Jeanette is not like the other 17-year-old, gray-eyed girls in the war-torn kingdom of Amarin. While the other girls hope to regain the green eye color of their ancestors at spring festival and win the prince's favor, Jeanette has other plans to escape her stifled village life.
After the caravan arrives, Jeanette fears that she will have to trade one caged life for another. But a series of visions gives her the guidance and determination to break free and fulfill her true purpose - giving hope to her people and fighting to end the war.
MAIDEN is loosely inspired by the life of Joan of Arc.
"Sorensen's writing is steady, clear, and devoid of artifice." - The Roanoke Times
“Chris Sorensen is a gifted storyteller!” - Midwest Book Review
Chris Sorensen is a native of Richmond, VA. A high school counselor by profession, his passion is stories. He also loves naps, ice cream, watching cartoons with his kids, and making a fool of himself in public (according to his wife).
MAIDEN is his first YA novel and is an adventure, coming-of-age story loosely inspired by Joan of Arc. He also has two adult, inspirational novels in publication. THE GREATEST DISCOVERY was a regional favorite and won Book-of-the-Year for the Virginia College Stores Association (2003). The prequel, THE GREATEST CHOICE, followed in 2007.
Chris loves to discuss anything to do with books, publishing, and writing. He would love to hear from you!
A daring tale of heroism, adventure, and not doubting yourself and your God given gifts and abilities. An enjoyable read for all ages, but highly recommended for teenage girls, to inspire them to be brave and most importantly to follow their dreams and be themselves. I second what other reviews have said, this book shines without the use of gimmicky language or vulgarity.
A fun and easy read, you will easily be transported into the land of Amarin and see the action for yourself. I can't wait to see what the rest of this trilogy has in store!
I don't read any book that doesn't engage me right away, or makes me care about the characters. With that said, it was impossible not to become deeply involved with the characters of Maiden, and care about their personal journey. When I read a book, I always picture everything as if it were happening in a film, and Maiden is definitely cinematic in scope. It's perfect for a teenage or tween girl, even up to young adult. I found it instilling a theme of discovering one's on intrinsic value and personal talents. The author has a knack for engaging storytelling and his writing is devoid of any of the gratuitous gimmicks writers often use to be "edgy" or to "stimulate" the reader like profanity, sensuality, and violence. Instead, he lets the story and characters do the work of exciting the reader. It's the perfect coming of age story for any young woman.
Couldn't put it down, but definitely for younger readers. But I still can't wait to find out what happens in the next book! A little different from typical princess books, and the main character is not predictable.
This is definitely a book I would read to my daughter (she's 12, and yes, I still read to her). All of the characters are interesting, and leave you wanting to know the rest of their personal stories. There are also some surprises along the way; the general story line is predictable, but the details are unexpected. That would have to be my favorite element of Maiden, because I'm not often surprised by the storyline. There are minor typos and errors here and there, but not enough to detract from the story. I'm looking forward to book 2!
I really love the characters and the story and it's pace keep me engaged. The writing is rough at times, but the author makes up for that with interesting characters and an excellent plot. I look forward to the sequel.
Maiden is a great book. I really enjoyed the way that Chris captivates the reader. I hate that this series is not complete yet because I hate to wait for the others to hit the shelfs. Well done.