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The Whisper Legacy #1
Beyond the Western Sun
A gripping journey into the heart of Native American legend, "Beyond the Western Sun" follows the epic struggle of Whisper, a young female Cherokee apprentice, on a harrowing adventure into the Land of the Dead to save the captive son of Ian Diavya. Together they face insurmountable odds, conquer terrible demons, and in the process, find a strength and courage within themselves neither knew possible. What they don’t know is that these early adventures are only tests, for to save Ian’s son, they must also stop the evil-minded Raven-Eater from unleashing his Army of the Dead to destroy the living world. As the Army of the Dead marches closer to the Western Sun, as Whisper leads them deeper into the Land of the Dead, and as the truth behind Cole's death is slowly revealed, Ian discovers that the fate of both worlds depends on his courage, his humility, and the life of his son. An epic saga of hope, redemption, and undying love, "Beyond the Western Sun" is what all fantasy adventures must strive to a complex, intricate examination of human emotion set within the context of worlds known only in our imagination. And in this regard, "Beyond the Western Sun" is a stunning achievement. Melding fantasy and legend in an epic quest, the third novel of her young career signals the arrival of Kristina Circelli as a master storyteller. Creating the indelible character of Whisper, vividly portraying the worlds that she and Ian must traverse to accomplish their goal, and capturing their human frailties, hopes and fears with depth and touching sincerity, Circelli reminds us with stunning precision the greatness we are all capable of, and the heavy price our actions can rend.
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2010
68 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Kristina Circelli
28 books276 followersKristina Circelli is the author of adult and YA fiction novels. A descendent of the Cherokee nation, Circelli holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of North Florida. Currently, she works as both a copywriter and creative writing professor, in addition to writing her own novels.
Her latest series, The Whisper Legacy, is steeped in the spoken narratives of Native American lore, and is at once a gripping story of a father's love and his search for redemption as well as a written record of a Nation's belief system. Part adventure, part myth, and altogether riveting, this series from Kristina Circelli signifies the emergence of an important voice in Native American literature.
Circelli currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, Seth, and cat, Sir Whisky Sour.
Her latest series, The Whisper Legacy, is steeped in the spoken narratives of Native American lore, and is at once a gripping story of a father's love and his search for redemption as well as a written record of a Nation's belief system. Part adventure, part myth, and altogether riveting, this series from Kristina Circelli signifies the emergence of an important voice in Native American literature.
Circelli currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, Seth, and cat, Sir Whisky Sour.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 30, 2011
Starting this as soon as it gets here!
July 20, 2020
This is a mostly well told and deep fantasy story involving Amerindian traditions and legends. It certainly is a page turner and brilliant in many of its aspects. I did find it to be quite an enjoyable read.
Unfortunately, the editing of this story is not up to par. There are a myriad of poor word choices and grammatical mistakes that were allowed to make it through. Most of these were just minor nuisances, though. One issue that was really nagging, though, was a lot of grammatically incorrect usages of the word "of". Any discerning reader is bound to notice this. This makes it almost hard to believe that the author really does hold a Master's Degree in English. Also, she writes about "knocking an arrow" numerous times. HELLO!!! The correct word is "nock". There was even a part where it states one of the story's protagonists was doing something for "three sole" purposes. Since the word "sole" actually means "one and only" - there cannot be more than one "sole" reason for anything.
Lastly, I would like to point out that there is a certain amount of historical ignorance in the telling of this story. Much of the history that is used as an historical backdrop for this story (as relates to the history between the Amerindians and the European conquerers) either comes from a skewed perspective or is outright false. The discredited and nonsensical stories about "small pox infected blankets" is one of those things. But, overall - these things did not detract from the story and may have actually helped it in some cases. It is fiction after all - and this story is good at being what it is.
Unfortunately, the editing of this story is not up to par. There are a myriad of poor word choices and grammatical mistakes that were allowed to make it through. Most of these were just minor nuisances, though. One issue that was really nagging, though, was a lot of grammatically incorrect usages of the word "of". Any discerning reader is bound to notice this. This makes it almost hard to believe that the author really does hold a Master's Degree in English. Also, she writes about "knocking an arrow" numerous times. HELLO!!! The correct word is "nock". There was even a part where it states one of the story's protagonists was doing something for "three sole" purposes. Since the word "sole" actually means "one and only" - there cannot be more than one "sole" reason for anything.
Lastly, I would like to point out that there is a certain amount of historical ignorance in the telling of this story. Much of the history that is used as an historical backdrop for this story (as relates to the history between the Amerindians and the European conquerers) either comes from a skewed perspective or is outright false. The discredited and nonsensical stories about "small pox infected blankets" is one of those things. But, overall - these things did not detract from the story and may have actually helped it in some cases. It is fiction after all - and this story is good at being what it is.
May 4, 2024
Beyond the Western Sun
This is a good book with a great story line about Native American coustoms, beliefs,and superstition. If you believe in this sort of thing, you should find it interesting.
This is a good book with a great story line about Native American coustoms, beliefs,and superstition. If you believe in this sort of thing, you should find it interesting.
June 30, 2018
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
September 2, 2018
Sun
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie
January 3, 2015
This review has taken me so long to complete. I apologise now. It wasn't because the book was shit because honestly it wasn't it was because half way through I had some devastating news and this book was too close to home so I put the book down for a few weeks and returned to it when I felt strong enough. 4 stars goes to Beyond the Western Sun.
If this book taught me anything it was ' not to trust what you see' and 'too long a little deeper'.
Ian & Cole are part of the Diavya Family. They are away on vacation, married life hasnt been easy on Ian and his Wife. Ian is always working and it is taking its toll on the family, a little vacation should help surely? Little do they know, things are about to get a whole lot worse for the family!!
Ian has always been more and more distracted by work lately and his family are getting less and less attention from him. He has never actually cheated on his wife but that doesn't stop him from thinking about this secretary that has been flirting and putting the moves on him for a while now. If he has known them thoughts could be the end of his family maybe he would've spent a little more time with his family than dreaming about the tart at work.
When Ian is having some family bonding time with his son Cole at the park while they are on vacation, he slips into dream world. Cole is happy and content playing in the park while he Dad watches. That is until something catches Cole's eye. He told his Mum he has seen a little boy playing in the water the previous day but luckily his Mum was there too save him from falling in the water and injuring himself. Who is there too save him today? With Cole being the adventurous little boy he is, and Ian sitting thinking about his little bit of skirt back at the office, the worst possible thing happens. Cole goes missing.
Once Ian has scoured the surrounding area he arrives back at camp without Cole, explaining too his family what had happened, obviously, he is too blame. Who else is too blame? Ian can't see this though. He has become a selfish man.
Whisper offers Ian a way too save his son so he goes with her begrudgingly, only because this is what is expected of him, not because it is what he wants to do. Whisper & Ian set off into the Spirit World. Ian isn't aware what is ahead of him and what is involved in order too help save his son but he is not alone. Whisper is with him every step of the way.
Ian isn't sure what it is he is meant to be doing and he isn't sure how much he can trust Whisper but she is all he has. Ian is faced with lots of temptations along his way through the After Life and it is his place not too give into temptation but how easy will that be for him?
Will he be able to save his son?
Bring him home to his family where he belongs?
Or will they both be lost the the Western Sun for all eternity?
Can the Diavya family be saved?
If this book taught me anything it was ' not to trust what you see' and 'too long a little deeper'.
Ian & Cole are part of the Diavya Family. They are away on vacation, married life hasnt been easy on Ian and his Wife. Ian is always working and it is taking its toll on the family, a little vacation should help surely? Little do they know, things are about to get a whole lot worse for the family!!
Ian has always been more and more distracted by work lately and his family are getting less and less attention from him. He has never actually cheated on his wife but that doesn't stop him from thinking about this secretary that has been flirting and putting the moves on him for a while now. If he has known them thoughts could be the end of his family maybe he would've spent a little more time with his family than dreaming about the tart at work.
When Ian is having some family bonding time with his son Cole at the park while they are on vacation, he slips into dream world. Cole is happy and content playing in the park while he Dad watches. That is until something catches Cole's eye. He told his Mum he has seen a little boy playing in the water the previous day but luckily his Mum was there too save him from falling in the water and injuring himself. Who is there too save him today? With Cole being the adventurous little boy he is, and Ian sitting thinking about his little bit of skirt back at the office, the worst possible thing happens. Cole goes missing.
Once Ian has scoured the surrounding area he arrives back at camp without Cole, explaining too his family what had happened, obviously, he is too blame. Who else is too blame? Ian can't see this though. He has become a selfish man.
Whisper offers Ian a way too save his son so he goes with her begrudgingly, only because this is what is expected of him, not because it is what he wants to do. Whisper & Ian set off into the Spirit World. Ian isn't aware what is ahead of him and what is involved in order too help save his son but he is not alone. Whisper is with him every step of the way.
Ian isn't sure what it is he is meant to be doing and he isn't sure how much he can trust Whisper but she is all he has. Ian is faced with lots of temptations along his way through the After Life and it is his place not too give into temptation but how easy will that be for him?
Will he be able to save his son?
Bring him home to his family where he belongs?
Or will they both be lost the the Western Sun for all eternity?
Can the Diavya family be saved?
January 24, 2015
I know an author going to IndieFest in FL. As I was perusing their website for other authors attending, Kristina's author bio stuck out with her Native American theme. She is spreading some of her heritage with a mix of the fantasy fiction. Native American's are natural born storytellers, as most of their history is passed through oral tradition. I have always been fascinated with their origin stories and folk legends explaining why we exist in this world and the part humanity plays in nature. This was an author I had to check out. I looked her works up on Amazon, and the first of the Whisper series was free, so of course I had to download it.
This book will not leave you with the warm-fuzzies. Our protagonists are traversing the Land of the Dead. There can't be much fun to be had in Limbo, but lessons will be taught on nature and our spiritual connectivity to all elements around us. The land is full of weird creepy crawlies and Native American totems bent on deceiving or capturing your soul. Gross, disturbing, and I loved every minute of it! Circelli's writing really took me to the Land of the Dead. She really captured the art of storytelling in true native fashion.
Another plus--her characters were not overly romanticized and gooey. They were disturbed with the actions of their lives and the choices they had made (or were made for them). There is a hunt for the true answer to the question, not what you want it to be or what others are expecting to hear. The honest truth with all the ugliness inside the beauty. Her main character Whisper has a dark side that terrifically reflects the evil struggling to dominate the good.
Now the rest of the series is $2.99 a piece; well priced for me to continue reading. At 4 stars for the first book, I look forward to what comes next.
This book will not leave you with the warm-fuzzies. Our protagonists are traversing the Land of the Dead. There can't be much fun to be had in Limbo, but lessons will be taught on nature and our spiritual connectivity to all elements around us. The land is full of weird creepy crawlies and Native American totems bent on deceiving or capturing your soul. Gross, disturbing, and I loved every minute of it! Circelli's writing really took me to the Land of the Dead. She really captured the art of storytelling in true native fashion.
Another plus--her characters were not overly romanticized and gooey. They were disturbed with the actions of their lives and the choices they had made (or were made for them). There is a hunt for the true answer to the question, not what you want it to be or what others are expecting to hear. The honest truth with all the ugliness inside the beauty. Her main character Whisper has a dark side that terrifically reflects the evil struggling to dominate the good.
Now the rest of the series is $2.99 a piece; well priced for me to continue reading. At 4 stars for the first book, I look forward to what comes next.
October 12, 2011
I enjoyed the mystical aspect of this book and am looking forward to the sequel. The storyline was creative & original and it's definitely not a cookie-cutter formulaic book (ie, John Grisham - I enjoy some of his books but some of the read the same storyline with just a different protaganist - man in one story, woman in another). I like that the book was descriptive enough to be able to picture what's going on in my head but not overly descriptive with details that are irrelevant.
November 3, 2011
This is the kind of book that grips you from start to finish. As soon as I began reading, I felt transported to another world. I didn't leave that world until I finished the final page. I have two favorite genres- fantasy and self-discovery. To find a book in which an incredible, fantastic world is brought to life on paper and to have the characters in that world take such extraordinary journeys was heaven for me! I cannot wait to read the sequel!
February 22, 2014
Though this book is very well written and even has a great story, I just couldn’t get into it. I don’t have anything bad to say about the story itself or the writing; it just didn’t fit my personal interests. I quit reading after getting through half the book. I would still recommend this to others who are interested, it just wasn’t for me.
September 24, 2012
By the third page, I was hooked. The characters felt so real, and the plot was so interesting. I couldn't put it down and read it in one evening. I even convinced my husband, who hates reading, to give it a try.
January 20, 2012
This book was amazing. The characters were extremely well written and the story plays out wonderfully. The imagery is beautiful throughout the whole book. I purchased the sequel just seconds after finishing this one. I can't wait for the next one. I highly recommed this series.
August 6, 2012
I loved this book! It's one of those stories that grabs you and doesn't let go! The story takes you on a mystical journey and truly immerses you in it's world! The characters truly stood out for me and I can't wait to read the sequel!
September 17, 2013
So good!
July 13, 2013
This book was very well written. Unique and creative. Definitely a lot of thought went into it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews