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The Stone Legacy #1
Mayan Blood
Their empires have fallen, but their mythology lives on…
Zanya Coreandero is a seventeen-year-old orphan with only a single friend and no hope for a normal life. Diagnosed with anxiety and night terrors, no one believes her cuts and bruises are a result of an evil entity, and not a brutal case of self-harm.
With the only home she’s ever known being the isolated institution—where breakfast is a handful of medications, the psychiatry sessions are mandatory, and her every move is watched—the only relief is her red-haired roommate named Tara, who’s more like a little sister than her best friend.
Free will is strong, but destiny is stronger.
When Zanya is kidnapped, she meets a group of gifted Mayan descendants, each with a unique ability. Gone from a nameless castaway to the only hope of mankind, Zanya is forced to make a grueling decision: bond with an enchanted stone and save humanity from rising underworld forces, or watch helplessly as Earth falls victim to a familiar dark deity from her dreams. This time, he’s playing for keeps.
A wicked secret hides behind a handsome face…
When Arwan, a dark-eyed timebender, takes interest in Zanya's mission, it's unclear if his intention is to help, or if he's on a hell-bent mission for revenge. Wary of falling for another guy with major secrets and a tainted past, Zanya fights to keep her distance. If only her heart gave her a choice.
***Reprint comment*** The book title and the main character's name has been changed from Stone Guardian to Mayan Blood, and from Ashley to Zanya. Some reviews or comments may reflect the change, others will not.
Zanya Coreandero is a seventeen-year-old orphan with only a single friend and no hope for a normal life. Diagnosed with anxiety and night terrors, no one believes her cuts and bruises are a result of an evil entity, and not a brutal case of self-harm.
With the only home she’s ever known being the isolated institution—where breakfast is a handful of medications, the psychiatry sessions are mandatory, and her every move is watched—the only relief is her red-haired roommate named Tara, who’s more like a little sister than her best friend.
Free will is strong, but destiny is stronger.
When Zanya is kidnapped, she meets a group of gifted Mayan descendants, each with a unique ability. Gone from a nameless castaway to the only hope of mankind, Zanya is forced to make a grueling decision: bond with an enchanted stone and save humanity from rising underworld forces, or watch helplessly as Earth falls victim to a familiar dark deity from her dreams. This time, he’s playing for keeps.
A wicked secret hides behind a handsome face…
When Arwan, a dark-eyed timebender, takes interest in Zanya's mission, it's unclear if his intention is to help, or if he's on a hell-bent mission for revenge. Wary of falling for another guy with major secrets and a tainted past, Zanya fights to keep her distance. If only her heart gave her a choice.
***Reprint comment*** The book title and the main character's name has been changed from Stone Guardian to Mayan Blood, and from Ashley to Zanya. Some reviews or comments may reflect the change, others will not.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2012
About the author
Theresa DaLayne
10 books143 followershttp://instagram.com/authortheresadal...
Theresa DaLayne is a north-south-east-western kind of girl with a quirky personality to match her nomad life. Born in California, she migrated to three different cities in Washington State, a tiny island in Alaska, North Carolina, and finally to the suburbs of Ohio where she currently lives with her husband, three kids, vegetarian cat, and her ungrateful fish.
Always on the lookout for a new story, Theresa is a shameless eavesdropper and will take anyone who provides inspiration and mold them into a character without a second thought. She enjoys writing both paranormal and contemporary stories, considering her mind wanders between worlds of fantasy while she’s forced to live in the real world, very much against her will.
Theresa DaLayne is a north-south-east-western kind of girl with a quirky personality to match her nomad life. Born in California, she migrated to three different cities in Washington State, a tiny island in Alaska, North Carolina, and finally to the suburbs of Ohio where she currently lives with her husband, three kids, vegetarian cat, and her ungrateful fish.
Always on the lookout for a new story, Theresa is a shameless eavesdropper and will take anyone who provides inspiration and mold them into a character without a second thought. She enjoys writing both paranormal and contemporary stories, considering her mind wanders between worlds of fantasy while she’s forced to live in the real world, very much against her will.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 14, 2016
*I received this ARC pdf edition from Theresa DaLayne in exchange for an honest review*
Look at the cover! The cover is eye-catching, isn't it?
I quite rarely read books with this kind of genre. But so far the book is quite interesting for me. I am interested with the story that incorporates elements of the Mayan civilization. There are also some section about classical music. I really liked it!
About the characters, I love Zanya because she is stubborn, strong, powerful, but also beautiful. I can't imagine what it was like living in the orphanage, with no family, and just had a bestfriend. I felt sad when she finally met her mother even if only for a short time. And Arwan, I was curious about his past and I loved him so much! He is so charming and always protect Zanya. Jayden is charming too and I felt sad when he died because of Sarian.
I can't wait to read all the series
Look at the cover! The cover is eye-catching, isn't it?
I quite rarely read books with this kind of genre. But so far the book is quite interesting for me. I am interested with the story that incorporates elements of the Mayan civilization. There are also some section about classical music. I really liked it!
About the characters, I love Zanya because she is stubborn, strong, powerful, but also beautiful. I can't imagine what it was like living in the orphanage, with no family, and just had a bestfriend. I felt sad when she finally met her mother even if only for a short time. And Arwan, I was curious about his past and I loved him so much! He is so charming and always protect Zanya. Jayden is charming too and I felt sad when he died because of Sarian.
I can't wait to read all the series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2015
No family, one friend and an ex-boyfriend who just disappeared and you find out the life you’ve led, as miserable as it was, was a farce and you were meant to save the world from demonic overthrow? Zanya has suffered from nightmares, brutal, terrifying nightmares that even medication couldn’t prevent. Could they be part of her heritage? Taken from an institution/orphanage, Zanya finds the family she never knew existed. They are not your run-of-the-mill family, they are different, very different and powerful…and frightening. She soon discovers she is part of a long line of powerful Mayans whose duty it is to protect a blessed relic from evil. She is the Stone Guardian, a position passed down through the centuries, but the relic has fallen into the hands of evil personified, Sarian, whose lust for power is limitless. He murdered the last Stone Guardian to get it and that guardian was Zanya’s mother. Will it recognize her connection or has the tie been severed?
Zanya must figure out whom to trust, who to watch out for and how to keep her heart safe from a young man who is fast becoming far too important for her to lose. But is he all he claims to be, or is there more to him than meets the eye? Zanya has the weight of the world on her shoulders, a world she knows little about. What if she fails?Two dangers are evident, one for the world, one for Ashley's heart, must she betray one to win the other? What of the old love who betrayed her? Can she trust him at his word or does he still have another agenda?
Theresa DaLayne has put a fresh face on YA paranormal reading and changed up her plot and characters just enough to follow their own path without going too far out of line! She writes with a smooth and steady hand, using fine lines of darkness to add even more depth to her tale. Entertaining, dark, with a touch of romance and overwhelming odds. Her main characters are youthful, unsure, but determined to overcome whatever gets in their way, whether it be for family, for love or for the world, there is a LOT of growing up going on.
Ms. DaLayne has replaced over-dramatic angst with energy and sometimes anger that plays perfectly into this tale. Each scene comes alive, as seen through the eyes of the characters so well, I felt I was there every step of the way. Highly recommended for YA on up!
I received this ARC edition from Theresa DaLayne in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Stone Legacy Series - Book 1
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Itza Publishing Edition 2
Genre: YA Fantasy Age Level: 12 - 18
Print Length: 258 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Zanya must figure out whom to trust, who to watch out for and how to keep her heart safe from a young man who is fast becoming far too important for her to lose. But is he all he claims to be, or is there more to him than meets the eye? Zanya has the weight of the world on her shoulders, a world she knows little about. What if she fails?Two dangers are evident, one for the world, one for Ashley's heart, must she betray one to win the other? What of the old love who betrayed her? Can she trust him at his word or does he still have another agenda?
Theresa DaLayne has put a fresh face on YA paranormal reading and changed up her plot and characters just enough to follow their own path without going too far out of line! She writes with a smooth and steady hand, using fine lines of darkness to add even more depth to her tale. Entertaining, dark, with a touch of romance and overwhelming odds. Her main characters are youthful, unsure, but determined to overcome whatever gets in their way, whether it be for family, for love or for the world, there is a LOT of growing up going on.
Ms. DaLayne has replaced over-dramatic angst with energy and sometimes anger that plays perfectly into this tale. Each scene comes alive, as seen through the eyes of the characters so well, I felt I was there every step of the way. Highly recommended for YA on up!
I received this ARC edition from Theresa DaLayne in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Stone Legacy Series - Book 1
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Itza Publishing Edition 2
Genre: YA Fantasy Age Level: 12 - 18
Print Length: 258 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
July 9, 2015
Review of previous edition From a copy given by the author for an honest review.
Ashley ihas lived in an institute orphanage all her life. She has no idea who her family is. All she knows is she has nightmares every night that no one believes her about, and wakes up with bruises or other marks quite often. She has one friend named Tara that she refuses to leave. Then one night after a fire alarm, Ashley and Tara are both taken from the institute by a man named Renato. She soon learns that she is the Guardian of the stone of Muuk'Ich. It is a surviving legacy of the Maya that was blessed by the gods. Renato, Arwan, Jayden, Hawa, Marzena, and Peter have all been searching for her so that she could get the stone back from Sarian since she is the rightful guardian.
Sarian is from the middle world, and he is the ultimate villian. He had stolen the stone from Ashley's mother, and now he wants Ashley to be his and rule the underworld. He is the one that has haunted her dreams. He has been working on breaking the obedience spell from the stone so he can possess its powers.
Ashley and her new found family must work together with all their abilities to retrieve the stone. What ensues is a story full of action and adventure. There is time travel, dreamwalking, healing abilities, and my favorite, Arwan and his timebender ability. There are creatures from hell, a bit of romance, and a trip back to the Victorian era with the help of a sort of succumbus.
I loved Arwan. He is one of the love interests in the story. We do not know enough about him, but a big secret was revealed in the end. And the other love interest was Jayden. He is more childish and quick to act without thinking. He is still fighting for Ashley's affection.
I thought this was a stand alone book, but was surprised to find out it is part of a series. I gave 4.5 stars because some of Ashley's decisions bothered me. Especially the one she made in the end that will be the adventure in the sequel. I look forward to reading the sequel and seeing where this goes. I recommend this to young and old adults.
Ashley ihas lived in an institute orphanage all her life. She has no idea who her family is. All she knows is she has nightmares every night that no one believes her about, and wakes up with bruises or other marks quite often. She has one friend named Tara that she refuses to leave. Then one night after a fire alarm, Ashley and Tara are both taken from the institute by a man named Renato. She soon learns that she is the Guardian of the stone of Muuk'Ich. It is a surviving legacy of the Maya that was blessed by the gods. Renato, Arwan, Jayden, Hawa, Marzena, and Peter have all been searching for her so that she could get the stone back from Sarian since she is the rightful guardian.
Sarian is from the middle world, and he is the ultimate villian. He had stolen the stone from Ashley's mother, and now he wants Ashley to be his and rule the underworld. He is the one that has haunted her dreams. He has been working on breaking the obedience spell from the stone so he can possess its powers.
Ashley and her new found family must work together with all their abilities to retrieve the stone. What ensues is a story full of action and adventure. There is time travel, dreamwalking, healing abilities, and my favorite, Arwan and his timebender ability. There are creatures from hell, a bit of romance, and a trip back to the Victorian era with the help of a sort of succumbus.
I loved Arwan. He is one of the love interests in the story. We do not know enough about him, but a big secret was revealed in the end. And the other love interest was Jayden. He is more childish and quick to act without thinking. He is still fighting for Ashley's affection.
I thought this was a stand alone book, but was surprised to find out it is part of a series. I gave 4.5 stars because some of Ashley's decisions bothered me. Especially the one she made in the end that will be the adventure in the sequel. I look forward to reading the sequel and seeing where this goes. I recommend this to young and old adults.
January 18, 2016
wow I haven't read book like this in a while had me captivated by the storyline of The stone legacy series and the characters.
Theresa your words had me mesmerize in like a spell, took me a couple of chapter to really get into it.
Once I started I couldn't put it down at all.
can't wait to read more of the series the way it drew you in
zanya struggles with the daily life living in orphanage because mum died from giving birth to zanya. she had no other family apart from her best mate in the orphanage called Tara, they were more like sisters than friends zanya looked out for her had to stay strong.
zanya would have bad nitemares where she get physically injured in them, which the shrink's could never understand and said that she was suffering mental problems.
I don't want to give away to much worth reading
review done by louiseloppyloubailey blog page
Theresa your words had me mesmerize in like a spell, took me a couple of chapter to really get into it.
Once I started I couldn't put it down at all.
can't wait to read more of the series the way it drew you in
zanya struggles with the daily life living in orphanage because mum died from giving birth to zanya. she had no other family apart from her best mate in the orphanage called Tara, they were more like sisters than friends zanya looked out for her had to stay strong.
zanya would have bad nitemares where she get physically injured in them, which the shrink's could never understand and said that she was suffering mental problems.
I don't want to give away to much worth reading
review done by louiseloppyloubailey blog page
April 1, 2015
Review of previous edition.
Before I begin, I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy so I may read it for review and I'm so glad I did. I was truly captivated and riveted for the most part and I really can't wait to read more of this series.
At first, when I began reading this book I was captivated and intrigued, wanting to find out more about the story and the characters. Then, it lulled for a bit and I didn't feel as connected as I wanted to, to the characters or the story. And then, BOOM, from half way on it was like I was reading another book and was drawn into this unique world full of time benders, healers, seekers and guardians. So much action and suspense, and not to forget to mention twists and turns that made your head spin. Very interesting indeed.
The Stone Guardian is about a teenager named Ashley, who has lived her entire life in an institutionalised orphanage. Abandoned at birth and having nightly terrors consumed by an evil dark figure who wishes to have her at what ever cost. These nightmares, however, are more than just that. No one, except her best friend Tara, believe her when she comes out of them with physical signs of abuse. She is tormented and tortured and forever suffering from anxiety and panic attacks because of them. Then, while out with Tara, they are abducted and Ashley soon begins to discover that her life is not what it seems. That what she is experiencing in her dreams are very true and real. She in fact, comes from an Ancient Mayan bloodline, a Guardian, whose sole purpose is to protect the Stone of Muuk’ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. At first, she is in disbelief that these myths are real and that she is part of this ancient civilisation. Then, she begins to let her guard down and welcomes the discovery and the fact that there are many like her in this world. She is joined by Arwen, the sexy time bender who has hidden shadows of his own...RAWR. Peter, the healer who has set his sights on Tara. Hawa, her cousin and Renato, her uncle and last but not least, Jayden. He is a seeker, who is the guy that broke her heart. I actually loved Jayden and he's confidence and bravado. The story actually started to pick up more when he entered and loved his POV.
Ashley must make a choice, whether to take on her the role as Guardian and fulfil her destiny, or relinquish her duty and let the stone fall into the hands of the dark figure, Sarian, who will bring evil to the world and destroy it. But, not without making Ashley his Queen of the Underworld.
I really found myself enjoying this story as it took you around the world and back in time, full of action packed adventure and subtle romance. It was a great start to a series I look forward to discovering more about and I actually loved the uniqueness of this story. It truly was a breath of fresh air.
Before I begin, I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy so I may read it for review and I'm so glad I did. I was truly captivated and riveted for the most part and I really can't wait to read more of this series.
At first, when I began reading this book I was captivated and intrigued, wanting to find out more about the story and the characters. Then, it lulled for a bit and I didn't feel as connected as I wanted to, to the characters or the story. And then, BOOM, from half way on it was like I was reading another book and was drawn into this unique world full of time benders, healers, seekers and guardians. So much action and suspense, and not to forget to mention twists and turns that made your head spin. Very interesting indeed.
The Stone Guardian is about a teenager named Ashley, who has lived her entire life in an institutionalised orphanage. Abandoned at birth and having nightly terrors consumed by an evil dark figure who wishes to have her at what ever cost. These nightmares, however, are more than just that. No one, except her best friend Tara, believe her when she comes out of them with physical signs of abuse. She is tormented and tortured and forever suffering from anxiety and panic attacks because of them. Then, while out with Tara, they are abducted and Ashley soon begins to discover that her life is not what it seems. That what she is experiencing in her dreams are very true and real. She in fact, comes from an Ancient Mayan bloodline, a Guardian, whose sole purpose is to protect the Stone of Muuk’ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. At first, she is in disbelief that these myths are real and that she is part of this ancient civilisation. Then, she begins to let her guard down and welcomes the discovery and the fact that there are many like her in this world. She is joined by Arwen, the sexy time bender who has hidden shadows of his own...RAWR. Peter, the healer who has set his sights on Tara. Hawa, her cousin and Renato, her uncle and last but not least, Jayden. He is a seeker, who is the guy that broke her heart. I actually loved Jayden and he's confidence and bravado. The story actually started to pick up more when he entered and loved his POV.
Ashley must make a choice, whether to take on her the role as Guardian and fulfil her destiny, or relinquish her duty and let the stone fall into the hands of the dark figure, Sarian, who will bring evil to the world and destroy it. But, not without making Ashley his Queen of the Underworld.
I really found myself enjoying this story as it took you around the world and back in time, full of action packed adventure and subtle romance. It was a great start to a series I look forward to discovering more about and I actually loved the uniqueness of this story. It truly was a breath of fresh air.
February 9, 2016
-ARC kindly offered by NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review-
Here is a book that I thought I would never read. Why? You see, ever since high school I was never fond of the Mayan people. I like their monuments, but I was never interested in their traditions and myths. Then I do not know, it was a kind of imprinting and I ended up requiring this first volume. I have not repented and finally the reading was enough pleasant .
Zanya is an orphan who was raised in an institute for children who have "problems." It is certainly not the house that everybody dream, indeed, a nightmare where her only consolation is her dearest and only friend Tara. They are quite a pair-matched with the first struggling with nightmares and wounds on the body that appear as if by magic, and the second with a past of abuse by the mother's boyfriend. One day, she and her friend are taken away and wake up in a fabulous villa. The owner of that house is none other than the uncle of Zanya, Renato, and he will be right along with Hawa, Peter, Marzena and Arwan to let the girl in a world where the myths are true and they all are actually descendants of Maya with supernatural powers, the Riyata. The only one to be a human common is Tara and in the next volume we will better understand her situation and will put more in evidence her "inadequacy", feeling rejected on the ground to be the weak link of the team. However Zanya is not a any Riyata, is the Guardian of Stone and her task and recover the magic stone that was stolen by a Dark Lord, the same one that has occupied her nightmares for years. With the help of Tara, her new family and an old flame, the main character will undergo a growth up to become ever more conscious of her responsibilities and powers.
I admit that at the beginning I found the character of Zanya pretty boring but the story flowed and the girl acquired security in herself and it was out the most interesting parts of her character. Arwan, dear Arwan, I absolutely adored him. It will be that I have a soft spot for the tormented souls and then he is surrounded by an aura of mystery that makes me even more fascinating. The attraction between them is immediate but from a part she is afraid to suffer again for love and therefore tries to dismiss this feeling that is growing between her and the time-bender. For the other characters I can say that I liked them even though I found them rather "childish" sometimes.
The story itself is not upset me at all although I was confused when reading some scenes. It was an original reading, full of adventure and feelings that I recommend to those who willingly want to enjoy a bit of Mayan mythology with time travel, mysteries, battles and deep love.
VOTE: 3,5/5
MY REVIEW IN ITALIAN: http://angeltany.blogspot.it/2016/02/...
Here is a book that I thought I would never read. Why? You see, ever since high school I was never fond of the Mayan people. I like their monuments, but I was never interested in their traditions and myths. Then I do not know, it was a kind of imprinting and I ended up requiring this first volume. I have not repented and finally the reading was enough pleasant .
Zanya is an orphan who was raised in an institute for children who have "problems." It is certainly not the house that everybody dream, indeed, a nightmare where her only consolation is her dearest and only friend Tara. They are quite a pair-matched with the first struggling with nightmares and wounds on the body that appear as if by magic, and the second with a past of abuse by the mother's boyfriend. One day, she and her friend are taken away and wake up in a fabulous villa. The owner of that house is none other than the uncle of Zanya, Renato, and he will be right along with Hawa, Peter, Marzena and Arwan to let the girl in a world where the myths are true and they all are actually descendants of Maya with supernatural powers, the Riyata. The only one to be a human common is Tara and in the next volume we will better understand her situation and will put more in evidence her "inadequacy", feeling rejected on the ground to be the weak link of the team. However Zanya is not a any Riyata, is the Guardian of Stone and her task and recover the magic stone that was stolen by a Dark Lord, the same one that has occupied her nightmares for years. With the help of Tara, her new family and an old flame, the main character will undergo a growth up to become ever more conscious of her responsibilities and powers.
I admit that at the beginning I found the character of Zanya pretty boring but the story flowed and the girl acquired security in herself and it was out the most interesting parts of her character. Arwan, dear Arwan, I absolutely adored him. It will be that I have a soft spot for the tormented souls and then he is surrounded by an aura of mystery that makes me even more fascinating. The attraction between them is immediate but from a part she is afraid to suffer again for love and therefore tries to dismiss this feeling that is growing between her and the time-bender. For the other characters I can say that I liked them even though I found them rather "childish" sometimes.
The story itself is not upset me at all although I was confused when reading some scenes. It was an original reading, full of adventure and feelings that I recommend to those who willingly want to enjoy a bit of Mayan mythology with time travel, mysteries, battles and deep love.
VOTE: 3,5/5
MY REVIEW IN ITALIAN: http://angeltany.blogspot.it/2016/02/...
August 27, 2015
Update 8/15: Ashley is now Zanya in this updated edition so I've now changed her name in my review. There were a few small changes I noticed from the first time I read it (or maybe forgot about). Zanya's cousin, Hawa, had previously dated Peter and seemed more bitter about their breakup in the first book. I didn't get that from her in this edition. She seems nicer and has moved on from that relationship. Also, we get a better picture of who Arwan is at the end and I don't remember knowing that before. It also seems like there weren't as many intense scenes with Sarian in Zanya's dreams and I liked that!
Review of a previous edition:
Zanya and Tara start out in an orphanage for the insane and, when a fire alarm goes off one night, they chase after a little girl, get lost in the woods, walk into the fog and wake up in Belize. Zanya and Tara are brought up to speed on Zanya's true identity and her destiny. They also learn about the gifts all the others have and what Zanya should have but hasn't ever developed.
Tara meets Peter and Zanya meets Arwan, who she's interested in and then Jayden appears from her past to stir things up. Her cousin Hawa is someone I hope we get to know a little more about. Hawa and Peter used to date but are broken up and Hawa seems to still be having a hard time dealing with it. There's also Renato, Zanya's uncle, who they look to for guidance and direction, and Marzena, who looks like a child (the same girl they thought was lost in the woods at the orphanage).
While in the orphanage, Zanya had terrifying dreams where a man always appeared and she learns that his name is Sarian. He's the general of the underworld forces and is trying to get Zanya to join forces with him so he will be all powerful and take over.
They all have to take on Sarian, which is scary but gives Zanya a chance to start figuring out how to use her powers and they turn to someone who they aren't sure they can trust. At the end, something happens which takes Zanya and Arwan away and that's where the next book, Escaping Darkness, picks up.
I like the story and the way the characters interact with each other. I feel like there's still lots to learn about them as they have just met and are getting to know each other better. I'm looking forward to reading more!
Content: Swearing, including four uses of the "f" word
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
Review of a previous edition:
Zanya and Tara start out in an orphanage for the insane and, when a fire alarm goes off one night, they chase after a little girl, get lost in the woods, walk into the fog and wake up in Belize. Zanya and Tara are brought up to speed on Zanya's true identity and her destiny. They also learn about the gifts all the others have and what Zanya should have but hasn't ever developed.
Tara meets Peter and Zanya meets Arwan, who she's interested in and then Jayden appears from her past to stir things up. Her cousin Hawa is someone I hope we get to know a little more about. Hawa and Peter used to date but are broken up and Hawa seems to still be having a hard time dealing with it. There's also Renato, Zanya's uncle, who they look to for guidance and direction, and Marzena, who looks like a child (the same girl they thought was lost in the woods at the orphanage).
While in the orphanage, Zanya had terrifying dreams where a man always appeared and she learns that his name is Sarian. He's the general of the underworld forces and is trying to get Zanya to join forces with him so he will be all powerful and take over.
They all have to take on Sarian, which is scary but gives Zanya a chance to start figuring out how to use her powers and they turn to someone who they aren't sure they can trust. At the end, something happens which takes Zanya and Arwan away and that's where the next book, Escaping Darkness, picks up.
I like the story and the way the characters interact with each other. I feel like there's still lots to learn about them as they have just met and are getting to know each other better. I'm looking forward to reading more!
Content: Swearing, including four uses of the "f" word
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
April 8, 2015
Ashley doesn't have a last name. She doesn't know who her mother or her father is. All she has ever known is the orphanage for insane teenagers. She's not insane, but no one believes her except her friend Tara. She has panic attacks frequently and is afraid to go to sleep. When she does, she dreams, but it's not like normal dreams. In her dreams, she's in another place and the bad man always finds her. More often than not, when she wakes up, delete comma she has wounds from her battles.
When a family wants to foster her for the last eighteen months before she becomes a legal adult, Ashley doesn't want to go. She doesn't want to leave Tara and she would rather be in the safety of the orphanage, the only place she has ever known. But when the doctors threaten to separate her and Tara until she is released, Ashley caves and agrees to the foster family.
But when Ashley panics during an episode, she finds herself and Tara in a place neither of them have been, Belize. There, Ashley is told that she has special powers, that of the Maya Stone Guardians. Her mother was the last Maya Stone Guardian and after she was killed, the Maya had to wait for Ashley to grow into her powers. But time is of the essence as the stone is in the hands of the demigod that killed her mother. Without it, the underworld could rise.
Filled with amazing supernatural talents like timebenders, healers, mindreaders and more, THE STONE GUARDIAN is a unique treat in the young adult paranormal genre. I really enjoyed how Ashley grew from a victim of her mind to a confident young woman. Her love interest, Arwan, is a timebender and although he is hot, it's hard to decide if he's a good guy or bad until it's revealed. With great character development, phenomenal world-building and a solid plot, THE STONE GUARDIAN is a book that I'd love to see in a series. Highly recommend!
When a family wants to foster her for the last eighteen months before she becomes a legal adult, Ashley doesn't want to go. She doesn't want to leave Tara and she would rather be in the safety of the orphanage, the only place she has ever known. But when the doctors threaten to separate her and Tara until she is released, Ashley caves and agrees to the foster family.
But when Ashley panics during an episode, she finds herself and Tara in a place neither of them have been, Belize. There, Ashley is told that she has special powers, that of the Maya Stone Guardians. Her mother was the last Maya Stone Guardian and after she was killed, the Maya had to wait for Ashley to grow into her powers. But time is of the essence as the stone is in the hands of the demigod that killed her mother. Without it, the underworld could rise.
Filled with amazing supernatural talents like timebenders, healers, mindreaders and more, THE STONE GUARDIAN is a unique treat in the young adult paranormal genre. I really enjoyed how Ashley grew from a victim of her mind to a confident young woman. Her love interest, Arwan, is a timebender and although he is hot, it's hard to decide if he's a good guy or bad until it's revealed. With great character development, phenomenal world-building and a solid plot, THE STONE GUARDIAN is a book that I'd love to see in a series. Highly recommend!
January 25, 2016
I received a copy of this story from Net Galley. Yay books!
Spoilers possible ahead...
I can totally see myself reading the rest of these. Though, it's probably less based on the "goodness" of the story and more of "is Arwan the son of the King of the Underworld" kind of thing. Because, really, the assumption was made...
Sorry if that spoils anything for you...but I did give a warning.
There's just something about a bad guy who's not really bad, but has the potential to be and has to fight with his inner demons. Make it something paranormal and it makes me even more hot and bothered.
I can see now that I may have a few problems. Oh well...
Another good thing, Zanya didn't make me want to bash my head in due to stupidity. Score!
I would like the story to be more in depth, more personal I guess I should say. I don't like reading in the narrative that this story is in. Never have. This one is a little bit better than what I have read before though, so thats a plus.
I think now I'm just going to wait until the whole series is out before I read anymore...I like reading a continuous story and not have to stop and start again.
Spoilers possible ahead...
I can totally see myself reading the rest of these. Though, it's probably less based on the "goodness" of the story and more of "is Arwan the son of the King of the Underworld" kind of thing. Because, really, the assumption was made...
Sorry if that spoils anything for you...but I did give a warning.
There's just something about a bad guy who's not really bad, but has the potential to be and has to fight with his inner demons. Make it something paranormal and it makes me even more hot and bothered.
I can see now that I may have a few problems. Oh well...
Another good thing, Zanya didn't make me want to bash my head in due to stupidity. Score!
I would like the story to be more in depth, more personal I guess I should say. I don't like reading in the narrative that this story is in. Never have. This one is a little bit better than what I have read before though, so thats a plus.
I think now I'm just going to wait until the whole series is out before I read anymore...I like reading a continuous story and not have to stop and start again.
January 12, 2016
This was a great start to a series. It was completely different from other supernatural books I have been reading lately, and I appreciate that. The characters were great and had great development throughout the book. The pace was great, but the romance could be a little bit better. I didn't like that there were basically 2 love triangles. One was sort of mentioned but didn't get a lot of book time, I am assuming the author started this for the basis of the second book. The main love triangle, while cute, I didn't understand other than instant attraction why Zanya likes Arwan. While they did have some cute scenes, I didn't like the insta-love.
Although, the copy that I read was an arc, I will most likely pick up the finished result. My copy had a lot of words missing and sentence structures were a little off.
This arc was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Although, the copy that I read was an arc, I will most likely pick up the finished result. My copy had a lot of words missing and sentence structures were a little off.
This arc was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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March 31, 2015
Ashley was abandoned at an early age, and has grown up in an orphanage for mentally unstable teenagers. Ashley has awful panic attacks and dreams that are all too real. If Ashley is hurt in her dream, it happens to her in real life. The only person she can rely on is her best friend, Tara – who is her shoulder to cry on and as close to a sister as she’ll ever have. Countless doctors and psychiatrists having been telling Ashley that she’s ill and of need of help, and she’s grown to believe that they’re right. That she’s insane - except she isn’t. When Ashley and Tara are kidnapped one evening during a fire drill, she finds herself tucked away in a house in the hills of Belize and finds out that the man stalking her in her dreams is actually real.
She also learns that her captors are not captors at all, but her long lost family – her uncle and cousin. Ashley soon learns that she’s destined to be The Stone Guardian, a person whom guards an ancient and powerful Mayan stone that her diseased mother used to guard. However, the stone is not in the possession of the ‘good guys’ anymore, but was stolen seventeen years ago from her mother by her enemy, Sarian. Together with her new found family - Arwan; a totally hot time bender and Peter; a healer – Ashley sets out to claim the stone back and finally bond with it to become its primary protector.
I was hooked on this book from the very start, the premise was fantastic and I found it hard to put it down. However, even though I found this book a pleasure to read – it was not without its faults. There wasn’t a whole lot of world building and I found myself confused about what was happening some of the time. I also found that the plot moved a little too fast, jumping right from one event to another, with barely any breather in-between.
I really liked Ashley’s character and I thought she was very loyal; however she was a little wishy-washy at times, a bit of a pushover and was easily swayed by other people’s decisions. Ashley was probably one of the most emotional characters I’ve ever read – not that that’s a bad thing! She’s had a pretty awful life, living in an orphanage all her life, and having psychiatric medications pushed upon her – she finds can only trust her best friend, Tara. Even though I liked her character a lot, I did think she wept way too much – there was always a scene where she was crying hysterically. Either she was just a very emotional person or she was probably depressed – I wished this was covered in the book.
Arwan is a time-bender, someone who has special abilities like Ashley, but can manipulate time. He also has a smoking hot body, as Ashley can’t help but notice constantly. The minute Arwan see’s Ashley; he falls for her and vows to protect her – not because she’s The Stone Guardian, but because she fills a void in his heart that was created by the death of his mother some years ago. I loved Arwan’s character, he was so sweet and caring, even though he acted like a selfish idiot at times, I thought he was great all the same.
Something this novel had that I hoped it wouldn’t was insta-love. I have to say, I’m not a fan of insta-love at all. I don’t believe in love at first sight, I believe two people can meet and be attracted to each other, but love comes much later. The minute Ashley and Arwan meet, there’s a connection and they have the hots for each other – which is perfectly fine and understandable. However, a day or so later, they’re ‘in love’. I believe their relationship could have been better developed, but their romance was sweet, which made the insta-love a little bit more bearable.
Overall, I really loved reading this book – I thought it was amazing. Unfortunately I had to bump it down to 4/5 stars because of the various little problems and titbits that annoyed me. The characters were great; although some of them were a little under developed they were enjoyable to read all the same. It was an original read, with a fantastic plot – not to mention the cliff-hanger ending! I can’t wait until the next book is released and to find out what happens next.
She also learns that her captors are not captors at all, but her long lost family – her uncle and cousin. Ashley soon learns that she’s destined to be The Stone Guardian, a person whom guards an ancient and powerful Mayan stone that her diseased mother used to guard. However, the stone is not in the possession of the ‘good guys’ anymore, but was stolen seventeen years ago from her mother by her enemy, Sarian. Together with her new found family - Arwan; a totally hot time bender and Peter; a healer – Ashley sets out to claim the stone back and finally bond with it to become its primary protector.
I was hooked on this book from the very start, the premise was fantastic and I found it hard to put it down. However, even though I found this book a pleasure to read – it was not without its faults. There wasn’t a whole lot of world building and I found myself confused about what was happening some of the time. I also found that the plot moved a little too fast, jumping right from one event to another, with barely any breather in-between.
I really liked Ashley’s character and I thought she was very loyal; however she was a little wishy-washy at times, a bit of a pushover and was easily swayed by other people’s decisions. Ashley was probably one of the most emotional characters I’ve ever read – not that that’s a bad thing! She’s had a pretty awful life, living in an orphanage all her life, and having psychiatric medications pushed upon her – she finds can only trust her best friend, Tara. Even though I liked her character a lot, I did think she wept way too much – there was always a scene where she was crying hysterically. Either she was just a very emotional person or she was probably depressed – I wished this was covered in the book.
Arwan is a time-bender, someone who has special abilities like Ashley, but can manipulate time. He also has a smoking hot body, as Ashley can’t help but notice constantly. The minute Arwan see’s Ashley; he falls for her and vows to protect her – not because she’s The Stone Guardian, but because she fills a void in his heart that was created by the death of his mother some years ago. I loved Arwan’s character, he was so sweet and caring, even though he acted like a selfish idiot at times, I thought he was great all the same.
Something this novel had that I hoped it wouldn’t was insta-love. I have to say, I’m not a fan of insta-love at all. I don’t believe in love at first sight, I believe two people can meet and be attracted to each other, but love comes much later. The minute Ashley and Arwan meet, there’s a connection and they have the hots for each other – which is perfectly fine and understandable. However, a day or so later, they’re ‘in love’. I believe their relationship could have been better developed, but their romance was sweet, which made the insta-love a little bit more bearable.
Overall, I really loved reading this book – I thought it was amazing. Unfortunately I had to bump it down to 4/5 stars because of the various little problems and titbits that annoyed me. The characters were great; although some of them were a little under developed they were enjoyable to read all the same. It was an original read, with a fantastic plot – not to mention the cliff-hanger ending! I can’t wait until the next book is released and to find out what happens next.
July 1, 2023
***3.5 stars***
I received a copy of Mayan Blood by Theresa DaLayne from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more reviews at onereadersjourney.wordpress.com
Mayan Blood was a very interesting and unique story in my opinion. I have never read anything where Mayan mythology plays a major role (actually I am pretty sure I have never read anything with Mayans in it at all). This is about a girl, Zanya, who was put into an orphanage when she was very young. The orphanage is all she knows. One night when a fire alarm sounds and the orphanage is evacuated outside, she and her best friend, Tara, are "kidnapped." She wakes up in a huge mansion owned by a group of people that claim to be descendants of the Mayan. Oh, and she is Mayan as well. There is just one little issue. She is supposed to rescue a stone that was taken by a powerful demon(?) and if she does not succeed, then the world will be destroyed.
There is so much more to this story than the main plot, however. One of my favorite aspects of this novel were all of the underlying side stories. They were interwoven at every twist and turn when different characters were introduced.
The characters themselves were wonderfully written. They were all able to show a little bit of their back stories while also showing great development as the story went on. I love characters with complicated pasts and this story definitely has them.
I had two problems with this book. The first being the instalove. I can't stand it when characters meet and within the span of one-two pages they "fall in love." This book is very much that. (Although I do appreciate that the story does not really revolve around it as much as it could). Also, I don't appreciate the complication of the ex-boyfriend playing an important role in the main character's life. Why can't one YA novel that I read have just one love interest. That way I can focus on the story itself and not have to dwell on whether the main character ends up with the right person. UGh!
The second problem I had with the book was that the main character was not very smart and it kind of drove me insane. I swear, tell this girl that something isn't safe, or that she might die, or someone else could die, or etc etc. She does it anyway. She doesn't even think about the consequences to herself or others. She is very selfish. (and I know that most of her actions made the plot move forward but I feel like there was a better way than making her seem like incompetent, ignorant, selfish, brat... am I right?)
There was one other little thing that bothered me (although it wasn't really a problem) was that issues that came up were solved pretty conveniently easy. This was the main reason why Zanya didn't get herself killed within the first 100 pages of the book. Convenient answers don't really bother me so much as long as they have a reason and make sense, but I wanted to mention them because I have read reviews of other people that really dislike them.
Overall the story was really enjoyable and made me want to keep reading to see how it was going to end. The action was exciting, well-written, and interspersed well throughout the story. I really liked Arwan's story. I have a feeling that when it finally unravels it is going to be thrilling and amazing. I loved the little reveal we got at the end as to who/what Arwan really is and I can't wait to find out more. If you are someone who likes mythology, action, people with special abilities, and don't mind a little romance, then I would recommend giving this one a try. Although it wasn't my favorite read, I will still probably continue the story in the future.
Premise: 4/5 Stars
Actual Plot: 3/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5 Stars
Romance: 2.5/5 Stars
Friendship: 3/5 Stars
Action: 3.75/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Happy Reading :)
I received a copy of Mayan Blood by Theresa DaLayne from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more reviews at onereadersjourney.wordpress.com
Mayan Blood was a very interesting and unique story in my opinion. I have never read anything where Mayan mythology plays a major role (actually I am pretty sure I have never read anything with Mayans in it at all). This is about a girl, Zanya, who was put into an orphanage when she was very young. The orphanage is all she knows. One night when a fire alarm sounds and the orphanage is evacuated outside, she and her best friend, Tara, are "kidnapped." She wakes up in a huge mansion owned by a group of people that claim to be descendants of the Mayan. Oh, and she is Mayan as well. There is just one little issue. She is supposed to rescue a stone that was taken by a powerful demon(?) and if she does not succeed, then the world will be destroyed.
There is so much more to this story than the main plot, however. One of my favorite aspects of this novel were all of the underlying side stories. They were interwoven at every twist and turn when different characters were introduced.
The characters themselves were wonderfully written. They were all able to show a little bit of their back stories while also showing great development as the story went on. I love characters with complicated pasts and this story definitely has them.
I had two problems with this book. The first being the instalove. I can't stand it when characters meet and within the span of one-two pages they "fall in love." This book is very much that. (Although I do appreciate that the story does not really revolve around it as much as it could). Also, I don't appreciate the complication of the ex-boyfriend playing an important role in the main character's life. Why can't one YA novel that I read have just one love interest. That way I can focus on the story itself and not have to dwell on whether the main character ends up with the right person. UGh!
The second problem I had with the book was that the main character was not very smart and it kind of drove me insane. I swear, tell this girl that something isn't safe, or that she might die, or someone else could die, or etc etc. She does it anyway. She doesn't even think about the consequences to herself or others. She is very selfish. (and I know that most of her actions made the plot move forward but I feel like there was a better way than making her seem like incompetent, ignorant, selfish, brat... am I right?)
There was one other little thing that bothered me (although it wasn't really a problem) was that issues that came up were solved pretty conveniently easy. This was the main reason why Zanya didn't get herself killed within the first 100 pages of the book. Convenient answers don't really bother me so much as long as they have a reason and make sense, but I wanted to mention them because I have read reviews of other people that really dislike them.
Overall the story was really enjoyable and made me want to keep reading to see how it was going to end. The action was exciting, well-written, and interspersed well throughout the story. I really liked Arwan's story. I have a feeling that when it finally unravels it is going to be thrilling and amazing. I loved the little reveal we got at the end as to who/what Arwan really is and I can't wait to find out more. If you are someone who likes mythology, action, people with special abilities, and don't mind a little romance, then I would recommend giving this one a try. Although it wasn't my favorite read, I will still probably continue the story in the future.
Premise: 4/5 Stars
Actual Plot: 3/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5 Stars
Romance: 2.5/5 Stars
Friendship: 3/5 Stars
Action: 3.75/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Happy Reading :)
April 2, 2015
First of all let me tell you this. The cover of this book is simply beautiful!. It is done by Nadica En VonT and Elle J Rossi who definitely did breathe life and imagery into this cover. Though it's against rules, I do judge books by their cover. If I were to see this book on a shelf, I would without doubt find myself reaching for it.
I started out reading this book with some dedicated words from the author to her family and supporters. It was such a sweet dedication particularly with words like 'my parents who celebrated my success with dancing in my kitchen'.. How sweet is that!'
A Word from the Author' gave further insight into the story lying ahead of me. Theresa has definitely done her homework with all the great research she has done. I love well researched books and this was definitely a plus.
Onto the story itself. I loved how Theresa set a nice start to the story. It's very easy going. She doesn't plummet us straight into the story. Instead, she first sets the stage very well and then leads us on, without it being too fast or too slow. I was really surprised at how beautifully she writes. She doesn't try too hard to come across as fantastic, considering the fact that this is her debut novel. She just expresses everything just as she is. That's the best part. I have acquainted with her over emails and her way of writing is the same. Its easy going and simple.
There is one part where the protagonist who is a girl called Zanya, prevents the onset of a panic attack by thinking of Beethoven’s violin concert, with the music playing in her head and her fingers caressing the imaginary strings of her violin. It's all described very beautifully and it's at moments such as this, you really connect with the characters of the story. I love the way she describes the hero of the book, Arwan, to be a hot and muscular guy but someone who is sensitive enough to take care, be beside Zanya and give her his support any time. He is romantic and caring. Throw in all the good looks and you got a charmer!
The plot is very interesting and is definitely a can't-put-down kind. I had to tear myself away from the book at times, so that I can get back to the chores I had waiting to be done at home!. I loved the pace at which the story went because there was never a dull moment. I absolutely love this book and when the end came, I was really disappointed, because it left me wanting for more!!. Theresa has such a fertile imagination. I love how she describes certain scenes and the way she writes it, you get transported right into that place. That is a quality of an amazing writer. Not everyone has that power!. I am really looking forward to the future two parts of this trilogy.
This book has all potential to take over the world by it's charm just like how J.K. Rowling took over with her Harry Potter series. Theresa, one request, please work faster on the sequels to this book!
Being my first time with the YA genre, it was a pleasure reading this book. I have always been an avid reader of anything from Thriller and Suspense genre. However, this book could well be my start to reading YA novels from now on. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Being 378 pages and an irresistible one, this definitely is a QUICK read.
All in all, I give the book 5/5 which by Goodreads standards mean that 'it was amazing'.
I started out reading this book with some dedicated words from the author to her family and supporters. It was such a sweet dedication particularly with words like 'my parents who celebrated my success with dancing in my kitchen'.. How sweet is that!'
A Word from the Author' gave further insight into the story lying ahead of me. Theresa has definitely done her homework with all the great research she has done. I love well researched books and this was definitely a plus.
Onto the story itself. I loved how Theresa set a nice start to the story. It's very easy going. She doesn't plummet us straight into the story. Instead, she first sets the stage very well and then leads us on, without it being too fast or too slow. I was really surprised at how beautifully she writes. She doesn't try too hard to come across as fantastic, considering the fact that this is her debut novel. She just expresses everything just as she is. That's the best part. I have acquainted with her over emails and her way of writing is the same. Its easy going and simple.
There is one part where the protagonist who is a girl called Zanya, prevents the onset of a panic attack by thinking of Beethoven’s violin concert, with the music playing in her head and her fingers caressing the imaginary strings of her violin. It's all described very beautifully and it's at moments such as this, you really connect with the characters of the story. I love the way she describes the hero of the book, Arwan, to be a hot and muscular guy but someone who is sensitive enough to take care, be beside Zanya and give her his support any time. He is romantic and caring. Throw in all the good looks and you got a charmer!
The plot is very interesting and is definitely a can't-put-down kind. I had to tear myself away from the book at times, so that I can get back to the chores I had waiting to be done at home!. I loved the pace at which the story went because there was never a dull moment. I absolutely love this book and when the end came, I was really disappointed, because it left me wanting for more!!. Theresa has such a fertile imagination. I love how she describes certain scenes and the way she writes it, you get transported right into that place. That is a quality of an amazing writer. Not everyone has that power!. I am really looking forward to the future two parts of this trilogy.
This book has all potential to take over the world by it's charm just like how J.K. Rowling took over with her Harry Potter series. Theresa, one request, please work faster on the sequels to this book!
Being my first time with the YA genre, it was a pleasure reading this book. I have always been an avid reader of anything from Thriller and Suspense genre. However, this book could well be my start to reading YA novels from now on. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Being 378 pages and an irresistible one, this definitely is a QUICK read.
All in all, I give the book 5/5 which by Goodreads standards mean that 'it was amazing'.
January 19, 2016
If you like Harry Potter, Dr. Who, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Xena and Wonder Woman, you will absolutely love Mayan Blood! A band of teen superheroes, mentored by their leader’s uncle, travel in and out of time to Central America, Europe and more to battle the dark side for priceless artifacts and the fate of the world.
Mayan Blood fits several genres: young adult (YA), New Adult (NA), paranormal, romance, magic, time travel, adventure and then some. To me, time travel seems the most challenging to write, with cultural, legal, financial and personal preservation issues and shifting sub-missions between time-place combinations; methods, risks and rewards of time travel and the whole timey-wimey thing, but Dalayne proves herself worthy with this first book in the Stone Legacy series. She deftly weaves characters’ superpowers, personal agendas, relationships, roles in the missions, voices, wardrobes and weapons across time, place and situations, while remaining true to their unique identities throughout. And the villains! They’re in cahoots with each other, have grievances against one another, make deals and time travel with the teen superheroes to various ends. In addition, Dalayne intuitively drips information at just the right flow rate. I never knew who would do what to whom around the next page corner and was frequently surprised, especially at the fight scenes.
Ohio author Dalayne has a knack for creating and solving problems for her characters. Not having a blue police box or flying DeLorean, the team addresses the issue of breathing during time travel by acquiring a primitive, yet highly effective and flexible, biological apparatus. If I told you what it was now, you'd never believe me. Sleeping arrangements are a constant question, between the teens’ attractions to one another, the need for protection against the villains, who strike in dream time as well as any other, cultural mores and seasonal considerations. Elsewhere, a girl warrior must deal with the ban against selling weapons to women in Victorian London using nonviolent means. There are also the questions of which two of the teens should go to the ball, how to get in and what to wear.
Mayan Blood addresses sex, feminism and mental health in YA literature with a kickass young female team captain, chemistry between the teen characters, the boys battling the charms of a sensuous Russian witch and the main character Zanya’s humble Harry Potterish beginnings in the loneliness of an asylum orphanage, where she is misdiagnosed, misunderstood and truly does not belong, but was secreted there in hopes of keeping her safe from the dark side. Fortunately, it is there that she meets her best friend forever. Then, like dear Harry, the team finds her and the ride of her life begins. By the end of this adventure, you’ll feel satisfied, yet beg for the next installment, which is Interlude, already available at Amazon. Mayan Blood is a truly unique story fit for mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and YA lovers to read alone or together.
See the full review at my blog: https://belindayhughes.wordpress.com/...
Mayan Blood fits several genres: young adult (YA), New Adult (NA), paranormal, romance, magic, time travel, adventure and then some. To me, time travel seems the most challenging to write, with cultural, legal, financial and personal preservation issues and shifting sub-missions between time-place combinations; methods, risks and rewards of time travel and the whole timey-wimey thing, but Dalayne proves herself worthy with this first book in the Stone Legacy series. She deftly weaves characters’ superpowers, personal agendas, relationships, roles in the missions, voices, wardrobes and weapons across time, place and situations, while remaining true to their unique identities throughout. And the villains! They’re in cahoots with each other, have grievances against one another, make deals and time travel with the teen superheroes to various ends. In addition, Dalayne intuitively drips information at just the right flow rate. I never knew who would do what to whom around the next page corner and was frequently surprised, especially at the fight scenes.
Ohio author Dalayne has a knack for creating and solving problems for her characters. Not having a blue police box or flying DeLorean, the team addresses the issue of breathing during time travel by acquiring a primitive, yet highly effective and flexible, biological apparatus. If I told you what it was now, you'd never believe me. Sleeping arrangements are a constant question, between the teens’ attractions to one another, the need for protection against the villains, who strike in dream time as well as any other, cultural mores and seasonal considerations. Elsewhere, a girl warrior must deal with the ban against selling weapons to women in Victorian London using nonviolent means. There are also the questions of which two of the teens should go to the ball, how to get in and what to wear.
Mayan Blood addresses sex, feminism and mental health in YA literature with a kickass young female team captain, chemistry between the teen characters, the boys battling the charms of a sensuous Russian witch and the main character Zanya’s humble Harry Potterish beginnings in the loneliness of an asylum orphanage, where she is misdiagnosed, misunderstood and truly does not belong, but was secreted there in hopes of keeping her safe from the dark side. Fortunately, it is there that she meets her best friend forever. Then, like dear Harry, the team finds her and the ride of her life begins. By the end of this adventure, you’ll feel satisfied, yet beg for the next installment, which is Interlude, already available at Amazon. Mayan Blood is a truly unique story fit for mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and YA lovers to read alone or together.
See the full review at my blog: https://belindayhughes.wordpress.com/...
May 4, 2021
All in all, I really enjoyed this. I can't applaud Theresa DaLayne enough for such an original young adult novel!
What I liked
This really was a breath of fresh air in young adult literature. I enjoy reading young adult books, but a lot of the plots are similar and tend to blend together at times. There are so many similarities among many of the books that I read. Reading a book stemming from Mayan mythology was refreshing in a young adult world of high school drama, vampires, and angels.
Apart from the main character, Zanya, I felt very connected to the characters. I liked their backstories and their commitment to being there. They each had their own personal things going on and everything flowed really nicely with all of the characters. The chemistry between the characters was excellent.
There are twists and turns. The story keeps you guessing. The things that happen in the book are not immediately predictable.
The story was solid. I was intrigued by all of the elements of it. There is history, a mission, an evil to defeat...so much complexity. I really enjoyed experiencing the story as things were unfolding. I also liked that once I was finished reading, I yearned for the next book!
What I didn't like
I did not care for Zanya. I don't know what it is about her exactly that gets under my skin, but I just could not connect with her. She seemed very whiny and way too excitable. She felt very childish to me at times. I thought that she had a lot of growing up to do. She is supposed to be the guardian of the stone and have all of this power, but I think that she has a long way to go.
The book felt a little choppy at times. Mostly just in the transitioning from one scene to another. I think that some revising could fix this easily. It just isn't as smooth as it should be in certain places. In some places the transitioning is just fine though. It only seemed to pop up in various places throughout the book.
The copy that I received from the publisher had quite a few spelling and punctuation errors, but this is easily edited as well.
Although not a deal breaker, I thought that Arwan and Zanya jumped into love and a relationship a little too quickly. It didn't seem as though they had gotten to know each other before they were kissing in the jungle. It felt rushed.
Would I Recommend It
Yes, I would! Theresa DaLayne tells such a fantastic story! It is original, and I can honestly say that I've not read anything like it before. This story is unique. If you are looking to take a break from all of those "same old" young adult reads then take a break with Mayan Blood! You will not be sorry that you did.
What I liked
This really was a breath of fresh air in young adult literature. I enjoy reading young adult books, but a lot of the plots are similar and tend to blend together at times. There are so many similarities among many of the books that I read. Reading a book stemming from Mayan mythology was refreshing in a young adult world of high school drama, vampires, and angels.
Apart from the main character, Zanya, I felt very connected to the characters. I liked their backstories and their commitment to being there. They each had their own personal things going on and everything flowed really nicely with all of the characters. The chemistry between the characters was excellent.
There are twists and turns. The story keeps you guessing. The things that happen in the book are not immediately predictable.
The story was solid. I was intrigued by all of the elements of it. There is history, a mission, an evil to defeat...so much complexity. I really enjoyed experiencing the story as things were unfolding. I also liked that once I was finished reading, I yearned for the next book!
What I didn't like
I did not care for Zanya. I don't know what it is about her exactly that gets under my skin, but I just could not connect with her. She seemed very whiny and way too excitable. She felt very childish to me at times. I thought that she had a lot of growing up to do. She is supposed to be the guardian of the stone and have all of this power, but I think that she has a long way to go.
The book felt a little choppy at times. Mostly just in the transitioning from one scene to another. I think that some revising could fix this easily. It just isn't as smooth as it should be in certain places. In some places the transitioning is just fine though. It only seemed to pop up in various places throughout the book.
The copy that I received from the publisher had quite a few spelling and punctuation errors, but this is easily edited as well.
Although not a deal breaker, I thought that Arwan and Zanya jumped into love and a relationship a little too quickly. It didn't seem as though they had gotten to know each other before they were kissing in the jungle. It felt rushed.
Would I Recommend It
Yes, I would! Theresa DaLayne tells such a fantastic story! It is original, and I can honestly say that I've not read anything like it before. This story is unique. If you are looking to take a break from all of those "same old" young adult reads then take a break with Mayan Blood! You will not be sorry that you did.
January 16, 2016
This is the first time reading anything by Theresa Dalayne and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this story . This story is mainly about Zanya who was abandoned at an early age ,and she has grown up in orphanages for the mentally unstable teenagers. .But poor Zanya has terrible panic attacks and dreams that are far to real to her. There's only one person she relays on and that is Tara. Tara is Zanya's shoulder to cry on and that is as close to a sister that she will ever have. Countless Psychiatrists and Some Doctors have all been telling her that she needs special help and she has come to believe them. That she could just be insane. Then one day Zanya and Tara was kidnapped during a fire drill. And she fines herself tucked away in a place in the hills of Belize , and realizes that the man that has her is the same man from her dreams. But to her surprise her captors are her family not captors at all, but are her uncle and a cousin. Zanya soon learns that she is the destined to the stone guardian. Who happens to guard the ancient and powerful Mayan stone , the same stone that her diseased mother used to guard. But seventeen years ago the was stone stolen by the enemy Sarian . But soon Zanya decides that with the help of her newfound family --Arwan a really hot time bender and Peter the healer ,they set off in search of the stone to reclaim it back where it belongs. For then she can bond with it to become what she was born to do. Because she is the stones primary protector. Author Theresa Dalayne had me hook line and sinker from the first page until the last. Theresa Dalayne imagination is brilliant and the way she describes her scenes is so great The plots and characters were well written . I could go on and tell you more about this great story ,but that would spoil it for you. I highly recommend that you read this story ,you won't be disappointed.
July 19, 2016
3.75 stars
“Mayan Blood” by Theresa DaLayne is the first book in the ‘Stone Legacy’ series and centers around Zanya, who has the uncanny experiences of dealing with a man who hurts her in her dreams every night. She and her friend Tara are suddenly thrust into an adventure that includes people with remarkable powers who have an agenda that centers around her. A young man named Arwan insists that he is her protector and someone else who betrayed her in the past insists that he is also present to provide aid to her, but Zanya fears that she will be unable to fulfill the role everyone insists she is destined to undertake, especially if the evil Sarian finds a way to impose his vision of the future on everyone.
This paranormal young adult story presents an intriguing combination of individuals who are engaged in a desperate struggle that blends fantastical powers with elements of Mayan mythology. There are positive elements to the story, including the bond between Zanya and Tara, and the camaraderie that eventually forms among the group that has gathered with one goal in mind. Unfortunately, it was a little difficult to get oriented in the story at first as characters suddenly appear and weighty responsibilities are alluded to and relationships are somewhat awkwardly introduced. I think the mystical and paranormal elements are intriguing and that perhaps the challenge of setting up the premise of the series caused things to feel so crowded and jerky in this particular story. Be forewarned that the story ends on a cliffhanger and contains a surprising reveal that will undoubtedly whet one’s appetite to read the next story in the series.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review.
“Mayan Blood” by Theresa DaLayne is the first book in the ‘Stone Legacy’ series and centers around Zanya, who has the uncanny experiences of dealing with a man who hurts her in her dreams every night. She and her friend Tara are suddenly thrust into an adventure that includes people with remarkable powers who have an agenda that centers around her. A young man named Arwan insists that he is her protector and someone else who betrayed her in the past insists that he is also present to provide aid to her, but Zanya fears that she will be unable to fulfill the role everyone insists she is destined to undertake, especially if the evil Sarian finds a way to impose his vision of the future on everyone.
This paranormal young adult story presents an intriguing combination of individuals who are engaged in a desperate struggle that blends fantastical powers with elements of Mayan mythology. There are positive elements to the story, including the bond between Zanya and Tara, and the camaraderie that eventually forms among the group that has gathered with one goal in mind. Unfortunately, it was a little difficult to get oriented in the story at first as characters suddenly appear and weighty responsibilities are alluded to and relationships are somewhat awkwardly introduced. I think the mystical and paranormal elements are intriguing and that perhaps the challenge of setting up the premise of the series caused things to feel so crowded and jerky in this particular story. Be forewarned that the story ends on a cliffhanger and contains a surprising reveal that will undoubtedly whet one’s appetite to read the next story in the series.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review.
July 18, 2016
I was captivated by the cover and my personal love of adventure stories with an Aztec or Mayan backdrop and didn't realize Mayan Blood was a YA story. It had the usual YA problems for me, an insta romance(s), a romance(s) gone bad, histrionics and lack of communication. Mayan Blood also didn't have enough background details for such a complicated setup. Was Zayan in an orphanage or sanitarium? She mentions orphanage, but then says she is patient A696.
The whole set up with the Riyata needed to be clearer, not just for us, but for Zayan too. Why doesn't Renalto just spell it out making the transition for Zayan easier? With the stone having a Mayan history and Belize setting, why are some of the group anglos? Why do they all speak perfect English? Why are some of the books in English? Why don't they tell Zayan what she can do and help her work on developing her powers instead of giving her a stack of books and saying "read" when time is of the essence? Why does Sarian time bend to where he goes? Why isn't the Mayan culture and backdrop used more? It's a bare nod.
Some of what the characters say and do doesn't make sense such as Arwen asking Zayan why she doesn't know anything about the stone. Duh! He knows she was raised as an orphan! Zayan doesn't want others to tell her what to do, but she then tries to direct Tara.
The story has a lot of potential, the writing flowed well and the story moved along. The story ended fine for me, but it very definitely left involved readers wanting more. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger though.
The whole set up with the Riyata needed to be clearer, not just for us, but for Zayan too. Why doesn't Renalto just spell it out making the transition for Zayan easier? With the stone having a Mayan history and Belize setting, why are some of the group anglos? Why do they all speak perfect English? Why are some of the books in English? Why don't they tell Zayan what she can do and help her work on developing her powers instead of giving her a stack of books and saying "read" when time is of the essence? Why does Sarian time bend to where he goes? Why isn't the Mayan culture and backdrop used more? It's a bare nod.
Some of what the characters say and do doesn't make sense such as Arwen asking Zayan why she doesn't know anything about the stone. Duh! He knows she was raised as an orphan! Zayan doesn't want others to tell her what to do, but she then tries to direct Tara.
The story has a lot of potential, the writing flowed well and the story moved along. The story ended fine for me, but it very definitely left involved readers wanting more. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger though.
January 1, 2016
Zanya Coreandero is living in an institution with her best friend and roommate Tara. Almost every night she has nightmares that involve a man beating her which leaves marks in real life, only no one believes her but Tara.
Then she is kidnapped and learns about her destiny and all of a sudden she is surrounded by "family". Only she is still not sure who she can trust and if she is truly the person everyone believes her to be. She is not sure that this is her destiny and maybe she is in over her head and some things are really not meant to be believed.
I really enjoyed this story and a look at the legacy of the Maya, as created by the author. There is so much intrigue and mystery surrounding everything and definitely paranormal.
I really liked the character of Zanya and understood why she had so many doubts about what was going around her, yet her dreams allowed her to get insight into what most would not believe. Her friendship with Tara is so strong and very important to both of them in their survival.
The other characters have so much mystery still. I am loving Arwan and the knowledge you get about him at the very end of the book really leaves you wanting more. The group in Belize - Renato, Hawa, Marzena, Peter and Jayden really remain hopeful at their future and never give up.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series to see where everything is headed!
Then she is kidnapped and learns about her destiny and all of a sudden she is surrounded by "family". Only she is still not sure who she can trust and if she is truly the person everyone believes her to be. She is not sure that this is her destiny and maybe she is in over her head and some things are really not meant to be believed.
I really enjoyed this story and a look at the legacy of the Maya, as created by the author. There is so much intrigue and mystery surrounding everything and definitely paranormal.
I really liked the character of Zanya and understood why she had so many doubts about what was going around her, yet her dreams allowed her to get insight into what most would not believe. Her friendship with Tara is so strong and very important to both of them in their survival.
The other characters have so much mystery still. I am loving Arwan and the knowledge you get about him at the very end of the book really leaves you wanting more. The group in Belize - Renato, Hawa, Marzena, Peter and Jayden really remain hopeful at their future and never give up.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series to see where everything is headed!
March 11, 2016
- SERIES REVIEW OF BOOKS 1-3: 5 STARS OVERALL -
Have you ever come across a book or series where there's so much to say and yet, you can't express your feelings?? That's me right now with Mayan Blood, Interlude, and Lights of Aurora by Theresa DaLayne. These books are FANTASTIC, but they are ones where you HAVE to read to understand just how epic they are. There's magic, action, romance, and tons of page-turning scenes where I felt I could not get enough of these characters.
Theresa DaLayne knows how to write books that will hook readers from the very beginning. Her writing is smooth and flows effortlessly. I had no problem whatsoever following the plot lines from book to book. Her character development was top-notch! You grow alongside the characters as they face their different, action-packed journeys. Mayan Blood was a phenomenal start to the series and the books only got better and better. While the series starts off in the YA age group, it certainly doesn't stay there, so please don't let that stop you from checking out these books if you don't normally read YA. I have not had a chance to read book 4, Anarchy, but trust me when I say, I will be doing that SOON. Go one-click!!
Grab your copies: http://bit.ly/1nD4cFj
Have you ever come across a book or series where there's so much to say and yet, you can't express your feelings?? That's me right now with Mayan Blood, Interlude, and Lights of Aurora by Theresa DaLayne. These books are FANTASTIC, but they are ones where you HAVE to read to understand just how epic they are. There's magic, action, romance, and tons of page-turning scenes where I felt I could not get enough of these characters.
Theresa DaLayne knows how to write books that will hook readers from the very beginning. Her writing is smooth and flows effortlessly. I had no problem whatsoever following the plot lines from book to book. Her character development was top-notch! You grow alongside the characters as they face their different, action-packed journeys. Mayan Blood was a phenomenal start to the series and the books only got better and better. While the series starts off in the YA age group, it certainly doesn't stay there, so please don't let that stop you from checking out these books if you don't normally read YA. I have not had a chance to read book 4, Anarchy, but trust me when I say, I will be doing that SOON. Go one-click!!
Grab your copies: http://bit.ly/1nD4cFj
February 29, 2016
I read this book in 2013 in its previous edition.
The story begins with a girl suffering from extremely vivid nightmares at night, which leaves it's evidence even when she wakes up. It shows a bit of everyday life of this girl in her current place of residence. Then a really strange event occurs, after which the real adventure of our heroine begins.
I really liked the theme, because I had never read a book about the Mayan culture narrated this magical and mesmerizing way. I loved the legends and myths that this story refers and aroused my curiosity to learn more about it.
If you like mythology (of any kind), mystery, magic, fantasy and the consequences of changing the course of time, you should definitely give a try to this refreshing story.
The story begins with a girl suffering from extremely vivid nightmares at night, which leaves it's evidence even when she wakes up. It shows a bit of everyday life of this girl in her current place of residence. Then a really strange event occurs, after which the real adventure of our heroine begins.
I really liked the theme, because I had never read a book about the Mayan culture narrated this magical and mesmerizing way. I loved the legends and myths that this story refers and aroused my curiosity to learn more about it.
If you like mythology (of any kind), mystery, magic, fantasy and the consequences of changing the course of time, you should definitely give a try to this refreshing story.
April 14, 2015
reviewed previous edition
3.5 stars. Some bits I adored and others I was not as pleased with. The mythology and plot were pretty fantastic. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the romance subplot. I just didn't much like Arwan, or his abs (mentioned many times). He was too instantly in love with Ashley and too sentimental for my tastes. I think others would find him pretty dreamy though.
But Ashley and her abilities were so cool. Her stubbornness which often frustrated me was admirable, and her loyalty. And truly a really cool world that Ms. McClinton created. I wasn't much intrigued by the Maya concept before reading, but it totally won me over. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series
3.5 stars. Some bits I adored and others I was not as pleased with. The mythology and plot were pretty fantastic. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the romance subplot. I just didn't much like Arwan, or his abs (mentioned many times). He was too instantly in love with Ashley and too sentimental for my tastes. I think others would find him pretty dreamy though.
But Ashley and her abilities were so cool. Her stubbornness which often frustrated me was admirable, and her loyalty. And truly a really cool world that Ms. McClinton created. I wasn't much intrigued by the Maya concept before reading, but it totally won me over. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series
December 30, 2015
Wow! This book had me on the edge of my seat and heart racing!
Zanya is in an institution and at least she's not alone . She has her BFF Tara as her roommate. Poor Zanya has nightmares every single night of being beaten by a man. The stranger part? She wakes up with bruises on her body that no one bur her Best Friend believes there from her dreams. The workers of the Institution keep a good eye on Zanya at all times... But apparently not a good enough one. She is kidnapped and learns that she is all that is left to save the world. It's her destiny, but she’s not so sure about it.
This story will have you engaged from start to finish!
****I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review****
Laura Redmon
Cutting Muse Blog Review
Zanya is in an institution and at least she's not alone . She has her BFF Tara as her roommate. Poor Zanya has nightmares every single night of being beaten by a man. The stranger part? She wakes up with bruises on her body that no one bur her Best Friend believes there from her dreams. The workers of the Institution keep a good eye on Zanya at all times... But apparently not a good enough one. She is kidnapped and learns that she is all that is left to save the world. It's her destiny, but she’s not so sure about it.
This story will have you engaged from start to finish!
****I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review****
Laura Redmon
Cutting Muse Blog Review
January 19, 2016
**Possible Spoilers**
Three things that I LOVED about this book..
1) The cover, its very eye catching!
2) Details. There are plenty of explanations and details really helps paint the picture in my mind of the settings/characters.
3) Jayden. Although he was the hurtful xbf I can see his reasons and understand.. my heart breaks for him.
Ok ok, I have to list four things ..
4) Arwan. His story, is going to be an interesting one!
So saying all this, I overal loved the plot! It was certainly a story I had trouble putting down.
The only thing that I didnt like as much.. the ending! How can we leave the story ending like this !! Lol I'm lucky that I dont have to wait to read book #2 as its waiting for me on my kindle!
Three things that I LOVED about this book..
1) The cover, its very eye catching!
2) Details. There are plenty of explanations and details really helps paint the picture in my mind of the settings/characters.
3) Jayden. Although he was the hurtful xbf I can see his reasons and understand.. my heart breaks for him.
Ok ok, I have to list four things ..
4) Arwan. His story, is going to be an interesting one!
So saying all this, I overal loved the plot! It was certainly a story I had trouble putting down.
The only thing that I didnt like as much.. the ending! How can we leave the story ending like this !! Lol I'm lucky that I dont have to wait to read book #2 as its waiting for me on my kindle!
December 18, 2016
Mayan Blood is a teen novel about a girl growing up in an orphanage and having night terrors about this evil entity. She is kidnapped from there and she finds it is really a rescue. The night terrors are real. She is part of mythology, with super powers to boot. She meets others where she is taken and they also have powers.
What a wonderful cover for the book. The intro to the book started out good but it lagged a bit in the middle but kicked back up in the end. There was a lot of teen much boy/girl jealousy, but I guess that's teens!
I received this book for a honest review from NetGalley.
What a wonderful cover for the book. The intro to the book started out good but it lagged a bit in the middle but kicked back up in the end. There was a lot of teen much boy/girl jealousy, but I guess that's teens!
I received this book for a honest review from NetGalley.
Read
July 30, 2019I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The file I have received for my Kindle is unfortunately difficult to read.
After page breaks the sentences from the previous page and current page are mixed up, chopped up and in disarray. I have to skip paragraphs and points in the story get lost.
Also, spaces between words are missing or placed randomly within words. Sadly, this takes away from the reading experience and makes it impossible to focus on the story, which requires the reader's full attention.
ElliotScribbles
The file I have received for my Kindle is unfortunately difficult to read.
After page breaks the sentences from the previous page and current page are mixed up, chopped up and in disarray. I have to skip paragraphs and points in the story get lost.
Also, spaces between words are missing or placed randomly within words. Sadly, this takes away from the reading experience and makes it impossible to focus on the story, which requires the reader's full attention.
ElliotScribbles
April 5, 2015
This book was very well written. I believe this author shows great promise to become quite amazing in what she will be able to do going forward with her writing career. This book is the first in a series where I can't wait for the next book to come out so I can find out where she will take the characters next. I was quickly transported into the world in which this story takes place and can't wait to be taken back there. With the right balance of action and romance it keeps the reader turning the pages to find out what will happen next. I can't wait for the next installment!!
April 7, 2015
This is the first in a series. I think I give the 4.5 stars simply because I want to give the incentive to the author to keep pushing higher. However, this book alone stands quite tall. There is mystery, intrigue, romance and it all wraps well for both genders with nail biting suspense and great action (and some gory) scenes. Keeping a great balance for every reader.
I am anxiously awaiting the next installment so I can find the answers or developments of so many plots and people.
Well done!
I am anxiously awaiting the next installment so I can find the answers or developments of so many plots and people.
Well done!
March 8, 2018
It was an okay read. I found Zanya annoying a lot of times. Which, to be honest, nearly put me off this series all together. I'll still read though. Because of Arwan, and everyone else, with the exception of Jay. But I hope Zanya would grow and mature a fair bit in the next book. I can't take the whole 'jump-in-and-damn-the-consequences' approach. Ya know...because it's the fate of the world we're talking about 😒. Anyway, okay read. Totally recommend it. You'll never be bored.
Now that I'm thinking about it. It would be cool if the rest of the books would be from the pov of other characters. Hawa's got me hooked. They all have. Kinda tired of Zanya already 😴😂. Anyways. I'm off the next one. Adios and Happy reading!
UPDATE: *gasp* The next one (from what I read in the blurb lol) iiis from someone else's pov *excited clapping*. YES! (I hope this is really the case because I'm in page 1!)
Now that I'm thinking about it. It would be cool if the rest of the books would be from the pov of other characters. Hawa's got me hooked. They all have. Kinda tired of Zanya already 😴😂. Anyways. I'm off the next one. Adios and Happy reading!
UPDATE: *gasp* The next one (from what I read in the blurb lol) iiis from someone else's pov *excited clapping*. YES! (I hope this is really the case because I'm in page 1!)
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