What do you think?
Rate this book
The Faelin Chronicles #1
Crystal Bones
The first book in a trilogy that features a twin sister and brother who are half-Fae and half-human. When they discover their younger sister is missing, their home burned, and their parents murdered, they seek revenge on their goblin enermies.. Their father’s last words lead them to Eirian, a powerful sword that will take them to their missing sister, if they can keep it out of the hands of their enemies.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2011
10 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 17, 2015
This is one of those books that sits smack on the border between MG and YA. It's got places where it's all adventure and fun, and places where things get much deeper. I liked the unique story world, one in which the Fae are feared and misunderstood. The close relationship between the twins, Diello and Cynthe, came across as realistic and genuine. The goblins are very gobliny :). And the plot's got some really good plant-and-payoffs.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the book, but it didn't completely wow me. I totally intend to give this to my son to read--I think he'll really enjoy it. And I'll likely keep my eye open for the sequel.
PS--I normally don't mention cover art unless I particularly love it, but in this case, I chose this book *despite* the cover art, which I think is horrible. I don't recognize the publisher's name, but the cover looks really amateurish and does not reflect the feel of the book AT ALL. My son that I mentioned--who is exactly the target audience for this book--said he would NEVER have picked it up because of the cover. The dust jacket went in the trash. The reason I mention this is that the story is good, and worthy of a cover reflective of that.
My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1
book 2
Overall, I very much enjoyed the book, but it didn't completely wow me. I totally intend to give this to my son to read--I think he'll really enjoy it. And I'll likely keep my eye open for the sequel.
PS--I normally don't mention cover art unless I particularly love it, but in this case, I chose this book *despite* the cover art, which I think is horrible. I don't recognize the publisher's name, but the cover looks really amateurish and does not reflect the feel of the book AT ALL. My son that I mentioned--who is exactly the target audience for this book--said he would NEVER have picked it up because of the cover. The dust jacket went in the trash. The reason I mention this is that the story is good, and worthy of a cover reflective of that.
My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1
book 2
April 9, 2012
Kyle Ames
Modern Fantasy
The story takes places in a fantastic world where Fairy like people called Faelin and humans live togethor and interbreed at times. A young set of twins, Diello and Cynthe are half breeds Faelin. The story begins with the two recieving their fairy Gifts upon a certain birthday. One day as they return home from town their home has burned and destoryed by golbins because apparently their parents housed countless secrets that through a series of events the two Faelin children become aware of.
This is a really good book through and simple. The perspectives change between Diello and Cynthe which add for multiple main character understanding and because of the duality of gender it allows for both gendered readers to enjoy the book and relate while still enjoying the fantasy it provides.
Modern Fantasy
The story takes places in a fantastic world where Fairy like people called Faelin and humans live togethor and interbreed at times. A young set of twins, Diello and Cynthe are half breeds Faelin. The story begins with the two recieving their fairy Gifts upon a certain birthday. One day as they return home from town their home has burned and destoryed by golbins because apparently their parents housed countless secrets that through a series of events the two Faelin children become aware of.
This is a really good book through and simple. The perspectives change between Diello and Cynthe which add for multiple main character understanding and because of the duality of gender it allows for both gendered readers to enjoy the book and relate while still enjoying the fantasy it provides.
September 16, 2018
It was a great book, hard to put down. It is well narrated and written to show the plot line and what problems the twins faced adn what they had and could do with the magic they are given on their thirteenth birthday.
June 10, 2018
Like the twins dynamic. Just enough secrecy and intrigue to keep you engaged. Ready to read the next one.
May 10, 2011
Originally Posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). The final text may be different!**
Crystal Bones is a faerie book unlike any I've ever read or heard about, I'll tell you that.
Now, I know, I HATE saying this, but most faerie books I've read have been more...pro-feminine. Female lead character, romance and cute guys, long-lost faerie princesses etc. etc. But THIS book, the main character's a guy AND it's about faeries...cool, eh? and the best thing is, he's got a twin! Who's a GIRL! So this book is ideal for all genders, as it's got a bit for everyone :).
I found that they story starts off a bit slow...but then, BOY! does it pick up with action real fast! It all really starts off at the errand. So if you, like me, find the beginning a bit slow, DO NOT, and I repeat, NOT put that book down! You won't know what you'll be missing. It kinda gets sad though, later on. I found myself kinda depressed at this part, because honestly, who wouldn't?! It's just shortly after the errand...you'll see what I'm talking about.
I found that the plot twisted and turned, and included quite a lot of new events, which was really epic. There were several scenes, new characters, problems and different things throughout the book.
Diello is the quite twin, the more understanding, thoughtful one, while his twin, Cynthe is the louder, more rash twin. I found that I couldn't really pick between twins 'cause the both have their strengths and weaknesses. I found their sister Amalina SO adorable!! :D
The Gor-Goblin Brezog is pretty terrifying and I had nightmares about him after I read the book...he's really creepy, take my word for that! I love the new additions to the team, the wolf pup (adorable!) and Scree...who'll come around the end of the book.
I love the fact that these twins are hated across for being half-Fae, half-human and it really brings a sense of wanting to belong, and longing for family and other very touching topics. In these faerie books, they are unwanted (opposed to the usual thing of books with Fae where they're accepted by their own kind) and it incorporates different mythical and magical creatures (some which I've never heard about) and really opens up to different emotions and moods.
Interesting thing about the "Crystal Bones" thing. It only really comes in one part of the book, but it's saying that their bones are "crystal bones" but they wish they were just normal humans or fae as they don't want to be hated by so many people. Just a thought that came to me now.
Overall, Crystal Bones is a fantastic new addition to the genre of Fae and mythical creatures. Hall's writing is one which MG and YA alike will love and bring a sense of "classic fantasy" which brings so many memories of fairy tales and folklore. Loved it! Can't wait for book 2.
**Thank you so much to Marshall Cavendish for sending me Crystal Bones for review!**
**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). The final text may be different!**
Crystal Bones is a faerie book unlike any I've ever read or heard about, I'll tell you that.
Now, I know, I HATE saying this, but most faerie books I've read have been more...pro-feminine. Female lead character, romance and cute guys, long-lost faerie princesses etc. etc. But THIS book, the main character's a guy AND it's about faeries...cool, eh? and the best thing is, he's got a twin! Who's a GIRL! So this book is ideal for all genders, as it's got a bit for everyone :).
I found that they story starts off a bit slow...but then, BOY! does it pick up with action real fast! It all really starts off at the errand. So if you, like me, find the beginning a bit slow, DO NOT, and I repeat, NOT put that book down! You won't know what you'll be missing. It kinda gets sad though, later on. I found myself kinda depressed at this part, because honestly, who wouldn't?! It's just shortly after the errand...you'll see what I'm talking about.
I found that the plot twisted and turned, and included quite a lot of new events, which was really epic. There were several scenes, new characters, problems and different things throughout the book.
Diello is the quite twin, the more understanding, thoughtful one, while his twin, Cynthe is the louder, more rash twin. I found that I couldn't really pick between twins 'cause the both have their strengths and weaknesses. I found their sister Amalina SO adorable!! :D
The Gor-Goblin Brezog is pretty terrifying and I had nightmares about him after I read the book...he's really creepy, take my word for that! I love the new additions to the team, the wolf pup (adorable!) and Scree...who'll come around the end of the book.
I love the fact that these twins are hated across for being half-Fae, half-human and it really brings a sense of wanting to belong, and longing for family and other very touching topics. In these faerie books, they are unwanted (opposed to the usual thing of books with Fae where they're accepted by their own kind) and it incorporates different mythical and magical creatures (some which I've never heard about) and really opens up to different emotions and moods.
Interesting thing about the "Crystal Bones" thing. It only really comes in one part of the book, but it's saying that their bones are "crystal bones" but they wish they were just normal humans or fae as they don't want to be hated by so many people. Just a thought that came to me now.
Overall, Crystal Bones is a fantastic new addition to the genre of Fae and mythical creatures. Hall's writing is one which MG and YA alike will love and bring a sense of "classic fantasy" which brings so many memories of fairy tales and folklore. Loved it! Can't wait for book 2.
**Thank you so much to Marshall Cavendish for sending me Crystal Bones for review!**
April 7, 2011
Crystal Bones by C. Aubrey Hall is the second of the Marshall Cavendish books I was sent to review. It is the first of a trilogy of teen fantasy novels featuring the half fae twins Diello and Cynthe. It is also, again, aimed at a younger audience.
It all starts the night before the twins’ thirteenth birthday when Diello hears a voice in the storm calling his mother. This is, of course, foreshadowing into their parents’ deep dark past, as mentioned in the blurb. Diello is then disappointed when his father gives him a useful gift for his birthday rather than the traditional fun present and both twins are sent out to do their chores unlike any previous birthday they’ve had. The first few chapters seem to be pretty well dedicated to reminding the reader that growing up sucks. There are however magic herbs in the morning milk which apparently get the fae either high or drunk and the fair is that day. But they’re told not to go because of the dangers of being around humans. It follows that an errand for their mother leads them right into the thick of the fair and straight towards danger! The deck is stacked against our heroes, will they survive and figure out the mysteries surrounding their parents’ pasts or are they doomed to failure?
I’m going to say right off the bat that I got caught up in Crystal Bones about halfway through, where the meat of the story started. Up until then had been mostly lead up, background, and foreshadowing which, while necessary to the overall plot, wasn’t particularly different from any other coming of age fantasy novel that I’ve read. There were also some points where it felt like Cynthe could have been omitted from the book, while both twins were billed as the heroes in the blurb it is very much Diello centric. She does get some moments of awesomeness but, all told, could have been removed in favor of making Diello a bit more three dimensional. Hall also seems to think that if humans hating half fae isn’t mentioned every time the twins run into a human the reader will forget. This leads to a ton of fantasy racism which can make the book a bit hard to read at times. Crystal Bones gets better as it goes, once I got to the meat of the story I was hooked. Unfortunately it also cuts off rather abruptly in an almost painful sequel hook, leaving a rather unsatisfying ending and a year long wait to find out what happens.
As a final note before I rate it, Crystal Bones seems to be Hall’s first novel so I’m sure that most of the kinks will be worked out for the second book. It’s also worth noting that, any issues aside, I did enjoy the book it’s just that most of what I enjoyed probably constitutes spoilers and I don’t want to ruin anything for other readers. That said, I give it a three out of five and a note to myself to keep an eye out for the next one.
It all starts the night before the twins’ thirteenth birthday when Diello hears a voice in the storm calling his mother. This is, of course, foreshadowing into their parents’ deep dark past, as mentioned in the blurb. Diello is then disappointed when his father gives him a useful gift for his birthday rather than the traditional fun present and both twins are sent out to do their chores unlike any previous birthday they’ve had. The first few chapters seem to be pretty well dedicated to reminding the reader that growing up sucks. There are however magic herbs in the morning milk which apparently get the fae either high or drunk and the fair is that day. But they’re told not to go because of the dangers of being around humans. It follows that an errand for their mother leads them right into the thick of the fair and straight towards danger! The deck is stacked against our heroes, will they survive and figure out the mysteries surrounding their parents’ pasts or are they doomed to failure?
I’m going to say right off the bat that I got caught up in Crystal Bones about halfway through, where the meat of the story started. Up until then had been mostly lead up, background, and foreshadowing which, while necessary to the overall plot, wasn’t particularly different from any other coming of age fantasy novel that I’ve read. There were also some points where it felt like Cynthe could have been omitted from the book, while both twins were billed as the heroes in the blurb it is very much Diello centric. She does get some moments of awesomeness but, all told, could have been removed in favor of making Diello a bit more three dimensional. Hall also seems to think that if humans hating half fae isn’t mentioned every time the twins run into a human the reader will forget. This leads to a ton of fantasy racism which can make the book a bit hard to read at times. Crystal Bones gets better as it goes, once I got to the meat of the story I was hooked. Unfortunately it also cuts off rather abruptly in an almost painful sequel hook, leaving a rather unsatisfying ending and a year long wait to find out what happens.
As a final note before I rate it, Crystal Bones seems to be Hall’s first novel so I’m sure that most of the kinks will be worked out for the second book. It’s also worth noting that, any issues aside, I did enjoy the book it’s just that most of what I enjoyed probably constitutes spoilers and I don’t want to ruin anything for other readers. That said, I give it a three out of five and a note to myself to keep an eye out for the next one.
April 2, 2011
Set in a time when barons, serfs and castles were present, Hall introduced Fae and Faelin into this traditional society. Because of a great war between Fae and Goblins in the past, Antrasin held a grudge against them – including half-breeds. But Diello and Cynthe, twins of a farmer and a Fae woman, had never been exposed to this kind of cruelty and hatred. As Faelin, they were treated with no fairness. They were despised, feared and perceived as people who do not belong in Antrasin.
They ventured into the village to witness the fair despite their mother’s warning. In the fair, they found wonders, human magic, merrymaking and horrible things. With newfound awareness, they realize that the village was not a good place to be in when you were Faelin. Goblins were everywhere, blending in as human. When one of the goblins bumped into them and realized they knew he was not human, the game was on. Soon Diello and Cynthe were running for their lives, with wounds as reminders of the danger they were in.
I never thought there could be this much action involving thirteen year olds but there was! It reminded me of the movie The Lord of the Rings – swords, bows and arrows, tracking and a great deal of running. There was so much wickedness in the place and there was so much distrust and neglect in the people who were supposed to be helpful in the first place. I hated how they made Diello and Cynthe’s situation much more difficult and loathsome.
Although at times I found the story dragging and slow, it was countered by really exciting and heart-pounding action scenes. Soon, I found myself lost in the adventure, the danger and the drama. They were realistic and worrisome but nonetheless entertaining and kickass. The twins were on their own, looking after each other and searching for a way to save themselves and their little sister, Amalina, while trying to decipher the mystery of their parents’ lives. Diello and Cynthe were really different and they got into fights sometimes. I appreciated the love-dislike-love relationship between the twins. They cared for one another so much that living without the other would be unbearable. They had a really hard time as they faced the people of Antrasin and its ruler Lord Malques who looked at them with discriminating eyes and followed laws that only considered humans.
Crystal Bones is dramatic, tragic, exciting and action-packed. Magic, mystery and emotions combined into an adequate mix that heightened enjoyment. This has so much promise. The next book will be more exciting than the first, I can feel it. I recommend this to readers of Fae novels and lovers of fantasy.
They ventured into the village to witness the fair despite their mother’s warning. In the fair, they found wonders, human magic, merrymaking and horrible things. With newfound awareness, they realize that the village was not a good place to be in when you were Faelin. Goblins were everywhere, blending in as human. When one of the goblins bumped into them and realized they knew he was not human, the game was on. Soon Diello and Cynthe were running for their lives, with wounds as reminders of the danger they were in.
I never thought there could be this much action involving thirteen year olds but there was! It reminded me of the movie The Lord of the Rings – swords, bows and arrows, tracking and a great deal of running. There was so much wickedness in the place and there was so much distrust and neglect in the people who were supposed to be helpful in the first place. I hated how they made Diello and Cynthe’s situation much more difficult and loathsome.
Although at times I found the story dragging and slow, it was countered by really exciting and heart-pounding action scenes. Soon, I found myself lost in the adventure, the danger and the drama. They were realistic and worrisome but nonetheless entertaining and kickass. The twins were on their own, looking after each other and searching for a way to save themselves and their little sister, Amalina, while trying to decipher the mystery of their parents’ lives. Diello and Cynthe were really different and they got into fights sometimes. I appreciated the love-dislike-love relationship between the twins. They cared for one another so much that living without the other would be unbearable. They had a really hard time as they faced the people of Antrasin and its ruler Lord Malques who looked at them with discriminating eyes and followed laws that only considered humans.
Crystal Bones is dramatic, tragic, exciting and action-packed. Magic, mystery and emotions combined into an adequate mix that heightened enjoyment. This has so much promise. The next book will be more exciting than the first, I can feel it. I recommend this to readers of Fae novels and lovers of fantasy.
June 12, 2011
Crystal Bones is the exciting beginning to what I hope spans out to be a fantastic series. The tale centers around Diello and Cynthe, faelin twins, whose lives are turned upside down upon their thirteen birthday. On a day that should be nothing but celebration, the twins lose everything and must come to terms with all they thought they knew.
First things first, the plot. Loved it... simple as that. Faelin twins who may or may not have certain powers in the future are forced to grow up over night and fight to discover the truth about their parent's past. Now you may be wondering what the heck is a faelin. Don't worry, when I first started the novel, I was doing the same thing. Faelin are basically people who come from mortal and Fae parents. So in the twin's case, their father was mortal, mother was Fae. Although, I have read numerous half-fae novels in the past, Crystal Bones does it a little different. The tale is set in a kingdom where basically anything is possible. Goblins, talking wolves, Fae.. it is a plethora of fantasy creatures, all in one tale.
As for the setting, this is where things get a little tricky. You know those novels that sometimes have maps in the beginning? Sometimes they are really helpful.. sometimes not. Well, for me, Crystal Bones really needed one. C. Aubrey Hall draws her world in such a way that while beautiful and engaging, is a little confusing. And I must admit that I found myself lost most of the time. As an example, the tale makes numerous mentions of the Fae world, Embarthi, but regardless of all the mentions of location... I still have no clue where it is. One passage, the characters speak as if it is located in the sky. Fast forward a few pages, and now it is talked about as a neighboring kingdom. Fasting forward again... we are back to the assumption it is in the sky. Granted this is an advanced readers copy, therefore, at this time, I can only hope that the finished copy with provide more clarity.
Some setting flaws aside, Crystal Bones was a very engaging read. Fantastic characters. Fun adventures. And plenty of promise. I cannot wait to see what C. Aubrey Hall has in store for the next novel of the series.
First things first, the plot. Loved it... simple as that. Faelin twins who may or may not have certain powers in the future are forced to grow up over night and fight to discover the truth about their parent's past. Now you may be wondering what the heck is a faelin. Don't worry, when I first started the novel, I was doing the same thing. Faelin are basically people who come from mortal and Fae parents. So in the twin's case, their father was mortal, mother was Fae. Although, I have read numerous half-fae novels in the past, Crystal Bones does it a little different. The tale is set in a kingdom where basically anything is possible. Goblins, talking wolves, Fae.. it is a plethora of fantasy creatures, all in one tale.
As for the setting, this is where things get a little tricky. You know those novels that sometimes have maps in the beginning? Sometimes they are really helpful.. sometimes not. Well, for me, Crystal Bones really needed one. C. Aubrey Hall draws her world in such a way that while beautiful and engaging, is a little confusing. And I must admit that I found myself lost most of the time. As an example, the tale makes numerous mentions of the Fae world, Embarthi, but regardless of all the mentions of location... I still have no clue where it is. One passage, the characters speak as if it is located in the sky. Fast forward a few pages, and now it is talked about as a neighboring kingdom. Fasting forward again... we are back to the assumption it is in the sky. Granted this is an advanced readers copy, therefore, at this time, I can only hope that the finished copy with provide more clarity.
Some setting flaws aside, Crystal Bones was a very engaging read. Fantastic characters. Fun adventures. And plenty of promise. I cannot wait to see what C. Aubrey Hall has in store for the next novel of the series.
July 11, 2016
Diello and Cynthe are twins who also happen to be half breeds (human AND fae). They were expecting a super celebration for their 13th birthdays but things do not go in their favor. Things continue to move sourly, especially given the sheltered lives they've lead throughout their first 12 years in the world. They are forced to accept that the world as they knew it is no longer. They must care for themselves while taking on an adventure that will ultimately influence who they become.
If you're into action and mystery (pertaining to magic), you will find yourself nose deep within the first few chapters. You see them deal with disappointment, loss (in a MAJOR way), and hatred. They are completely alone and must fend for themselves without any support from any one they come across.
A bit of the book is slow (at least for those expecting action within the first couple of pages). The action takes time to build up and while you're waiting for that to happen, you read about teenagers and listen to their whining about their misfortunes. Everything horrible that could happens, happens. Your emotions will be mixed and you will either struggle to finish (because you can't handle all of the negativity) or you will absolutely love how they overcome things in the end. By the end, I don't mean THIS book. You will be smacked over the head with the cliffhanger and have to wait until you can get your hands on the next book in the series to find things out.
I haven't read many fae-oriented books or stories, but I've always thought them to be wanted and beautifully rare. This book portrays them as the opposite - hated. They aren't respected or thought of as special. I like how Aubrey Hall decided to take a different route when writing about these half breeds.
The book is ideal for all genders (since the twins consist of a male and female, both genders can read this and not feel slighted). Most faerie stories pertain to one or the other - making it slightly less enjoyable at times for the opposite gender to trudge through.
I am not a fantasy freak, nor do I spend a lot of my time reading about faeries but I still found this book enjoyable.
If you're into action and mystery (pertaining to magic), you will find yourself nose deep within the first few chapters. You see them deal with disappointment, loss (in a MAJOR way), and hatred. They are completely alone and must fend for themselves without any support from any one they come across.
A bit of the book is slow (at least for those expecting action within the first couple of pages). The action takes time to build up and while you're waiting for that to happen, you read about teenagers and listen to their whining about their misfortunes. Everything horrible that could happens, happens. Your emotions will be mixed and you will either struggle to finish (because you can't handle all of the negativity) or you will absolutely love how they overcome things in the end. By the end, I don't mean THIS book. You will be smacked over the head with the cliffhanger and have to wait until you can get your hands on the next book in the series to find things out.
I haven't read many fae-oriented books or stories, but I've always thought them to be wanted and beautifully rare. This book portrays them as the opposite - hated. They aren't respected or thought of as special. I like how Aubrey Hall decided to take a different route when writing about these half breeds.
The book is ideal for all genders (since the twins consist of a male and female, both genders can read this and not feel slighted). Most faerie stories pertain to one or the other - making it slightly less enjoyable at times for the opposite gender to trudge through.
I am not a fantasy freak, nor do I spend a lot of my time reading about faeries but I still found this book enjoyable.
May 10, 2013
Summary:
Diello and Cynthe are turning 13. This is the birthday when the fae's powers are supposed to start showing in the mixed (part human, part fae) twins. The faelin twins are disappointed when they receive practical gifts and then tossed out to run some chores. On an errand for their mother, they run into the local fair. This begins the majority of the danger, but also the farm is attacked, the parents are killed, the baby sister is murdered, and every single human they come into contact with hates them. Basically, at 13 they are now alone and have to figure things out for themselves.
My thoughts:
For at least 1/3 of the book, it is very slow. The build-up to any action involves a lot of mundane tasks and complaining teenagers that feel slighted because their birthday wasn't all that they had hoped for. After that, everything bad that could possible happen, happens. It really is one slap, punch, and kick to the gut after another. Along with the blatant racism, it was hard for me to make it through this book. I honestly don't think I could take anymore bad events. Where is the upside to anything? At the end, it gets a little light for a moment and then abruptly stops. Of course we expect a cliffhanger in order to get ready for book 2, but this book slams you into a wall right before where you expect the cliff to be.
I know this sounds like a lot of negatives, and mostly it is because I'm frustrated with the ending that I have just read, but I did enjoy the action. I will be picking up the second one to read because I am invested in the outcome of these two teens. Diello is a strong character that you learn a lot about. I'm hoping that we will get to know Cynthe a little more in the next book. Finally, I have hopes that racism will begin to dissipate as the trilogy continues.
Diello and Cynthe are turning 13. This is the birthday when the fae's powers are supposed to start showing in the mixed (part human, part fae) twins. The faelin twins are disappointed when they receive practical gifts and then tossed out to run some chores. On an errand for their mother, they run into the local fair. This begins the majority of the danger, but also the farm is attacked, the parents are killed, the baby sister is murdered, and every single human they come into contact with hates them. Basically, at 13 they are now alone and have to figure things out for themselves.
My thoughts:
For at least 1/3 of the book, it is very slow. The build-up to any action involves a lot of mundane tasks and complaining teenagers that feel slighted because their birthday wasn't all that they had hoped for. After that, everything bad that could possible happen, happens. It really is one slap, punch, and kick to the gut after another. Along with the blatant racism, it was hard for me to make it through this book. I honestly don't think I could take anymore bad events. Where is the upside to anything? At the end, it gets a little light for a moment and then abruptly stops. Of course we expect a cliffhanger in order to get ready for book 2, but this book slams you into a wall right before where you expect the cliff to be.
I know this sounds like a lot of negatives, and mostly it is because I'm frustrated with the ending that I have just read, but I did enjoy the action. I will be picking up the second one to read because I am invested in the outcome of these two teens. Diello is a strong character that you learn a lot about. I'm hoping that we will get to know Cynthe a little more in the next book. Finally, I have hopes that racism will begin to dissipate as the trilogy continues.
August 30, 2011
…”Stay out of sight. Avoid strangers. Don’t tell anyone who we are or where we came from”… (Excerpt from book jacket)
As Diello and Cynthe near their thirteenth birthday, the half-breed twins are thrown head over heels into the dangerous world of the Fae. One thing is for sure; this is definitely a birthday adventure that they will not soon forget.
As far as adventures go, Hall really took us on an action-packed ride with plenty of otherworldly creatures to tune into. The fight scenes were intense and exciting, making it easy to stay enthralled in the story. The excerpt from above is a fitting description of the adventure, which gives you an idea of what to expect without giving away the details…definitely a good tease as to what the The Faelin Chronicles is all about.
While the adventure portion of the story was exciting, the characters fell flat for me. At times, Cynthe would get on my nerves to the point that I wanted to throw the book across the room… and not necessarily in a good way. Diello, on the other hand, was a very likeable MC that has the reader cheering for him every step of the way. The most memorable part of the book for me was at the beginning, when Diello hears a voice in the wind. Hall stepped outside the box, creating a unique and eerie quality that I found quite enjoyable.
Overall, Crystal Bones is an interesting fantasy novel that doesn’t follow the typical glitter and faerie dust of stories today. Young adult readers will relate easily to Diello and Cynthe as they grow throughout their journey. Crystal Bones is the first installment of Hall’s new Faelin Chronicles series.
As Diello and Cynthe near their thirteenth birthday, the half-breed twins are thrown head over heels into the dangerous world of the Fae. One thing is for sure; this is definitely a birthday adventure that they will not soon forget.
As far as adventures go, Hall really took us on an action-packed ride with plenty of otherworldly creatures to tune into. The fight scenes were intense and exciting, making it easy to stay enthralled in the story. The excerpt from above is a fitting description of the adventure, which gives you an idea of what to expect without giving away the details…definitely a good tease as to what the The Faelin Chronicles is all about.
While the adventure portion of the story was exciting, the characters fell flat for me. At times, Cynthe would get on my nerves to the point that I wanted to throw the book across the room… and not necessarily in a good way. Diello, on the other hand, was a very likeable MC that has the reader cheering for him every step of the way. The most memorable part of the book for me was at the beginning, when Diello hears a voice in the wind. Hall stepped outside the box, creating a unique and eerie quality that I found quite enjoyable.
Overall, Crystal Bones is an interesting fantasy novel that doesn’t follow the typical glitter and faerie dust of stories today. Young adult readers will relate easily to Diello and Cynthe as they grow throughout their journey. Crystal Bones is the first installment of Hall’s new Faelin Chronicles series.
April 27, 2011
What I liked most about this book was the fae action in it. While most fae books I've read always have a half-breed that is rare and wanted, these half-breeds were hated and were to be killed. Diello and Cynthe lived a very sheltered life. After receiving a warning, they return home to fine there parents killed and their sister missing. Diello and Cynthe go on an adventure of a lifetime searching out the secrets their parents held.
Let me tell you that there was lots of Fae action going on. They was fighting, running and risking their life at every turn of a corner. Diello is the only boy and needs to take care of his sister. I loved his heroism when he sets out to find his little sister. He takes a stand as the man and takes no crap. He slowly is learning knowledge of his powers and secrets.
The adventure of Deillo and Cynthe go on was fun and exciting. As a reader, you too get the feel of the adventure and learning every secret. Deillo and Cynthe learn a lot about their family. My heart felt for them that they had to discover this all on their own. But they stayed strong and kept going. This book touch a lot about racial issues between human and fae. I had never seen that around and thought it was a nice touch.
Crystal Bones is a great fae adventure that has lots of action! It has lots of twist and turns, secrets to be revealed and a family that stands strong.
Let me tell you that there was lots of Fae action going on. They was fighting, running and risking their life at every turn of a corner. Diello is the only boy and needs to take care of his sister. I loved his heroism when he sets out to find his little sister. He takes a stand as the man and takes no crap. He slowly is learning knowledge of his powers and secrets.
The adventure of Deillo and Cynthe go on was fun and exciting. As a reader, you too get the feel of the adventure and learning every secret. Deillo and Cynthe learn a lot about their family. My heart felt for them that they had to discover this all on their own. But they stayed strong and kept going. This book touch a lot about racial issues between human and fae. I had never seen that around and thought it was a nice touch.
Crystal Bones is a great fae adventure that has lots of action! It has lots of twist and turns, secrets to be revealed and a family that stands strong.
April 12, 2011
First Installment of the trilogy The Faelin Chronicles has promises of an interesting fantasy adventure. Diello and Cynthe are twins half breeds, born to a human and fae, that were expecting a special celebration for their thirteenth birthday. Their expectation for their magical gifts goes sour when forced to learn that their parents had strict rules for very good reasons. Things go from bad to worse, when they are exposed to a lot of hatred and unfairness, which they had been sheltered from. The life as they know it is no longer, and they are force to act as their own care takers as well as their little sister, sending them into an adventure that unlocks a lot of family questions and secrets.
The story is action packed and full of magic mystery, in other words a very exciting read. My only pep peeve is that you will have to wait another year to get answers to the questions it left unanswered.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
The story is action packed and full of magic mystery, in other words a very exciting read. My only pep peeve is that you will have to wait another year to get answers to the questions it left unanswered.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
December 13, 2012
This YA fantasy series opens up on fraternal Faeilin twins’, Diello and Cynthe’s, thirteenth birthday and unfolds into virtually non-stop action. From birthday celebrations to disasters, events overcome the pair with a lot of magic, fighting and new friends at every turn. The book features a lot of fantasy “traditional” type characters - from talking animals, magic swords, to elves, goblins and wizards. With the young age of the main characters (the story comes through Diello’s eyes), this falls to the younger end of the YA market. And with the strong emphasis on action, the characters all lack a surprising amount of emotional development. This magical land is, however, surprisingly detailed without long sections of exposition, so it will be curious to see if more character development occurs in the remainder of the series. It ends on enough a cliffhanger, that I am definitely looking forward to seeing the twins’ adventures continue.
September 16, 2013
Keeping in mind this is the first novel out of a trilogy, it was extremely fast, confusing, and honestly hard to get through. The story line was too big for the author, and that made it difficult to agree that the book was organized and clean. And for the main characters, even though it was intended for them to be amazing and powerful, unfortunately reality revealed them to be annoyingly immature and basically useless without the aid of others. Not to be harsh, but if your characters were depicted as "more mature than normal human children", then they should be able to do things out of ordinary, besides excessive whining. Overall, this book was frustrating and a waste of time. Most disappointing, however, was the "cliff-hanger". Like, are you serious.
