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Mantivore Dreams

(The Arcadian Chronicles #1)

S.J. Higbee (Goodreads Author)

3.67 · Rating details · 12 ratings · 2 reviews

On a colony planet, in a hot, dusty village where no one wants to live, is someone who was exiled there a long time ago. Someone who stole something so precious, others are prepared to lie, kidnap and murder to get it back.

Drawn into this web of deceit is Kyrillia, a teenager who dreams of running the village’s branch of the Node, the planetwide organic information system, ...more

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Kindle Edition, 270 pages

Published August 28th 2019 by Griffin wing Publishing

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May 29, 2020 James rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1-fiction, 3-multi-book-series, 2-authors-i-know

About a year ago, I read the another book by S.J. Higbee and thought it was well written. When one of her other books showed up on sale, I decided to pick up a copy and read another one. This time, it's Mantivore Dreams, the first book in her Arcadian Chronicles series, a science-fiction / fantasy / young adult novel where nothing is quite as it appears. Let's dive a little more into this novel...

Imagine you live on far away planet. It's not an ideal place to live, and that's being generous. But About a year ago, I read the another book by S.J. Higbee and thought it was well written. When one of her other books showed up on sale, I decided to pick up a copy and read another one. This time, it's Mantivore Dreams, the first book in her Arcadian Chronicles series, a science-fiction / fantasy / young adult novel where nothing is quite as it appears. Let's dive a little more into this novel...

Imagine you live on far away planet. It's not an ideal place to live, and that's being generous. But there's a major secret about this place, and everything is quite dark and mysterious. Kyrillia is a wonderful young heroine, and her mother, at first, comes across quite mean. Luckily, a family friend, steps in to help... and at that point, I refrained from leaping through the pages to teach that mother a lesson about her abusive ways. Things go on a very different path from there... war, music, clash of cultures and socio-economic classes, betrayal, and friendship, at the core, will keep you glued to the pages. As well as the desire to sort out some very unusual things you won't understand at first.

Then... you've got all the classic and necessary science-fiction and fantasy elements, everything that makes this a cosmic winner. Vrox confused me at first, but as the chapters moved by, I got quite used to the character, and then BAM! That's all I will say there. You'll find out. Typically, I'm not a regular reader in this genre, but when there's a coming of age / YA story attached to it, or a good drama and battle at the center, it will capture my attention. That's what this one did, and that's why I enjoyed it... while all the alien species, planetary travel / exposure & galaxy backdrop are quite strong, it wasn't those components I latched on to. It's great when an author can interest readers outside the main genre.

Now we must talk about the actual writing. Every good book must have solid writing, and this was another reason why I found myself connected so easily. There's beauty in the imagery and the scenery... Higbee likes to paint a picture of the strange and layered world this book takes place in. Character development is balanced and grows with each section. As the title suggests, the concept of outer-body experience / dreams certainly lingered in the back of my mind, as I kept wondering, how much of this is real versus imaginary!

So... if you're a fan of lengthy / complex dramas ripe with science-fiction and fantasy elements at its core, but a girl who is destined for a better life, shocking reveals, a bit of magical realism and battling for victory, you'll devour this quickly! ...more

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Aug 26, 2019 Reading Reindeer 2021 On Proxima Centauri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019_arc_august, 2019_a-z_ha-challenge, 2019_aug_high-summer, 2019_aug_location_hob, 2019_horror, 2019_net-galley_reads, 2019_reads_, august_2019_reads, armchair-great-lakes

What I enjoyed even more than the Science Fiction Fantasy, the new species, and the superb world-building, was tge incredible literate imagery throughout. Reading MANTIVORE DREAMS was equivalent to reading Science Fiction in prose poetry, reveling in lyrical imagery. Anticipating Book 2!

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About S.J. Higbee

S.J. Higbee

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Born the same year as the Russians launched Sputnik, I confidently expected that by the time I reached adulthood, the human race would have a pioneer colony on the Moon and be heading off towards Mars. So I was at a loss to know what to do once I realised the Final Frontier wasn’t an option and rather lost my head - I tried a lot of jobs I didn’t like and married a totally unsuitable man.

Now I've ...more