Aret

by Kelly Wolf

Have you ever felt like you’re in the wrong skin? Like your reflection is a lie? Like your true self hides behind a veil, waiting to emerge, and your dreams are trying to tell you something?

Diana Scarlett knows those feelings well. And she’s right.

On the night of her 21st birthday, Diana’s only wish is to slink into a bar and drown her sorrows, but a surly stranger has different plans. “I am not here to educate you, Dragon,” he sneers in her drunken face. “I am here so that I may find you on our true world. And kill you.” When he barks out an insult in a snarling tongue she somehow comprehends, she knows she has every reason to be afraid.

From that moment, Diana is swept into a whirlwind of self-discovery, a journey that ultimately returns her to the world of Aret, where a seemingly-endless, bloody war between humans and dragons has raged for decades.

Genres: Fantasy

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2016

About the author

When Kelly Wolf was 4 years old, she wrote her first story. It was about a duckling who became an accessory to a bank robbery. She likes to think her work has improved since then.

Kelly works, writes, walks her dogs, takes pictures, wanders through the woods, and stand-up paddleboards in and around Black Mountain, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the exception of the first Harry Potter, this is the only book of fantasy I’ve read. I’m not sure what I expected - but I know I did NOT expect to be so entertained, so caught up, and most of all so moved by a work of fantasy. This is a captivating read. The prologue does what a prologue should do - pulls you into the story to find out what’s going to happen; and the first line of the story grabs you and launches you into the action.

This author has a tremendous imagination and writes a compelling story in which anything can happen - and does! She makes the impossible seem perfectly plausible in a most enjoyable way.

Diana Scarlett is a wonderful protagonist - a woman whose life is changed in an instant, but who retains her wry sense of humor and finds a well of courage and sense of purpose she never knew she possessed.

Ms. Wolf uses this fanciful story of a war between humans and dragons on two separate worlds to explore many themes. The obvious one is war and peace - and this book is a much-needed call for peace in our own time and place. She writes with heart, compassion and hope. (One of my favorite lines from the book: “Seeing no other choice, he has decided to hope.”) The story also weaves in themes of family ties, loyalty, friendship and love.

This book would make a wonderful animated feature film - I’d love to see that! In the meantime, I will just wait impatiently for “Aret: Book Two” to come out to see what’s next in store for Diana, Sien and their worlds.

[Drue Skaryd · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started this book, I was drawn in to this fantastical story. I could not put the book down and at the same time, hoped the book would never end. The characters are well developed and instantly relatable. I don’t generally read books that can be classified as fantasy; however, when the dragons came to be in this book, I was hooked and no longer thought of a dragon as some fantastical creature, but rather thought of the dragons as persons I might know. The author was also able to describe a complex fantasy world just through the telling of her story without relying on pages and pages of description to convey the details. Because this book is so well written, I would recommend it to everyone – regardless of the genres they may typically read. I am anxiously awaiting books 2 and 3 of this series.

[JR Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! This book grabs you and doesn't let go. Diana's flippin' hilarious. I was pretty shocked and upset by the final scene. Can't wait for Book 2 to see how it all plays out. Diana might've gone too far.

[Sheri Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

So exciting! Love the concept, love the characters, love the world building. Redemption is always possible. Can't wait to see what happens in the next one!

[ann sorvari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially not a reader of fantasy, and having little dragon experience to call upon, I entered the world of Aret somewhat tentatively. I left it as a fan. Author Kelly Wolf has given herself a grand scale to work with: two worlds, two species, interworld war, and a back-and-forth time structure. But she's made it intimate and engaging at the same time. I was caught by the beautifully imagined world of Aret, with its color-denoted clans, political organization, and mating and child-rearing customs. Even more, I was fascinated by Diana's journey of recognition, acceptance, and empowerment and her changing relationship with Sien, at first her enemy and later a potential ally and agent of change. The tempo increases, the stakes rise, it's not clear which loyalties will hold. But by the end of the book, fundamental decisions have been made, and there's no turning back. I hope the next volumes follow in quick succession; I'm most definitely in.

[Frank Menser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read thousands of books, but as far as I can remember, this venture into the realm of fantasy was my first. So I was skeptical - but I was wrong to be. The story captured me. The author has beautifully woven a complex plot without turning it into macrame. The characters, including the dragons, came alive and I often felt like I was a participant - or at least an observer - in the story. I flew with the Red Matriarch; tasted the soup in the restaurant; felt the pain of the Green Matriarch; and finally, could pass back and forth between Earth and Aret as easily as Diana.

In short, Aret is a great read. The end provided a satisfying closure to this episode and a perfect lead-in to Book 2. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.

[Sour Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I'll admit it. I was a little girl who loved dragons. After reading Aret, it's become clear that I never grew out of that. But these are not the dragons of childhood. These are real, feeling, thinking, flawed beings imbued with what can only be called "human" characteristics. Our heroine, Diana, is both kick-ass and vulnerable, wise & naive; she has depth! Read this book. I'm not going to include spoilers, you'll just have to take my word for it. Aret allows you an indulgent escape to another reality all the while drawing relevant parallels to our own. Kelly Wolf is a wonderfully gifted new writer, and I can't wait to read more from her!

[Devon Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so much fun to read that it took a while to notice the profound effect its deeper themes were having on my subconscious. Noble quests. The devastating effects of endless war. The best of humanity trying to triumph over the worst. Impossible love. Betrayal. Ferocious hope. FLYING. Kelly Wolf leaves the reader dying to know what happens next... I can feel a huge storm brewing, and I'm going to have to hang on for dear life. Can't wait. I highly recommend for anyone who loves quests, dragons, fantasy lands and complex, flawed, but delightfully bad-ass women.

[Brian Bisesi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read! And sure, it scratches that fantasy, dragony itch, but what makes this book great are its deeper themes that feel extremely applicable to our world today (fear-mongering, demonizing those that are different, endless war, etc). If you can squeeze all that into a page turner about dragons, you've got all 5 of my stars. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Chris Skaryd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Very creative. A fantasy book that even people adverse to the genre can enjoy. One of my favorite opening lines to a book in recent memory: "“If, after twenty-one years of life, it must be pointed out to you that you are, in fact, a dragon, it’s time to develop some self-awareness."

[Debbi]

Oh. My. Gosh. I loved it!!! I couldn't get enough. The characters were developed so thoroughly and colorfully. I have never read any book that jumped between worlds this way but I really enjoyed the jumping back and forth. The imagination that it took to write this story is amazing. I can't wait for the 2nd book...hurry Kelly!!!

[Caro Raciti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aret - Book 1

Aret will grab you and won't let go until you finish it. When are books 2 & 3 coming out? I also imagine a great movie in the future!!!