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Cobbogoth #1

Uncovering Cobbogoth

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Norah Lukens needs to uncover the truth about the fabled lost city of Cobbogoth. After her archaeologist uncle’s murder, Norah is asked to translate his old research journal for evidence and discovers that his murder was a cover-up for something far more sinister.

When she turns to neighbor and only friend James Riley for help, she realizes that not only is their bitter-sweet past haunting her every step, but James is keeping dangerous secrets. Can Norah discover what they are before its too late to share her own?

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2011

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About the author

Hannah L. Clark

4 books302 followers
Hannah L. Clark Hannah L. Clark is the author of the Cobbogoth series; a Young Adult fantasy adventure. She lives with her family in the beautiful Rocky Mountains where she spends much of her time imagining all sorts of fantastical things. Her first children's book "In My Imagination" will be available in October 2017.

To learn more about Hannah and her creations visit
www.hannahlclark.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Profile Image for Chelsea.
78 reviews12 followers
March 28, 2013
It's "i shirked responsibility and read this in two days" good
Profile Image for Cheryl Landmark.
Author 6 books108 followers
May 12, 2013
The Icelandic mythology and magical race called the Cobbogothians that Ms. Clark created was profoundly interesting and intriguing. And, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. There was plenty of mystery, suspense, romance and danger.

Norah's character was very likeable--she was intelligent, strong, independent and feisty. And, she used her smarts effectively to try and solve the mystery of her uncle's horrendous murder. James was a bit of a mystery at first and some of his actions raised a lot of questions. Was he a good guy or a bad guy? You'll have to read the book to find out! :) Even though we didn't get to meet Uncle Jack in person, he seemed like a genuinely nice man who loved Norah like a daughter and encouraged her interest in his archeological work.

The wonderful illustrations in the book also added to its appeal, and I hope that Ms. Clark continues on with the saga of Norah and the Cobbogothians sometime in the near future.

Profile Image for Melanie.
748 reviews24 followers
August 27, 2016
I absolutely LOVED this book! It captured my attention from the first page and kept it the entire time.

Norah's parents died when she was a baby. Her Uncle Jack, an archaeologist, sent her away to Dunstan Academy for her senior year. Norah is now heading home to Boston. Her friend James is picking her up at the bus station and she's nervous to see him. They were very close and the best of friends and things got weird right before she left. He didn't contact her while she was gone and she's not sure what kind of reception she will get from him. When they pull up to her house, there are police cars and she finds out her uncle has been murdered. She's asked to translate one of her uncle's journals to help catch his murderer. As Norah starts reading it, she realizes that it may contain the answers she's been looking for.

I loved Norah! She's been alone so much that she's just looking for somewhere to belong. She's intelligent and a bit confused as she works to piece together the puzzle she's been given. She gets memories here and there, some of which lead to more questions. Her life was turned upside down when Uncle Jack was murdered and she turns to James, but then realizes he's keeping secrets and isn't sure if she can trust him. I wasn't sure what to think about James for a while and it wasn't until certain revelations were made before I knew where I stood (I won't say so I don't spoil anything). There are lots of other characters that add to the story and I loved reading about all of them.

Cobbogoth is a complex world that I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in. There are plenty of twists and turns which kept me guessing the entire time. I loved the ending and, while it wasn't a cliffhanger, it left me wanting more. There are some great illustrations to help you picture the creatures and people described in the book. If you enjoy clean young adult fantasy combined with mystery, suspense and romance, you will want to read this book!!

I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.

To view the trailer, and read my interview with the author (if you want to know if this will be a series), check it out here: Mel's Shelves
Profile Image for Kathy.
2,073 reviews604 followers
July 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this one. I liked the new mythology and learning about the Cobbogothians. I thought the story and mythology was well developed. Norah is our heroine and I thought she was likable. She’s lived a very sheltered life with her uncle, who is a famous archeologist. She also has a photographic memory and her only friend is the “boy next door” James. I liked James and wish he was in the book more. We mostly see him in flashbacks and I would have liked to see him in the present. I think I was expecting him to play a bigger role, but we see more of Lylend then we do of James. I thought it moved along well and kept me turning the pages.

While I did enjoy it, at times I did feel like there was too much world-building (info-dumping). I’ve read a lot of fantasy books and so maybe because of that I wasn’t too surprised by how things unfolded. It was a bit predictable. I also didn’t connect with the romance. Maybe since a lot of the book they are apart and a big part of their time together is from flashbacks. Don’t get me wrong, I thought they had a sweet romance and I was rooting for them, but I would have liked to have seen them together more, I wanted to fall in love with him along the way and instead I felt like I was just supposed to accept that they were in love, but wasn’t really there when it happened. It’s probably just me.

Overall, a fun and entertaining read. I think a lot of people would enjoy this one and I know I’ll be on the lookout for the second book.

Content
Romance: Clean
Violence: Mild
Profile Image for Chrissy.
267 reviews51 followers
June 10, 2014
At first I was afraid this was going to be a weird sci-fi book. It's not. Once I got into it, I could hardly put it down. I loved the romance, of course, but the actual sci-fi plot was good too, IMO. I am disappointed that this is only the first book so I am going to have to wait a long time until the next one comes out.
Profile Image for Bonnie (A Backwards Story).
418 reviews226 followers
Read
March 7, 2012
Check out the full review on my blog for a chance to win a copy of COBBOGOTH as well as an in-depth video on the novel's interior/exterior cover analysis!

I love when books can be categorized as "mythology" or a "fairy tale" even when they're 100% out of the author's own imagination with no reliance on a traditional tale. For me, this is COBBOGOTH. It creates its own mythology and makes you feel as though Cobbogothians are real. It makes you want to look up tales about this race of people and hear more about their stories. Sadly, the Cobbogothians are an invention purely from the mind of author Hannah L. Clark, though she'll kindly be returning to them in future books. Another fun fact about COBBOGOTH is that, while it's the first in a series, it has a sense of feeling self-contained. While there are a couple of loose threads left at the end that encourage a return to Clark's world at a future date, there's no cliffhanger to leave one tearing hair out. I also enjoy the fact that the legends are set in Iceland, rather than the author's home country, giving readers a fresh perspective.

Norah Lukens has always known about the Cobbogothians, but has always thought their race to be a mythological one. She grew up living with her uncle, a famous archaeologist, after her parents died in an accident shortly after her birth. The day she leaves school to return to her uncle, he's found brutally murdered. He anticipated that this would occur and has left encrypted clues behind for Norah to discover. Norah becomes swept up in a dangerous quest as she attempts to solve a mystery that will shed truth on the discovery of a lifetime, one that has been carefully kept hidden from the public eye. She's told to trust no one, and feels she can't even share things with her childhood crush after overhearing a private conversation of his. Caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time during a second murder, Norah finds herself being chased by police and on the run. She makes her way to Iceland, where life as she knows it will change in drastic ways beyond her control.

COBBOGOTH is full of mystery and intrigue. Clark deftly delivers a world where readers are as curious about what's going on as the novel's narrator. Too many books make the direction they're going in obvious for readers; this one never did and I was surprised multiple times. To me, this is the sign of a good mystery and am intrigued by the world Clark has immersed us in. I'm eager to see what path she leads us on next and get a more in-depth look at characters introduced late in the title. I'd also like to commend Clark on her debut novel's sleek design. It's well put-together, both inside and out, as well as nicely edited. This book looks like one that could be picked up in a bookstore, especially with all the attention to detail in the interior design. This doesn't look or feel self-published. I'm glad that Clark created her own publishing company so that readers won't immediately realize it's self-published and turn up their noses.
Profile Image for Nicole.
163 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2015
I was hooked pretty much immediately. Within the first chapter I definitely wanted to unravel the mysteries that were being introduced. I appreciated the unique story world. This didn't feel like recycled version of current popular books (though I did have some flashes to Twilight with the romance.) The action sequences were well-written. I was tense and reading quickly to hear what would happen next. The descriptions evoked emotion, but were not so graphic as to completely gross me out.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book and couldn't wait to find out what would happen, there were some "wrinkles" that could have been better ironed out. I thought that about halfway through the pacing and order of the plot development became rushed. There was a lot of "telling" to reveal information, and there were some questions brought out that didn't get explained at all. As the main character is being given important information she asks a clarifying questions and the other characters simply say, "It's a long story," or "I'll explain later," but then they don't. Very unsatisfying as a reader. Either don't bring up those questions at all if they can't or won't be explained or else explain them. If they will be explained in a sequel then don't bring up the question until the sequel.

There were other questions that I asked as a reader that were never brought up which made it more difficult for me to understand the laws and workings of this reality the author has created for her story. I enjoyed the details that were included to make this fantasy world fit into our own; however, there were enough details missing that I wasn't completely pulled in. I couldn't fully accept the fantasy because I didn't have enough context for how this could possibly happen in our world without the "normal folk" knowing about it.

In general I felt that the revelation of information was disorganized. There was too much given here and too little given there. It was hard to file it all away when it wasn't really pertinent to the events at hand, and then other times it was confusing and difficult to accept the events because I didn't know enough or have enough background information.

All in all I give it 3 stars. Despite some disorganization the writing style was enjoyable and the unique idea is refreshing. I definitely will get my hands on the sequels when they are available, and I will probably read this one again before that. It was enjoyable enough for a second read, and I would want the remind myself about the rules of the Cobbogothian world to be sure I would know what was going on in the sequels.
Profile Image for Karen.
493 reviews95 followers
November 6, 2015
Norah has been raised by her famous archaeologist uncle, Jack, since her parents died when she was just a baby. Jack was obsessed with the Cobbogothians, so Norah knew their myths by heart. When she comes home from school to find her uncle murdered, her world is turned upside down. He uncle sent her a journal and asked her to protect it. It was his journal about the Cobbogothians and it is the only one she has never read. In the journal Norah finds clues that lead her back to the Cobbogothian myth and point right to Jack's killer. Now she just needs to unravel the mystery before she ends up killed too.

What I loved: The myth was so fantastical. This was well thought out story. It had a lot of turns and twists that kept me guessing. The author was clearly able to take this myth and make it real for the reader. The Cobbothians in this story are full of magic and surprises. They are also in great danger. I grew to love Norah and really rooted hard for her to be safe and find happiness.

The Cobbogothians themselves were a bit of full and very unpredictable. I loved the adventure within this story and that there was an underlying romance. The flash backs allowed us to understand how the characters fit together. I loved that there wasn't a lot of waiting for things to happen. This story starts right off with action and the pace continues throughout.

What I didn't like: Norah was hard to relate to at first. She was raised different from most people and had major anxiety issues. She didn't have much experience in dealing with people, and in the beginning she is so fragile. She spends the first few chapters being cared for by other people and I didn't think this was a good introduction to her. So I wasn't sure if she was reliable throughout half of the story.

Also, I have to mention that the flashbacks felt like info dumps. I did grow to enjoy this story, but the flashbacks took some getting used to.

In conclusion: I enjoyed this book. I loved the fantastical elements and I grew to love Norah's character. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
Profile Image for Kimber Wheaton.
Author 4 books249 followers
August 10, 2014
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

3.5 Stars

Uncovering Cobbogoth enters the fascinating world of archaeology and mythology, blending mystery and intrigue into an intriguing tale. One thing I really enjoyed about this novel is that it's quite different from the other urban fantasy/paranormal books out there. I always appreciate a good mystery, and if it revolves around mythology, then all the better.

Norah grew up with her famous archaeologist uncle after the deaths of her parents left her orphaned. He sounds like the kind of person I'd love to work with or at least pick his brain. Norah has some issues. She spent most of her life home-schooled until her senior year when she was sent to a boarding school while her uncle undertook a top secret project. Norah is different. She suffers hallucinations and panic attacks. But what really makes her special is her ability with languages.

I had a hard time getting into the story, and felt a bit lost at the beginning. The first third of the book moves slow for YA, however, the information provided is intriguing enough to hold a reader's interest. There is no lack when it comes to rich descriptions. I had no trouble picturing every minute detail as I followed Norah's story. One thing I did not care for was the use of flashbacks. These can be a powerful tool. However, I felt like there were just too many in this novel. They kept drawing me from the main story line, so much so that I lost interest a few times, especially early on.

I never quite connected with Norah as a character. She did grow during the course of the novel, but that connection I like to feel with the lead character never quite developed. The plot, the world, the creative ideas are all very good. If you like books based on mythology featuring mystery, adventure, and a touch of romance, then I think you'll really enjoy Uncovering Cobbogoth.
Profile Image for ѦѺ™.
447 reviews
June 8, 2012
“Crystals grew inside rock like arithmetic flowers. They lengthened and spread, added plane to plane in an awed and perfect obedience to an absolute geometry that even stones -- maybe only the stones -- understood.” - Annie Dillard


Nora Lukens is coming home from Dunstan University and is looking forward to seeing her Uncle Jack again. their reunion is marked by a horrible tragedy and Nora is devastated with grief. an old research journal from her Uncle may be the only clue that would lead to answers and unraveling the myth of the Cobbogothians.
author Hannah L. Clark's debut novel is an exciting fantasy adventure. filled with magic, mystery, intrigue, secrets and suspense, this book kept me reading well past my bedtime again. it reminded me somehow of Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth but Cobbogoth's plot is totally different.
the author's worldbuilding and imagery are equally impressive. i also loved how Ms. Clark used and integrated crystals and minerals into the storyline.
there are also beautiful illustrations throughout which marked chapters and pages.
overall, this novel is a remarkable piece of work and it comes highly recommended.


Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy of from the author. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Profile Image for Diane Coto.
389 reviews10 followers
May 19, 2014
At one time, the Cobbogothians were only a myth to seventeen year old Norah Lukens. But when her Uncle Jack was brutally killed, she needed to quickly decipher his archaeology journal in order to try to solve his murder. Now she not only needs to believe the Cobbogothians are real, but she needs to find the lost city of Cobbogoth. It would seem the Cobbogothians have enemies too which places Norah more in harm’s way. They are powerful and will go to any limits to discover what she knows.

Before discovering her uncle’s death, she had been looking forward to coming home from school and to possibly reigniting with James Riley, her neighbor and possibly more than just a friend. But now, she’s a bit confused about his actions. Can she trust him? The bigger question may be, who can she trust?

I’m not accustomed to reading fantasy, but a good author can take you by the hand and lead you dexterously through any genre – character detail and scenes which open your eyes to a whole new world. I believe Ms. Clark has a fair amount of this talent. I could ‘see’ what was taking place without great effort. Norah is sketched as an extremely smart individual, yet she is not obsessed with her mental capabilities. The story does have flashback moments to which the reader needs to adjust and figure where they belong in the big picture. I rated this 3.5 out of 5.

Review on: http://www.fictionzeal.com/uncovering...
Profile Image for Kathryn Cooper.
Author 1 book39 followers
May 18, 2014
Reviewed on Kathryn Cooper Writes

This was a great book!!! Everyone go read it. . . right now. Uncovering Cobbogoth took my emotions on a roller coaster ride. I was happy, sad, heart-broken, excited, betrayed, scared, nervous, angry, ecstatic. Norah was fun to follow as she learned more about the Cobbogothians.

I loved the mythical creatures. Some were awesome and amazing others were plain creepy and terrifying. Norah searched to learn more about herself and to keep herself and those she loved alive. Yes there’s a boy, his name is James. I won’t ruin your fun by giving any details away, but believe me you’ll enjoy it. And you will swoon.

Uncovering Cobbogoth was a fun and exciting read. I recommend it to those of you who love YA fiction and/or fantasy. I look forward to reading the other books in this series when they release.

Content Ratings
sexual: mild
language: none
violence: mild/moderate
more detailed ratings hidden on blog post- Kathryn Cooper Writes

*I received the ARC eBook from Cedar Fort Publishing. I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.*
Profile Image for Katie (hiding in the pages).
3,006 reviews232 followers
October 31, 2014
I'm always in awe of an author who can spin a fantastic tale full of adventure, romance, and creative ideas. That's exactly what a reader gets with this one.

Norah is unlucky. Born prematurely, she loses her parents while in the hospital. And now, right after her graduation, she finds out that her uncle is murdered. Who can she trust? Who can help her solve the mysteries surrounding his death and the mysterious fabled city of Cobbogoth?

That's where her neighbor James comes in. He's a fire fighter, but has an "in" with the police department. He's a mystery, too, and it's hard for Norah to know if she can really trust him or not...but he's all she has left.

Norah is a very intelligent and gifted young lady--she has a photographic memory and is really smart, especially in sciences and languages, which is why she's the perfect person to solve these mysteries. But don't underestimate James!

As with most books that set up a new world, there are a lot of parts that are very informative and move away from the story in order to set up the background, characters, and plot. I know it's important for the story, but I wish there could have been a little less info and more action.

Content
no language; moderate, PG-13 type violence (deaths, murders, etc); mild romance.

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Tori.
23 reviews
October 13, 2013
I didn't give it 5 stars, though I do think it is a very creative and imaginative read. It lacks the 5th stare only do to the fact that most of the new terms and word,s do to the imagination of a different world, got a bit confusing. So much was introduced that I couldn't remember what certain things were confusing. So that said, I really enjoyed the story as a whole and, like most first books in a series, I am hoping that in the coming ones I will start catching onto all the words for this new world.
Profile Image for Katie.
195 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2015
One of my pseudo roommates (she lived across the hall) from college wrote this wonderful book. She's created this whole mythology which is just amazing. The book was a page turner and a fun read. YA fiction. Looking forward to the next one, Hannah!
19 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2012
Read this book super fast with my hubby. It was awesome. I would recommend it to anyone!
Profile Image for Lynanne Carroll.
122 reviews10 followers
May 24, 2014
I also have a blog post coming on the 24th as a blogger on Hannah Clark's Uncovering Cobbogoth Blog Tour. If you want to take a look, here is the link to my blog (has all links for book trailer, author info, etc.): http://www.lynannecarroll.blogspot.com/

*I received a PDF copy from Cedar Fort in exchange for an honest and fair review.*

Uncovering Cobbogoth is a tale of delightful creativity, an immersion into a world where myths—particularly Icelandic myths—aren't actually myths, but reality. Its potential is truly staggering.

If you aren't familiar with Celtic/Icelandic mythology (or uh...any mythology...sort of like me...), don't shy away from giving Uncovering Cobbogoth a chance; it's a neat story, and you might enjoy it more than you thought you would.

Impressions:

The beginning was a little bumpy. The pacing was a bit slower than I wanted it to be, the 'suspense' and 'mystery' were often more aggravating than intriguing, and some scenes were just plain confusing. In fact, one of the greatest challenges Uncovering Cobbogoth largely failed to overcome was that of 'extraneous sceneage'.

There were several scenes overrun with details that neared the entertainment level of uber boring and that had (seemingly) no significant connection to the plot. They could've been obliterated from the novel, and it would be just fine. Another thing I took issue with was the flashbacks.

The. Many. Flashbacks. -_-

As I hinted at above so eloquently, flashbacks were used too often for my taste. Worse, I felt that they weren't really worth reading half the time because they were extraneous and/or boring. When I first started getting into the novel I was interested in them—like maybe the first three or four. But I wasn't feeling it for the next ten or so.

By the time I reached the middle it got pretty good, though—the pacing evened out, the flashbacks dissipated almost entirely, and the plot was fairly gripping (if predictable in some parts if you were paying attention).

As for the characters, I generally enjoyed them and found them relateable. The one character I couldn't seem to get along with was, ironically, Norah. I really wanted to like this protagonist because she had so much to offer, but I ended up liking her potential character more than her actual character.

...Yeah, it was kind of weird...

I think the author tried to make some of Norah's quirks and abilities come out in a kind of literary slow blossom (though only somewhat effectively), so I don't want to spoil by giving them away—part of the fun is in figuring them out as time progresses, right?—but I will say that Norah was given a strange combination of traits that made her unusually fascinating, and there was so much potential. So much.

But I quickly discovered Norah was not going to be a character that I could connect with deeply. Or like. (And thus the gap between potential and reality widened.)

I'll be frank: characters who land themselves in stupid situations because the author seemingly needs a next step and it needs to be somewhat plausible? Not flattering. I find it difficult to relate to and/or respect a character that has a brain but struggles to use it too often. Norah does have moments of brilliance, but given how people describe her (gifted, bright/smart), I expected her to act more in accordance with such descriptions than she did.

Overall, Uncovering Cobbogoth is a fun read, even if a bit melodramatic on occasion. I loved the ideas and the imagination behind the creation of this world; it's brilliant. Honestly. Although I was expecting more out of this work because of its vast potential, I'm still happy to have read it—both as a reader and as a writer—and I recommend it to those who particularly enjoy tales with mythological origins/flair.






Profile Image for Desiree Putaski.
90 reviews16 followers
August 13, 2014
Uncovering Cobbogoth blended mythology and fantasy into an exciting roller coaster ride!

Have you ever wondered what happened to “lost” civilizations? Did the Atlantians truly just disappear or did they go into hiding, never revealing their true identities? There are many theories and myths surrounding civilizations that have disappeared. In Uncovering Cobbogoth Hannah Clark explores the lost city of Cobbogoth and it’s inhabitants, the Cobbogothians (entirely made up, of course, but she does an amazing job of making it all seem so real!).




Norah Lukens was raised by her Uncle Jack; her parents were killed just days after her birth in a fire that swept through their home. Uncle Jack is married to his work as a renowned archaeologist and myth-hunter. Norah has grown up on a steady diet of stories about Cobbogoth. She’s led a rather reclusive life and isn’t what you would consider a “normal” kid at all. She has a photographic memory and her uncle uses this to both his and her advantage; teaching her multiple languages (including dead ones), allowing her to explore her love of physics, and even teaching her his own language that he uses to encode all his research.


As far as I know, there are only two people in the entire world who can translate this journal. One of them is dead now,” I said
“And the other?” Narson asked.
“Is me.”

Upon returning to Boston after a year away at school, she finds her uncle has been murdered and the only person she has left to turn to is James. He has been her only friend, the one boy capable of breaking her heart.

There is some wonderful world building in this book. The Cobbogothians use stones for everything; they can even create portals with them! I was entranced and eager to see what new uses Norah would learn about next.

The characters are very well thought out and I can’t wait to see how she continues to build them as the series goes on (warning, I have read that there will be a total of seven books in this series). Norah is highly intelligent and sometimes it seems that her intelligence gets in the way of good sense, but you also have to consider that she is just shy of 18 years old. Her reactions were somewhat predictable, but by the end of the book we were starting to see a different side to her. I can’t wait to see how her character is fleshed out through the series. James, her only friend and long-time crush, is one of those characters that you love and then you can’t decide if he’s the good guy or the bad guy. He is all Norah has left, but he’s keeping secrets. Will those secrets be the end of their relationship? Uncle Jack, while not a living character in this book, is presented in a way that makes you root for him, and in turn, root for Norah to continue on with what he started. I almost felt at times that he was an active participant in the book, even though he really wasn’t.

I love mythology and the mystery that always surrounds it. Are the myths really just stories that were made up to explain things that otherwise had no other explanation or is there some factual basis to them? Uncle Jack seemed to think there were facts hidden away in the myth of Cobbogoth. There are points where the plot becomes predictable, but the author always make a great recovery by throwing something in the mix you didn’t expect.

I’m excited about this series. There’s a little bit of everything in this book; supernatural creatures one could never imagine existing, lost civilizations, myths and mythology, mystery, and a little bit of romance. I have high hopes for the rest of the series and can’t wait to see what is in the second book!
Profile Image for Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten).
1,601 reviews203 followers
May 7, 2014
Thank you toYA Bound Book Tours and author Hannah L. Clark for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

Swimming with unique and different mythology and ripe with romance, Uncovering Cobbogoth will be perfect for those who love a good adventure!

In all honesty, Uncovering Cobbogoth was a bit of a mixed bucket for me. Heading into the story the archaeological aspect really appealed to me as did the sense of adventure the description promised. Unfortunately I don’t think Uncovering Cobbogoth completely lived up to my expectations. It was a good read, it was. Something was just missing for me; that special extra something that takes a good storyline and decent characters and makes it so much more.

I was impressed with author Hannah L. Clark’s ability to think outside the square in Uncovering Cobbogoth. It was very obvious she had a strong desire to create something unique and different, something she marginally does well, but there were times when this story fell flat for me. That being said, there were times where this book really shone. Clark’s writing was beautifully detailed, especially her careful descriptions of Cobbogoth, the magical and ancient world our heroine finds herself discovering throughout the story and the lush mythology she uses to support the storyline.

Told through the eyes of Norah Lukens, Uncovering Cobbogoth sees Norah delve into the magical and ancient world of the Cobbogothians. After the shocking and brutal murder of her uncle Jack, her only family, Norah finds herself piecing together the clues of her uncle’s past whilst learning the secrets of Cobbogoth; her uncle’s lifelong obsession.

Norah was a likable heroine; basic but easy to follow. She was brave where need be, asked questions, queried things and fought when she had to. I liked her, I did, but I felt like she was missing that extra something to take her from being a good heroine to one that knocks you off your feet. Still. She got the job done.

Norah has plenty of secrets to uncover in this story and I liked how Hannah L. Clark kept me on my toes as we uncovered things. I enjoyed being able to piece things together as Norah did and figure out who was friend and who was foe. I admit, with the complicated lore I was confused a couple of times as everything was difficult to wrap my head around at times. The motivations of some characters and their true natures were intriguing to uncover and I liked that Clark managed to surprise me when certain loyalties were revealed.

There’s a sweet underlining tone of romance between Norah and her best friend James that compliments the story. Norah and James are good friends have a sweet romance, something Clark builds on and gives importance within the story.

Featuring a fast paced storyline that kept me marginally entertained, Uncovering Cobbogoth is rife with secrets and action. I may be persuaded to pick up the second book!


This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Stephani.
146 reviews26 followers
May 8, 2014
Before I start on the review I just want to point out that I did really enjoy the story and felt like it was really unique story and very different. The whole concept of the story is really interesting and I love her twist of mythology and alchemy. And the main character of the story is pretty awesome. She is really smart and has a lot of fire in her that I really loved about her. I love how the story goes that you see open more into herself.

Now Moving on. In the beginning of the story I was a little lost. I just felt like I was getting thrown into the story. You get really confused about the Cobbogoth cause it doesn’t really explain anything but some minor details. And I felt lost on what was going on with the character. There was a lot of flash backs with the main character that did help with putting the clues together.

I didn’t feel the connector between the main character and love interest and really didn’t understand them. I would have love to see more info on his character since he did have such an important part towards the end. There is a lot of mystery surround that character that does get you puzzled while reading but I did really like his character the more the story went.

Really beside what I have mention the story was really good and had a lot of interesting parts that will have the reader’s attention. And I fully recommend readers to read this book. The story has mystery and action that had me wanting more. It also has few plot twist I didn’t see coming.

There was a LOT of the story that I loved and there where parts I could have dealt without but everything in the story has it’ reasons and it all comes together that really makes the story work. I might not have fully loved the story but I did really enjoy it and probably would read again in the future and I am hoping that the next book will have more. Readers will love the characters in the book and there is a lot mention. I loved how the author created a whole different mythology and making it interesting. There is so much detail the author put into the characters.

There is a lot of little art work in the book that I just completely loved. I think adding images into books really helps the imagination while reading. Also want to add that the cover is BEAUTIFUL. If I am gonna be finest here, the cover was the main reason I looked at this book ( Yes I am that kind of person ). I just loved the font of the story and all the colors. I also loved that it didn’t have some zoomed in face. My overall rating for the story is 3.5. I really enjoyed the story. It might have had a bumpy start but the more the story goes the better. It really does get better. And like I said I would totally recommend this book. I will for sure read more from the author and can’t wait to see what else see comes up with.
Profile Image for Holly .
1,361 reviews291 followers
May 11, 2014
*I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*Full review can be found at Part of that World.


I've been wanting to read this book ever since I read the blurb. Fantasy is definitely my favorite genre, and I was excited to learn about the lost city of Cobbogoth (I actually thought it might be a real myth/legend). Of course, then I felt stupid. This is clearly a fantastical legend of a people called Cobbogothians. And I was pulled in from the very first page.


Rating: 4 stars!

Like I said, I was pulled in from the first page. The mystery and suspense is there from the very first paragraph and doesn't end until that one hell of a cliffhanger. With such a suspenseful undertone, I never really got bored throughout the novel. I was always wondering what was gonna happen next, who killed her Uncle Jack, and how they're ever going to stop the evil from spreading.

The main character, Norah, was very endearing. She was determined, curious, intelligent, and someone who only wanted to figure out who killed her beloved uncle. But instead, she gets pulled into a mystery that starts unraveling from the moment she reads his journal. It's a mystery that sends her on a path to unlocking thousands of years of secrets.

And she has the help of James, her long-time crush and next door neighbor. Now, James was a great character! I thought he was very protective but not overbearing. He was sweet yet wasn't afraid to speak his mind and stand his ground. But he's also keeping secrets from Norah. Secrets that are unbelievable yet totally easy to guess. And it just made him even more interesting.

I thought the romance between them was sweetly done. These two have been friends for a long time, but now they're finding out that they want more than that. Add in secrets, winged creatures, and a murderer on the loose, and you have one explosive and sometimes rocky relationship. I liked that it wasn't overdone or underdeveloped for the length of this story and for their transition from friends-to-lovers.

I guess I'd say that the only thing I really disliked about this book was that the pacing was slow. It took me longer to finish it than most books do at this length. I found my interest straying even though the suspense never ended. The mystery, though, was wonderfully done and was unraveled in a good timeframe. And I also found Norah to be a little naive surrounding certain elements of the story. Certain secrets that were quite easy to figure out.

Overall, I thought this was a great first book in a new series about a myth becoming real and a people who were found after being lost to history.
Profile Image for Lelia Taylor.
872 reviews17 followers
July 20, 2014
After months away at boarding school, Norah is returning home to her uncle, the only family she has. This is not an easy homecoming though, because of the strain between her and her best friend, James, but even that awkwardness pales when Norah and James find the police at her home. Why would anyone want to kill an archaeologist? Could his government work have something to do with it? And why is the police detective so eager to have her translate a journal written in a secret code without having an official cryptographer look at it?

These are only a few of the questions that arise and it soon becomes very obvious that much more is at stake than just identifying a murderer. Uncle Jack has always been involved with proving the reality of myths and legends and, this time, he may have gone too far. Unfortunately, Norah and James find themselves at the center of a fable gone rather mad. Fantastical creatures that are both awe-inspiring and frightening, loss of memory, powers that Norah never dreamed she had, a crystal city in the caves of Iceland, secrets that have lasted for millenia, all converge to turn this girl’s life topsy-turvy while she’s on the run from the law and from what may or may not be gods and demons…or perhaps they’re all just hallucinations.

Uncovering Cobbogoth is an intriguing blend of mystery and fantasy with a heavy dose of mythology and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Of particular appeal to me is that the focal point of these myths is Iceland, a country few authors choose as a setting, yet these are not your usual Norse legends. Ms. Clark’s real strength lies in her worldbuilding, down to the details of certain stones and the personalities of the characters both mortal and immortal, and I could envision everything that was happening in Norah’s quest to find the truth. She herself is almost larger than life and I connected with her and with James on several levels.

The pacing of the story is a little slow in the beginning but picks up before too long and, near the end, is close to breakneck. There’s a sort of cliffhanger that isn’t *quite* a cliffhanger as you might expect and the author could easily have a choice facing her; a sequel would fit very nicely but it would also be possible to have the tale end here. After rummaging around on Ms. Clark’s blog, I’m happy to say that she refers to the Cobbogoth series and mentions working on the second book, so I think we’ll be seeing more of Norah. This reader is very happy about that ;-)

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, May 2014.
Profile Image for Jaime.
543 reviews149 followers
March 27, 2015
MARCH 26, 2014 UPDATE: A SEQUEL WILL BE HERE SOON! I just heard this awesome news from the awesome author, and I wanted to share it with everyone else who loved the first book, and has been waiting for news on book 2!

I was incredibly hesitant to read Uncovering Cobbogoth. It isn't the type of book that I normally read, and that scared me. But I have been trying really hard lately to expand my horizons a bit, so I decided to take a chance and just go for it. Let me tell you.....
I am SO Glad that I did. This was a fantastic story, from beginning to end and I loved being on the journey with these awesome characters. Non-stop action, non-stop emotions. This book has it all. Run, I say! Run and get this book right now. Links are right up there. You seem them yet? Go ahead and head over to Amazon or Barnes and Noble! You won't be disappointed!
Norah wakes up on the bus on her way home from graduation with a strange scratch, leaves and twigs in her hair, a new bracelet and absolutely no memory of how any of it happened. She just knows she is almost home, and the boy who broke her heart nine months ago is picking her up from the station and he CANNOT see her looking this way. With the help of a "sweet lady", she pulls herself together just in time. Unfortunately her looks are the least of her worries. She is about to find herself on a path she never could have expected, with some help from people she never thought she would truly meet.
Along the way, Norah suffers heartbreaking losses, huge tests of faith and fear, betrayals and enough shocks to last a lifetime. But Norah is a fighter and she is a survivor, and she has truly great people behind her, every step of the way. Norah is a great character. Fierce and strong, full of heart and love, courageous yet fearful. She is just a normal (normal is relative) girl. I loved her from the first page. Her love interest James, I wasn't so sure about, but he is a great character good or bad. From Norah to Lyeland, Uncle Jack and Samir, to the Cobbogothians, these characters make this already rich story, richer still.
The story itself was unique and interesting, with a whole new world and people. This author knows world-building, and she delivers it. New Cobbogoth jumps off the pages, right into your imagination. And what a beautiful world it is. There is action from page one, and the story that unfolds is magical. I loved this book, and I sincerely cannot wait for the second book in the series. What a great story, and I am thankful to be a part of this tour, no doubt about it!
Profile Image for Cyle.
961 reviews131 followers
March 13, 2012
GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Elements, Myths
RECEIVED: Review Request for The Teen Book Scene
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
I love mythology, but what I enjoy even more is when an author creates their own myth and a world all out of their imagination. Hannah Clark crafted a myth about the Cobbogothians, a race of magical beings who lived in a hidden world. I absolutely enjoyed this novel, though it was a lot of information to take in, it was full of adventure, mystery and a bit of romance.

Cobbogoth follows Norah, a young girl coming home to her Uncle only to discover he’s been murdered the same day she returns home. Little does she know that he had been keeping a family secret from her and has left her his journal to solve what happened to him. Since he didn’t get a chance to tell her anything Norah is putting the pieces together of his death and her connection to a mysterious myth.

Norah has always known about the myth of the Cobbogothians, her uncle was famous for his archaeological finds. She’s also extremely intelligent and is able to decipher her uncle’s notes. But this puts her in extreme danger; she has the help of her childhood friend James, who seems to know more than he’s willing to tell. Norah is a girl who seems like she would make a great detective, what she solves and learns is a lot for someone to take in. But she does it with stride, determination and courage, even when danger lies ahead for her.

James is a whole big mystery, at the beginning I was kind of angry with his character (for reason you will read about) and I wasn’t sure if he was good or bad. But he’s extremely important and connected to Norah and the mystery behind her uncles death. I wish I could say more but it would give too much away.

Cobbogoth is a book with one mystery after the other, I never knew what to except with each turn of the page. And speaking of pages, the illustrator designed not only the outside of the book but did wonderfully designed drawings throughout the entire book. The ending didn’t leave the reader with a killer cliffhanger, but there is hope for another installment if Clark decides to continue with her mythological story. I highly recommend this to fans of fantasy and mythological tales.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel that’s suited for all ages. Fans of Aimee Carters Goddess series and Jennifer Esteps Mythos Academy series will love Hannah Clarks unique mythology story Cobbogoth.
Profile Image for L_manning.
289 reviews42 followers
August 4, 2014

Norah Lukens has always been a bit strange. Her looks and photographic memory have set her apart from her peers, along with her intense love of physics. When her anxiety starts getting severe, her uncle sends her off to a special school. For her 18th birthday Norah is returning back home to Boston to celebrate with her uncle. The celebration is short lived though as her uncle is discovered dead in his home. Things go from bad to worse in a hurry, and Norah finds herself immersed in a world she thought was just myth. Everyone is after Norah, and she must find a way to survive by unlocking secrets very close to the mysterious beings known as the Cobbogoth. Everything will change for Norah...if she can survive.

This story starts out with adventure and doesn't let up until the end. Norah is not a normal girl by any means, and this is made even more apparent as the story progresses. She's smart, but she's also very lonely. I fell like even though Norah is "special," a lot of people can relate to her. She doesn't fit in with anyone, and this leads to a great deal of anxiety, even to the point where they are considering putting her in the hospital. Of course, any person who has read many book can probably see where this is going, although younger readers may not. It is interesting to watch her change though, and try to truly embrace who she is weaknesses and all. This allows her to discover her strengths along the way.

No story is complete without some romance, and this book gives it to us. Norah has always felt close to her friend James, but while she was at school he never communicated with her. Norah finds out the reason behind this, and I'd say James had a pretty good excuse. This was a good example of ways to add some angst to your romance without making it silly. It all made sense in the whole of the plot. This book was an enjoyable read. It took me a chapter or two to really settle in, but things started moving quickly and making more sense so that last few chapters really flew by. It's a very creative and interesting world to get drawn into, and the author is able to leave things open a bit while still taking care of the necessary storylines. Young and old will equally enjoy this book. It's full of fantasy and wonder with a little romance.

Book provided for review.
Profile Image for Samantha.
80 reviews10 followers
October 18, 2014
My Rating 4.5 Stars.

Uncovering Cobbogoth brings together fantasy and mythology for a thrilling ride. Norah, or Nor as she is called, is an almost eighteen year old who lives with her Uncle Jack. Both of her parents passed away in a fire when she was a baby, so her archaeological overprotective uncle has been taking care of her. However, he has uncovered something that has led to his death as some suspect. Using secretive language, Nor must decipher a journal to find out who or what has gotten her uncle killed. James, who has been entrusted with caring for Nor, has secrets of his own. Even though Nor has feelings and a connection to James, can he be trusted? As Nor unlocks the mystery surrounding her uncle’s death, she learns about herself and a mystical world called Cobbogoth.

First of all, I absolutely love the cover, it is perfect for the story. The cover is just beautiful, and it is one of the first things that caught my eye. Secondly, I love how the author has created this mythical world from scratch, and creates such mystery. From the first few pages I was hooked, and I could not put it down because of curiosity. Hannah Clark did an awesome job with the world building, it seems like the Cobbogothians could be real. Also, the illustrations really complement what is was going on at the time! I was not sure what to expect going into this book; however, I enjoyed it. I have not really read many books that deal with mythology, but the author has sparked my interest.

The only tiny issue I had was for about the first quarter of the story I was quite confused. The reader is immediately thrown into a murder mystery involving Nor’s uncle; however, much of the legend aspect that comes into play can be challenging to grasp at first. Being confused can be great sometimes because it adds to the mystery and keeps you guessing; however, I do think that a little more history would have been great in the beginning. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, it was articulated well! I love how it ended without a huge cliffhanger.

I can’t wait to read the second book in the series, and I highly recommend this book if you enjoy mystery combined with fantasy or mythical stories.
Profile Image for Sher A. Hart.
91 reviews85 followers
August 5, 2014
Uncovering Cobbogoth turned out to be one surprise after another. I like surprises.… First, the female lead started about as far from a kick butt heroine as you can get. Norah’s idiosyncrasies added a lot of interest and sympathy, especially for her feelings of abandonment. Second, apart from the murder mystery concerning who killed her uncle, one mystery followed another along with mishaps and attacks even by the supposed good guys. It’s pretty cool when an author twists a boyfriend’s behavior until the heroine doesn’t know who to trust. Third, even though I might have liked this book’s mental exercise even if it weren’t a fantasy, the mythology elements took it over the top, especially since I hadn’t heard these myths before. Hannah Clark gets high marks for creativity.

To me the problems were minimal. One thing confused me: how Norah didn’t recognize the guy in the (spoiler garb) at first. Another disappointed me when I was so far in the book that it made little difference: the prophecy. Seems like every author thinks he or she needs one. Very old hat. But I was happy the romance didn’t overpower the pacing and plot, both excellent with plenty of puzzles that more than made up for the minor hiccups. Good editing in the Kindle version – I didn’t mark many errors. For a minute towards the end, I worried about a cliffhanger ending, which I dislike to put it mildly. Then the problems resolved and revealed a new batch for the next book. Woo-hoo!

Although Uncovering Cobbogoth is a clean read, no swearing and no sexual content more serious than kissing, there’s violence, described at about a PG-13 level, and death. Consider mental and emotional development as well as reading skill. For those who get it, Uncovering Cobbogoth is a 4.5 star read. Great start to a series I look forward to continuing. I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for DelAnne Frazee.
2,027 reviews18 followers
August 7, 2014
Title: Uncovering Cobbogoth
Author: Hannah L Clark
Illustrator: Rebeka G Shakespear
Publisher: Sweetwater Books
Published: 5-13-2014
ISBN: 13: 978-1-4621-1426-9
E-Book ASIN: B00KBYQ4IM
Pages: 333
Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Fantashy, Myths & Legends, Romance, Young Adult
Overall Rating: Great
Reviewed For: I'm A Reader Not A Writer
Reviewer: DelAnne

Norah Lukens went to live with her Uncle Jake following the death of her parents when she was just a baby. Norah was raised with love and caring and became like his own daughter. She grew to love archeology as much as he did. Norah is away for her senior year when she learns that her Uncle Jake has been murdered. She returns to investigate and finds that the mythical city of Cobbogoth her uncle was always telling her stories about was in fact a real place and she must work quickly to decipher Uncle Jakes journals to locate it. Neighbor and childhood friends James Riley offers to help, but it is not long before Norah is long is wondering whether she can trust him or anyone else. Time is running out for Cobbogoth and those that live there. If Norah is not careful she will soon be joining her Uncle Jake at the big Archeological dig in the sky.

This fast paced novel is long on intrigue and suspense. With characters that are so well defined that they seem real you will swear you have met them of the streets of your own home town. Just about the time you think you have everything figured out beg s. Clark throws you another curve ball and you realize you had it all wrong and need to start from scratch again.Hannah Clark has created a complete town for us to wander around in. I hope you find this book as enjoyable as I did.
Profile Image for Ashley.
26 reviews1 follower
February 29, 2012
I have to admit that when I first read the synopsis up there; I thought to myself that this would be one of those books that I would put on the back burner and will eventually get to hopefully, but when Teen Book Scene decided to put together a tour and asked if I wanted on it; I said yes. When I received the book I just set it off to the side and looked at it every now and then. I really didn't know how to approach it, but sure enough it kept calling to me and I eventually opened it up. And then I was sucked in with no chance of coming back. Once I got my first taste; I caught myself wanting it more and more. It became like a little addition.

This book, by far, tops my top 10 books list! Following Norah through her story why she was trying to discover who she really was and who her uncle was. She really took my emotions on a roller-coaster ride. I even cried at times {this is so not like me}. She is just a typical 17 year old girl, until her uncle's murder. He leaves her a journal of one of his earliest "digs" and she decipher it and tries to find his murderer along with what it is he wants her to know. She encounters some horrendous creatures along the way, goes through some intense moments, finds love just to lose it, and to truly learn who she is and where she belongs.

This is a fun and exciting read, with a lot of unpredictable twists and turns. I would recommend this book to any and everyone that I meet. If you have not read this book already, then what are you waiting go and get it NOW!

"You can't really be courageous without fear, kyndie, for courage is when you act in spite of fear." - Lylend

Most definitely one of the best book's that I've read in 2012!
Profile Image for Brittany.
586 reviews52 followers
August 5, 2014
Uncovering Cobbogoth was interesting, unique, intriguing, and vivid. This was a page-turner and I wasn’t expecting it to be this good.

I like fantasy and I like mythologies. That’s essentially what this book is, but at the same time it’s more. It takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions, opens your eyes, and sucks you into this new world.

I couldn’t put this one down. I had to know what happened next. This book is filled with twists and turns. You will always be guessing what is going to happen. The story is very vivid, the author did a wonderful job with detail, and I could see everything.

There’s mystery, romance, suspense, and you will be left wanting more. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Norah is a character that you just want to hug and be friends with. She’s been through a lot and she just wants to find a place where she belongs.

I don’t want to spoil the story so I’m not going to tell you anything about the plot. I will say that it’s an unique book that you will love if you like fantasy novels.

The writing, character development, and dialogue were really good but at times I was a little confused while reading the flashback chapters-which is why I’m not rating this higher. Other than that I really enjoyed this story.

Rating: 4 stars

Read more reviews on Britt’s Book and Life Blog. You can also connect with me on Facebook.
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