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A.J.’s Year In Books

A.J.’s 2022 Year in Books

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A.J. Ponder’s Followers (237)

A.J.’s Bookshelves

read (281)
currently-reading (11)
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394 books | 29 friends

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A.J. Ponder

Goodreads Author

Website

https://ponderbooks.com/

Twitter

ajponderbws

Genre

Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children's

Influences

J.R.R. Tolkien, Diana Wynne Jones, Frances Hardinge, Roald Dahl, E.B. ...more

Member Since

April 2012

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USA Today bestselling author, and winner of the Wright-Murray Residency 2021, A.J. Ponder (BSc, Dip Teach) is the author of numerous novels and short stories including the award winning Frankie and the Netball Clone, Dying for the Record, The Sylvalla Chronicles, Wizard's Guide to Wellington and more.

A.J. lives in a hundred year old house overlooking Wellington harbour with three cats and a family all obsessed with games, books and dungeons and dragons. A.J. has a head full of monsters, and recklessly spills them onto the written page. Beware dragons, dreadbeasts, taniwha, and small children—all are equally dangerous, and capable of treading on your heart—or tearing it, still beating, from your chest.

You can find A.J. at ponderbooks.com, ...more

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Combine Editions
A.J. Ponder’s books

Average rating: 4.27 · 675 ratings · 326 reviews · 34 distinct works • Similar authors

	Quest (The Sylvalla Chronicles, #1) 3.99 avg rating — 71 ratings — published 2018 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wizard's Guide to Wellington 3.59 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 2012 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Secret Child (The Sylvalla Chronicles #0.5) 4.04 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Prophecy (The Sylvalla Chronicles, #2) 3.92 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2019 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Into FaerLand 4.78 avg rating — 9 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Frankie Files it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Secret Story it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2020 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Miss Lionheart Omnibus Edition (Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death #1-3) 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Omens (The Sylvalla Chronicles, #3) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2019 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Secret Child: The Sylvalla Chronicles prequel 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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A.J. Ponder's Blog

Welcome to the propaganda war

Welcome to the war you never knew you were a part of.
Until the moment you did.

But once you arrive, how do you know which side is the side for good?
And which is the side for evil?
When there is no such thing as perfection.

No buts
No believe mes
No messiahs to rescue us
No billionaires who care about anything other than their billions

And when it gets too much
Remember we're all with you
Fighti

Series by A.J. Ponder

The Sylvalla Chronicles (3 books)
by

A.J. Ponder (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 119 ratings

Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death (3 books)
by

A.J. Ponder (Goodreads Author)

4.25 avg rating — 12 ratings

A.J. is Currently Reading

A.J. is currently reading

A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)

by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author)

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Jan 26, 2023 05:05AM

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First Magyc (Guardians of the Path Book 1)

by Nicole DragonBeck (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 31, 2022 05:06AM

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Fate of Wizardoms: The Complete Epic Saga

by Jeffrey L. Kohanek (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 16, 2022 01:52PM

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A.J.’s Recent Updates

A.J. rated a book it was amazing A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1) by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Great book by a great author. And it ends well. You will not get to the end and be disappointed, or at least I wasn't. Loved the world building, but a couple of things made it not the perfect story I expect from Naomi Novik—at least not the perfect s ...more
Jan 30, 2023 12:08AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
A.J. rated a book it was amazing Uprooted by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 30, 2023 12:08AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Uprooted by Naomi Novik <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
A.J. has read Uprooted by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 30, 2023 12:07AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Uprooted by Naomi Novik <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
A.J. is currently reading A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1) by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 26, 2023 05:05AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
A.J. has read Into Brocéliande (Blood of the Fae Book 2) by A.J. Ponder (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 26, 2023 02:39AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Into Brocéliande by A.J. Ponder. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Into Brocéliande by A.J. Ponder <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
A.J. is now following Lorie Kuzma and Jackie
Jan 20, 2023 01:45AM
A.J. rated a book it was amazing The Widow and the Beast by Alice Ivinya (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Loved it. The instant the widow makes it into the land of fairy this book comes to life. Really enjoyed the foray into a wonderful world full of beauty and danger. A new and fresh look at old mythological and fairytale creatures. Great fun. I look for ...more
Oct 02, 2022 01:35AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Widow and the Beast by Alice Ivinya. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Widow and the Beast by Alice Ivinya <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
A.J. liked Craig Harder's review of Into FaerLand: "“We never steal children. We only swap them. An eye for an eye, a child for a child.” I enjoyed the characters out of stories I read many years ago and the way they are used to tell this tale."
Oct 01, 2022 02:47PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Into FaerLand by A.J. Ponder. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Into FaerLand by A.J. Ponder <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
A.J. liked Sue's review of Into FaerLand: "Cute story! Lots of drama going on in this book but it has a lighthearted flair to it. I smiled through most of the characters antics. There’s a terrific variety to the creatures in Into Faerland which adds even more interest to the book. I look forw" Read more of this review »
Oct 01, 2022 02:47PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Into FaerLand by A.J. Ponder. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Into FaerLand by A.J. Ponder <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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A.J.’s Quotes

“Where is your sense of patriotism?"

I keep it hid away safe, along with my sense of trust, Mr. Clent. I don't use 'em much in case they get scratched.”
― Frances Hardinge, Fly by Night

55 likes

“So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

tags: decisions, gandalf, steadfastness, truths

574 likes

“In every age it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both to deceive and overawe the People.”
― Eugene Victor Debs

tags: authoritarianism, deception, exploitation, fundamentalism, nationalism, oppression, patriotism, religion, totalitarianism, tyranny

446 likes