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Quest of the Demon
Darci is a popular sixteen-year-old girl who plays basketball and lives in an ordinary country town. But her life is changed forever when she is accidentally transported to the land of Nahaba by a young apprentice wizard called Taslessian.
Within hours of her unexpected arrival, both teens are thrust into a dangerous journey to the cave of Grisham the Great in the hope that he would be able to send her home.
Upon reaching the cave, however, Darci quickly discovers that there is no such thing as accidents, and that their journey is only just beginning.
Within hours of her unexpected arrival, both teens are thrust into a dangerous journey to the cave of Grisham the Great in the hope that he would be able to send her home.
Upon reaching the cave, however, Darci quickly discovers that there is no such thing as accidents, and that their journey is only just beginning.
277 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2011
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May 20, 2011
Quest of the Demon by M L Sawyer is the exciting story of Darci, just an average teenage girl, who is accidentally summoned into a world full of magic called Nahaba. The young apprentice wizard, Taslessian, is the one who summoned her although he doesn’t know how or even why it happened. There are instantly some small sparks between Darci and Taslessian, as both are intrigued by the other’s world and habits.
Quest of the Demon does not waste any time jumping into action as Taslessian’s master and wizard Belderon is forced into battle with an evil wizard named Domati, ultimately being killed in the process. Domati wants Darci in hopes of learning about her world and believes that her knowledge will give him endless power. Taslessian and Darci set out on an adventure that neither expected to be possible.
Soon Taslessian and Darci are brought to Grisham, one of the last Great Dragons. He proceeds to tell them what they are up against and what must happen. An epic battle is about to occur between the North and the South parts of Nahaba, with an evil Demon and Domati leading the attacks. Together with the knight Maledorian, an Amazon warrior named Defyance and an elf named Lief, the group sets out with hopes of ending the battle before it starts. The sole outcome of the battle depends on Darci and a choice that she isn’t even sure how to make.
Quest of the Demon is a great story and is definitely filled with potential. I know there are other books that follow characters found in Quest of the Demon but I don’t know if they are part of the same series. My only complaint, or issue if you will, with this book is that I would have liked to see more of the relationship between Taslessian and Darci. It starts out great and the spark between them grows when they share a steamy kiss, but then it all fizzles out as the story focuses solely on the battle ahead. If more of Teslessian and Darci’s story is included in the next book, I am hoping to see where their relationship may lead, especially after how this book ended.
Quest of the Demon does not waste any time jumping into action as Taslessian’s master and wizard Belderon is forced into battle with an evil wizard named Domati, ultimately being killed in the process. Domati wants Darci in hopes of learning about her world and believes that her knowledge will give him endless power. Taslessian and Darci set out on an adventure that neither expected to be possible.
Soon Taslessian and Darci are brought to Grisham, one of the last Great Dragons. He proceeds to tell them what they are up against and what must happen. An epic battle is about to occur between the North and the South parts of Nahaba, with an evil Demon and Domati leading the attacks. Together with the knight Maledorian, an Amazon warrior named Defyance and an elf named Lief, the group sets out with hopes of ending the battle before it starts. The sole outcome of the battle depends on Darci and a choice that she isn’t even sure how to make.
Quest of the Demon is a great story and is definitely filled with potential. I know there are other books that follow characters found in Quest of the Demon but I don’t know if they are part of the same series. My only complaint, or issue if you will, with this book is that I would have liked to see more of the relationship between Taslessian and Darci. It starts out great and the spark between them grows when they share a steamy kiss, but then it all fizzles out as the story focuses solely on the battle ahead. If more of Teslessian and Darci’s story is included in the next book, I am hoping to see where their relationship may lead, especially after how this book ended.
December 2, 2011
Quest of the Demon is an epic fantasy story focusing on the trials and aventure of Darci, a sixteen-year-old girl who accidently gets transported to another dimension by an apprentice wizard called Taslessian. Apparently otherworlders are quite rare in the land of Nahaba, and due to the enhanced magic used to bring her to this world, every powerful wizard on the entire planet knows of her existence. That includes the good, like Taslessian’s master, but also the bad in the form of an evil warlock called Domati. After killing Taslessian’s master Belderon, the warlock is soon chasing the apprentice wizard and Darci as they try to reach the home of Grisham, the greatest and most powerful dragon currently alive. The first part of the book focuses on Darci and Taslessian’s journey to Grisham’s lair, which is not without danger. Once they reach the mighty dragon’s home, he tells them that he does not possess the magic to transport Darci back to her own world. On the contrary even, there is an important quest the young wizard and the teenage girl have to complete with the aid of a mighty warrior woman called Defyance, a skillful knight called Maledorian and a banished elf called Lief. Because if they do not complete the quest, the world of Nahaba will perish as the demon Demolish will shed hatred and despair through the world’s inhabitants, and lots of innocent people will die. They have to complete the Quest of the Demon, whatever it takes.
Quest of the Demon is the debut novel by M.L. Sawyer, and it’s a nice debut indeed. The characters are very detailed and well-developed, especially the protagonist Darci and her love interest, Taslessian. The setting is rich in detail and surprisingly original, considering the fact that “a magical world in an alternate dimension” has been done a thousand times before. I like it when authors can grasp a cliché concept and turn it around to be rather original anyway, and M.L. Sawyer has successfully managed to that in this book. The writing style is decent, although not all that unique, and I wish the author would have found her own writing voice in the process. Her style is a bit too clean, too scholastic even, to make a lasting impression.
I thought Darci was very amusing and original character. She doesn’t have the typical reaction most sixteen-year-olds would have when they think there’s a burglar in their house. Rather than getting scared and calling the cops, she grabs a baseball bat and goes to find the culprit. Pretty heroic, if you ask me, and hilarious as well as she is transported to the world of Nahaba wearing her pyjamas and holding a baseball bat in her hands. I was cracking up from laughter by then, imagining just how silly it must be to end up in another dimension while still wearing pyjamas. While quite devestated with ending up in an alternate dimension and worrying if she’s ever going to see her parents again, Darci manages to keep her mind clear. Clear enough not to freak out when the warlock Domati shows up at their doorstep, and clear enough not to believe the Monk Man when he’s infading her mind later on in the story. Although she has no particular talents, not for swordfighting nor for magic, and she needs to depend on others to protect her, Darci doesn’t come across as a helpless damsel in distress. She is actually quite brave, and she fights as well as she can, which obviously isn’t very good – then again, it would be very unlikely for a normal teenager to be able to defeat winged creatures attacking them on a boat, or a hideously-looking monster like Trolog. Draci isn’t a hero because she has the talents of a hero. She’s no extraordinary swordfighter, no exceptionally skilled magician, and she’s actually more troublesome than useful. But she’s a hero because she is brave, willing to fight although she knows she doesn’t stand a chance, and because she’s not too stubborn to rely on others for her own safety. That concept of heroism is quite original, and I applaud M.L. Sawyer choosing an ordinary person as the protagonist of their book, and then keeping her ordinary until the very end, without superpowers or exceptional skills.
My second favorite character was Taslessian. Although he starts off doubtful and wary of his own powers, he mans up soon enough and realizes his true potential in the face of danger. I liked him as a character, but I really loved him when he interacted with Darci. They were so much fun together, with Taslessian blushing as Darci stood in front of him in nothing but a tank top – inappropriate clothing for a girl in Nahaba – and getting all jealous over Lief’s attentions for the otherworlder. It was cute and realistic, and thankfully it wasn’t all that rushed for once. Darci and Taslessian really took the time to get to know each other, first as friends, and then to explore their feelings a bit further. I loved the moment when they kissed – getting drunk and then making out, always a bonus – but I found it equally brilliant when later on, Taslessian acted as if nothing happened, or he may not even have remembered. There is no mention of “true love” like there is in so many other young adult novels, and which is just a crazy concept alltogether, there is only mention of their attraction to each other and that’s that. It makes their relationship even more charming, since they’re not delusional about it. I also loved the fact that Lief had feelings for Darci, bringing her in this awkward position in a love triangle. Now that was really a love triangle well done. Both Lief and Taslessian had equal chances at some point, and I was actually feeling equally confused as Darci was as to who to choose, because I liked both of them.
Now, I have to admit that the concept isn’t all that original. Girl gets transported to alternate dimension, girl meets boy and falls for him, girl and boy need to go on a quest with other heroes to save the world. Been there, done that. What is interesting, is the originality M.L. Sawyer manages to put in this otherwise cliché concept. The world of Nahaba is clearly set in medieval times, and it’s inhabited with all the standard species: elves, humans, dragons. But there’s more. We see warlocks and wizards, evil and good dragons, a world where it’s always winter, flying monsters, Fraries who you have to give sweets so they will do your bidding, and wild beasts called Dahnagas. We see original concepts being mixed with cliché themes, and the result is rather nice.
The light-hearted humor is another reason why Quest of the Demon doesn’t feel cliché when you read it. While the lives of thousands of innocents are at stake, our main characters still find time for some humor and jokes, which really bring a fresh breeze to the book. While Darci is standing in her pyjamas, she desperately wishes she had put on a bra – I can imagine that all girls would feel that way if they were transported to another dimension braless – and she constantly wishes she had nicer clothes to put on. When she has a hole in her pants, Taslessian starts blushing like a mad man. When Darci pulls Taslessian up from the ground, she adds too much strength, and they bump into each other, leading to mad blushes from both sides. This cute, light-hearted humor gives an entire vibe of originality to the book, and to be honest it was about time an author gave an answer to the question what one does when being transported to an alternate dimension in their pyjamas. It is anything but comfortable, I presume. Now I know the answer: you hope that the local town’s magician can provide you with a bra. Thanks, Belderon, for saving damsels in distress and in desperate need of some support. ;)
I must add that I also loved the secondary characters. They each had their own, distinct personality and an interesting history to fit with it. Although we may not know much about the warrior woman Defyance, I sure grasped the concept that she’s not to be messed with. And Maledorian had trouble coming to terms with the fact his father did not love him the way he loved his older brother, although he went to a hell of a lot of trouble to make the old man like him. And then there’s Lief, the mysterious Elf who got banished from his homeland for an unknown reason. Their differences and the fact that they somehow work well together, is what makes these characters remarkably interesting. I found myself eagerly anticipating their next adventures.
That said, if I had to talk about some negative points while reading Quest of the Demon, there was only one that I could come up with. The writing style is too clean. I can’t explain it very well, but it all sounds a bit too scholastic, a bit too edited to sound real and honest, like either the writer hasn’t found her own authentic writing voice yet, or like it’s been edited to the point where it reads more like a school book than an actual novel. Considering that this is my only complaint about the book, it’s not that much of a big deal, but I did find it peculiar.
Quest of the Demon is a fast-paced, action-packed epic fantasy novel with a well-developed plotline and original characters. Darci makes a hilarious protagonist, who is occasionally more worried about the clothes she does or does not wear than about the life-threatening situations at hand, which isn’t all too peculiar considering she’s a sixteen-year-old in the presence of the local apprentice wizard cutie. The romance between Darci and Taslessian is believable and sweet. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys epic fantasy and who would like a fresh breeze in the genre. I’m looking forward to the next adventures of our heroes in Tallen: Quest of the Demon – Aftermath One.
Quest of the Demon is the debut novel by M.L. Sawyer, and it’s a nice debut indeed. The characters are very detailed and well-developed, especially the protagonist Darci and her love interest, Taslessian. The setting is rich in detail and surprisingly original, considering the fact that “a magical world in an alternate dimension” has been done a thousand times before. I like it when authors can grasp a cliché concept and turn it around to be rather original anyway, and M.L. Sawyer has successfully managed to that in this book. The writing style is decent, although not all that unique, and I wish the author would have found her own writing voice in the process. Her style is a bit too clean, too scholastic even, to make a lasting impression.
I thought Darci was very amusing and original character. She doesn’t have the typical reaction most sixteen-year-olds would have when they think there’s a burglar in their house. Rather than getting scared and calling the cops, she grabs a baseball bat and goes to find the culprit. Pretty heroic, if you ask me, and hilarious as well as she is transported to the world of Nahaba wearing her pyjamas and holding a baseball bat in her hands. I was cracking up from laughter by then, imagining just how silly it must be to end up in another dimension while still wearing pyjamas. While quite devestated with ending up in an alternate dimension and worrying if she’s ever going to see her parents again, Darci manages to keep her mind clear. Clear enough not to freak out when the warlock Domati shows up at their doorstep, and clear enough not to believe the Monk Man when he’s infading her mind later on in the story. Although she has no particular talents, not for swordfighting nor for magic, and she needs to depend on others to protect her, Darci doesn’t come across as a helpless damsel in distress. She is actually quite brave, and she fights as well as she can, which obviously isn’t very good – then again, it would be very unlikely for a normal teenager to be able to defeat winged creatures attacking them on a boat, or a hideously-looking monster like Trolog. Draci isn’t a hero because she has the talents of a hero. She’s no extraordinary swordfighter, no exceptionally skilled magician, and she’s actually more troublesome than useful. But she’s a hero because she is brave, willing to fight although she knows she doesn’t stand a chance, and because she’s not too stubborn to rely on others for her own safety. That concept of heroism is quite original, and I applaud M.L. Sawyer choosing an ordinary person as the protagonist of their book, and then keeping her ordinary until the very end, without superpowers or exceptional skills.
My second favorite character was Taslessian. Although he starts off doubtful and wary of his own powers, he mans up soon enough and realizes his true potential in the face of danger. I liked him as a character, but I really loved him when he interacted with Darci. They were so much fun together, with Taslessian blushing as Darci stood in front of him in nothing but a tank top – inappropriate clothing for a girl in Nahaba – and getting all jealous over Lief’s attentions for the otherworlder. It was cute and realistic, and thankfully it wasn’t all that rushed for once. Darci and Taslessian really took the time to get to know each other, first as friends, and then to explore their feelings a bit further. I loved the moment when they kissed – getting drunk and then making out, always a bonus – but I found it equally brilliant when later on, Taslessian acted as if nothing happened, or he may not even have remembered. There is no mention of “true love” like there is in so many other young adult novels, and which is just a crazy concept alltogether, there is only mention of their attraction to each other and that’s that. It makes their relationship even more charming, since they’re not delusional about it. I also loved the fact that Lief had feelings for Darci, bringing her in this awkward position in a love triangle. Now that was really a love triangle well done. Both Lief and Taslessian had equal chances at some point, and I was actually feeling equally confused as Darci was as to who to choose, because I liked both of them.
Now, I have to admit that the concept isn’t all that original. Girl gets transported to alternate dimension, girl meets boy and falls for him, girl and boy need to go on a quest with other heroes to save the world. Been there, done that. What is interesting, is the originality M.L. Sawyer manages to put in this otherwise cliché concept. The world of Nahaba is clearly set in medieval times, and it’s inhabited with all the standard species: elves, humans, dragons. But there’s more. We see warlocks and wizards, evil and good dragons, a world where it’s always winter, flying monsters, Fraries who you have to give sweets so they will do your bidding, and wild beasts called Dahnagas. We see original concepts being mixed with cliché themes, and the result is rather nice.
The light-hearted humor is another reason why Quest of the Demon doesn’t feel cliché when you read it. While the lives of thousands of innocents are at stake, our main characters still find time for some humor and jokes, which really bring a fresh breeze to the book. While Darci is standing in her pyjamas, she desperately wishes she had put on a bra – I can imagine that all girls would feel that way if they were transported to another dimension braless – and she constantly wishes she had nicer clothes to put on. When she has a hole in her pants, Taslessian starts blushing like a mad man. When Darci pulls Taslessian up from the ground, she adds too much strength, and they bump into each other, leading to mad blushes from both sides. This cute, light-hearted humor gives an entire vibe of originality to the book, and to be honest it was about time an author gave an answer to the question what one does when being transported to an alternate dimension in their pyjamas. It is anything but comfortable, I presume. Now I know the answer: you hope that the local town’s magician can provide you with a bra. Thanks, Belderon, for saving damsels in distress and in desperate need of some support. ;)
I must add that I also loved the secondary characters. They each had their own, distinct personality and an interesting history to fit with it. Although we may not know much about the warrior woman Defyance, I sure grasped the concept that she’s not to be messed with. And Maledorian had trouble coming to terms with the fact his father did not love him the way he loved his older brother, although he went to a hell of a lot of trouble to make the old man like him. And then there’s Lief, the mysterious Elf who got banished from his homeland for an unknown reason. Their differences and the fact that they somehow work well together, is what makes these characters remarkably interesting. I found myself eagerly anticipating their next adventures.
That said, if I had to talk about some negative points while reading Quest of the Demon, there was only one that I could come up with. The writing style is too clean. I can’t explain it very well, but it all sounds a bit too scholastic, a bit too edited to sound real and honest, like either the writer hasn’t found her own authentic writing voice yet, or like it’s been edited to the point where it reads more like a school book than an actual novel. Considering that this is my only complaint about the book, it’s not that much of a big deal, but I did find it peculiar.
Quest of the Demon is a fast-paced, action-packed epic fantasy novel with a well-developed plotline and original characters. Darci makes a hilarious protagonist, who is occasionally more worried about the clothes she does or does not wear than about the life-threatening situations at hand, which isn’t all too peculiar considering she’s a sixteen-year-old in the presence of the local apprentice wizard cutie. The romance between Darci and Taslessian is believable and sweet. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys epic fantasy and who would like a fresh breeze in the genre. I’m looking forward to the next adventures of our heroes in Tallen: Quest of the Demon – Aftermath One.
October 30, 2011
Living the life of an average teen always seems like a challenge in itself. Becoming engaged in basketball and excelling at the sport, Darci can feel a burst in confidence. This is something she is good at. After spending the day with one of her friends, she returns home only to find her parents gone for the evening. Leaving a message to let Darci know that they expect to return after midnight, she settles in for the evening. When she does finally retire for the evening, her parents have not yet returned, so she is not at all surprised when a sudden noise wakes her up. Leaving her bed, she becomes concerned when she finds they have not returned. Fear replaces her initial surprise as she picks up her hockey stick as a weapon while she searches for the origin of the noise.
As she enters the main room, she sees light and motion behind a curtain. As she swallows her fear, she darts forward with her weapon only to find a strange vortex behind the curtain. Having ventured too close, she is sucked into the swirling mass, and finds herself deposited in a strange new world.
Suddenly, Darci realizes her whole life has changed. Rescued by a young Wizards apprentice, Taslessian, she quickly finds that all is not well in this strange, new world. Not only that, but she has been selected for a quest to rid this world of evil, before it finds a way into her own. Unaware of why she is chosen, she is afraid. Somehow, the evil presence of Domati is aware she is in the world and is now interested in finding her and learning the secrets of her own world. She is in over her head.
This world is full of magic, elves, wizards, warriors and dragons as well as the evil and twisted creatures that come from the darkness of evil. Her own world would not survive the presence of such perverted and twisted evil. When Taslessian’s mentor dies in battle, it is up to both Taslessian and Darci to find the means to defeat this evil. She cannot return to her own world, the magic is not available for such a feat, and she must follow her path. Chosen for a reason, she cannot fathom what she can bring to the fight.
As this young pair continues their quest with the help of a dragon, they began to gather a small group of heroes. Known as the five of light, they are informed that weapons will be awarded to help them meet the challenge. To begin their quest they must first find their courage, and then their way to the lair of the dragon that holds the weapons. Each step of their journey they must fight for their lives and that of their friends, as they begin to learn more about themselves and each other. Can they really be the ones to drive evil from the land, and save the universe, and all its worlds from the darkness?
M.L Sawyer has written a great story and while it tends to drag a bit through the middle, it picks up a head of steam and the flow evens out as the heroes begin their quest. I found grammatical errors throughout the book that tend to bog the story down, but the story and characters are quite superb.
Sawyer has set the stage for a follow up story, and I truly look forward to seeing what she does to continue her epic saga. She has done a great job with character enhancement; you can picture them quite well in your mind as you follow in their journey. Each has to overcome different flaws to become what they are capable of, and the quest is well written. Sawyer has put some thought into this work and a good grammatical edit would do wonders to put this work in the mainstream.
This story would be a great find for the YA reader; it has all the elements of a courageous and epic journey. Told with a view to the flaws and feeling often addressed by young teens, the journey that each travels helps builds their esteem as well as their courage. This is a fun and adventuress read.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
As she enters the main room, she sees light and motion behind a curtain. As she swallows her fear, she darts forward with her weapon only to find a strange vortex behind the curtain. Having ventured too close, she is sucked into the swirling mass, and finds herself deposited in a strange new world.
Suddenly, Darci realizes her whole life has changed. Rescued by a young Wizards apprentice, Taslessian, she quickly finds that all is not well in this strange, new world. Not only that, but she has been selected for a quest to rid this world of evil, before it finds a way into her own. Unaware of why she is chosen, she is afraid. Somehow, the evil presence of Domati is aware she is in the world and is now interested in finding her and learning the secrets of her own world. She is in over her head.
This world is full of magic, elves, wizards, warriors and dragons as well as the evil and twisted creatures that come from the darkness of evil. Her own world would not survive the presence of such perverted and twisted evil. When Taslessian’s mentor dies in battle, it is up to both Taslessian and Darci to find the means to defeat this evil. She cannot return to her own world, the magic is not available for such a feat, and she must follow her path. Chosen for a reason, she cannot fathom what she can bring to the fight.
As this young pair continues their quest with the help of a dragon, they began to gather a small group of heroes. Known as the five of light, they are informed that weapons will be awarded to help them meet the challenge. To begin their quest they must first find their courage, and then their way to the lair of the dragon that holds the weapons. Each step of their journey they must fight for their lives and that of their friends, as they begin to learn more about themselves and each other. Can they really be the ones to drive evil from the land, and save the universe, and all its worlds from the darkness?
M.L Sawyer has written a great story and while it tends to drag a bit through the middle, it picks up a head of steam and the flow evens out as the heroes begin their quest. I found grammatical errors throughout the book that tend to bog the story down, but the story and characters are quite superb.
Sawyer has set the stage for a follow up story, and I truly look forward to seeing what she does to continue her epic saga. She has done a great job with character enhancement; you can picture them quite well in your mind as you follow in their journey. Each has to overcome different flaws to become what they are capable of, and the quest is well written. Sawyer has put some thought into this work and a good grammatical edit would do wonders to put this work in the mainstream.
This story would be a great find for the YA reader; it has all the elements of a courageous and epic journey. Told with a view to the flaws and feeling often addressed by young teens, the journey that each travels helps builds their esteem as well as their courage. This is a fun and adventuress read.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
December 11, 2011
Home alone one night Darci was suddenly woken up by a strange noise, grabbing a hockey stick as a weapon she nervously searched the house. In one of the rooms she saw an odd green light behind a flapping curtain and cautiously went to investigate. The light was a portal into another world called Nahaba, which had accidentally been opened up by a young apprentice wizard named Taslessian. Of course Darci didn’t know this so when she got too close she was pulled into the other realm. Once Darci and Taslessian realised what had happened they went to see Belderon (Taslessian’s Master) in the hope he could send Darci back home but his magic wasn’t powerful enough so he sent them on a quest to see Grisham the most powerful dragon in the land. Getting to the Dragons lair was no easy feat there were warlocks and dragons determined to stop them and claim Darci as their own prize because ‘other worlders’ were a very rare and coveted possession. Things become more complicated for the pair when they finally make it to Grishams lair only to discover even his power isn’t enough to send Darci home and there is more the pair must endure before she can go back……
Darci has a very down to earth personality, she was stressed about what she was wearing just like any normal sixteen year old would be and she was amused by Taslessians embarrassment. Sarcasm and humour were a big part of her character making her very likable. Taslessian was a cutie, he was such a prude, every time he saw Darci in less clothes than was the norm’ in his world he blushed and that made me smile…….it was so endearing!!! In the beginning he kind of felt like a bumbling fool, after all initially we are led to believe it was his error that had brought Darci here but once Belderon had sacrificed himself to save Darci, Taslessian seemed to gain confidence in himself and actually appeared to know what he was doing. It was interesting to watch how both of them grew and learned from their mistakes. There was a hint of romance but it didn’t take off really which is fine for the age range that this book is aimed at.
It was really odd because when I started to read this book there was a distinct Enid Blyton feel to the writing and then blow me down did the author not make a reference to Enid Blyton’s ‘faraway tree’!!!….the irony!!!…I grew up reading ‘Naughty Amelia Jane’, ‘The Wishing Chair’ and ‘The Famous Five’ etc. and reading this book took me right back to those days. Writing styles have changed enormously since then so reading a story with that ‘feel’ about it made it seem dated somehow, it’s hard to explain…… the writing is very clean cut if you know what I mean not quite as gritty as the style we are used to today. There is action and humour and all kinds of typical other world creatures like elves and wizards and dragons that make this an interesting read and I think it is suitable for kids as young as eleven or twelve as well as YA.
Copy supplied for review.
October 13, 2011
I won this book through Goodreads First Read. I hadn't heard of this writer before, and I'm glad I did win because the book was an overall enjoyable read.
Sixteen-year old Darci is an average girl enjoying her high school years playing basketball and hanging out with her friend Kellie. One night she is awoken by a mysterious something, and while investigating is pulled into another world, accidentally, by an apprentice wizard. She soon finds out that her coming to Nahaba was prophesied, and that she, along with 4 others, is to fight a demon that has entered their world. Thus begins her quest.
The story held my interest the whole time, wondering what would happen next. There were some very predictable plot twists, but also others I hadn't anticipated as well. The group of five were all relatively young, and it was good to see the character development as they each went from young, unsure, idealistic, or stoic, to mature adults working together, becoming friends, and ready to take on more. I rooted for Darci as she came into her own and gathered up courage to face the ultimate evil. Not all character changes were for the best, however, much like in real life. The tale is written from an omniscient point of view, usually focusing on Darci. But occasionally, the writer tells us what the other characters are thinking, which is a nice treat as it's usually something interesting. The ending was not as I had anticipated, and it felt more realistic because of it. I know that is a cryptic statement, but to go into any detail would be a spoiler! There was adventure, humor, tragedy, and a bit of romance, a nice mix for a YA novel.
That said, there were some aspects that could have been improved. As mentioned before, some of the plot twists were obvious, almost to the point that they didn't mesh with the characters' established personalities. The ending felt a little rushed, and didn't seem to adequately explain how certain things came to be. There were also some plot developments that seemed unfinished - I am hoping they will be addressed in the next book. Finally, there were several grammar issues (well, vocabulary issues) that are not explained by the difference between Australian and American English ("piece" instead of "peace", "sort" instead of "sought", just to name two). I normally don't pick up on grammar or punctuation until my second read through a book, but these were glaring mistakes that an editor should have noticed and corrected.
I believe this is the writer's first book, and as such I'm usually easier on them - it can take time to get all the kinks worked out, especially in a series such as this. Overall it was a fun read, perfect for pre-teens, and left me with enough questions that I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Tallen . I give this book 3 stars for a solid effort.
Sixteen-year old Darci is an average girl enjoying her high school years playing basketball and hanging out with her friend Kellie. One night she is awoken by a mysterious something, and while investigating is pulled into another world, accidentally, by an apprentice wizard. She soon finds out that her coming to Nahaba was prophesied, and that she, along with 4 others, is to fight a demon that has entered their world. Thus begins her quest.
The story held my interest the whole time, wondering what would happen next. There were some very predictable plot twists, but also others I hadn't anticipated as well. The group of five were all relatively young, and it was good to see the character development as they each went from young, unsure, idealistic, or stoic, to mature adults working together, becoming friends, and ready to take on more. I rooted for Darci as she came into her own and gathered up courage to face the ultimate evil. Not all character changes were for the best, however, much like in real life. The tale is written from an omniscient point of view, usually focusing on Darci. But occasionally, the writer tells us what the other characters are thinking, which is a nice treat as it's usually something interesting. The ending was not as I had anticipated, and it felt more realistic because of it. I know that is a cryptic statement, but to go into any detail would be a spoiler! There was adventure, humor, tragedy, and a bit of romance, a nice mix for a YA novel.
That said, there were some aspects that could have been improved. As mentioned before, some of the plot twists were obvious, almost to the point that they didn't mesh with the characters' established personalities. The ending felt a little rushed, and didn't seem to adequately explain how certain things came to be. There were also some plot developments that seemed unfinished - I am hoping they will be addressed in the next book. Finally, there were several grammar issues (well, vocabulary issues) that are not explained by the difference between Australian and American English ("piece" instead of "peace", "sort" instead of "sought", just to name two). I normally don't pick up on grammar or punctuation until my second read through a book, but these were glaring mistakes that an editor should have noticed and corrected.
I believe this is the writer's first book, and as such I'm usually easier on them - it can take time to get all the kinks worked out, especially in a series such as this. Overall it was a fun read, perfect for pre-teens, and left me with enough questions that I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Tallen . I give this book 3 stars for a solid effort.
September 4, 2011
Review: This gets off to a very quick start. Darci is accidentally zapped into a fantasy world within the first few pages. This is done by apprentice wizard Taslessian. However, being only a apprentice means that he doesn’t know how to send her back. And neither can his master. The only thing they can suggest is that they go find a greater wizard, such as a dragon. Said dragon says that there is nothing they can do about it as she has a greater purpose somewhere. Said purpose is to quest in order to find a way to defeat a demon, Demolish, who has come into the world and upset the magical balance. She can only get home if they succeed. And so with Taslessian, and some others, Darci gets to fight to save the world as they know it.
As I said, a quick start. Then the action keeps coming and coming, hardly slowing down. It kept you interested and you had to be paying attention. At times the descriptions drag on a little too much, when you just want to find out what’s happening without going into too much detail. However, when the action was slightly slowed, the description was interesting. It’s interesting seeing it in third person, when it could easily have been written in first, a format we see more often in young adult, particularly non-realistic books.
Our protagonists are all very likeable. Lief and Taslessian were both incredibly nice, and the love triangle with Darci was somewhat stereotypical but nevertheless nice to see develop. We also got some good backstory, which we had to wait a long while for, thus answering questions we had about the characters. My favourite character is Defyance, the female warrior-especially the way she verbally spars with a dragon. And I loved the dragons too!
Something I didn’t quite get was the sense of time passing. I guess with all the action I didn’t realise the time passing. I only really noticed when it said that Darci’s hair had grown three inches and I was all like “three inches...that’s a lot....but hair grows slowly....THEY’VE REALLY BEEN THERE THAT LONG??”. It’s hard to believe that she was there for a long time.
The story progressed quickly, through all the stages of the typical fantasy book (normality, disturbance, find info, get going, progress, big fight, back to normal/cliffhanger). There was a good mix of action and fantasy, with the romance being only a side extra. The ending was absolutely amazing-a lot of action and a good showdown involving our five heroes, demon Demolish, and evil wizard Domati.
Overall: A great adventure fantasy series I really want to see more of, ie book 2 Tallen. Strength 4.
As I said, a quick start. Then the action keeps coming and coming, hardly slowing down. It kept you interested and you had to be paying attention. At times the descriptions drag on a little too much, when you just want to find out what’s happening without going into too much detail. However, when the action was slightly slowed, the description was interesting. It’s interesting seeing it in third person, when it could easily have been written in first, a format we see more often in young adult, particularly non-realistic books.
Our protagonists are all very likeable. Lief and Taslessian were both incredibly nice, and the love triangle with Darci was somewhat stereotypical but nevertheless nice to see develop. We also got some good backstory, which we had to wait a long while for, thus answering questions we had about the characters. My favourite character is Defyance, the female warrior-especially the way she verbally spars with a dragon. And I loved the dragons too!
Something I didn’t quite get was the sense of time passing. I guess with all the action I didn’t realise the time passing. I only really noticed when it said that Darci’s hair had grown three inches and I was all like “three inches...that’s a lot....but hair grows slowly....THEY’VE REALLY BEEN THERE THAT LONG??”. It’s hard to believe that she was there for a long time.
The story progressed quickly, through all the stages of the typical fantasy book (normality, disturbance, find info, get going, progress, big fight, back to normal/cliffhanger). There was a good mix of action and fantasy, with the romance being only a side extra. The ending was absolutely amazing-a lot of action and a good showdown involving our five heroes, demon Demolish, and evil wizard Domati.
Overall: A great adventure fantasy series I really want to see more of, ie book 2 Tallen. Strength 4.
February 10, 2012
Beneath the Moon and Stars joint review
Jasmine's Review
This book was a perfect change for me. I haven't read a fantasy in forever. This started off exciting then around the middle it got kinda slow and then it picked back up around the end. I fell in love with the characters. Darci's just an ordinary human who gets sucked up into some other world and has no idea whats going on. Taslessian was cute in the beginning but around the middle he kinda got annoying. Lief I absolutely hated at first but by the end I adored him. He somewhat reminded me of the blond elf from lord of the rings :). Maledorian was hilarious and so was Defyance. Defyance's crush on Maledorian was super cute. I absolutely adored all the dragons. I love dragons and I haven't seen them very often in YA. One other thing I loved was how strong Darci became over the course of the book. It started with her always needing someone to protect her but she was incredibly strong by the end. Overall I loved this. I've heard rumors about a sequel and I'm hoping there is one. I highly recommend this :). 4/5 Stars
Jasmine :)
Marissa's Review
I really like fantasy but I don't read a lot of it. I also love books about quests. I love it when a group of characters who have almost nothing in common have to go on this adventure and it takes time and they change and by the time the quest is over they're almost different people. And I loved all the characters. The main character Darci is a normal human girl and she gets thrown into this new world and she handles is so well and I love how she became someone who can fight their own battles. I really liked Taslessian at first but he changes a lot during the book and by the end he's kind of distant. It was the opposite for me with Lief at first I really didn't like him but he was so sweet and he totally grew on me. Maledorian was so funny. He has been waiting his whole life for this quest but at the same time he didn't really know how to handle it at the beginning. Defyance was awesome she was this sort of mysterious warrior woman and I think her and Maledorian have a thing going on. But of course not everyone could live in the end but why did my favorite have to die :(.
I really liked the writing but it was a little confusing at times and there was some typos. Overall I really enjoyed this book there was dragons and ships and magic and it was awesome. 4/5 stars.
-Marissa <3
Jasmine's Review
This book was a perfect change for me. I haven't read a fantasy in forever. This started off exciting then around the middle it got kinda slow and then it picked back up around the end. I fell in love with the characters. Darci's just an ordinary human who gets sucked up into some other world and has no idea whats going on. Taslessian was cute in the beginning but around the middle he kinda got annoying. Lief I absolutely hated at first but by the end I adored him. He somewhat reminded me of the blond elf from lord of the rings :). Maledorian was hilarious and so was Defyance. Defyance's crush on Maledorian was super cute. I absolutely adored all the dragons. I love dragons and I haven't seen them very often in YA. One other thing I loved was how strong Darci became over the course of the book. It started with her always needing someone to protect her but she was incredibly strong by the end. Overall I loved this. I've heard rumors about a sequel and I'm hoping there is one. I highly recommend this :). 4/5 Stars
Jasmine :)
Marissa's Review
I really like fantasy but I don't read a lot of it. I also love books about quests. I love it when a group of characters who have almost nothing in common have to go on this adventure and it takes time and they change and by the time the quest is over they're almost different people. And I loved all the characters. The main character Darci is a normal human girl and she gets thrown into this new world and she handles is so well and I love how she became someone who can fight their own battles. I really liked Taslessian at first but he changes a lot during the book and by the end he's kind of distant. It was the opposite for me with Lief at first I really didn't like him but he was so sweet and he totally grew on me. Maledorian was so funny. He has been waiting his whole life for this quest but at the same time he didn't really know how to handle it at the beginning. Defyance was awesome she was this sort of mysterious warrior woman and I think her and Maledorian have a thing going on. But of course not everyone could live in the end but why did my favorite have to die :(.
I really liked the writing but it was a little confusing at times and there was some typos. Overall I really enjoyed this book there was dragons and ships and magic and it was awesome. 4/5 stars.
-Marissa <3
January 23, 2015
How it starts:
Darci wakes up in the middle of the night feeling as though something’s wrong, someone is in the house. Armed with only an old hockey stick she begins to investigate. Though she finds no one there, another world has appeared just outside of an open window. This portal transports her to the strange land of Nahaba, a whole other world filled with dragons, wizards, knights and other unfamiliar beings. All Darci wants to do is get home, but she did not arrive here by accident. Will she be able to win in an epic battle between evil and the light?
Characters:
I want to start by saying I’ve haven’t read a book with such strange names for characters since reading Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. Taslessian, Maledorian, Defyance, Fritrence, Demolish, Trolog, and Domati are all featured in Quest of the Demon.
It took about 70 pages for the characters to take on form. It was a lot like trying to connect with characters from a fairy tale, you’re told what they are like but they don’t seem real. The characters began to come to life as the book progressed, but I still felt like I was viewing them from a distance.
Plot:
Having a group of characters go on a medieval quest is very unusual in YA today. But I’m glad to say that M.L. Sawyer pulled it off pretty well. The plot of Quest of the Demon did have some unique plot twists. I especially liked how original the ending was. That being said, there are a few over used clichés and some plot holes. There are a few parts of the book, specifically parts having to do with elves, which are rather reminiscent of Lord of the Rings.
Point of View:
Quest of the Demon is written in the Third person omniscient POV (“all-knowing; can include thought and perspective of all characters” *definition found here).
Overall:
Thought it got off to a rather slow start, I ended up enjoying Quest of the Demon. It’s classic medieval fantasy style was an interesting change from the normal YA fare. I’m giving it 3.5 of 5 stars.
Darci wakes up in the middle of the night feeling as though something’s wrong, someone is in the house. Armed with only an old hockey stick she begins to investigate. Though she finds no one there, another world has appeared just outside of an open window. This portal transports her to the strange land of Nahaba, a whole other world filled with dragons, wizards, knights and other unfamiliar beings. All Darci wants to do is get home, but she did not arrive here by accident. Will she be able to win in an epic battle between evil and the light?
Characters:
I want to start by saying I’ve haven’t read a book with such strange names for characters since reading Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. Taslessian, Maledorian, Defyance, Fritrence, Demolish, Trolog, and Domati are all featured in Quest of the Demon.
It took about 70 pages for the characters to take on form. It was a lot like trying to connect with characters from a fairy tale, you’re told what they are like but they don’t seem real. The characters began to come to life as the book progressed, but I still felt like I was viewing them from a distance.
Plot:
Having a group of characters go on a medieval quest is very unusual in YA today. But I’m glad to say that M.L. Sawyer pulled it off pretty well. The plot of Quest of the Demon did have some unique plot twists. I especially liked how original the ending was. That being said, there are a few over used clichés and some plot holes. There are a few parts of the book, specifically parts having to do with elves, which are rather reminiscent of Lord of the Rings.
Point of View:
Quest of the Demon is written in the Third person omniscient POV (“all-knowing; can include thought and perspective of all characters” *definition found here).
Overall:
Thought it got off to a rather slow start, I ended up enjoying Quest of the Demon. It’s classic medieval fantasy style was an interesting change from the normal YA fare. I’m giving it 3.5 of 5 stars.
September 11, 2012
As a teenage girl living in a modern era, the last thing that Darci expected was to be transported to an alternate world, one in which dragons, elves, and ogres live alongside humans. Drawn there through the ineptitude of an apprentice wizard, she finds herself embroiled in a battle against evil that will decide the fate of more realities than one. At least she gets a nifty weapon and some strong allies.
First off, I will say that Quest of the Demon has an interesting premise. The idea of dragons maintaining the balance between good and evil is intriguing, and yet the goal of the supposed balance seems to be skewed to the side of good. At least, it's supposed to be. Add to this unbalanced scale some impossible odds and a strong sense of urgency, and you're suddenly invested in Darci and company and their quest to save the world, so to speak. The author did think up credible background stories for most of the main characters, and they explain a great deal about current behaviors and motivations. Unfortunately, the plot itself is a little disjointed, with subplots that go nowhere and asides that add little to the story or the development of the characters.
Perhaps the story itself would have been easier to follow if it were more readable. Beyond the extensive array of grammatical errors, there was an abundance of proofreading gaffes that made reading the book almost painful at times. In all fairness, the writing quality improved dramatically in the last third of the story, as did the plot, but both flaws returned with a vengeance at the very end. There are only so many times that a reader can excuse the use of "bought" for "brought." Now, I received my review copy over a year ago, so hopefully the book has undergone some editing since then. If not, it sorely needs to undergo some revisions.
On the whole, Quest of the Demon had a lot of unrealized potential. Due to violent content and sexual references, I would not recommend it to readers under the age of thirteen.
Hide and Read
(Review copy provided by the author)
First off, I will say that Quest of the Demon has an interesting premise. The idea of dragons maintaining the balance between good and evil is intriguing, and yet the goal of the supposed balance seems to be skewed to the side of good. At least, it's supposed to be. Add to this unbalanced scale some impossible odds and a strong sense of urgency, and you're suddenly invested in Darci and company and their quest to save the world, so to speak. The author did think up credible background stories for most of the main characters, and they explain a great deal about current behaviors and motivations. Unfortunately, the plot itself is a little disjointed, with subplots that go nowhere and asides that add little to the story or the development of the characters.
Perhaps the story itself would have been easier to follow if it were more readable. Beyond the extensive array of grammatical errors, there was an abundance of proofreading gaffes that made reading the book almost painful at times. In all fairness, the writing quality improved dramatically in the last third of the story, as did the plot, but both flaws returned with a vengeance at the very end. There are only so many times that a reader can excuse the use of "bought" for "brought." Now, I received my review copy over a year ago, so hopefully the book has undergone some editing since then. If not, it sorely needs to undergo some revisions.
On the whole, Quest of the Demon had a lot of unrealized potential. Due to violent content and sexual references, I would not recommend it to readers under the age of thirteen.
Hide and Read
(Review copy provided by the author)
December 30, 2011
Quest of the Demon follows the adventures of Darci, a typical teenager whose life is turned upside down when she is accidentally transported to a new world named ‘Nahaba’ by the wizard apprentice Taslessian. Eager to return home to those she loves, Darci with the aid of Taslessian, sets out to the cave of Grisham the Great who might be able to send her home. However, upon arrival, Darci learns she’s been brought to this new world for a reason and that reason is to save it. So the Quest of the Demon begins...
Quest of the Demon was an action-packed read which successfully captured my attention. Sawyer provides amazing descriptions that allow you to imagine the world of ‘Nahaba’ beautifully. It was especially interesting to read about the different creatures that belong to this world. The plot line was original which I believe has allowed Sawyer to produce a book that is alike to no other on the market right now. It was really refreshing to read a new take on the very popular fantasy genre.
Above all, my favourite aspect to this book was the characterisation. Darci, the protagonist, was easy to relate to. She was your typical teenage girl who has been put in an unfortunate situation. As well as Darci and Taslessian, there were three more main characters. All of which were well developed to the point where I found I actually cared a lot for them, which for me is a rare thing. Each of the characters Sawyer created was unique and compelling in their own way.
The only negative point I can make about this book is that there wasn’t an awful lot of dialogue. The great descriptions make up for this though but I would have like a bit more conversation between the characters. The ending was perfect; I didn’t see it coming at all! It leads perfectly into a subsequent book which I’m very eager to read. A definite must-read for young adults – it has something for everyone!
Quest of the Demon was an action-packed read which successfully captured my attention. Sawyer provides amazing descriptions that allow you to imagine the world of ‘Nahaba’ beautifully. It was especially interesting to read about the different creatures that belong to this world. The plot line was original which I believe has allowed Sawyer to produce a book that is alike to no other on the market right now. It was really refreshing to read a new take on the very popular fantasy genre.
Above all, my favourite aspect to this book was the characterisation. Darci, the protagonist, was easy to relate to. She was your typical teenage girl who has been put in an unfortunate situation. As well as Darci and Taslessian, there were three more main characters. All of which were well developed to the point where I found I actually cared a lot for them, which for me is a rare thing. Each of the characters Sawyer created was unique and compelling in their own way.
The only negative point I can make about this book is that there wasn’t an awful lot of dialogue. The great descriptions make up for this though but I would have like a bit more conversation between the characters. The ending was perfect; I didn’t see it coming at all! It leads perfectly into a subsequent book which I’m very eager to read. A definite must-read for young adults – it has something for everyone!
October 1, 2011
Review copy provided by author.
Darci is an average teen who enjoys basketball and hanging out with her best friend. Investigating an odd noise in the night, she pokes at a curtain only to find herself transported to a land called Nahaba, somehow summoned by an apprentice wizard named Taslessian. He has no idea how to get her back to her world,and then it turns out that there's a larger purpose to her arrival--she is needed to save this world from an evil demon. A wise dragon equips Darci, Taslessian and three others--an elf, a taciturn female warrior, and an intrepid knight--for their quest to rid the world of this demon. Their perilous journey takes them over land and sea where they meet many foes intent on foiling their quest, but they persist until Darci meets the demon.
Quest of the Demon is a fantasy story that uses many standard fantasy devices, like dragons, magical creatures with unpronounceable names, smelly villains with ugly features, fabulous weapons endowed with fantastic powers, and kids who somehow succeed despite enormous odds. It's a fine story if you like fantasies, and I would recommend it for fantasy readers, but don't expect anything extraordinary. It reads well enough (British spellings) and has some lukewarm romance elements, too. It's far too violent and bloody for younger readers, but fine for tweens & teens, ages 12 & up.
Darci is an average teen who enjoys basketball and hanging out with her best friend. Investigating an odd noise in the night, she pokes at a curtain only to find herself transported to a land called Nahaba, somehow summoned by an apprentice wizard named Taslessian. He has no idea how to get her back to her world,and then it turns out that there's a larger purpose to her arrival--she is needed to save this world from an evil demon. A wise dragon equips Darci, Taslessian and three others--an elf, a taciturn female warrior, and an intrepid knight--for their quest to rid the world of this demon. Their perilous journey takes them over land and sea where they meet many foes intent on foiling their quest, but they persist until Darci meets the demon.
Quest of the Demon is a fantasy story that uses many standard fantasy devices, like dragons, magical creatures with unpronounceable names, smelly villains with ugly features, fabulous weapons endowed with fantastic powers, and kids who somehow succeed despite enormous odds. It's a fine story if you like fantasies, and I would recommend it for fantasy readers, but don't expect anything extraordinary. It reads well enough (British spellings) and has some lukewarm romance elements, too. It's far too violent and bloody for younger readers, but fine for tweens & teens, ages 12 & up.
February 1, 2012
Quest of the Demon was an exciting, non-stop, thrilling adventure! Darci, a pretty normal teenager is accidentally transported into a another world called Nahaba. Nahaba is a world filled with magic and terror-- Darci has no idea whats in store for her. Taslessian, the young wizard behind her accidental arrival sets out to take Darci to the cave of Grisham the Great to send her back home. But things quickly go wrong, when others find out there's a offworlder among them. Darci has a target on her back and must fight her way to Grisham the Great. Once there Darci learns there's no accident about her being in Nahaba and shes on a quest that will change her forever!
Quest of the Demon was packed with such great characters that I'm eager to learn more about them. Each brought such life to the story that they'll be hard to forget! I liked that page after page was filled with some type of crazy action! There were beasts of all sorts and plenty of surprises to keep the pages turning. Also in the mix was a hint of romance and humor it makes it hard not to like. Make sure you check it out!
Quest of the Demon was packed with such great characters that I'm eager to learn more about them. Each brought such life to the story that they'll be hard to forget! I liked that page after page was filled with some type of crazy action! There were beasts of all sorts and plenty of surprises to keep the pages turning. Also in the mix was a hint of romance and humor it makes it hard not to like. Make sure you check it out!
November 7, 2011
Now, I know the cover is not all that, but the adventure in this book is awesome! I love reading about time travel (cause I so wish I can do that myself) but the action to follow is great!
What I liked most about this book is the greatness of time travel. I loved that this girl pop into a different place, different time and really was confused. Most of the time, the books I read the characters always find their place right away. But not this one! She demanded to go back home, threw a fit and seriously thought she is crazy! I loved her sarcastic comments, but also like her wiliness to do what it takes to get back home.
The main character, Darci, went through some major changes.I like that she went from break down to don't you mess with me. Along the plot line, the reader sees Darci become stronger and accept her fate. The love interest was not quite what I expected but still loved watching it.
If you want a unique fresh take on dragons, time travel and destiny read this book. The pages in it are filled with legend, sorcerers and magic like I never seen before!
What I liked most about this book is the greatness of time travel. I loved that this girl pop into a different place, different time and really was confused. Most of the time, the books I read the characters always find their place right away. But not this one! She demanded to go back home, threw a fit and seriously thought she is crazy! I loved her sarcastic comments, but also like her wiliness to do what it takes to get back home.
The main character, Darci, went through some major changes.I like that she went from break down to don't you mess with me. Along the plot line, the reader sees Darci become stronger and accept her fate. The love interest was not quite what I expected but still loved watching it.
If you want a unique fresh take on dragons, time travel and destiny read this book. The pages in it are filled with legend, sorcerers and magic like I never seen before!
April 16, 2012
Darci’s not in Kansas anymore….
One night Darci wakes up and discovers a light shining through the curtain and ends up in another realm. Pulled through to Nahaba by an apprentice wizard, she’s a stranger in a strange land and wants to go home. However, the apprentice (Taslessian) and his Master cannot send her back. Darci will need to complete a quest to return home. As all quests are, Darci’s is fraught with danger, warlocks, and dragons.
Quest of the Demon was a quick and enjoyable read. The characters were likeable and Darci isn’t a drama queen. She’s very down to earth, using her wits and sarcasm to deal with the situation she’s found herself in. It was good to see the characters grow throughout the story and they weren’t one-note/one-dimensional. A great YA book which can easily be enjoyed by younger audiences, too.
Series: Quest of the Demon (1), Tallen (Quest of the Demon Aftermath #1)
One night Darci wakes up and discovers a light shining through the curtain and ends up in another realm. Pulled through to Nahaba by an apprentice wizard, she’s a stranger in a strange land and wants to go home. However, the apprentice (Taslessian) and his Master cannot send her back. Darci will need to complete a quest to return home. As all quests are, Darci’s is fraught with danger, warlocks, and dragons.
Quest of the Demon was a quick and enjoyable read. The characters were likeable and Darci isn’t a drama queen. She’s very down to earth, using her wits and sarcasm to deal with the situation she’s found herself in. It was good to see the characters grow throughout the story and they weren’t one-note/one-dimensional. A great YA book which can easily be enjoyed by younger audiences, too.
Series: Quest of the Demon (1), Tallen (Quest of the Demon Aftermath #1)
May 14, 2012
I always wondered what would happened if I got transported to another world. How would I act? Would I be scared? Probably. I think that any person who was transported to an unknown world would be scared just as much as me.
When first reading this book and finding out that someone was going to be transported to another world, the first thought that crossed my mind was that this person was going to be fine and act like nothing was wrong. This girl was beyond fine.
Throughout this story of adventue, you see the main character, Darci, grow from a girl scared of where she ended up to a girl who shows the strength to not let anything to stand in her way. For her, time travel is about to be redefined.
A book filled with time traveling, and a destiny that must be fulfilled, and of course drgons. Can't leave out the dragon. This book is one that one must check out.
I give this book 4 souls!
July 24, 2011
The book starts out when Darci is brought to another world by an inexperienced wizard named Taslessian. They quickly figure out that she is in a lot of danger because an evil wizard wants to capture her so he can become stronger and do more evil things. The classic evil wizard trying to take over the world. Along the way they run into trouble and then they meet the powerful dragon Grisham who tells the two that a war is going on between the North and South and they will have to participate in it.
Overall I thought the book was pretty good. Some parts kind of drug on especially the parts leading up to the battles. I liked the relationship between Darci and Taslessian, and I'm interested in how it will progress. If you are looking for a fantasy novel with interesting characters and quite a bit of action you have found your book. I rate this 3 out of 5 stars!
Overall I thought the book was pretty good. Some parts kind of drug on especially the parts leading up to the battles. I liked the relationship between Darci and Taslessian, and I'm interested in how it will progress. If you are looking for a fantasy novel with interesting characters and quite a bit of action you have found your book. I rate this 3 out of 5 stars!
April 19, 2011
This is a really good YA book that I bought direct from the author as she signed it for me :)
I related really well with the main character who is thrust into an unknown world mainly because she is ordinary. Not some magnificent being able to lightly jump over all obsticals, but one who struggles through the challenges that are put before her.
It is a fantasy novel, a bit of humour, a hint of romance and a fair bit of action with a surprise ending that I rather enjoyed for its uniqueness.
Recommended for those who like Tomara Pearce, Isobelle Carmondy and other good YA adventure / fantasy novels.
I related really well with the main character who is thrust into an unknown world mainly because she is ordinary. Not some magnificent being able to lightly jump over all obsticals, but one who struggles through the challenges that are put before her.
It is a fantasy novel, a bit of humour, a hint of romance and a fair bit of action with a surprise ending that I rather enjoyed for its uniqueness.
Recommended for those who like Tomara Pearce, Isobelle Carmondy and other good YA adventure / fantasy novels.
September 5, 2011
Not much to really SAY about this book.. Other than I LOVED it!
It took me ages to read, what with my work being so crowded and having other things to read about. But I have to say, when I finally got around to it, I really enjoyed myself. I loved the steadily growing relationship between Tas and Darci, I really do.
Specially that yummy kiss, oh my.
The battle was a great part of the book, as good as the romance in fact. I enjoy fighting sequences, because they're usualy tough to pull off effectively, so you can visualise it on you head; but she did a great job!
It took me ages to read, what with my work being so crowded and having other things to read about. But I have to say, when I finally got around to it, I really enjoyed myself. I loved the steadily growing relationship between Tas and Darci, I really do.
Specially that yummy kiss, oh my.
The battle was a great part of the book, as good as the romance in fact. I enjoy fighting sequences, because they're usualy tough to pull off effectively, so you can visualise it on you head; but she did a great job!
August 17, 2011
Sawyer has created a non-stop action piece in which Darci, accidentally transported to Nahaba, must go on a quest in order to get back home. What I really enjoyed about this novel was the immense characterization. All the characters are extremely in-depth and well rounded, giving the reader the feeling of personally knowing them all. I also enjoyed that this is not a traditional good versus evil story...
To read my full review (9/16):
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
To read my full review (9/16):
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
August 27, 2011
The book is very action packed; with something happening at every turn. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I was a young adult. I found that I was pushing myself to keep reading a few times throughout the novel. If you like more fantasy type novels without too much romance, you will probably like this. Overall, it was likeable. And chances are I'd probably read the sequel.
April 27, 2011
This book is awesome!
It sets up the ending perfectly.
I hope there is a sequel because the only down side to the book is that I want more.
It sets up the ending perfectly.
I hope there is a sequel because the only down side to the book is that I want more.
May 16, 2011
I read this book in a day. I loved the characters and the depth of the world. Her animals were new and original, and the adventure was exciting. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
August 16, 2011
review coming soon
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October 24, 2011This is the paperback cover for my book.
April 9, 2011
This is my book, so I'm not reviewing it. Please feel free to let me know what you think!
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