What do you think?
Rate this book
Delphi Altair: Strange Beginnings
No longer available.
Thirteen year old Megan Donnelly, distraught over the lost of her mother and bitterly angry with her father, wants to run away from home. But on the day of her mother’s funeral Megan receives a mysterious package. Inside the package, Megan finds an old leather-bound journal with a lock, and a silver key. As Megan begins to read the journal she discovers the story is about an orphan girl, Delphi Altair, whose parents were kidnapped by evil beings from another dimension. As the story unfolds, Delphi finds herself being attacked by the evil creatures who took her parents. Donovan, a school friend offers to help Delphi. Nikkos, a Watcher from the planet Janji has been guarding Delphi secretly. Nikkos fears that the evil beings are trying to capture Delphi too. Nikkos transports Delphi and Donovan to the planet Janji where they will learn to become Warriors. Once they arrive on Janji they find they have been recruited to help save the earth from destruction by the evil creatures who want to steal the Golden Spiral, but they must return to earth before the waxing of the crescent moons of Janji or all is lost.
Megan, spellbound by the mysterious journal, comes to realize Delphi’s story is terrifyingly real and Megan is somehow involved in it. Megan’s life is about to change in ways she could never have imagined.
Thirteen year old Megan Donnelly, distraught over the lost of her mother and bitterly angry with her father, wants to run away from home. But on the day of her mother’s funeral Megan receives a mysterious package. Inside the package, Megan finds an old leather-bound journal with a lock, and a silver key. As Megan begins to read the journal she discovers the story is about an orphan girl, Delphi Altair, whose parents were kidnapped by evil beings from another dimension. As the story unfolds, Delphi finds herself being attacked by the evil creatures who took her parents. Donovan, a school friend offers to help Delphi. Nikkos, a Watcher from the planet Janji has been guarding Delphi secretly. Nikkos fears that the evil beings are trying to capture Delphi too. Nikkos transports Delphi and Donovan to the planet Janji where they will learn to become Warriors. Once they arrive on Janji they find they have been recruited to help save the earth from destruction by the evil creatures who want to steal the Golden Spiral, but they must return to earth before the waxing of the crescent moons of Janji or all is lost.
Megan, spellbound by the mysterious journal, comes to realize Delphi’s story is terrifyingly real and Megan is somehow involved in it. Megan’s life is about to change in ways she could never have imagined.
- GenresFantasy
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2013
2 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 7, 2014
Simply put: this young adult novel is beautifully done and should be picked up by any fan of epic fantasy stories. I am very impressed by Dowdall's ability to weave together so many characters and story-lines into a cohesive whole (it reminded me of the way Dickens and Tolkien are so deftly able to do this). The story takes place mostly in three settings: in a briny, seaside town sometime in the past, in a beautifully evocative land called Janji, and then in a familiar-seeming town sometime in the present day (where McDonald's and Diet coke and movies exist). Whether Dowdall is evoking an otherly world (filled with magical creatures, such as Snagettes and Tittlecrests) or an earthly one (with clam chowder boiling on the stove and nasty schoolteachers pounding paddles on their desks), her scenes are drawn with such detail that they will pull you in, time and time again.
I really can't recommend this book enough. Try it! You'll be hooked and waiting for the next one.
I really can't recommend this book enough. Try it! You'll be hooked and waiting for the next one.
June 27, 2018
Exceptional Epic Fantasy Novel
Whether evoking mythical creatures from Janji or winsome earthly inhabitants, the majestic scenes are drawn with such memorable details that it will capture your imagination and whisk you away by land, by sea and to a far away realm that we sometimes conjure in our dreams. The author weaves together, seamlessly, three vivid settings: a briny seaside town sometime in the past, a far away land called Janji and a typical small town in the present day. Her ability to weave together diverse characters in different time-periods and story-lines into a cohesive whole, is reminiscent of Dickens and Tolkien. I highly recommend Delphi Altair’s out-of-this-world, breathtaking adventure to readers of all ages.
Whether evoking mythical creatures from Janji or winsome earthly inhabitants, the majestic scenes are drawn with such memorable details that it will capture your imagination and whisk you away by land, by sea and to a far away realm that we sometimes conjure in our dreams. The author weaves together, seamlessly, three vivid settings: a briny seaside town sometime in the past, a far away land called Janji and a typical small town in the present day. Her ability to weave together diverse characters in different time-periods and story-lines into a cohesive whole, is reminiscent of Dickens and Tolkien. I highly recommend Delphi Altair’s out-of-this-world, breathtaking adventure to readers of all ages.
June 3, 2014
Dowdall deftly weaves science fiction and fantasy in her debut novel where creatures and characters abound. I particularly enjoyed the lush and vivid settings of both the little sea town and the majestic (and at times bizarre) planet, Janji. Reminiscent to The Neverending Story and The Princess Bride, here is a middle grade adventure that will entertain and leave you with chills.
February 3, 2018
This is an excellent fantasy story. Karen's writing is very smooth with very vivid storyline and characters. I enjoyed the story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews