Patricia Hamill's Blog: I read too much! - Posts Tagged "magical-beings"

The Tree of Mindala by Elle Jacklee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wonderful tale!

The Tree of Mindala is perfect for kids and kids at heart. The story unfolds 40 years ago when the magical land, Wunderwood, is under the attack of power-hungry Thornton and his followers. Their goal is to find The Tree of Mindala and steal away it's essence so they alone can decide who can use magic and to what extent. But, although the flora of Wunderwood withers under Thornton's attack and all seems lost, a young man named Truman discovers he could be the key to righting things. And that's just the Prologue!

Fast forward to present day, near Halloween, and we meet Miranda and Marcus. Eleven year old Miranda, ever the daydreamer, reports seeing a mermaid in a pond and gets in trouble when her teacher investigates. Marcus, her pessimistic younger brother, knows this latest antic will lead to nothing but trouble for him. He's right.

Their parents decide to skip the normal Halloween traditions and take the kids to spend a few days at their grandparents' house in the country. Of course, that dashes Marcus' plans to attend a friend's party. But the trip isn't all it seems, and soon the two realize their parents might have something else to discuss with them, something serious. Then things get interesting...

I love several things about The Tree of Mindala. First among these are the characters. The cast includes the charismatic, the sinister, and the downtrodden, but all are believable. I enjoy the variety of creatures and magical beings and the way they interact with each other and Miranda and Marcus. I also enjoy that several of the characters' motives are unclear, keeping me guessing until the very end.

Next, the magical world of Wunderwood engaged my imagination. Such places like the Prophecy Pond, Thornton's Lair, and the hidden base in the Silvercap Mountains bring the story to life. The descriptions are rich without being overbearing, and the images they bring to mind leave a lasting impression. Set aside the story, and the quality of writing is solid, including: character development, conflict/plot, and world-building.

Besides the things I liked, I felt the return to real life and the events leading up to it seemed reminiscent of the way the Pevensie children in Narnia return to the real world in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Plus, while everything else is neatly resolved, we never find out whether Miranda's and Marcus' heroic efforts make a lasting difference for Thornton.

That being said, I would recommend this book as a present for a middle-school aged reader, especially those who love stories with magical creatures, faraway lands and young protagonists who discover strengths they didn't know they possessed. Parents, or adults who enjoy books with a younger cast, may also find this story to their liking.




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Storyteller by Lisa Cresswell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Exciting and magical.

Storyteller is the first book of the Storyteller series. The hero is Lily Lightfoot, a middleschooler with a not-so-secret ability to tell stories that come true. Rather than getting her ahead and making her well-liked, the disasterous outcomes of some of her stories have made her somewhat of a social outcast, leaving her with only one friend, Peter. The story opens with Lily letting her rivalry with former friend, Heather, get the best of her and retaliating with one of her stories.

Now, this plot would be pretty good if this were a story about Lily trying to get a handle on her ability and perhaps earning the peer friendships that it has cost her, but this story is much more than that. When Lily finds a strange book in an abandoned house, she begins to suspect there's more to her history than her Gran is telling her. Soon, she, Peter and Heather find themselves caught up in a struggle for survival against a shapeshifting monster, an evil king, and his minions.

This story blew me away. As a middle grade story, it's a success with plenty of social strife and a little innocent romance. But what really gets me is the world building, the fantasy and the adventure. Plus, there is an element of danger that soon builds into quite a gripping story, nothing at all what I expected in the early chapters. The writing is smooth and easy to read without being simplistic. The plot development is solid, and I really enjoy the unique way Lily learns about her mother.

The character development is also noteworthy. Each person, friend or foe, is unique and believable. The good guys aren't perfect and the bad guys are scary, but not invincible.

Overall I loved this story because it's exciting and reminds me of The Neverending Story. It's one I know I'll read again and again. I recommend this to young and old, anyone who loves fantasy and modern fairy tales.

I was lucky enough to win all three books in this series in a contest.



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The Quest of Galamar by Lisa Cresswell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Turning out to be quite a fairy tale.

The Quest of Galamar picks up where Storyteller left off. Lily, Peter and Heather are now trapped in the True World, a place torn by the onslaught of Formorian invaders, spirit creatures from another realm that steal the bodies of creatures and people alike, using them until they decay beyond help. And they have Lily's grandmother. As Lily learns more and more of Galamar and his quest to steal the powers of the four portal keepers, it becomes apparent that Lily is following in his footsteps, and not by chance. A prophecy tells of one who will complete his quest and turn back time. Unlike many sequels or middle books, this one doesn't lose steam. If anything the danger and the stakes are even higher.

Like the first in the series, The Quest of Galamar is well-written and fresh. There is some kissing, but nothing a middle schooler shouldn't read about, pretty tame. We learn a great deal more about the enemies and history of the fairy tale world the heroes are in, and through it all, there's never a dull moment. I enjoyed how Heather is developed in this story, though I wasn't sure what to think of Jude when he joined the team.

My favorite parts of the book were when Lily was reading about Galamar. Strangely enough, these were also the source of my biggest beef with the story. Lily would be interupted by her companions or "real life" right in the middle of a tale and never seemed to get back to the same story. I guess it bugged me because I like to read stories from start to finish, while Lily seems to be a bit of a browser, reading this or that on a whim. But, the snippets we do get of the history of Galamar are quite good, and I was always happy to see another one start, even knowing I probably wouldn't get the whole story.

Overall, this is another fine installment in the Storyteller series. Those who liked the style and direction the first book was taking will likely enjoy this one, too. I recommend reading them in order and having all three books in your possession before you start, because you won't want to stop once you get going.

I was lucky to have won a copy of all three books in the series in a contest.



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The Last Page by Lisa Cresswell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


And they all lived happily ever after...

The story picks up right where it left off in book 2. Lily and her companions continue their quest for Galamar's gems, and the Formorians step up their efforts to find and destroy her. Peter's delima, Merab's back story, and the legendary feats of Galamar are also key to the resolution of the story. I don't want to spoil anything, so that's all I'll say about what happens in the book.

I think this is an excellent wrap to the series. Things hinted at in the first two books are revealed and resolved in this one. The author did a good job bringing this story to a close in a satisfying way, though a couple things felt like they were resolved a little too perfectly. Some of the details seemed to come out of nowhere, making them less believable.

I found myself getting a bit confused as to the order of Galamar's feats. The quests are revealed in bits and pieces when Lily reads about them as she tries to figure out what she and her companions should do in their real-time quest. Since the heroes are not visiting the portals in the order that Galamar did, it makes it hard to keep them straight. I think this started in book 2 and just continued into The Last Page. That being said, I enjoyed the legend and I think it would be fantastic if Galamar's story wound up in its own volume some day.

Overall, I really liked this book and felt satisfied at it's conclusion, though the ending seemed a little too perfect and the history gets a little confusing at times. I would recommend this book to those who love fantasy, fairy tales, youthful heroes, and quests.

As a series, I loved Storyteller. I highly recommend picking up all three books because you won't want to stop once you get started. The three books read like a single volume, though each one has a climax and partial resolution that leads to the next. The story, while scary in parts, is appropriate for middle-schoolers and would likely keep the interest of young readers.

I was lucky enough to win all three books in this series in a contest


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The Order of the Four Sons Book I by Lauren Scharhag

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A paranormal mission impossible...

The Order of the Four Sons, or O4S as the modern organization call itself, is under attack. Teams are disappearing on missions, yet events that demand their attention are on the rise in frequency and intensity. After sending out every spare group of people, even the main office's administrative staff, they bring in a misfit crew to investigate a mysterious phone call received just that day from an agent who disappeared 20 years ago from a small town called Excelsior Springs.

Set in the modern day, this story is not focused on Egyptian mythology, despite the description and the intro chapter. I found this to be action-packed and interesting. The banter between the teammates is natural and often humorous. The setting in Excelsior Springs, including the history involved, is also impressive. I was surprised and pleased with the historical fiction aspects of the story, many of which involved this little town. It was clever to link a famous historical figure with O4S, though I don't want to say who the figure is due to spoilers. The old hotel and the alternate old hotel are both extremely creepy, especially due to the creatures and ghosts that inhabit them.

Murphy, Bill and Kate are my favorites from the team. Murphy, the detective, is a sceptic; even after he finds himself transported to another dimension, he still refuses to believe, though he deals with what he's experiencing. Bill monitors, records and coordinates the efforts of the team as they investigate. He pops in with humorous remarks and seems to be their tether to the real world. Finally, Kate, the apprentice mage who thought she was simply coming for her first training mission, instead finds herself on a desperate mission, facing terrifying enemies.

And those terrifying enemies are numerous and varied. Counted among them are ghosts, demons, immortal serial killers, and the particularly nasty spirit that spawned The Order of the Four Sons in the first place.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story, particularly the historical fiction and the ongoing battle between good and evil. This is the first in a series, so the book ends off with a set up for the next one. I'd recommend this book for those who like books with interesting characters, historical tie ins, and cameos by famous (and infamous) historical figures. Others may enjoy the paranormal spin on a story set in the modern world.



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The Supreme Moment by C.G. Garcia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Entertaining, but extremely racy for a YA, at least at first.

The Supreme Moment is about a young girl named Avery who is faced with an impossible choice. She chooses the lesser of two evils and allows herself to be claimed by a mysterious crime lord in exchange for the safety and protection of her mother and sister. Darrien Stathos is a frightening man, pale, with mismatched, disturbing eyes, and he's had both of them on Avery for quite some time.

At first the story seems paranormal romance (almost erotica, definitely for the 18 and up crowd). Then, the bad guys start multiplying, and the danger grows; but as the danger grows, the romance fades into the background. I stopped feeling it right about 30% in. It was a little disappointing. That first part of the story was very emotionally intense, then it suddenly wasn't. I'm not saying the rest wasn't good, it just seemed the book switched genres.

As for the romance, I would have liked to see a little more reason for Avery to begin to return Darrien's love, but mostly she just seems grateful and creeped out in turn, even as she seems to become more attached. Darrien is constantly referred to as an older man and a crime lord, and I frequently wished he would simply be called Darrien instead. Like Avery, I had trouble deciding whether to like Darrien or dislike him.

Overall, I thought the story was fairly good. The beginning in particular kept me on edge and unable to put the book down, but the romance suffered when the paranormal/sci-fi kicked in. Despite the main character being a teenager, I think this one borders on NA/Adult due to the degree of violence and sexual content.

I received a free copy of this ebook in return for an honest, non-reciprocal review.



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James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lippert channels Rowling very well.

It's so good being back in the world of Harry Potter. I'm impressed with how well this story fits into the world Rowling created. This is excellent fan fic.

The story pics up exactly where Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows leaves off, with the adult heros of the Harry Potter series seeing their kids off for Hogwarts. It's James Potter's first year, but he's not his dad. He's heard about Hogwarts his entire life and has lived in the shadow of his father's exploits. Everything he does is colored by his need to live up to the legend that is his father. I enjoyed how the differences between him and his dad are highlighted throughout the story, simply woven into the plot without being overbearing.

As for the plot, it seems to very closely follow the formula and feel of Rowlings' books. Three friends, ancient evil, and kids of mixed talents stuck trying to prevent a catastrophe, but, unlike the early Harry Potter stories, failure is an option. Things go wrong, successes turn out to be failures, and the hero doesn't always win in the expected way. It made it hard to put this story down.

The familiar characters are there, now all grown up, and even some surprise cameos add flavor to the story. The younger cast, barely mentioned at the end of the Harry Potter series are fully fleshed out in this continuation. Personalities, strengths and weaknesses are revealed in an organic and satisfying way. It just feels right.

Let's just say I really liked this story. It's something I would recommend to any Harry Potter fan, even the younger readers, who want a peek into what happens next. Would reading the James Potter books discourage me from reading a similar series if Rowling decides to write one? No, but since she doesn't seem inclined to do so, I'm glad we have this option.

This book is available for free on Goodreads.com as an ebook download.



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James Potter and the Curse of the Gate Keeper by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Does not disappoint.

Like the first book in the James Potter series by Lippert, this one feels like being back in Rowling's world. He's done a great job keeping the story alive. This one links back heavily to the happenings in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but it isn't the same story.

It's James Potter's second year at Hogwarts, and this year his brother Albus joins him, but they're both in for a surprise that highlights just how different the brothers are from each other. I enjoyed how the two are compared to each other and how they are compared to Harry Potter, their dad. The sibling rivalry keeps things interesting even as the overall plot deapens.

I also liked how the year is sort of taken over by a non-magical production of a play. Try outs, rehearsals, the kids trying to figure out how things are done in normal plays (and cheating when they can get away with it). Add to that a crush, continuing hints at Voldemort's heir, and a truly fantastic climax, and you have the makings of a great adventure.

This one's definitely worth a read. The humor, the mystery and the adventure are all right on the mark. One word of caution, however, is that Lippert is not afraid of killing off main characters, not even ones we've come to love from the original Harry Potter series. But, then again, neither was Rowling. She got quite good at taking out her own characters, so I don't think the same in fan fic should come as much of a surprise. I can say that it does tie in with the plot.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. I had trouble putting it down, but it still took me a few days to get through. These stories are easy to read, but lengthy, just like the Harry Potter books. As I mentioned in my review of James Potter #1, I would definitely read a similar series by Rowling if she decides to write one, but I'm glad we have this one as an option.

This book is available for free on Goodreads.com.



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James Potter and the Vault of Destinies by G. Norman Lippert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A crazy ride. Lippert has turned the world of Harry Potter on its head.

This is the first of the James Potter books to truly diverge from the formula and style of Rowlings Harry Potter series. Unlike the previous two, this one doesn't link back to or remind one of any of the prior books. In fact, if I had to say what it reminded me of the most, I would say Monsters University, the movie. I'm pretty sure this came out before that, but the story is set in America on a campus where the houses are run like fraternities.

The story kicks off with an illusion gone horribly wrong. Harry Potter and his aurors are called to America to assist with the investigation, and they bring their families along to keep them close while they are there. James and Ralph find themselves joining Zane at Alma Aleron, the American counterpart to Hogwarts. The three, plus their cousin Lucy (Percy's adopted daughter) soon find themselves caught up in a mystery surrounding a mysterious artifact called the loom of destiny.

This story is somewhat darker than the previous two, but it still features plenty of heart and humor. I had no trouble connecting to and caring about the characters, new and old, and it was interesting to see the distinctly American magical world. The quirky houses at Alma Aleron provide the source of much of the humor. The sports rivalry between houses also adds a bit of excitement and entertainment value. All of this plays counterpoint to the underlying struggle of good vs. evil, which is well-executed in this story.

I won't go into any more details, because I don't want to spoil the story. One of the things I like most about book three is the surprise factor. Everything is new. The mystery is revealed gradually with very subtle hints, not predictable ones. I was able to put a few things together as the plot progressed, but I was still shocked by the outcome (though everything fits in hindsight).

Overall, this one is definitely worth reading, but the story is starting to become more Lippert's than Rowlings'. Is that a good thing? Maybe. I can say that I liked it, but things got dark really fast. As I said up front, this one turns the world of Harry Potter on its head.

This book is available for free on Goodreads.com.




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Blast of the Dragon's Fury by L.R.W. Lee

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Adventure, moral lessons, and humor.
This is a story about a regular kid who gets magically transported to the Land of Oomaldee, where he is tasked with ending a 500 year old curse that cloaks that land in perpetual fog, among other things.

There were quite a few things I enjoyed about this story, particularly the humor (much of it anyway). The method for clearing away the fog was amusing. I liked how Andy, throughout the story, discovers things about himself and begins to improve. The story was easy to read and obviously written with an eye for teaching moral and life lessons. The author even has a webpage where parents can find discussion questions to use with their kids to take advantage of the morals of the story.

As for the things that I didn't especially like, I'd have to say the Elmer Fudd accent of one of the main characters was high on the list. I think it was meant to be funny, but it didn't come off that way. I also thought the crime that sparked the curse was too much for a book aimed at middleschoolers, plus the battles were much more bloody than I expected to find in an otherwise amusing and entertaining children's book.

Overall, I liked the book but would caution parents to read it before giving it to their children. Many of the lessons and morals in the story are well executed, but some of the violence was a bit too much for the intended audience. The humor was overall well-executed, but sometimes overdone. I think middleschoolers might like this, though I don't think it would appeal to teenagers.

I found this book on Amazon while it was on a free promotion. I also enjoy following the author on Twitter. Her posts are always fun.



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