicorn that survived the death of its rider. Three.point.five for a good beginning.
December 29, 2010
This is the first book in Bernheimer's new series Spirals of Destiny. Previously he has written Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman and a collection of short stories called Horror, Humor, and Heroes. I really enjoyed both of these books and looked forward to reading this one. I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I am excited to say I really enjoyed this book; it is a creative take on unicorns and female warriors. Write now the Spirals of Destiny series is planned to be 3-5 books in length.
Majherri is a unicorn who has survived the death of his rider, this never happens at least not until it happened with Majherri. He is lost and unsure what his survival means and is an outcast in the herd. Kayleigh Reese is an outcast in her community; her mother is an artist and her father is unknown and they lead a somewhat nomadic life living in each town a couple years before moving on. When Kayleigh and Majherri meet they form a bond of unicorn and Battle Maiden. The only problem is Kayleigh is sixteen, three years older than Battle Maidens are normally taken in. As a result both Kayleigh and Majherri are as much outcasts at the Battle Maiden Academy as they were before they bonded. As they struggle through training unrest is growing in the west. The things happening in the west are bigger than anyone realizes and Kayleigh and Majherri will be sucked into the center of the problems.
This was a very good book. The viewpoint switches between that of Majherri and Kayleigh. Bernheimer was dead on in how he wrote the scenes from Majherri's point of view. Kayleigh is a character you can sympathize with and she is easy to relate too. The style that each characters tells their portion of the story from is very well defined and easy to read. The plot moves along at a good pace. The majority of this book deals with Kayleigh and Majherri journeying to the keep and with them undergoing Battle Maiden training. Towards the end of the book things get more urgent and the world is broadened quite a bit. This book is appropriate for a young adult or adult crowd, I think either would enjoy it.
Bernheimer has done a great job with characterization in this book and an even better job in writing great action scenes. There is a touch of humor throughout so that things don't get too serious. His writing style is easy to read and follow. I enjoyed the fact that the unicorns had their own sub culture outside of the humans they bond with. The book was nicely balanced in dealing both with the unicorn culture and the human culture. I am always impressed with how much story Bernheimer can get in a novel. The bond between Kayleigh and Majherri is reminiscent of the bond between the Companion horses and Heralds in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar world. Outside of the bond similarity there isn't much else that is similar; magic is dealt with in a very different way (that I found intriguing), the unicorns can only communicated in images and emotions with their riders, and the unicorns have a society that is all their own.
There were a couple small things that I would have changed. I really would have liked Majherri and Kayleigh to get through the training part of the book faster and get involved in the bigger threat to the world sooner. I was also a little disappointed that at the end of the book you have more questions than answers. But, this is the first book in a series so I guess I will just have to eagerly await the next book to see what happens. That being said the ending did hold a lot of interesting twists and turns which really kept things interesting.
Overall this was an excellent start to a great new young adult fantasy series. I think both adults and young adults will enjoy this series. It has a creative take on unicorn-human interaction, a nifty magic system, and some great action scenes. There is just a tad of romance as well. This book sets things up wonderfully and I am hoping for some excellent adventures for Kayleigh and Majherri in the next book.
Majherri is a unicorn who has survived the death of his rider, this never happens at least not until it happened with Majherri. He is lost and unsure what his survival means and is an outcast in the herd. Kayleigh Reese is an outcast in her community; her mother is an artist and her father is unknown and they lead a somewhat nomadic life living in each town a couple years before moving on. When Kayleigh and Majherri meet they form a bond of unicorn and Battle Maiden. The only problem is Kayleigh is sixteen, three years older than Battle Maidens are normally taken in. As a result both Kayleigh and Majherri are as much outcasts at the Battle Maiden Academy as they were before they bonded. As they struggle through training unrest is growing in the west. The things happening in the west are bigger than anyone realizes and Kayleigh and Majherri will be sucked into the center of the problems.
This was a very good book. The viewpoint switches between that of Majherri and Kayleigh. Bernheimer was dead on in how he wrote the scenes from Majherri's point of view. Kayleigh is a character you can sympathize with and she is easy to relate too. The style that each characters tells their portion of the story from is very well defined and easy to read. The plot moves along at a good pace. The majority of this book deals with Kayleigh and Majherri journeying to the keep and with them undergoing Battle Maiden training. Towards the end of the book things get more urgent and the world is broadened quite a bit. This book is appropriate for a young adult or adult crowd, I think either would enjoy it.
Bernheimer has done a great job with characterization in this book and an even better job in writing great action scenes. There is a touch of humor throughout so that things don't get too serious. His writing style is easy to read and follow. I enjoyed the fact that the unicorns had their own sub culture outside of the humans they bond with. The book was nicely balanced in dealing both with the unicorn culture and the human culture. I am always impressed with how much story Bernheimer can get in a novel. The bond between Kayleigh and Majherri is reminiscent of the bond between the Companion horses and Heralds in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar world. Outside of the bond similarity there isn't much else that is similar; magic is dealt with in a very different way (that I found intriguing), the unicorns can only communicated in images and emotions with their riders, and the unicorns have a society that is all their own.
There were a couple small things that I would have changed. I really would have liked Majherri and Kayleigh to get through the training part of the book faster and get involved in the bigger threat to the world sooner. I was also a little disappointed that at the end of the book you have more questions than answers. But, this is the first book in a series so I guess I will just have to eagerly await the next book to see what happens. That being said the ending did hold a lot of interesting twists and turns which really kept things interesting.
Overall this was an excellent start to a great new young adult fantasy series. I think both adults and young adults will enjoy this series. It has a creative take on unicorn-human interaction, a nifty magic system, and some great action scenes. There is just a tad of romance as well. This book sets things up wonderfully and I am hoping for some excellent adventures for Kayleigh and Majherri in the next book.
July 16, 2019
Story 5/5 stars - has an interesting plot & a storyline that moves along at a good pace & doesn't bog down.
I like the way the setting is presented through the eyes of the main character as she is experiencing it. You learn about the world setting as she learns of it, as opposed to the world being explained in a guidebook-style.
There was one overused plot element I did not care for :
Writing 2/5 stars - Author did not use a spell check or grammar check before final publication, and it is noticeable & detracting enough to interrupt enjoyment of the story.
I found it confusing that the author sometimes references characters by their first name, sometimes by last name, sometimes by military ranking, and sometimes by gender only. "She turned to her" -- wait, which "her" is she turning to? there's 3 other females in this scene. Issues like this happened many times with multiple characters (human and unicorn) throughout the story, and I wish it was more clear who was being referenced.
The ending was more of a chapter break and less of a final chapter of a book. I do understand that the author wishes to keep interest in his ongoing series, but when he publishes his series books so far apart (the second book took almost 2 years after the first book to be published) cliffhanger endings are a large detraction for me.
Characters 4/5 stars - Characters were interesting and likeable (or unlikable, for the 'villains'), with believable motivations.
Kayleigh was likable and easy to relate to, while still being imperfect enough to not come off as a "Mary Sue".
Majherri was very interesting, and I liked that just like Kayleigh he was an outsider among the unicorns and was coping with his own issues through the story.
I liked that while the unicorns could talk among themselves, they weren't Disney-esque "talking animals" who communicated by speech with humans but instead they had an empathetic bond with their riders. Unicorns also had their own culture of which their riders seemed only marginally aware of the depth, which was also very interesting to learn about.
I have not read this author before.
While I was impressed by the story and plot, I found that the poor writing style, spelling errors and poor grammar really was a detraction from enjoying this read. This could have easily been a 4 or even 5 star book with a spelling and grammar check, and reading some dialogue out loud to rephrase some things that were stated in a way that was awkward.
I will be reading book 2 in this series, but beyond that we'll have to see if the author can keep my interest in the series. The time I have to wait for book 3 to come out will also be a factor in holding my interest.
I like the way the setting is presented through the eyes of the main character as she is experiencing it. You learn about the world setting as she learns of it, as opposed to the world being explained in a guidebook-style.
There was one overused plot element I did not care for :
Writing 2/5 stars - Author did not use a spell check or grammar check before final publication, and it is noticeable & detracting enough to interrupt enjoyment of the story.
I found it confusing that the author sometimes references characters by their first name, sometimes by last name, sometimes by military ranking, and sometimes by gender only. "She turned to her" -- wait, which "her" is she turning to? there's 3 other females in this scene. Issues like this happened many times with multiple characters (human and unicorn) throughout the story, and I wish it was more clear who was being referenced.
The ending was more of a chapter break and less of a final chapter of a book. I do understand that the author wishes to keep interest in his ongoing series, but when he publishes his series books so far apart (the second book took almost 2 years after the first book to be published) cliffhanger endings are a large detraction for me.
Characters 4/5 stars - Characters were interesting and likeable (or unlikable, for the 'villains'), with believable motivations.
Kayleigh was likable and easy to relate to, while still being imperfect enough to not come off as a "Mary Sue".
Majherri was very interesting, and I liked that just like Kayleigh he was an outsider among the unicorns and was coping with his own issues through the story.
I liked that while the unicorns could talk among themselves, they weren't Disney-esque "talking animals" who communicated by speech with humans but instead they had an empathetic bond with their riders. Unicorns also had their own culture of which their riders seemed only marginally aware of the depth, which was also very interesting to learn about.
I have not read this author before.
While I was impressed by the story and plot, I found that the poor writing style, spelling errors and poor grammar really was a detraction from enjoying this read. This could have easily been a 4 or even 5 star book with a spelling and grammar check, and reading some dialogue out loud to rephrase some things that were stated in a way that was awkward.
I will be reading book 2 in this series, but beyond that we'll have to see if the author can keep my interest in the series. The time I have to wait for book 3 to come out will also be a factor in holding my interest.
January 13, 2016
This is not the first of Bernheimer's books that I've read, so I picked it up expecting something a little different than it turned out to be. This is slightly older than his D-List Supervillain books, but it seems like much earlier writing. There are several times when the phrasing is clumsy or repetitive, and overall this is not nearly as clever as D-List Supervillain series. I did like the story; the basic concept was strong and I like the idea of organizing unicorns and arranging exposure to maidens for finding riders; it takes some of the mystery out of it, I suppose, but is a very realistically human thing to do.
Specific points that niggled at my enjoyment:
Unicorns are recognized as being as intelligent as humans, but somehow the question of whether it's right to keep them as essentially (highly ranked) slaves never seems to occur to people.
Unicorns are obviously gendered, and at least the unicorn who narrates much of the story puts large weight on gender, but several humans refer to unicorns as "it". I could perhaps understand if these were humans of little experience with unicorns, but they are riders and/or instructors of riders.
For about half of one chapter, unicorns were referred to as 'corns, then that was dropped and never recurred.
Plot point spoiler - don't read this paragraph if you care about spoilers!
I listened to this as an audiobook rather than reading it on paper, and unfortunately I detested the reading. The reader was a woman (Christine Padovan) who for some reason used an extremely exaggerated falsetto voice for several characters, and inconsistently at the introduction of many others, so that for about 3 sentences a new character would be read like a cartoon chipmunk, and then suddenly switch to being read in a normal voice. She also had very awkward emphasis and pausing during sentences, so that it was often difficult to follow the intent or flow of the story. I think that quite a bit of the clumsy phrasing I noticed was exacerbated by my existing frustration with the reader's clumsy presentation. For example, "she walked beside the slow-moving wagon" is quite different in meaning than "she walked beside the slow moving-wagon". It matters where you pause!
I may read the next book in the series, which I see is narrated by someone different. I would not if it were read by the same narrator.
Specific points that niggled at my enjoyment:
Unicorns are recognized as being as intelligent as humans, but somehow the question of whether it's right to keep them as essentially (highly ranked) slaves never seems to occur to people.
Unicorns are obviously gendered, and at least the unicorn who narrates much of the story puts large weight on gender, but several humans refer to unicorns as "it". I could perhaps understand if these were humans of little experience with unicorns, but they are riders and/or instructors of riders.
For about half of one chapter, unicorns were referred to as 'corns, then that was dropped and never recurred.
Plot point spoiler - don't read this paragraph if you care about spoilers!
I listened to this as an audiobook rather than reading it on paper, and unfortunately I detested the reading. The reader was a woman (Christine Padovan) who for some reason used an extremely exaggerated falsetto voice for several characters, and inconsistently at the introduction of many others, so that for about 3 sentences a new character would be read like a cartoon chipmunk, and then suddenly switch to being read in a normal voice. She also had very awkward emphasis and pausing during sentences, so that it was often difficult to follow the intent or flow of the story. I think that quite a bit of the clumsy phrasing I noticed was exacerbated by my existing frustration with the reader's clumsy presentation. For example, "she walked beside the slow-moving wagon" is quite different in meaning than "she walked beside the slow moving-wagon". It matters where you pause!
I may read the next book in the series, which I see is narrated by someone different. I would not if it were read by the same narrator.
September 5, 2011
My thoughts: Incredible! This is a story like no other I have read. Truly inspiring in the telling. Jim Bernheimer has created a world in which the most feared and admired warriors are women who ride unicorns, they are called Battle Maidens. These women are chosen by the unicorns and are trained on an enchanted island to become said warriors. The characters that he has created to live in his world are amazing. They are filled with courage and a sense of purpose. He has developed in them all the makings of greatness tempered with the frailties of being human. The unicorns, who are just as important, if not more so, than the human characters are magnificent. They each have individual personalities and as many positives and negatives as their human counterparts. The leaders are wise and attempt to be just, with the exception of one who is bitter and vengeful while still doing her best to train and carry on.
This story begs the questions of right and wrong, betrayal, loyalty, honor and belief. It is a story of self-discovery. Kayleigh is the main character and her journey is long and filled with challenges. Her unicorn, Majherri, has lost his first rider and is an outcast among both humans and unicorns. Kayleigh too is an outcast, chosen at 16 instead of 13 with a control problem with magic she doesn't understand. The bond they form on the beach when they find each other is strong and both look to each other for salvation - from so much, their status, the battle, and even themselves.
The emotions of the characters envelope the reader. On the edge of the seat as Kayleigh is challenged as lead rider, as she and Majherri charge into battle untrained, as the portal opens and they are thrust into the unknown. I found myself caught in the whirlwind of those emotions as I read, laughing and crying, cheering and berating as the story gallops on.
Breathtaking in completion, this story is fantastic! A must read for the adventure lover and the fantasy reader alike. This story of self-discovery should be shared with readers young and old. I eagerly await the sequel!
This story begs the questions of right and wrong, betrayal, loyalty, honor and belief. It is a story of self-discovery. Kayleigh is the main character and her journey is long and filled with challenges. Her unicorn, Majherri, has lost his first rider and is an outcast among both humans and unicorns. Kayleigh too is an outcast, chosen at 16 instead of 13 with a control problem with magic she doesn't understand. The bond they form on the beach when they find each other is strong and both look to each other for salvation - from so much, their status, the battle, and even themselves.
The emotions of the characters envelope the reader. On the edge of the seat as Kayleigh is challenged as lead rider, as she and Majherri charge into battle untrained, as the portal opens and they are thrust into the unknown. I found myself caught in the whirlwind of those emotions as I read, laughing and crying, cheering and berating as the story gallops on.
Breathtaking in completion, this story is fantastic! A must read for the adventure lover and the fantasy reader alike. This story of self-discovery should be shared with readers young and old. I eagerly await the sequel!
August 27, 2014
Synopsis: "Forget everything you thought you knew about unicorns and maidens...
A unicorn is not supposed to survive the death of its rider, but Majherri did. Now he is a pariah, mistrusted by the Greater Herd. To reclaim his lost honor and status, he will entrust the remnants of his life to a new human female while unraveling the mystery of his continued existence.
Kayleigh Reese is not Battle Maiden material. She's three years older than any other recruit and has enjoyed a peaceful, nomadic life working with her artist mother. The rigors of joining the High-King's elite unicorn cavalry are clearly not for her. Now, with a bond to Majherri, she must overcome her mother's disapproval, the ire of her commanding officer and fellow trainees, and, most importantly, the secrets of her unicorn's past if she is to become a legendary warrior.
To prevail, they must quickly come together as a team and unlock the powerful and dangerous magic inside them."
My Review: This was an interesting book with some unique ideas and characters. There were some things I really enjoyed about it and a few that I definitely didn't, so I am a little on the fence with this one. I loved Kayleigh's character, she seems tough enough to work through issues but she definitely has her flaws. I didn't enjoy how the unicorns were overly humanized, yes they are intelligent and communicate using body language and bonds but occasionally they would put down one unicorn for using too human phrases but then they would turn around and use one just as human. I found it interesting how you don't find out who the true villain is until late in the book and it is obviously meant to lead you into reading the following book. I may or may not pick it up, I am not sure I am invested enough to put the second book as a priority over other books I already have on my shelves.
A unicorn is not supposed to survive the death of its rider, but Majherri did. Now he is a pariah, mistrusted by the Greater Herd. To reclaim his lost honor and status, he will entrust the remnants of his life to a new human female while unraveling the mystery of his continued existence.
Kayleigh Reese is not Battle Maiden material. She's three years older than any other recruit and has enjoyed a peaceful, nomadic life working with her artist mother. The rigors of joining the High-King's elite unicorn cavalry are clearly not for her. Now, with a bond to Majherri, she must overcome her mother's disapproval, the ire of her commanding officer and fellow trainees, and, most importantly, the secrets of her unicorn's past if she is to become a legendary warrior.
To prevail, they must quickly come together as a team and unlock the powerful and dangerous magic inside them."
My Review: This was an interesting book with some unique ideas and characters. There were some things I really enjoyed about it and a few that I definitely didn't, so I am a little on the fence with this one. I loved Kayleigh's character, she seems tough enough to work through issues but she definitely has her flaws. I didn't enjoy how the unicorns were overly humanized, yes they are intelligent and communicate using body language and bonds but occasionally they would put down one unicorn for using too human phrases but then they would turn around and use one just as human. I found it interesting how you don't find out who the true villain is until late in the book and it is obviously meant to lead you into reading the following book. I may or may not pick it up, I am not sure I am invested enough to put the second book as a priority over other books I already have on my shelves.
August 8, 2010
In a Sentence: Spirals of Destiny is a well-told fantasy that will appeal to both Middle Grade and Young Adult readers.
My Thoughts
Spirals of Destiny was a book that reminded me that we can't always completely rely on our first impressions. To be totally honest, I wasn't really expecting to like Spirals of Destiny. I'd never heard of the book, author, OR publishing company, and I wasn't a huge fan of the cover. In the past, that hasn't been a good sign. However, I'm happy to say that Spirals of Destiny exceeded my expectations. In fact, I actually ended up enjoying this book quite a bit!
The idea behind Spirals of Destiny, along with the author's writing style, reminded me a lot of Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet. If you're a Tamora Pierce fan (or a fan of fantasy in general), then I'd definitely recommend giving this book a shot. It has a lot of similar qualities, including magical warriors, great world-building, and a fun cast of minor characters!
My favorite part of Spirals of Destiny was that the unicorns were important characters--an integral part of the plot--instead of random mythical creatures that were just thrown into the mix. I really enjoyed reading the parts of the book that were told from Majherri's point of view, and I loved seeing him interact with the humans and the other unicorns.
From what I could see on the author's website (and from the way the book ended), it looks like there's a sequel in the works. I plan on keeping my eye out for it!
**A huge thanks goes out to the author for providing a copy of Spirals of Destiny for review. Thank you for the opportunity! **
My Thoughts
Spirals of Destiny was a book that reminded me that we can't always completely rely on our first impressions. To be totally honest, I wasn't really expecting to like Spirals of Destiny. I'd never heard of the book, author, OR publishing company, and I wasn't a huge fan of the cover. In the past, that hasn't been a good sign. However, I'm happy to say that Spirals of Destiny exceeded my expectations. In fact, I actually ended up enjoying this book quite a bit!
The idea behind Spirals of Destiny, along with the author's writing style, reminded me a lot of Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet. If you're a Tamora Pierce fan (or a fan of fantasy in general), then I'd definitely recommend giving this book a shot. It has a lot of similar qualities, including magical warriors, great world-building, and a fun cast of minor characters!
My favorite part of Spirals of Destiny was that the unicorns were important characters--an integral part of the plot--instead of random mythical creatures that were just thrown into the mix. I really enjoyed reading the parts of the book that were told from Majherri's point of view, and I loved seeing him interact with the humans and the other unicorns.
From what I could see on the author's website (and from the way the book ended), it looks like there's a sequel in the works. I plan on keeping my eye out for it!
**A huge thanks goes out to the author for providing a copy of Spirals of Destiny for review. Thank you for the opportunity! **
February 20, 2011
The High-King's elite fighting force is the unicorn cavalry and the battle maidens that ride them. Majherri is the only unicorn to have ever survived the death of his rider. Kayleigh is the sixteen year-old girl he meets when forced out on a recruiting drive to find qualified riders for the unbound unicorns. Her touch generates the Bondspark, indicating she is to be his rider, making it a problem because she's three years older than the others who will begin their training. Her new found magic is both powerful and uncontrolled.
Majherri, a seasoned warrior, is an outcast in the Greater Herd due to his experience and attitude. No one is willing to listen when it becomes obvious to him that problems are stirring up in the western portion of the kingdom and war is brewing.
The two outsiders make a great pair as he once again has a purpose with a new rider and Kayleigh struggles to accept, without complaint, everything thrown at her as she learns to become a warrior.
Just try and put this book down. Jim Bernheimer weaves a tale that grabs you and leads you on an adventure that has just begun.
The story is told in third person from the perspective of Kayleigh and Majherri, giving us a balanced picture of what's going on and why. The characters are believable; the story is interesting and moves along at a good clip. My only complaint is that the first few pages are a little confusing with bouncing back and forth in time. The story is appropriate for an adult or young adult.
I'd prefer to give this 4-1/2 stars.
Read for Books and Chat
Majherri, a seasoned warrior, is an outcast in the Greater Herd due to his experience and attitude. No one is willing to listen when it becomes obvious to him that problems are stirring up in the western portion of the kingdom and war is brewing.
The two outsiders make a great pair as he once again has a purpose with a new rider and Kayleigh struggles to accept, without complaint, everything thrown at her as she learns to become a warrior.
Just try and put this book down. Jim Bernheimer weaves a tale that grabs you and leads you on an adventure that has just begun.
The story is told in third person from the perspective of Kayleigh and Majherri, giving us a balanced picture of what's going on and why. The characters are believable; the story is interesting and moves along at a good clip. My only complaint is that the first few pages are a little confusing with bouncing back and forth in time. The story is appropriate for an adult or young adult.
I'd prefer to give this 4-1/2 stars.
Read for Books and Chat
February 27, 2011
I quite enjoyed this book. It's an entertaining read.
Now, in some ways it's a pretty typical "coming of age" sort of fantasy. Girl is "discovered"; receives training while being misunderstood/mistreated; rises to challenges; and becomes greater than expected.
What makes the story somewhat new/different is the presence of unicorns and how they magically interact with their riders. Again, while there other unicorn stories containing bonds between riders and unicorns; the author still makes the relationship in his book sufficiently unique that it didn't feel to me to be derivative.
My few criticisms of the book are:
-- I would have liked a bit more character development of the supporting characters. Only the main character, Kayleigh, is really fleshed out in any great detail...and she minimally so.
-- I would have liked a bit more "world building". What is this empire that the unicorns and their riders support? What is the nature of magic in their world? What are the historical antecedents to the conflicts that exist?
Now I understand perhaps why the author gave somewhat short-shrift to these things: The book moves at a rapid pace and never gets bogged down/boring. Nevertheless, I finished the book wanting a bit more understanding of: Why? Perhaps the author will let these sorts of things naturally unfold in subsequent book(s). I hope so.
Even with the (in my opinion) shortcomings, I enjoyed the book and will definitely buy a sequel.
Now, in some ways it's a pretty typical "coming of age" sort of fantasy. Girl is "discovered"; receives training while being misunderstood/mistreated; rises to challenges; and becomes greater than expected.
What makes the story somewhat new/different is the presence of unicorns and how they magically interact with their riders. Again, while there other unicorn stories containing bonds between riders and unicorns; the author still makes the relationship in his book sufficiently unique that it didn't feel to me to be derivative.
My few criticisms of the book are:
-- I would have liked a bit more character development of the supporting characters. Only the main character, Kayleigh, is really fleshed out in any great detail...and she minimally so.
-- I would have liked a bit more "world building". What is this empire that the unicorns and their riders support? What is the nature of magic in their world? What are the historical antecedents to the conflicts that exist?
Now I understand perhaps why the author gave somewhat short-shrift to these things: The book moves at a rapid pace and never gets bogged down/boring. Nevertheless, I finished the book wanting a bit more understanding of: Why? Perhaps the author will let these sorts of things naturally unfold in subsequent book(s). I hope so.
Even with the (in my opinion) shortcomings, I enjoyed the book and will definitely buy a sequel.
July 29, 2016
Entertaining story, but good Lord did it need some editing work done. It was so very distracting that it detracted from the over all effect. I could see it putting some people off completely and that would be a shame as I feel the story is strong and very enjoyable.
I liked both Kayleigh and Majheeri from the beginning. The world building was interesting and I liked the way that the bonds between unicorn and rider worked. The pacing was nice and the action towards the end was handled well.
Those editing issues though.
The story is in third person, but we would get random sections toward the beginning in first person. I tried to excuse them as a jarring way to let us see Kayleigh's thoughts, but the proceeding and following paragraphs would contain her thoughts as well. Then when the unicorn's talk to each other they continually switch back and forth between italics and no italics in the same conversation. That's not to mention the inconsistent spellings or misplaced or missing words.
It was just a jumbled mess and that is sad because I do think this book was worth the read. I am going to be continuing the series to see what happens next. By the way, this is a cliffhanger book. I feel somewhat satisfied with the ending, but it is not a fully self contained story and
I liked both Kayleigh and Majheeri from the beginning. The world building was interesting and I liked the way that the bonds between unicorn and rider worked. The pacing was nice and the action towards the end was handled well.
Those editing issues though.
The story is in third person, but we would get random sections toward the beginning in first person. I tried to excuse them as a jarring way to let us see Kayleigh's thoughts, but the proceeding and following paragraphs would contain her thoughts as well. Then when the unicorn's talk to each other they continually switch back and forth between italics and no italics in the same conversation. That's not to mention the inconsistent spellings or misplaced or missing words.
It was just a jumbled mess and that is sad because I do think this book was worth the read. I am going to be continuing the series to see what happens next. By the way, this is a cliffhanger book. I feel somewhat satisfied with the ending, but it is not a fully self contained story and
April 22, 2013
The main problem I had with this book is that the narration wasn't the best, especially that there's one voice that she did that was high-pitched and annoyed me to no end. Aside from that, it's a decent book, although the ending was very abrupt.
This is about a fantasy world where teenage girls bond with unicorns to become warriors who can wield magic (although only when touching the unicorn or a weapon they've stored some magic in). The unicorns come across as intelligent war horses who can communicate feelings/images to their riders.
It's centred around two outcasts, one a unicorn who has lost his first rider, but survived (when all others have died) and a girl he bonds with that is 3 years older than when they normally bond. On top of this, we have an officer in charge of their training that basically hates them, along with one of the girls from her town that's constantly belittling her. It's kind of a bit much, since it come across as almost everybody (aside from a few people) is against them. Since they're supposed to be fighting together at some point in the future, shouldn't someone in charge be putting a stop to it?
All that said, it's not a bad book, it just could have used more editing and more thought put into the narration since it came across as somewhat flat when she wasn't doing a character voice.
This is about a fantasy world where teenage girls bond with unicorns to become warriors who can wield magic (although only when touching the unicorn or a weapon they've stored some magic in). The unicorns come across as intelligent war horses who can communicate feelings/images to their riders.
It's centred around two outcasts, one a unicorn who has lost his first rider, but survived (when all others have died) and a girl he bonds with that is 3 years older than when they normally bond. On top of this, we have an officer in charge of their training that basically hates them, along with one of the girls from her town that's constantly belittling her. It's kind of a bit much, since it come across as almost everybody (aside from a few people) is against them. Since they're supposed to be fighting together at some point in the future, shouldn't someone in charge be putting a stop to it?
All that said, it's not a bad book, it just could have used more editing and more thought put into the narration since it came across as somewhat flat when she wasn't doing a character voice.
April 1, 2025
This was a pretty decent book. The story is good and the main characters are fairly compelling. I dislike the fascistic vibes that are present in seemingly all military fantasy series but I think that might be addressed in later books in this universe.
The main problem is that this was published in 2010, the sequel in 2012 and the conclusion of the trilogy(?) is still outstanding. I don't want to read the sequel if the remaining books will never materialise. Fair warning this not a standalone novel with an ending, the conclusion feels more like a stopgap before the story continues in the next book.
Other than that I liked seeing the characters grow and develop over the course of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the various developments that weren't obvious as I was reading.
The narration was not great though. The main character's voice was good but all of the older women in authority positions sounded squeaky and young. The men didn't sound right either. I think the narrator gave some characters more anger and more irrationality than perhaps the author was trying to convey. There were several times that I thought the voice didn't match the text. There were a few minor mispronunciations as well.
Overall not a bad book but as of 2024 it is the start of an unfinished series.
The main problem is that this was published in 2010, the sequel in 2012 and the conclusion of the trilogy(?) is still outstanding. I don't want to read the sequel if the remaining books will never materialise. Fair warning this not a standalone novel with an ending, the conclusion feels more like a stopgap before the story continues in the next book.
Other than that I liked seeing the characters grow and develop over the course of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the various developments that weren't obvious as I was reading.
The narration was not great though. The main character's voice was good but all of the older women in authority positions sounded squeaky and young. The men didn't sound right either. I think the narrator gave some characters more anger and more irrationality than perhaps the author was trying to convey. There were several times that I thought the voice didn't match the text. There were a few minor mispronunciations as well.
Overall not a bad book but as of 2024 it is the start of an unfinished series.
September 9, 2010
I was asked by the author if I would be interested in reading and reviewing his book on my blog. Again, I apologize for taking so long getting this review up...Real Life has been really crazy. The synopsis really drew me in...this is not usually the type of book I would be interested in. I'm glad to say that I proved myself wrong by throughly enjoying a book about unicorns and maidens!
What I really liked about this book was that the unicorns actually played an very large part in the storyline...I mean what's a story about unicorns if the unicorns aren't brought in to the story?! Another part of the story that really made me happy was that there were parts that were told from Majherri's (the unicorn) point of view. I also really enjoyed "seeing" how Majherri interacted with all the other characters in the book....human's and unicorn's alike.
What I also liked about this book was that it was very fast paced. Once I got into it I had a hard time putting it down. Which seems to been a reacurring thig for me lately....after my slump I've been "zooming" through books left and right!
What I really liked about this book was that the unicorns actually played an very large part in the storyline...I mean what's a story about unicorns if the unicorns aren't brought in to the story?! Another part of the story that really made me happy was that there were parts that were told from Majherri's (the unicorn) point of view. I also really enjoyed "seeing" how Majherri interacted with all the other characters in the book....human's and unicorn's alike.
What I also liked about this book was that it was very fast paced. Once I got into it I had a hard time putting it down. Which seems to been a reacurring thig for me lately....after my slump I've been "zooming" through books left and right!
September 21, 2013
I am falling in love with the broad range of genres Jim Bernheimer writes. His entry to the Young Adult Fantasy genre has all the fast action and unique world-building I expect, with the adult snarkiness left at the door. The story is a little more simplistic than his other stories, but appropriate for Young Adult.
Loved the elemental magic system and I can't want to see how a sorcerer's training differs from the limited magic done by the Warrior Maidens who ride unicorns.
Some editing needs to be done on the book to clean up typo and grammar errors. The occasional dropping of quotes bugged me, but it did not interfere with my ability to enjoy the story.
The ending is a cliffhanger to go into the next story - so here I am, waiting for the next story ... patiently ... waiting ... If you are not as patient as I am, the fact you can't immediately jump into the next book may bother you. But reading the first book is worth it ... worth the waiting .... patiently ...(tapping toes). His websites says the next one will come out in late 2012. Patiently waiting....
Loved the elemental magic system and I can't want to see how a sorcerer's training differs from the limited magic done by the Warrior Maidens who ride unicorns.
Some editing needs to be done on the book to clean up typo and grammar errors. The occasional dropping of quotes bugged me, but it did not interfere with my ability to enjoy the story.
The ending is a cliffhanger to go into the next story - so here I am, waiting for the next story ... patiently ... waiting ... If you are not as patient as I am, the fact you can't immediately jump into the next book may bother you. But reading the first book is worth it ... worth the waiting .... patiently ...(tapping toes). His websites says the next one will come out in late 2012. Patiently waiting....
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