A Gypsy Song

Mar 25, 2012 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 1 of 5 stars

Review brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell

As a big fan of the Young Adult genre and all things magically related, I was looking forward to reading author T. P. Boje’s novel, The Eye of the Crystal Ball. Thankfully, I had been aware the novel was suited more for the age of pre-teen and younger so I was not put off by the simplicity in the author’s writing style. It’s very child like in many ways and in that respect, endearing.

I enjoyed certain aspects contained within the plot of the nove...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Bonnie Lamer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sara was left on the doorstep belonging to the Schneiders, a couple who longed for a child but were unable to conceive. Taking the little girl in, they raised her with love and kindness. But as Sara grew, it became obvious that there was something different about her. It is when her biological parents come back to claim her that things start to make sense. The daughter of a strong Romani leader, Sara discovers that she was born to fulfill a destiny – to become the greatest sorceress the world ha...more Sara was left on the doorstep belonging to the Schneiders, a couple who longed for a child but were unable to conceive. Taking the little girl in, they raised her with love and kindness. But as Sara grew, it became obvious that there was something different about her. It is when her biological parents come back to claim her that things start to make sense. The daughter of a strong Romani leader, Sara discovers that she was born to fulfill a destiny – to become the greatest sorceress the world had ever seen.
Eventually, even though she has not come into her full powers yet, Sara makes a dangerous journey to find a way she can save her baby brother from a strange illness. Along the way, she meets magical creatures she had no idea even existed. Some are friendly and helpful, others are definitely not. For this reason, she is glad to have the company of a young Romani boy, Manolo with her. He guides her through both the easy parts of the journey and the scary places she would not have dared try on her own. He also has secrets he hasn’t shared with her.
The Eye of the Crystal Ball by T.P. Boje is a tale that gives the reader a taste of many things supernatural. Filled with gifted Romani, evil witches, giant arachnids and more, there is something for everyone who loves paranormal fiction. The story has a promising premise, one that the author can run with, following this book with sequels.
This being said, there were a few things that held me back from enjoying the book as much as I would have liked. For most of the first part of the book, and many parts after as it goes along, the story is told to the reader instead of letting the reader discover and experience the story through the eyes and voices of the characters. This makes it more difficult to keep the reader’s attention. There were some issues with Sara and her story, as well. The Schneiders, who had waited so long for their first child, easily let her go and Sara went off willingly with strangers claiming to be her parents. There was not a lot of detail about how she handled such a radical transition on a day to day basis. Long periods of time passed in a sentence or two without giving a good idea of the new day to day activities in her new life; what she liked and what she didn’t. Was she making friends in her tribe? Or were other children scared or jealous of here?
I must admit, I never really had a good feel for whether or not I liked Sara. I did enjoy that she was independent with a strong stubborn streak, but sometimes she simply came off as obstinate. In addition, the ability for several types of spells to easily catch her in their snares and not let go without Manolo’s help, gave the impression of weakness instead of the burgeoning abilities of the greatest sorceress of all times. I understand that she is supposed to be young, but as a reader, I had hoped that she would mature into more powers on her journey. Also, shouldn’t her parents have told her about some of these creatures so she could be prepared if she ever came across them? I have to say, T.P. Boje definitely did a good job with the magical creatures found along the way to the end of Sara’s journey. But, being bothered that Sara could hardly use her power to defend herself when needed, it took away some of the effect of having them in the story for me.
All in all, I found The Eye of the Crystal Ball to be a good story with lots of potential, but in need of more details and dialogue. I thank the author for providing me with a review copy and I give the book 3 stars.
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Sep 26, 2011 aobibliophile™ rated it 2 of 5 stars

"We are all wanderers on this earth/ our hearts are full of wonder/ our souls are deep with dreams" - Gypsy Proverb

during the Second World War, in a small town called Lindenmühle, Mr. and Mrs. Schneider find on their front door a baby girl inside a basket with a note attached instructing them to call her Sara and take care of her. during Sara's tenth year, she discovers that she has telekinetic abilities. when Sara turns thirteen, her real parents show up and take her back to live with them. a y...more "We are all wanderers on this earth/ our hearts are full of wonder/ our souls are deep with dreams" - Gypsy Proverb

during the Second World War, in a small town called Lindenmühle, Mr. and Mrs. Schneider find on their front door a baby girl inside a basket with a note attached instructing them to call her Sara and take care of her. during Sara's tenth year, she discovers that she has telekinetic abilities. when Sara turns thirteen, her real parents show up and take her back to live with them. a year later, Sara has a baby brother who suddenly falls ill. Sara's quest to find a cure will bring her and her friend Manolo beyond their Gypsy camp to the Black Castle where The Eye of the Crystal Ball holds the answer. their adventure will be filled with danger as they encounter strange situations and creatures that test their will, emotions and physical endurance.
author T.P. Boje has written a fantasy novel aimed at middle grade readers and up. the chapters are marked with titles which prompt the reader what to look forward to.
i actually like the story even if some ideas remind me of Rowling's Harry Potter and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy. one major niggle i had was how the Schneiders' simply handed Sara over to her parents without question even if they never saw or met them for thirteen years. i do not think it would be that easy for me or anyone else to do so if some strangers appear at my doorstep and say "We're the real parents, so please give our daughter back to us and thank you for taking care of her. Child, pack your bags now and join the rest of the caravan!" even if this scenario was critical to the plot, it did not sit well with me. this was wartime after all.
i would have also enjoyed the story more if it were not for the constant spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors (e.g. "steel" instead of "steal", "loose" instead of "lose", sentence fragments and word order).
overall, it was still an okay read for me and i did find some gems tucked here and there. this novel, though, really needs editing to make it shine more especially since the conclusion hints at a possible sequel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy for review from the author herself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.(less)

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Aug 17, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

As a baby, Sara was left on the Schneider's doorstep. At ten, she discovers that she is telekinetic. At twelve, her real parents come back for her. It turns out that Sara is a Romani, and subject of a prophecy that claims she will be the world's greatest sorceress. When her baby brother becomes ill, Sara, desperate to help, consults a forbidden magic book. Soon she's off on a dangerous journey to find the cure. Accompanied only by her friend Manolo, Sara faces the most difficult choices she's e...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Erlynn (BooksHugBack) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Eye of the Crystal Ball is a young adult fantasy novel that is packed full of quest seeking adventure. Sara is a young orphan girl who is adopted by a childless German couple and is protected during the Second World War. After the war, her Gypsy parents show up to retrieve her and it is not long before Sara feels comfortable and at home with her family and Romani tribe. She learns the ways of her people and soon begins to display powers that are inherent to her. Her healing mother becomes pr...more The Eye of the Crystal Ball is a young adult fantasy novel that is packed full of quest seeking adventure. Sara is a young orphan girl who is adopted by a childless German couple and is protected during the Second World War. After the war, her Gypsy parents show up to retrieve her and it is not long before Sara feels comfortable and at home with her family and Romani tribe. She learns the ways of her people and soon begins to display powers that are inherent to her. Her healing mother becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy who Sara adores; however, young Marius becomes sick and her mother is powerless to cure him. Sara will do anything to help her baby brother, and so begins her epic quest.

Having clearly being warned that she shouldn't mess with evil spirits, she asks a prophesy book how to help her brother. The forbidden book sends her on an adventure to find a crystal ball that will show her the cure. With little thought to the consequences of her actions, she sets out on a journey to find the crystal ball. With the help of her friend and protector Manolo, they pass through many dangerous obstacles that test their strength, intelligence, spirit, power, faith and trust. Along the way they encounter evil spirits, magical creatures, and labyrinths of danger that seek to harm and kill Sara and Manolo. With her triumph and the power she learns to control, Sara must eventually face the consequences or her success. Once just a young girl, she will one day become a powerful sorceress, but not before she must pay back the debt she owes to the evil spirits.

T.P. Boje definitely shows her talent as this was one wild ride of a fantasy book. The magical creatures and spirits that Sara and Manolo encounter on their journey are fantastic. The world that the author creates is full of imagination and exciting characters, both good and evil. Some were so fun, it was sad as the novel had to move on leaving them behind. (Abigail the Speedtalking Snail) Once each challenge was complete, the pair hardly had time to turn around before the next obstacle was upon them. I enjoyed how each challenge had some deep lesson that the characters learned, but it was not as if the author was beating you over the head with life lessons. They were real and true but understated, causing the reader to stop and ponder, rather than wait and gag as some young adult/teen novels cause you to do. From beginning to end, the novel was planned out exceedingly well as different characters, tasks, props, and dialogue fit together to create a patch-worked story with depth and creativity. It did need more editing, as the spelling typos at times were a bit distracting; however, everything was well connected and it thankfully lacked loose ends and plot holes. This is definitely recommended for any young adult fantasy fans; you are sure to enjoy it.(less)

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Jul 25, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Wow, this was not what I was excepting, but definitely in a good way! As I was reading The Eye of the Crystal Ball, I felt like I was reading a fairy tale with witches, creepy forest, and yes, even unicorns. The narration kind of reminded me of the beginning of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with a voice telling you about the character's life and what they go through. This aspect made it quirky and reminded me of the fun, magical books that I would read when I was younger. With this being sa...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Shirley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, for-review

When I first started reading this, I had the impression that a narrator was telling either a story of the past (like a prologue) or a nice bedtime story and that the real tale would be told years later. Except, I realised later on that the story had indeed started already, and it was merely the writing style that confused me. The beginning was mainly a narration and it felt like I was being told a story rather than being shown it. There were sudden changes from third person to second person, whi...more When I first started reading this, I had the impression that a narrator was telling either a story of the past (like a prologue) or a nice bedtime story and that the real tale would be told years later. Except, I realised later on that the story had indeed started already, and it was merely the writing style that confused me. The beginning was mainly a narration and it felt like I was being told a story rather than being shown it. There were sudden changes from third person to second person, which didn’t work so well. While reading it, I felt like a bystander watching the proceedings from a distance instead of experiencing the actions with the characters.

Unfortunately I did not feel a connection with any of the characters. Perhaps it was because everything happened too fast, some characters jumped in and out, never staying long enough to make an impression. Sara and Manolo’s characters were not as well developed as I’d liked. Being the main character, I expected to understand more of Sara’s personality and behaviour, but as the book focused mainly on what she did and what happened to her, occasionally mentioning what she felt, i personally felt no connection with her. The blurb mentioned Sara being telekinetic but in the book, there was hardly any reference to her telekinetic abilities. She discovered her ability one day, was told to learn to control it, and almost never used her ability again.

The book was easy to read and reminded me of an innocent children’s bedtime story. There were mentionsof folklore that was quite intriguing but would certainly have appealed to me more if I was younger. However, I did find many of the fantasy creatures very imaginative. Some were incredibly amusing and sweet, while others were plain evil. Unfortunately, the journey took too long to describe and when I finally read up to the climax, everything resolved too quickly. At least, the ending was satisfying. I was happy that it wasn’t a typical happily-ever-after ending.

I would recommend this to younger readers, as there were appealing qualities which younger children may find interesting. I know for a fact that, had I been younger, I certainly would have enjoyed this much more. Overall, it was fast-paced, and fairytale-like, but sadly, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea.

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Jul 22, 2011 Krystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Want to pick up a book and know that you will enjoy your read? This novel is for you! The plot of the novel is very intricate and the reader will probably not find one like it in any other novel. The characters are all worth reading about, they draw the reader into the novel. The secondary characters tend to be very different, almost magical, in this novel. The reader will enjoy getting to know most of them. Sara herself is a very endearing character with many good, solid qualities that will all...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Rick F. rated it 5 of 5 stars

"When Sara was newborn her parents left her at the doorstep at Mr. and Mrs. Schneider's house.

When Sara was ten she discovered she was telekinetic. She began to move stuff around when she got angry just by her will alone.

When Sara was twelve her real parents came for her and took her with them to live like the Gypsy that she was - or Romani as they like to call themselves. They told her she was going to fulfill a prophesy. That it was once said that out of the Romani people the greatest sorcer...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Bubbles Hunty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, adventure

First I will just say i would recommend this to anyone that enjoys reading young adult fantasy adventure books.

It started off a little slow for me but quickly picks up by chapter 4 when Sara is reunited with her birth parents and their tribe. from there we meet some interesting characters and learn about Sara and her powers. Soon Sara is on an adventure looking to save her little bother. Her Journey was pretty interesting with lots of challenges and puzzles Sara must overcome.

I enjoyed the sto...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Kandee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: on-my-kindle

My thoughts: When I first started this book,honestly, it started off a little slow. As I read a few more pages, it picked up a bit, but I still loved it from beginning to end. The characters, the magic, the plot, the scenery, everything was beautiful. It was written like a fairy tale! I'd recommend this book to anyone that that enjoys reading fantasy or adventure novels.

It starts off with Sara, our main character, who was put on Mr. and Mrs. Schneider's doorstep during World War II. They'd been...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Samantha Flynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Eye of the crystal Ball is really a victory for the imagination. I will go as far as to call it magnificent.

We follow the 14-year old gypsy, Sara, as she experiences a beautiful and enchanting world in the mountains and forests of Spain.
After discovering that she is in fact a gypsy and that she is also going to be a mighty sorceress, Sara uses The Book of Foresight to try and find a cure for her little brother, even though she was warned by her mother that it would cost her a price.
Then sh...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Courtney (Fuzzy.Coffee.Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

The summary is what drew me to the book in the first place. I thought it sounded like it had all the right elements of magic, and suspense, and myths!

What I liked: 1) The creative locations that Sara and Manolo travel to. The descriptions are very well done and puts the reader right there alongside the characters. 2) I liked Manolo. He was a good guy, and helped Sara a lot on her travels. 3) How dedicated Sara was to her brother, journeying out into the unknown world, facing a lot of danger to s...more

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Aug 01, 2011 (´*•.¸ღBexღ¸.•*´) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book starts off with Sara as a new born being on the doorstep of Mr and Mrs Schneider's home. Mr and Mrs Schneider didn’t have children of their own so they were thrilled when Sara was left there for them. We as readers get to enjoy seeing Sara grow up, by ten Sara discovers she has telekinetic powers and is able to move stuff around when she gets angry; and at the age of twelve a groups of gypsies or Romani as they call themselves come to town to take Sara back.

Now this is where the book g...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved it from the beginning to the end. I would recommend this book for anyone that has a vivid imagination. The story begins with a girl being left on the doorstep at a house in Germany with a note telling whoever will find her to take good care of her. The girls name is Sara and she is a gypsy girl and her parents are trying to hide her during the war. Lucky for her the couple that finds her are nice and she grows up thinking she is a normal girl until she turns ten and she discoveres that s...more

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Aug 08, 2011 andii* rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book starts a little bit quickly. It is narrated in third person and of living normally with the Schneider, Sara goes quickly with the Romanis and her true family.
Fro mi it goes fast, i would have like to read some extra details in some parts, but i can understand enough and that's fine ^-^
Sara is a girl (that in most of the story) has 14 years. She powerful and courageous. In my opinion she would had had used more that power and courage, i can see she is strong, but not as Manolo, his... c...more

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Jul 28, 2011 A.M Bells rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

And I'm done reading! ^_^
I know some people put it in the YA group, but to me it seemed more like heading for younger, teen, juvenile. Somewhere along the lines of the Spook books.

I really enjoyed the story, and Sara's dedication to her little brother. And for some reason the whole parents thing, being raised by them then find out she belonged to the gypsy camp, it totally made sense to me. I did have, for the first seconds a "wuuuut - reaction" but then I remembered how gypsies work.

And I have...more

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Aug 07, 2011 blackplume rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted in Blackplume

I find the main character, Sarah intriguing from the start. Being a gypsy is what makes her unique as I never read a story about gypsies before. Add her unknown abilities and talents that she is discovering along the way you’ll be hooked in her and in her jouney. She is a strong and talented girl who has a heart of gold. She will do anything she can to save her little brother, which leads us to a fascinating adventure. Together with Manolo she will face the unknown...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Tracy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, july-2011

The Eye of the Crystal Ball is an epic fantasy filled with adventure, wonderful creatures and some great life lessons. Aside from a one sentence reference to a rape, at the hands of a snake-wizard, this is a story suited to all fantasy readers ages 10 and up. If you are a lover of fantastical creatures, this book is sure to satisfy. Within the 22 chapters you will meet a werewolf boy, sorceress, witches, a speed talking giant snail, a griffin, a black dragon, a bogwoman, elves, Will-o'-the-wisps...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Jenna Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: tweens, Percy jackson and Narnia fans

Recommended to Jenna Christy by: TP Boje

The Eye of the Crystal Ball is full of innocent, imaginative, forth-coming, exciting, exceptional story line. Reading this book reminded me a lot of the Chronicles of Narnia- the unique characters, talking animals, plus the POV and Percy Jackson series- the adventures. The third person point of view narration fits perfectly with the story. It has been awhile since I’ve last read a book with no love story in it and so I missed it a bit.. Oh yes, the book involved lots of love, but it’s the fines...more The Eye of the Crystal Ball is full of innocent, imaginative, forth-coming, exciting, exceptional story line. Reading this book reminded me a lot of the Chronicles of Narnia- the unique characters, talking animals, plus the POV and Percy Jackson series- the adventures. The third person point of view narration fits perfectly with the story. It has been awhile since I’ve last read a book with no love story in it and so I missed it a bit.. Oh yes, the book involved lots of love, but it’s the finest and most innocent love.
Though the story was great, however the beginning was kind of slow and dragging. The journey didn’t begin until later. But I have to say I appreciate how the author put much importance to telling Sara’s (the main character) life, from her birth,etc. it was kind of too much information when it could’ve been shortened, but it turned out okay just not so great.
The characters, I honestly was hoping something will spring out from Manolo and Sara’s friendship and it will involve a love triangle with the wolf boy..wishful thinking..(haha). I love Manolo and how intelligent and loyal of a friend he is. I love Sara for her courage and love for her brother, of how accepting and how she kept herself pure.
The places and things they went through were not really uncommon but they were still unique. The names were one-of-a-kind, the obstacles were modified and cool, riddles,etc. The way it was written made the story more alive and interesting. I felt like I was running and the wind swept up on my face too! Their challenges got harder and harder, and there was never a silent moment in their journey, everything happened so fast, I didn’t notice I already passed a lot of pages!.
The ending was really sad and it made me wish a lot more things will happen (a second book?). I never had a dull moment reading the book. It was fun and full of exciting happenings and fast-paced just the way I like it! I recommend it to young readers but adults can still enjoy the story. (less)

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Aug 30, 2011 Tracy Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Pure of heart and full of determination is the combination needed in the seeking out of the "Eye of the Crystal Ball."

This fairy-tale like story follows the life of Sara, a young gypsy girl, who goes from being dropped off as a baby on an unknown couple's doorstep to being an extraordinary sorceress of the Romani tribe. Come join her as she roams with her family across the countryside learning about her mystical powers and discovering new friends along the way. With this knowledge and help from...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Stephen rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Eye of the Crystal Ball is a Young Adult fantasy set in Europe after World War 2.

The main character is Sara, a young girl destined to become a great sorceress. She was born to the Romani (gypsy) people and raised by a German couple until she reached her teens. Then, her real parents return for her. This chain of events is quickly covered in the first few pages. We fast forward through her next couple of years until her baby brother is born. The adventure centers around rescuing her brother...more The Eye of the Crystal Ball is a Young Adult fantasy set in Europe after World War 2.

The main character is Sara, a young girl destined to become a great sorceress. She was born to the Romani (gypsy) people and raised by a German couple until she reached her teens. Then, her real parents return for her. This chain of events is quickly covered in the first few pages. We fast forward through her next couple of years until her baby brother is born. The adventure centers around rescuing her brother from a curse. She is aided in this rescue effort by Manolo, a magical being in the guise of a Romani boy.

What did I like?
- The action was enjoyable and kept the story flowing.
- The author's imagination is amazing. The ideas and images in these pages are intense and create a deep rich world that exists just beyond our "real" world.
- Every step of the adventure seemed to focus on teaching Sara moral lessons about the dangers of Vanity, Greed, and Pride while encouraging Teamwork, Humility, and Sacrifice for the good of others.

What did I not like?
- Manolo is like a continuous 'deus ex machina' device. Whenever there is a problem, Manolo probably has a solution. He knows basically everything needed to get to the final confrontation.
- Sara has everything happening 'to' her. After the early chapters, she is no longer in control of any of the events. She is constantly in need of rescuing. Other than making some decisions, she does nearly nothing actively until late in the story.
- Events were rushed. Each chapter could have been expanded to better tell the story and build suspense and atmosphere.
- Typos are everywhere, so the lack of editing took away from the enjoyability of the story.
- The way the story is worded can be compared to a non-English speaker telling a story in heavily accented English including the syntax and grammar oddities that translation can cause.

Overall, I had fun reading this book. I think that this book could have been expanded to double the size to tell us more. Things were too rushed and cramped. So, if the author ever considers making an expanded version...I think I would grab it up to reread in an instant. I have been told that a newer, better edited version is on the way.

So, if you like fantasy novels set in real historical places and times, you probably will enjoy this. Just be prepared for the things I mention above and you will be able to make the most of this experience.

Disclaimer: I was given an electronic copy of this book by the author for the purpose of review.(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5/4.0 stars.

It is about Sara, who was left on the doorstep for Mr. and Mrs. Scheider. Her parents had left her there because they wanted to protect her. When she was a little older, they came back to get her. She learns that she is telekinetic and is a Gypsy. Now she has to leave her life and join her real family. The journey starts when Sara is determined to save her younger brother when he becomes ill. She sets out on a long journey with her friend Manolo in order to find the eye of the crys...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Alecia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011

This was an interesting read. It certainly had many good points about it such as certain aspects of the plot being original and the story itself was an engaging one. Sara is a likable character with much responsibility at her young age as she tries to find a cure from her sick brother. She ventures off on an adventure with her friend Manolo, and the two face great trials and tribulations.

A few things about the book disrupted the narrative flow and made it hard to connect with the characters and...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Erica (daydreamer) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, release-in-2011, 2011-reads, could-have-been-better

In The Eye of the Crystal Ball, we follow young Sara, the child of gypsies, as she goes on a grand quest to find a cure to save her baby brother from dying. She encounters dangerous creatures and trying hardships, and must learn to fight the evil in the world. Sara is a strong young girl, who would do anything for her brother. The adventure and strange creatures reminded me a little of The Phantom Tollbooth, which I love. But I wasn’t able to fully connect with this book. The story was intriguin...more In The Eye of the Crystal Ball, we follow young Sara, the child of gypsies, as she goes on a grand quest to find a cure to save her baby brother from dying. She encounters dangerous creatures and trying hardships, and must learn to fight the evil in the world. Sara is a strong young girl, who would do anything for her brother. The adventure and strange creatures reminded me a little of The Phantom Tollbooth, which I love. But I wasn’t able to fully connect with this book. The story was intriguing, and I liked it for the most part. But I had trouble getting into the story, mostly because of the writing.

The story wasn’t written well. It was strange, with run one sentences with no commas, and cut off sentences. It needs heavy editing. Punctuation, and spelling errors, and grammar problems. I just found so many problems and was put off by the style and strange wording that I wasn’t able to appreciate the story. Something that really bugged me was that she sometimes used the wrong tense of a word. i.e. Sara felt a huge relieve. it should be relief. The writing felt juvenile, and simple. To kind of show you what I’m talking about, here’s some examples of her writing.

Manolo kept trying to get the snakes to move away but it seemed as there just emerged more and more in front of them and all of a sudden in the middle of the pile of snakes a figure arose.

It began with a scream. Sara had only just fallen asleep when she heard it. Well almost felt it. Cause it was one of those screams that goes right through your bone marrow.

It was hurting strongly in her arms as Manolo pulled all he could.

When the writing is off, I can’t quite connect with the characters, so none of them became dear to me. I didn’t feel any emotion while reading or became invested in their lives and well being. I think this could have been a really neat book and I would have really liked it if it had been written better, and gone through a few more revisions. I didn‘t hate it, I just didn‘t really like it. But I think there are some people who will love it, who will love the adventure, and the magic and creatures, and find something in Sara that they can connect with. It just wasn’t for me. (less)

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Aug 02, 2011 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, scifi-fantasy

One day the manager of a small railway station is late for work because a dream has come true. After years of waiting for a child, he and his wife have found one on their doorstep. Sadly they lose her twelve years later, when the story really begins in T.P. Boje’s children's novel, The Eye of the Crystal Ball. There’s mystery behind Sara’s birth of course—more mysteries behind her powers. But when Sara goes traveling, from Germany just after WWII, to Spain and to lands of mystery and magic beyon...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow! I was completely blown away with this story! It was so much more than I expected after reading the description. I felt like a kid again because this book is full of magical words all combines to make an amazing story. Gypsies, dragons, elves, witches, fortune tellers, unicorns, werewolves, goblins, and much much more. The way this book is written I felt like I was reading a fairy tale. Each chapter was exciting and new, with different characters and descriptions. You can't help but love Sar...more Wow! I was completely blown away with this story! It was so much more than I expected after reading the description. I felt like a kid again because this book is full of magical words all combines to make an amazing story. Gypsies, dragons, elves, witches, fortune tellers, unicorns, werewolves, goblins, and much much more. The way this book is written I felt like I was reading a fairy tale. Each chapter was exciting and new, with different characters and descriptions. You can't help but love Sara and her 'friends'. Just a warning...there were quite a few grammatical errors. Places that needed corrected punctuation, words not used in the correct way, and typo's. I just plowed right past them because the story wouldn't let me go. The author is from Denmark so I have a feeling that is part of the reason and I can accept that.

Sara is born to gypsy parents, but with the war going on, she is left upon the doorstep of childless couple Mr. and Mrs. Schnieder. Mr. and Mrs. think their dream of a baby has finally come true! They give Sara a good life, but no matter what she just doesn't fit in and no one understands her. As a result of her being so different, a teacher gives her a book to read. That was all it took...one book and Sara was in love. One day after the war is over Sara's parents show up to take her back and introduce her to the wonderful, magical world they live in. Sara has big shoes to fill as she is prophesied to be the next great sorceress. Just when she is finally starting to feel like she is finally where she belongs, a long comes a baby brother. After he becomes ill, Sara goes on a quest with her friend Manolo to find the eye of the crystal ball to find the way to save him. Along the way, Sara also learns some life lessons about pride, vanity, greed and how to fight the negative and keep the positive in her life and why it is so important. There were ups and downs throughout the journey and many times Sara's strength and values were tested.

"There are many different passions as there are people but Sara's had always been books. If you have never spend whole afternoon forgetting the world around you over a book, forgetting even cold and hunger. if you have never read under the bedclothes with a flashlight, because your father or mother or someone else told it was time to sleep and turned off the light. If you have never wept bitter tears because a wonderful story had come to an end and you had to say goodbye to the characters with whom you have shared so many adventures and ups and downs with, whom you have loved so deeply and hoped and feared with. If such things have never been a part of your life, you probably wouldn't understand what Sara did next."

If you are a fan of YA fantasy adventure books or would like a easy, fun, enjoyable read, adult or child, go ahead and pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to read this to two of my step-daughters (who are 8 and 11)because I know they would love this story. (less)

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Jul 07, 2011 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a breath-taking book! This story has a variety of wonderful characters and enchanting places that will inspire the imagination of anyone. I can't believe that one author can get so many wonderful ideas! No matter what your age, you should buy this book. Buy it for your kids and read it to them. Or buy it for yourself, you won't be dissapointed. It is suspenseful, exciting, lovely, beautiful and just plain wonderful.
Take the journey with Sara and her friend, and you'll never regret it!
Great...more

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Sep 04, 2011 Leslie (Working for the Mandroid) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, ebook, magic, supernatural, kidfic

Read the full review at Working for the Mandroid

The Eye of the Crystal Ball is the story of Sara, a Romani gypsy (which I know is a bit redundant), who goes on a quest to find something that will cure her baby brother from the illness from which he’s dying. It’s a pretty simple idea, but Boje adds in scary monsters, a speed talking giant snail, spells, witches, telekinesis, hollow elves, and so many other things that this could easily become an epic children’s story if only Boje had slowed down...more Read the full review at Working for the Mandroid

The Eye of the Crystal Ball is the story of Sara, a Romani gypsy (which I know is a bit redundant), who goes on a quest to find something that will cure her baby brother from the illness from which he’s dying. It’s a pretty simple idea, but Boje adds in scary monsters, a speed talking giant snail, spells, witches, telekinesis, hollow elves, and so many other things that this could easily become an epic children’s story if only Boje had slowed down and explored the potential of her ideas.

It’s implied by her writing that Boje is not a native English speaker. The text is stilted, wrong words are used, sentence structure is not good, and often times I had to read a sentence multiple times before I could figure out its meaning. It felt as though Boje had written the story in her native language and then plugged it into Google Translate or Babelfish to translate it into English. If you’ve ever done that before, you can understand how the meaning of a sentence could become muddled. Now imagine 100+ pages of that.

I also didn’t understand the purpose of the beginning of the story. It starts with a newborn child being left on a doorstep during WWII in Germany. The child, who we learn is Sara, is raised by these German parents for 10 years before her gypsy parents return for her. Other than a few small references to her previous obsession with stories and wanting the comforts of a stable home, this entire plot device disappears after the first 25 pages or so. I didn’t really see the point of it.

It also caused a problem that remained under the surface for the rest of the story – it told us what time period we were in. If Sara was left on the door step at the beginning of WWII because her gypsy parents feared for her safety, then a decade or so later, we would have been in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Knowing this, it made the modern slang and phrases that Sara and her friend Manolo used very out of place. Had Boje not bothered with setting the story up with a plot device that didn’t really make any difference to the story as a whole, the reader could assume that this was all taking place in more modern times. While the Romani might not be as prevalent in modern times, particularly in the EU, they do still exist. I wouldn’t have had this constant niggling feeling in the back of my head that this just wasn’t right.(less)

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Sep 23, 2011 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kimberly by: T.P

(Originally posted to The Broke and the Bookish Original Review )

What to say about this book… I feel very conflicted about how I will rate this, and how I feel about it over all.

Ok, we’ll get the not as nice stuff out of the way.

What I didn’t care for: The writing felt choppy in places. The pacing was off at times and it felt like it was a bit of a challenge to follow it. The copy I read had numerous grammatical and spelling errors. (It was NOT the final version however. And upon talking with th...more (Originally posted to The Broke and the Bookish Original Review )

What to say about this book… I feel very conflicted about how I will rate this, and how I feel about it over all.

Ok, we’ll get the not as nice stuff out of the way.

What I didn’t care for: The writing felt choppy in places. The pacing was off at times and it felt like it was a bit of a challenge to follow it. The copy I read had numerous grammatical and spelling errors. (It was NOT the final version however. And upon talking with the author I found out that English is her second language, and that the book has since been handed over to a great editor.) I felt like some of the things that happened, just happened. There wasn’t really any build up to it, so it just felt like… Oh, this needs to happen so there.

What I liked: Sara is a great character, she’s strong and when she decides to do something, she does it. It’s always refreshing to read a novel with a strong female lead. Too often they are weak, whiny and constantly depending on the men to save them. (I won’t name titles…) The idea of the Romani life sounds fascinating. I loved the descriptions of how they traveled around, what Sara learned from them, and their various skills. There were bits and pieces of other literature, especially fantasy running rampant throughout the book. If you are as much of a fan of fantasy as I am, you’ll recognize it. It’s a bit like talking to someone new and hearing them say something that you know comes from one of your favorite books. It was a treat picking out the various references. You’ll find everything from The Neverending Story to Lord of the Rings to The Chronicles of Narnia.

I had to get used to the writing style. It was more of a… storytelling style. Instead of descriptions that showed me how everything looked, how people reacted, etc, I was told. It was a bit like sitting in a class with the Professor telling a story, or having Granny (My father’s mother) tell me stories when I was young. It was a bit to get used to, but once I did I found I kinda enjoyed it.

Overall, it was a pretty good read.

4 stars(less)

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