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Amadi #1-3
Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn
Librarian Note: An alternate cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
Full trilogy.
Amadi hates being a girl. She manages to become apprenticed to a thief where she lives as a boy. But when her Helping Hand is murdered, her oath of revenge lands her smack dab in the path of an assassin hired to kill her and a jackal-headed god with the same purpose. Now, her only defense is the threadbare tunic of a young man and her training as a thief.
For readers of fantasy from 9-99 years.
A few words from the Authoress
This book grew from a short story I wrote a few years back. Beta-readers loved the story but though it too short to truly develop the world. First reluctantly, then with more and more enthusiasm, I reread the Tales from the Arabian Nights, studied books about life in Arabian countries (after all I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes), and developed the plot. Writing Amadi’s adventures went surprisingly fast. I hope you’ll find some of my fascination for this intriguing culture in this book.
Full trilogy.
Amadi hates being a girl. She manages to become apprenticed to a thief where she lives as a boy. But when her Helping Hand is murdered, her oath of revenge lands her smack dab in the path of an assassin hired to kill her and a jackal-headed god with the same purpose. Now, her only defense is the threadbare tunic of a young man and her training as a thief.
For readers of fantasy from 9-99 years.
A few words from the Authoress
This book grew from a short story I wrote a few years back. Beta-readers loved the story but though it too short to truly develop the world. First reluctantly, then with more and more enthusiasm, I reread the Tales from the Arabian Nights, studied books about life in Arabian countries (after all I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes), and developed the plot. Writing Amadi’s adventures went surprisingly fast. I hope you’ll find some of my fascination for this intriguing culture in this book.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Katharina Gerlach
111 books85 followersKatharina Gerlach was born in Germany in 1968. She and her three younger brothers grew up in the middle of a forest in the heart of the Luneburgian Heather. After romping through the forest with imagination as her guide, the tomboy learned to read and disappeared into magical adventures, past times or eerie fairytale woods.
She didn’t stop at reading. During her training as a landscape gardener, she wrote her first novel, a manuscript full of a beginner’s mistakes. Fortunately, she found books on Creative Writing and soon her stories improved. For a while, reality interfered with her writing but after finishing a degree in forestry and a PhD in Science she returned to her vocation. She likes to write Fantasy, Science Fiction and Historical Novels for all age groups.
At present, she is writing at her next project in a small house near Hildesheim, Germany, where she lives with her husband, three children and a dog.
She didn’t stop at reading. During her training as a landscape gardener, she wrote her first novel, a manuscript full of a beginner’s mistakes. Fortunately, she found books on Creative Writing and soon her stories improved. For a while, reality interfered with her writing but after finishing a degree in forestry and a PhD in Science she returned to her vocation. She likes to write Fantasy, Science Fiction and Historical Novels for all age groups.
At present, she is writing at her next project in a small house near Hildesheim, Germany, where she lives with her husband, three children and a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 28, 2013
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I DO NOT RECAP THE BOOKS IN MY REVIEWS, THAT IS WHAT THE BOOK DESCRIPTION IS FOR. NOR DO I HAVE SPOILERS*
This review can also be reviewed on my blog, http://abitchandabook.blogspot.com/. This book was provided for me free of cost by the author for an honest review. Thank you Katharina Gerlach, I appreciate all the hard work you put into this book and for trusting a copy to me for my opinion. It is a great honor on my part.
Overall Rating
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This book is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I mean, WOW! I don't often give a perfect score on everything but this book did! I was not sure what to expect and honestly, probably never would have come across this book on my own if it was not offered up for review. I am so glad it was. This book has so much imagination, it is an exquisite “fairy tale” that is not childish in the least. I was swept away to another Arabian world full of magic, mystery, suspense, romance, and an extremely strong female heroine to top it all off! I was so amazed at the end, I had to go to the author’s Facebook page to tell her how fantastic it was. I am going to pass it along to my daughter so that we can experience it as her bedtime story. I am so happy to be able to add a tale so incredible to my daughter’s mind and imagination. I extremely recommend this book for those that want to escape to a far away land.
Originality/Creativity:
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The creativity and imagination that went into this book is incredible. Out of this world! I loved how all three of the stories wove into each other so smoothly and beautifully. I was knocked off my feet. If you love supernatural mixed with fairy tale with a YA feel to it, the originality in this book will quench that thirst for creativity flavor!
Complexity of Characters/Storyline:
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This book has an incredible complexity to the characters. There are many characters, but not overwhelming so that you cannot follow the story. The main character Amadi grows by leaps and bounds within herself and it is fantastic to see how she overcomes the obstacles thrown her way. The other characters are creative and witty, they all complement each other so perfectly. You will definitely become attached to the main characters and by the end of the book, you will realize how talented the author is by being able to form this complex web of characters that all share a hand in each other’s destiny and how they all tie together in the end.
Quality of writing:
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Nothing rubs me the wrong way more than a book that has a ton of errors in it, or writing that seems to be contrived from a five year old. Not this book, no sir! The names, the places, everything is extremely creative and fitting into the world that the author has created. There were not any major typo errors to annoy along the way. The story was so smooth like a perfect waterfall that flows from lakes to creeks and eventually into the ocean. I absolutely adore the author’s style of writing.
Action/Suspense:
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I felt that the action was well spaced out in this book. Since it is 3 parts of stories into one novel, that made for the stories to pretty much have to have non-stop action. I literally read this book in one day, I just couldn’t put it down! The action scenes were appropriate, not too short, yet not too drawn out. The book held my interest the entire time. I appreciated that so much!
Would I recommend this book? HELL YES! I am already getting extremely excited about reading more books by this author. I really can’t wait to see what comes next. The author has awakened my need for mythology/fairy tale worlds and I just want to dive in and forget the real world and bask in her creativity!
No excuses! Just get the book! Seriously, right now!
April 7, 2013
I received this book as part of a Read 4 Review opportunity.
This was actually my first R4R and at first I wasn’t sure if I should join in or not, but after finishing these three books, I’m very happy that I signed up for the R4R. I wouldn’t have come across this book otherwise!
As you could probably guess, I really enjoyed this book, and props to the author for writing it in her second language – something I personally would be terrified of. I did spot a couple of typos, but since they were only a couple, they didn’t bother me and I could keep on reading as if they were never there.
Relating back to languages, one of the things I liked about this book was how there were some words which the characters said that weren’t translated into English. Like “Inschallah”. Coming across words like that not only constantly reminded me that I was reading about a foreign place, but also made the place seem more real and natural. Well, that’s the impression I got from that, anyway.
As for the actual story, it was filled with things I had never heard of or seen before, and it really did take me on an adventure. It wasn’t very predictable, so I was getting surprised every so often.
The characters were enjoyable and I found Amadi easier to relate to than I first thought I would. And thank you author for not having any love triangles! I found the magical creatures interesting to read, especially as – with the excepting of Djinni – they were all relatively unfamiliar to me. Like another reviewer said, it was great that less well-known magical creatures were used, like the Peris and the Manticore.
One of my favourite parts were the prologues and the epilogues, since they made the story feel a bit more personal to the reader; through the use of first person and the fact that the “I” character heard this story from a story-teller, and then decided to write it down and share it with the rest of us. There was even a hint of more stories to come which, I’m not going to deny, has me excited.
Something I found a bit odd at first was that hardly any magical creature appeared during the first book, until towards the end when Amadi has to complete a task, and in the second book we’re introduced to at least two or three different magical creatures early on. Looking back, it didn’t really bother me, but it did take some adjusting.
All in all, this book was a (surprisingly short) enjoyable read that did feel like an adventure and I would definitely recommend this book to others, as well as keep an eye out for the author’s other books. And definitely believe her when she says this story is “For readers of fantasy from 9-99 years.”
This was actually my first R4R and at first I wasn’t sure if I should join in or not, but after finishing these three books, I’m very happy that I signed up for the R4R. I wouldn’t have come across this book otherwise!
As you could probably guess, I really enjoyed this book, and props to the author for writing it in her second language – something I personally would be terrified of. I did spot a couple of typos, but since they were only a couple, they didn’t bother me and I could keep on reading as if they were never there.
Relating back to languages, one of the things I liked about this book was how there were some words which the characters said that weren’t translated into English. Like “Inschallah”. Coming across words like that not only constantly reminded me that I was reading about a foreign place, but also made the place seem more real and natural. Well, that’s the impression I got from that, anyway.
As for the actual story, it was filled with things I had never heard of or seen before, and it really did take me on an adventure. It wasn’t very predictable, so I was getting surprised every so often.
The characters were enjoyable and I found Amadi easier to relate to than I first thought I would. And thank you author for not having any love triangles! I found the magical creatures interesting to read, especially as – with the excepting of Djinni – they were all relatively unfamiliar to me. Like another reviewer said, it was great that less well-known magical creatures were used, like the Peris and the Manticore.
One of my favourite parts were the prologues and the epilogues, since they made the story feel a bit more personal to the reader; through the use of first person and the fact that the “I” character heard this story from a story-teller, and then decided to write it down and share it with the rest of us. There was even a hint of more stories to come which, I’m not going to deny, has me excited.
Something I found a bit odd at first was that hardly any magical creature appeared during the first book, until towards the end when Amadi has to complete a task, and in the second book we’re introduced to at least two or three different magical creatures early on. Looking back, it didn’t really bother me, but it did take some adjusting.
All in all, this book was a (surprisingly short) enjoyable read that did feel like an adventure and I would definitely recommend this book to others, as well as keep an eye out for the author’s other books. And definitely believe her when she says this story is “For readers of fantasy from 9-99 years.”
February 22, 2017
This is a wonderful story, full of adventure, magic, friendship and courage.
Living in a society full of rules she doesn't believe in, and a family she doesn't fit in with, Amadi struggles to find her own path. Having the courage many people lack, she challenges tradition and expectations, and follows her heart through life-threatening situations and challenges.
Finding out secrets and lies in her past, Amadi sets out to right wrongs and do what she believes is right, even if it means she loses everything she cares about.
Meeting many unexpected friends, and running from a creature more fitting in a nightmare than reality, she finds adventure, love, and herself. The friendships she forms keep her strong, and she becomes a hero in her own heart.
This is a story sure to warm any heart, and fill any imagination to the brim. The Arabian culture and desert background of this adventure are written with fantastic details, and present a new kind of story. All of the characters are deep and interesting, and they all grow and change in some way, by the end of the series.
I took off a star, because it had a bit of a slow start, and took a while to catch my interest. After the story picked up, I was hardly able to stop reading! It has a perfect ending, and the trilogy as a whole is wonderful. I would certainly recommend reading this series.
*I was given a complimentary ebook copy of this book, by the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2013
*I recieved this book in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed this. It had a bit of a slow start, but as each part progressed it picked up before becoming a fully-fledged adventure novel. My favourite Part was probably the Djinn, and I absolutely adored the ending. I spent half the book begging for , and that ending was just a perfect way to finish.
Loved it, 4 stars :)
I really enjoyed this. It had a bit of a slow start, but as each part progressed it picked up before becoming a fully-fledged adventure novel. My favourite Part was probably the Djinn, and I absolutely adored the ending. I spent half the book begging for , and that ending was just a perfect way to finish.
Loved it, 4 stars :)
March 25, 2013
This was an easy read, a quick one that didn't take long to get the plot going. I really loved it for several different elements: the mythological element was there but not overdone, the setting was unusual for me, and the plot was very well done, especially considering the entire series was only 167 pages on my Nook. I think this series deserves that much more credit because of its ability to be so entertaining despite being so short.
Firstly, I really enjoyed the characters. Amadi and Harun were of course great to read about, as was Bubul and Selim. We barely get to meet her birth mother and little brother, yet I enjoyed their characters for the small time span they were involved. The same goes for Yadin; she's gone so quickly from the series and yet she was still a great character. However, I do have to admit that all my favorite characters are the mythological beings: the Phoenix and Hanneh the sphinx. The Phoenix was snarky and was always complaining about something. The sphinx was always speaking in questions and I think that made her awesome from the get-go. The questions between her and Amadi were clever and still managed to convey what they meant to, which I think is a pretty impressive feat.
The plot was very well done. It didn't really get a whole lot of explaining, and yet it was still possible to follow along with the story. It didn't get all convoluted and crazy and it still managed to flow well. I'm still amazed that it was such a good story despite it being so short. I mean, I suppose I shouldn't be considering that many of my favorite books as a child were excellent at this, but still. The plot was original and utilized a whole mess of mythological creatures. The best part about the creatures is that they're kind of lesser known ones. The sphinx and the phoenix are pretty well known, but not everyone can identify a manticore or those water spirits (I even forgot the name of it). I love mythology, so this was an especially fun aspect of the series for me.
I do want to draw attention to two things, though: first, that I think far too many of the harder aspects of the journey were solved too easily by wishing. It took away a lot of the tension, and I'm a fan of tension when done correctly. The other thing (small though it may be, and silly) I noticed that “tears shot to her eyes” very often. Often enough that I noticed it, anyway.
Seriously though, great series. The titles of each story explain it all, and I was more than happy to read it all the way through in one day.
Firstly, I really enjoyed the characters. Amadi and Harun were of course great to read about, as was Bubul and Selim. We barely get to meet her birth mother and little brother, yet I enjoyed their characters for the small time span they were involved. The same goes for Yadin; she's gone so quickly from the series and yet she was still a great character. However, I do have to admit that all my favorite characters are the mythological beings: the Phoenix and Hanneh the sphinx. The Phoenix was snarky and was always complaining about something. The sphinx was always speaking in questions and I think that made her awesome from the get-go. The questions between her and Amadi were clever and still managed to convey what they meant to, which I think is a pretty impressive feat.
The plot was very well done. It didn't really get a whole lot of explaining, and yet it was still possible to follow along with the story. It didn't get all convoluted and crazy and it still managed to flow well. I'm still amazed that it was such a good story despite it being so short. I mean, I suppose I shouldn't be considering that many of my favorite books as a child were excellent at this, but still. The plot was original and utilized a whole mess of mythological creatures. The best part about the creatures is that they're kind of lesser known ones. The sphinx and the phoenix are pretty well known, but not everyone can identify a manticore or those water spirits (I even forgot the name of it). I love mythology, so this was an especially fun aspect of the series for me.
I do want to draw attention to two things, though: first, that I think far too many of the harder aspects of the journey were solved too easily by wishing. It took away a lot of the tension, and I'm a fan of tension when done correctly. The other thing (small though it may be, and silly) I noticed that “tears shot to her eyes” very often. Often enough that I noticed it, anyway.
Seriously though, great series. The titles of each story explain it all, and I was more than happy to read it all the way through in one day.
April 3, 2013
The three books that make up the Amadi trilogy were well written and had a good story line. The characters were well developed without being too many. I became engrossed in the story from the beginning and enjoyed the journey as I travelled along with Amadi through her adventures.
This is a fantasy/ arabian nights/ magical/ fairy tale that would be well suited to reading to your children. At the same time it is not a childish book either. I found myself wanting to read more when the story ended so I am hoping that Amadi will take us on some more adventures in Katharina's novels to come. (I hope there will be more).
The action was well spread out in the books and the story progressed smoothly. The author uses a good descriptive technique to convey the picture in our minds and everything flows really well.
I thought the ending was lovely. The author has a very good imagination and passes that on to the reader well.
I really enjoyed the books and recommend as a good read if you want to escape reality and be part of a magical world.
This is a fantasy/ arabian nights/ magical/ fairy tale that would be well suited to reading to your children. At the same time it is not a childish book either. I found myself wanting to read more when the story ended so I am hoping that Amadi will take us on some more adventures in Katharina's novels to come. (I hope there will be more).
The action was well spread out in the books and the story progressed smoothly. The author uses a good descriptive technique to convey the picture in our minds and everything flows really well.
I thought the ending was lovely. The author has a very good imagination and passes that on to the reader well.
I really enjoyed the books and recommend as a good read if you want to escape reality and be part of a magical world.
January 1, 2013
Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn (Amadi Trilogy) (Kindle Edition)
This is an amazing bargain, getting all three books in the trilogy for almost $4.00 less than buying them separately makes this a great buy on its own. Add to that an amazing story with some of the most interesting characters I have ever met in my reading, throw in some cool twist and turns, and you have an unbeatable combination; making this a must have for any fantasy library.
The author's claim that this collection is for readers from 9 to 99 has been proved out buy this middle-aged reader. Buy it. Read it once through on your own, then read it to your kids (if you have any), friends, or parents (or any other excuse to read it again)
A most awesome story, enjoy :)
This is an amazing bargain, getting all three books in the trilogy for almost $4.00 less than buying them separately makes this a great buy on its own. Add to that an amazing story with some of the most interesting characters I have ever met in my reading, throw in some cool twist and turns, and you have an unbeatable combination; making this a must have for any fantasy library.
The author's claim that this collection is for readers from 9 to 99 has been proved out buy this middle-aged reader. Buy it. Read it once through on your own, then read it to your kids (if you have any), friends, or parents (or any other excuse to read it again)
A most awesome story, enjoy :)
March 27, 2013
I thought this book was great, I really enjoyed it. It is full of adventure and magic, two things that I love in a book. It is an easy read and a fairly quick read that was really enjoyable. The characters were interesting and appropriate for young adults to children. It is a great book for all ages and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fantastic fantasy book that doesn't feature a love triangle or sex scenes that so many other young adult books feature. It was a lovely tale and one that I had never read before, set in an Arabian setting. I look forward to any other books written by this author, hopefully others that are about Amadi.
September 22, 2012
This is a strong beautiful intreguing story that extends the adventures of Amadi. Set against a sumptuous backdrop this wonderful protagonist brings life to a unique fairy tale with a hue of colorful characters that burst from the page. Katharina Gerlach is one to watch
January 17, 2017
An enjoyable read, with a slightly different take on the Tales of Arabian Nights.
February 25, 2018
I found this book on InstaFreebie via BrazenBookShelf; every free book deserves an honest review.
-Lots of adventure, battles, magic, grief and happiness.
-Lots of details from far way, a long, long time ago.
-The details were for the wildlife, the people, their personalities, the buildings, and oasis and the plants around them. Also included were the way the people and magicians (djinns, etc.) dress.
-I loved it because I had all 3 stories together and it flowed perfectly.
-Another take on the Tales from the Arabian Nights and it was worth reading.
-Harun and Amadi make a pair of BFF and would be a great couple if we ever saw them after this.
-I just grew a bit restless at the end because they could never catch the bad guys and a few instances where Amadi could have checked the identity of the assassin and didn't.
-The editing could use another pass but it wasn't too distracting. Mostly missing words.
-Lots of adventure, battles, magic, grief and happiness.
-Lots of details from far way, a long, long time ago.
-The details were for the wildlife, the people, their personalities, the buildings, and oasis and the plants around them. Also included were the way the people and magicians (djinns, etc.) dress.
-I loved it because I had all 3 stories together and it flowed perfectly.
-Another take on the Tales from the Arabian Nights and it was worth reading.
-Harun and Amadi make a pair of BFF and would be a great couple if we ever saw them after this.
-I just grew a bit restless at the end because they could never catch the bad guys and a few instances where Amadi could have checked the identity of the assassin and didn't.
-The editing could use another pass but it wasn't too distracting. Mostly missing words.
February 25, 2023
Not a long book but quite interesting; it isn't any of my usual genres but once I had got into the book, I found it quite compelling.
March 10, 2017
I absolutely LOVED this story! It took me to far away lands with exotic characters. I lost myself in the story and found myself cheering for Amadi in every obstacle she came across.
April 7, 2013
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review. I honestly don't think I would have normally picked this book, but I'm glad I read it. Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn was a fascinating book, very reminiscent of the Arabian Nights.
I liked how each new volume started - with the story teller. He tells Amadi's story - how she was raised and wanted more from life. How she was trained to be a thief and how things quickly changed one night.
The first book was a little slow for me. I understand it was to lay the ground work, but I still feel that it could have moved a little faster. The second and third books were much more intriguing to me. The introduction of Harum also made the story a little more ... personal. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of personal tidbits in the story, but I find I like romance. **shrugging**
Like I said, book two and three flew by. They were great, actually. I enjoyed the imagery and introduction to sphinxes and other mythological creatures. I also liked how the author never lost sight of things: her sister, her friendships, etc. I will say, though, that I found her use of the ring made getting out of tough situations a little too easy. It would have been nice to hear about how she tried and failed, or succeeded!, in overcoming her challenges.
Overall, I thought it was a good book. I enjoyed her characters, but more so, I enjoyed the adventure. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read it!
I liked how each new volume started - with the story teller. He tells Amadi's story - how she was raised and wanted more from life. How she was trained to be a thief and how things quickly changed one night.
The first book was a little slow for me. I understand it was to lay the ground work, but I still feel that it could have moved a little faster. The second and third books were much more intriguing to me. The introduction of Harum also made the story a little more ... personal. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of personal tidbits in the story, but I find I like romance. **shrugging**
Like I said, book two and three flew by. They were great, actually. I enjoyed the imagery and introduction to sphinxes and other mythological creatures. I also liked how the author never lost sight of things: her sister, her friendships, etc. I will say, though, that I found her use of the ring made getting out of tough situations a little too easy. It would have been nice to hear about how she tried and failed, or succeeded!, in overcoming her challenges.
Overall, I thought it was a good book. I enjoyed her characters, but more so, I enjoyed the adventure. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read it!
August 5, 2016
Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn is a trilogy full of adventure and magic. It reminded me of an arabian nights fairytale.
I absolutely love it when someone gives me a book to read and you can't put it down. This was one of those books.
At first, I thought was "No I hate these difficult names" that the characters had but the further you got you didn't think about them.
The story was easy to read and very enjoyable.
I must say that the first book 'Amadi and the Phoenix' was my favourite. I liked learning about Amadi's home life and how she got into The Guild for training. I do love strong female characters and this book had two of them, Amadi and Yadin.
I did like the two other books and enjoyed the mythical creatures the author used. You can visualize the story more in your head when you know the creatures. It was cool how Amadi friended Phonix, Hanneh and Semiramis.
Some parts of the story were predictable but still enjoyable.
Each book started and ended with a storyteller telling the story to a group of customers. This scene reminded of a Hans Christain Andersen movie that I saw as a kid, where Hans Christain did the same thing.
I am going to read this book again and share it with my son as a bedtime read.
Thankyou Katharina Gerlach for the book I loved it.
I absolutely love it when someone gives me a book to read and you can't put it down. This was one of those books.
At first, I thought was "No I hate these difficult names" that the characters had but the further you got you didn't think about them.
The story was easy to read and very enjoyable.
I must say that the first book 'Amadi and the Phoenix' was my favourite. I liked learning about Amadi's home life and how she got into The Guild for training. I do love strong female characters and this book had two of them, Amadi and Yadin.
I did like the two other books and enjoyed the mythical creatures the author used. You can visualize the story more in your head when you know the creatures. It was cool how Amadi friended Phonix, Hanneh and Semiramis.
Some parts of the story were predictable but still enjoyable.
Each book started and ended with a storyteller telling the story to a group of customers. This scene reminded of a Hans Christain Andersen movie that I saw as a kid, where Hans Christain did the same thing.
I am going to read this book again and share it with my son as a bedtime read.
Thankyou Katharina Gerlach for the book I loved it.
March 24, 2013
This is a sweet Arabian-based fairy tale about a girl who wants to have control over her own life. She is smart and assertive, qualities that do not work in favor of her future happiness. However, she uses those qualities to pursue challenges and reach the goal of her freedom. First, she grabs onto the opportunity to become a thief, then she is thrown into adventure and has to rely on magical artifacts, magical creatures and her wits to survive. Ultimately, it is her own strengths as a person that save her and her friends, partly because she helps others and attracts their friendship with her own. She is brave and works hard, but mainly at those duties that she believes will help her toward her goals. She faces a number of personal revelations, but doesn't take her shocks out on others, but keeps to her purpose. There are a couple of phrases that seem a bit out of date for the tale, and the language is pretty modern (the use of Hey, and kids for children for instance), but since it is clearly a fairy tale, that is not a big deal.
I received this book free in return for a review.
I received this book free in return for a review.
September 3, 2013
By Momma on March 25, 2013
amadi
I absolutely loved this book! Amadi is such a wonderful and complex character it’s hard not to like her. Set in a time and place where women were meant to obey Amadi did just the opposite, but did her best to remain true to herself and respectful of others.
Many of the characters did a good job either being as evil as they were required to be or as loveable and endearing as they are meant to be.
Watching Amadi and her friends overcome adversity and think their way out of trouble as well as fight their way when necessary was entertaining. I would happily have my teenage girls read this book!
Momma puts this book on a must read list! If you would like to be entertained and possibly introduced to a new culture then this trilogy of Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn!
What does Momma Think?
Momma gives Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn by Katharina Gerlach 4 cookies.
April 3, 2013
I received this book free as a read4review.
This is not the sort of book I would normally read and I wasn't sure what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. I found each of the characters interesting, well written and likeable, it was clear that as much effort went into writing about the minor characters as the main ones. The book is full of many mythological creatures, magic, action, exciting twists, relationships. It gives a great view of the main character, how the story effects and changes her. I could easily imagine the settings in the book as they were so well described and would recommend it to all ages.
The reason I haven't given this book 5 stars is because I felt it was a bit slow to start, once it got into the story it was fast paced and action packed but it took a while to get there. I would have liked to see the pace at the beginning of the book and the rest of the book mirror each other.
This is not the sort of book I would normally read and I wasn't sure what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. I found each of the characters interesting, well written and likeable, it was clear that as much effort went into writing about the minor characters as the main ones. The book is full of many mythological creatures, magic, action, exciting twists, relationships. It gives a great view of the main character, how the story effects and changes her. I could easily imagine the settings in the book as they were so well described and would recommend it to all ages.
The reason I haven't given this book 5 stars is because I felt it was a bit slow to start, once it got into the story it was fast paced and action packed but it took a while to get there. I would have liked to see the pace at the beginning of the book and the rest of the book mirror each other.
June 15, 2013
What I like about all of Katharina's books is that, even in a fantasy setting, she's done historical research to give you that extra feeling of being in a world that's actually real. Magic carpets nonwithstanding :)
Amadi is a strong, engaging female lead - far too rare in MG fantasy IMHO - and the story is complex and engaging, although there were one or two places where I wished the story would move a little faster. All the characters are well-developed, and will keep surprising the reader with their actions - not everybody is what they seem, and some people might give you a real shock.
One thing to be aware of, if you're thinking of buying the books separately, is that they are very closely connected. The first books leave issues unresolved, to be picked up in the sequel.
My recommendation: If you like fantasy adventure, especially something in the style of the Arabian Nights, go and give this book a try!
Amadi is a strong, engaging female lead - far too rare in MG fantasy IMHO - and the story is complex and engaging, although there were one or two places where I wished the story would move a little faster. All the characters are well-developed, and will keep surprising the reader with their actions - not everybody is what they seem, and some people might give you a real shock.
One thing to be aware of, if you're thinking of buying the books separately, is that they are very closely connected. The first books leave issues unresolved, to be picked up in the sequel.
My recommendation: If you like fantasy adventure, especially something in the style of the Arabian Nights, go and give this book a try!
April 8, 2013
Great read! It was magical full of adventure in an Arabian world. The description is detailed so much I felt I was in the desert with the heat upon my face.I could easily picture the creatures and people of this world. The characters were very likable and you rooted for a good outcome.
Our main heroine is Amadi who was training to be a thief. But one night everything changes and soon she finds herself running from an assassin. There are many characters that come along the way such as Huran and Bubul. The plot was great, especially with the mythological creatures. There were lesser-known ones that hardly ever get mention like the water spirits.
It was a quick read and I truly enjoyed it. For a short story I was surprised how much information was given and all the adventures that befell Amadi. It was truly enjoyable and a must TBR.
Our main heroine is Amadi who was training to be a thief. But one night everything changes and soon she finds herself running from an assassin. There are many characters that come along the way such as Huran and Bubul. The plot was great, especially with the mythological creatures. There were lesser-known ones that hardly ever get mention like the water spirits.
It was a quick read and I truly enjoyed it. For a short story I was surprised how much information was given and all the adventures that befell Amadi. It was truly enjoyable and a must TBR.
March 21, 2013
This series had everything I expected to be in a YA fantasy. It was very well written, with some of the best characters. This is a beautiful and intriguing trilogy that shows Amadi's many adventures. These books have some of the most interesting and peculiar (in a good way) characters. Katharina Gerlach has added many twists and turns, which makes the stories even better. I feel anyone from ages 10 and up can read these books. I would most definitely recommend this trilogy to all YA fantasy readers.
April 7, 2013
I received this story from the author for Read 4 Review.
This was not my usual style of book I like to read but I have to say it kept me very interested. The story was original, well written and very unique.
I enjoyed reading about the different places Amandi ventured to, the way the author Katharina Gerlach describes everywhere it's almost as though you are there.
For something different I definitely recommend this story.
The sparkle in his eyes made Amadi’s heart race and her knees wobble.
-Amadi, Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn
This was not my usual style of book I like to read but I have to say it kept me very interested. The story was original, well written and very unique.
I enjoyed reading about the different places Amandi ventured to, the way the author Katharina Gerlach describes everywhere it's almost as though you are there.
For something different I definitely recommend this story.
The sparkle in his eyes made Amadi’s heart race and her knees wobble.
-Amadi, Amadi, the Phoenix, the Sphinx, and the Djinn
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February 21, 2017
Check out my review here!
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