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Running from Secrets
Bethany has never felt as alone as she feels in Linwood—until she dreams up Chime, a woman on the run because of a magic crime she didn’t commit. The dreams get more and more urgent, so Bethany tries to banish them by writing them down, only to discover she’s stumbled into the role of unwitting controller of Chime’s world.Chime is real here, and so is the possessed queen, minion army, mysterious professor, Vault Five, wind chimes with a secret code, child’s rhyme that can kill, the naked painting, and other things Chime’s story leads her to.She has to fix the story without erasing Chime and her world, because if she erases Chime, she will die as well.
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2010
34 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Void
14 books12 followersI write fantasy and science fiction.
I write fantasy because it keeps us imagining. I write science fiction because it teaches us to dream about the future.
I spent most of my childhood indoors reading, since going outside meant the sun might kill me. Some of my favorite authors are Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Patrick O'Brian, and Madeleine L'Engle. All this reading made me want to write stories myself, so I did.
When I'm not writing, I might be doing one of these other things: oil painting, graphic design, photography, singing, perfecting my Gollum voice for everyone's amusement, or enjoying nature.
Once somebody thought it was a good idea to give me a black belt and a teaching license in Shindoryu Aikijutsu.
I'm from New Orleans, Louisiana but moved up to Boston to eat snow.
I write fantasy because it keeps us imagining. I write science fiction because it teaches us to dream about the future.
I spent most of my childhood indoors reading, since going outside meant the sun might kill me. Some of my favorite authors are Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Patrick O'Brian, and Madeleine L'Engle. All this reading made me want to write stories myself, so I did.
When I'm not writing, I might be doing one of these other things: oil painting, graphic design, photography, singing, perfecting my Gollum voice for everyone's amusement, or enjoying nature.
Once somebody thought it was a good idea to give me a black belt and a teaching license in Shindoryu Aikijutsu.
I'm from New Orleans, Louisiana but moved up to Boston to eat snow.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 12, 2019
There are a lot of good elements in this novella, a number of potentially thrilling storylines in the real world setting as well as in the portal world setting, but sadly none of them are tied together other than to give rise to a few homilies about facing fears.
The story is as disjointed as a bundle of brief notes scribbled down in the protagonist’s diary, just little snippets of scenes that are non sequiturs. It’s all too briefly stated, too matter of fact and shallow, which is such a shame as the diary-based world creation, the truly dark madness of the queen, the rolling of fate and curses through generations, the exiled powers of the land, the multiple romances, and the life and death real world family drama, all had the potential of producing high quality thrills. There’s really a lot there, worthy of further development rather than just a brief novella. But none of the threads are tied off in the end. The story is just abandoned rather than ended.
It just seems that the author was unable to trust the quality of her own imagination. So much of the story is penned for laughs, as a spoof of epic fantasy, and not an affectionate spoof at that, a mockery. I don’t mind humour in a fantasy novel, and I really don’t mind a snarky protagonist, but this felt like the author was pulling down her own work to stop it shining, cutting off the nose to spite the face. As if she didn’t want her readers to pay too much attention, to take the work seriously. Weird.
This could have been really good, but ends up a frustrating disappointment.
The story is as disjointed as a bundle of brief notes scribbled down in the protagonist’s diary, just little snippets of scenes that are non sequiturs. It’s all too briefly stated, too matter of fact and shallow, which is such a shame as the diary-based world creation, the truly dark madness of the queen, the rolling of fate and curses through generations, the exiled powers of the land, the multiple romances, and the life and death real world family drama, all had the potential of producing high quality thrills. There’s really a lot there, worthy of further development rather than just a brief novella. But none of the threads are tied off in the end. The story is just abandoned rather than ended.
It just seems that the author was unable to trust the quality of her own imagination. So much of the story is penned for laughs, as a spoof of epic fantasy, and not an affectionate spoof at that, a mockery. I don’t mind humour in a fantasy novel, and I really don’t mind a snarky protagonist, but this felt like the author was pulling down her own work to stop it shining, cutting off the nose to spite the face. As if she didn’t want her readers to pay too much attention, to take the work seriously. Weird.
This could have been really good, but ends up a frustrating disappointment.
January 6, 2012
When I was a little girl I used to keep a journal, not for normal reasons of course, (I’m way to unconventional for that) but to keep myself from running away. See, while most girls were busy scribbling notes about boys and what dress they were going to wear to the dance, I was busy fighting off evil warlords or exploring sunken ships. My writing was an escape, (it still is actually,) and because of it I was able to face down what I thought to be the more “problematic” issues of my adolescence. (How hard is a Geography test really gonna be after I just escaped from Hurtsalini -the Mistress of the Underworld’s – death grip.) Since my awkward tween days I have stopped journaling, opting for a more “grown up” alternative (compiling the worlds longest bucket list) but regardless of the absence of my little green binder the thrill of creating my own world has never left me.
In Stephanie Void’s novel “Running From Secrets” Bethany (the heroine) takes the world of journaling to a whole new level. Not only does she WRITE the story of her dreams, but after just a few pages, she finds herself LIVING it.
“Bethany has never felt as alone as she feels in Linwood—until she dreams up Chime, a woman on the run because of a magic crime she didn’t commit. The dreams get more and more urgent, so Bethany tries to banish them by writing them down, only to discover she’s stumbled into the role of unwitting controller of Chime’s world.
Chime is real here, and so is the possessed queen, minion army, mysterious professor, Vault Five, wind chimes with a secret code, child’s rhyme that can kill, the naked painting, and other things Chime’s story leads her to.
She has to fix the story without erasing Chime and her world, because if she erases Chime, she will die as well.”
Ok, now…where to start.
I guess the most important thing to get across to you (the potential reader) would be that “I genuinely enjoyed this read.” It was short, (probably a little too short for all of the features, loops and plot structures it combined,) but regardless of its length it delivered on the most basic of levels: keeping me entertained.
That’s not to say I didn’t spot a few issues though.
#1. The transitions needed help.
On more than one occasion I felt myself cringing at the flip between “fantasy” and “real.” Both plot lines were important to the story but the seams connecting the two were choppy and (at times) misplaced. I know I have said this on more than one occasion, but it is important for authors to understand and acknowledge “flow.” If (for instance) your “fantasy realm” is in the middle of a major plot point, and you decided to pull your character back into “real life” with nothing but a # mark, you risk the chance of losing your readers attention. Cleaning up one “run” before starting another is imperative. (I’m not saying settle the whole problem before you move on, just make the scenario solid before you do so.)
#2. There were dialogue hiccups.
Bethany’s manner of speaking took on VERY different rolls depending on whom she was speaking to. In interactions with her younger sister her words came across as grand-motherly and sophisticated, scroll a few paragraphs down (when speaking to a professor or her peers) her words would turn shy, flip the page and suddenly she was assertive and confident (this was around Chime.) With Bethany’s dialogue taking on so many characteristics it was a little difficult to pin down her “true self” (if you catch my drift.)
Overall however, (transitions and dialogue discrepancies aside) I thought the story was interesting, definitely original, and a hell of a lot of fun to read (without taking up too much of your time.)
I think fantasy lovers will appreciate this one, for the rest of you it might be a hit or miss. (aka it reads mostly fantasy with only appearances of reality to break for Bethany’s story structuring.)
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: if you build it they will come.
In Stephanie Void’s novel “Running From Secrets” Bethany (the heroine) takes the world of journaling to a whole new level. Not only does she WRITE the story of her dreams, but after just a few pages, she finds herself LIVING it.
“Bethany has never felt as alone as she feels in Linwood—until she dreams up Chime, a woman on the run because of a magic crime she didn’t commit. The dreams get more and more urgent, so Bethany tries to banish them by writing them down, only to discover she’s stumbled into the role of unwitting controller of Chime’s world.
Chime is real here, and so is the possessed queen, minion army, mysterious professor, Vault Five, wind chimes with a secret code, child’s rhyme that can kill, the naked painting, and other things Chime’s story leads her to.
She has to fix the story without erasing Chime and her world, because if she erases Chime, she will die as well.”
Ok, now…where to start.
I guess the most important thing to get across to you (the potential reader) would be that “I genuinely enjoyed this read.” It was short, (probably a little too short for all of the features, loops and plot structures it combined,) but regardless of its length it delivered on the most basic of levels: keeping me entertained.
That’s not to say I didn’t spot a few issues though.
#1. The transitions needed help.
On more than one occasion I felt myself cringing at the flip between “fantasy” and “real.” Both plot lines were important to the story but the seams connecting the two were choppy and (at times) misplaced. I know I have said this on more than one occasion, but it is important for authors to understand and acknowledge “flow.” If (for instance) your “fantasy realm” is in the middle of a major plot point, and you decided to pull your character back into “real life” with nothing but a # mark, you risk the chance of losing your readers attention. Cleaning up one “run” before starting another is imperative. (I’m not saying settle the whole problem before you move on, just make the scenario solid before you do so.)
#2. There were dialogue hiccups.
Bethany’s manner of speaking took on VERY different rolls depending on whom she was speaking to. In interactions with her younger sister her words came across as grand-motherly and sophisticated, scroll a few paragraphs down (when speaking to a professor or her peers) her words would turn shy, flip the page and suddenly she was assertive and confident (this was around Chime.) With Bethany’s dialogue taking on so many characteristics it was a little difficult to pin down her “true self” (if you catch my drift.)
Overall however, (transitions and dialogue discrepancies aside) I thought the story was interesting, definitely original, and a hell of a lot of fun to read (without taking up too much of your time.)
I think fantasy lovers will appreciate this one, for the rest of you it might be a hit or miss. (aka it reads mostly fantasy with only appearances of reality to break for Bethany’s story structuring.)
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: if you build it they will come.
March 11, 2011
SUMMARY
Bethany's twin sister, Antonia, burned to death in a terrible car accident. Her family, attempting to put their shattered life back together relocate to "an insanely old and rickety house at the edge of civilization" in the small town of Linwood. Bethany, isolated, alone and friendless begins writing in a personal journal. There she pens the magical New Velerethland a place she goes to in her dreams. In this journal her words evolve into "something of a story of sorts". Each night her dreams take on more details and urgency, until finally one night Bethany is transported to this dangerous, magical world she has created. The people in New Velerethland are in trouble. A young girl named Chime is being hunted for a crime she didn't commit by a queen whose mind is possessed by evil spirits because of a horrible spell. Its up to the creator, Bethany, to set things straight. But can she? Will Bethany be able to write a proper ending to the story, resurrecting New Velerethland or is it possible she could die trying?
BACKGROUND
This is the debut novel for author Stephanie Void, who has been avidly writing since she was 14 years old. Her inspirations came from author Amanda Hockings to self publish this book. Running from Secrets was published in Kindle format on Amazon.com this March. It is available right now for the incredible price of $2.99, a stand alone young adult fantasy novel and not part of a series.
SETTING, PACE and WRITING STYLE
Running from Secrets begins in the rural town of Linwood, where Bethany's family moved after the death of their twin daughter, Antonia. The house where they now live is surrounded by a forest of trees the locals rumor to be haunted. Parts of the story takes place in the haunted forest, but the majority of the book plays out in the Bethany's magical world of New Velerethland. The fantasy world she created is chock full of kings, queens, wizards, fauns, magical creatures and minions. Stephanie Void begins the story with a horrific car accident scene, from there the book just keeps gaining momentum. Its a very quick read, requiring careful attention to details. The book is primarily written in first person, from Bethany's viewpoint, sometimes switching to third person, (the typeset changes to iltalics) to let the reader know details about what's going on in New Velerethland before Bethany gets transported there in her dreams.
CHARACTERS and PLOT
Bethany is the main character in this book, a mousy, dark-haired nerdy gal, complete with spectacles. She begins the novel shy and slightly introverted. Thrown into a new school, she begins friendless and somewhat cowardly. As the story unfolds, she finds inner strength and confidence she never knew existed. Running from Secrets is a story within a story. The outer shell is about Bethany, her family and coping with the loss of a family member. This is the contemporary part to the book, which is only about 15% of the story. The other 85%, the heart of the book is about New Velerethland, the fantasy world Bethany is responsible for creating in her journal. Here is where all the battles and action take the center stage. Stephanie Void is black belt and teacher of Shindoryu Aikijutsu; so excitingly, all the fight moves in this book are actually believable ones.
RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend this book to middle grade fantasy lovers on up to adults readers. A book filled with action, suspense, a touch of romance,mystery and lots of fantasy; girls, boys, men and women should all find something to like about Running from Secrets. If your looking for a books that's easy to read, hard to put down and keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the last page is turned - then this is your book! Give it a try.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Rings
Bethany's twin sister, Antonia, burned to death in a terrible car accident. Her family, attempting to put their shattered life back together relocate to "an insanely old and rickety house at the edge of civilization" in the small town of Linwood. Bethany, isolated, alone and friendless begins writing in a personal journal. There she pens the magical New Velerethland a place she goes to in her dreams. In this journal her words evolve into "something of a story of sorts". Each night her dreams take on more details and urgency, until finally one night Bethany is transported to this dangerous, magical world she has created. The people in New Velerethland are in trouble. A young girl named Chime is being hunted for a crime she didn't commit by a queen whose mind is possessed by evil spirits because of a horrible spell. Its up to the creator, Bethany, to set things straight. But can she? Will Bethany be able to write a proper ending to the story, resurrecting New Velerethland or is it possible she could die trying?
BACKGROUND
This is the debut novel for author Stephanie Void, who has been avidly writing since she was 14 years old. Her inspirations came from author Amanda Hockings to self publish this book. Running from Secrets was published in Kindle format on Amazon.com this March. It is available right now for the incredible price of $2.99, a stand alone young adult fantasy novel and not part of a series.
SETTING, PACE and WRITING STYLE
Running from Secrets begins in the rural town of Linwood, where Bethany's family moved after the death of their twin daughter, Antonia. The house where they now live is surrounded by a forest of trees the locals rumor to be haunted. Parts of the story takes place in the haunted forest, but the majority of the book plays out in the Bethany's magical world of New Velerethland. The fantasy world she created is chock full of kings, queens, wizards, fauns, magical creatures and minions. Stephanie Void begins the story with a horrific car accident scene, from there the book just keeps gaining momentum. Its a very quick read, requiring careful attention to details. The book is primarily written in first person, from Bethany's viewpoint, sometimes switching to third person, (the typeset changes to iltalics) to let the reader know details about what's going on in New Velerethland before Bethany gets transported there in her dreams.
CHARACTERS and PLOT
Bethany is the main character in this book, a mousy, dark-haired nerdy gal, complete with spectacles. She begins the novel shy and slightly introverted. Thrown into a new school, she begins friendless and somewhat cowardly. As the story unfolds, she finds inner strength and confidence she never knew existed. Running from Secrets is a story within a story. The outer shell is about Bethany, her family and coping with the loss of a family member. This is the contemporary part to the book, which is only about 15% of the story. The other 85%, the heart of the book is about New Velerethland, the fantasy world Bethany is responsible for creating in her journal. Here is where all the battles and action take the center stage. Stephanie Void is black belt and teacher of Shindoryu Aikijutsu; so excitingly, all the fight moves in this book are actually believable ones.
RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend this book to middle grade fantasy lovers on up to adults readers. A book filled with action, suspense, a touch of romance,mystery and lots of fantasy; girls, boys, men and women should all find something to like about Running from Secrets. If your looking for a books that's easy to read, hard to put down and keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the last page is turned - then this is your book! Give it a try.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Rings
July 7, 2012
This review was originally published on I Heart Reading.
Running From Secrets by Stephanie Void can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, although it takes place in the same universe as Stephanie Void’s previous novel, Halfway. While I enjoyed both books, I thought this one was slightly better than Halfway. I definitely found myself enjoying it more.
Running From Secrets starts by introducing us to our heroine, Bethany. Roughly fifty percent of people keep a journal at some time during their life, and so does Bethany. The only difference is that she doesn’t just write about things in her diary, she’s actually living them. After moving to Linwood, Bethany starts dreaming about a woman named Chime. Chime is on the run because of a magic crime she didn’t commit. Chime’s world is a fantasy world Bethany can travel freely to. I thought that was the most confusing part about this book. It’s never really explained how Bethany can travel between both worlds, where exactly Chime’s world is situated and how Chime managed to find a connection to Bethany and contact her.
What I dod love about the book however, was the imagination and creativity behind it all. Chime’s world isn’t just your ordinary fantasy world. With a healthy dose of creativity, author Stephanie Void manages to turn it into a breathtaking fantasy world with its own set of rules, traditions and beliefs.
What didn’t work were the characters. I have the feeling the author had trouble developing the character of Bethany. Her personality seems contradictory at times, and from one moment to the other she seems to fall into different roles that don’t all fit her. I wish she’d stick to one personality, not venture between different ones, giving me the feeling Bethany suffers from multiple personality disorder, while in fact she’s just not developed enough to stay firmly within one personality. I did like Bethany though, but it was mostly her dialogue that gave me the feeling she sometimes jumped from one emotion to the other without any real reason. The character isn’t fleshed out enough, and it shows.
The bacxkground story is great, but falls short by a big revelation at the end. I simply don’t think it’s possible for someone to keep such a secret (like Bethany did), at least not someone in their right mind. Even if promising to keep it a secret – and I won’t say what not to spoil the book – I just don’t think anyone would keep that a secret for this long. It’s cruel and unthoughtful and it doesn’t make me like Bethany very much. I thought it was too far-fetched as well.
The way of storytelling in this book is unique though, and definitely intriguing. I often found myself wondering if New Velerethland, the imaginary world Bethany came up with, was truly imaginary – a way for Bethany to escape her guilt – or if it had its roots in reality. For a long while, this was left in the middle, and I definitely thought that one of the bonus points of the book.
For me, the most intriguing character was the queen, whose possessed by evil spirits and slowly going insane. She was a great addition to the story, and gave it that much more depth.
If you want to try Stephanie Void’s writing, start out with Running from Secrets. It’s definitely the better one of two books. It shows a lot of promise, has an interesting storyline, an unique way of storytelling and some fun and quirky characters. It’s a quick, but enjoyable read.
Running From Secrets by Stephanie Void can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, although it takes place in the same universe as Stephanie Void’s previous novel, Halfway. While I enjoyed both books, I thought this one was slightly better than Halfway. I definitely found myself enjoying it more.
Running From Secrets starts by introducing us to our heroine, Bethany. Roughly fifty percent of people keep a journal at some time during their life, and so does Bethany. The only difference is that she doesn’t just write about things in her diary, she’s actually living them. After moving to Linwood, Bethany starts dreaming about a woman named Chime. Chime is on the run because of a magic crime she didn’t commit. Chime’s world is a fantasy world Bethany can travel freely to. I thought that was the most confusing part about this book. It’s never really explained how Bethany can travel between both worlds, where exactly Chime’s world is situated and how Chime managed to find a connection to Bethany and contact her.
What I dod love about the book however, was the imagination and creativity behind it all. Chime’s world isn’t just your ordinary fantasy world. With a healthy dose of creativity, author Stephanie Void manages to turn it into a breathtaking fantasy world with its own set of rules, traditions and beliefs.
What didn’t work were the characters. I have the feeling the author had trouble developing the character of Bethany. Her personality seems contradictory at times, and from one moment to the other she seems to fall into different roles that don’t all fit her. I wish she’d stick to one personality, not venture between different ones, giving me the feeling Bethany suffers from multiple personality disorder, while in fact she’s just not developed enough to stay firmly within one personality. I did like Bethany though, but it was mostly her dialogue that gave me the feeling she sometimes jumped from one emotion to the other without any real reason. The character isn’t fleshed out enough, and it shows.
The bacxkground story is great, but falls short by a big revelation at the end. I simply don’t think it’s possible for someone to keep such a secret (like Bethany did), at least not someone in their right mind. Even if promising to keep it a secret – and I won’t say what not to spoil the book – I just don’t think anyone would keep that a secret for this long. It’s cruel and unthoughtful and it doesn’t make me like Bethany very much. I thought it was too far-fetched as well.
The way of storytelling in this book is unique though, and definitely intriguing. I often found myself wondering if New Velerethland, the imaginary world Bethany came up with, was truly imaginary – a way for Bethany to escape her guilt – or if it had its roots in reality. For a long while, this was left in the middle, and I definitely thought that one of the bonus points of the book.
For me, the most intriguing character was the queen, whose possessed by evil spirits and slowly going insane. She was a great addition to the story, and gave it that much more depth.
If you want to try Stephanie Void’s writing, start out with Running from Secrets. It’s definitely the better one of two books. It shows a lot of promise, has an interesting storyline, an unique way of storytelling and some fun and quirky characters. It’s a quick, but enjoyable read.
September 4, 2011
I didn't really know what to expect from this book. I was pleasantly surprised, and I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed the book.
After the death of her twin sister, Bethany and her family move to Linwood. Bethany feels so alone, that is, until she suddenly dreams up a girl called Chime, and a whole world and story for her. At least, she thinks she's only dreamt it up. But, she soon finds herself inside Chime's world, inside the world that she's written down. In this world Chime is real, and she's running away from the very real queen who is trying to kill her.
This book is a story within a story, and I thought that that aspect of the book was really well done. It's one of those things that is either done really badly or really well, and luckily, this one is good :) I really liked how Stephanie made it so that Bethany knew a huge amount about the world because she'd written it, but when she was there, she didn't know what was going to happen to either her or Chime. It helped me to understand the world more (which I thought was rather confusing but more on that later) and it gave it a little bit of suspense too.
I mostly liked the characters, although I was always getting confused by David and Duluge - I could never remember which was which... I liked Bethany, I thought she was very real and believable, if a little irrational at times. For example, when she just agreed to pose naked for a BOY; I found that to be a little strange... I did like how she coped with all the things that happened to her and Chime in New Velerethland though, and I thought she was very noble and brave at the end.
I also really liked Chime. My only complaint was that she was quite weak at times in the book, where she could have been stronger and tried harder to do things, instead of just giving up. Her romance with either David or Duluge (I can't remember which one, they're all mixed up in my head) was sweet too, and I liked how it was very much a sub plot in the story, and it could have been fine without it.
The plot was well thought out and very fast paced. Lots of things happened in a short space of time, and while that could be confusing, I followed it almost perfectly I think, and I really enjoyed reading about Bethany and Chime's adventures in New Velerethland. The whole possession of the queen plotline made for an interesting book, and it was great to read.
As I said before, I got rather confused about the world of New Velerethland. It was very confusing and to be honest I think the author has it so planned out and so detailed in her head that there was just too much information crammed into not enough words. Maybe if it was spread out over the book more I would have understood about the world and what it consisted of, but unfortunately every time I tried to imagine the world that Chime lived in, I didn't know what to picture in my head, which is the main reason why it got 4 stars instead of 5.
Overall though, I really enjoyed reading Running From Secrets. I could look over all the confusing aspects and just enjoy the plot, which I thought was very well thought out and written. It was action packed, interesting, and there were times where I couldn't stop reading. I'd recommend it to YA fantasy fans who like books with lots of fast paced action.
After the death of her twin sister, Bethany and her family move to Linwood. Bethany feels so alone, that is, until she suddenly dreams up a girl called Chime, and a whole world and story for her. At least, she thinks she's only dreamt it up. But, she soon finds herself inside Chime's world, inside the world that she's written down. In this world Chime is real, and she's running away from the very real queen who is trying to kill her.
This book is a story within a story, and I thought that that aspect of the book was really well done. It's one of those things that is either done really badly or really well, and luckily, this one is good :) I really liked how Stephanie made it so that Bethany knew a huge amount about the world because she'd written it, but when she was there, she didn't know what was going to happen to either her or Chime. It helped me to understand the world more (which I thought was rather confusing but more on that later) and it gave it a little bit of suspense too.
I mostly liked the characters, although I was always getting confused by David and Duluge - I could never remember which was which... I liked Bethany, I thought she was very real and believable, if a little irrational at times. For example, when she just agreed to pose naked for a BOY; I found that to be a little strange... I did like how she coped with all the things that happened to her and Chime in New Velerethland though, and I thought she was very noble and brave at the end.
I also really liked Chime. My only complaint was that she was quite weak at times in the book, where she could have been stronger and tried harder to do things, instead of just giving up. Her romance with either David or Duluge (I can't remember which one, they're all mixed up in my head) was sweet too, and I liked how it was very much a sub plot in the story, and it could have been fine without it.
The plot was well thought out and very fast paced. Lots of things happened in a short space of time, and while that could be confusing, I followed it almost perfectly I think, and I really enjoyed reading about Bethany and Chime's adventures in New Velerethland. The whole possession of the queen plotline made for an interesting book, and it was great to read.
As I said before, I got rather confused about the world of New Velerethland. It was very confusing and to be honest I think the author has it so planned out and so detailed in her head that there was just too much information crammed into not enough words. Maybe if it was spread out over the book more I would have understood about the world and what it consisted of, but unfortunately every time I tried to imagine the world that Chime lived in, I didn't know what to picture in my head, which is the main reason why it got 4 stars instead of 5.
Overall though, I really enjoyed reading Running From Secrets. I could look over all the confusing aspects and just enjoy the plot, which I thought was very well thought out and written. It was action packed, interesting, and there were times where I couldn't stop reading. I'd recommend it to YA fantasy fans who like books with lots of fast paced action.
August 10, 2011
When I first read the synopsis for Running from Secrets, I was intrigued. A world within a world? How could you not love something so deep. I wanted to see where Bethany would go, what she would dream up, and how she would get herself into trouble. It seemed like a fantastic premise for a fantasy book, and I was an eager reader when I opened up to the first page.
From there, things became a little rocky for me. There were elements of the story that I really loved, and then there were parts that didn't feel as though they fit at all. Bethany has created the world of New Velerethland in her mind, along with a heroine named Chime. At first Bethany thinks it's all just a story. She soon comes to find out that these people really do, in fact, exist and she gets wrapped up in their adventures. This I liked. The fantasy/adventure aspect was really great. Chime and Bethany were great compliments to one another, and their adventures were interesting and fantastical.
In terms of characterization, as a main character I really felt like Bethany's story was really glanced over. The reader finds out a little bit about her at the beginning, that she's been transplanted to a brand new home after a terrible accident, but then we loose her in Chime's world. I felt like Bethany's character never really grew into her own, or was fully fleshed out. There were times I felt she was older than she was supposed to be, and times when I felt she was much younger. It was rather confusing. Chime also doesn't get much background, but as she is a product of Bethany's imagination, I understood why. Still, I would have liked to get to know them a little better.
Stephanie Void has written a very good fantasy story here, but as I mentioned there are parts that just didn't seem to fit. There is a secret that Bethany is hiding, and when she hints at it (extremely briefly) it doesn't really fit into the overall story. I found myself rereading that passage a few times to make sure I read it correctly. It was a huge thing for a girl her age to be carrying around, but I wasn't sure how it melded with her fantasy world. Except perhaps that she was hiding from it there. There are also portions of the book that are very dialogue heavy. It made reading slow going at times. I would have liked to see a little more action.
If I'm being honest, Running from Secrets was both a hit and a miss for me at the same time. There were parts of the story that flowed, and then there were things that would pull me out of the world I was reading about. By no means am I saying that I didn't like the book. What I am saying is that it wasn't the easiest read for me. I'd recommend you give it a read if you're a lover of fantasy. Bethany's world is well worth a visit.
From there, things became a little rocky for me. There were elements of the story that I really loved, and then there were parts that didn't feel as though they fit at all. Bethany has created the world of New Velerethland in her mind, along with a heroine named Chime. At first Bethany thinks it's all just a story. She soon comes to find out that these people really do, in fact, exist and she gets wrapped up in their adventures. This I liked. The fantasy/adventure aspect was really great. Chime and Bethany were great compliments to one another, and their adventures were interesting and fantastical.
In terms of characterization, as a main character I really felt like Bethany's story was really glanced over. The reader finds out a little bit about her at the beginning, that she's been transplanted to a brand new home after a terrible accident, but then we loose her in Chime's world. I felt like Bethany's character never really grew into her own, or was fully fleshed out. There were times I felt she was older than she was supposed to be, and times when I felt she was much younger. It was rather confusing. Chime also doesn't get much background, but as she is a product of Bethany's imagination, I understood why. Still, I would have liked to get to know them a little better.
Stephanie Void has written a very good fantasy story here, but as I mentioned there are parts that just didn't seem to fit. There is a secret that Bethany is hiding, and when she hints at it (extremely briefly) it doesn't really fit into the overall story. I found myself rereading that passage a few times to make sure I read it correctly. It was a huge thing for a girl her age to be carrying around, but I wasn't sure how it melded with her fantasy world. Except perhaps that she was hiding from it there. There are also portions of the book that are very dialogue heavy. It made reading slow going at times. I would have liked to see a little more action.
If I'm being honest, Running from Secrets was both a hit and a miss for me at the same time. There were parts of the story that flowed, and then there were things that would pull me out of the world I was reading about. By no means am I saying that I didn't like the book. What I am saying is that it wasn't the easiest read for me. I'd recommend you give it a read if you're a lover of fantasy. Bethany's world is well worth a visit.
April 25, 2011
This book had me intrigued from the beginning. Alternate worlds? If you didn't already know, my all-time favorite series is The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. While the world in this book is not accessed by a closet or a painting, it's even more special because it was created by one person, who can travel (involuntarily) into both.
I really enjoyed the book in the beginning, because the idea that Bethany could be creating a whole world of characters and places simply by writing (a story within a story) really fascinated me, and I wanted to know what was going to happen next, since New Velerethland was in so much trouble. The plot was very original and the story kept twisting into new challenges and obstacles for Chime and Bethany. It was a very dark and perilous journey that our protagonists had to undergo, and it kept me fixed. (I really didn't want to be Bethany - she had so many bad things going on.)
While the writing was very skilled, descriptive, and well-done, the reason I couldn't get into the story as much as I expected was because of the character development. The Queen Numuriu was probably the best-written character. She was troubled, and her body was being ripped apart by the spirits who wanted to take over. Every scene with her gave me the chills, whether she was herself, or possessed.
It was the other characters that didn't capture me as much. Bethany was very strong and brave, but she was confused for much of the story, which confused me even more. She didn't really know where to go, or what was going on, even though she created the world. Also, I just didn't feel her as a teenager. I don't want to give anything away, but the situation with her sister, albeit a great addition to the novel, felt a little too mature for someone of Bethany's age. Bethany was a pretty likable character, but she seemed a little dull to me at times, with not much personality. Also, I don't know any high school student who would strip down for a boy she barely knew so he could paint her.
I'm a pretty big fan of romance, and I love it when it's present in a book (which is almost in all YA cases). When it isn't, I'm fine with that, too. However, if it's kind of there, as a fleeting moment, it disappoints me. The romance in this book was evident, but barely developed, and didn't seem very interesting. It didn't enhance the story at all. This goes for the relationships for both Bethany and Chime.
This book is great for anyone who enjoys a dark, adventurous story filled with dangerous monsters, quests, and villains. I see very high potential for this author, and I believe anybody from middle school to adult would like it, fans of Narnia especially.
I really enjoyed the book in the beginning, because the idea that Bethany could be creating a whole world of characters and places simply by writing (a story within a story) really fascinated me, and I wanted to know what was going to happen next, since New Velerethland was in so much trouble. The plot was very original and the story kept twisting into new challenges and obstacles for Chime and Bethany. It was a very dark and perilous journey that our protagonists had to undergo, and it kept me fixed. (I really didn't want to be Bethany - she had so many bad things going on.)
While the writing was very skilled, descriptive, and well-done, the reason I couldn't get into the story as much as I expected was because of the character development. The Queen Numuriu was probably the best-written character. She was troubled, and her body was being ripped apart by the spirits who wanted to take over. Every scene with her gave me the chills, whether she was herself, or possessed.
It was the other characters that didn't capture me as much. Bethany was very strong and brave, but she was confused for much of the story, which confused me even more. She didn't really know where to go, or what was going on, even though she created the world. Also, I just didn't feel her as a teenager. I don't want to give anything away, but the situation with her sister, albeit a great addition to the novel, felt a little too mature for someone of Bethany's age. Bethany was a pretty likable character, but she seemed a little dull to me at times, with not much personality. Also, I don't know any high school student who would strip down for a boy she barely knew so he could paint her.
I'm a pretty big fan of romance, and I love it when it's present in a book (which is almost in all YA cases). When it isn't, I'm fine with that, too. However, if it's kind of there, as a fleeting moment, it disappoints me. The romance in this book was evident, but barely developed, and didn't seem very interesting. It didn't enhance the story at all. This goes for the relationships for both Bethany and Chime.
This book is great for anyone who enjoys a dark, adventurous story filled with dangerous monsters, quests, and villains. I see very high potential for this author, and I believe anybody from middle school to adult would like it, fans of Narnia especially.
May 11, 2011
Running from Secrets was an interesting story, and it was told in a fascinating way. Bethany recently lost her twin sister Antonia, and so she and her family move to a new place to help themselves cope with their loss. Shortly after they arrive in their new house, which is surrounded by forest, a strange man rings the door bell and when Bethany opens the door he warns her that the forest is evil.
Soon Bethany begins feeling a desire to write, and she is quickly enthralled in the written world that she has created. Her parents become worried and her mother suggests that she take a class at the community college because she's a smart girl. Being at school gives Bethany a chance to learn and meet new people, yet for a huge chunk of the time that she is at school she's still completely absorbed by her story. Over time, Bethany realizes that her story isn't what it seems. She has vivid dreams about the characters and even interacts with them, and she realizes they aren't dreams at all. She is really in New Velerethland with her characters! The fact that she can actually go into the story was the thing that fascinated me about this book the most!
I thought that Bethany was a great main character, she was smart and strong, and she adapted quickly. the only thing that I didn't think fit with her was her age. She was supposed to be 17 and she just didn't act like it at all, but I guess not at 17-year-olds act the same, so it wasn't a huge thing. Some of the dialogue was a little awkward, but it didn't detract away from the story. I absolutely loved the characters from New Velerethland, they were my favourites! Chime and Deluge particularly! Then there was the Queen Numuriu who was possessed by evil spirits, and the faun David, who I thought were both fantastic! Chime was the Queen's cousin, who was being hunted because the spirits were making Numuriu blame her for her "illness" and Deluge was the Dark Lord, or the Queen arch-nemesis, who wasn't actually evil at all! Overall, I thought that the characters were fantastic and that Stephanie did a great job developing them!
It took a while for the plot of the story to develop, but once it did I thought it was fabulous. Bethany was being brought to New Velerethland to save them all, and I won't tell you if she succeeds, that's something you'll have to find out for yourself!
Running from Secrets was a great story, with a solid cast of characters, and I think it's something that fans of Narnia will like as they have the whole being able to go into another world aspect in common., plus they both have fauns and Queens! :D
Soon Bethany begins feeling a desire to write, and she is quickly enthralled in the written world that she has created. Her parents become worried and her mother suggests that she take a class at the community college because she's a smart girl. Being at school gives Bethany a chance to learn and meet new people, yet for a huge chunk of the time that she is at school she's still completely absorbed by her story. Over time, Bethany realizes that her story isn't what it seems. She has vivid dreams about the characters and even interacts with them, and she realizes they aren't dreams at all. She is really in New Velerethland with her characters! The fact that she can actually go into the story was the thing that fascinated me about this book the most!
I thought that Bethany was a great main character, she was smart and strong, and she adapted quickly. the only thing that I didn't think fit with her was her age. She was supposed to be 17 and she just didn't act like it at all, but I guess not at 17-year-olds act the same, so it wasn't a huge thing. Some of the dialogue was a little awkward, but it didn't detract away from the story. I absolutely loved the characters from New Velerethland, they were my favourites! Chime and Deluge particularly! Then there was the Queen Numuriu who was possessed by evil spirits, and the faun David, who I thought were both fantastic! Chime was the Queen's cousin, who was being hunted because the spirits were making Numuriu blame her for her "illness" and Deluge was the Dark Lord, or the Queen arch-nemesis, who wasn't actually evil at all! Overall, I thought that the characters were fantastic and that Stephanie did a great job developing them!
It took a while for the plot of the story to develop, but once it did I thought it was fabulous. Bethany was being brought to New Velerethland to save them all, and I won't tell you if she succeeds, that's something you'll have to find out for yourself!
Running from Secrets was a great story, with a solid cast of characters, and I think it's something that fans of Narnia will like as they have the whole being able to go into another world aspect in common., plus they both have fauns and Queens! :D
September 14, 2011
Running From Secrets combines the magic of writing and the merging of the real world and the imaginary for a fun read. While Bethany's character wasn't exactly defined, the characters in her made-up world where and the world building was equally as fleshed out. Though there are some hiccups in the writing, Running From Secrets is an easy read with good pacing and an interesting plot.
As the lead, I'd have liked to see Bethany fleshed out a little more. She comes to life when she's in her imaginary world, becoming bold, but in her world she does flounder a bit. I'd have liked to see her grow a bit more as a main character, particularly with the secret she's harboring. Otherwise, I did like her imagination and willingness to believe and fall in love with the gift she was given. The characters in her imaginary world, Nvetherland, are vivid. I was particularly pleased with Dulgue's, The Resident Dark Lord, story arc and I liked the romance that sprouted up between him and Chime. The Dark Lord was by far my favorite character. I loved how inventive and intelligent he was.
Where this novel really shone was the world building. As I'd mentioned before, the real world bits fall a little flat but Nvetherland is vivid and felt whole. I was always pleased to be back there and see more of the imaginative qualities that were there. From Vault 5 (that knows your fears) to the Minion Army that doesn't do anything to David and his faun friends, it all felt like it was whole. One scene in the real world that stands out to me is when Bethany stumble upon a minitaure verison of the same castle in her world. It was at that moment that the magic of the other world bleed into Bethany's real world.
The plot is fast paced but again, I felt like the one in Nvetherland was much stronger than Bethany's real life and particularly at the end, Bethany's real life was sacrificed for the Nvetherland plot. Because of that, I don't feel like she was able to grow and learn as much as she possibly could. Also, things did fall into place a little too easily for Bethany and Chime. Funnily enough, in Bethany's world she had to work much harder for things. For the most part, the writing was solid but there were a few hiccups along the way.
Running From Secrets did have its flaws but it was told in such an interesting way that I think it is worth having a look at. The world building is creative and vivid and it's hard not to root for the characters.
As the lead, I'd have liked to see Bethany fleshed out a little more. She comes to life when she's in her imaginary world, becoming bold, but in her world she does flounder a bit. I'd have liked to see her grow a bit more as a main character, particularly with the secret she's harboring. Otherwise, I did like her imagination and willingness to believe and fall in love with the gift she was given. The characters in her imaginary world, Nvetherland, are vivid. I was particularly pleased with Dulgue's, The Resident Dark Lord, story arc and I liked the romance that sprouted up between him and Chime. The Dark Lord was by far my favorite character. I loved how inventive and intelligent he was.
Where this novel really shone was the world building. As I'd mentioned before, the real world bits fall a little flat but Nvetherland is vivid and felt whole. I was always pleased to be back there and see more of the imaginative qualities that were there. From Vault 5 (that knows your fears) to the Minion Army that doesn't do anything to David and his faun friends, it all felt like it was whole. One scene in the real world that stands out to me is when Bethany stumble upon a minitaure verison of the same castle in her world. It was at that moment that the magic of the other world bleed into Bethany's real world.
The plot is fast paced but again, I felt like the one in Nvetherland was much stronger than Bethany's real life and particularly at the end, Bethany's real life was sacrificed for the Nvetherland plot. Because of that, I don't feel like she was able to grow and learn as much as she possibly could. Also, things did fall into place a little too easily for Bethany and Chime. Funnily enough, in Bethany's world she had to work much harder for things. For the most part, the writing was solid but there were a few hiccups along the way.
Running From Secrets did have its flaws but it was told in such an interesting way that I think it is worth having a look at. The world building is creative and vivid and it's hard not to root for the characters.
August 1, 2011
This was kind of a hit and miss book for me. There were parts that I really enjoyed, but other parts... not so much. The great part about this book is that it's sort of a story within a story. A book within a book. I loved that concept and I think it was executed quite well.
As a fantasy novel there is the quest aspect of the story, and that takes us into a magical land with spirits, magicians, and an enemy of the queen who has his own minion army. One part of the book that is memorable, to me at least, was the Evil Army Recruitment Questionnaire. It just made me laugh (e.g. one of the questions was "Do you like to play with fire?" and the two options were "Yes" and "Yes!").
Bethany, our main character, is quite young seeming and naive. She's hiding something that comes to light part way through the story and I just couldn't believe what I was reading. It actually really turned me off the book. I was enjoying the fantasy narrative, but then we found out about this secret she was hiding and it was absolutely insane. I can't be specific about it because it would be a major spoiler, but it just made me wonder where Bethany's brain was at, it was so ludicrous.
Some scenes in 'Running From Secrets' seemed almost rushed through, while others were well paced and thought out. Therefore sometimes I was really into the book and wanted to see where the story was going, and other times I was a little bored. Overall I thought the book came to a pretty satisfying conclusion, and I think it's worth reading for the interesting story within a story and world creation.
As a fantasy novel there is the quest aspect of the story, and that takes us into a magical land with spirits, magicians, and an enemy of the queen who has his own minion army. One part of the book that is memorable, to me at least, was the Evil Army Recruitment Questionnaire. It just made me laugh (e.g. one of the questions was "Do you like to play with fire?" and the two options were "Yes" and "Yes!").
Bethany, our main character, is quite young seeming and naive. She's hiding something that comes to light part way through the story and I just couldn't believe what I was reading. It actually really turned me off the book. I was enjoying the fantasy narrative, but then we found out about this secret she was hiding and it was absolutely insane. I can't be specific about it because it would be a major spoiler, but it just made me wonder where Bethany's brain was at, it was so ludicrous.
Some scenes in 'Running From Secrets' seemed almost rushed through, while others were well paced and thought out. Therefore sometimes I was really into the book and wanted to see where the story was going, and other times I was a little bored. Overall I thought the book came to a pretty satisfying conclusion, and I think it's worth reading for the interesting story within a story and world creation.
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August 15, 2011Read the full review at Smash Attack Reads! http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/...
This was a pretty interesting way to tell a story. It is a story within a story, so to speak. After a tragic accident, Bethany begins to dream about Chime and the world of New Velerethland. During waking hours, she begins to write about Chime and her adventures, essentially writing the perilous journey that she soon becomes a part of. Somehow, Bethany has been transported to New Velerethland, meets Chime and joins her on a dangerous mission to prove Chime’s innocence and save her life.
Bethany teeters in between “real life” and New Velerethland and begins to question reality altogether. You eventually find out that Bethany is hiding a serious secret form her family, and it seems as though she may have unconsciously created New Velerethland to help her deal with her guilt. However, you are confronted with some people and situations in “real life” that makes you question if New Velerethland really is real. It’s a bizarre, intriguing approach to storytelling.
While I enjoyed the way the story was told, the journey through the book was a bit bumpy. The plot was interesting but I did not feel connected to any of the characters. I found myself skipping ahead here and there because I was bored or uninterested in a scene. I liked the ending to the book because we’re provided with closure, but it was way too abrupt for my tastes. I did enjoy the author’s imagination and creativity with this story.
This was a pretty interesting way to tell a story. It is a story within a story, so to speak. After a tragic accident, Bethany begins to dream about Chime and the world of New Velerethland. During waking hours, she begins to write about Chime and her adventures, essentially writing the perilous journey that she soon becomes a part of. Somehow, Bethany has been transported to New Velerethland, meets Chime and joins her on a dangerous mission to prove Chime’s innocence and save her life.
Bethany teeters in between “real life” and New Velerethland and begins to question reality altogether. You eventually find out that Bethany is hiding a serious secret form her family, and it seems as though she may have unconsciously created New Velerethland to help her deal with her guilt. However, you are confronted with some people and situations in “real life” that makes you question if New Velerethland really is real. It’s a bizarre, intriguing approach to storytelling.
While I enjoyed the way the story was told, the journey through the book was a bit bumpy. The plot was interesting but I did not feel connected to any of the characters. I found myself skipping ahead here and there because I was bored or uninterested in a scene. I liked the ending to the book because we’re provided with closure, but it was way too abrupt for my tastes. I did enjoy the author’s imagination and creativity with this story.
August 9, 2011
The first thing that grabbed me about this book was definitely the title. I found it intriguing & mysterious, and it made me really excited to get into it. And as you read the story, you realize that Bethany (our main character) not only has to keep a lot of secrets, but she discovers even more.
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, but there were a few things that held it back. The story confused me a bit at times, and never quite explained how it was that Bethany could be in two worlds at once. Also, at some points in the book, Bethany spoke in a way that made her sound way too old for her age - especially in her interactions with her siblings.
BUT what I did love about this book was the imagination and creativity that went into Chime's world. I loved the idea of an author falling into her world, and especially a world filled with magic & mystery. I absolutely LOVED the idea of Vault 5 (I don't want to spoil it, so read it for yourself!) and I found the Queen's character extremely interesting. Even though she didn't get much time in the story, she was actually a really deep character.
Maria @GoodChoiceReading.com
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, but there were a few things that held it back. The story confused me a bit at times, and never quite explained how it was that Bethany could be in two worlds at once. Also, at some points in the book, Bethany spoke in a way that made her sound way too old for her age - especially in her interactions with her siblings.
BUT what I did love about this book was the imagination and creativity that went into Chime's world. I loved the idea of an author falling into her world, and especially a world filled with magic & mystery. I absolutely LOVED the idea of Vault 5 (I don't want to spoil it, so read it for yourself!) and I found the Queen's character extremely interesting. Even though she didn't get much time in the story, she was actually a really deep character.
Maria @GoodChoiceReading.com
May 31, 2013
For those who love "create your own adventure" books, Stephanie Void's "Running from Secrets" takes that idea to the next level. Bethany, a lonely teen reeling after a personal tragedy, finds herself living in the fantasy world she created as a means of escape. However, she quickly learns that surviving in her alternate reality is not as simple as erasing the words on the page.
I have to admit that this genre is not one I would normally be interested in, but Void's skill at creating suspense and pacing it well kept me interested. From the very first page, Void pulls no punches and throws the reader right in the middle of the action. There is something that every reader can appreciate: artful prose, page-turning adventure, even a hint of romance. This is the first book I've read by this author, and she is definitely one worth watching.
I have to admit that this genre is not one I would normally be interested in, but Void's skill at creating suspense and pacing it well kept me interested. From the very first page, Void pulls no punches and throws the reader right in the middle of the action. There is something that every reader can appreciate: artful prose, page-turning adventure, even a hint of romance. This is the first book I've read by this author, and she is definitely one worth watching.
May 15, 2014
This book was good, but lacking a bit with the execution. It was a great book-within-a-book, which gave it fabulous depth and complexity. Some of the details were left out, and some very complex ideas were simplified.
It is a story with fauns, magicians, and fantasy world with a dark, twisty, almost gory details. To be honest, I thought about not finishing until about 30% through when you get to the real crazy twisted part. So, there is a big set up before you get to the best parts.
Not all of it comes together in the end, so I was left a little disappointed. Not sure I will read anymore of Void's work.
It is a story with fauns, magicians, and fantasy world with a dark, twisty, almost gory details. To be honest, I thought about not finishing until about 30% through when you get to the real crazy twisted part. So, there is a big set up before you get to the best parts.
Not all of it comes together in the end, so I was left a little disappointed. Not sure I will read anymore of Void's work.
August 2, 2011
Review to come...
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