Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
114th out of 244 books
—
94 voters
Journey to the Fringe (Stone Mage Wars #1)
by
Kelli Swofford Nielsen (Goodreads Author)
Long ago, Stone Mages were revered in Lyria. They were men and women who could use powerful tradestones to harness their unique gifts of wind, rain, and earth to help those around them. But war with the Southern realm has threatened the mages with extinction. The truth about the tradestones has been lost, and the remaining magic is dwindling. When Princess Ivy, the beloved...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
May 1st 2012
by Shadow Mountain
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
More lists with this book...
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
447)
I originally got this as a book on tape for a trip to help pass the hours of driving...It was not a normal genre that I would have chosen, but I enjoyed it.There is the elements of magic, danger, suspense in good verses evil, and the unlikely relationships the develop because of good banding together. It is a great combination, except for the part about the cliff hanger at the end. Good prevails for now, but....book 2 will let you know what happens next and now i am invested and interested in th...more
Got to page: 156
After the third or fourth chapter, I had a strange feeling I wouldn't be finishing this book.
And it's sad, because this book had everything in it's favor going into it -- a great cast of characters, a fabulous fantasy world, a great plot.
But there are some writing styles and plotting styles I just can't handle, and Nielsen uses one of them.
I cannot stand when everything is explained to me as a reader.
I suppose that's why I favor first-person narratives; we're taken along for the...more
After the third or fourth chapter, I had a strange feeling I wouldn't be finishing this book.
And it's sad, because this book had everything in it's favor going into it -- a great cast of characters, a fabulous fantasy world, a great plot.
But there are some writing styles and plotting styles I just can't handle, and Nielsen uses one of them.
I cannot stand when everything is explained to me as a reader.
I suppose that's why I favor first-person narratives; we're taken along for the...more
Tired of Vampires, werewolves and dystopian books? Here's a refreshing new author weaving an exciting adventure. While it started out a bit slow for me, I think it mostly was so because of introducing so many characters at the outset. It never left me confused, though, with the author keeping pace with the reader. Just when I thought it might be too slow for me, it picks you right up and gallops you through a fun, almost "swash-buckling" adventure. I dreaded the ending knowing this was the first...more
I know the author's parents and I was excited to read her book. I liked it a lot. It is a fantasy geared toward young adults. It is a well thought out book, the characters are developed and the plot is intriguing. It's about magical men and women who use powerful tradestones to harness their unique gifts of wind, rain, and earth to help those around them. There is a war against those who use their powers for evil. The good ones are called Stone Mages and are all but extinct. An unlikely band of...more
Jul 05, 2012
Gwendolyn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Shelves:
young-adult
Ask anyone who writes fantasy what the hardest thing to achieve is and the answer you'll receive will be magical realism.
Magic must make sense in order for it to (1) work and (2) be believable. The most base of all magic, and the hardest to write (and get right) is elemental magic; not because it is difficult but because the nature of the elements and the pervasiveness of it in every human culture. Break the rules and it stops working. Twist the rules and you add disbelief.
Debut author Kelli S...more
Magic must make sense in order for it to (1) work and (2) be believable. The most base of all magic, and the hardest to write (and get right) is elemental magic; not because it is difficult but because the nature of the elements and the pervasiveness of it in every human culture. Break the rules and it stops working. Twist the rules and you add disbelief.
Debut author Kelli S...more
I enjoy many books written for young adults and I thought this was a great first novel. I actually listened to it as we drove across country and I enjoyed the narrator's performance. It started out a bit slow for me. You are introduced to all the key players in the first few chapters but I felt the author did a fine job of setting the scene for the story.
Although the overall themes of the book seemed familiar (if you enjoyed Harry Potter, you will enjoy this), I was caught up in the story and fo...more
Although the overall themes of the book seemed familiar (if you enjoyed Harry Potter, you will enjoy this), I was caught up in the story and fo...more
I'm sorry, but I just could not get into this book. The chapters were SO SHORT. As in ANNOYINGLY short. It wouldn't be so bad if it was all one story, but every chapter switched to a different person's story. So here you are reading about someone's story line, you are just getting into it, and then the chapter ends. And then the next storyline starts up, you read 10 paragraphs (not even enough to get into the story line) and then the chapter ends. It just kept repeating this process over and ove...more
On the whole, I enjoyed Journey to the Fringe. The plot was well thought-out, the magic system worked, and the characters were interesting, but I found it somewhat hard to connect to the story. Nielsen uses the third-person omniscient style, but rather than focusing on one or two characters, she introduces many characters. You’ve got Ivy (the kidnapped princess), Simon, Gilda, Burr, Merrick, Hastings/Laith, Medwin, Princess Mara, semi-villain King Than, and the main baddie, Abaddon. Because you’...more
Journey to the Fringe is a fantasy with a very interesting world. Though it took me a few chapters to get into the story, after I became acquainted with all of the characters, the story took off for me. A unique aspect of this book is how many different POV's (points of view) are used in this novel. I felt that this allowed more story to be told. If this book had only been told by one point of view, I don't think it would have been as rich and bold. I loved many of the characters such as Prince...more
War is threatening in the kingdom of Lyria, the Southern realm is trying to take over Lyria. Things look especially dark when Princess Ivy, the most beloved to the Lyrians is abducted. None of the Lyrians are sure just what to do, so it takes a while, but eventually a small number of them set out to save her from the Fringe, a far distant and dangerous place for them to go. Our heroes for this adventure are Simon, he's a fool, Gilda, she's a witch who's just had her witches trade stone revoked b...more
This is an amazing first novel! When treachery, war and magic threaten the kingdom of Lyria, an unlikely group of citizen undertake a dangerous journey in hopes of saving their kingdom. Their quest tests their courage, their strength, and their friendship. But it also teaches them much about themselves and the value of standing firm for a common cause. I enjoyed the story line, the character development, and the heroine. If Kelli Swofford Nielsen ever writes another book, count on me to read it.
I loved this book. I just can't say anything else! This book is completely clean. I don't even recall any swearing! Honestly, books of this quality are so hard to come by anymore. I also enjoyed that the plot was not driven by romance. It was good to have a change of scene. The plot was complex and difficult to explain, but I loved reading it. This Kelli Swofford Nielsen has got herself a new fan. I look forward to the next book!
Let me start off by saying this is one of the best stories I have read in a long time, besides Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Trilogy ;) The book starts off a little slow while introducing many characters, but you'll realize the amazing effect the lengthy character introductions have on the rest of the story. Awesome characters, great plot, and overall...a very exciting adventure. If you like Avatar: The Last Airbender TV series, you will enjoy this story; so many different key characters who poss...more
This was written by my friend and I expected to like it. I liked the introduction of characters and how the book started. I was interested from the beginning, where some books take a while to get into. I like her development of characters and they way the story moved along. I enjoyed pondering the questions given at the end of the book. I look forward to the next one in the series.
I really enjoyed this story . Really I give it 4.5 stars. Some parts I just felt like moved to fast while others moved a little to slow. I really loved the characters especially Mara. I don't know why but I tend to always relate with a side character more then a main character. Really though I loved the world that the author created, it was beautiful.
Sep 15, 2012
B
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
middle school students
Shelves:
great-for-young-teens,
fantasy
I won this book in a drawing at my local library. When I needed something to read--refreshing but not too deep--this book fit the ticket. While it wasn't utterly believable,it kept a nice pace and the characters were engaging. It was good writing and I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more books by this new author.
I'm excited to see the rest of the series. I'm hoping when we get to spend a little more time with the characters, they'll come to life a little bit more. That's actually the only thing keeping this from a five star. There just wasn't enough development for a couple of the characters. I think that should come though.
I was really surprised that this was Kelli's first novel. Enjoyed the story line and it was an easy read. Got it for my daughter and I always like to read and know what she is reading. The author is a graduate from USU where my daughter will be going so I thought it would be fun to support her.
I Loved it! I am so excited for the next two. The characters are well developed, I loved each of their individual stories, loved the adventure, the bravery, stories of redemption (not sure if that is the right word for it) with a touch of romance (but not sappy). I want to be suave and cool like Saffi, feminine and brave like Ivy, and powerful like Mara. Well done Kelli Swofford Nielsen. Bring on the next two.
I'm not normally a fantasy reader, but this one was good! A rag-tag group of magical societal outcasts band together and travel to the ends of their world to save their princess and her kingdom from being overrun by the evil southern kingdom.
A well-written debut fantasy novel with a cast of unlikely heroes who visit a parallel world seeking help in overthrowing a dark, power-thirsty villan. This book really sets the scene for future chapters and I look forward to reading more!
It was an easy read that was well written and action packed. I didn't really like how the confrontation with the bad guy went (or the somewhat expected "twist" that went along with it). Other than that it was a pretty enjoyable and quick read. I'd say it's more 3.5 stars than 4.
Learn from the past. Remember it, and realize that in a way it is responsible for making you who you are. But also realize that the only you who really matters is who you are right now. That is the you who has the ability to act, to change lives, to do something monumental, and to influence the future you. pg 98
I really liked this book. It is the story of a princess who is kidnapped. Several people go looking for her. When they find her, she lets them know that her father is behind the kidnapping. They go on some adventures together to save the kingdom. I am hoping that there will be a sequel.
This story is so beautiful! It can show us how to embrace our own talents. I love this book and I normally shy away from fantasy, but this is now one of my favorite books. Read it, it is worth it. :)
Loved the ensemble cast, although with so many main characters some of them did feel a little stereotyped. On the whole I really enjoyed it and am excited to see that it is a series.
The short chapters made this book an nice, comfortable read. It is a pleasant Middle Reader that allows you to stop and be satisfied or to continue the series.
Enjoyable read and easy to get into. Ms. Nielsen struggles a bit with the ending, or endings, but everything was tied up by the last page.
As a first time author Nielsen did an excellent job of creating an entertaining story- Many of the characters and their back story are well developed while others characters are not as clearly defined. The story as well had some parts that were told masterfully while other story lines felt rushed and glazed over. In all I did enjoy this book and found the overall story itself interesting; I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
It was a great book on tape. Made me look forward to the commute. It didn't end in a cliff hanger which is also nice when the next book it not out.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Kelli Swofford Nielsen graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor’s degree in teaching English. She and her husband, Jeff, live in Chicago, Illinois, with their two sons. Journey to the Fringe is Kelli’s debut novel.
More about Kelli Swofford Nielsen...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“The problem is you make the tricks look good. You are a brilliant acrobat, and a witty comedian. You are skillful. People want a fool to be foolish--trip on banana peels and grin and spout nonsense. These men want fools to make them feel better about themselves, not to remind them what they lack.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
Jul 09, 2012 07:28pm