Shock of Fate

Anchoress #1

by D.L. Armillei

One ordinary teenager. One extraordinary mission. And a destiny she never expected.

Like every other teenager on Providence Island, fifteen-year-old Vanessa Cross is so ready to party her summer away—until her father disappears. And rumors fly that he’s a traitor.

Plucked from her ordinary life to journey to an alternate world to retrieve a priceless relic, Van bends—okay, breaks—the rules to sneak her best friend along to help with a quest of her own. Find her father. Prove his innocence.

What she finds will test her heart, her wits, and her courage, and push her along a stumbling path toward a destiny she never expected or wanted. Failure to rise to the challenge could destroy her friends. What’s left of her family. And the people she was born to protect.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

474 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2017

About the author

D. L. Armillei (Donna) is a USA Today and international bestselling author who began her storytelling journey at just four years old. Unable to read or write at the time, she presented her mother with a "story" in "cursive," hoping to hear it read aloud. Instead, her mother lovingly tucked the pages away, promising they’d read it together once Donna learned to read and write.

Today, Donna crafts compelling stories filled with imagination and depth. Her flagship Anchoress series—a young adult/adult crossover quest fantasy—invites readers into an intricately woven world of adventure, spiritual self-discovery, and empowerment.

The debut novel, Shock of Fate, hit #1 in Epic Fantasy on Amazon in February 2022 and earned the New Apple Award for Excellence in Publishing in 2017. Book three, Helm of Awe, claimed the President's Award Gold Medal at the 2023 Florida Author and Publishers Association Book Awards. Fans of Shadow and Bone and Percy Jackson often find themselves enchanted by the Anchoress series.

Originally from Massachusetts, Donna splits her time between her home state and Florida.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is just simply amazing, not only does this book have great characters, an amazing plot, but it has so much action your put right in the middle of it in the very first chapter. This was the first installment in this series and I personally can’t wait to see what our author gives us next. Van was an excellent character, sometimes you love her and sometimes you can’t stand her. But when Van’s world is released to her a few pieces play a time what will happen when she has to go on a mission? But truth be told this book has a little bit of everything from magic, drama, tension, action, and so much more that it will make your head spin. So make sure to pick up your copy today.

[Lylah · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Probably a 1.5)This book was so PREDICTABLE. From the moment BRUX came in, we all know Van and him are gonna fall in love. Of course she’s gotta hate him first so it can be ‘enemies to lovers’.And then we have the moment Van eavesdropped on the conversation about the ‘Anchoress in waiting’ and assumed it was daisy…
COME ON. WE ALL KNOW YOU’RE THE ANCHORESS GIRL.

I didn’t even finish this book!!! That’s how terrible it is! AND PALEY AND VAN ARE SO IRRITATING. Van was right at the beginning of the book. SHE IS USELESS.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanessa Cross is only fifteen years old but she loves the finer things in life such as clothes, perfect nails, shopping, anything. All she wants to do for summer break is spend her days at the beach, getting her nails done and shop till she drops. Vanessa knows what she wants out of life, marriage to Ken and lots of children. She is always surrounded by friends but her best friend is Paley, whom she can not be without. Paley has never had the kind of life Vanessa has had as she is an orphan living in the orphanage but Paley has learned the best ways to sneak around without being caught. The two are inseparable and often find themselves in trouble.

Vanessa learns that her father is in trouble and now finds herself face to face with his boss who has called upon her and reveals some very disturbing and unreal news. Vanessa is now called upon to join a mission to help the fate of mankind. Everything she thought she knew is a lie. Everything she ever believed in is a lie. Those she thought she could trust is a lie. Vanessa now finds herself on a harrowing life or death journey to an alternate world. They have all been hand picked for their unique skills, but what skills does Vanessa have? She doesn’t know. They have been tasked with finding and retrieving the Coin of Creation. Slowly but surely on this venture Vanessa finds herself on a path of self discovery whilst trying to survive being caught by the enemy and finding and fighting magic. She has also found friendship and love but even they will be tested.

Will Vanessa and the others find what they are looking for? Will Vanessa survive all she needs to in order to stop the evil? Will she survive the struggles of her heart? In the end will they all endure and survive the treacherous journey?

This story is full of twist and turns, ups and downs that you never know what going to happen or just who to trust but is one story you will not want to put down until you know how it all ends.

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will start with…. This book somewhat infuriated me. I have never disliked a main character as much as Vanessa “Van”. She lives on Providence Island, with her friend Paley, and boyfriend (I think? It is never truly clarified) Ken. She is chosen for a mission, and she sneaks Paley along for the ride, not knowing that if they are seperated, they both could die. (They stole two gemstones, to go through a portal, which now cannot be seperated) Van had everything handed to her on the Island, never actually achieving anything on her own. When other people in the beginning used that against her in an altercation, I kind of felt sorry for her. But as they book continued on, she proved herself more and more useless, completely without any useful skills. And to top it off she has to got to be the most dense character I have ever encountered. I understand that being teleported to another world for a mission that knows nothing about, that she obviously would be clueless on said world, and everything it entails. But as the book furthers, she remains ignorant and selfish, worrying more about a male teammate, Brux, and if he wants her, rather than the mission, or her friend Paley, who was just as useless as she was, and in constant danger for having no skills as well. The story itself was alright, I absolutely LOVED the side characters, who were Vans teammates on the mission, which was to retrieve a magical coin. I will not divulge on that, because even though I figured everything out right away, I do not want to post spoilers. The storyline was predictable, I knew what was going on the entire time, but with it all said and done, it was a decent read, albeit a slow one. I decided to give this book a 3 out of 5 stars. It had a lot of potential, but was completely drowned out by the lack there of from the main character.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book puts you right in the middle of the action immediately, which is always a great way to start a book! Michael Cross, part of an elite group, is out with a rookie doing a little demon hunting. Things go south rather quickly as the newbie puts herself in danger while she believes she is actually protecting an innocent. After this scene with Michael Cross, the book focuses on his fifteen-year-old daughter, Van. She's celebrating with her friends after the placement ceremony, and after some issues with her boyfriend, she heads home. However, all is not as it should be there. She sneaks around the perimeter of the house and overhears that her father is missing and is believed to have killed some sort of prince. She slips into a ground floor room, her father's study, and finds a few strange objects, which she takes with her. Most fascinating, perhaps, is a partially charred and singed book full of mysterious writing. The next day, she finds out that she will be going on a special mission for the group that her father works for during her summer break.

Where exactly is this mission? What has happened to her father? Has he really killed someone?

This book was surprising to me in a few ways. I was able to really get into that first scene with the father, the rookie, and the tragedy that followed. So I was surprised that the book took a completely different turn to focus on his teenage daughter, Van. The world of this book is very complex, and the details of it are slowly revealed—both to us as the reader and to Van. The world in which she grew up is so much more than she realized. And she and her father are caught in the maelstrom of what could be a catastrophe for everyone if she doesn’t live up to her destiny. So much was hidden from her growing up. What will it all mean for Van and her future?

Because I read a fair amount of paranormal, regular fantasy, and urban fantasy, I read more than my fair share of YA novels. Often in these books, the teenagers are actually quite mature, more like mini adults. But in this book, Van, Paley, and even Brux are definitely teenagers who don't yet have the full control of their executive prefrontal cortices. In fact, sometimes the decisions made by the two girls made me just want to give them a firm shake, and say, “Girl, what are you thinking?” they get themselves into so much danger, sometimes unwittingly and sometimes by choice.

Still, the characters in this book, including these teenagers, are well-drawn and multi-dimensional. So much is going on here, both what we can see and what is hinted at under the surface. With great world-building, solid characterization, and a well-paced plot, I found this book to be a compelling read.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanessa Cross is a fifteen year old with her whole future ahead of her, she has just completed the latest year of her schooling and is looking forward to summer, spending time with her friends and lounging about on the beach and maybe a couple of shopping trips, that is until the evening bonfire where she finds herself in trouble with a few other teens for attending the bonfire. Normally Vanessa is given a slap on the wrist, but this time, nothing happens and she walks home with her best friend, however, when she gets there, things are not as peaceful as they should be for the time of night and she is just sent to her room without the usual dramatics, that is until her best friend sneaks in to stay the night.

The next day, Vanessa has a visitor and after a brief conversation, she is asked to pack a bag and be ready to leave as she has been chosen for a summer project and that she has to be ready to travel later that evening, because her best friend was still there, she heard everything and she is determined to go with Vanessa no matter how against the rules it is. They decide to go for a last minute pamper session where the conversation they have is unusual to say the least, but it gives them a bit of insight into where Vanessa is going and how to sneak her best friend through as well. They think they have the perfect plan, but when they learn about the consequences of them breaking the rules and sneaking to this new place together, they are in way more trouble than they expected.

That evening, Vanessa finds out more about the project she will be a part of, she will be part of a team being sent out to find a relic, it is going to be tough, but while the teammates prepare for the journey, they are discussing current events that she had no idea about, including how her father is embroiled in them. As she listens to the gossip about her father turning traitor and the effects that this has been having on the world she knew nothing about, she decides that she needs to keep her relationship with her father quiet and so requests that her best friend does the same. It is at that moment that she decides that as well as searching for this relic, she will also search for a way to prover her fathers innocence and find him at the same time, but unbeknownst to Vanessa, this project will be a task with challenges Vanessa must overcome.

Will Vanessa be able to overcome the challenges and get the information she needs to prove her fathers innocence, or will she crack under the pressure? This is a fantasy adventure which is full of danger, magic, secrets and revelations, as friendships are tested to breaking point on this coming of age style journey in which Vanessa will be tested to see whether her heart and soul are up to the challenge of the destiny she neither wants or expects.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

D. L. Armillei’s Shock of Fate gets the Anchoress Series off to an exciting and intriguing start. The protagonist, Van Cross, is used to a comfortable life of lavender-scented towels on a secluded island where her biggest concern is her boyfriend’s infidelity. All of this changes when her father goes missing and she is summoned to the Living World to participate in a mission which seems to be connected to her father’s disappearance, as well as the many other mysteries surrounding her life so far.

The story has a very Tolkien-esque feel to it. A strange collection of characters with a rather convenient set of specialist skills are sent together on a very dangerous quest with completely inadequate information and supplies. There are tensions within the group, mostly arising from differences in race, background and priorities, as well as the many secrets the different members of the group are keeping from each other. Van, and her best friend Paley who she manages to sneak across to the Living World to join in the adventure, are often pining for the comforts of home, but don’t let this stop them contributing to the mission.There’s even a generous helping of myth-distorted history, prophecy and (almost) impossible to read texts and maps.

I think my favourite thing about the book is the magic system, based on vibrations. It is clear that a lot of thought has gone into how it works and what it can do, making it feel very believable. As Van has been brought up away from the Living World, with no knowledge of its existence, she needs a lot explained to her which allows the reader to get a good amount of background information and appreciate the complexity of the world Armillei has created.

I give this book five out of five stars - I really enjoyed reading it and getting to discover this fantastic world! If you enjoy fantasy quests I would recommend giving Shock of Fate a try!

[Amelia Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shock Of Fate is a fantasy book that has incredible world building and mythology. We are introduced to Van who is a very privileged young lady with a rich family history in all meaning of the word. Her father goes missing and she is pulled into worlds and situations she knows nothing of and doesn't understand.

The wonder of this book comes in the form of the journey of discovery as both Van and the reader learn of new worlds, mythology and family secrets together. It is quite an adventure that pulls in intriguing characters along the way and different events unfold that draw you closer to the truth of what is happening and raise your suspicions throughout. The imagination in this book is so good and it all helped my imagination as I was reading and trying to figure out what was happening and why. The descriptive world building is written in such detail that it gave me a clarity in which to absorb myself in this strange and unknown setting which can sometimes be difficult to do when reading books of this genre.

Even though the character of Van initially comes across as a bit spoilt and privileged, you see the strength and bravery of her start to come through as she leaves her idyllic life to embark on a mission that she really knows very little of. It is apparent that this will continue to grow and makes Van a realistic heroine. All of the characters make an impact and show their personalities as well as bring some humour and light hearted moments to break up the intense ones.

There are many layers to this story and the characters within it as well as the rich heritage of them and the mythos it entails. It is truly captivating and an absolute must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy, magic and adventure. I am so looking forward to reading the rest of this series and whatever this author may offer. I would highly recommend them.

[Infinity Sisters Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei is the first book in the Anchoress series. Vanessa Cross plans to idle away her summer, lounging on the beach and shopping, but all that changes with accusations made about her father. In order to find answers for her past, she has to work with a new group of friends to find the Coin of Creation before the corrupt princess, Solana, can. Heading into the Living World, Van discovers more than she ever expected: a wish-fulfilling bowl, gnomes, trolls, and soldiers. As she faces her worst fears, she discovers the truth about her past and her future.

D.L. Armillei has a fairly light style that never shies away from bullying, prejudice, war, and loss, and instead weaves these elements into Van's personal journey and growth. At the beginning Van is very selfish and entitled, but she's always presented with sympathy as she lashes out and strives to prove herself. This is just the start of Van's journey, but she comes a long way, and becomes a better person, the kind of hero I want to read more of. The tragedy that unfolds packed a real emotional punch. The past plays an immortal role for Van as she struggles to place all the pieces together in order to discover the actual truth. Armillei shows how hard it can be to understand history whenever you're not a physical part of that time. The history of the world is mysterious and heartbreaking, but it feels as if finding answers gives Van a sense of hope, at least a little. Shock of Fate is a coming of age story with a heroine that learns how to navigate friendship, new love, loss, and inner strength. A great first novel for a series!

[Jamie Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shock of Fate opens like a trapdoor in the floorboards of ordinary life. One moment you’re strolling along, minding your snacks, and the next you’ve plummeted into a world humming with arcane circuits, ancestral echoes, and a heroine who keeps discovering whole new rooms inside herself.

Our lead, poor thing, barely gets time to catch her breath before destiny yanks her by the sleeve. And what a destiny. The book whirls her through secret histories, sharp-edged betrayals, and pockets of wonder that feel like someone stitched bits of starlight into the margins. Along the way she fumbles, rises, questions everything, and somehow gathers enough courage to stare down the colossal truth waiting for her at the end.

The story’s rhythm snaps and sparks, shifting from quiet character moments to battles that feel powered by elemental engines. Every chapter seems to carry a hidden key, and just when you think you’ve unlocked the central mystery, another door swings open like the book is winking at you.

The supporting cast adds texture and shade: mentors with riddled pasts, allies who feel carved from stormwood, enemies you almost admire until you remember they’d absolutely destroy you without blinking.

By the final pages, Shock of Fate feels less like a read and more like an initiation. It leaves you charged, buzzing with questions, and absurdly eager for Book Two, as if the story has slipped a thread around your wrist and given a gentle tug.

If you enjoy fantasy that blends lore with emotional electricity, where fate isn’t a chain but a live wire, this book might sweep you right off your sensible shoes. ⚡📚

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shock of Fate is the first book I have read by Armillei. It was a really good adventure. The main character is Van and she is chosen for a “project” which actually has her traveling to another world, The Living World. She sneaks her best friend, Paley, along for the journey but little do they know what to expect or what they will discover. It seems nothing is as it seems in this story, in Van’s world or in the Living World. Van’s father may be keeping secrets from her, major secrets that could change everything.
The character of Van is a young teenage girl with nothing on her mind but beach, shopping and having fun. She works hard at school, believing she is taking special classes to help her, when in reality the classes are not what she thought. Summer comes and all she wants to do is be lazy. Instead she is chosen to take the journey of a lifetime which actually turns out to be a mission. The other characters in this story help with the laughter. Paley’s innocence made me laugh, Brux’s teasing did too. I loved the unique names for some of the characters as well, Uxa and Brux for starters.
Armillei has written a fun fantasy world with demons, magic and other worlds and even different tribes of people like the Lodians and the Balish. There are a lot of surprises in this story but also a lot of questions. As with any good series, we are given just enough in book one to want to read the next one. I recommend this story to adventure seekers.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shock of Fate: A Young Adult Fantasy Adventure (Anchoress Series Book 1) by D.L. Armillei – 4 stars

Shock of Fate is the first book in the Anchoress Series. The cover of this book is STUNNING and the first “page” of this story had me chuckling. It describes people waiting at the Mall of America to begin its Midnight Madness sale. Imagine what THAT looks like to beings from “other worlds”.

The Anchoress is a Tribal Warrior Princess who may or may not be folk tale. She “fights against Darkness to ensure that Light continues to govern the worlds”. A real Wonder Woman if you will.

Shock of Fate introduces us to Vanessa Cross and her friends. They are vapid, self-indulgent teenagers who have no direction on where they would like to go in life (typical for 15 year olds). Vanessa and her BFF Paley go on an adventure to find The Coin of Creation “All this – for a coin?” Paley says. It’s a twisting turning tale of adventure that takes place over the course of 31 days. There are all sorts of beings and creatures and people that we are introduced to. There are new worlds and dimensions and all sorts of places to travel to. This is a very detailed book explaining time, place and character. At times, the detail was so great that I found myself referring back to read again who/what was who/what. It truly is an epic story.

Shock of Fate takes on the classic battle of good vs evil, light vs darkness and right vs wrong.

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shock of Fate by D. L. Armillie
Four Stars

Shock of Fate is the first book of the Anchoress Series by D.L. Armillie. This is the first book I have read by this author and I truly enjoyed it. The author has created two amazing world. The fantasy world has highly descriptive characters that pull you in from the beginning to end.

Vanessa Cross is fifteen years old and has plans for summer vacation. She plans go to the beach, go shopping and get her hair done. She is also trying to cope with her family, an overbearing stepmother and a distracted father. Van’s summer takes a sudden change when she is forced through a portal into the Living World. The only way to get home is to find the Coin of Creation.

Van is learning many new things in the living world. She meets new friends, finds a new love and learns about magic. She travels by magic tree trunks, makes food and drinks with a wish fulfilling bowl, and meet many magical creatures. This is a story of self discovery and as it progresses Van finds that a great destiny is waiting if she can survive the first journey. As the journey evolves you can see Van’s maturity grow and links to her real life. This book really flows from the first page to the last.

This book really intrigued me. I loved the way Ms. Armillie brought her magical world to life and can't wait to read the next book in the series. Definitely will be on my to be read list.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei is the first in the Anchoress series. This is a young adult fantasy novel. Vanessa Cross aka Van is a teenager with normal teenage problems. She is a fifteen-year-old with an often-absent father. Michael Cross is a Grigori agent and cannot tell his daughter much about his job or what he knows. Van is dreaming of a summer at the beach, spending time at the salon, and shopping at the mall unlike some of her classmates who want to do volunteer work over the summer.
Next thing Van knows is she is on an adventure with her best friend Paley. They are traveling to places they never imagined were real. There are demons, goblins, and magic galore. There is a lot more to Van than she ever imagined. Her life is topsy-turvy but at least she has her friend with her.
Van is self-absorbed at the beginning of the story but grows as she is challenged on her adventure. She was not one of my favorite characters at the beginning of the story but I was still interested in where her story would take her. The writing is very descriptive and flows well. I could envision the different locations and characters. I was taken in with a description of a crazy crowd waiting at the Mall of America at the beginning and continued to be sucked in for the rest of the book. I look forward to reading the next book to see where the story goes.

[Kerry carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Anchoress series. And wow what a ride. This book is action packed from the first page. The author does an amazing job with the characters and bringing their worlds to life. At first I was a little confused with between the living world and earth world but after a while I got used to it.
The twist at the beginning of the story was different. How the story started by focusing on Van's father and then goes straight on to focusing on Van was different but made for an intriguing story. You just knew there was something special and unique about Van.

When her father goes missing Van is selected to go on a secret project but not knowing what that project is she decides to take her friend Paley along for the ride. Using gemstones to travel via a portal the girls set off with no idea of the consequences of their actions and what it means to have used the stones.
What happens next is an adventure that keeps the reader gripped as the girls try to uncover what happened to Van's father. Is he dead or has something happened to him? Did he do the things he was accused of? And can Van protect him while trying to complete her own project and keep herself and her friend safe.

[Erica S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a series I look forward to devouring! Vanessa Cross, daughter of Grigori agent and presumed traitor Michael Cross, is thrust into the secret world of her father to retrieve a priceless artifact. When debriefed by his formidable boss Uxa, she learns that there is far more going on in her sleepy little Island town than she ever thought possible. She sets out on her adventure with her team (after sneaking in her best friend Paley, natch), feeling inadequate compared to the skills and talents of the teen soldiers around her. Van struggles to figure out her place in this ragtag group, quiet her insecurities, and conquer her fears so that she can play her role in the unfolding history of the Living World.

I loved the tension between Van and Brux, and the romantic sparks between them. Jorie is also a great character who is very lively and intricately drawn. I could picture her black mohawk and "friend" Zachary vividly, and it made me smile every time she jumped onto the stage of this story. Van's transformation through the story and was impressive as she came to terms with what she was actually capable of and who she actually could be in the world. I highly recommend this book - a great adventure!

[Vanessa Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts our journey with the anchoress and eventually discovery of herself and why she was created. I had a hard time putting this book down from the description of the characters to the scenery and the plot. It hooked me from line one.

We start off meeting Vanessa as she is struggling with who she is as a 15 year old girl in a wealthy family but not knowing her own path. She faces the typical bullies in school and yet favoritism by elders on the island. When all of a sudden her world is upended by the disappearance of her father, the elder’s belief that he is a traitor, and new information about why Vanessa attends certain special classes on the reservation. Vanessa is then selected to partake in a project, read mission, that she refuses to go on without her best friend Paley. Through breaking rules Vanessa manages to get Paley to the alternate world where they are discovered by the elder and sent on a mission that will forever change the course of Vanessa’s life. This journey is fraught with danger, unknown enemies and self discoveries. Can Vanessa uncover her ture mission or is she doomed to risk her friend's life in an escapade that ends in failure? This is one journey you must take after all not everything is what it seems!

[Darla Yocom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy coming of age stories since they typically include a complex network of characters, narrative and growth. In this book, the main character, “Van” Vanessa starts as a typical egotistical teenager who only focuses on herself, boys and her intended summer plans with friends. Her bff, Paley is similar from that perspective but to me, comes off as polar opposites when it counts. Perhaps that’s why they are friends? Opposites attract?

Van must literally grow up in a matter of moments once she learns that her mother was considered royalty, she may have been killed vs dying during childbirth, her father is missing, he screwed up at work, could be a traitor and possibly a murderer! After learning all of this and the fact that most of what she’s been told her entire life was a lie, she makes the more grown up decision to pursue the 30-day mission she is being assigned, along with a group of several other teens. One of them is the Anchoress, but their identity is hidden from the group until it is necessary.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a must read and flows well. You will not want to put it down. I think young adults and adults will enjoy this book.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cover/Title: The cover is ok but doesn't really draw me in. The title doesn't do the book justice as it really gives the reader no insight into the story.

Characters: Van is kind of superficial and has a lot of growing up to do. She is definitely not my favorite heroine at all. Her best friend is also very superficial. Some of the other characters are ok. I did like that you got a lot of background info on the MC. I just didn't like her much despite all the insight into her and her life.

Plot: This book is full of adventure. I loved the magic thrown in and the world building is definitely well done. I think my favorite part might have to be the Minotaur. I really loved his story and how he got into his predicament.

Overall: I enjoyed this story despite not liking the MC very much. If the MC had been more likable, I think the story would have been so much better. However, it was not a bad story and I enjoyed the adventure.

[La Toya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shock of Fate is a nice YA adventure. When we start out 15-year-old Vanessa Cross is a shallow, materialistic, very immature teenager. She’s had everything handed to her but if you pay attention you’ll see that she longs for love and acceptance. I have to admit that it took a while to warm up to her but as the story goes you see the character development and I grew quite fond of her. I wish I could say the same about her best friend, Paley. She was very unlikeable even when keeping in mind that she’s just a teenager. I really felt she added nothing to the story. Van’s relationship with Brux is adorable as is his relationship with his sister, Daisy. The world-building and details are spot-on however I felt it was quite easy to guess pretty much everything that happened. I also felt that the story could benefit from some streamlining. I enjoyed the bonding between Van and her teammates and the action and adventure was very entertaining.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van is wrapped up in her own world and only focused on her summer plans. Suddenly, her dad goes missing and she's recruited for a special summer mission. She thinks everything is stacked against her until she realizes that her fate is not as simple as the next girl her age. Van is thrust into mission where she discovers more about herself and her heritage than she has her entire life. Does she have what it takes to save both the Earth World and the Living World? Is she the fated Anchoress?

What a fun YA read! I enjoyed reading Van transform from a selfish, self-centered teen to one that looks at others and becomes their champion. This had me thinking about a girl version of Percy Jackson sans the Greek mythology. I enjoyed reading about a new world in danger of history repeating itself.

Highly recommend this YA read. It has clean language and good lessons on looking inside oneself to evaluate what the right choice is.

[Amanda Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 Stars

Shock of Fate (Anchoress #1) by D. L. Armillei

This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I will definitely be reading more. Shock of Fate is the first book in the Anchoress Series. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series. The author has created another wonderful world for me to escape to.

Vanessa, or Van, thinks she is a normal girl. One who lives a high life on an Island that isn’t really accessible to anyone else. She is in Special Classes and thinks that she is the reason her mother died in childbirth. When her father’s boss comes to her to inform her that she will be going to the Mainland to work on a summer project on the reservation for a month. She knows that her life is about to change. She just doesn’t know if it will be for the better or for the worst. She asks her father’s boss this: “It’s because of that–that shadow-wolf, isn’t it?”

[Melissa Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van a wealthy, spoiled and entitled girl has her world turned upside down one night when she finds out there is much more to her than meets the eye and everyone around her is keeping secrets.

She is thrust into an entirely new realm with her (let's be honest) selfish and shallow best friend and a team of people shes never met but is forced to trust if they are going to complete their mission.

Along the way Van will have to learn more about herself than she ever imagined, including secrets she never knew her family was keeping, about her lineage, what she wants and *gulp* who she may love....

can she make it through the storm of her mission with herself, her friendship and what she thought she knew intact?

this book is a must read to find out and then dive right into the rest of the series you won't be sorry!

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Join Van on an adventure with her best friend Paley. But unlike regular adventures this one transcends worlds. As Van (beach girl at heart)discovers she is from a tribe of people from another world and she is selected to join in a team to locate an item that can help save earth and her newly found world from an influx of demons. All this is flung on her as she discovers her dad is missing and blamed on the Prince of the new worlds death.
She has only a small window of time to work with the team to find the item and also hopes to find her dad and clear his name. Can she before the time ends.
This is a fun YA fantasy. As we watch Van go from materialistic beach girl to leader who values the team over items. The characters and worlds are wonderful… The characters are very teenager and stubborn but somehow when your heart

[Liz Clappin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. My grandmother purchased the book because she knew the author's mother (I remember her too vaguely from my childhood) and as my grandmother has never read a book in her life she gave it to me. It took me a month to get through a hundred pages before I felt I could responsibly give up. While I enjoy high fantasy, with strong characters and world building this reads like extremely poorly written fan fiction at best. The setting is ill defined and badly explained, the characters are unpleasant, spoiled, and basic stereotypes. The mythology was all over the place and in general the plot wasn't going anywhere. Didn't finish it, frankly couldn't read anymore. A quick search of the publisher shows the author owns the company, looks like it was self published and I can see why.

[Dahnielle Hibbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanessa is a teenager who finds herself in an alternate reality forced to find a relic. There are many surprises in this novel but they are well placed and really bring about how this whole alternate reality came about. This story has everything I look for in fantasy novels. Action, adventure, twists and turns and most of all well developed characters. The fantasy world is super involved and so well detailed you can actually feel like you have been there. The author truly wants the readers to be satisfied that their favorite characters are handled with care and given a full experience. I laughed, I cried and yes I even yelled at the book a time or too. I am looking forward to a continuing journey in book two!

[Tammy Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shock of Fate by D, L. Armillei is the first book in the Anchoress series. This is a YA fantasy series that reminded me of The Neverending Story. Our 15-year-old Vanessa Cross wants nothing more than to spend the summer at the beach with her friends when she returns home to find her father is missing under suspicious circumstances. She also learns that she has been chosen for a very dangerous mission to retrieve the Coin of Creation before it falls into the wrong hands and starts a war. Along the way, Van finds out the truth about her mother, her father and her bloodline as the Anchoress. Van, and her teammates find themselves on an epic quest full of adventure and discovery. Highly recommend for those who love the Percy Jackson series.

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad start to a new interesting series. I have to say that it took me awhile to get through this book. It grabbed my attention right away but then lost it. It took me awhile to get back into the story. I think the main problem I had was the main character, Van. I didn't really like her at all. I still don't care for her but she did grow a bit in the end so that helped, for now I'm on the fence.

The overall story was good. There was a lot going on and a lot of repeat information that slowed the story down a bit. I would've loved more fast paced.

Overall an intriguing start to this fantasy series with light and darkness.

I voluntarily reviewed an arc from the author.

[Mandy Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

Shock of Fate (Anchoress Series #1) by DL Armillei

This is the first book I've read by the author. So far the Anchoress Series is something I'm keeping my eye out for. The author creates a wonderful new world for me to escape to.

Vanessa thinks everything is normal and she is the reason her mother died in childbirth. Her father's boss lets her know she is one working on a summer project on the reservation for a month. Her life is about to change and she's not sure if it's for the best or not. The quote I chose for Vanessa is: “It’s because of that— that shadow-wolf, isn’t it?”

Highly recommended for YA Fantasy lovers.

[Skylar Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantasy story that has a lot of action and full of surprises. The author pulls you into this world and captures you with every word written. You're on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next. This story revolves around Vanessa and her mission to find a relic. I love that this story is written with background information. Through stories and flashbacks, you'll read about how the current situation has come about. These stories also provide Vanessa information on mistakes that have been made in the past that she can avoid. The attention to detail that this has book has been amazing.