Seeds of Discovery (Dusk Gate Chronicles, #1) by Breeana Puttroff

Oct 05, 2012 Midu Hadi rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA readers

Shelves: 212books, family, fantasy, humor, nature, plagues-and-other-diseases, really-ya, science, series, alternate-dimensions-worlds, doctors-healers

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Mar 10, 2012 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, series, fantasy, young-adult

I really liked this book. It had kind of a slow take off but got much more interesting when Quinn finally "crossed over". I felt it took too long at the beginning by focusing on following a boy she barely knew. The drama in the new world had some intriguing aspects that certainly lays the groundwork for more stories in future books. I especially appreciated the fact that the author didn't answer all the questions or solve all the problems presented before the end of the book. It leaves the reade...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-requests-i-signed-up-for, reviewed

I simply adored this book! Breeana has created a world with a beautiful kingdom (which for some reason tends to be the only historical fiction I enjoy...actually change that to LOVE. For whatever reason I have always been a sucker for tales with castles, kingdoms, and court life.) But before I go on, let's talk a bit about characters.

Seeds of Discovery introduces readers to a vast array of characters, while in most cases this can lead to very confusing and unpleasant reading, Breeana has created...more I simply adored this book! Breeana has created a world with a beautiful kingdom (which for some reason tends to be the only historical fiction I enjoy...actually change that to LOVE. For whatever reason I have always been a sucker for tales with castles, kingdoms, and court life.) But before I go on, let's talk a bit about characters.

Seeds of Discovery introduces readers to a vast array of characters, while in most cases this can lead to very confusing and unpleasant reading, Breeana has created unique characters, where even in a kingdom full of princes and princesses the reader can still tell who each one is, and more importantly who they all are as people. In Seeds of Discovery the reader will meet some key characters, Quinn who's story we read, William the boy that leads Quinn to find this amazing discovery, and two of Williams siblings (Thomas, full of all his charm, being the new boy added to my book boyfriend list). I feel like it is so important to talk about characters because as a reader this is personal what makes or breaks the story for me, I need to know these characters can be as real as you or I otherwise the story becomes just that, a story, not a new adventure, a new world - where I can explore, learn, and discover.

Not only has Breeana managed to deliver a wonderful cast of characters to go on this journey, she has also fabricated a wonderful and believable kingdom. Is this another world? An alternate dimension? Whatever it may be, for as grand as castle life is, not everything in this world is perfect. Breeana takes the reader for a journey where I see war in the future (not to spoil anything because I could be totally wrong, I just see this coming). Why do I think war may be on the horizon? Ah, well you had better start reading. I would love to get someone else's input on my suspicion.

The only unfortunate thing I will mention is that this book leaves off at a very unsatisfactory point. Granted this has not marred my personal enjoyment of the book because I have the second on my self and the third on its way. My only concern being when I can get the fourth. Beyond that minor concern this was a great story. I found myself often just waiting until I could pick it back up and read more. Even now I find myself day dreaming about a trip to this world (and maybe a dance with Thomas :) ). 4 out of 5 stars for the great start to the series, I can not wait to read more. (and if you couldn't tell if I gave out half stars this certainly would have been 4.5).

NOTE! This review is of the FIRST EDITION of Seeds of Discovery, there is a newer version out now.(less)

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Dec 04, 2011 Ray Bliss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-first-reads

11-24-2011

“Seeds of Discovery” by Breeana Puttroff is a fun book. Quinn is a teenage girl that finds a bridge to an alternate world named Eirentheos, a beautiful medieval world that seems to have no crime or pollution. The first half of the book, I was beginning to think that characters were to unbelievably nice/perfect to be plausible, but then in steps the villain Tolliver, and from there the story really took off for me.

I finished this book in a day, and really enjoyed the plot. Quinn has a...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first few chapters had some annoying moments, but by the time she figures out his secret I was hooked.

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Mar 03, 2013 Mary Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm

In a freak accident, Quinn tries to understand some mystery surrounding William, a schoolmate, and some freaky things happening after the accident. Baffled by what is happening in her life, Quinn manages to follow William walking through a broken bridge. A bridge that connect to a world that Quinn never thought would have existed.

I love Quinn. She's sweet, down to earth, caring and just plain adorable. You can definitely feel the love she has for her fam...more Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm

In a freak accident, Quinn tries to understand some mystery surrounding William, a schoolmate, and some freaky things happening after the accident. Baffled by what is happening in her life, Quinn manages to follow William walking through a broken bridge. A bridge that connect to a world that Quinn never thought would have existed.

I love Quinn. She's sweet, down to earth, caring and just plain adorable. You can definitely feel the love she has for her family. With what happened to her, its not a mystery when she decides to investigate the creepy things that keeps on happening. It all surrounds a mysterious boy named William. Nobody really knows about him. He is secluded and shy. Keeps to himself and doesn't seem to have any friends. Upon entering William's world, Quinn will see a different side to William that she wouldn't think possible.

Puttroff created a great amount of characters. We don't only have Quinn and her family and friends but we will also be introduced to a different set in Will's world and that includes royalties. :) Imagine meeting a family with 13 kids, excluding extended family and friends. That is a lot of characters but Puttroff created each one uniquely memorable and personable. I can't help myself having favorites among them.

Comparing William to Thomas, Will's brother, I like Thomas better. He is indeed a charmer. I love his mild and carefree attitude and he's the epitome of a real gentleman. I enjoy reading his relationship with Quinn. They just eased and click with one another but there is little evidence of being a love interest so far. Nothing rushed and no emotion to forced to be considered unrealistic. Speaking of love interest, this is one thing I enjoyed most with Seeds of Discovery. Although there wasn't a lack of male presence in the book, the story wasn't centered on Quinn having a love interest. This isn't a story driven by romance. Its more of a story about friendship, love in general, and a good mystery.

Eirentheos was a beautifully written and developed world. A very beautiful and realistic kingdom that I would love to visit. I enjoyed reading the mystique and marvel of William's world. It was more like the real world but not quite. The author wrote the world and gave a good amount of history for the readers to work with. There wasn't any informational dumping, word fluffing or rushed narration.

Overall, I fell in love with Seeds of Discovery the moment Quinn walked on that bridge. I hope Roots of Insight can outmatch and exceed my expectation because Seeds of Discovery finished at a high bar and a very good note. If you wish to find and start a fantasy series, you might want to pick this book up. I guarantee a story with good set of characters, beautifully crafted world, an author with good writing skills and a story that can hook you until the last page. :)(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Seeds of Discovery is a fantastic introduction into the world of Eirentheos. Ms Puttroff has a wonderful style of writing that takes the reader straight into the other world and follows along with Quinn Robin on her investigation into the mystery of William Rose. The contrasting worlds are in such vivid detail that the reader can picture it perfectly.

Quinn Robins is a typical teenager, going along her daily life until one afternoon after picking her little sister up from her carer, Quinn almost...more Seeds of Discovery is a fantastic introduction into the world of Eirentheos. Ms Puttroff has a wonderful style of writing that takes the reader straight into the other world and follows along with Quinn Robin on her investigation into the mystery of William Rose. The contrasting worlds are in such vivid detail that the reader can picture it perfectly.

Quinn Robins is a typical teenager, going along her daily life until one afternoon after picking her little sister up from her carer, Quinn almost hits a boy she goes to school with, William Rose. The next minute she sees flashing hazard lights down the road and William is there. Parking she finds the car had crashed and William is attending to the man with a major head injury. Quinn helps William and then he disappears again.

Everywhere Quinn goes, she seems to see William. Almost every thought is about what William is doing and where he is going. She is so distracted her friends at school even notice. She is determined to find out where William goes and why. Driving home again she spots him walking along the side of the road, so she follows again, watching as he walks down by the river when her little sister gets out of the car, Quinn’s attention is taken away from William for all of 30 seconds and he has disappeared again.

In the meantime, picking Annie (Quinn’s little sister) up from her carer, Zander opens the door. They have been friends since they were toddlers and ever since Zander started high school, he shied away. But now, he is interested and asks Quinn out on a date to a party; Quinn is so excited.

With Quinn’s determination, she follows William one Friday afternoon. She has decided to find out once and for all what is going on and to never take her eyes off him. Following behind, she spots William down by the river again. Crouching behind a boulder, she watches at William walks up a couple of steps and then disappears. Quinn is confused and steps up to see if William somehow fell over the edge, but upon checking, she discovers he disappeared into another world, Eirentheos.

Quinn falls down the other side and into this new world. William is there to help her, but he is in shock that she actually followed him. Her leg is cut deeply and after walking for a bit, Quinn feels faint and nauseous, next everything is black. Quinn passes out and awakes in a castle.

Everything is so strange to Quinn, but it feels so familiar and comfortable at the same time. How can another world exist and why is William coming and going? Quinn gets little explanation and finds out she is stuck for 10 days in Eirentheos; the gate doesn’t open again until Sunday evening. Quinn is disoriented, but there is nothing she can do about it now.

Quinn gets entertained by William’s family; she goes on an adventure and helps investigate a mystery, an illness that is plaguing the townsfolk in a village not too far from the Castle. Quinn discovers that this world, without technology, without modern medicine, is such a beautiful and unique place, how will she ever be able to return home untouched?

What will happen with her relationship with Zander? Can she still act normal once she returns home? Will they solve the mystery of the illness that is spreading? How will her relationship with William change once they go home?

I fell in love with this new world that Breeana Puttroff created. The Castle, William’s family antics and Thomas (William’s brother) being the funny light hearted character that he is, brings everything together and makes one awesome adventure story. This book has everything, laughter, family fun, teenage romance, adventure, action, mystery and magic. I highly recommend this series to everyone that loves a fantasy.
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Feb 18, 2013 Bella rated it 4 of 5 stars

WOW, I loved it and I am so happy Breeana and GoodChoiceReading let me reads this one!

Seeds of Discovery follows Quinn in her high school years, while still taking on lots of responsibility. Then after an almost near hit accident on the road almost hitting William a classmate that keep mostly to him self, things start to change. She starts to get a little more curious of William and why he keeps vanishing. This leads Quinn into a world she seems she can’t get out of. Will she get home? Will she...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Momma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-received-for-review, ya

YA is quickly becoming my favorite genre.. It's books like these that have deepened my love for it.

Seeds of Discovery surprised me by how quickly it pulled me in and held me fast! It's a quick ride on a rollercoaster- hold on because once you start the series, you won't be able to stop until you have read it all !

Quinn is a typical teenage girl- one that anyone can relate to. Just as she starts dating Zander, a boy she's known all her life, she finds herself with an unquenchable curiosity about...more YA is quickly becoming my favorite genre.. It's books like these that have deepened my love for it.

Seeds of Discovery surprised me by how quickly it pulled me in and held me fast! It's a quick ride on a rollercoaster- hold on because once you start the series, you won't be able to stop until you have read it all !

Quinn is a typical teenage girl- one that anyone can relate to. Just as she starts dating Zander, a boy she's known all her life, she finds herself with an unquenchable curiosity about William Rose. William has always been quiet and withdrawn. Yet now that Quinn has taken notice of him, she can't seem to quit following him, almost stalking him, trying to find out his secret.. And BOY does she! Becoming just a little too nosy (curiosity did kill the cat, after all ) she tumbles thru a gate and ends up in a different world entirely.

Forced to spend 10days in Williams world, Quinn quickly falls in love with his friends and family. It's like being in a fairy tale. Everyone treats her with love and kindness despite not knowing her at all. It's very fishy to me. Who does that? What does everyone know that we don't??

The story moves along at a nice pace with so much happening. Quinn returns to her own world and is now torn between her friends and family here, and Williams family that she met so briefly yet felt instantly close to.

I could not put it down. I am always impressed when new authors can capture an audience like Breeana did! I immediately finished Seeds of Discovery and cracked open Roots of Insight (book 2) to find out what happened next.. Amazingly, the minute ROI was done, I clicked on the link in the back of the book and instantly went and purchased Thorns of Decision (book 3). Oh the cliffhangers that Breeana leaves us with! It's almost cruel and unusual punishment! I think each book in the series gets better and better, although that doesn't seem possible! Alas, I have no more amazon gift card left and so sadly, I was left hanging at the end of TOD.. Unable to read Blooms of Consequence (book 4- the final book), I will be left to sit here and re-read the first three..

5++ Stars- worthy of buying in print copy to keep and enjoy more !:)
*Note- this review originally appeared on my blog. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. *(less)

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Feb 14, 2013 Zachary Flye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Protagonist: Quinn Robbins isn't popular nor is she looked down on as a nerd, geek, or freak. She's one of those who coasts in the middle and makes good grades. She care passionately for her two little siblings and considers herself to have a normal life, that is until she almost runs over William Rose who almost seemed to vanish from her way. Soon, after some snooping she finds herself in his world, a medieval one where William is a prince and she has no way to get back home for ten days. Quinn...more Protagonist: Quinn Robbins isn't popular nor is she looked down on as a nerd, geek, or freak. She's one of those who coasts in the middle and makes good grades. She care passionately for her two little siblings and considers herself to have a normal life, that is until she almost runs over William Rose who almost seemed to vanish from her way. Soon, after some snooping she finds herself in his world, a medieval one where William is a prince and she has no way to get back home for ten days. Quinn is a great character and is very smart and perceptive. My only problem with her is that she doesn't have too much character development which can be a real turn off, but then again I guess adjusting to a medieval world could count as character development.

Romance: So this book is a bit lacking in the romance department, however with so much going on in this book to have it be in a any way overshadowed by a romance would have only led to this book losing stars. That being said there is a bit of romance in the beginning of this book that definitely helped move it along since the beginning was a bit slow. There is no real love triangle, yet, and even though I know one is bound to show up I kind of like the relationships the way they are.

World-Building: Quinn finds herself in Eirentheos, a place that could have been pulled straight form a fairy tale, it full of wondrous flora and fauna, as well as a touch of magic. The kingdom is ruled over by extraordinary pair of rulers whose caring and kindness seems to know no bounds. As well their thirteen children, or at least those we see seem to share their parents' kindness. There isn't too much that we learn about the kingdoms that wouldn't spoil this book so I'll leave it at that.

Predictability: So in the beginning I had assumed that this would have been one of those books that just flows without nearly any foreshadowing save a few moments her and there, but soon it picks up into some fairly predictable moments and some not so foreseeable ones as well. I loved the use of foreshadowing and that's probably due to the fact that the last book I finished had next to none, and appreciated that eve though I could predict some moments it only helped the book for me.

Ending: So the ending was a great set-up for the the next book, or so I assume since I have yet to read it. It solves just enough mysteries, leaving more in it's wake to hopefully be solved in the next installment. It wan't too big of a cliffhanger, and I'm not itching to go back into this world (especially since I have The Indigo Spell that I haven't even opened yet) but I do know that I'm going to continue this series in the near future and will bring you guys my thoughts when I do.

Overall, I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars, it was a bit slow in the beginning, but once it started to speed up I grew more intrigued and fascinated in the story and it became a lot quicker to finish. I would say definitely go pick it up from Amazon especially because it's FREE indefinitely.(less)

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Jan 30, 2013 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, magical, mystery, romance, ya

GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Magic/Romance
RECEIVED: Amazon
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
Seeds of Discovery is a cute and magical introduction of the first book in the Dusk Gate Chronicles. There was a lot of mystery as the lead character discovers a world beyond her world.

Seeds of Discovery follows Quinn Robins a young high school girl who takes on a lot of responsibility. After an accident one stormy night, she becomes curious of her fellow classmate William when he disappears from th...more GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Magic/Romance
RECEIVED: Amazon
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
Seeds of Discovery is a cute and magical introduction of the first book in the Dusk Gate Chronicles. There was a lot of mystery as the lead character discovers a world beyond her world.

Seeds of Discovery follows Quinn Robins a young high school girl who takes on a lot of responsibility. After an accident one stormy night, she becomes curious of her fellow classmate William when he disappears from the scene. Her curiosity takes over and she follows William into another world and finds out why William has always been so secretive.

Quinn at the beginning you can already tell is a smart, responsible and well-rounded young girl. I liked how she was always helping her mother out and really had a strong relationship with her siblings. On the other hand I thought she made some questionable actions throughout the story. First there is a scene in the beginning where she sees a car pulled off the road, after she thought she almost hit someone. She leaves her younger sister in the car to check it out. As a younger sister my mother would of screamed at my older sister if she left me alone in the car to check out a strange car. Another was how curious she became of William after one encounter, almost obsessive. I didn’t quite understand the need to find out more about him. Other than that I curious to see what she does next after her discovery and now trying to go back to her normal life.

There was actually quite a bit of characters introduced for a first book. I really enjoyed Williams’s family and how welcoming they were to Quinn. My favorite had to be Thomas, I almost feel like he should have been the male lead instead of William; he had more of that spark I look for. Even though I always like romance in my books, I was thrilled to read a book with no insta-love. There are hints of romance with great potential and I cant wait to see where Quinns heart goes.

Overall this was a quick read with lots of characters to love. Also a world with tons of mystery and possibly some kingdom rivalry with a mean prince named Tolliver at the helm of it. The mystery was interesting and I’m curious to how it started. I did wish there was some better connection between William and Quinn, there was just no spark for me that wanted them together. I look forward to seeing what happens next for Quinn now that she’s discovered Williams’ secret.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel that’s short and sweet; I feel would even be suitable for MG readers. Fans of Harry Potter by R.K. Rowling and Graceling Realm series by Kristin Cashore will enjoy Seeds of Discover by Breeana Puttroff.
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Jan 29, 2013 Misty Baker rated it 5 of 5 stars

** A 4.5 Review **

There comes a moment in everyones life (so I assume) when you realize you have officially lost your marbles. I actually thought that moment came last month when I openly admitted to a friend that I was in love with a mute bright blue alien (don’t ask) but apparently I was wrong. This weekend, like most weekends (or every freaking day if I’m being honest) I decided all I wanted to do was read. I had a list of things on my TBR that needed to be knocked out before next month, and...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Katie O'sullivan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

The elevator pitch of "Narnia meets Cinderella" is an apt one. If you like fairy tales and quests, this might be right up your alley!

High school junior Quinn Robbins follows a mysterious boy and finds her way into a totally different world, the Kingdom of Eirentheos. She has a full plate at home, helping care for her siblings, going on her first (very innocent) date with a hot senior football player, classes and her after school job at the library... but there's something about the quiet boy Wil...more

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Dec 20, 2012 D.M. Dutcher rated it 2 of 5 stars

There's some nice changes from the typical YA books, but not much happens in this volume, to the point where you wonder why the fantasy trappings at all.

Quinn is a level-headed teenage girl who stumbles upon an accident. The quiet, reclusive William is also there, and he tends to the victim's wounds. Quinn's curiosity is aroused by him, so she follows him around until one day she steps through a gate into another world, where William is a prince. Unfortunately she seems to be stuck there...

It's...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Going in to Seeds of Discovery was like walking in to a blank room. I hadn't read the synopsis. I only knew that the book cover was gorgeous and it was Fantasy, so of course I'd read it. That was the best possible choice! I went in knowing nothing, and fell in love all the more for it. Let me start out by saying one simple word: immersive. This is the type of book that will grab you, pull you in, and lock you in the world that it builds around you.

Quinn Robbins is such a great character. She's s...more Going in to Seeds of Discovery was like walking in to a blank room. I hadn't read the synopsis. I only knew that the book cover was gorgeous and it was Fantasy, so of course I'd read it. That was the best possible choice! I went in knowing nothing, and fell in love all the more for it. Let me start out by saying one simple word: immersive. This is the type of book that will grab you, pull you in, and lock you in the world that it builds around you.

Quinn Robbins is such a great character. She's sweet, just popular enough, and down to earth. She manages to be both bookish and a social person at the same time! Go figure that you can have both those qualities, right? From the very beginning I fell in love with her demeanor. Quinn is the type of girl that I saw a little bit of myself in, from all different facets. Following her is so enjoyable that it's easy to get lost in the story.

The other characters aren't overshadowed though. William, Thomas, and all the rest shine in their own way as well. Puttroff builds a cast of characters that makes it easy to see why Quinn becomes so torn near the end of the book. If I had to choose between two wonderful existences, I'm not sure which one I would choose either. William was especially wonderful. I liked the slow growth that he showed as he opened up to Quinn. These are characters who make it simple to fall in step with them. It really enhances the story.

As for pacing, overall Seeds of Discovery is extremely well done. It does start out a little slow admittedly. Mostly to build back story for what is to come. Once Quinn steps foot into the new world, everything changes. I know that sometimes it is tough as a reader to completely immerse yourself in the world that the author builds. For me, that wasn't the case here at all. When Quinn stepped foot into William's world, so did I. I could smell flowers and see buildings. Breeana Puttroff doesn't over-describe, but still manages to allow you to get the full effect.

I know this review is getting long, so I'll stop here! Minus a few small issues I had as a reader, I really fell head over heels in love with Seeds of Discovery. This just once again proves to me that just because a book is Indie doesn't mean it can't be amazing! Breeana Puttroff's book is the whole package. Beautifully written, easy to immerse yourself in, and a joy to read. Lovers of Fantasy novels, rejoice. This is one that you'll want to read again and again. The best part? There's more to the series! I can't wait.(less)

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Jun 05, 2012 Phaedra Seabolt rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was rather surprised with this story. I really didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. Quinn is your average high school girl who is just trying to get through her homework, take care of her little brother and sister, and make sure her mom comes home to a happy household. Everything changes when she has a weird interaction with two boys that she kind of thought didn't even know she existed. The first was a long time friend of hers who is the son of her sister's babysitter. S...more I was rather surprised with this story. I really didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. Quinn is your average high school girl who is just trying to get through her homework, take care of her little brother and sister, and make sure her mom comes home to a happy household. Everything changes when she has a weird interaction with two boys that she kind of thought didn't even know she existed. The first was a long time friend of hers who is the son of her sister's babysitter. She goes to pick up her sister and Zander is there watching Annie instead of his mom. He has changed a lot since Quinn noticed him last. He has turned into a muscular and attractive guy instead of the small boy she played with. What she is surprised about is that he invites herto go to a party that night. Quinn is not the party type. She takes care of her family and concentrates on trying to do well in school. She is shocked and doesn't know what to say, but promises to talk to her mom about it.

The second event that that changes her life even more drastically than being asked out by a cute guy is when she's driving home from Zander's. She literally almost hits William with her car. William however doesn't even notice. It happens so fast and William is gone before Quinn even notices, that Quinn isn't even sure she really almost hit him. This starts Quinn's obsession with William even though it does appear that she just might be deeply interested in Zander. However, her life turns into a secret spy. She starts following William and purposely trying to run into him in order to see what he does all day. She even stalks him to the spot where she almost ran him over. This leads her to a place where he keeps mysteriously disappearing. She follows him literally to another world where she learns many new things. You will need to read the story to find out where she goes and what happens in this new world. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about the new world than he life on Earth. I found the story intriguing and had trouble putting it down on my vacation. It's a great story for young adults and adults alike. I am looking forward to the next one!

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Jun 04, 2012 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-of-age, relationships, romance, young-adult, scifi-fantasy

An enjoyable fast-flowing young adult novel with interesting characters, intriguing situations, and a fascinating fantasy world, Breeana Puttroff’s The Seeds of Discovery is a good opening novel to the author's intended trilogy. The story has a good mix of completeness and mystery by its end, leaving this reader both satisfied and ready for more.

The heroine is suitably ordinary—no super-powers, nor super-wisdom or strength. She makes very real mistakes in her actions and her relationships, makin...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Seeds of Discovery is an amazing YA Novel that instantly drags you in with the mystery and suspense elements right from the beginning. I have yet to find a more artfully written novel that combines mystery with fantasy in my years of reading.

I never know what to expect from independent authors who are not represented by the large publishers. I came upon this book by accident, through contact with the author on a blogging site. When I sat down to read, my mind was a blank slate, trying to have n...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a find!
I’m always looking to add titles to my Kindle app and I stumbled into this series. I found myself enjoying this book immensely and was pleasantly surprised.
I remember reading Stephen R Donaldson’s Mirror of her Dreams series when I was in middle school. That story also involved a story of an ‘our world’ girl who crosses to another realm and meets up with a boy and his interesting family. I also remember that that particular series was a bit more mature for me but I loved the premise...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Ning rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was such a sweet story. Quinn is your typical teenager, kind of shy, but still social enough. She almost ran over William Rose one day, and suddenly became very curious about the boy, so started to “stalk” him. Seriously, what she did was stalker behavior, but she really didn’t have any ulterior motives, other than curiosity.

Quinn is a very likable character. Different from the a lot YA heroine these days, she has no super powers, nothing special, but she’s a very sweet girl and cries easi...more This was such a sweet story. Quinn is your typical teenager, kind of shy, but still social enough. She almost ran over William Rose one day, and suddenly became very curious about the boy, so started to “stalk” him. Seriously, what she did was stalker behavior, but she really didn’t have any ulterior motives, other than curiosity.

Quinn is a very likable character. Different from the a lot YA heroine these days, she has no super powers, nothing special, but she’s a very sweet girl and cries easily, but I couldn’t get annoyed at her either. The other characters are very nice. I don’t think there’s one that I didn’t like, except for Tolliver of course, but that’s kind of understandable since he is the “evil” one. I did think that having thirteen children was shocking, no matter how many twins there’re. I just can’t imagine that!

I’m kind of curious as to see where the romantic elements go, or if there is any. From the looks of it, there should be, but nothing concrete as the end of the book. It didn’t seem like Quinn liked any one of the boys better than the other. Also, only Zander seem to truly show an interest in her. William is still kind of an enigma, and Thomas is the kind of guy who treats everyone the same.

The book was very well written. I liked the world the author thought up. It’s fantasy, but not a lot of high fantasy elements, like magic and other races and such, but just a parallel world kind of different from our own, but still a world that caught my imagination. The plot overall wasn’t filled with obstacles or life or death situations, but just about Quinn and her adventures in this new world she discovered.

Only thing that bothered me was the ending. Though it’s first in a series, the book ended too abruptly. It’s like the author couldn’t find a good place to end the book so just decided on that chapter. With the last paragraph, the book definitely didn’t sound like it was over. It just stopped. No overall conclusion to wrap up the story.

Despite that, I will definitely read the next in the series!

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: The author provided a copy of the book as part of a blog tour.

Ning @ Reading by Kindle Fire
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Jan 03, 2012 Better Read Than Dead (Kelly & Kristin) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-paranormal

Simply put...Wow! I have to honestly say that Seeds of Discovery was a supremely pleasant surprise. I don't think I would have ever read this book if not for this tour and I would have truly missed out. Many of you know that I review a great deal of independent writer's. It is books like Seeds of Discovery that make me sad that I am cutting back on those for a while. This is truly a book to be devoured.

My first reaction to Quinn was that she needed to mind her own business and pay attention to t...more
Simply put...Wow! I have to honestly say that Seeds of Discovery was a supremely pleasant surprise. I don't think I would have ever read this book if not for this tour and I would have truly missed out. Many of you know that I review a great deal of independent writer's. It is books like Seeds of Discovery that make me sad that I am cutting back on those for a while. This is truly a book to be devoured.

My first reaction to Quinn was that she needed to mind her own business and pay attention to the people already vying for her attention. However, as the story continues, it is obvious that her fate is intertwined with those in Eirentheos, especially Will and Thomas. She is smart, kind, and caring. I actually felt a little embarrassed for her at different times during the story but she was always brave and handled the unknown with the utmost grace. Her reactions weren't super-heroic but refreshingly teenagerish.

Quinn finds herself in another world...literally. This world is filled with the kindest people you will ever meet...well, with the exception of Tolliver who should probably be drowned. Quinn quickly becomes friends with William's entire family, much to his chagrin. Her and Thomas become inseparable...and I can see why. He is charming, funny, and outgoing. He is handsome.

Soon after Quinn arrives, her life becomes endangered. She is forced to travel the realm of this unknown world with William, Nathaniel, and Thomas. Children around Eirentheos have become deathly ill with a mysterious disease. William and Nathaniel are needed to tend to these children as they are healers. Little do they realize that Quinn will be invaluable in finding a cure for this strange disease - without even knowing it. She kind of has a intuition about these kind of things.

The only thing I can really say is I wish there had been more. The book was a fun and quick read and when I finished I only wanted more. More of Quinn, more of Zander, more of Thomas...oh how I love Thomas, more of William, more of everyone. Thank goodness Roots of Insight releases January 9, 2012.(less)

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Nov 04, 2011 Nicole Storey rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was another one of those that grabbed a hold of me at the beginning and would not let go. Quinn Robbins is your typical teenage girl-a little on the shy side, but she has friends and one of them, Zander (a boy who has been her friend since she was little), has taken an interest in her. Her life is pretty darn good until she nearly hits a boy crossing the road one night with her car. After that, everything changes.

As much as I loved this book (and trust me, I did) there were some things...more This book was another one of those that grabbed a hold of me at the beginning and would not let go. Quinn Robbins is your typical teenage girl-a little on the shy side, but she has friends and one of them, Zander (a boy who has been her friend since she was little), has taken an interest in her. Her life is pretty darn good until she nearly hits a boy crossing the road one night with her car. After that, everything changes.

As much as I loved this book (and trust me, I did) there were some things that nagged at me. Puttroff has a way of using a word or phrase more than a few times to describe something in the book. For example, I cannot tell you how many times Quinn had “butterflies” in the first couple of chapters. Also, the book starts off with Quinn having a strange dream and also claims that she has had this dream since she was a child. However, I felt that when the big moment came and we sort of learned about the dream and who was in it-there was not enough explanation. In the dream, Quinn had to make a choice, but THE CHOICE never came up anywhere in the story at all. Lastly, and I really hate to say this, the last page in this book was the worst for me. After going through this wonderful story that brought forth so many strong emotions and kept me hanging on til the very end, the story just…stops. We know that this is the first in a series, but there was no hint of what might happen next, many questions left unanswered, and the story abruptly ends with Quinn receiving a phone call “and decided she’d better hurry home to shower and change”. That’s it. I felt like the roller coaster I had been riding finally crested to the last hill and then stopped at the top of it.

Now, with all of the negative things out of the way, let me say what I loved about this book. The characters are so REAL. The author has that special magic that draws you into their lives and forces you to get to know them and love them. She brilliantly gave each one strengths and weaknesses and made sure that the reader knew what they were and that the characters represented them in the story with their words, mannerisms, and actions. By the end, I felt like I had known these characters for years and it hurt to say goodbye to them.

The story itself is unique. I would classify it as fantasy, but what was so refreshing is that it is not overdone. There are some magical elements, but there is enough reality in the book that it makes the impossible seem possible! There were no vampires or werewolves, but characters that I could relate to and a story plot that I could believe in enough to think that it could actually happen! Her descriptions were vivid and rich in detail. It was not hard at all to conjure up images of all the beautiful scenery and places that Quinn got to see. I could not put this book down and finished it in less than a day. THAT is how caught up in the story I was. There is romance, adventure, magic, and mystery; any YA (or adult!) will love this book!

Despite how the book ended, I can guarantee you that I will be reading the next one. I give Ms. Puttroff 4 stars our of 5 and I want to thank her for letting me get lost in her wonderful story! You have another fan in me!!!!(less)

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Sep 26, 2012 Paula Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lightning-book-promotions, read-in-2012, paranormal, for-review, e-book

This was given to me by Stormi of Lightning Book Promotions for the book tour coming up of Roots of Insight. This book follows Quinn Robbins. She lives with her mom, stepfather, and siblings. While picking up Annie her younger sister Quinn nearly misses hitting a boy and it sends shock through her system. Quinn finds herself fixated on William Rose the boy she almost hit. She tries to learn more about him but only finds herself with more questions.

Quinn is also in the beginning stages of a relat...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Marissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

The synopsis sets off an intriguing type feeling; I felt it, and was very excited to dive into this story. The characters were all developed nicely. There's Quinn who is incredibly smart, may have a chance of having a date with Zander (they have known each other since they were little but have really started to get to know one another again) and then there's William who is seen as an outcast in their small Colorado town, as he really keeps to himself; always interested in books, than anything el...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Rebecca added it

I’ve been in a mood where I don’t really feel like reading much lately, like I just don’t want to sit down and actually read a book. However, I knew I had this coming up for a blog tour so I sat down and forced myself to read a chapter. Funnily enough, I took a break from the book and noticed that I was on page 50 already. It was so easy to just fly through this book that I finished it in one sitting no troubles.
The story itself is really entertaining. It’s slightly different to your run of the...more

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Oct 16, 2011 A Full Bookshelf rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

Thank you to Breeana for a free ebook of Seeds of Discovery. I have to say that I feel no obligation to give this book a good review. I'm giving it a good review because it was a great book!

I don't like to give spoilers in my reviews, but let me say that this book was not what I thought it would be. When I first started reading it, for a page or two I thought it was reminding me of Twilight (not in the writing style or even in the story line, but there was a scene in the lunchroom with a guy......more

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Dec 01, 2011 Julie Witt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Wow! What a great book from an awesome new writer! Breeana was offering free copies of her book in exchange for honest reviews, and I thought I would lend a hand, really hoping that I would like the book. I didn't need to worry, though, because I was drawn into the story from the first page and I couldn't stop reading until I was finished! The characters were fully fleshed out and the world building was amazing!

Quinn starts following her schoolmate William around when he begins to act mysteriou...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Jenni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

In Seeds of Discovery, Quinn Robbins' attention is drawn to her mysterious classmate William Rose. Once she starts paying attention to him, she only has more and more questions about who he is and where he comes from. So she decides to follow him and find out. Little does she expect him to be from a fairytale kingdom on the other side of a magic gate that connects her little Colorado town to the kingdom of Eirentheos. Once there, she finds herself caught up in inter-kingdom politics and a myster...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Sandra Pulliam rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to say I loved this book! When I first got it I was a little weary and was not in any rush to start reading it. Shame on me! Once I started I could not put it down. I absolutely love the three main characters. Thomas being my favorite but William a close second!

I liked how Quinn was so excepting to the new world she discovered and did not majorly freak out every other paragraph like some other books I have read. She is smart and funny yet independent and strong. I love how the the author...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Seeds of Discovery is the first book in Breanna Puttroffs Dusk Gate Chronicles series. It’s not a long book, only about 160 pages, but it may have just become one of my favorite book series EVER!
I was approached by the author Breanna Puttroff to read and review her books, and when I read the synopsis I was interested, but it’s really different from the books that I generally read so I honestly wasn’t in too much of a rush to read them. So when they were next on my TBR pile I really didn’t know w...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Booksy Cup Freebi...: Seeds of Discovery - free copies!	1	12	May 06, 2013 09:25am
Nook Book Lending...: Book of the Month	16	52	May 20, 2012 07:10am
On Sale for St. Patrick's Day	1	4	Mar 17, 2012 04:08pm
LDS Ladies Book Club: I LOVED this book.	5	110	Feb 12, 2012 04:52pm
The Indie Exchang...: Free Bestselling YA Fantasy	3	16	Dec 13, 2011 08:48pm
Lucky 13 - Free at Amazon on December 13!	2	4	Dec 13, 2011 08:57am

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Seeds of Discovery (Dusk Gate Chronicles #1)

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