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Delta Legend

by Kelan O'Connell (Goodreads Author)

4.32 of 5 stars 4.32 · rating details · 19 ratings · 12 reviews

When 16-year-old Oakland California teenager, Calvin Pierce, makes a bad decision and winds up getting arrested, his mother is quick to take action. Determined not to lose a second son to the drug and gang violence of the inner city, she sends Calvin to spend the summer working for his great uncle in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

There in the predominately-white region...more

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Published (first published November 8th 2011)

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Jun 03, 2012 Byron Wells rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure

Note: This review is my opinion, and it is skewed to my likes and preferences.

When I started reading this book, I thought to myself ‘oh no, not another monster book.’ I was pleased to find that it wasn’t the case. O’Connell did thorough research for her story. Having lived in Elk Grove, just south of Sacramento, I am well familiar with the California Delta. It is always refreshing to see a book’s location well researched.

Characters:
Calvin, kid from the hood in Oakland sent to his uncle in the d...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Sherry Fundin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: critters, fiction, horror, magic, mystery, paranormal, suspense, thriller

When I first picked this book up all I saw was a monster in the water, super, right up my alley. I love these stories. As I read along, it became apparent it was much more than that. Kelan did a great job with the small town descriptions and details of the people lives that brings them together to save their town and themselves, detailing their acts of heroism, growth and change, bringing out the best in people.

Calvin was mechanically inclined and from early on he had been able to make broken th...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Juana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Calvin Pierce and his childhood friend Rashawn Fontaine successfully hot wired a Cadillac from an impound yard. With a few complications but they managed to get away. They thought they had made it with no problems but then they were stopped by a police car. Lucky for Calvin the judge let him get off easy and he decided to let Calvin's mom decide what she would do. Calvin's mom decides to send Calvin off to the Delta where he will be helping his great uncle Samuel Diggs in his repair shop. Calvin...more Calvin Pierce and his childhood friend Rashawn Fontaine successfully hot wired a Cadillac from an impound yard. With a few complications but they managed to get away. They thought they had made it with no problems but then they were stopped by a police car. Lucky for Calvin the judge let him get off easy and he decided to let Calvin's mom decide what she would do. Calvin's mom decides to send Calvin off to the Delta where he will be helping his great uncle Samuel Diggs in his repair shop. Calvin thought he would be arriving to a very boring town where nothing exciting ever happens but soon after his arrival he will discover the Delta is not as boring as he thought. He will be face to face with a very old creature who the few people that knew about it believed the stories of the creature to be folklore or simple stories told to scare children.

Better late than never! I won this ebook on Laura's blog a little while ago( quite a little while) I hadn't been making much time to read. Everyday is a busy day for me so I really haven't been reading much. But I decided since for me October means halloween I decided to finally read Delta Legend because it sounded like a good story to read around this time. It's the first time I have read a book where there has been so many important characters with very interesting stories and background. So I cannot decide who was my favorite character because all of them were interestingly fun. Though Calvin Mei Li and Jess made me laugh a whole lot more Burt, Gladys and Ray were very fun characters.

I love the water when I was little my mother had a hard time keeping me away from the water. I was always sneaking out and the place where my mother will always find me at was at the river that was a block away from my house lol. I still love the water but I have read so many books, heard stories and now I am a little scared of getting inside rivers or things like that. Freaks me out a little to think about what might be deep inside the water. Doesn't stop me from getting in the water but I will not get far in lol. After reading this book I'm very scared I will always be thinking about this creature when I see water. To me the scariest thing was when Calvin was in the water and he had no idea the creature was in there. For a moment I thought he was going to get eaten.

Delta legend will keep one in the edge of one's sit, it engrosses you in the story, it is easy to read, it is entertaining, will be hard to put down, has realistic characters each perfectly introduced in a few pages with entertaining stories, it will make you laugh, neatly put together and neatly written a really fun fun read. I give it five stars. A GOOD READ.

Thank you Kelan and Laura for the giveaway I am happy I won this book and to finally get to read it. : ) great job with this interesting story Kelan O'connell. (less)

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Jul 22, 2012 Jade Walker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Initially, after receiving a review request for Delta Legend I wasn't sure whether it would be my thing, the whole story seemed as though it was geared towards guys and I was not sure whether I'd really click, but I accepted it on a whim, thinking that it may be a good idea for me to step out of my comfort zone.

It was so worth the risk, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I took some time to get into it but when it picked up I was hooked. Whilst at some points it slowed down and I was able to put th...more Initially, after receiving a review request for Delta Legend I wasn't sure whether it would be my thing, the whole story seemed as though it was geared towards guys and I was not sure whether I'd really click, but I accepted it on a whim, thinking that it may be a good idea for me to step out of my comfort zone.

It was so worth the risk, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I took some time to get into it but when it picked up I was hooked. Whilst at some points it slowed down and I was able to put the book down most of the time I couldn't because I was so gripped. O'Connell does a fantastic job at creating suspense and writing scenes which are both horrifying and funny at the same time. This book had the potential to be all-out action, but O'Connell doesn't take that road, instead she opts for suspense, mystery and humour which makes the book not only gripping but also funny and entertaining.

This book is also a coming of age story: Calvin begins to mature and adapt to his new home and he grows up a lot within the book. I really liked Calvin, he was streetwise and witty and very real and I have to say that his narrative and dialogue really seemed like it was coming from a black sixteen year old boy - considering that the author is not black, sixteen or a boy i was very impressed by this - Calvin seemed so real. I also really liked most of the supporting cast. Calvin's uncle, Samuel was one of my favorites even though he wasn't in the book for much of it. The deputy sherrif, Burt was very funny. I really liked Jess, the boy-next-door type and Mei Li, the spunky love interest. There is a whole cast of funny and unique characters and I really enjoyed reading about every single one of them.

The mythology part of the book threw me a little. O'Connell had obviously done some research on Chinese history and folklore, but it took me a while to get my head around the whole thing. I also felt like at times some things didn't make sense, and the characters seemed to accept the truth way more easily than normal people would have.

Overall, an exciting and thrilling read with an amazing cast of characters. I definitely think it's a book more geared towards boys, but I did enjoy the read, despite having some trouble believing the mythology part of the book.

Overall Rating: B-(less)

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May 04, 2012 Chayse Sundt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Usually when reading paranormal books its always the female character that takes the spotlight. However, in the book the male comes out on top and that was one of the main things that I really enjoyed.

I am not going to defend Calvin but as a 16 year-old boy, its the time when you start experiencing the things around you. You begin to feel peer pressure and what toll it can take on you if you listen to it. I'm not saying that all of it is bad but its nto always good. I know when growing up hat I...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Laura Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Delta Legend is so much more than a scary creature story. It is about second chances, community, new friendships, courage and honor.
There is an inner story that provides vital background for the legend. Kelan has really done a lot of research in order to tell you about this creature and where the events take place. Her descriptions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are almost visual. You can almost feel the sluggish, dark water on your skin and the cold, silty bottom between your toes.
There ar...more Delta Legend is so much more than a scary creature story. It is about second chances, community, new friendships, courage and honor.
There is an inner story that provides vital background for the legend. Kelan has really done a lot of research in order to tell you about this creature and where the events take place. Her descriptions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are almost visual. You can almost feel the sluggish, dark water on your skin and the cold, silty bottom between your toes.
There are many characters that have their parts to play in this book. They are essential to the plot and add depth, believability and some comic relief.
When Calvin has a brush with the juvenile court system, his mother, Angela, knows she has to do something. After losing her older son Leo to drug and gang violence, she does not want Calvin going down the same path. Her solution is to send him to stay with his great-uncle Samuel for the summer break. Calvin wants nothing to do with the "cuts", or back country life, and arrives with a big chip on his shoulder.
Samuel is apprehensive about taking Calvin in, but is pleasantly surprised when his great-nephew shows a penchant for machine and engine repair. He proves to be a hard worker and an asset at Samuel's Marine Repair Shop.
Calvin's first encounter with Mei Li, a young Chinese farm girl, is confrontational. She is sassy and bold and Calvin wants nothing to do with her.
Samuel takes Calvin into the local cafe and small grocery owned by Frances. It is also where the rental desk for Heron's Harbor Marina is located, which her teenage son Jess runs. The locals come there to hang out, grab a bite to eat and catch up on the daily news around town. It seems every small town has one of these.
After a little juggling, Calvin and Jess start up a friendship. Mei Li is friends with Jess and includes herself on their outings, causing mixed feelings in Calvin. It is not hard for the others to notice that Jess has developed an interest in Lauren. She is a nice girl, but hangs out with the town bullies. Soon enough she sees them for what they are and joins up with Calvin, Mei Li and Jess.
Good old boys Terry and Neal just want to fish and drink cold beer. They motor out to their favorite fishing spot and settle in to catch some dinner when they spot what looks like debris from a boat floating in the water. Seeing what they think is a wig, they hook it and take a look. What they had on the end of that hook was someones face. Their return trip broke records. This is not the only encounter they have with body parts. It seems like they just can't get a day of fishing in.
It soon becomes obvious that something is preying on the people of the Delta. Something hungry. The fatalities start piling up, and finally even Sheriff Ray Cruz has to accept there is a deadly creature cruising the waters, killing and eating the unsuspecting.
The mish mash of locals, along with Calvin and his posse of friends and Sheriff Cruz and bumbling Deputy Burt Watson, unite to combat this evil monster.
There are many more characters that I've not mentioned, each one adding flavor and dimension to the story. Kelan has the ability to weave them in without confusing you or slowing down your reading enjoyment. No flipping back and forth to see who's who.
I particularly like her characterization of Joe, Tak and Samuel. I smilingly think of them as the Over the Hill Gang.
There are a few surprises, you think something has been left out, but then Kelan slips it in effortlessly, providing all the answers.
And I can't wait for you to read the great "Oh No!" ending.
If you are looking for a unique monster story with lots of action, adventure and scares, I recommend you get Delta Legend and get reading.

(less)

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Jun 29, 2012 S.L.J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm going to have to agree with another reviewer and say that this book reminds me alot of the movie Tremors. I love a good monster B-movie and that's the vibe I got from this book.

The characters were fun and different, the setting was great and apart from a few slow points, the moved along at a good pace.

This was a really entertaining book. :)

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Jul 06, 2012 E. added it

Im not going to rate this one (yet) because i cant get into it enough to read for more than 5mins at a time. I will be finishing it just not sure how long it will take me. Its not a bad story, the writing is good, just not my type of story i guess. Hopefully it will catch my interest soon, i feel bad not finishing books i recieve for reviews.

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Sep 05, 2012 Sherry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book. especially since I know a little about the California Delta Region.

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Jun 01, 2012 Austin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good Book. I was suprised by the storyline and how much I liked it.

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Mar 09, 2012 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-books

This truly was a fun read. So many fun and unique elements to this story! I had a hard time putting it down and I look forward to seeing more from this very talented author in the future!!

http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com...

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Mar 15, 2012 Paula from Reading Lark rated it 5 of 5 stars

4 1/2 birdies. Well plotted, original, funny adventure story with interesting, vibrant characters. This SO deserves to be picked up by a major publisher.

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Shelves: kindle, thriller

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The Indie Exchang...: Giveaway with Swag and Review of Delta Legend by Kelan O'Connell	2	68	Sep 06, 2012 09:30pm
Making Connections: Delta Legend FREE 8/22 and 8/23	1	8	Aug 22, 2012 07:15am
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About Kelan O'Connell

Though she’s been writing in one form or another since the age of 20, Delta Legend is Kelan O’Connell’s first solo novel. She began writing in college, creating character monologues as a way to stand out in auditions and later went on to write sketch comedy, one-act plays, and more specs for screen than she cares to admit.

Kelan holds a degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University an...more

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