July 7, 2011
Excellent fantasy about twins who are half human half fae. I really liked Del's character but was torn between irritation and admiration for his impulsive sister. Basically, the two discover their parents had more secrets than they even guessed and that one of those secrets is a sword that will destroy the world if it falls into the wrong hands. The book ends as they escape a goblin attack, find the sword and set out to return it. Action packed much of it too bloody and violent for elementary readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2011
Argh, the prejudice and unfair treatment because of their age and mixed heritage really ticked me off. And Cynthe really annoyed me in the beginning because of her pride and indignation was too much most of the time. Also, I think that they should have had younger models used for the book's cover. They don't look anywhere near the age of 13, which is how old Diello and Cynthe are.
January 29, 2015
Just didn't pick up my interest. Although premise started out ok, magic rules seemed to change, the children seemed inept and inconsistent in character, and the emergence of their magic made things more confusing, not enlightening. Don't think I will be able to read the rest of this series.
May 21, 2011
Solid middle-grade fantasy.
August 29, 2012
Awesome and about fairies...what more can you ask for?? Loved it and cant wait for the second one!!
Read
April 16, 2014Amazing. I like that it wasn't like every other Fae book in the world.
June 1, 2014
I thought this book was very creative and I really enjoyed reading it, although it started to irritate me around the end because they kept running into trouble.
April 14, 2017
I haven't read any books that involve goblins or fae, so reading Crystal Bones was a whole new experience for me. I had no idea what exactly to expect yet I felt excited as much!
Crystal Bones is the first installment of the C. Aubrey Hall's The Faelin Chronicles Trilogy. C. Aubrey is, no doubt, one of the imaginative and fantastic story-teller. The story appeared to be so vivid and it was crafted in a brilliantly wonderful writing. The plot has a great blend of intense and gripping suspense and action with tangible emotions and characters.
The protagonists are the twins Diello and Cynthe, who are half-human, half-fae. Despite the fact that they are twins, they are both the complete opposite of each other. Even though Diello is my favorite twin, I think he is nothing without Cynthe because they are one. Their relationship with each other is my most favorite part of story. Like I said, they're both different from each other but not in a bad way. In fact, their personalities complement each other which makes the story much more likable and believable. Diello is the reserved one, he thinks first before acting or saying anything, unlike Cynthe who is the impulsive one. Their common denominator, though, is that they are both brave and they are willing to do anything for the sake of their family.
In my opinion, the downside of this book was that some parts of the story felt a bit dragged and lagging at times. I felt a little bit lost as well on the first few chapters due to mild lack of information about some certain aspects or elements of the book and characters. Probably because, like I said, I'm new to all goblins and fae stuff. But as the story goes on, everything is progressing all too good.
I'm giving Crystal Bones a solid 4 of 5 stars because it's a wonderful jumpstart for a new fantasy series and I recommend this to all fantasy books readers or lovers especially to those who loves faes and goblins, y'all enjoy this one for sure.
----
*I received this book free of charge from the publisher, Marshall Cavendish in exchange for an honest review.
Crystal Bones is the first installment of the C. Aubrey Hall's The Faelin Chronicles Trilogy. C. Aubrey is, no doubt, one of the imaginative and fantastic story-teller. The story appeared to be so vivid and it was crafted in a brilliantly wonderful writing. The plot has a great blend of intense and gripping suspense and action with tangible emotions and characters.
The protagonists are the twins Diello and Cynthe, who are half-human, half-fae. Despite the fact that they are twins, they are both the complete opposite of each other. Even though Diello is my favorite twin, I think he is nothing without Cynthe because they are one. Their relationship with each other is my most favorite part of story. Like I said, they're both different from each other but not in a bad way. In fact, their personalities complement each other which makes the story much more likable and believable. Diello is the reserved one, he thinks first before acting or saying anything, unlike Cynthe who is the impulsive one. Their common denominator, though, is that they are both brave and they are willing to do anything for the sake of their family.
In my opinion, the downside of this book was that some parts of the story felt a bit dragged and lagging at times. I felt a little bit lost as well on the first few chapters due to mild lack of information about some certain aspects or elements of the book and characters. Probably because, like I said, I'm new to all goblins and fae stuff. But as the story goes on, everything is progressing all too good.
I'm giving Crystal Bones a solid 4 of 5 stars because it's a wonderful jumpstart for a new fantasy series and I recommend this to all fantasy books readers or lovers especially to those who loves faes and goblins, y'all enjoy this one for sure.
----
*I received this book free of charge from the publisher, Marshall Cavendish in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews