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Spirits Of Glory

by Emily Devenport (Goodreads Author)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 25 ratings · 17 reviews

One morning the people of the North woke up and the people of the South were gone. That s the first thing every child learns on the colony world of Jigsaw. But for one girl, knowing about The Disappearance is not enough. Hawkeye wants to know why.

That's why she spent half her life researching The Disappearance. And that's also why eight Neighbors show up on her doorstep,

...more

ebook, 1st, 113 pages

Published October 24th 2010 by Smashwords

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Apr 08, 2013 Karla(Book Addict) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Karla(Book Addict) by: Emily Devenport

deleting reviews if you want to take a look at them you can do so on my blog, link on my profile

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 03, 2011 Nancy (Tumbling Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect from Spirits of Glory, this being the first fully science fiction young adult novel I've read. I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed the book! The plot was intricate enough to make you really think about the characters and the story as it progressed. I found that attention to detail was very important while reading this book, as every sentence has significance. I really liked the main character Hawkeye (whose real name is Amber), she was a great prota...more

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May 07, 2012 Tahlia Newland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, paranormal

Spirits of Glory is a highly imaginative story set on another planet after the population of half the planet has been whisked away by the Southern Gods, never to be seen again. The author placed the novel in the dystopian genre but since it doesn’t have the repressive society of a dystopian world, it is more correctly post-apocalyptic and since it is about another planet it is also science fiction, yet it is mystery that drives the book. Many of the new breed of Indie books are excitingly cross...more Spirits of Glory is a highly imaginative story set on another planet after the population of half the planet has been whisked away by the Southern Gods, never to be seen again. The author placed the novel in the dystopian genre but since it doesn’t have the repressive society of a dystopian world, it is more correctly post-apocalyptic and since it is about another planet it is also science fiction, yet it is mystery that drives the book. Many of the new breed of Indie books are excitingly cross genre and unique in style, this is one of them.

Spirits of Glory is written in a haunting style about a dreamlike world where spirits and gods are a reality and time fractures at unexpected moments. The imagery of abandoned cities set amongst tracts of barren land is stark and beautiful, and the characters and their relationships are fascinating, leaving the reader with a distinctive flavour that is hard to describe, perhaps something like fine wine.

Blurb: One morning, the people of the North woke up and the people of the South were gone. That’s the first thing every child learns on the colony world of Jigsaw. But for one girl, knowing about The Disappearance is not enough. Hawkeye wants to know why. Her curiosity won't let her refuse a journey to the Forbidden Cities, even though she's going into more danger than she can imagine.

The Neighbours appeared on the planet Jigsaw soon after the people of the South disappeared. Hawkeye thinks there might be some relationship between the two events, but no one knows where the neighbours live or where they came from and they clearly aren’t human because though human in form their skin comes in a multitude of hues and they have their own language.

For some reason, unknown until the clever ending, a group of Neighbours come to take Hawkeye to the far south where they plan to consult with the Southern Gods. Accompanying them is a group of scavengers, evil minded men whose only desire is to steal the mysterious artefacts left behind after the Disappearance. Their nature contrasts starkly with the purity and tenderness of the Neighbours, and Hawkeye, pretty but a cripple, finds herself dependant on the Neighbours for protection. The tension between the two groups pervades the book and comes to a head at the end.

Throw conversations with strange gods and beautifully described fractures in time into this mix and you have something totally original. If you like something different, read this. I give it 5 stars and a place on the Awesome Indies listing.
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Jan 31, 2012 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

A unique, science fiction story about a young girl who goes on an incredible, fantastical journey at the request of the Neighbors to find the answers from the Spirits of Glory. The answers to why all the human inhabitants from the Southern cities had vanished. Along with her animals that are each their own character in this story, bandwagon on their quest.
A lot of details and specifics as you read, so it's important to pay attention. This is not a story that I could fly through and be able to k...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Charlotte Black rated it 5 of 5 stars

How lovely to read about a girl who isn't tall, beautiful, and stunning in every which way. Far from it, Amber (Hawkeye) is a cripple though she does describe herself as 'a prettiness that surprised her'. She's clever and smart but unique.

Synopsis:

One morning the people of the North woke up and the people of the South were gone. That s the first thing every child learns on the colony world of Jigsaw. But for one girl, knowing about The Disappearance is not enough. Hawkeye wants to know why.

That'...more How lovely to read about a girl who isn't tall, beautiful, and stunning in every which way. Far from it, Amber (Hawkeye) is a cripple though she does describe herself as 'a prettiness that surprised her'. She's clever and smart but unique.

Synopsis:

One morning the people of the North woke up and the people of the South were gone. That s the first thing every child learns on the colony world of Jigsaw. But for one girl, knowing about The Disappearance is not enough. Hawkeye wants to know why.

That's why she spent half her life researching The Disappearance. And that's also why eight Neighbors show up on her doorstep, demanding that she accompany them into the Forbidden Cities ruled by the Southern gods to speak with the Spirits of Glory. Everyone thinks Hawkeye is an expert on Neighbors, these almost-humans who move, talk, and think as if they were born inside one of the Time Fractures. But she can't imagine what they want to ask the ghosts of their ancestors, or why they need her to go along. The Southern gods caused every human inhabitant of the Southern cities to disappear overnight :&emdash; what else might they do?

But the Northern gods say Hawkeye should go and her curiosity won't let her refuse, even though she's going into more danger than she can imagine. Pain and puzzlement wait along the broken interstate, along with scavengers who want to kill them all. Hawkeye's questions only generate more questions as they move farther and farther into the South, right into the heart of the Disappearance, until Hawkeye's questions have all been answered.
Even the ones she was afraid to ask.

Review:
The first thing I'll say is that if you don't like Sci-Fi then this book isn't for you. Personally I LOVE Sci-Fi and this author's attention to detail is so far advanced that many inferior writers can never match it.

The blend of sentences and words wisping around to create this magical word of Jigsaw is very unique, almost akin to classic Sci-Fi more than modern but among those words and sentences is a story that will grab you in so you don't want to let go.

While I read it chapter by chapter I formed various ideas in my head as to what would happen at the end of the journey, and what twist Devenport would spring on us but I was wrong in each idea.

The characters are all crisp and well formed. I particularly liked the assistance animals and how much they helped Hawkeye, with the soft touch of her reading them 1001 Arabian Nights to go to sleep.

There isn't much dialogue in the story, and only a hint of romance near the end although Bertie does play a prominent part in Hawkeye's perception of things. But this is about the growth of one girl and how her world changes on her last journey.

A thoroughly wonderful read, I beg anyone to read it and enjoy.(less)

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May 05, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

REVIEW ORIGINALLY ON BLOG: http://onceuponabook-rachel.blogspot....

There's something really magical about finishing a book and realising that, whilst reading it, you were absorbed up into a completely, different world. And no. I'm not talking about the feeling you get with every book once the last page is turned, that feeling that you've been on an adventure with the characters. I'm talking about the feeling of having experienced a completely, different world which, during reading, you were pa...more REVIEW ORIGINALLY ON BLOG: http://onceuponabook-rachel.blogspot....

There's something really magical about finishing a book and realising that, whilst reading it, you were absorbed up into a completely, different world. And no. I'm not talking about the feeling you get with every book once the last page is turned, that feeling that you've been on an adventure with the characters. I'm talking about the feeling of having experienced a completely, different world which, during reading, you were part of.

Spirits of Glory is a unique and unusual page-turner that will have you swooped up into an adventure from page one. I'm not quite sure why, but I just loved the whole uniqueness of it all and found it very refreshing. I managed to finish the ebook in a day because I just couldn't tear my eyes from the very much unusual adventure.

The main character, Hawkeye (aka. Amber) was strong and brave but the one quality that stood out the most for me, was the love she gave to her assistance animals. Actually, come to think of it, I really enjoyed the roles of Brat and Wolfy (her very intelligent cat and dog). Unlike most stories now-a-days where the heroine is usually perfect and beautiful, Hawkeye is crippled. However, this just makes us see how strong she is for struggling through. Another character I quite liked was Boss. Boss is a Neighbour (part of a species that live alongside the humans in Jigsaw) and I liked how he was a reserved character at the start and more forthcoming toward the end.

Another reason I really liked this book is because it is a mixture of genres. It has some mystery, fantasy, sci-fi and even a little splash of romance. Meaning it can appeal to all types of audiences. The only criticism I have is that a few times I did get a little bit confused but it was nothing major and most was resolved nearing the end.

Overall, Spirits of Glory is a very enjoyable read with a unique storyline, strong characters and a mixture of genres which can appeal to everyone. I definetly recommend giving this a read to anyone and everyone - if you're not fond of ebooks maybe it will interest you to know that it's relatively short and at great prices both on Amazon and Smashwords!
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Jun 06, 2012 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Catherynne M. Valente fans, science fantasy readers

Shelves: science-fantasy, hero-or-heroine-limps-disabled, young-adult, nerd-prof-scientist-genius-geek, on-the-road, favorites, space-another-planet, heroine-i-loved, animal-character-steals-the-show, latina-heroine-or-love-interest, yearly-reading-challenge, 2012-sky-s-the-limit-club, thc-review, 2012-kindle-reading-challenge, kindle-book, novella

Amber "Hawkeye" Rodriguez is a young research librarian who is asked to travel to the mysterious Southern lands on the human-colonized planet of Jigsaw with a group of the equally mysterious Neighbors, the original inhabitants of the planet. Their goal is to talk to the Spirits of Glory, and they ask Hawkeye along for her sharp eyes that see farther than anyone else. The curious Hawkeye has studied the Neighbors her entire life. She goes along because she wants to learn more about all three thin...more Amber "Hawkeye" Rodriguez is a young research librarian who is asked to travel to the mysterious Southern lands on the human-colonized planet of Jigsaw with a group of the equally mysterious Neighbors, the original inhabitants of the planet. Their goal is to talk to the Spirits of Glory, and they ask Hawkeye along for her sharp eyes that see farther than anyone else. The curious Hawkeye has studied the Neighbors her entire life. She goes along because she wants to learn more about all three things: the Southern lands, the Spirits of Glory, and the Neighbors. Not to mention why the Southerners suddenly disappeared in the first place.

Review

Spirits of Glory starts out with a huge question mark. Initially, I had no clue what was going on. The writing brought to mind the fantasist Catherynne M. Valente in which information is given that doesn't make sense until you keep reading. A lot of interesting ideas are presented to the reader and it takes further reading to see where Devenport is going. As the pieces came together, I gained a coherent idea of the story. I liked it before that point, and with its completion, the further insight I gained made me appreciate the story more, although there is plenty of mystery when this novella ends to leave me pondering the world of Jigsaw and its original inhabitants.

Hawkeye is a character that is very easy to feel for, with her humble but inquisitive nature, and good heart. I loved her assistance animals, Wolfy, a Retriever who has almost figured out how to speak English, and Brat, a cat with the ears and nose of a seasoned tracker. The bond between the two assistance animals and Hawkeye and the Neighbors, and Daisy, one of the mules that goes along on the journey made me smile. Animal lovers will appreciate these aspects of the novella.

Devenport imbues this short novel with plenty of tension as Hawkeye journeys into new places and faces dangers from those environs and their decidedly untrustworthy companions, humans who are called Scavengers. They show humans up poorly next to the considerate, composed miens of the Neighbors.

For a short story, I become very emotionally entangled as I read. It was interesting discovering the mysteries of Jigsaw, where time and space are not fixed, but highly mercurial. Although this is set on another planet, and concepts of science are prominent, there is a palpable vibe of the supernatural and otherworldly, with ghosts and arcane beings that the humans and Neighbors refer to as gods.

Since Hawkeye is only sixteen, this story works fairly well as a young adult themed work. However, Hawkeye has a sheltered aspect to her personality, and at the same time, has suffered a great deal for her age, making her a mature, balanced main character. She serves as a good role model to young female readers, which is why I would recommend this as a young adult novella. The content is suitable as far as violence and adult situations. However, there is a maturity to the thematic content that encourages any reader of any age to read and ponder the questions of humanity, existence, time, and the legacy that human and other beings leave behind, both good and bad. When I finished this novella, I was a satisfied reader. I would recommend Spirits of Glory to readers who like stories with a nice mix of science and fantasy/paranormal elements.

Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars

Reviewed for The Hope Chest Reviews:
http://www.thcreviews.com/cgi-bin/vts...(less)

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Apr 30, 2012 Rob rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: random-comments-review

...I enjoyed reading Spirits of Glory. It is an novel packed with interesting concepts, that blends science fiction with more fantastical elements into a unique surreal world. There were a few things in the finale of the novel that might have been handled differently. I suspect not all readers will be thrilled by it. For me, that wasn't enough to spoil the novel though. I thoroughly enjoyed Hawkeye's journey of discovery both on the personal level as well as the exploration of her world. I'm not...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Briana rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Spirits of Glory begins, the plotline is rather confusing. Hawkeye is standing on her porch. Her pets seem to be uncannily aware of what is happening. People, Neighbors (whatever they are) and one human woman, are coming toward her. They want her help immediately with some immense project, mentioning gods and the South and time fractures.

Don’t panic! Just a couple chapters in, the pieces start coming together, and then the story gets really interesting. The people in the South of the planet...more When Spirits of Glory begins, the plotline is rather confusing. Hawkeye is standing on her porch. Her pets seem to be uncannily aware of what is happening. People, Neighbors (whatever they are) and one human woman, are coming toward her. They want her help immediately with some immense project, mentioning gods and the South and time fractures.

Don’t panic! Just a couple chapters in, the pieces start coming together, and then the story gets really interesting. The people in the South of the planet vanished centuries ago—and no one really knows why. The description of this disappearance is deliciously creepy, and the protagonists’ search through the abandoned Forbidden Cities in the south is, as well. Readers will find themselves looking over their shoulders as often as Hawkeye and making sure their lights are turned on bright. Nothing is particularly threatening in this book, but there is definitely something wrong. The mystery is captivating.

Equally compelling is the bond that develops between the characters. Humans and Neighbors are not often friends. They do not understand each other, and Neighbors are generally unwilling to answer enough questions to clear up any misunderstandings. Why is not really part of their vocabulary. Hawkeye, however, manages to break through the barriers that separate them in order to befriend them. Her previous study of their culture and habits helps, but ultimately it is her own personality—smart, fun-loving, loyal, and mature—that wins them over. They make a fantastic team that readers will be cheering on every step of the way, whether in romance, friendship, or solving the great Disappearance. And Hawkeye by herself is an awesomely strong female protagonist.

The one real oddity of this book is Hawkeye’s frequent trips to the bathroom. At first, it seems Davenport’s attempt at realism; Hawkeye finds a toilet at literally every stage of their journey, and only once or twice does the scene even pretend to have any relation to the plot. Eventually Hawkeye makes so many trips to relieve herself that it seems as if must be Davenport’s idea of a joke. Hawkeye even kids at the moment of the big “reveal” that it might be “anti-climatic,” but she would like to use a restroom. It really was more anti-climatic than funny, and the whole thing gave the impression Hawkeye had bladder problems, even though she used the restroom at completely normal intervals.

Once Hawkeye returned to the climactic moment, things become a bit confusing again. Hawkeye is fascinating to the gods and integral to their plans for the world, but the reason she is so important is ambiguous. The final impression is that it is because she is just such a unique human being. Whether this explanation has merit is somewhat debatable.

The story itself, however, is ultimately so absorbing, so well-written, and so imaginative, that the question of whether the gods’ motives bear scrutiny becomes essentially irrelevant. The reader is likely to take them at face value. If not, the book’s wrap-up will blow him away so he forgets all about it. The conclusion is beautiful—not perfect and clean, but immensely satisfying. And hugely surprising.

Anyone who wants a unique, skillfully executed read (at an unbeatable price!) will not be disappointed by Spirits of Glory.(less)

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Apr 18, 2012 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 12-new-authors, review-books, 12-non-series

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

Let me be up front with everyone - when I received this review request, I wasn't quire sure if I was going to accept it or not. I wasn't quite sure that it was in my wheel-house, but I decided that I would give it a shot. I'm REALLY glad I chose to give it a shot.

Hawkeye and her two intelligent assistance animals are minding their business at home in Jigsaw when the Neighbors come visiting. Hawkeye has spent her life le...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Ella Press rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, fantasy, from-author, read-in-2011, time-travel

Spirits of Glory is a short but well crafted novel, with a lot of elements to put together in the end, keeping you hooked to the story.

I really liked how Emily built this new world -Jigsaw- and how she presented us with its history and background, little by little, making us want more.

The idea of the Time Fractures was very nicely done (being a Doctor Who fan, I tend to pay a lot of attention to these sort of things): once Hawkeye and Co. were in a Fracture, Time seemed to stretch for them, wh...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Ken rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, female-protagonist, young-adult

Spirits of Glory is a short yet interesting and thought provoking science fiction story about a young girl's quest to discover why people disappeared from her planet. Initially the girl Hawkeye is a little timid and is reluctant to go on this journey with the mysterious Neighbors. However as the story progresses Hawkeye grows more confident and learns to handle herself better in different circumstances.

In Spirits of Glory, Devenport has created an intriguing world that I very much enjoyed. The p...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Spirits of Glory is short, but there is a lot going on in this novel. I loved the journey the characters went on. It was interesting. It kept me wanting to know more about Jigsaw and what was going to happen to Hawkeye, Boss, Wolfy, and Brat. I have no idea how Devenport managed to create an entire world in just 113 pages. She did a really good job with it. The descriptions were great; I could really imagine the landscape, the different cities, and the different libraries. I couldn't just imagin...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Beautifully written and posing thoughtful and insightful questions, Spirits of Glory is a story that defies description. Filled with Time Fractures, Disappearances, and the quest to know where we come from and where we belong, Ms. Devenport has created an odd, yet quite endearing story. The characters feel a bit distant, except for Hawkeye, but I think we are meant to feel that way as we are looking through Hawkeye's viewpoint during her journey. Mind-bending and thought-provoking, Spirits of Gl...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Rebecca McKinnon rated it 4 of 5 stars

At first, this book seemed a little strange. That said, I did enjoy it, and I realized it only felt strange because it was so different from most of the books I've read lately.

The story is very well-written, and I was thrilled to find my expectations shattered repeatedly. Every time I thought I knew where the story was taking me, I was whipped around a blind curve in a completely unexpected direction. I love it when that happens!

I don't like spoilers, so I won't say any more, but if the blurb is...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Ashlinn (at) Baffling,Bonkers,and Brilliant Books! rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-star

The main character is Hawkeye as everyone calls her. The one thing I admire about her is her selflessness. I love that she looks out for her animal friends and I thought it was incredibly adorable. There was also some romance and I approve of the guy Hawkeye likes. I also liked the spiritual aspect.The Neighbors are a huge role in the story. And no they're not actually like next door neighbors. They're kind of like messengers for the gods. Anyways this story was really good and I rate it 4 out o...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Bryan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 11, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-5-stars, ebook, read-in-2013

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Shelves: sf-fantasy, science-fiction

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Jul 12, 2012 Avanti rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Shelves: kindle-purchase, owned-ebook, sci-fi

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Shelves: books-i-won, kindle-fire

May 28, 2012 Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About Emily Devenport

I've been published under three pen names: as Emily Devenport, I wrote SHADE, LARISSA, SCORPIANNE, EGGHEADS, THE KRONOS CONDITION, and GODHEADS. As Maggy Thomas, I wrote BROKEN TIME, which was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. As Lee Hogan I wrote BELARUS and ENEMIES. My books have been published in the U.S., the U.K., Italy, and Israel. I'm writing as Emily Devenport again, and I have two n...more

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