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Festival of Shadows
Theodorus Ursabrand's sole purpose as a teddy bear is to protect his owner, Grant. But when Stratus, the boogie man, kidnaps Grant, Theo must travel to the Stratusphere, a nightmare world filled with abandoned toys where nothing is what it seems. He meets a traveling caravan who has gathered for a festival, and among them is Lucinda, another teddy bear with magical powers who agrees to help Theo sneak into the castle to save Grant.
But there's a catch: first Theo must engage a group of evil toys who have stolen the festival's key attractions, a quest that proves to be dangerous and time-consuming. Even worse, if Theo doesn't rescue Grant by sunrise, they will both be trapped in the Stratusphere forever.
This paperback edition of Festival of Shadows represents the author's favorite choices from the Decision Select™ ebook edition, compiled in a traditional format.
But there's a catch: first Theo must engage a group of evil toys who have stolen the festival's key attractions, a quest that proves to be dangerous and time-consuming. Even worse, if Theo doesn't rescue Grant by sunrise, they will both be trapped in the Stratusphere forever.
This paperback edition of Festival of Shadows represents the author's favorite choices from the Decision Select™ ebook edition, compiled in a traditional format.
148 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2014
5 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Michael La Ronn
81 books167 followersScience fiction and fantasy on the wild side!
Michael La Ronn is the author of many science fiction and fantasy novels including the Android X, Eaten, and The Last Dragon Lord series.
In 2012, a life-threatening illness made him realize that life is too short. He’s devoted his life to writing ever since, making up whatever story makes him fall out of his chair laughing the hardest. He’s also a total Final Fantasy geek.
If you're new to Michael's work, visit this link to grab his $1 Series Starters--->www.michaellaronn.com/seriesstarters
Michael La Ronn is the author of many science fiction and fantasy novels including the Android X, Eaten, and The Last Dragon Lord series.
In 2012, a life-threatening illness made him realize that life is too short. He’s devoted his life to writing ever since, making up whatever story makes him fall out of his chair laughing the hardest. He’s also a total Final Fantasy geek.
If you're new to Michael's work, visit this link to grab his $1 Series Starters--->www.michaellaronn.com/seriesstarters
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 9, 2014
A totally immersive and gratifying experience. This book puts you into Ursabrand's shoes as you fight monsters, solve puzzles and try and save your owner from certain doom.
It would have been easy for a book of this nature to devolve into board-game or video game like fodder. Something solely at the mercy of the gimmick of choose-your-own-adventure. However, La Ronn has worked to craft a rich and believable story full of interesting characters and suspenseful moments. The pacing and description is exciting and well-done, the characters are rich and speak with their own unique voices.
This is a book that doesn't rely on its mechanism, it uses the unique interactive technique to enhance the story.
Great read, I would highly recommend this book.
It would have been easy for a book of this nature to devolve into board-game or video game like fodder. Something solely at the mercy of the gimmick of choose-your-own-adventure. However, La Ronn has worked to craft a rich and believable story full of interesting characters and suspenseful moments. The pacing and description is exciting and well-done, the characters are rich and speak with their own unique voices.
This is a book that doesn't rely on its mechanism, it uses the unique interactive technique to enhance the story.
Great read, I would highly recommend this book.
April 23, 2018
The reads like Toy Story meets Pink Floyd. Very trippy, and very cool. This is one of those films that I could see being made into an animated feature, but not Pixar. It is kind of dark but definitely worth the read!
October 25, 2019
This is a book about a teddy bear called Theo who is owned by a boy called Grant. The universe around Theo is heavily inspired by Toy Story with an original twist to it. One day, Grant gets kidnapped by an evil creature called Stratus. We follow the story of Theo, who tries to save and release Grant from this evil creature. It was fun to read and I recommend you to buy it as well.
I follow Michael La Ronn on his YouTube channel Author Level Up where he shares tips and tricks on writing for authors. That is how I found this book. 😊
The good thing about this book is that it is an original story where each character has their own original personality and way of talking. This is the kind of feel-good book that I would see in the kids and teenagers section of a library, even though adults could enjoy it as well.
The bad thing about this book is that it feels like everything is written in a rush. Reading it feels like eating the bottom layer of a cake without ingredients on top. I was shocked to see it has only 140 pages and after reading it I realized that this could have had something between 300 and 400 pages if the worldbuilding, detail to emotion, detail to feelings, build-up from the scene and finishing touches weren't done in a rush. Because some scenes are still confusing to me.
I follow Michael La Ronn on his YouTube channel Author Level Up where he shares tips and tricks on writing for authors. That is how I found this book. 😊
The good thing about this book is that it is an original story where each character has their own original personality and way of talking. This is the kind of feel-good book that I would see in the kids and teenagers section of a library, even though adults could enjoy it as well.
The bad thing about this book is that it feels like everything is written in a rush. Reading it feels like eating the bottom layer of a cake without ingredients on top. I was shocked to see it has only 140 pages and after reading it I realized that this could have had something between 300 and 400 pages if the worldbuilding, detail to emotion, detail to feelings, build-up from the scene and finishing touches weren't done in a rush. Because some scenes are still confusing to me.
February 14, 2022
Fantastic, absolutely great.
It was an easy read from the get go all ages would enjoy it, especially for a pixar-nut like me. Hidden lore is seeping out of the crevices in this, and even one of my theories shockingly gets addressed in a great way that enforced the read-along to continue.
Unlike in Old Dark, the character Arc of Teddy is much more clear, and I enjoy Teddy towards the end (I've recently started Dr. Who) Teddy reminds of the first Doctor a lot in the beginning a good way.
The ending is literally my favorite part, it is el-dente.
It was an easy read from the get go all ages would enjoy it, especially for a pixar-nut like me. Hidden lore is seeping out of the crevices in this, and even one of my theories shockingly gets addressed in a great way that enforced the read-along to continue.
Unlike in Old Dark, the character Arc of Teddy is much more clear, and I enjoy Teddy towards the end (I've recently started Dr. Who) Teddy reminds of the first Doctor a lot in the beginning a good way.
The ending is literally my favorite part, it is el-dente.
December 30, 2015
The beginning was a little rough for me with this book. It's a "choose your own adventure" style of book, with a lot of choices to make. I've never read a book like that before, although I've heard of them, so it took me out of my flow to get to know the protagonist, when I had to make a choice. I also had a hard time with the main character being a teddy bear at first, so all in all, I was sure this wasn't going to be a book I would read again.
But that changed during the book. The characters evolves a lot during the adventure, and it is an adventure for sure. There's lots of action in the book, and your choices really means something. No happy ending for you, if you can't remember which tools to use and so on. But luckily - unlike in life - I could cheat a little and go back, or simply go forward after the ending to a "never lose hope" link, and get another ending, so I could sleep better ;)
All in all, this was a very interesting read, and I thought of Toy Story 3 more than once when I read it. Not because the story is the same at all, just because it deals with the same kind of characters (toys), and the natural life a toy goes through.
I absolutely loved the author note, and also the very honest and well written "about the author". Besides that, the book had some hidden gems a couple of places, which was so clever. It would probably not work in a regular book, but it sure did in this one. The board game in the middle of the book was quite original too. Not easy to pull off in writing, but it worked!
Well done, Michael. It will not be my last "Decision Select Novel", and I look forward to reading more of your books. And now I want a Whatsamadoozle for christmas!
But that changed during the book. The characters evolves a lot during the adventure, and it is an adventure for sure. There's lots of action in the book, and your choices really means something. No happy ending for you, if you can't remember which tools to use and so on. But luckily - unlike in life - I could cheat a little and go back, or simply go forward after the ending to a "never lose hope" link, and get another ending, so I could sleep better ;)
All in all, this was a very interesting read, and I thought of Toy Story 3 more than once when I read it. Not because the story is the same at all, just because it deals with the same kind of characters (toys), and the natural life a toy goes through.
I absolutely loved the author note, and also the very honest and well written "about the author". Besides that, the book had some hidden gems a couple of places, which was so clever. It would probably not work in a regular book, but it sure did in this one. The board game in the middle of the book was quite original too. Not easy to pull off in writing, but it worked!
Well done, Michael. It will not be my last "Decision Select Novel", and I look forward to reading more of your books. And now I want a Whatsamadoozle for christmas!
June 30, 2014
I have always loved teddy bears, and fantasy is definitely my thing. So choosing this book wasn't even a choice. It reminded me of the choose your own adventure books my kids would read when they're young. But having it in Kindle form is even more fun, I think.
Theo is a brave teddy bear who must go on a great adventure to rescue his boy, who is in grave danger. Throughout the book you have choices to make, which lead you other places. Part of the fun of it is that you can read it over and over, following different routes each time..
I was cheering for Theo to succeed as I moved around in the book. And of course I had to make my way through to the different endings!
The story is full of excitement, and adventure, and should be a lot of fun for kids.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I'm keeping this around for my granddaughter to read when she's old enough.
Theo is a brave teddy bear who must go on a great adventure to rescue his boy, who is in grave danger. Throughout the book you have choices to make, which lead you other places. Part of the fun of it is that you can read it over and over, following different routes each time..
I was cheering for Theo to succeed as I moved around in the book. And of course I had to make my way through to the different endings!
The story is full of excitement, and adventure, and should be a lot of fun for kids.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I'm keeping this around for my granddaughter to read when she's old enough.
May 16, 2014
I received a copy of this novel from the author because he wanted me to check the links out. I didn't really expect to get into the story because fantasy isn't quite my deal. Then I started to read, and I was hooked. As I read, I kept thinking what an awesome movie this would make. The author really has a way with descriptions, which made me smile. This book is an appropriate read, no matter what the age group. Wonderful!
October 4, 2014
Grant a nine year old boy is captured by the evil Stratus and Theo his teddy bear must battle to save him.
This is a choose your own adventure type book, so you really taking part in Theo's journey through this bazaar fantasy world.
I'm not sure what age group this book is aimed at, but the plot of the story I think will sit better with the young and young at heart. P.S. I still have my childhood protector 'Ted'.
This is a choose your own adventure type book, so you really taking part in Theo's journey through this bazaar fantasy world.
I'm not sure what age group this book is aimed at, but the plot of the story I think will sit better with the young and young at heart. P.S. I still have my childhood protector 'Ted'.
July 24, 2015
A Teddy Bear Hero
While I loved the concept of a Teddy Bear hero I found this story lacking. It reads like a merging of Toy Story & Labyrinth. While that in and of itself is not bad, the simplistic writing style is geared more for children in the 10-13 age frame. The book was not billed as a children's out teens book yet is clearly written for that age frame.
I may update my review one my daughter's have read the book.
While I loved the concept of a Teddy Bear hero I found this story lacking. It reads like a merging of Toy Story & Labyrinth. While that in and of itself is not bad, the simplistic writing style is geared more for children in the 10-13 age frame. The book was not billed as a children's out teens book yet is clearly written for that age frame.
I may update my review one my daughter's have read the book.
July 2, 2015
Fast and weird 'toy story', about a teddy bear in 'Wonderland', risking his life to save his owner.
I love it that by making choices you can decide what will happen. Only: every time you make a choice, you keep wondering where the other options would have taken you. Which can be a little frustrating...;)
Thank you, Michael La Ronn, for giving me the chance (throught StoryCartel) to read this.
I love it that by making choices you can decide what will happen. Only: every time you make a choice, you keep wondering where the other options would have taken you. Which can be a little frustrating...;)
Thank you, Michael La Ronn, for giving me the chance (throught StoryCartel) to read this.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews