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Blonde Eskimo
Part Viking, part Eskimo, Neiva Ellis knew her family’s ancestral home, the island of Spirit, Alaska, held a secret. A mystery so sensitive everyone, including her beloved grandmother, was keeping it from her. When Neiva is sent to stay on the island while her parents tour Europe she sets out on a mission to uncover the truth, but she was not prepared for what laid ahead.
On the night of her seventeenth birthday, the Eskimo rite of passage, Neiva is mysteriously catapulted into another world full of mystical creatures, ancient traditions, and a masked stranger who awakens feelings deep within her heart. Along with her best friends Nate, Viv and Breezy, she uncovers the truth behind the town of Spirit and about her own heritage.
When an evil force threatens those closest to her, Neiva will stop at nothing to defend her family and friends. Eskimo traditions and legends become real as two worlds merge together to fight a force so ancient and evil it could destroy not only Spirit but the rest of humanity.
On the night of her seventeenth birthday, the Eskimo rite of passage, Neiva is mysteriously catapulted into another world full of mystical creatures, ancient traditions, and a masked stranger who awakens feelings deep within her heart. Along with her best friends Nate, Viv and Breezy, she uncovers the truth behind the town of Spirit and about her own heritage.
When an evil force threatens those closest to her, Neiva will stop at nothing to defend her family and friends. Eskimo traditions and legends become real as two worlds merge together to fight a force so ancient and evil it could destroy not only Spirit but the rest of humanity.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2015
2 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Hunt
3 books12 followersKristen Hunt is an artist and writer based in Phoenix, Arizona. She is an avid fan of movies, graphic novels and Young Adult literature. Anything evolving fantasy and supernatural experiences captures her interests. As a young child Kristen visited her family in Nome, Alaska and learned of her Eskimo heritage. Her Grandmother, known as the blonde Eskimo because of her golden hair and blue eyes, told Kristen the many legends found throughout Alaska, such as the Ishegocks, totems, and much more. It was these stories that inspired Kristen to write her current novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 12, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
First off I have to mention how beautiful the cover of this book is and it will look even more beautiful on my shelf when it comes out :)
Neiva is upset with her parents for leaving her with her grandma so they can go off to Europe. She is supposed to stay for her entire senior year and she's sad at leaving her friends and being stuck on an island. She loves her grams, but not to stay for school.
They are on the island of Spirit which is seventy-miles off the coast of Nome, Alaska. Neiva thinks the town has something wrong with it, that it is hiding secrets. She would be right in more ways than she could ever imagine.
She has a best friend named Nate she has known all of her life and he's going to take her around. She ends up with more friends, Liv and Breezy.
On her seventeenth bday, which she had forgotten, her grams tells her she has to go through a right of passage that all Eskimo's go through at that age. She also gives her a stick on a necklace that she is supposed to take to a lady in the town so she can carve her Guardian Totem on it. Everyone has a necklace and they wear them under their shirts close to their hearts.
Neiva also finds out she has a spirit guide and a guardian named Darius who she falls in love with, they are soulmates from another time or so it seems.
Neiva gets the surprise of her life when she is whisked away in this land where there is a Spirit World and no one there are what they seem. There is an entry into the lands of Light and Dark. There are many creatures in this world. Even Neiva and her friends are not what they seem.
It is an amazing book that is rich in magic and traditions. I would love to see where the author takes this book next.
*I would like to thank NETGALLEY and SPARKPRESS for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.**
First off I have to mention how beautiful the cover of this book is and it will look even more beautiful on my shelf when it comes out :)
Neiva is upset with her parents for leaving her with her grandma so they can go off to Europe. She is supposed to stay for her entire senior year and she's sad at leaving her friends and being stuck on an island. She loves her grams, but not to stay for school.
They are on the island of Spirit which is seventy-miles off the coast of Nome, Alaska. Neiva thinks the town has something wrong with it, that it is hiding secrets. She would be right in more ways than she could ever imagine.
She has a best friend named Nate she has known all of her life and he's going to take her around. She ends up with more friends, Liv and Breezy.
On her seventeenth bday, which she had forgotten, her grams tells her she has to go through a right of passage that all Eskimo's go through at that age. She also gives her a stick on a necklace that she is supposed to take to a lady in the town so she can carve her Guardian Totem on it. Everyone has a necklace and they wear them under their shirts close to their hearts.
Neiva also finds out she has a spirit guide and a guardian named Darius who she falls in love with, they are soulmates from another time or so it seems.
Neiva gets the surprise of her life when she is whisked away in this land where there is a Spirit World and no one there are what they seem. There is an entry into the lands of Light and Dark. There are many creatures in this world. Even Neiva and her friends are not what they seem.
It is an amazing book that is rich in magic and traditions. I would love to see where the author takes this book next.
*I would like to thank NETGALLEY and SPARKPRESS for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.**
January 9, 2016
Blonde Eskimo. first off I wanna say I’m in love with the cover and suits the book so well!
Im loving Fantasy at the moment and Blonde Eskimo is very much that. I haven’t come across a YA book before that has the theme of Eskimo in it, so it was interesting starting something that I had no idea what to expect.
The story is set on an interesting island called Spirit, I love that name for an island (btw) and Nieva moves there to live with her grandmother and learn about the secrets of Spirit, but things don’t go according to plan. She has fallen into another world filled with mystical creatures and a dark force that is trying to kill her and her friends.
I loved learning about the Eskimo Legends! that was on of my favourite parts of the novel! the book is written really well! Wonderful, engaging read! and the word images were wonderful! I could close my eyes and picture being there with Nieva.
I really enjoyed this book! 4 stars all the way :)
Im loving Fantasy at the moment and Blonde Eskimo is very much that. I haven’t come across a YA book before that has the theme of Eskimo in it, so it was interesting starting something that I had no idea what to expect.
The story is set on an interesting island called Spirit, I love that name for an island (btw) and Nieva moves there to live with her grandmother and learn about the secrets of Spirit, but things don’t go according to plan. She has fallen into another world filled with mystical creatures and a dark force that is trying to kill her and her friends.
I loved learning about the Eskimo Legends! that was on of my favourite parts of the novel! the book is written really well! Wonderful, engaging read! and the word images were wonderful! I could close my eyes and picture being there with Nieva.
I really enjoyed this book! 4 stars all the way :)
October 9, 2015
This novel is inspired by kindred spirits from the past and present.
I wanted to share my love for my Eskimo heritage and my love for fantasy with the world. I named the book after my grandmother, who was given the name Blonde Eskimo from the Eskimo elders. This book is dedicated to her.
I can't wait to finish writing the next adventure and sequel to Blonde Eskimo. ;)
I wanted to share my love for my Eskimo heritage and my love for fantasy with the world. I named the book after my grandmother, who was given the name Blonde Eskimo from the Eskimo elders. This book is dedicated to her.
I can't wait to finish writing the next adventure and sequel to Blonde Eskimo. ;)
March 15, 2016
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Blonde Eskimo was a pretty good book and I enjoyed the story. I thought it was so cool learning about Eskimos, their heritage, legends, and traditions. I liked Neiva, but at times she was hard to connect to. She had some amazing friends in the book and I wish I could have connected better with them too. There is also a guy named Darius that I pretty much fell in love with. It was more about Neiva though, so you don’t get a whole lot of the other characters. Neiva and her friends go on this adventure to discover the secrets of Spirit.
The Spirit world was really interesting and there were tons of secrets. This book was good, but it was lacking a lot of action. It was mostly explaining the world and what was going on with Neiva. Neiva is clueless about Spirit and has no idea what anything is and what is going on around her and happening to her. So Blonde Eskimo was mostly just Neiva learning about the world. That was fun to read, because the world itself is really interesting.
I rated it 3.5 stars because I would have liked a lot more action and adventure. When there were action scenes, I felt like the characters got rescued too quickly and like they weren’t in any real danger to begin with. I do honestly believe though that the next book in the series will be pretty awesome, because this book really sets up the second book. There are still a lot of pieces to the puzzle missing, but I think the next book will fill in a lot of those pieces and do it in a really awesome way. I think now that Neiva knows the majority of what she needs to know about the world (and the reader as well), the next book will have tons more adventure and action and hopefully some real danger.
Overall, this one was a lot more information dropping (mostly a good way) and world building, but it was still good. I love the Eskimo heritage and legends. I loved learning about them, because I knew nothing about it. I just thought Eskimos were people in Alaska that wore fuzzy hoodies and lived in igloos (that’s what I got out of it when I was a kid and I never knew anything else about them). There is so much more to it and them! I enjoyed this book and I do recommend it, especially because I have a feeling the sequel is going to be so awesome.
Blonde Eskimo was a pretty good book and I enjoyed the story. I thought it was so cool learning about Eskimos, their heritage, legends, and traditions. I liked Neiva, but at times she was hard to connect to. She had some amazing friends in the book and I wish I could have connected better with them too. There is also a guy named Darius that I pretty much fell in love with. It was more about Neiva though, so you don’t get a whole lot of the other characters. Neiva and her friends go on this adventure to discover the secrets of Spirit.
The Spirit world was really interesting and there were tons of secrets. This book was good, but it was lacking a lot of action. It was mostly explaining the world and what was going on with Neiva. Neiva is clueless about Spirit and has no idea what anything is and what is going on around her and happening to her. So Blonde Eskimo was mostly just Neiva learning about the world. That was fun to read, because the world itself is really interesting.
I rated it 3.5 stars because I would have liked a lot more action and adventure. When there were action scenes, I felt like the characters got rescued too quickly and like they weren’t in any real danger to begin with. I do honestly believe though that the next book in the series will be pretty awesome, because this book really sets up the second book. There are still a lot of pieces to the puzzle missing, but I think the next book will fill in a lot of those pieces and do it in a really awesome way. I think now that Neiva knows the majority of what she needs to know about the world (and the reader as well), the next book will have tons more adventure and action and hopefully some real danger.
Overall, this one was a lot more information dropping (mostly a good way) and world building, but it was still good. I love the Eskimo heritage and legends. I loved learning about them, because I knew nothing about it. I just thought Eskimos were people in Alaska that wore fuzzy hoodies and lived in igloos (that’s what I got out of it when I was a kid and I never knew anything else about them). There is so much more to it and them! I enjoyed this book and I do recommend it, especially because I have a feeling the sequel is going to be so awesome.
August 21, 2015
I had an ARC and loved it. The characters were very real. I laughed a lot. The references from Through the Looking Glass and The Secret Garden were pretty cool. I am an older person but would recommend it for any ages. There is a mystic feel as well as coming of age. The Eskimo lore and customs are really intriguing. I would love to visit Spirit Island myself. Looking forward to another book about this island and it's unusual inhabitants.
January 1, 2021
Fantasy and Eskimos!
17 year old Neiva is unhappy about having to stay with her grandmother in the tiny island, Spirit, Alaska, while her parents tour around Europe. She thinks Spirit is boring and a little bit creepy. It doesn’t help that she is the only blonde Eskimo on the entire island. Neiva decides that she will uncover the secrets of Spirit during her stay, but gets a little bit more than she bargained for.
Blonde Eskimo is packed full of adventure and rich in Eskimo customs and mythology. Underneath Spirit’s sleepy exterior there lies a magical world full of mystical creatures - both good and evil. Neiva discovers that she must do whatever it takes to protect her friends and family from the evil forces that seek to destroy Spirit and the rest of the world.
I really enjoyed reading about the Eskimo myths and traditions in Blonde Eskimo. The novel was full of action and adventure, plus romance. There were a couple of sections that I thought were a bit too detailed and difficult to follow. Besides from that, it was a great read.
Originally posted at https://scatterbooker.wordpress.com/2...
17 year old Neiva is unhappy about having to stay with her grandmother in the tiny island, Spirit, Alaska, while her parents tour around Europe. She thinks Spirit is boring and a little bit creepy. It doesn’t help that she is the only blonde Eskimo on the entire island. Neiva decides that she will uncover the secrets of Spirit during her stay, but gets a little bit more than she bargained for.
Blonde Eskimo is packed full of adventure and rich in Eskimo customs and mythology. Underneath Spirit’s sleepy exterior there lies a magical world full of mystical creatures - both good and evil. Neiva discovers that she must do whatever it takes to protect her friends and family from the evil forces that seek to destroy Spirit and the rest of the world.
I really enjoyed reading about the Eskimo myths and traditions in Blonde Eskimo. The novel was full of action and adventure, plus romance. There were a couple of sections that I thought were a bit too detailed and difficult to follow. Besides from that, it was a great read.
Originally posted at https://scatterbooker.wordpress.com/2...
March 30, 2016
Actual Rating: 3.5
I won this book in a Giveaway hosted by Kristen Hunt. I've really started to connect with her over the past months and she is such a great person! I would recommend this book if you are interested in Alaska, Eskimos, and heritage.
I enjoyed Blonde Eskimo and thought the elements of the story were intriguing. I liked that she used her own background and family ancestry to fuel the story, which made it even cooler. Neiva seemed very childish and I didn't quite connect with her throughout the book as much as I would have liked. I do wish there was more background on the other characters and that there had been more action and adventure in the book, but it was still well written.
I am interested to see where the next book will lead us! It was a great learning experience reading this and can't wait to see what else I learn in book two!
I won this book in a Giveaway hosted by Kristen Hunt. I've really started to connect with her over the past months and she is such a great person! I would recommend this book if you are interested in Alaska, Eskimos, and heritage.
I enjoyed Blonde Eskimo and thought the elements of the story were intriguing. I liked that she used her own background and family ancestry to fuel the story, which made it even cooler. Neiva seemed very childish and I didn't quite connect with her throughout the book as much as I would have liked. I do wish there was more background on the other characters and that there had been more action and adventure in the book, but it was still well written.
I am interested to see where the next book will lead us! It was a great learning experience reading this and can't wait to see what else I learn in book two!
June 24, 2017
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to SparkPress (a BookSparks imprint) and NetGalley.)
There wasn’t anything wrong with this book, it just wasn’t for me. I found it quite confusing, and I just lost interest. I felt quite sorry for Neiva at points but overall I think this was just a case of wrong person, wrong book.
6 out of 10
There wasn’t anything wrong with this book, it just wasn’t for me. I found it quite confusing, and I just lost interest. I felt quite sorry for Neiva at points but overall I think this was just a case of wrong person, wrong book.
6 out of 10
March 12, 2016
3.5 stars
September 25, 2015
4.5 stars
Originally posted here: https://lalasbookreviews.wordpress.co...
I have to say, I love the cover. Usually, I am not a big fan of covers with people on it, but this cover is gorgeous. I also like the Raven, which is connected with the story, and our protagonist. I don't based my rating on the cover, since I don't believe the cover is a reflection of the author.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to send a big thank you to NetGalley for this book, and also to everyone at Spark Press Publishing, as well as Kristen Hunt herself.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never read a book based on Eskimo’s mythologies; which is what attracted me to this book in the first place. Usually, I’ve found books based on Greek, Roman, and Norse mythologies–the last two are not that popular.
The protagonist is based on the author’s grandmother. She is the original Blonde Eskimo, nicknamed as such by the Eskimos Elders. In other words, the story is based on the author’s heritage.
The story itself is relatively original. I liked the fact that I got to learn a little it about Eskimos’ traditions, and legends.
The story is set on an island called Spirit, which is seventy-miles off the coast of Nome, Alaska. Neiva moves there to live with her grandmother, and to finish high school. It is very hard to change schools while you’re in your final year. I know this, because I moved when I was in my senior year. Unlike Neiva, I moved to a completely different country, where I knew no one. Since I know how it is, I can sympathize with her on this topic. Luckily for Neiva, she already had some friends there: Nate, Liv and Breezy. She got to know them a little bit while she was staying at her grandmother during her holidays, but now she got to actually know them, and they become closer friends.
Nieva wants to find out the island’s secrets, but she’s kinda thrown head first into the mystery, and she finds out she is part of that world. There are all sorts of creatures with unique abilities. I would’ve love to read a glossary about them. I think it would help the reader a lot to keep up with the creatures, and to learn a little bit more about them. Like a list at the back of the book with the creature’s names, and a brief description. Don’t get me wrong, the new creatures are described inside the story, since Neiva meets them, but since they’re so many, it can get a little bit confusing.
The story is written well, with short chapters, and it is fast paced. Everything takes places in a short amount of time; I think around a week. Most of the action, and the new information is given while Neiva is camping with her friends. There are quite a few chapters dedicated to that. I am not mentioning in a good, or bad way, it is just an observation.
It is a third person narrative, with different points of view. Mostly we get to read from Neiva’s point of view, but we have a few chapters/scenes from other characters, especially Darius.
I like most of the characters, including Neiva. This is what I think of each one of them:
Nieva. She is a lovely girl. I like the fact that she has a good relationship with her parents and grandmother. She is also a good student, and values her education. While she discovers more about the Spirit world, and her heritage, she didn’t grew up much in this novel. I suppose it will happen in the next book, since this is the first in a series (?). Nieva has some powers as well, but she does not know how to use them, since she didn’t have time to learn more. Therefore, in most situation she is being saved.
Nate. A nice lad, as well. Close to his father, and Neiva’s grandmother. He also seems to be a good friend. Nate is also funny, or at least some scene’s involving him are funny.
Liv. I found her to be the bad-ass in this story. She is powerful, short tempered, and would not leave a fight. I think there will be something between her and Nate. I do hope to see more of her in the next book. Not saying way, because I don’t want to spoiler.
Breezy. I think, in a way, she is the opposite of Liv. She is also powerful, but she is clam, calculated, and bubbling.
Darius. Nieva’s love interest, and a King. He also seems to be immortal, or close to it. I didn’t understand very well why he didn’t die of old age. That is still a mystery. I hope in the next book there will be more details about this. I can’t say much about him, because we don’t get to know him very well. He is powerful, he likes to follow the rules (what rules, exactly we don’t know yet), he misses his brother, and he has feelings for Nieva. I think he’s character will be develop more in the next book.
Romance. It is not the main plot of this novel, but it is a major sub-plot. Darius and Nieva are suppose to be star-crossed lovers. They don’t know much about each other, but they already have feelings for one another. It is not very developed, it’s just there. Again, since this is the first novel, I suppose there will be some developing in the next book(s).
I personally like the Raven guy more. I hope he and Nieva end up together. :)
It is not about good or bad writing when it comes to the romance. These days, I tend to be very picky. Some people like/love star-cross romance, others not so much. In other words, it’s simply about personal taste.
Action. There are plenty of action scenes in this novel. People are getting hurt, some die, some get kidnapped. The antagonist is very mysterious. We don’t get to know what s/he really wants, or why is s/he doing this. Power is one reason, but there has to be more to her/him. Again, we’ll probably find out more about it in the next book(s).
~*~
I would’ve like to find out why Nieva’s parents had to live, and why they couldn’t take her with them. Nieva’s grandmother mentions that they had a good reason for it, but nothing else. I think this issue could’ve been solve in this book, not in the next ones. Or maybe there is a good reason for letting this end lose.
The Kindle version needs to be cleaned up. I’m referring to the pictures. They’re split into pieces, and one piece appears on one page, the next on the next page. I suppose that will be dealt with before the release (maybe it is already fixed).
General thoughts. I liked this book. I am intrigued, and I really want to know how everything will work out. I recommend it for everyone who likes YA, fantasy, mythology. Or for the people who don’t usually read mythologies based books, but what to give it a shot; The Blonde Eskimo would be a great book to start with.
I will read and review the next books. It will be a duology, trilogy or a series? Not sure yet, we’ll find out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O.E.The cover is gorgeous.
<<< Review to come >>>
Originally posted here: https://lalasbookreviews.wordpress.co...
I have to say, I love the cover. Usually, I am not a big fan of covers with people on it, but this cover is gorgeous. I also like the Raven, which is connected with the story, and our protagonist. I don't based my rating on the cover, since I don't believe the cover is a reflection of the author.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to send a big thank you to NetGalley for this book, and also to everyone at Spark Press Publishing, as well as Kristen Hunt herself.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never read a book based on Eskimo’s mythologies; which is what attracted me to this book in the first place. Usually, I’ve found books based on Greek, Roman, and Norse mythologies–the last two are not that popular.
The protagonist is based on the author’s grandmother. She is the original Blonde Eskimo, nicknamed as such by the Eskimos Elders. In other words, the story is based on the author’s heritage.
The story itself is relatively original. I liked the fact that I got to learn a little it about Eskimos’ traditions, and legends.
The story is set on an island called Spirit, which is seventy-miles off the coast of Nome, Alaska. Neiva moves there to live with her grandmother, and to finish high school. It is very hard to change schools while you’re in your final year. I know this, because I moved when I was in my senior year. Unlike Neiva, I moved to a completely different country, where I knew no one. Since I know how it is, I can sympathize with her on this topic. Luckily for Neiva, she already had some friends there: Nate, Liv and Breezy. She got to know them a little bit while she was staying at her grandmother during her holidays, but now she got to actually know them, and they become closer friends.
Nieva wants to find out the island’s secrets, but she’s kinda thrown head first into the mystery, and she finds out she is part of that world. There are all sorts of creatures with unique abilities. I would’ve love to read a glossary about them. I think it would help the reader a lot to keep up with the creatures, and to learn a little bit more about them. Like a list at the back of the book with the creature’s names, and a brief description. Don’t get me wrong, the new creatures are described inside the story, since Neiva meets them, but since they’re so many, it can get a little bit confusing.
The story is written well, with short chapters, and it is fast paced. Everything takes places in a short amount of time; I think around a week. Most of the action, and the new information is given while Neiva is camping with her friends. There are quite a few chapters dedicated to that. I am not mentioning in a good, or bad way, it is just an observation.
It is a third person narrative, with different points of view. Mostly we get to read from Neiva’s point of view, but we have a few chapters/scenes from other characters, especially Darius.
I like most of the characters, including Neiva. This is what I think of each one of them:
Nieva. She is a lovely girl. I like the fact that she has a good relationship with her parents and grandmother. She is also a good student, and values her education. While she discovers more about the Spirit world, and her heritage, she didn’t grew up much in this novel. I suppose it will happen in the next book, since this is the first in a series (?). Nieva has some powers as well, but she does not know how to use them, since she didn’t have time to learn more. Therefore, in most situation she is being saved.
Nate. A nice lad, as well. Close to his father, and Neiva’s grandmother. He also seems to be a good friend. Nate is also funny, or at least some scene’s involving him are funny.
Liv. I found her to be the bad-ass in this story. She is powerful, short tempered, and would not leave a fight. I think there will be something between her and Nate. I do hope to see more of her in the next book. Not saying way, because I don’t want to spoiler.
Breezy. I think, in a way, she is the opposite of Liv. She is also powerful, but she is clam, calculated, and bubbling.
Darius. Nieva’s love interest, and a King. He also seems to be immortal, or close to it. I didn’t understand very well why he didn’t die of old age. That is still a mystery. I hope in the next book there will be more details about this. I can’t say much about him, because we don’t get to know him very well. He is powerful, he likes to follow the rules (what rules, exactly we don’t know yet), he misses his brother, and he has feelings for Nieva. I think he’s character will be develop more in the next book.
Romance. It is not the main plot of this novel, but it is a major sub-plot. Darius and Nieva are suppose to be star-crossed lovers. They don’t know much about each other, but they already have feelings for one another. It is not very developed, it’s just there. Again, since this is the first novel, I suppose there will be some developing in the next book(s).
I personally like the Raven guy more. I hope he and Nieva end up together. :)
It is not about good or bad writing when it comes to the romance. These days, I tend to be very picky. Some people like/love star-cross romance, others not so much. In other words, it’s simply about personal taste.
Action. There are plenty of action scenes in this novel. People are getting hurt, some die, some get kidnapped. The antagonist is very mysterious. We don’t get to know what s/he really wants, or why is s/he doing this. Power is one reason, but there has to be more to her/him. Again, we’ll probably find out more about it in the next book(s).
~*~
I would’ve like to find out why Nieva’s parents had to live, and why they couldn’t take her with them. Nieva’s grandmother mentions that they had a good reason for it, but nothing else. I think this issue could’ve been solve in this book, not in the next ones. Or maybe there is a good reason for letting this end lose.
The Kindle version needs to be cleaned up. I’m referring to the pictures. They’re split into pieces, and one piece appears on one page, the next on the next page. I suppose that will be dealt with before the release (maybe it is already fixed).
General thoughts. I liked this book. I am intrigued, and I really want to know how everything will work out. I recommend it for everyone who likes YA, fantasy, mythology. Or for the people who don’t usually read mythologies based books, but what to give it a shot; The Blonde Eskimo would be a great book to start with.
I will read and review the next books. It will be a duology, trilogy or a series? Not sure yet, we’ll find out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O.E.The cover is gorgeous.
<<< Review to come >>>
January 20, 2016
BLONDE ESKIMO BY: KRISTEN HUNT
Blonde Eskimo was such a pleasant surprise, at the absolute best time. I've been in a serious reading slump lately and this was the perfect book to pull me out of it! I was initially drawn to the gorgeous cover, and the blurb only added to my intrigue. Luckily the inside was just as magically delicious as the outside!
Probably my favorite part of Blonde Eskimo was the Alaskan setting and mythology. It was something very different than anything else I have read thus far, and I couldn't get enough! I had no idea Eskimos had so much interesting folklore. It was expertly weaved into each page of this story, and brought to life in so many incredible ways. Reading this was like falling down the rabbit hole into a magical Alaskan Wonderland, and quite frankly I wasn't ready to leave once it ended! One thing Hunt really nailed was the imagery. She had a plethora of unique and fantastic creatures and beings in her story, and each one was crafted with great imagination and care.
I also enjoyed the close bonds between the characters, and with their families. It was really neat to see how they all cared for each other and were there to help guide Neiva through the enormous transition in her life. I love when a novel highlights supporting characters too, rather than just using them as a tool to make the main character look better in comparison. I quite liked all the characters in this story. I can't think of one that I honestly didn't want to see more of! Neiva had her immature moments, but this is a YA novel, and the first book in what I hope is intended for a series, so I hope to see her mature a little as the story goes.
I am really curious to see where this story goes next! I feel like we got a decent glimpse at this wondrous world Hunt has created here, and I for one need more!
Blonde Eskimo was such a pleasant surprise, at the absolute best time. I've been in a serious reading slump lately and this was the perfect book to pull me out of it! I was initially drawn to the gorgeous cover, and the blurb only added to my intrigue. Luckily the inside was just as magically delicious as the outside!
Probably my favorite part of Blonde Eskimo was the Alaskan setting and mythology. It was something very different than anything else I have read thus far, and I couldn't get enough! I had no idea Eskimos had so much interesting folklore. It was expertly weaved into each page of this story, and brought to life in so many incredible ways. Reading this was like falling down the rabbit hole into a magical Alaskan Wonderland, and quite frankly I wasn't ready to leave once it ended! One thing Hunt really nailed was the imagery. She had a plethora of unique and fantastic creatures and beings in her story, and each one was crafted with great imagination and care.
I also enjoyed the close bonds between the characters, and with their families. It was really neat to see how they all cared for each other and were there to help guide Neiva through the enormous transition in her life. I love when a novel highlights supporting characters too, rather than just using them as a tool to make the main character look better in comparison. I quite liked all the characters in this story. I can't think of one that I honestly didn't want to see more of! Neiva had her immature moments, but this is a YA novel, and the first book in what I hope is intended for a series, so I hope to see her mature a little as the story goes.
I am really curious to see where this story goes next! I feel like we got a decent glimpse at this wondrous world Hunt has created here, and I for one need more!
October 12, 2015
For me, this was a problematic read, and I struggled to get beyond the first chapter.
Part of my issue with this story is how long it takes to care about the protagonist, Neiva. She should, by all rights, be sympathetic- her parents had promised her a trip to Europe, then left her with her grandmother to take the trip alone without explanation. She’s leaving her friends, and her school, to spend her final year on an island no-one believes exists. And yet, there’s not enough to her for me to be able to connect with her at the start of the story. It took far too long for me to become emotionally invested in the protagonist.
Neiva is an oddity, and part of that comes down to continuity issues. There’s a moment, for example, where she’s joked with her grandmother about Nate being upstairs trying to read her diary. Sure enough, he’s searching for it (though has somehow managed to miss it sitting open on her desk). And yet, alone in her bedroom with Nate, she begins writing in her journal about her crush on him. I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who’d do so, not knowing he’s probably going to try and read her journal again, and knowing he could easily just lean over and read what she’s writing.
The matter of fact style of the writer feels out of place with the poetic and mythological themes being discussed, and the writer tends to tell readers far too much. There are moments that come dangerously close to info-dumping, and the shift into description could be made more subtle and relevant. The first description of the lounge room, for example, is when Neiva is meant to be running through the room. If she’d been there three weeks, how likely would the girl be to stop and explore the room while she’s running late?
Though the premise was intriguing, and the story itself had a lot of potential, I just couldn’t connect with the characters.
Part of my issue with this story is how long it takes to care about the protagonist, Neiva. She should, by all rights, be sympathetic- her parents had promised her a trip to Europe, then left her with her grandmother to take the trip alone without explanation. She’s leaving her friends, and her school, to spend her final year on an island no-one believes exists. And yet, there’s not enough to her for me to be able to connect with her at the start of the story. It took far too long for me to become emotionally invested in the protagonist.
Neiva is an oddity, and part of that comes down to continuity issues. There’s a moment, for example, where she’s joked with her grandmother about Nate being upstairs trying to read her diary. Sure enough, he’s searching for it (though has somehow managed to miss it sitting open on her desk). And yet, alone in her bedroom with Nate, she begins writing in her journal about her crush on him. I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who’d do so, not knowing he’s probably going to try and read her journal again, and knowing he could easily just lean over and read what she’s writing.
The matter of fact style of the writer feels out of place with the poetic and mythological themes being discussed, and the writer tends to tell readers far too much. There are moments that come dangerously close to info-dumping, and the shift into description could be made more subtle and relevant. The first description of the lounge room, for example, is when Neiva is meant to be running through the room. If she’d been there three weeks, how likely would the girl be to stop and explore the room while she’s running late?
Though the premise was intriguing, and the story itself had a lot of potential, I just couldn’t connect with the characters.
October 12, 2015
(I received an ARC via BookSparks.)
I picked this book because it sounded interesting and I love fantasy. Plus, look at that gorgeous cover. I can’t wait to own a hard copy. It will look fantastic on my bookshelf.
I have to say I loved this book. It was an easy read and fast paced. I laughed, I stressed and I smiled throughout the entire book. The characters were wonderful and very entertaining (Especially, Nate). Reading this book brought out my inner 17 year-old-girl and made me think about high school. I think any teen will be able to relate to the characters and any adult will find this book entertaining. I loved the imagery. The author’s description was vivid and captivating. Sometimes, I would find myself daydreaming about the Spirit World and her inhabitants. Please, take me there. Overall, I think there was enough Eskimo legends to where it didn’t feel like an info dump and the fantasy just added a spark to the entire story. I hope other readers will give this book a chance and love it as much as I did. I can’t wait for the sequel!
I picked this book because it sounded interesting and I love fantasy. Plus, look at that gorgeous cover. I can’t wait to own a hard copy. It will look fantastic on my bookshelf.
I have to say I loved this book. It was an easy read and fast paced. I laughed, I stressed and I smiled throughout the entire book. The characters were wonderful and very entertaining (Especially, Nate). Reading this book brought out my inner 17 year-old-girl and made me think about high school. I think any teen will be able to relate to the characters and any adult will find this book entertaining. I loved the imagery. The author’s description was vivid and captivating. Sometimes, I would find myself daydreaming about the Spirit World and her inhabitants. Please, take me there. Overall, I think there was enough Eskimo legends to where it didn’t feel like an info dump and the fantasy just added a spark to the entire story. I hope other readers will give this book a chance and love it as much as I did. I can’t wait for the sequel!
September 27, 2015
Blonde Eskimo is rich in knowledge about Eskimo's and their heritage.
That being said I was like Neiva. It did my head in at times. I had to re-read some things just to get what her friends were telling her.
Neiva went to live with her Grandmother so she could learn about the secrets of Spirits, Alaska. Little did she know she was part of the secret. She went every summer so she knew some of the natives.
I did kind of have a hard time getting into the book. It picked up once Neiva was learning about Spirits and who she actually is.
I had some laughs. There is teenage school drama. However they all ban together to help fight evil.
The ending though......I wouldn't say it was a cliffhanger. It did leave me with questions though. I can't wait to see if there is a book 2 and if so how long will we have to wait for it.
That being said I was like Neiva. It did my head in at times. I had to re-read some things just to get what her friends were telling her.
Neiva went to live with her Grandmother so she could learn about the secrets of Spirits, Alaska. Little did she know she was part of the secret. She went every summer so she knew some of the natives.
I did kind of have a hard time getting into the book. It picked up once Neiva was learning about Spirits and who she actually is.
I had some laughs. There is teenage school drama. However they all ban together to help fight evil.
The ending though......I wouldn't say it was a cliffhanger. It did leave me with questions though. I can't wait to see if there is a book 2 and if so how long will we have to wait for it.
September 4, 2015
What an amazing read! I had an ARC of this book and I would highly recommend it to readers of any age. The story was captivating and there was something friendly and relate-able about each of the characters. I definitely couldn't wait to see how the story would end and it held my interest until the final page, and even then left me wanting more. My favorite aspect of this story was all of the Eskimo legend and lore that was woven throughout. I hope there will be another book from this author in the future and potentially even a sequel!
October 24, 2015
The premise of a Viking and Eskimo mashup and Alaska as the setting got me from the start.
I like how the vibe of magic and local folklore is in the air throughout.
Revealed secrets and family history kept me engaged.
I like how the vibe of magic and local folklore is in the air throughout.
Revealed secrets and family history kept me engaged.
December 14, 2016
Find my review on: https://theroyalpolarbearreads.wordpr...
I have to quote Neiva’s, our protagonist, a thought that I felt with this book.
She found it both fascinating and horrifying at the same time. — Yes, I found this book both fascinating and horrifying too! I keep on imagining myself on Neiva’s place during the first few chapters of Blonde Eskimo, even I, will be scared of what is happening on myself if it something like that happened to me. Who wouldn’t scared seeing a trace of their grandfather’s image with the same scar and same face? Who wouldn’t get paranoid when your dreams felt like real and when you wake up the ribbon on your dreams appeared to be in your reality? It is indeed scary.
Kristen Hunt has a really good writing style, it’s simple and direct, you could grasp what she wants to deliver and portrays, she knows no bound to give her characters a life. It’s majestic and magical. Blonde Eskimo is a story of Neiva, her clan and the origins of supernatural. Well, that’s how I saw it, the story that this book fore told is based on supernatural but in a different sense, its like we knew that vampires are afraid of sunlight and they drink blood but in this book, it’s like a different supernatural, in reality we consider them vampires but with this book they are considered as different entity. Ms. Hunt describes in her book that stories, legends and myths are evolved, so that stories, so who knew what was the real story behind every story we’ve encountered. (There is no way that Vampires exist in this book, but the general and specific idea is existing on Blonde Eskimo, I just state it as an example, so that people will know what I am talking about — which ended up, not pretty good. I can’t express it!) Blonde Eskimo gave me a mysterious vibe, like, what is happening in here? Why is Neiva seeing a ghost? or like, Why do they have to do that? or something, Why Nate is so irritating and mysterious at the same time? Particularly, I have a lot of questions with this book as I am reading. I don’t know what to feel, I love fantasy and yet this book gives me the complete mysterious vibe and I am not fond of it, I don’t know how to react. Well, in the end I love this book, its good and it gives me a refreshing story to read, not the typical supernatural we’ve heard of, not the typical werewolves, vampires, mummies or whatever cliché supernatural. This book is unique and has to be read, it will dive you into a new world of Light and Dark, you’ll discover the meaning behind every animal. You’ll encounter different characters like Nate, Viv, Blake, Darius and Gabriel.
Speaking of Nate, well, Nate is the sort of childhood friend of Neiva whom I tend to ship with her in the beginning. HOW I NOT? On my perspective, Neiva is attracted to Nate’s feature and it feels like Nate has a harem on this book and by the way, I don’t mind! I like the idea of Nate having three beautiful ladies on his side. (Holy Shit! He’s the man! Kidding! Hahahaha.) And then, there’s Darius, who touches and warms Neiva’s heart, I don’t know if I should be happy with her or be furious with Kristen Hunt, I was shipping Nate with Neiva then Darius introduces into the story. Mind you, this is not a love triangle or is it? I don’t know, I don’t think this is one of them. Then there’s Gabriel, really? How gorgeous can you be Neiva? Then there’s Blake! Oh, seriously! SERIOUSLY. I am definitely shipping Neiva and Blake so hard! They dance right? They did!
Blonde Eskimo is magical, it expose us into the world of Light and Dark, it tells us that there’s neither good nor bad with the two, it’s just a matter of beliefs and people tend to assume that when we say “dark”, it is something evil, something furious and aggressive and when we say “Light” it is something good.
I love how Kristen Hunt understand her character Nate, I feel the same sentiments with him on this part:
“You know, it’s hard watching over three girls, and it’s especially hard understanding them. You think you are doing the right thing and suddenly you find out you’re doing the wrong thing. You even get yelled at for looking at them the wrong way. Then one minute you like one girl and then the next you like another. I just don’t understand.”
I really feel him on this part. I really really did! He has a point and honestly, I don’t understand girls, they are like confusing, they love sweets but they don’t want to get fat. They demand for attention and yet when you say their ugly, they’ll get angry, Really? What’s wrong with you, girls?!
Blonde Eskimo has a lot of lessons and perception in life, you’ll learn from this book. It may be exhausting thinking that our main character has a lot of responsibilities and to think that there’s more than what she can see, there’s so much to discover and to lighten up, so here’s my favorite quote from the book:
“Telling the truth is a great quality, Neiva. A lie might be a good thought at first, as if you were protecting someone’s feelings, but the truth is always better in the end, even if it sometimes hurts.”
This novel brings new life into her readers. Kristen Hunt gave us a new book to discover, to cherish and to love. A new world that yet to find, an island hiding within our reach, a magical place that we’ve love to live. With the enchanting and magical place of Dark and Light, with the power of dreams — we got into a journey, an experience that we will remember and an adventure that we will reread on the future. Blonde Eskimo is not just a story that a writer has been written, it is a history that needs to unfold. Thank you, Ms. Kristen Hunt for giving and sharing me a story that the world needs to know.
My ratings: 4.5 stars
I have to quote Neiva’s, our protagonist, a thought that I felt with this book.
She found it both fascinating and horrifying at the same time. — Yes, I found this book both fascinating and horrifying too! I keep on imagining myself on Neiva’s place during the first few chapters of Blonde Eskimo, even I, will be scared of what is happening on myself if it something like that happened to me. Who wouldn’t scared seeing a trace of their grandfather’s image with the same scar and same face? Who wouldn’t get paranoid when your dreams felt like real and when you wake up the ribbon on your dreams appeared to be in your reality? It is indeed scary.
Kristen Hunt has a really good writing style, it’s simple and direct, you could grasp what she wants to deliver and portrays, she knows no bound to give her characters a life. It’s majestic and magical. Blonde Eskimo is a story of Neiva, her clan and the origins of supernatural. Well, that’s how I saw it, the story that this book fore told is based on supernatural but in a different sense, its like we knew that vampires are afraid of sunlight and they drink blood but in this book, it’s like a different supernatural, in reality we consider them vampires but with this book they are considered as different entity. Ms. Hunt describes in her book that stories, legends and myths are evolved, so that stories, so who knew what was the real story behind every story we’ve encountered. (There is no way that Vampires exist in this book, but the general and specific idea is existing on Blonde Eskimo, I just state it as an example, so that people will know what I am talking about — which ended up, not pretty good. I can’t express it!) Blonde Eskimo gave me a mysterious vibe, like, what is happening in here? Why is Neiva seeing a ghost? or like, Why do they have to do that? or something, Why Nate is so irritating and mysterious at the same time? Particularly, I have a lot of questions with this book as I am reading. I don’t know what to feel, I love fantasy and yet this book gives me the complete mysterious vibe and I am not fond of it, I don’t know how to react. Well, in the end I love this book, its good and it gives me a refreshing story to read, not the typical supernatural we’ve heard of, not the typical werewolves, vampires, mummies or whatever cliché supernatural. This book is unique and has to be read, it will dive you into a new world of Light and Dark, you’ll discover the meaning behind every animal. You’ll encounter different characters like Nate, Viv, Blake, Darius and Gabriel.
Speaking of Nate, well, Nate is the sort of childhood friend of Neiva whom I tend to ship with her in the beginning. HOW I NOT? On my perspective, Neiva is attracted to Nate’s feature and it feels like Nate has a harem on this book and by the way, I don’t mind! I like the idea of Nate having three beautiful ladies on his side. (Holy Shit! He’s the man! Kidding! Hahahaha.) And then, there’s Darius, who touches and warms Neiva’s heart, I don’t know if I should be happy with her or be furious with Kristen Hunt, I was shipping Nate with Neiva then Darius introduces into the story. Mind you, this is not a love triangle or is it? I don’t know, I don’t think this is one of them. Then there’s Gabriel, really? How gorgeous can you be Neiva? Then there’s Blake! Oh, seriously! SERIOUSLY. I am definitely shipping Neiva and Blake so hard! They dance right? They did!
Blonde Eskimo is magical, it expose us into the world of Light and Dark, it tells us that there’s neither good nor bad with the two, it’s just a matter of beliefs and people tend to assume that when we say “dark”, it is something evil, something furious and aggressive and when we say “Light” it is something good.
I love how Kristen Hunt understand her character Nate, I feel the same sentiments with him on this part:
“You know, it’s hard watching over three girls, and it’s especially hard understanding them. You think you are doing the right thing and suddenly you find out you’re doing the wrong thing. You even get yelled at for looking at them the wrong way. Then one minute you like one girl and then the next you like another. I just don’t understand.”
I really feel him on this part. I really really did! He has a point and honestly, I don’t understand girls, they are like confusing, they love sweets but they don’t want to get fat. They demand for attention and yet when you say their ugly, they’ll get angry, Really? What’s wrong with you, girls?!
Blonde Eskimo has a lot of lessons and perception in life, you’ll learn from this book. It may be exhausting thinking that our main character has a lot of responsibilities and to think that there’s more than what she can see, there’s so much to discover and to lighten up, so here’s my favorite quote from the book:
“Telling the truth is a great quality, Neiva. A lie might be a good thought at first, as if you were protecting someone’s feelings, but the truth is always better in the end, even if it sometimes hurts.”
This novel brings new life into her readers. Kristen Hunt gave us a new book to discover, to cherish and to love. A new world that yet to find, an island hiding within our reach, a magical place that we’ve love to live. With the enchanting and magical place of Dark and Light, with the power of dreams — we got into a journey, an experience that we will remember and an adventure that we will reread on the future. Blonde Eskimo is not just a story that a writer has been written, it is a history that needs to unfold. Thank you, Ms. Kristen Hunt for giving and sharing me a story that the world needs to know.
My ratings: 4.5 stars
December 2, 2015
I bought this book for my daughter and she fell in love with this story. She wouldn’t stop bugging me about this book until I read it. I have to say I’m glad she did.
I normally don’t write long reviews but for this book I will. I loved this story and how easy it was to read. The author’s description was vivid and beautiful. I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other. Some reviewers have said the characters were immature but I disagree. This story is about growing up and the journey to get there. These teenagers are enjoying their youth and haven’t had to struggle with life until the main character discovers the island’s secret. I think readers are forgetting that teens/tweens are immature. I’ve noticed ya books are becoming more mature- making the teens grow up fast and catering more towards adults. This book caters towards mild-graders and teens- the intended audience for this book. Adults will like this book, they just need to give it a chance. My daughter can relate to the characters more than I can, but I was still fascinated with the story. I loved the mystery of Dark Spirits and the power of the Spirit Guardians. The Eskimo legends were fascinating and the huge fantasy world was a surprise twist. I loved how this book shows that you don’t have to grow up too fast and that you can accomplish anything with your friends by your side. It’s so refreshing to read something different from everything out there.
Overall, this book is fun and light hearted. It will make you laugh and make you anxious. It will make you question what’s real and what’s not real. Give this book a chance! The author takes you away from your troubles and transforms a beautiful new world with every word.
I normally don’t write long reviews but for this book I will. I loved this story and how easy it was to read. The author’s description was vivid and beautiful. I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other. Some reviewers have said the characters were immature but I disagree. This story is about growing up and the journey to get there. These teenagers are enjoying their youth and haven’t had to struggle with life until the main character discovers the island’s secret. I think readers are forgetting that teens/tweens are immature. I’ve noticed ya books are becoming more mature- making the teens grow up fast and catering more towards adults. This book caters towards mild-graders and teens- the intended audience for this book. Adults will like this book, they just need to give it a chance. My daughter can relate to the characters more than I can, but I was still fascinated with the story. I loved the mystery of Dark Spirits and the power of the Spirit Guardians. The Eskimo legends were fascinating and the huge fantasy world was a surprise twist. I loved how this book shows that you don’t have to grow up too fast and that you can accomplish anything with your friends by your side. It’s so refreshing to read something different from everything out there.
Overall, this book is fun and light hearted. It will make you laugh and make you anxious. It will make you question what’s real and what’s not real. Give this book a chance! The author takes you away from your troubles and transforms a beautiful new world with every word.
October 16, 2015
Kristen Hunt is from Alaska, but now lives in Arizona, because she believes anything below 64 degrees is freezing. Her new novel, Blonde Eskimo, is a young adult novel set in Alaska.
Neiva Ellis would much rather have toured Europe with her parents. Instead, she is sent to stay with her grandmother in Spirit, Alaska. She’s always known there was something special about Spirit, but now that’s living there, she realizes everyone in the town, including her grandmother, is keeping something from her.
On the night of her 17th birthday, the Eskimo rite of passage, Neiva discovers the truth, and falls into a world of traditions, mystical creatures, and magic. When an ancient evil threatens everything that she loves, Neiva must work together with her best friends to discover the truth behind tradition, and stop the enemy from destroying the entire world, and everything that she loves.
Blonde Eskimo is full of the rich cultural heritage of a culture that most know little about. Ms. Hunt brings this culture to life with vivid descriptions and fascinating characters living a life most never imagined. The relationship between the characters is dynamic and strong, changing as the characters grow. The mystery surrounding Spirit will have the reader riveted to the page.
(Galley provided by SparkPress via NetGalley.)
Neiva Ellis would much rather have toured Europe with her parents. Instead, she is sent to stay with her grandmother in Spirit, Alaska. She’s always known there was something special about Spirit, but now that’s living there, she realizes everyone in the town, including her grandmother, is keeping something from her.
On the night of her 17th birthday, the Eskimo rite of passage, Neiva discovers the truth, and falls into a world of traditions, mystical creatures, and magic. When an ancient evil threatens everything that she loves, Neiva must work together with her best friends to discover the truth behind tradition, and stop the enemy from destroying the entire world, and everything that she loves.
Blonde Eskimo is full of the rich cultural heritage of a culture that most know little about. Ms. Hunt brings this culture to life with vivid descriptions and fascinating characters living a life most never imagined. The relationship between the characters is dynamic and strong, changing as the characters grow. The mystery surrounding Spirit will have the reader riveted to the page.
(Galley provided by SparkPress via NetGalley.)
October 5, 2015
I had an ARC of the book, The Blonde Eskimo. The book is a thrilling fantasy that takes place on Spirit Island which is off the coast of Nome, Alaska. This action-packed book involves Eskimo legends, folklore, and mythology that trace the experiences of a 17 year old girl, Nievia, who was forced to live with her grandmother during her senior year of high school. She seeks to learn the hidden secrets of the island with her friends. On her 17th birthday Nievia experiences the Eskimo rite of passage which opens her to experiences in the dark and light side of the spiritual world. Romance is interjected into the plot as Nievia finds her soul-mate in Darius who is from another time in history. This well-written book would have particular appeal for adolescents but adults interested in fantasy and Eskimo folklore will be intrigued with the character and plot development. The reader is left with unanswered questions that may be answered in a sequel.
December 18, 2015
In her debut novel, Blonde Eskimo, Kristen Hunt lures you in to her colorful fantasy world with interesting and likeable characters, a love story, and high suspense as Neiva Ellis and her friends battle evil and endure tragedy. Neiva is a smart, determined, high school student who is forced to come to terms with her Alaskan heritage when she is catapulted into another world filled with mystical creatures and a dark force that is trying to kill her and her friends. Hunt uses her own Alaskan heritage to weave Eskimo folklore into the novel, giving the book a fresh and original tone. Her descriptions are beautiful and vivid as she immerses you into her fantasy world. Simply stated, Blonde Eskimo will leave you begging for more. I can’t wait for the sequel.
September 28, 2015
I was given an ARC copy of the book and truly enjoyed it. I loved how the author was able to bring the characters to life and especially loved Nate with his humorous antics. Not only does Spirit Alaska have a secret, but so does many of Neiva's friends. I had to remind myself that this was a fantasy book as Spirit Island and the people who live there seemed so real. The Author was able to take a few Alaskan Eskimo Folklore and weave a wonderful fantasy from them. Even though it is a YA, I think many adults would love reading this book especially on a rainy day while sipping a glass of wine as it will entertain you and bring a smile to your face.
October 28, 2015
A magical read full of fantasy and legends- I was blown away at how different and fabulous this book was. This is a perfect read for mild graders and teens but I believe adults will love this tale as well. The author captured my attention from the start. Her writing style is smooth and the character development was perfect. I fell in love with all the characters and it was hard to pick a favorite. I have a hard time believing this is her first book and I can’t wait to read the sequel. Overall, anyone who is a fan of fantasy will become a fan of this book.
November 8, 2015
Neiva is staying with her grandmother for her senior year at Spirit Alaska. She was approaching her 17th birthday, which was celebrating a special rite of passage on Spirit. She also had a crush on her friend Nate, who had changed drastically since she saw him last, until she saw the mysterious Darius.
A truly EPIC story. I really enjoyed going on Neiva's journey with her. She proved her loyalty and honor in coming above many obstacles. It was a great overall story with a great plot and characters. I highly recommend it.
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review
A truly EPIC story. I really enjoyed going on Neiva's journey with her. She proved her loyalty and honor in coming above many obstacles. It was a great overall story with a great plot and characters. I highly recommend it.
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review
September 25, 2015
Wonderful, engaging read! Beautiful imagery, great character development - once I started reading, I couldn't put it down...I even dreamt of the main character the first night I started reading!! So enticing I can't wait for the sequel!!
October 12, 2015
A fun imaginative story with vivid description and wonderful characters. Neiva is a wonderful heroine and Darius a swoon worthy suitor. Great for any ages!
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January 5, 2016I'll have a review on my channel soon!
June 7, 2018
Amazing book I recommend it to anyone can’t wait for the second one😍 the story is very unique and including Eskimo mythology was brilliant😍 the author Kristen Hunt (@ultimateunicorn on instagram) is a very talented writer. I don’t normally remember a book a week after I read it but I don’t know how I could forget this one.😜
October 27, 2015
Maybe I'm too old for this one or maybe I've just read too many YA fantasy books recently but this book just didn't really work for me.
It starts off quite well in a way quite similar to Twilight with main character Neiva packed off by her parents to Spirit Island, Alaska to stay with her Grandmother and finish her final year at school while her parents go travelling.
There are hints from the very beginning that there is something very mysterious about the Island and it seems like everyone is keeping secrets from her.
On her 17th birthday she finds out that she has to take part in an ancient and traditional ritual which involves among other things receiving a totem of her spirit guide. She soon discovers however that she and her friends have powers and there is a whole other world around her. A world of spirits and demons and other legends, one of which seems to be determined to kill her. She also meets a mysterious stranger in a mask that she can't help being drawn to.
There are some great ideas in this book. I loved the idea of the Eskimo legends being real although I should say I know nothing about Eskimo legends so have no idea if any of them are true.
The problem I had however was that I felt there was too much going on and I found it confusing. Spirits, guardians, demons, spirit guides, vampires, Triton, the Loch Ness monster and various other creatures get a mention at some point or another. I have to admit I gave up trying to follow it. There is a lot of information that's thrown at you in big chunks and at times it breaks the flow of the story and seems pointless. There could have been a bit more subtlety in working it into the text.
There are also some inconsistencies and continuity issues which were a little frustrating. For example one minute a raven was her favourite animal and the next she was terrified of them. There was a moment she thought she recognised someone then dismissed it as her imagination. Five minutes later she was writing in her diary about how she was sure she'd seen them. Neiva also knew someone's name even though after the last time they met she commented that she'd forgotten to ask for it. I had an ARC so it's possible these have been fixed.
I found it strange in this book as well how none of the adults seemed overly concerned about the fact someone was trying to kill Neiva. They quite happily sent her off camping in a remote location with her friends. She does receive help and training but that seemed to be mostly dance lessons and riding sea creatures which isn't much practical use if someone is trying to drown you, eat your soul or send a possessed bear after you.
The characters were OK. I found Neiva a little annoying but I liked Nate, Riley and Vic. The story does pick up towards the end but by that point I think it was too late for me.
While I didn't love it I think a lot of people, particularly younger teens will. It reminded me a bit of the Iron King (which I also wasn't keen on) so if you like that you would probably like this.
Thanks to NetGalley and SparkPress for the ARC
It starts off quite well in a way quite similar to Twilight with main character Neiva packed off by her parents to Spirit Island, Alaska to stay with her Grandmother and finish her final year at school while her parents go travelling.
There are hints from the very beginning that there is something very mysterious about the Island and it seems like everyone is keeping secrets from her.
On her 17th birthday she finds out that she has to take part in an ancient and traditional ritual which involves among other things receiving a totem of her spirit guide. She soon discovers however that she and her friends have powers and there is a whole other world around her. A world of spirits and demons and other legends, one of which seems to be determined to kill her. She also meets a mysterious stranger in a mask that she can't help being drawn to.
There are some great ideas in this book. I loved the idea of the Eskimo legends being real although I should say I know nothing about Eskimo legends so have no idea if any of them are true.
The problem I had however was that I felt there was too much going on and I found it confusing. Spirits, guardians, demons, spirit guides, vampires, Triton, the Loch Ness monster and various other creatures get a mention at some point or another. I have to admit I gave up trying to follow it. There is a lot of information that's thrown at you in big chunks and at times it breaks the flow of the story and seems pointless. There could have been a bit more subtlety in working it into the text.
There are also some inconsistencies and continuity issues which were a little frustrating. For example one minute a raven was her favourite animal and the next she was terrified of them. There was a moment she thought she recognised someone then dismissed it as her imagination. Five minutes later she was writing in her diary about how she was sure she'd seen them. Neiva also knew someone's name even though after the last time they met she commented that she'd forgotten to ask for it. I had an ARC so it's possible these have been fixed.
I found it strange in this book as well how none of the adults seemed overly concerned about the fact someone was trying to kill Neiva. They quite happily sent her off camping in a remote location with her friends. She does receive help and training but that seemed to be mostly dance lessons and riding sea creatures which isn't much practical use if someone is trying to drown you, eat your soul or send a possessed bear after you.
The characters were OK. I found Neiva a little annoying but I liked Nate, Riley and Vic. The story does pick up towards the end but by that point I think it was too late for me.
While I didn't love it I think a lot of people, particularly younger teens will. It reminded me a bit of the Iron King (which I also wasn't keen on) so if you like that you would probably like this.
Thanks to NetGalley and SparkPress for the ARC
March 3, 2016
Whilst her parents are travelling to Europe, Neiva Ellis is having to stay with her Grandmother, who lives on a small island off the coast of Alaska, called Spirit.
The island isn’t one that you would find on any map though, as ‘Spirit’ is protected from the world and hidden away – unbeknown to Neiva when she first arrives.
It is a mystical place shrouded in secrecy and watched over by guardians. On her seventeenth birthday, Neiva starts to realise that something is different about the place, and the people when she begins to see through the glamour that has been protecting the residents, and hiding their true identities from the public.
When her friends start to come through to her in their true form (animals), Neiva is initially perplexed and unsure what to do. She is understandably scared. Once they managed to calm her down, and explain about the secrecy of the island, Neiva starts to settle in to the Spirit way of life.
It is not only the island’s secret identity she has to deal with, as Neiva begins to have very realistic dreams about a masked man, Darius. She feels that she has a strong connection to him, and quickly starts to fall in love.
When an evil entity threatens her family and the residents of Spirit, let alone the rest of the world, Neiva will stop at nothing to save them.
Firstly I have to say that I think the cover is beautiful, this partly persuaded me in choosing this book – I know, naughty! That and the fact that I like books on mystical heritage.
The story started off strongly and had me hooked straight away, including wanting to know why a big black bird kept attacking Neiva and wouldn’t let her document her stay on the island.
However, once Neiva had turned seventeen and the glamour had started to fade, I soon became disinterested, and it took me a long time to finish the book. There was no real mystery any more to keep me hooked. I ended up reading a chapter, and then putting the book down for a while and then reading another chapter, and putting it down again. I did this until I had finished it.
The characters at the start had me rooting for them, especially Darius and Neiva, who seemed like a couple destined to be together from the off. This however was short-lived once my interest dwindled. I also found that I didn’t really care much for the secondary characters in the book.
I feel that someone a lot younger than me may love this book (14/15 year old), but for me, the story was just too far-fetched and not to my taste.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
The island isn’t one that you would find on any map though, as ‘Spirit’ is protected from the world and hidden away – unbeknown to Neiva when she first arrives.
It is a mystical place shrouded in secrecy and watched over by guardians. On her seventeenth birthday, Neiva starts to realise that something is different about the place, and the people when she begins to see through the glamour that has been protecting the residents, and hiding their true identities from the public.
When her friends start to come through to her in their true form (animals), Neiva is initially perplexed and unsure what to do. She is understandably scared. Once they managed to calm her down, and explain about the secrecy of the island, Neiva starts to settle in to the Spirit way of life.
It is not only the island’s secret identity she has to deal with, as Neiva begins to have very realistic dreams about a masked man, Darius. She feels that she has a strong connection to him, and quickly starts to fall in love.
When an evil entity threatens her family and the residents of Spirit, let alone the rest of the world, Neiva will stop at nothing to save them.
Firstly I have to say that I think the cover is beautiful, this partly persuaded me in choosing this book – I know, naughty! That and the fact that I like books on mystical heritage.
The story started off strongly and had me hooked straight away, including wanting to know why a big black bird kept attacking Neiva and wouldn’t let her document her stay on the island.
However, once Neiva had turned seventeen and the glamour had started to fade, I soon became disinterested, and it took me a long time to finish the book. There was no real mystery any more to keep me hooked. I ended up reading a chapter, and then putting the book down for a while and then reading another chapter, and putting it down again. I did this until I had finished it.
The characters at the start had me rooting for them, especially Darius and Neiva, who seemed like a couple destined to be together from the off. This however was short-lived once my interest dwindled. I also found that I didn’t really care much for the secondary characters in the book.
I feel that someone a lot younger than me may love this book (14/15 year old), but for me, the story was just too far-fetched and not to my taste.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
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