The Eyes of the Desert Sand (Chrysalis Chronicles #1) by Edwin Wolfe

Jan 25, 2012 Arti rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is really good, and I would really urge people to read it. The story is COMPLETELY original and the characters and places are described really well, so well that you think you're there with Ethan, Haley, Gruggins, and the rest of the characters. I can't wait till the second book, which is probably going to be a long time :(
Anyway, anyone who comes across the book should give it a try

:)

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Mar 27, 2012 Susan Ashcraft rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: firstread, fantasy, faves, young-adult, fiction, teen

The Chrysalis Chronicles - The Eyes of the Desert Sand Book 1

From the opening pages where we are first introduced to 13 year old Ethan Fox and his beloved parents, George and Betsy, through the winding pathways that guide us through the start of Ethan's story, to the closing lines where we must say a fond farewell (but not for long I hope) to all the characters we've met thus far, I had a wonderful time learning their story!

Chrysalis Chronicles - The Eyes of the Desert Sand is the start of Ethan...more The Chrysalis Chronicles - The Eyes of the Desert Sand Book 1

From the opening pages where we are first introduced to 13 year old Ethan Fox and his beloved parents, George and Betsy, through the winding pathways that guide us through the start of Ethan's story, to the closing lines where we must say a fond farewell (but not for long I hope) to all the characters we've met thus far, I had a wonderful time learning their story!

Chrysalis Chronicles - The Eyes of the Desert Sand is the start of Ethan's strange but exciting story. The only child of George and Betsy Fox, he has a very close relationship with them. His only problem, (and it's something he seldom thinks about) is that he has no memory of anything before his 8th birthday. His parents have told him an accident caused his memory loss. With no reason to think anything is not as it should be, Ethan doesn't let his lack of memory interfere with anything. He and his parents are very close, spend a lot of time together and really enjoy being together. Ethan has a great life and great parents and no worries about the future, or his missing past.

Ethan's problems begin when he suddenly starts having difficulty sleeping. For several days, this persists. One morning, after finally falling asleep, Ethan awakens to discover a poem that he has written. He knows he has written it as it has his secret mark, but he has no memory of writing it. When he shows his father, George is dismissive of it. Ethan accepts what his father says, but later Ethan hears his parents argue about it, which worries him as his parents NEVER argue. He then sees his father with a very old book, which he is putting away in a secret spot that Ethan knows nothing of. At a family event Ethan has a very strange run-in with 3 men, he actually thinks they're vampires and that they were trying to kidnap him. While his parents dismiss his story, he thinks that they actually believe him.

A week later, on a family day at the beach, Ethan meets Haley, a young girl who also has no memories, and while his parents are busy, Ethan and Haley wander off down the beach. Ethan spots a 3 foot tall blue rabbit that Haley can't see, and they follow it. The bunnie disappears and Ethan and Haley discover sand stairs that disappear down into the ground. Ethan starts down, and thats when the fun really begins!

EXCERPT chapter 2 - The hooded stranger looked towards the floor as he made his way across the room. Raising his head as he neared, the stranger slowly lowered his hood revealing his face. And it nearly sent Ethan into shock! He knew this face!It was that face! It was him, the man who had tried to kidnap him that night - nearly a week ago!

Throughout this extremely entertaining story, Ethan meets some remarkably diverse characters. From the blue taletaddler who says xo-xo, to the shape shifting sea hydromorphs, from the Grumplings to the grimtailed dread, the characters are different, interesting and colorful.

This was such a interesting read, I had difficulty putting it down, even for just a short time. It had a great storyline, the story flowed very smoothly and I loved the characters. I look forward eagerly for the next book in the series.

(I received a copy of this book through the GoodReads FirstReads program. My review was unsolicited and is based entirely on my own opinion.)
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Apr 12, 2012 sjm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

13-year old Ethan Fox has always had an odd life , he has no memory of his life since the age of eight; has a father who enjoys making quirky videogames, and was recently almost abducted by two vampires and a hooded stranger.

Ethan's life becomes immeasurably odder when he meets a strange when he meets a Haley, strange girl Ethan feels drawn to, at the beach near an amusement park and they both fall down a hole into a strange land. Once there Haley and Ethan are both are introduced to the Caretak...more 13-year old Ethan Fox has always had an odd life , he has no memory of his life since the age of eight; has a father who enjoys making quirky videogames, and was recently almost abducted by two vampires and a hooded stranger.

Ethan's life becomes immeasurably odder when he meets a strange when he meets a Haley, strange girl Ethan feels drawn to, at the beach near an amusement park and they both fall down a hole into a strange land. Once there Haley and Ethan are both are introduced to the Caretakers, a group of mythical creatures and human-like aliens who are tasked with maintaining order in the supernatural world. Ethan and Haley also discover that they may hold the key to the caretakers fight against the Grimleavers , a group of individuals bent on exposing the human world to supernatural elements and generally wreaking havoc.

Throughout the book Wolfe skillfully twines modern elements such as iPhones, and supernatural elements such as vampires together for a fun and interesting read. Even though this novel can at times seem to have the feel of some elements of the wizard of Oz and Alice and wonderland, the Eyes of the Desert Sand expounds on these foundations in an original and modern way. The Eyes of the Desert Sand is a refreshing fantasy novel, the author isn’t afraid to take creative license and twist characters and supernatural elements to his own whims. Unlike, many other YA fantasy novels in today’s market this one doesn’t evoke the slightest feeling of Déjà vu’ in the reader, Wolfe truly creates his own world.

The first Chrysalis Chronicles book shows enormous potential and if the author continues to expand he will have a great series. The book is at times fast-paced and the reader will have to pay close attention to keep the thread of the plot in several chapters. However for readers that are tired of the current markets YA fantasy options, solace can be found in Wolfe’s work.
For all of its good points The Eyes of the Desert Sand, falls short in a few areas, a few plot twists that the author would have done well to present a little more obscurely, will be able to be guessed early in the book by many readers. Also the cover leaves a lot to be desired it, it is unimaginative and a poor contrast to the high-quality text that the author has produced, on the basis of the cover many readers may be reluctant to buy the book.

Age Group: 10 and up
Content: very mild references to violence, mythical situations and animals that may scare some kids, references to a failed kidnapping

Disclaimer: book was obtained from LibraryThing Early Reviewers(less)

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Jun 09, 2012 Dexter/Persy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, own, tragedy, time-travel, vampires

Uuuugh how I wish this book had good writing, because I -love- the world and I -love- Edwin Wolfe's imagination... but boy does his writing suck.

It reminds me of my own writing style when I was eight years old, except my punctuation was a heck of a lot better. Or at least, I understood that I -didn't- know how to properly use a semicolon, so I never tried. Geez.

The writing is incredibly, -incredibly- juvenile and makes me cringe. Commas missing, commas where periods should be, semicolons all ove...more

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May 31, 2012 Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy

“Shnickyrooners and things like that…” A thirteen year old Ethan Fox is different from his friends. He loves to play outdoors unlike his friends who are always glued to their videogames. But the difference doesn’t end just there. Ethan also has no personal memory of himself before the age of eight! He writes mysterious poems in his sleep and Vampires try to kidnap him!!

He has a distinct feeling that his parents are trying to hide something from him but puts it out of his mind temporarily when th...more “Shnickyrooners and things like that…” A thirteen year old Ethan Fox is different from his friends. He loves to play outdoors unlike his friends who are always glued to their videogames. But the difference doesn’t end just there. Ethan also has no personal memory of himself before the age of eight! He writes mysterious poems in his sleep and Vampires try to kidnap him!!

He has a distinct feeling that his parents are trying to hide something from him but puts it out of his mind temporarily when the FOX family decides to take a break and visit a carnival near the beach. But strange things seem to happen wherever Ethan goes. First he meets a girl, Haley Hunt, with whom he feels a strange connection. Then while exploring the beach with her, Edwin sees a blue rabbit and falls into a Rabbit hole only to discover a whole new world!

As Ethan discovers a new world, where he is famous, we the readers discover it alongside him. A world where vampires, shape shifters, leprechauns, grumplings reside. A world where flowers dance in moonlight, beanstalk is real and plants have to be kept in a pen because they keep changing their places. Also this is the world where Ethan discovers more information that enforces Ethan’s initial doubt that his parents are hiding something. It would be interesting to see how the plot unfurls in the coming books as I personally want to know more about Haley!

Different characters of Ethan, George and Betsy Fox, Haley, Irvin, Gruggins are complimentary to each other. While some help keep the intrigue in the plot, some add to the seriousness and some are simply hilarious! I love reading Irvin’s random ranting. In fact, after finishing the whole book, I went back to read Irvin’s garbled words over again! (Note: I started off with “Shnickyrooners and things like that…” because it’s Irvin’s signature beginning to one of his ‘normal’ monologues.)

It’s an exciting journey to take because the Chrysalis Chronicles is an enchanting world of its own. It is like Alice in Wonderland meeting Harry Potter. The unique characters and intriguing plot weaves a magical tale that draws in its readers.
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May 02, 2012 Lindsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received this as an advanced readers copy through a goodreads giveaway and I'm so glad I did! In one word its magical. The interesting story and descriptive imagery draws you in and makes you feel like you are there. I would suggest this to anyone looking for an imaginative story with unique characters. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

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Aug 23, 2012 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Received this book from the author through goodreads. Just got started...so far, so great!

Just finished the book. I liked the author's creativity! The author shows Harry Potter influence, but spins his story in a way that J.K. didn't. It works. I liked it!

Hang in there...the second half gets very engaging.

Will look for the next in the series.

Cheers!

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Jul 21, 2012 Erik This Kid Reviews Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Chrysalis Chronicles Book 1: The Eyes of the Desert Sand

By Edwin Wolfe

320 Pages – Ages 12+

Published by Fox Hunt Publishing Group on March 24, 2012

Ethan Fox lived in the city but really wanted to be somewhere outdoors with big open spaces. His family took a vacation to the beach and Ethan went for a walk where he met a young girl, Haley. Haley had amnesia and couldn’t remember anything. While Ethan was talking to Haley, he saw a blue bunny with yellow polka-dots named Jasper. Ethan followed the...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Bundles of rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, review-copies, own, sent-to-me

Title: Chrysalis Chronicles, The Eyes of Desert Sand
Author: Edwin Wolfe
Release Date: January 11, 2012
Publisher: Aauvi House Publishing Group
Age Group: 13-18 years
Hardcover: 306 pages
Buy this Book: B&N

Book Synopsis: How many parents would believe their thirteen year old son who told them that two vampires and a hooded stranger had tried to abduct him? Strange thing is, young Ethan Fox is convinced his parents, George and Betsy do believe him. Could it have something to do with the mysteriou...more Title: Chrysalis Chronicles, The Eyes of Desert Sand
Author: Edwin Wolfe
Release Date: January 11, 2012
Publisher: Aauvi House Publishing Group
Age Group: 13-18 years
Hardcover: 306 pages
Buy this Book: B&N

Book Synopsis: How many parents would believe their thirteen year old son who told them that two vampires and a hooded stranger had tried to abduct him? Strange thing is, young Ethan Fox is convinced his parents, George and Betsy do believe him. Could it have something to do with the mysterious poem he wrote in his sleep? Or maybe it has something to do with his past, the past he cannot remember before his eighth birthday. Something strange is afoot, and it is about to turn Ethan’s world upside down.While vacationing with his parents, to get away from the crazy events of the previous two weeks, Ethan encounters a young girl named Haley Hunt who he is strongly drawn to… and the feeling is mutual. Together, Ethan and Haley are lured to The Residence, home of the Caretakers, an organization of intelligent beings sent to earth to nurture the human race and protect them from un-earthly influences.Armed with special abilities, including the power to evolve any earthly creature, the Caretakers take in their unexpected guests. They have been watching young Ethan Fox, and are curious as to why the Grimleavers, their mortal enemy on earth, would want to abduct a young human child. Together, Ethan and Haley journey to magical worlds, make new friends, and help the Caretakers unravel the stories greatest mysteries. Along the way, they learn that the Caretakers have been here since the beginning of human history and have played a key role in shaping human lore. In their world, vampires, werewolves, trolls, and even Medusa herself really do exist but have been kept hidden from the human world around them. Ethan is the key as they ultimately discover the Grimleavers true intentions, to unlock the four portals to the elemental worlds of the Chrysalis.

About the Author: Edwin Wolfe is a Sacramento native who was a principal engineer for twenty-five years. He started writing poetry and song lyrics at the age of thirteen. His talent evolved over the years, writing satirical sports columns. He owes much of his writing ability to his mother, who taught Language Arts and Creative Writing for more than thirty-eight years. He holds a bachelors and masters degree in Engineering. Wolfe lives with his wife in Santana Row in San Jose, California where he is at work on future Chrysalis Chronicles books.

Cover Art: When I look at this cover, I immediately think, "Why are there eyes on this cover?" It is definitely a different kind of book cover that has me on the edge. It has a road, desert, eyes and a rainbow.It's a lot to incorporate into a cover and really confuses me on what the book is going to be about.

Pre-Thoughts: Like I said about CreateSpace, I really only accept books from higher named publishing companies but, I had nothing to read so I accepted the request! I'm really glad I did, too!

Post-Thoughts: Never judge a book by it's cover. It isn't the most attractive cover I have seen but, once you read the inside contents, you will fall in love! Ethan Fox almost got upducted by two vampires and a hooded stranger. That right there is enough for me to read the book! As you read further into the book it starts incorperating Caretakers and even Medusa! This book had the perfect blend of immoral characters! I definite must-read if you are into fantasy!
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Apr 22, 2012 Mirrani rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished-and-reviewed

If you somehow cross Alice in Wonderland with Stargate you get some of the wonderful ideas within the pages of The Eyes of the Desert Sand. The concept of traveling from one location to another through doors, using them to pass through time and space was familiar, yet it was also made new by the situation and location of the main building called the Residence where much of the book takes place. The amount of time that the author took to create the people and culture behind this book amazed me as...more If you somehow cross Alice in Wonderland with Stargate you get some of the wonderful ideas within the pages of The Eyes of the Desert Sand. The concept of traveling from one location to another through doors, using them to pass through time and space was familiar, yet it was also made new by the situation and location of the main building called the Residence where much of the book takes place. The amount of time that the author took to create the people and culture behind this book amazed me as I read it. And the ability to wrap all of that in to the story and use it as a plot point in many cases was unique and surprising, as the tale came to its conclusion.

This is the first book in a series and is the author's debut. In some ways this is evident as I found the writing to be a little awkward at times. There were sections of the book where words and phrases were repeated so many times I started to feel as if I were going a little crazy and had been reading the same paragraph over and over again even though I had finished an entire page. As a the first book in the series, I recognize that it is important to set the stage of a series, however this book was mostly the two main characters being introduced to people and places. There was very little action until the end, only tiny trivial matters that needed attending to. By the time I got halfway through the book I was honestly starting to wonder if anything was ever going to happen or if the characters would simply be sent home without a major incident to test them. These things will certainly work well for younger chapter book readers, but I don't know that the older set would take well to the read based only on those aspects.

What made the book worth the read was most defiantly the universe it was created in. Where Alice in Wonderland brings magical happenings and strange creatures in to the mind, and Stargate introduces new worlds and explains the legends behind the gods people worshiped in ancient times, Eyes of the Desert Sand combines all of those aspects in a very creative and wonderful way. The reader turns each page and is introduced to a new setting or character and becomes lost in the wonder of the universe that has been created for them. Though more like the style of the Narnia series, where major descriptions are mostly left to the reader's imagination, the minor details from the color of someone's skin to the fact that "you can't go out the in door" all help to create a magical place that the reader will not want to leave.

Hopefully further books in the series will spend more time explaining this universe to the reader so that even more can be known of this wondrous place. I am certain that many will want to visit again and again.(less)

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Aug 19, 2012 Sadie Forsythe rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5
If I'm honest, I didn't particularly enjoy this book, but I've been sitting here trying to decide if what I disliked was really any fault of the book or just that I'm not 10 years old and the intended audience. It is probably a little of both. Certainly there were things I disliked. Haley's character, especially, seemed only to exist in order to fill some cliche female role of adoring all things small and cute and nagging at the main character in an overly mother-like fashion. Both children,...more 3.5
If I'm honest, I didn't particularly enjoy this book, but I've been sitting here trying to decide if what I disliked was really any fault of the book or just that I'm not 10 years old and the intended audience. It is probably a little of both. Certainly there were things I disliked. Haley's character, especially, seemed only to exist in order to fill some cliche female role of adoring all things small and cute and nagging at the main character in an overly mother-like fashion. Both children, who find themselves in what should be a terrifying situation, accept their lot with such aplomb that it is completely unbelievable and I found the constant references to the modern as distracting. It reminded me of an old childless uncle trying desperately to find a way to relate to and bond with his nieces or nephews...forced.

What bothered me the most however, was that so very little happened. This book is 320 pages long. I honestly think there are 250 pages of descriptions and 70 pages of action or dialogue. Every character, mythical beast, room, food item, mode of transportation, item of clothing, etc is described in excruciating detail. While this gives the reader a very clear idea of what things look like, it does little to move the plot along. In fact it weighed it down painfully.

This is where the 10 year old (or younger) comes in, because as an adult I grew increasingly frustrated with the constant floridness, but a child might not have. To a child they may have been a source of constant joy and amazement (as I suspect they were intended). What I think this book would be best suited for is to be read aloud to smallish children. If read to children just on the cusp of being able to read a middle-grade book, those able to follow a story over a number of days/nights but not yet able to read it all on their own, they would go to bed each night with the image of amazing creatures in their mind but not be old enough to expect much in the line of a story. Even the dialogue, which I found extremely stiff and un-natural (too many shalls, musts and upons and too few contractions) would probably work if being acted out in some fashion.

When reviewing a book that was written for an audience other than myself I always try to review it from the standpoint of the intended audience. After-all, it isn't the fault of Wolfe that I'm not the right age for his book. But in this case I got the distinct impression (though, to be fair, I'm not certain what gave me the impression) that like Harry Potter or Alice in Wonderland, two books that The Eyes of the Desert Sand takes a lot of inspiration from, it was trying to have cross-generational appeal. So it didn't feel right reviewing it solely on it's allure to children. I would give this book a 3 for adult enjoyment and a 4 for that of a child. (less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Giulia~Bubbles rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Harry Potter fans, YA fans,

Shelves: ya

Originally reviewed at www.devastatingreads.blogspot.com

A fantastical world--that is the most apt description of Edwin Wolfe's Eyes of the Desert Sand. I truly admire the author's imagination and creativity. This book is definitely one of a kind.

Book One is largely a set up book. The stage and the players are laid out for upcoming books, and I do appreciate world building. What really drew me in was how richly imaginative this fantasy world is, and I'm curious to learn more about the Caretake...more Originally reviewed at www.devastatingreads.blogspot.com

A fantastical world--that is the most apt description of Edwin Wolfe's Eyes of the Desert Sand. I truly admire the author's imagination and creativity. This book is definitely one of a kind.

Book One is largely a set up book. The stage and the players are laid out for upcoming books, and I do appreciate world building. What really drew me in was how richly imaginative this fantasy world is, and I'm curious to learn more about the Caretakers and the Grimleavers, and to see their roles expanded in the upcoming novels. We had some battles towards the end, real treachery was revealed and some important relationships cemented, and I thought this was a good start to the series. What I really like about the book is that not all the questions are answered by the end. We still have no idea why Ethan wrote the poem in his sleep, or why he has no memory prior to five years ago or why---

Well, that list could go on for a while. My point is, the story is only just beginning.

My wish for later books is greater character development. Right now, Haley/Danielle and Ethan appeal to me because they are bright, inquisitive kids and something about their relationship reminds of the sort of tight knit friendships that were formed in the Harry Potter series. It might be the humour, but something about them as main characters, as friends, gels very well. And I totally want more of that, the quick witted, easy cameraderie. However, some of the other characters I thought less striking, and I'm hoping some of those characters (and their relationships) are built on in the next book.
What I do know for a certainty is that the rich imagination and the fluidity of the storytelling will delight young readers. And I am intrigued by the idea of the Chrysalis now that the portal has been opened. It opens up lots of possibilities! I'm also curious as to what role Damien will play now that he's back home, so to speak. Hey, I did promise you a spoiler free review. Bottom line: This novel has piqued my curiosity and that always makes me want to read more.

Favourite Quote

Poe---after you---my dreadful pet.

THREE glittering stars (less)

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Jul 28, 2012 Daniela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ethan Fox isn't like every other thirteen-year-old. He's far from normal. Why? Well for starters, he can't seem to remember anything that happened to him before he was 8. It's like all those memories have been erased. Want another reason? Vampires tried to kidnap him. Not enough? Well, maybe it's because of the blue bunny with yellow polka-dots that was waving at him at the beach while he and his parents were vacationing. Or it could be that strange poem he wrote in his sleep. It's a tie breaker...more Ethan Fox isn't like every other thirteen-year-old. He's far from normal. Why? Well for starters, he can't seem to remember anything that happened to him before he was 8. It's like all those memories have been erased. Want another reason? Vampires tried to kidnap him. Not enough? Well, maybe it's because of the blue bunny with yellow polka-dots that was waving at him at the beach while he and his parents were vacationing. Or it could be that strange poem he wrote in his sleep. It's a tie breaker.
When Ethan Fox goes on vacation with his parents, he was not expecting the impossible to happen. At first, vacation was great. He met a sweet girl by the name of Haley who seems to have no recollection of anything before meeting Ethan at the amusement park. Then things just got weird. i.e. the blue bunny.
Ethan and Haley enter a world where the impossible is downright achievable and where the weird just gets weirder. But why is this happening to them? Why did vampires try to kidnap Ethan? Why can't Haley remember anything? And what does the mysterious poem Ethan wrote in his sleep mean?

The Eyes of the Desert Sand completely blew me away. I can't say how much I loved reading this book. It's a fantastic story that took me on a journey through a whole new world hidden inside our own. A similar version to the wonderland from Alice in Wonderland and the Harry Potter books, except twice as good. Edwin Wolfe has created a world full of wonders from his vivid imagination. A place where imaginary creatures and story-tale creatures collide into a remarkably refreshing outcome.
What I loved best about this book was its unpredictably. Seriously, I had absolutely no idea what would happen next. Things were so random. At first I'm all like 'This sounds okay, but it's sort of cliche-ish' and the writing makes it hard for me to really get into the story, but then a blue bunny with yellow polka-dots pops up in a beach. Expected? Uh, no. I can guarantee a surprise almost on every page.
The story is told in third person. The characters were unique (and I really mean it when I say they were unique, I don't think I'll find any other characters like Ethan or Haley or Daavic in any other book) and lively. Ethan was smart and just as fun as his dad, but somewhat naive. His character definitely developed throughout the book. He started off by being the kid with wide innocent eyes and he ended up as someone entirely different. The only trouble I had was that I couldn't really connect with most characters. And by 'connect' I mean not being able to see things their way and struggling to understand why they did certain things. It wasn't that big a deal, but I wished I could get to know the characters a bit more before all the action starts.
The plot was impressive. I certainly admired the way Wolfe shaped his world. It's an endless supply of surprises that kept me guessing the entire time. The pace is consistent throughout the book, maybe a little speedy here and there. There was ceaseless amounts of non-stop action, original creatures popping out of nowhere (and lots of legendary ones as well), a little bit of romance (which is invigorating), and loads of magic. The only downfall was the author's style of writing. It seemed inexperienced and more juvenile than anything else. There were lots of obvious mistakes through the book, dashes where ellipses should have gone, semicolons missing, some misuse of words, and some misspellings as well. I found it kind of hard to immerse myself into this wonderful new world. But I still loved it, even though I struggled with the writing.
Overall The Eyes of the Desert Sand is one fantasy read you don't want to miss. You'll fly through the book wishing for more (just like I did). I'm giving it 4 stars out of 5 because of the writing style, but other than that, this book has made it's way to my all-time favorites.(less)

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Jun 27, 2012 Ashley (Nose Graze) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-author-4-review

As posted on booknook - YA and Fantasy book reviews

The Eyes of the Desert Sand is an incredible fantasy story! It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.. but with technology and more “purpose” - there’s a war to be won and lives to save!

This story is about Ethan Fox. He lives a fairly normal life with his child-like parents, but things start getting weird when two vampires try to abduct him. Rescued at the last minute, he tells his parents, who don’t believe him. But Ethan gets the strange sense tha...more As posted on booknook - YA and Fantasy book reviews

The Eyes of the Desert Sand is an incredible fantasy story! It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.. but with technology and more “purpose” - there’s a war to be won and lives to save!

This story is about Ethan Fox. He lives a fairly normal life with his child-like parents, but things start getting weird when two vampires try to abduct him. Rescued at the last minute, he tells his parents, who don’t believe him. But Ethan gets the strange sense that they’re hiding something. Maybe they know his account is true, but won’t admit it?

From there, Ethan meets up with a girl named Haley and ends up at The Residence. He learns all about other-worldly creatures who were brought to Earth to help nudge evolution along and protect Earth and its inhabitants. Ethan, Haley, and his new friends at The Residence work together to figure out why the vampires tried to kidnap him, and help protect Earth from the Grimleavers’ evil plans.

Man, Edwin Wolfe has an amazing imagination! He has created this incredible world full of awesome creatures, strange inventions, and intriguing lore. This story will completely draw you in with its weird creatures, funky dialogue, and memorable adventures. In a way, this story is very Alice in Wonderland meets otherworld meets technology. This book isn’t really based in magic — it’s more based in science, which I find extremely cool! Whenever people say, “That’s impossible,” I always think, “It’s only impossible because we haven’t seen a way for it to work, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work somewhere somehow,” and this story really embodies that. Here you have two normal humans — Ethan and Haley — and they’re exposed to a whole new world of impossible. But it’s not necessarily full of magic; there is a bit, but they’re mostly introduced to ‘natural’ creatures and awesome technologies.

My only real issue with the book is the lack of character development. The world itself was incredible, with so many details and new ideas, but the characters never really grew or interacted. Most of the dialogue was explaining story and furthering the plot, rather than developing the characters or having them socially/casually interact. I didn’t get a great sense of who Ethan was, or what his personality was like. I never really felt for him or connected with him.

That being said, The Eyes of the Desert Sand is still a great book. The story is so intricate and interesting and there’s never a dull moment. Each page is full of some new creature or object to read and learn about. We are thrown into an amazing world we never knew existed — one with shape shifters, vampires, trolls, leprechauns and more. There are some great histories that are a delight to learn about.

There is a lot of promise here and I can’t wait to read the next book! I’m hoping we’ll learn a lot more about the Caretakers and their history. Their world, purpose, and culture are all so interesting and I’m thirsting for more!(less)

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Jun 06, 2012 Luana Sirbu Blogger rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Dulcejulia Rosssi

Shelves: favorites

Give the book a 5 out of 5, i can not find the proper words to explain how much i enjoyed reading this book every second of it.The cover of the book will make you wonder what it is actually about but the content is just mind blowing. Love how the author uses so many different fantasy characters for this book and just love this quotes : "Many of the story human world's greatest authors have gotten their material from the stories of taletaddlers-", "Could you possibly believe stories as inspiring...more

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May 18, 2012 Therese rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: giveaway

I received this very enjoyable book from First Reads Good Reads, and highly recommend it! Edwin Wolfe has created an imaginative world that it was a pleasure follow his characters around in. Looking forward to the sequels!

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Aug 12, 2012 Rowena rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this book as an advance copy through goodreads giveaway. At first I found the book hard to get into, mainly I think, because I do not usually read fantasy. I had to re-read paragraphs to visualize the magical environment Edwin was creating. As I read though, I was drawn into the story. There is a mystery about the main character of the story, Ethan, who does not remember anything before the age of 8. Ethan meets Haley and they enter into a land of unique and colorful characters. My fa...more

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May 29, 2012 Renee rated it 2 of 5 stars

I received this as an advanced readers copy through a goodreads giveaway. I was very excited to read the book as the description reminded me a lot of some of the children/YA books I love (e.g. Harry Potter, Twilight). I was particularly eager to read about the world author Edwin Wolfe created. Within this world was a host of new characters. Some were brand new, and seemed to be dreamed up completely by the author’s vivid imagination. Other characters were drawn from existing legends and myths. I...more I received this as an advanced readers copy through a goodreads giveaway. I was very excited to read the book as the description reminded me a lot of some of the children/YA books I love (e.g. Harry Potter, Twilight). I was particularly eager to read about the world author Edwin Wolfe created. Within this world was a host of new characters. Some were brand new, and seemed to be dreamed up completely by the author’s vivid imagination. Other characters were drawn from existing legends and myths. In either case, the characters, and the world itself were original and fresh.

Conceptually, I enjoyed the story Wolfe created. However, he did not fully describe the world he envisioned. For the majority of the book, I was left wondering what the connection was between all the characters and events in the book. There was very little character development and I was unable to fully relate to any of the characters. This was particularly true of the main characters, Ethan Fox and Haley. Their personalities never seemed to fully round out and I was left wishing I knew more about them.

Similarly, on many occasions, I was left wondering what exactly had happened because of lackluster descriptions. While the author was descriptive in terms of physical locations and surroundings, he never fully made clear what the purpose of many events was. In fact, on a few occasions, Ethan and Haley went to different locations with other characters, and the purpose of their excursions (particularly their involvement in them) was never fully made clear. Also strange to me, was the way Ethan and Haley embraced this new world. They seemed to fit into it with no difficulties, the reason for which was not fully made clear.

In addition, I found the writing to be somewhat confusing and redundant. The author had go-to phrases that he used a lot (e.g. “tomorrow would be a busy day”), and sometimes would repeat sentences within the same paragraph or page. There were many grammatical errors (which the editor should have caught) and rather than describing an object, he would often use the word “like” to compare it to a common object (e.g.” marble like”). The world he created was so fantastical, I wanted to fully be immersed in it, but instead, I feel like I never left my living room couch.

My hope is that changes can be made to the book to round out the story. The world and the stories of the characters within it are interesting and exciting. I think many readers, particularly those who enjoy fantasy and YA books, would appreciate the series. With some changes, I think The Chrysalis Chronicles could be right up there with the greats.
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Jun 03, 2012 Kewwy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I actually loved reading this. It keeps you interested throughout the book.
It's different which is why I loved it. I will be re-reading it later.

I thought there'd be more action but it has less of it.
There was just so many things that they had to introduce themselves to.
For one thing Gruggins McGhee, my favorite character in the book.
He's small and lives in a box lol. Don't want to give too much away.

A taletaddler? What's a taletaddler? I have never heard that anywhere before.
I never had a talet...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Sarah (TotalTeenFiction) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, review-copy, on-the-blog, started-series-trilogy

Full review here on TotalTeenFiction.

I was offered the chance to receive a free review copy of this book, and after reading a bit about it (it was described as Harry Potter meets Alice in Wonderland) I thought it sounded like my kind of book. The story follows Ethan Fox who finds himself in a secret magical land where he meets the Caretakers, a race of people who protect and control the Earth's species. Along with Haley, a girl he mysteriously meets before he uncovers the hidden land, they disco...more Full review here on TotalTeenFiction.

I was offered the chance to receive a free review copy of this book, and after reading a bit about it (it was described as Harry Potter meets Alice in Wonderland) I thought it sounded like my kind of book. The story follows Ethan Fox who finds himself in a secret magical land where he meets the Caretakers, a race of people who protect and control the Earth's species. Along with Haley, a girl he mysteriously meets before he uncovers the hidden land, they discover their new surroundings and learn more about both of their pasts.

The first thing to say about this book is that it takes place in such a fabulous world. I really enjoyed the imaginative places and creations that pop up in this book, from books that are really portals, to the magical creatures. The writing style really drew me in and the combination of fantasy, mythology and fairy tale (there's a beanstalk and vampires) made for a really intriguing world.

Where the book started to disappoint me was the characters. The book is written in third person, and over the course of the story, we get very little insight to Ethan, the supposed main character. I think it could have benefited from being written in first person so that we got to get inside Ethan's head as he entered this magical world. As it was, I struggled to connect with him. He didn't seem to show much emotion (he's separated from his parents early on in the book and I didn't get the feeling he missed them at all) and too much of the narrative was dedicated to describing the things that went on around him, as opposed to what he thought of it all.

It seemed this book was definitely setting up the world it takes place in (it's the first book in a planned series) and sometimes the plot suffered a little. I loved all the descriptions of the new locations and magical discoveries but it became more about that then the actual plot at times. It came together at the end, though. I would definitely check out the next book in the series because I think the world has so much potential, and there was a cliffhanger ending that left me wanting to know more!

Fans of fantasy and fairy tales should love this book.

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Jun 07, 2012 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: young readers, and old, who enjoy fantasy adventure

Recommended to Katy by: NetGalley

Shelves: ebook, galley-for-review, net-galley

Book Info: Genre: Fantasy Reading Level: Middle Grade

Disclosure: I received a free ebook eGalley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: How many parents would believe their thirteen year old son who told them that two vampires and a hooded stranger had tried to abduct him? Strange thing is, young ETHAN FOX is convinced his parents, GEORGE and BETSY, do believe him. Could it have something to do with the mysterious poem he wrote in his sleep? Or maybe it has something to do wi...more Book Info: Genre: Fantasy Reading Level: Middle Grade

Disclosure: I received a free ebook eGalley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: How many parents would believe their thirteen year old son who told them that two vampires and a hooded stranger had tried to abduct him? Strange thing is, young ETHAN FOX is convinced his parents, GEORGE and BETSY, do believe him. Could it have something to do with the mysterious poem he wrote in his sleep? Or maybe it has something to do with his past, the past he cannot remember before his eighth birthday. Something strange is afoot, and it is about to turn Ethan’s world upside down.

While vacationing with his parents, to get away from the crazy events of the previous two weeks, Ethan Fox encounters a young girl named HALEY HUNT who he is strongly drawn to . . . and the feeling is mutual. Together, Ethan and Haley are lured to The Residence, home of the CARETAKERS, an organization of intelligent beings sent to Earth to nurture the human race and protect them from un-Earthly influences.

Armed with special abilities, including the power to evolve any Earthly creature, the Caretakers take in their unexpected guests. They have been watching young Ethan Fox, and are curious as to why the GRIMLEAVERS, their mortal enemy on Earth, would want to abduct a young human child. Together, Ethan and Haley journey to magical worlds, make new friends, and help the Caretakers unravel the stories greatest mysteries. Along the way, they learn that the Caretakers have been here since the beginning of human history and have played a key role in shaping human lore. In their world, VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, TROLLS, and even MEDUSA herself really do exist but have been kept hidden from the human world around them.

Ethan is the key as they ultimately discover the Grimleavers true intentions, to unlock the four portals to the elemental worlds of the Chrysalis.

My Thoughts: This is a middle-grade fantasy adventure book. At first I didn’t much care for it, since it sometimes seems to “write down” to the reader, and there are a lot of grammatical errors in it; however, as I read further, it became almost compulsively readable and I was unable to put it down until I finished. There are mysteries within mysteries in this book, and it is just the first book in a series – many questions are left unanswered at the end of this book, but it wraps itself up nicely enough. The characters all seem to have quirky or strange differences – to the point where their variety is almost a similarity of a sorts. Many of them are described as having goofy or silly voices; I could almost see this being turned into a Pixar cartoon. It is certainly colorful enough, with enough strange and interesting characters to pull it off.

All-in-all, I could recommend this even for very young readers, although I would also recommend that someone help with pointing out grammar errors – it could almost be a lesson! A fun book, and I’ll be watching for future books in the series.(less)

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Sep 20, 2012 Amy_Read to My Heart's Content rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids-read, blog, young-adult

Full review: http://superreadingkids.blogspot.com/...

This is a interesting story that mixes the two genres of fantasy and science fiction to create a great adventure for middle grade students.
Ethan Fox is a wonderful protagonist in this story. He is smart, funny, a good kid in general, and has a pretty cool family, including his dad that makes video games. And then we have Haley Hunt, who is the mysterious girl that just shows up in Ethan's life. She is definitely an enigma. She seems like she...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

I didn't know what to expect with The Eyes of the Desert Sand. Just by cover and synopsis I guessed it would be targeted towards a slightly younger audience, maybe thirteen year olds and I think I was right with that. This might have to do with the main character's age as well.

What I didn't expect was that this book would make me smile on almost every page. And it wasn't even particularly funny in dialogue or anything. It's just that the author did a wonderful job with world building. All the di...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Laurie Bok rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, children

I think the story would make an intriguing movie or series of movies – it’s an engaging story with a blend of elements of fantasy, history, sci-fi, mythology and reality, along with an array of characters and settings that you can imagine visually as you are reading.

The book just gives you a taste of each character and their personalities. It seems to jump right into the action, but I guess that’s what you have to do in a Youth-oriented story. I would have liked to get a little more in-depth int...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Oriana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Overall, I rather liked the book. I managed to read it all on my lazy day due to the fact that I had to find out the answers to the mystery asap. I found the story quite amusing and lots of description built up vivid pictures (though it did require some imagination power).

Ok, so the characters. I have to admit that there were a lot of them and it took me a few pauses to recall which character was which. Also, some descriptions were very hard to picture due to the weirdness of it. I had to rerea...more Overall, I rather liked the book. I managed to read it all on my lazy day due to the fact that I had to find out the answers to the mystery asap. I found the story quite amusing and lots of description built up vivid pictures (though it did require some imagination power).

Ok, so the characters. I have to admit that there were a lot of them and it took me a few pauses to recall which character was which. Also, some descriptions were very hard to picture due to the weirdness of it. I had to reread some of the descriptions 3 times before I had an idea.
However, the main characters were very well developed and I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Haley’s background. I especially liked Irvin adding humour to the book “Shnickyrooners and things like that”. The twist between the brothers was a good surprise and Ethan and his family have left me wanting to read the rest of the series already.

The plot was also very well planned. At times, I did wonder the importance of some scenes I was reading e.g. the garden visit, then at the end of the book, I realised the importance of those scenes and how the contribute to the final result.

The style of writing was pleasant to read though the simplicity obviously appeals to a younger audience – preteens. One thing that did annoy me was that I found the thoughts of Ethan placed into speech marks slightly confusing at the start but I soon got used to it.

A small criticism of the book is the similarity to some other fantasy books like Harry Potter. Like in Harry Potter, Ethan was thrown into a world he knew nothing about before and Haley who was in a similar situation where she remembers nothing automatically feels at ease there. All the weird plants, portals and hidden places and mythical creatures added to this similarity. But that was where the similarity stopped though. I really did enjoy this book as a separate story all together.

After all that, I would recommend the book to anyone looking for a quick read with a brilliant twisting plot and mystery. I look forward to next book.

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Jan 02, 2013 Charlotte Phillips rated it 2 of 5 stars

Im really not sure what to make nor think of this book. Its not the sort of book that I would perhaps pick up on a day to day basis because it had no real context or style to it. The grammar and writing style of the book was very poorly done and the whole plot of it seemed to be nothing but an introduction to the series which made me wonder kind of why I was reading it. But none the less, I read it and there were some interesting artifacts and images to it that seemed to make it come alive in so...more Im really not sure what to make nor think of this book. Its not the sort of book that I would perhaps pick up on a day to day basis because it had no real context or style to it. The grammar and writing style of the book was very poorly done and the whole plot of it seemed to be nothing but an introduction to the series which made me wonder kind of why I was reading it. But none the less, I read it and there were some interesting artifacts and images to it that seemed to make it come alive in so many ways. The story starts with a young boy and his family but the young boy seems to have all these thoughts about things that are not even true. He writes a poem that sparks worry and conflict between his parents and his dad is hiding something from him that leaves him interested even more in his parents concern for a silly poem.

The book then moves on to a family outing to the fair where he meets a girl who seems to follow him around and then locates him at the beach. It turns out that she has no idea who she is or how she got there which of course makes you instantly interested to know more about her. I think this is where the book starts to loose the plot for me a little because a bunny in a waist coat then appears and leads them down a whole in the ground. Of course this is evidently and quite clearly, Alice in wonderland, but at the same time it seems to add a little dash of curiosity to the novel. So anyway, both of the kids are now down the rabbit hole and the world becomes far more confusing, more looney than ever. its a completely alien world and yet at the same time there not aliens, or so they say.

The whole story is basically about finding out who the bad guy is and that becomes obvious from the minute you are made aware of the whole situation which kind of makes you wonder why you picked up the book to read something that is so obvious in the first place. I mean, yes there is principles for the series to build and to become more self engaging and powerful. But at the same time, its just far to obvious for my liking and then the ending just seemed really lame. The character that was the main one from the beginning becomes no longer wanted or needed and is thrown in the trash just like that. How can that work exactly? Perhaps the series will tell but to be quite frank and honest, I'm not even sure if I want to find out. it just seems so very lacking in so many ways.

I do think that perhaps the author could write something so much more interesting in many ways, but I think that perhaps he needs to work on a few things at the same time. a good try but not quite my book this time. perhaps another time. (less)

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Jul 27, 2012 Robyn Hawk rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-adventure

Young Ethan Fox, and his new friend Haley, follow a blue rabbit down a tunnel in the earth, and end up not in Wonderland, but in a wild series of complex adventures.

It’s a world inside a world with weird creatures, new friends and dangerous questions answered by a book of poetry that writes its own poems.

While it all turns out well, there are more than a few questions waiting to be answered in the next adventure of the Chrysalis Chronicles.

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Jun 23, 2012 Jackie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I recieved this book for free through Goodreads First Reads, thank you for the prompt delivery!

Completely original with a vivid pen for detail, the only issue I really had with this novel is a couldn't really feel or identify purpose in most of the characters or their actions. I don't know if it was just me, but the mental analysis provided for each of the characters involved just fell a little flat for me.

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Mar 30, 2012 Jenny Franklin rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Jenny by: Susan Ashcraft

Shelves: favorites

I really, really enjoyed The Chrysalis Chronicles - The Eyes of the Desert Sand Book 1 by Edwin Wolfe. I seriously couldn't put it down. The whole surrounding is described really well. It was really easy to imagine being right there with Ethan, Haley, Jordanna, Gruggins, and the rest of the characters. I am certainly excited for the next book. I would recommend this to anyone!

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Jun 29, 2012 Sydney rated it 5 of 5 stars

After receiving this book through goodreads first reads, I was a little hesitant to read it. However, I finally picked up the book. It was a little slow to read at first, but when the action started, I was hooked! Each character played an integral part in the development of Ethan Fox and his story. I cannot wait until the second book comes out!

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The Eyes of the Desert Sand (Chrysalis Chronicles #1)

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