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The Elf and the Amulet
Many things which seem useless are magical to those who know how to use them...
Waet Tree Village has family roots and traditions as ancient as the silver trees themselves. It is here that Chassy, Nita and Andrev were born, and here they are expected to remain until they die. Chassy Waet will join in the village's great silk weaving tradition. His best friend, Nita Smyth, will become a dutiful wife and mother. Her brother, Andrev, will run the family's inn. Their idyllic life starts to unravel when the dying wizard Vornole arrives at the inn and sends them on a dangerous quest to recover a magical amulet. They learn that the world outside of Waet Tree Village is nothing like the storybooks they grew up with, and the Amulet of Hope is only the beginning. Will they prevail?
Waet Tree Village has family roots and traditions as ancient as the silver trees themselves. It is here that Chassy, Nita and Andrev were born, and here they are expected to remain until they die. Chassy Waet will join in the village's great silk weaving tradition. His best friend, Nita Smyth, will become a dutiful wife and mother. Her brother, Andrev, will run the family's inn. Their idyllic life starts to unravel when the dying wizard Vornole arrives at the inn and sends them on a dangerous quest to recover a magical amulet. They learn that the world outside of Waet Tree Village is nothing like the storybooks they grew up with, and the Amulet of Hope is only the beginning. Will they prevail?
304 pages, Paperback
Published October 5, 2017
8 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Chris Africa
3 books28 followersOn an average day, I'm a successful project manager, wife, and mother of an artistic daughter. Plus, I write stuff.
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August 10, 2018My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a review copy of this book.
This is the first of a series, the Deathsworn series (not sure how many books in total), and is essentially a fantasy adventure. The book opens with sixteen-year-old Chassy and his friend Nita, who live in Waet Tree village, the former an adventurous type who wants to see the world, and Nita who wants to stay home and eventually take over the Two Pumpkin Inn which her parents run. Their decision to eavesdrop on a conversation between two mysterious guests at the Two Pumpkin however turns their plans upside down, and they, along with Nita’s bookish brother Andrev must set out on an adventure to track down an elf, and recover a stolen amulet with magical powers. On their journey, they must travel through the Blackwood, and face several other dangers. They team up with a band of travelling merchants led by the handsome William, who have secrets of their own. The three adventurers must come to terms with their quest that none of them are particularly willing to undertake, the world outside their little village, so different from their own, and things about themselves that they didn’t ever know or expect.
The book has the usual/typical set-up of a teens’/children’s/YA fantasy adventure—three teen protagonists (one of course being a bookish one—in this case Andrev) thrown into adventure all of a sudden with a prophecy surrounding them (and a not very positive one for one of the three), here very sudden because as soon as we open the first few pages the adventure begins. The author definitely gets points for imagination, thinking up creatures, places, and worlds that we have just begun to be introduced to, and which promise to grow more detailed and richer as the series progresses. The plot itself is fairly enjoyable, again nothing out of the ordinary but one that one enjoys following. For me specifically, the initial parts were readable but they didn’t prevent me from taking breaks in between (that’s partly why it took me longer than usual to read the book), but once some secrets about our protagonists start to come forth, it gripped me a little more. The protagonists themselves—Chassy, Nita, and Andrev are fairly well drawn out, have the characters of typical teens (somewhat petulant, a touch arrogant), and also perspectives and fears that are to do with their upbringing in a sheltered environment with little contact with the outside world. But still somehow, I didn’t really take to them at the start, and found them somewhat annoying (even lacking in common sense). Nita improved a little for me on moving on, but I don’t know about the others though I wasn’t finding them as annoying later on as I did at the start. I wouldn’t mind reading on to see how the series progresses in the second book, but this one was pleasant, and enjoyable even but nothing extraordinary/standout for me. Three and a half stars.
This is the first of a series, the Deathsworn series (not sure how many books in total), and is essentially a fantasy adventure. The book opens with sixteen-year-old Chassy and his friend Nita, who live in Waet Tree village, the former an adventurous type who wants to see the world, and Nita who wants to stay home and eventually take over the Two Pumpkin Inn which her parents run. Their decision to eavesdrop on a conversation between two mysterious guests at the Two Pumpkin however turns their plans upside down, and they, along with Nita’s bookish brother Andrev must set out on an adventure to track down an elf, and recover a stolen amulet with magical powers. On their journey, they must travel through the Blackwood, and face several other dangers. They team up with a band of travelling merchants led by the handsome William, who have secrets of their own. The three adventurers must come to terms with their quest that none of them are particularly willing to undertake, the world outside their little village, so different from their own, and things about themselves that they didn’t ever know or expect.
The book has the usual/typical set-up of a teens’/children’s/YA fantasy adventure—three teen protagonists (one of course being a bookish one—in this case Andrev) thrown into adventure all of a sudden with a prophecy surrounding them (and a not very positive one for one of the three), here very sudden because as soon as we open the first few pages the adventure begins. The author definitely gets points for imagination, thinking up creatures, places, and worlds that we have just begun to be introduced to, and which promise to grow more detailed and richer as the series progresses. The plot itself is fairly enjoyable, again nothing out of the ordinary but one that one enjoys following. For me specifically, the initial parts were readable but they didn’t prevent me from taking breaks in between (that’s partly why it took me longer than usual to read the book), but once some secrets about our protagonists start to come forth, it gripped me a little more. The protagonists themselves—Chassy, Nita, and Andrev are fairly well drawn out, have the characters of typical teens (somewhat petulant, a touch arrogant), and also perspectives and fears that are to do with their upbringing in a sheltered environment with little contact with the outside world. But still somehow, I didn’t really take to them at the start, and found them somewhat annoying (even lacking in common sense). Nita improved a little for me on moving on, but I don’t know about the others though I wasn’t finding them as annoying later on as I did at the start. I wouldn’t mind reading on to see how the series progresses in the second book, but this one was pleasant, and enjoyable even but nothing extraordinary/standout for me. Three and a half stars.
August 1, 2018
Publishing Date: May 2018
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
ISBN: 9781976223358
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.3/5
Publisher’s Description: One summer day, their idyllic lives start to unravel, when a freaky creature straight out of a legend arrives spouting prophecies about the destruction of their village. Then an old wizard sends them on a quest with a bunch of useless gifts, but he dies before even telling them where to go. Retrieve the Amulet of Hope or all is lost! That’s all they know; that’s all anyone can tell them.
So they set off in pursuit of this mysterious amulet, each for his or her own reason. They learn that the world outside of Waet Tree Village is nothing like the storybooks they grew up with, and the Amulet of Hope is only the beginning of their adventures.
Review: This was a fun read. Not mind boggling or ground breaking with regard to the story line, yet rife with inventive characterization and constant movement in the form of a quest.
As with any quest, the goal is what drives the story line, and in this case the patterned road to culmination is never realized as it sputters down with interruptions in lieu of a sequel. Initially I thought this was pretty good slow reveal of magic, where it is earned or discovered rather than thrust upon the characters. What we get is a mix of earned discovery and speshulness that at once disappoints and elevates interest.
The characters and their interactions with each other are what really drives the novels success. I like that Nita punches guys that get out of line but hate when she blushes and gets girly around handsome men. Chassy is a great character that reveals a depth not displayed by the others. A really good character to shoulder a novel. Andrev is a dick and continues to be a sour dickhole for most of the novel, which got really tiring after the first few chapters. William is a stalwart mystery that begs his own story along with his band of really interesting cohorts.
This novel really walked the line between 3 and 4 stars so let us be hopeful that the sequel burns brighter.
Check out all of my reviews, here.
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
ISBN: 9781976223358
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.3/5
Publisher’s Description: One summer day, their idyllic lives start to unravel, when a freaky creature straight out of a legend arrives spouting prophecies about the destruction of their village. Then an old wizard sends them on a quest with a bunch of useless gifts, but he dies before even telling them where to go. Retrieve the Amulet of Hope or all is lost! That’s all they know; that’s all anyone can tell them.
So they set off in pursuit of this mysterious amulet, each for his or her own reason. They learn that the world outside of Waet Tree Village is nothing like the storybooks they grew up with, and the Amulet of Hope is only the beginning of their adventures.
Review: This was a fun read. Not mind boggling or ground breaking with regard to the story line, yet rife with inventive characterization and constant movement in the form of a quest.
As with any quest, the goal is what drives the story line, and in this case the patterned road to culmination is never realized as it sputters down with interruptions in lieu of a sequel. Initially I thought this was pretty good slow reveal of magic, where it is earned or discovered rather than thrust upon the characters. What we get is a mix of earned discovery and speshulness that at once disappoints and elevates interest.
The characters and their interactions with each other are what really drives the novels success. I like that Nita punches guys that get out of line but hate when she blushes and gets girly around handsome men. Chassy is a great character that reveals a depth not displayed by the others. A really good character to shoulder a novel. Andrev is a dick and continues to be a sour dickhole for most of the novel, which got really tiring after the first few chapters. William is a stalwart mystery that begs his own story along with his band of really interesting cohorts.
This novel really walked the line between 3 and 4 stars so let us be hopeful that the sequel burns brighter.
Check out all of my reviews, here.
September 22, 2018
“The Elf and the Amulet” is a charming fantasy-adventure story with the makings of a coming-of-age tale as our three main characters age throughout the series. Often, this book had me thinking of the journey in “The Hobbit” where it starts as just a fun adventure on something that sounds like a grand quest, only to show early on just how in over their heads the characters have become, and how much they underestimated the perils of their journey. Well, everyone seemed to underestimate the perils, because, after all, these are kids and the adults send them into the world with pretty much nothing.
This seems to be a hallmark of a lot of MG books; a vague prophecy is shared and then adults are told a group of children are the only ones capable of fulfilling a quest. No one questions this because of the person who gives the proclamation, so no one feels like they have a choice in the matter. Except they kind of do. Just because Nita, Chassy, and Andrev are the ones who need to recover an amulet for a wizard, it doesn’t mean their parents can’t accompany them, or give them money or something so they can buy food or lodgings along the way. But, as that seems to be the trope of MG, I’ll let it go, especially as with how the adventure reads, and how the characters interact with one another, kids in middle-school and even elementary school would enjoy the journey the author takes her readers on. The writing is easy to follow, and none of the characters are overly complex to where a younger reader would overlook certain nuances. The task and journey are straight forward: recover the amulet and deliver it to its final destination. While there is action in the form of bandit ambushes and raids, none of the violence, language, or even the mild romance, has any mature content to it, so younger readers shouldn’t find it overly intense.
Another element that makes this book good for a Middle Grade audiences, more-so than YA, is how the magic and world building is presented. A lot of the world-building is only present as necessary. So, while, for me as an older reader, it came off feeling as if certain elements that get introduce late are just convenient ways to avoid plot holes, for a younger reader, this may come as more of a fun twist. Either way, it’s just something to consider when you're debating which story, with a classic journey vibe, to read next.
In fact, what’s keeping me from rating this book higher, as I do think it could be a lot of fun for younger readers, as the journey is pretty fast paced and all the characters feel distinct from one another, is that I simply did not like Nita. Which is odd, because I normally love all no-nonsense, tough, female characters. But her aggression and general mean attitude just had her being rather unlikeable for me, especially as I considered if I’d want a young reader to think some of her reactions, especially towards her friends and family, was an appropriate response—which it isn’t. I was also getting a bit frustrated towards the end because I didn’t feel as if the bigger prophecy was addressed. I never got the sense that things were starting to become clear and the three characters were moving towards their foretold path. Not a great deal was accomplished and then the story just kind of … ends with several characters motivations for doing the things they did left unclear, potentially to be answered at a later time. There will be a sequel, which is great as so much still needs to be addressed—maybe too much?
So while I do like this book for a younger audience, I didn’t love it and I am still left a bit confused as to what, exactly, is supposed to happen now/next, or why, which is why this is a 3 star for me. Still, if you are looking for a fun, innocent, and fast paced read for a younger reader, give “The Elf and the Amulet” a go! And thanks to the author for providing me with a copy for review.
This seems to be a hallmark of a lot of MG books; a vague prophecy is shared and then adults are told a group of children are the only ones capable of fulfilling a quest. No one questions this because of the person who gives the proclamation, so no one feels like they have a choice in the matter. Except they kind of do. Just because Nita, Chassy, and Andrev are the ones who need to recover an amulet for a wizard, it doesn’t mean their parents can’t accompany them, or give them money or something so they can buy food or lodgings along the way. But, as that seems to be the trope of MG, I’ll let it go, especially as with how the adventure reads, and how the characters interact with one another, kids in middle-school and even elementary school would enjoy the journey the author takes her readers on. The writing is easy to follow, and none of the characters are overly complex to where a younger reader would overlook certain nuances. The task and journey are straight forward: recover the amulet and deliver it to its final destination. While there is action in the form of bandit ambushes and raids, none of the violence, language, or even the mild romance, has any mature content to it, so younger readers shouldn’t find it overly intense.
Another element that makes this book good for a Middle Grade audiences, more-so than YA, is how the magic and world building is presented. A lot of the world-building is only present as necessary. So, while, for me as an older reader, it came off feeling as if certain elements that get introduce late are just convenient ways to avoid plot holes, for a younger reader, this may come as more of a fun twist. Either way, it’s just something to consider when you're debating which story, with a classic journey vibe, to read next.
In fact, what’s keeping me from rating this book higher, as I do think it could be a lot of fun for younger readers, as the journey is pretty fast paced and all the characters feel distinct from one another, is that I simply did not like Nita. Which is odd, because I normally love all no-nonsense, tough, female characters. But her aggression and general mean attitude just had her being rather unlikeable for me, especially as I considered if I’d want a young reader to think some of her reactions, especially towards her friends and family, was an appropriate response—which it isn’t. I was also getting a bit frustrated towards the end because I didn’t feel as if the bigger prophecy was addressed. I never got the sense that things were starting to become clear and the three characters were moving towards their foretold path. Not a great deal was accomplished and then the story just kind of … ends with several characters motivations for doing the things they did left unclear, potentially to be answered at a later time. There will be a sequel, which is great as so much still needs to be addressed—maybe too much?
So while I do like this book for a younger audience, I didn’t love it and I am still left a bit confused as to what, exactly, is supposed to happen now/next, or why, which is why this is a 3 star for me. Still, if you are looking for a fun, innocent, and fast paced read for a younger reader, give “The Elf and the Amulet” a go! And thanks to the author for providing me with a copy for review.
September 13, 2018
I read this book via NetGalley.
I don’t know what to make of this book to be honest.
It’s about three kids/teenagers given the task of retrieving an amulet from an elf, and then taking it to a city to be secured.
It was very fast paced at the beginning. I just wanted their story to start already. I loved the magical elements of things. And when they joined with another group to carry on their journey, that was thrilling!
But then when they were separated, it kind of fell all over the place for me. The ending was very quick, and I felt it could have gone on for longer. I didn’t quite catch if they had actually delivered the amulet or not.
The book was only 300 pages long and I feel it could have been longer and more explained at the end. More thought out.
I had another problem with the fact that each chapter was from a different child’s perspective, but you didn’t know which child until a few sentences, maybe even a paragraph, into the chapter. If there was a name as the chapter heading, or something, to indicate whose perspective it is at that point, it would have been a lot less confusing.
I want to read the next book when it comes out - only to tie up the lose ends though.
I don’t know what to make of this book to be honest.
It’s about three kids/teenagers given the task of retrieving an amulet from an elf, and then taking it to a city to be secured.
It was very fast paced at the beginning. I just wanted their story to start already. I loved the magical elements of things. And when they joined with another group to carry on their journey, that was thrilling!
But then when they were separated, it kind of fell all over the place for me. The ending was very quick, and I felt it could have gone on for longer. I didn’t quite catch if they had actually delivered the amulet or not.
The book was only 300 pages long and I feel it could have been longer and more explained at the end. More thought out.
I had another problem with the fact that each chapter was from a different child’s perspective, but you didn’t know which child until a few sentences, maybe even a paragraph, into the chapter. If there was a name as the chapter heading, or something, to indicate whose perspective it is at that point, it would have been a lot less confusing.
I want to read the next book when it comes out - only to tie up the lose ends though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2017
The Elf and the Amulet is a very good book that I liked reading. It’s about a boy named Chassy who, with the help of his friends, Nita and her brother, Andrev, are given a mission by a wizard. They go on their mission to find an elf named Lyear to retrieve the amulet and deliver it to other wizards. Along the way, they meet people who want to help them, and dangerous people who try to hurt them and do bad things to them. Do they catch Lyear? Where is the amulet? What happens after they reunite? I give this book a 4 stars.
July 13, 2018
This story is a fun romp through the world outside of Waet Tree Village - adventure, excitement, oh fluff! moments, obscure prophecies, magic goodies and odd-ball characters. The novel is an enjoyable, well-written, fast-paced, adventure-quest involving a collection of teenagers that have got into deeper events than they realised. While this book does not end on a cliff-hanger, it is definately the first book of a series - the story doesn't end here. I am looking forward to the next installment.
August 27, 2018
Chassy, Nita, and Andrev are thrown smacked dab into an adventurous journey, one that would mature them faster than they thought, in ways they never dreamed possible, in their simple lifestyle. It’s Filled with powerful magic with them some of the most powerful untrained users ever. This epic and magical tale is froth with dangerous and deadly perils with a saboteur hidden in plain sight and treacherous encounters along the way. This book makes for a relaxing, captivating, intriguing and exciting must read, that is richly entertaining.
August 6, 2018
I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought the author did a good job developing the characters and allowing the reader to feel as they were one within the story. I am curious to see how the author is going to carry on the adventure in the next book.
June 14, 2019
Deaths worn 1
Your book has a great background for the three teens to grow and start maturing. The book is a great start to read the others. I can't wait to get them to read what happens to Nita, Chasse and Andrev.
Your book has a great background for the three teens to grow and start maturing. The book is a great start to read the others. I can't wait to get them to read what happens to Nita, Chasse and Andrev.
December 21, 2017
4.5/5 stars
I read The Elf and the Amulet via my KU subscription. Chassy, Nita, and Nita's brother Andrev are thrust into a wild adventure after Chassy and Nita eavesdrop on two mysterious travelers. Finding themselves 'deathsworn' to a dying wizard, they must track down and deliver a magical amulet to the appropriate hands.
This is an exciting and fun story with many imaginative magical components. The characters are well drawn and believable, with William being my favorite. I recommend this to any lover of adventure and fantasy and look forward to the continuation.
I read The Elf and the Amulet via my KU subscription. Chassy, Nita, and Nita's brother Andrev are thrust into a wild adventure after Chassy and Nita eavesdrop on two mysterious travelers. Finding themselves 'deathsworn' to a dying wizard, they must track down and deliver a magical amulet to the appropriate hands.
This is an exciting and fun story with many imaginative magical components. The characters are well drawn and believable, with William being my favorite. I recommend this to any lover of adventure and fantasy and look forward to the continuation.
October 16, 2017
Great book to read! The author easily kept my interest and left me craving more. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I’m excited to see how each character develops and what adventures they embark on, now that they’ve started to learn more about themselves, and their family history. If you’re looking for a fun book to take you on an adventure, this one is for you. Hurry up and write the next one!
September 2, 2019
This was a fun and easy read. I enjoyed that the characters were pretty well rounded. Cannot wait to pick up the next in the series.
I recieved this book for free from Netgalley for a honest review.
I recieved this book for free from Netgalley for a honest review.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews