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Kyle Demore #1
Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key
It was a horrible day in math class...that turned into the adventure of a lifetime.
In this exciting debut book from a fresh new YA author, come meet Kyle Demore: the oddball and outcast of Grayling Junior High. After Kyle accidentally turns Grayling's gym into a snow-packed toboggan run, he is expelled, only to be recruited for a school in another realm that he's already seen in some bizarre dreams. In Endera, nothing is the same, especially keys. Turns out they can unlock spectacular and magical powers--but only in the right pair of hands.
In Endera, Kyle finds he's no longer a social outcast. He finds friends, bizarre creatures, and the hardest classes he’s ever taken--and to his surprise, succeeds in. Things aren’t so simple though. Some people would rather see him disappear, for unlocking the powers of the keys also means setting free their dangers.
Kyle makes a mistake that leaves his best friend on the brink of death--and now the only way to save her is to find the rare Timekeeper’s Key. The thing is, some doors aren’t meant to be unlocked. Kyle must choose to take the risk of turning the key, or losing his friend forever...
In this exciting debut book from a fresh new YA author, come meet Kyle Demore: the oddball and outcast of Grayling Junior High. After Kyle accidentally turns Grayling's gym into a snow-packed toboggan run, he is expelled, only to be recruited for a school in another realm that he's already seen in some bizarre dreams. In Endera, nothing is the same, especially keys. Turns out they can unlock spectacular and magical powers--but only in the right pair of hands.
In Endera, Kyle finds he's no longer a social outcast. He finds friends, bizarre creatures, and the hardest classes he’s ever taken--and to his surprise, succeeds in. Things aren’t so simple though. Some people would rather see him disappear, for unlocking the powers of the keys also means setting free their dangers.
Kyle makes a mistake that leaves his best friend on the brink of death--and now the only way to save her is to find the rare Timekeeper’s Key. The thing is, some doors aren’t meant to be unlocked. Kyle must choose to take the risk of turning the key, or losing his friend forever...
- GenresYoung Adult
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2014
3 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 30, 2014
(4.5 Stars)
Action, adventure, friendship, magic, and lots of twists and turns made Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key an engaging and exciting read. Just imagine if Percy Jackson and Harry Potter had gone to school together, studying magic in another dimension.
The creative plot was what I liked best about the story. Each new plot turn kept me looking forward to know what would happen next. While the Masters (the teachers) and the idea of a magical school is in no way original, the topics of studying, dealing with keys and new dimensions, was very refreshing and new. The character of Kyle, and many others, inspired emotional reactions and they felt very relatable.
My main problem with the book was that I often felt like, especially near the beginning of the story, there was over explanation in the dialog. Admittedly, some of it fits within what you expect of certain characters. Still, I think it doesn't give the intelligence of readers enough credit and it allows for less mystery.
Still, overall I absolutely enjoyed Kyle Demore and the Timekeepers Key. It is a middle grade book, but I would recommend it to fantasy readers of all ages. Especially if you enjoy Harry Potter or Percy Jackson! Happy reading. :]
Action, adventure, friendship, magic, and lots of twists and turns made Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key an engaging and exciting read. Just imagine if Percy Jackson and Harry Potter had gone to school together, studying magic in another dimension.
The creative plot was what I liked best about the story. Each new plot turn kept me looking forward to know what would happen next. While the Masters (the teachers) and the idea of a magical school is in no way original, the topics of studying, dealing with keys and new dimensions, was very refreshing and new. The character of Kyle, and many others, inspired emotional reactions and they felt very relatable.
My main problem with the book was that I often felt like, especially near the beginning of the story, there was over explanation in the dialog. Admittedly, some of it fits within what you expect of certain characters. Still, I think it doesn't give the intelligence of readers enough credit and it allows for less mystery.
Still, overall I absolutely enjoyed Kyle Demore and the Timekeepers Key. It is a middle grade book, but I would recommend it to fantasy readers of all ages. Especially if you enjoy Harry Potter or Percy Jackson! Happy reading. :]
February 18, 2014
I received this book in a give away.
After the success of Harry Potter, many aspiring young adult writers created their own weirdo boarding schools with oddball classes and teachers, and of course, a wise and powerful principal like figure, who is secretly engaged in a battle with some kind of dark forces. As a school librarian I have read many of them, and my interest in the subject has waned over time, so I maybe a little biased. However, despite being entertaining, fast read this book has many other issues.
Let's start with with the protagonist Kyle Demore. In the realm of our usual daily life Kyle is a slightly withdrawn, somewhat anxious orphan boy, who is easily intimidated. As soon as he lands in "the other realm" he suddenly loves to fight, stands up for himself and makes lots of friends. It is unclear how he psychologically achieves that huge change within such a short time. Undoubtedly every adolescent would love to have something like that happening to them, but here it all seems to easy. Kyle excels in almost everything from the beginning of his stay in Endera. It is all a little bit too good to be true.
My main objection to the book is its portrayal of fighting as fun, useful and desirable. What do teenagers learn from reading about a school, where you can challenge a teacher to a duel any time you want, where fighting is taught in every class, and sparring with other students is encouraged. It sounds like the high school Batman, Spiderman, Superman and Wonder Woman went to. Do we want our children to think that you can always get your way by by resorting to some form of violence and trickery? Initially nothing is mentioned about why fighting is so important; we only find that out much later in the story.
Along with the fighting comes immediate expulsion of some mean bullies after they are found out. In real life the victim often has to put up with their tormentors getting punished, but remaining in the same school or even class. Again this is wishful thinking.
Also not quite realistic is that most battle wounds are healed immediately. In other words there are no physical consequences for getting into a tussle. There is no better way to create violent people than that.
I had a hard to imagining Endera, the Other Realm. Was it a planet, a country, an island? The description is vague. The people, landscapes and architecture looked a lot like those in our world. The word Endera is close to "endear", which made it sound like a New Age commune full of peaceful hippies, while it anything but that. All I could discern was the different magical abilities of the people and the constant focus on doing battle.
Last but not least, it is all too predictable "good wins over evil". I would like to see the reaction of some adolescents.
After the success of Harry Potter, many aspiring young adult writers created their own weirdo boarding schools with oddball classes and teachers, and of course, a wise and powerful principal like figure, who is secretly engaged in a battle with some kind of dark forces. As a school librarian I have read many of them, and my interest in the subject has waned over time, so I maybe a little biased. However, despite being entertaining, fast read this book has many other issues.
Let's start with with the protagonist Kyle Demore. In the realm of our usual daily life Kyle is a slightly withdrawn, somewhat anxious orphan boy, who is easily intimidated. As soon as he lands in "the other realm" he suddenly loves to fight, stands up for himself and makes lots of friends. It is unclear how he psychologically achieves that huge change within such a short time. Undoubtedly every adolescent would love to have something like that happening to them, but here it all seems to easy. Kyle excels in almost everything from the beginning of his stay in Endera. It is all a little bit too good to be true.
My main objection to the book is its portrayal of fighting as fun, useful and desirable. What do teenagers learn from reading about a school, where you can challenge a teacher to a duel any time you want, where fighting is taught in every class, and sparring with other students is encouraged. It sounds like the high school Batman, Spiderman, Superman and Wonder Woman went to. Do we want our children to think that you can always get your way by by resorting to some form of violence and trickery? Initially nothing is mentioned about why fighting is so important; we only find that out much later in the story.
Along with the fighting comes immediate expulsion of some mean bullies after they are found out. In real life the victim often has to put up with their tormentors getting punished, but remaining in the same school or even class. Again this is wishful thinking.
Also not quite realistic is that most battle wounds are healed immediately. In other words there are no physical consequences for getting into a tussle. There is no better way to create violent people than that.
I had a hard to imagining Endera, the Other Realm. Was it a planet, a country, an island? The description is vague. The people, landscapes and architecture looked a lot like those in our world. The word Endera is close to "endear", which made it sound like a New Age commune full of peaceful hippies, while it anything but that. All I could discern was the different magical abilities of the people and the constant focus on doing battle.
Last but not least, it is all too predictable "good wins over evil". I would like to see the reaction of some adolescents.
January 30, 2014
Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key follows a thirteen year old boy named Kyle who is at an orphanage. He's different from the other kids around, and this goes beyond the mysterious key he keeps around his neck, and the other kids know it. It isn't until a strange man shows up at the orphanage that Kyle really starts to know it for himself.
This first installment introduced a world of various dimensions and new possibilities that took some time to understand. The world building in this book is rich and elaborate, and is to be approached with patience and imagination. I really enjoyed the thorough descriptions with which the story was written.
The dining halls and foreign classes the school comprised of reminded me vaguely of Harry Potter, as did the group of five friends that faced adventures together. The introduction of an important quest and the role of an oracle reminded me of Percy Jackson. And yet, despite these similarities, Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key was undeniably original in its own way.
A few things I found to be quite strange included the names of some of the characters (Kyle, Kevin, Kane, Kross) which were difficult to keep up with and separated at times, as well as a habit of Kyle's of constantly "fluffing up" his hair. At times I felt there were unnecessary elements in the plot and found myself wanting to read ahead; other times I struggled with understanding a new concept that was being introduced, due to its imaginative complexity.
One of my favorite elements of this novel was the ongoing pursuit of acquiring new names at the Academy, with the final goal of earning an eternal title, that is. Students would be able to challenge professors to a duel in order to prove themselves worthy of an eternal title. I saw it as a mark of one's coming of age in this particular world, as well as the acquisition of an identity. The concept was very interesting and I really enjoyed learning about it in the context of this fantastical reality.
The idea of the controlling of the elements, furthermore, was very intriguing to me, especially Kyle's gift for lightning, which was an interesting, new element to consider. The strength and courage he must employ in order to master this gift is tremendous, and really proved his character to be one that quickly adapted and of abundant talent.
Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key is a fast paced book with a wide cast of characters. Action, fantasy, and even a budding romance are all present, as is a story for those who seek a new world to immerse themselves in.
This first installment introduced a world of various dimensions and new possibilities that took some time to understand. The world building in this book is rich and elaborate, and is to be approached with patience and imagination. I really enjoyed the thorough descriptions with which the story was written.
The dining halls and foreign classes the school comprised of reminded me vaguely of Harry Potter, as did the group of five friends that faced adventures together. The introduction of an important quest and the role of an oracle reminded me of Percy Jackson. And yet, despite these similarities, Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key was undeniably original in its own way.
A few things I found to be quite strange included the names of some of the characters (Kyle, Kevin, Kane, Kross) which were difficult to keep up with and separated at times, as well as a habit of Kyle's of constantly "fluffing up" his hair. At times I felt there were unnecessary elements in the plot and found myself wanting to read ahead; other times I struggled with understanding a new concept that was being introduced, due to its imaginative complexity.
One of my favorite elements of this novel was the ongoing pursuit of acquiring new names at the Academy, with the final goal of earning an eternal title, that is. Students would be able to challenge professors to a duel in order to prove themselves worthy of an eternal title. I saw it as a mark of one's coming of age in this particular world, as well as the acquisition of an identity. The concept was very interesting and I really enjoyed learning about it in the context of this fantastical reality.
The idea of the controlling of the elements, furthermore, was very intriguing to me, especially Kyle's gift for lightning, which was an interesting, new element to consider. The strength and courage he must employ in order to master this gift is tremendous, and really proved his character to be one that quickly adapted and of abundant talent.
Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key is a fast paced book with a wide cast of characters. Action, fantasy, and even a budding romance are all present, as is a story for those who seek a new world to immerse themselves in.
January 21, 2016
Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key tells the tale of . . . well, Kyle Demore! Besides having a wicked name, he also has this rust covered key which he keeps hanging around his neck. But, this is not just any key. This key, as well as Kyle’s abilities are probably one of the coolest things in the book. Without giving too much away, the scenes involving the keys were probably some of my favorite sequences in the book.
The story, it starts out when Kyle accidently gets expelled from school. He inadvertently triggers the power of his key and teleports a large patch of snow into his gym. From there, we are introduced to one of the Masters who promises to show him the full potential of his key. And, that’s when the ball starts rolling.
At first, most readers will draw the comparisons to Harry Potter or maybe even Percy Jackson. But, honestly? That didn’t bother me. This book unique enough with its own world building that you will feel that this story deserves it’s own place right next to them.
Our characters are Kyle, Kevin, Kane, Kross and Garnet with Kevin probably being my favorite. The reason? Kevin is deaf. I can’t think of many books that we have a deaf character that is done so brilliantly. Garnet would be a second close, but – I will let you read the story to find out why.
This is one of those books that that is filled with so many wonderful ideas that you cannot help but appreciate the creativity. Every chapter was filled with something new and refreshing. Again, one of the things I enjoyed about this book is how the keys work. With a simple turn of the key, you could do a variety of magical things. Got a cut? Grab your key and close the wound. Open a door to a different plane of existence? Keys got you covered there too. Such a simple idea that is used in such a fascinating way. I loved it.
From the first page, it is clear that a lot of time and effort was put into this story. The writing is top notch and it’s pacing is fast and furious. The formatting was obviously done with love and the editing is pretty tight. In all honesty? This type of work should be the standard is what all Indy authors. And that’s a mighty tall order. Whatever Samuel J. Vega is selling? I’m buying. And I hope there are many more stories to come . . .
The story, it starts out when Kyle accidently gets expelled from school. He inadvertently triggers the power of his key and teleports a large patch of snow into his gym. From there, we are introduced to one of the Masters who promises to show him the full potential of his key. And, that’s when the ball starts rolling.
At first, most readers will draw the comparisons to Harry Potter or maybe even Percy Jackson. But, honestly? That didn’t bother me. This book unique enough with its own world building that you will feel that this story deserves it’s own place right next to them.
Our characters are Kyle, Kevin, Kane, Kross and Garnet with Kevin probably being my favorite. The reason? Kevin is deaf. I can’t think of many books that we have a deaf character that is done so brilliantly. Garnet would be a second close, but – I will let you read the story to find out why.
This is one of those books that that is filled with so many wonderful ideas that you cannot help but appreciate the creativity. Every chapter was filled with something new and refreshing. Again, one of the things I enjoyed about this book is how the keys work. With a simple turn of the key, you could do a variety of magical things. Got a cut? Grab your key and close the wound. Open a door to a different plane of existence? Keys got you covered there too. Such a simple idea that is used in such a fascinating way. I loved it.
From the first page, it is clear that a lot of time and effort was put into this story. The writing is top notch and it’s pacing is fast and furious. The formatting was obviously done with love and the editing is pretty tight. In all honesty? This type of work should be the standard is what all Indy authors. And that’s a mighty tall order. Whatever Samuel J. Vega is selling? I’m buying. And I hope there are many more stories to come . . .
February 21, 2014
It took me a bit to get into this book. I blame myself, though. It had been a while since I read YA and I kept expecting DESTRUCTIVE SHENANIGANS and ANGER when Kyle was thrust into a new, overwhelming situation. Instead, he was remarkably resilient and managed to make things work. Which is awesome. It just wasn't what I was expecting. So, really, it was all me. Once I got over myself, I was all over Kyle's can-do attitude.
Sure, he made some mistakes at first but he found his groove and figured out where he fit in. I can appreciate that.
The world of Endera is fun. Magic and keys and abilities beyond anything Kyle could have conceived before he was brought there, made his journey an exciting ride. As the story progresses, we begin to see that not everything is as carefree as it seems. Danger is massing and it has the potential to cause a lot of upheaval.
Meanwhile, Kyle and his newfound compatriots learn to work together while mastering the skills that will make them a force of great good. THINGS HAPPEN along the way that test Kyle and bring home that not everyone has the same vision of peace that his teachers have.
Very fun and engaging with just enough craziness that you never knew what Kyle was going to encounter next.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Sure, he made some mistakes at first but he found his groove and figured out where he fit in. I can appreciate that.
The world of Endera is fun. Magic and keys and abilities beyond anything Kyle could have conceived before he was brought there, made his journey an exciting ride. As the story progresses, we begin to see that not everything is as carefree as it seems. Danger is massing and it has the potential to cause a lot of upheaval.
Meanwhile, Kyle and his newfound compatriots learn to work together while mastering the skills that will make them a force of great good. THINGS HAPPEN along the way that test Kyle and bring home that not everyone has the same vision of peace that his teachers have.
Very fun and engaging with just enough craziness that you never knew what Kyle was going to encounter next.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
March 19, 2014
At the start of Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key all I felt was missing was a lightening bolt scar, although there is so much more to this story.
My catch phrase as a little kid was "What's happening now Mom, what's happening now?" That is how I felt about this novel, what will happen now? What happened was a well paced, humorous novel with just enough adventure to keep it away from the likes of the Pee Wee Scouts.
Kyle Demore was well developed and grew as a character throughout the book. I first pictured him as a docile mouse, but as the novel progressed reminded me of Katy Perry's "Roar" song.
I felt the ending went by in a blip. There was so much to conclude and it seemed squeezed to me, although as I saw my kindle edition slowly ebb towards the 100% mark I wasn't sure how the author could wrap it up. Samuel J. Vega wrote a wonderful young adult novel that was more than a pleasure to read.
I received a copy from the author
My catch phrase as a little kid was "What's happening now Mom, what's happening now?" That is how I felt about this novel, what will happen now? What happened was a well paced, humorous novel with just enough adventure to keep it away from the likes of the Pee Wee Scouts.
Kyle Demore was well developed and grew as a character throughout the book. I first pictured him as a docile mouse, but as the novel progressed reminded me of Katy Perry's "Roar" song.
I felt the ending went by in a blip. There was so much to conclude and it seemed squeezed to me, although as I saw my kindle edition slowly ebb towards the 100% mark I wasn't sure how the author could wrap it up. Samuel J. Vega wrote a wonderful young adult novel that was more than a pleasure to read.
I received a copy from the author
February 13, 2014
Kyle Demore and the Timekeeper's Key was purely an impulse buy/read, but I'm glad I did so. It's a self-published book by debut author Samuel J. Vega, and I was very pleasantly surprised with what I've read. It was fun, good worldbuilding, and a quirky cast of characters. It has a very Harry Potter-esque vibe (orphan boy being whisked off to a magical school in a faraway place), but I didn't have a problem with it, since I always have fun with those types of stories anyway. My biggest problem with this book is that I found the first half to be more interesting than the second half; I thought the exploration of the world and characters were stronger than the plot itself. Still, this book is fun, fast-paced, and easy to fly through, and I'm excited for the next one!
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April 17, 2015Good story, plenty of action, fun world. This book had potential so why only 3 stars? I just didn't care enough about the characters. There wasn't enough time spent making me love them, it just dove right in. I mean thats great but even after the main character had settled in I felt like I knew nothing about him, his feelings, abd his friends. The only character I felt any attached to was Garnet. More time should have been spent on his everyday life. We got synopses of his lessons but hardly any scenes in them.
August 3, 2014
I won this book on the first reader giveaway.
It took me while to get into the story but what I did it was pretty interesting. To me the story seemed to be predictable.
Some things that happened in the story didn't seem to make sense and there really never was an explanation to why they happened, they just did.
This story plot reminded me of a mixture of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.
I did find the book to be entertaining and think it would be a great read for young children.
It took me while to get into the story but what I did it was pretty interesting. To me the story seemed to be predictable.
Some things that happened in the story didn't seem to make sense and there really never was an explanation to why they happened, they just did.
This story plot reminded me of a mixture of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.
I did find the book to be entertaining and think it would be a great read for young children.
February 1, 2014
Video review of this book will be up very soon!
September 17, 2014
An interesting fantasy with people that can use keys to do lots of interesting things.
March 23, 2016
2.5 stars. I liked the premise but it was very up and down in sections. Id probably try the next in the series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews