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Andara #1
The Forbidden Land of Andara
Thirteen-year-old Regina White is surrounded by monsters. At least that's the conclusion she has come to after watching the news every night and protecting her best friend from bullies every day.
However, this view is put to the test when Regina is taken to the other world, Andara, where talking trees, dragons and fauns are not the only residents; in this world, too, monsters are lurking. And these ones are closer to Regina than she would have thought.
Accompanied by friends who have also been brought to Andara, Regina sets off to explore this land that so many are scared to see. Through unexpected trials, Regina is faced with the possibility that her thoughts about people might have been wrong when she realizes that behind every so-called monster, there's a story.
However, this view is put to the test when Regina is taken to the other world, Andara, where talking trees, dragons and fauns are not the only residents; in this world, too, monsters are lurking. And these ones are closer to Regina than she would have thought.
Accompanied by friends who have also been brought to Andara, Regina sets off to explore this land that so many are scared to see. Through unexpected trials, Regina is faced with the possibility that her thoughts about people might have been wrong when she realizes that behind every so-called monster, there's a story.
231 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2015
About the author
C.M. Rayne
7 books29 followersC.M. Rayne started writing books in 2013 and hasn't stopped since. Taking her own experiences with mental health, she builds new worlds with unusual characters, since she has a fondness for the strange. She began with writing middle-grade fantasy but transitioned into adult literary fiction over time to explore deeper and darker topics with a more unconventional voice.
She lives with her favorite human, her artist husband, with whom she often collaborates on different projects. Wanting to bring every orphan animal home, they share their house with three dogs and a vampire cat. She would like to end her bio with a joke or witty remark, but she's better at being awkward than being funny.
She lives with her favorite human, her artist husband, with whom she often collaborates on different projects. Wanting to bring every orphan animal home, they share their house with three dogs and a vampire cat. She would like to end her bio with a joke or witty remark, but she's better at being awkward than being funny.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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October 20, 2015Well written, enjoyable read.
This book is best suited for a young reader. However as an adult the message within is very well written .It holds excitement, and valuable life lessons that are important for all ages. I would recommend it especially in a school setting, or book club. It presents opportunities for great discussions.
This book is best suited for a young reader. However as an adult the message within is very well written .It holds excitement, and valuable life lessons that are important for all ages. I would recommend it especially in a school setting, or book club. It presents opportunities for great discussions.
October 5, 2016
This is a DNF. I was very disappointed in this book. Generally when I read a children's book, I don't mind getting some sort of lesson. I also don't mind if the book has some dark moments in it as that may be necessary (the book, "Sparkers" is a good example of both these things), but I have to say that I would not have finished this book as a child. I also would not have wanted it read to me.
This book is boring, cerebral and preachy. This is the type of book that receives great reviews because people think that this is the type of thing a child should read, rather than looking to see what they actually want to read. I'm pretty certain that a child who is interested in a magical world and who wants to read a book for fun will probably not like this book. This is not something I would have read as a child to escape for a while from the real world and all of its problems (and yes, I understand that children have problems that are real). It is also not a book that I would have read to explore the problems that might occur in the real world when I was a child (and my family had its share of problems). A good example of the former might be the Harry Potter books (which I don't particularly love, but children do) and an example of the latter might be Zilpha Keatley Snyder's books.
Regina, the protagonist, appears to be about 8 -- 10 years old, but I don't think that children of that age would find the book interesting. It also wouldn't appeal to YA readers (Regina and the other children in the book are too young). It starts out well with a mother who is neglectful, problems at school and then the opportunity to enter a new, enchanted world. But then nothing happens. Everything is a lesson and the book is written as though it is one long day at school. Instead of being shown things, we are told everything. For instance at one point the guide to the world (the kind adult who is helping the children (a social worker/psychologist avatar?)) states to the children that they should go and explore the creepy place and meet the evil person, but that it is normal to feel fear. That it is okay. If that was the only instance of this, I might be okay with the book, but the "guide" is always there and always reassuring (but not quite) and in the end comes across as being about as creepy as the evil person (who, by the way, is explained and, according to the story, isn't really evil). In fact the way that the protagonist meets the avatar is also rather creepy (down a dark alley alone and the avatar appears to be kind and the child immediately goes with them -- not something I would want my child to believe in).
Anyway I feel that there could be a lot less explanation and a lot more exploration, especially as the children in this book seem to be smart and capable of independent thought.
This book is boring, cerebral and preachy. This is the type of book that receives great reviews because people think that this is the type of thing a child should read, rather than looking to see what they actually want to read. I'm pretty certain that a child who is interested in a magical world and who wants to read a book for fun will probably not like this book. This is not something I would have read as a child to escape for a while from the real world and all of its problems (and yes, I understand that children have problems that are real). It is also not a book that I would have read to explore the problems that might occur in the real world when I was a child (and my family had its share of problems). A good example of the former might be the Harry Potter books (which I don't particularly love, but children do) and an example of the latter might be Zilpha Keatley Snyder's books.
Regina, the protagonist, appears to be about 8 -- 10 years old, but I don't think that children of that age would find the book interesting. It also wouldn't appeal to YA readers (Regina and the other children in the book are too young). It starts out well with a mother who is neglectful, problems at school and then the opportunity to enter a new, enchanted world. But then nothing happens. Everything is a lesson and the book is written as though it is one long day at school. Instead of being shown things, we are told everything. For instance at one point the guide to the world (the kind adult who is helping the children (a social worker/psychologist avatar?)) states to the children that they should go and explore the creepy place and meet the evil person, but that it is normal to feel fear. That it is okay. If that was the only instance of this, I might be okay with the book, but the "guide" is always there and always reassuring (but not quite) and in the end comes across as being about as creepy as the evil person (who, by the way, is explained and, according to the story, isn't really evil). In fact the way that the protagonist meets the avatar is also rather creepy (down a dark alley alone and the avatar appears to be kind and the child immediately goes with them -- not something I would want my child to believe in).
Anyway I feel that there could be a lot less explanation and a lot more exploration, especially as the children in this book seem to be smart and capable of independent thought.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews