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The Uluru Legacy #1
Garkain
Amelia was dropped at a hospital in Houston 25 years ago. After searching for her biological family for years she receives a vague text: “It’s time for you to come home, we need you, the Colony needs you.”
The Colony is a secret society in the Outback of Australia, driven from Europe in 1788 to the prison colony of New Holland to begin anew. Her mother is Garkain, her father Larougo. Two different bloodlines, two different societies. One Vampire, one Werewolf. Given away instead of killed, she’s being called home for a purpose.
She’ll agree to things she thought she never would, become things she never thought existed, and agree to a bargain that will change the Colony forever.
The vampire rule book has changed in this imaginative series that defies expectations. Blending worlds together as a delicious escape in a new and unique way.
Welcome to your new obsession.
The Colony is a secret society in the Outback of Australia, driven from Europe in 1788 to the prison colony of New Holland to begin anew. Her mother is Garkain, her father Larougo. Two different bloodlines, two different societies. One Vampire, one Werewolf. Given away instead of killed, she’s being called home for a purpose.
She’ll agree to things she thought she never would, become things she never thought existed, and agree to a bargain that will change the Colony forever.
The vampire rule book has changed in this imaginative series that defies expectations. Blending worlds together as a delicious escape in a new and unique way.
Welcome to your new obsession.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published June 22, 2021
3 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Anna J. Walner
9 books39 followersAnna writes under both under Vanessa Morris and Anna J. Walner.
Anna is the author of two fantasy series, The Enrovia Series, and The Uluru Legacy.
She is an International Bestseller, B&N Bestseller, and Amazon.com Bestseller. She is also the Executive Producer of The Author Library Network on YouTube.
You can find out more on her website: AnnaJWalner.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Anna is the author of two fantasy series, The Enrovia Series, and The Uluru Legacy.
She is an International Bestseller, B&N Bestseller, and Amazon.com Bestseller. She is also the Executive Producer of The Author Library Network on YouTube.
You can find out more on her website: AnnaJWalner.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
i-refuse-to-read
November 5, 2021As someone who lives in Australia and as someone who used to live near Uluru, this book sounds like a mess...
*Note: I am not an Indigenous Australian, the traditional owners of the land but I am an Australian citizen, and I am an African Indigenous person from a tribe, one of the traditional owners of my country.
First of all, this book is set in Perth, Australia. Why is it called the Uluru Legacy? It's nowhere near Uluru. It would legitimately take someone 24 hours to drive from Perth to Uluru. It's 2000km. Uluru is a sacred place to Indigenous Australians and to use it just to take it onto a book about people who live 2000 km away is just weird to me.
Secondly, this is about two white convict settler families. Calling them 'tribes' doesn't make them tribes.
Quote from deadlystory.com on the difference between mob, clan, tribe and language group.
As this is an Australian-based book, the use of 'tribe' in this context is problematic and outright offensive to the traditional owners of the land, as neither the Garkain nor Larougo people are the traditional owners.
Lastly, I just want to say I haven't read this book. I know the author is American, because google is free. I assume they had to research about Australia but to just ignore certain aspects is weird. Like just because it's a foreign place to you doesn't make it a foreign place to other people.
The vibes are off.
*Note: I am not an Indigenous Australian, the traditional owners of the land but I am an Australian citizen, and I am an African Indigenous person from a tribe, one of the traditional owners of my country.
First of all, this book is set in Perth, Australia. Why is it called the Uluru Legacy? It's nowhere near Uluru. It would legitimately take someone 24 hours to drive from Perth to Uluru. It's 2000km. Uluru is a sacred place to Indigenous Australians and to use it just to take it onto a book about people who live 2000 km away is just weird to me.
Secondly, this is about two white convict settler families. Calling them 'tribes' doesn't make them tribes.
Quote from deadlystory.com on the difference between mob, clan, tribe and language group.
"Tribe refers to a culturally distinct group of people associated with a culturally defined area of land or country. A tribe, in the Aboriginal context, is a group of people related by genealogy, a common language and occupying (or traditionally occupying) a recognised area of country.
‘Tribe’ is a European word that tends to imply western preconceptions developed from colonial experiences. ‘Nation’, ‘community’, ‘people’, ‘mob’ or the local language or culture group name is usually preferable to ‘tribe’."
As this is an Australian-based book, the use of 'tribe' in this context is problematic and outright offensive to the traditional owners of the land, as neither the Garkain nor Larougo people are the traditional owners.
Lastly, I just want to say I haven't read this book. I know the author is American, because google is free. I assume they had to research about Australia but to just ignore certain aspects is weird. Like just because it's a foreign place to you doesn't make it a foreign place to other people.
The vibes are off.
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March 22, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Amelia has been in the foster system her entire life after being left outside a hospital as an infant, but after submitting her DNA to an ancestry website, she’s reconnected with her biological family and flies out to Australia to meet them.
Once she lands, things start to take an unexpected turn as she discovers that her mother is a vampire and her father a werewolf, making her a hybrid which is something that’s never been allowed to exist in the supernatural community before.
This is a familiar trope but the one thing that stands out is that the Larougo (werewolves) are dingos and have to take their animal form during the day and only walk as humans at night – it’s an interesting take and makes the most of the Australian setting of the book.
The story itself is slow moving and I feel would have benefitted from having more plot packed in to its pages, there was some repetition of points and covering old ground with the familiar trope. Amelia is not easy to gel with as a main character, after an initial, token resistance to the crazy culture shock she’s encountering with her new family and two entire new species she shares her heritage with, she goes along with everything with very little thought.
The epilogue was my favourite part of the book, all things considered – it manages to fit in more intrigue and antagonism than the rest of the book put together, bringing more depth to some of the characters that would have been excellent earlier on in the book.
Amelia has been in the foster system her entire life after being left outside a hospital as an infant, but after submitting her DNA to an ancestry website, she’s reconnected with her biological family and flies out to Australia to meet them.
Once she lands, things start to take an unexpected turn as she discovers that her mother is a vampire and her father a werewolf, making her a hybrid which is something that’s never been allowed to exist in the supernatural community before.
This is a familiar trope but the one thing that stands out is that the Larougo (werewolves) are dingos and have to take their animal form during the day and only walk as humans at night – it’s an interesting take and makes the most of the Australian setting of the book.
The story itself is slow moving and I feel would have benefitted from having more plot packed in to its pages, there was some repetition of points and covering old ground with the familiar trope. Amelia is not easy to gel with as a main character, after an initial, token resistance to the crazy culture shock she’s encountering with her new family and two entire new species she shares her heritage with, she goes along with everything with very little thought.
The epilogue was my favourite part of the book, all things considered – it manages to fit in more intrigue and antagonism than the rest of the book put together, bringing more depth to some of the characters that would have been excellent earlier on in the book.
November 26, 2021
Amelia was abandoned at a hospital after she was born. She was in the foster system for years.
After 25 years she decides to take a DNA test, and… it has a hit! Apparently she has family in Australia and she sets out to meet them.
But not all is “normal”, her mother is Garkain (vampire) and her father Larougo (werewolf). She’s being asked “home” for a reason…
Lovely story about found family and the start of a relationship. Nice take on werewolf/vampire stories!
After 25 years she decides to take a DNA test, and… it has a hit! Apparently she has family in Australia and she sets out to meet them.
But not all is “normal”, her mother is Garkain (vampire) and her father Larougo (werewolf). She’s being asked “home” for a reason…
Lovely story about found family and the start of a relationship. Nice take on werewolf/vampire stories!
January 6, 2021
I was requested to review this novel. Thank you to Anna for providing me with the ARC.
Garkain, the debut novel by Anna J Walner is the first in The Uluru Legacy series and is a paranormal, Vampire romance novel. This story however does not conform to the normal vampire trope and for that I found it intriguing and refreshing.
Amelia wants to know where she came from and who abandoned her outside a hospital when she was a baby. Upon receiving the results of the DNA test, a text message from an unknown number, claiming to be her mother, sends Amelia on a journey she definitely didn’t expect to make.
In a secret society in the heart of Australia Amelia learns her origins; Vampires exist along with Werewolves. However, they are nothing like Amelia has read about. Has Amelia found the place where she can belong? Or will she choose to turn her back on a society who needs her?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The complexities that Anna J Walner has created in the two paranormal societies in this story are refreshingly different from the run of the mill vampire novel. Both the vampires and werewolves have to remain secret and life for the werewolves is not an easy one.
The romance part of the story is subtle, however the chemistry between the two love interests allow the reader to enjoy the building love that grows. I personally would have liked for a little more steam but the story holds its own without it.
I loved the way the author has created a vampire story with a strong willed main character who knows her own mind, instead of the standard frightened female who is dominated by the big bad vampire.
I would absolutely recommend this debut novel to the lover of paranormal romance, who enjoys something that is a little against the norm.
Garkain, the debut novel by Anna J Walner is the first in The Uluru Legacy series and is a paranormal, Vampire romance novel. This story however does not conform to the normal vampire trope and for that I found it intriguing and refreshing.
Amelia wants to know where she came from and who abandoned her outside a hospital when she was a baby. Upon receiving the results of the DNA test, a text message from an unknown number, claiming to be her mother, sends Amelia on a journey she definitely didn’t expect to make.
In a secret society in the heart of Australia Amelia learns her origins; Vampires exist along with Werewolves. However, they are nothing like Amelia has read about. Has Amelia found the place where she can belong? Or will she choose to turn her back on a society who needs her?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The complexities that Anna J Walner has created in the two paranormal societies in this story are refreshingly different from the run of the mill vampire novel. Both the vampires and werewolves have to remain secret and life for the werewolves is not an easy one.
The romance part of the story is subtle, however the chemistry between the two love interests allow the reader to enjoy the building love that grows. I personally would have liked for a little more steam but the story holds its own without it.
I loved the way the author has created a vampire story with a strong willed main character who knows her own mind, instead of the standard frightened female who is dominated by the big bad vampire.
I would absolutely recommend this debut novel to the lover of paranormal romance, who enjoys something that is a little against the norm.
January 24, 2021
3.5 stars
Garkain is an urban fantasy set mainly in Australia. Raised through the foster care system in America, Amelia has recently been reacquainted with her real family, but she discovers that they are a family of Garkain, a branch of vampires. Amelia is told that she is a special child because her parents were a Garkain and a Larougo, similar to a werewolf, but from a forbidden union. Members of The Colony invite Amelia to visit their home to take part in an unbinding ceremony to unlock her paranormal powers. Just what those powers will be can only be speculated upon.
I liked the idea of the Australian setting, which was refreshing in this genre, but I thought that the story needed to put more emphasis on the Australian context, particularly with the dialogue and historical background. The storyline worked well, but occasionally it was rushed and left me wanting more details or explanations to make it all believable. The last third of the story was the weakest and I thought it needed a bit of reworking especially with the odd epilogue; it introduced new details which I felt would have worked better in the main narrative. This is the first story in this series and there were hints of what is to come, but I wouldn’t say that the ending hooked me enough to want to continue.
I read an ARC of this story, so some of my concerns may be resolved with the final publication.
Garkain is an urban fantasy set mainly in Australia. Raised through the foster care system in America, Amelia has recently been reacquainted with her real family, but she discovers that they are a family of Garkain, a branch of vampires. Amelia is told that she is a special child because her parents were a Garkain and a Larougo, similar to a werewolf, but from a forbidden union. Members of The Colony invite Amelia to visit their home to take part in an unbinding ceremony to unlock her paranormal powers. Just what those powers will be can only be speculated upon.
I liked the idea of the Australian setting, which was refreshing in this genre, but I thought that the story needed to put more emphasis on the Australian context, particularly with the dialogue and historical background. The storyline worked well, but occasionally it was rushed and left me wanting more details or explanations to make it all believable. The last third of the story was the weakest and I thought it needed a bit of reworking especially with the odd epilogue; it introduced new details which I felt would have worked better in the main narrative. This is the first story in this series and there were hints of what is to come, but I wouldn’t say that the ending hooked me enough to want to continue.
I read an ARC of this story, so some of my concerns may be resolved with the final publication.
October 23, 2020
I'm a Fantasy fanatic, and I have never read a book like this. If Staphanie Myers wrote Twilight right, without disco ball vampires, it would be this book. OH and if Bella had a little more self-esteem.
I'm in love with Roan, and I want to be Amelia. She's so amazingly cool. The whole book is just awesome and I can't wait to read the second one, and the third, and hopefully a whole lot more. I want the movie for this book LOL.
Honestly I can't believe I haven't heard of this author before because she is amazing! I'm reading the Enrovia Series next.
I'm in love with Roan, and I want to be Amelia. She's so amazingly cool. The whole book is just awesome and I can't wait to read the second one, and the third, and hopefully a whole lot more. I want the movie for this book LOL.
Honestly I can't believe I haven't heard of this author before because she is amazing! I'm reading the Enrovia Series next.
October 23, 2020
A MUST READ!!!!! I want to keep this review as far away from major spoilers as possible so.......after taking a DNA test, Amelia finally finds her family, only they aren’t what she expected and she’s introduced to a new world. Things change drastically in the short amount of time she spends with her new to her family in the colony. A rollercoaster of emotions can be expected along with love, loss and hard choices. Amelia is a very strong character which is refreshing, most paranormal and paranormal romance I read the female characters are weak willed and follow men so easily. This book is full of adventure, can’t wait to read the next one!!!!
May 2, 2021
Loved it! A fascinating take on vampires and werewolves that I did not expect. The beginning moved a little slow for me as I was introduced to each of the characters, but it was understandable. It really picked up quickly and I struggled to put it down! Would highly recommend adding it to your tbr for 2021!!!
March 21, 2021
Interesting take on the vampire/werewolf story. Amelia, the main character, is a very independent and strong-willed woman that will not be told what to do. She's brave and takes the news that she's not only vampire but also werewolf very well. The ending of this book leaves you wanting and needing more! Can't wait to read the second book!
October 26, 2020
A MUST READ!!!!!....To give you a little summary, a taste, if you will, this story is about a young adult Amelia, 25, who grew up in a temporary environment all her young life. Being abandoned at only a few days old, bounced around by the system and left with an overwhelming feeling of never belonging, she’s different but doesn’t know why. Amelia remains hopeful and finally takes a chance, in the form of a dna test hopefully to find out where exactly she came from, why she was abandoned and to try and start fitting puzzle pieces together. Which does end up paying off and after a quick, very brief yet ominous phone call with her “mother” she’s quickly rushed off to a new country, surrounded by strangers, that quickly become the family she’s always dreamed of and given a crash course in things she believed only existed in books or t.v, she may have just bitten off more than she can chew as she finds out every family has their secrets and hers could become especially deadly, but it’s all her choice right? A search for answers leads her to a whole new world and not one but two new families, finally a place to belong.
Although, Amelia herself is certainly no damsel in distress nor naïve and with a few special “gifts” of her own helping to level the playing field she won’t back down without a fight and refuses to be silent or unheard. With a dashing, equally strong-willed, compassionate “prince” charming (sort of)to back her up and who fully supports her decisions, they make one heck of an amazing duo. Their story is just beginning, a lot of things are just beginning and a lot of big changes will come along with it, she’s just awakening and the world better be prepared for Amelia because she’s certainly ready for them.
This book is perfect for any YA fans, it has a good amount of supernatural flavors and a dash of romance that had me quickly on board with their ship! This book admittedly had me hook, line, and sink (no pun intended) from the very start. I started it, quickly became enthralled in the story and simply could not put it down until I finished it. Highly recommended. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It has twists and turns, will leave you happy and content, yet eager for more! a perfectly balanced story from start to finish. Need more?throw in a strong-willed, independent, smart, intuitive, assertive, and true spitfire of a female lead that we have all been waiting for! I know you’ll all grow to love Amelia as I have and I know you won’t regret diving into this book.
Anna J Walner has quickly become one of my favorite authors, I’m a YA lover, especially the supernatural and even I have to admit that after a while some tend to become repetitive, not all but some and this book gave me none of that repetition, it has its minor similarities but it’s also incredibly different in its overall scheme and an immensely creative perspective on all things supernatural. At first glance it may seem like your stereotypical werewolf, vampire book but you have to dive deeper and give this book a real chance because it will undoubtedly surprise you on how it’s not your typical vamp/were book. (No sparkling ensued) All in all, I fell in love with this book and it’s characters. I eagerly await more from this fabulous author. You won’t regret this incredible gem of a book. Enjoy my fellow bibliophiles! 📚😊
Although, Amelia herself is certainly no damsel in distress nor naïve and with a few special “gifts” of her own helping to level the playing field she won’t back down without a fight and refuses to be silent or unheard. With a dashing, equally strong-willed, compassionate “prince” charming (sort of)to back her up and who fully supports her decisions, they make one heck of an amazing duo. Their story is just beginning, a lot of things are just beginning and a lot of big changes will come along with it, she’s just awakening and the world better be prepared for Amelia because she’s certainly ready for them.
This book is perfect for any YA fans, it has a good amount of supernatural flavors and a dash of romance that had me quickly on board with their ship! This book admittedly had me hook, line, and sink (no pun intended) from the very start. I started it, quickly became enthralled in the story and simply could not put it down until I finished it. Highly recommended. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It has twists and turns, will leave you happy and content, yet eager for more! a perfectly balanced story from start to finish. Need more?throw in a strong-willed, independent, smart, intuitive, assertive, and true spitfire of a female lead that we have all been waiting for! I know you’ll all grow to love Amelia as I have and I know you won’t regret diving into this book.
Anna J Walner has quickly become one of my favorite authors, I’m a YA lover, especially the supernatural and even I have to admit that after a while some tend to become repetitive, not all but some and this book gave me none of that repetition, it has its minor similarities but it’s also incredibly different in its overall scheme and an immensely creative perspective on all things supernatural. At first glance it may seem like your stereotypical werewolf, vampire book but you have to dive deeper and give this book a real chance because it will undoubtedly surprise you on how it’s not your typical vamp/were book. (No sparkling ensued) All in all, I fell in love with this book and it’s characters. I eagerly await more from this fabulous author. You won’t regret this incredible gem of a book. Enjoy my fellow bibliophiles! 📚😊
August 24, 2021
What a cool take on vampires and wolves! Such a quick read too! This is an amazing book and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
June 30, 2021
Really enjoyed this unique take on vampires and werewolves! I am really looking forward to reading the second book!
April 7, 2021
Great debut novel!! I love the Australian setting and the twist on the Vampire/Werewolf trope. I can't wait for book 2!!
March 29, 2021
Amelia was left at a hospital 25 years ago, raised in the foster system, and forever searching for a sense of belonging. But when a DNA test results in a mysterious message to "come home," Amelia finds herself thrown into a world she never imagined could exist.
If you ever even slightly had a vampire/werewolf phase like I did, you're going to love this book! It puts such a new spin on the trope that it almost felt as though I was reading about vampires for the first time ever.
My favorite thing about this book was how immersive it felt. While reading, I felt as though I was Amelia. Everything that she felt, I was feeling as well. Everything that she went through, it felt like I was going through. I went through all of the ups and downs right by Amelia's side, and that was what made this book so amazing for me!
I do wish that we had gotten to see more from Amelia in general. Garkain is a really quick read, and I just wish there had been a little more to the story in this first book, but I know that there is more coming!
I felt very suspicious about some of the characters throughout, and the ending only confirmed that and left me immediately wanting to know more of the story! I cannot wait to see where this goes!
Thank you Anna for sending me your book! This is an amazing debut that I would recommend to everyone!
If you ever even slightly had a vampire/werewolf phase like I did, you're going to love this book! It puts such a new spin on the trope that it almost felt as though I was reading about vampires for the first time ever.
My favorite thing about this book was how immersive it felt. While reading, I felt as though I was Amelia. Everything that she felt, I was feeling as well. Everything that she went through, it felt like I was going through. I went through all of the ups and downs right by Amelia's side, and that was what made this book so amazing for me!
I do wish that we had gotten to see more from Amelia in general. Garkain is a really quick read, and I just wish there had been a little more to the story in this first book, but I know that there is more coming!
I felt very suspicious about some of the characters throughout, and the ending only confirmed that and left me immediately wanting to know more of the story! I cannot wait to see where this goes!
Thank you Anna for sending me your book! This is an amazing debut that I would recommend to everyone!
June 30, 2021
I absolutely adored this book. It’s the first in a series, and the first book by this author that I’ve read. But I’ll definitely be checking out more of her books. This book is about Amelia, who was dropped off outsider a hospital when she was only a few days old. Growing up in foster care, and finally getting adopted when she was older. She felt like she didn’t belong. Then, hoping to find any family, she takes a DNA test and sends it in. Finding out that she has family in Australia. So she sets of to meet her family, but learns so much more than she bargained for.
I absolutely loved this book. It mixes different myths and vampire lore, and her own unique spin, to make a beautiful, amazing, and original story. Amelias character is strong, and tough. She’s smart, and kind. And I just love Roan. Starting out, he agrees to the arrangement for his own reasons. But he cares for Amelia, and I think they will be great together. I absolutely recommend this book, it was a fast and easy read. And I can not wait for the next book in this series.
I absolutely loved this book. It mixes different myths and vampire lore, and her own unique spin, to make a beautiful, amazing, and original story. Amelias character is strong, and tough. She’s smart, and kind. And I just love Roan. Starting out, he agrees to the arrangement for his own reasons. But he cares for Amelia, and I think they will be great together. I absolutely recommend this book, it was a fast and easy read. And I can not wait for the next book in this series.
June 27, 2021
What a great debut novel for Anna J Walner! I loved the concept and plot! I read it in one seating and could not put it down! I do wish it had more background story specially when it comes to the mythology of Garkain and Larougo. That’s the only reason for 4 stars. Otherwise great book! I cannot wait to read the next book!
June 29, 2021
This is the vampire werewolf book you have been waiting for!
I love this new spin of the original V/W mythology! (No sparkling vampires here).
The characters development was spot on and it felt like I was growing right along with the character. Walner really sets the tone by helping you learn all the new mythology right along with our main character.
All thought I am more an enemies to lover fan. This arranged married and one bed trope was spot on!
You will fall in love with our main man Roan right along side of Amelia.
My favorite part was how Walner included the actual history of the colonization of Australia.
I can not wait for book two in November! I have a feeling this will be our next big Twilight hit!!
I love this new spin of the original V/W mythology! (No sparkling vampires here).
The characters development was spot on and it felt like I was growing right along with the character. Walner really sets the tone by helping you learn all the new mythology right along with our main character.
All thought I am more an enemies to lover fan. This arranged married and one bed trope was spot on!
You will fall in love with our main man Roan right along side of Amelia.
My favorite part was how Walner included the actual history of the colonization of Australia.
I can not wait for book two in November! I have a feeling this will be our next big Twilight hit!!
Read
April 27, 2021Walner has created a new twist on the genre: a vampire tale without the passages of fear, dread and repulsion associated with the Gothic style, but creepy nonetheless. Vampires shop a lot — Amelia’s mother is quite the fashionista — and mingle in broad daylight. Blood meals are as casual as coffee breaks. The effect is eerie and unsettling, and once readers finally tear themselves from the pages, their return to the real world comes with a jolt.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/04/27/garka...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/04/27/garka...
May 24, 2021
I wish there was a half rating. I debated heavily between a 3 star versus a 4 star, and is boils down to this for me: while Garkain is an enjoyable book to read I found it fairly repetitive at times and need more detail and length to the story.
Amelia jumps quickly through her emotions in a matter of days. While she is on a dead line the ease with which she chooses to go along with things is a bit too compliant considering how determined she is to be independent and not led around. It is not a dislike of her character but a wish for further, and more in depth, development.
The setting of Australia and the takes on both vampires and werewolves are refreshing with a good amount of world building introduced. I simply wish we had dived into it further. On that note I look forward to reading the next book with hopes that I can see more of those worlds and their cultures.
The epilogue is most definitely my favorite part of the book and puts a view that I had formed of one of the characters in a slightly different light and honestly made me more intrigued then most of the book. It put a great twist of what I had read, coloring points that had annoyed me with a new understanding. This is where I would like the half star option for ratings.
This is far from a bad book and is hopefully a build up to the next book which will (hopefully) have more depth and world building to explore as we follow Amelia and her partner on their journey.
Amelia jumps quickly through her emotions in a matter of days. While she is on a dead line the ease with which she chooses to go along with things is a bit too compliant considering how determined she is to be independent and not led around. It is not a dislike of her character but a wish for further, and more in depth, development.
The setting of Australia and the takes on both vampires and werewolves are refreshing with a good amount of world building introduced. I simply wish we had dived into it further. On that note I look forward to reading the next book with hopes that I can see more of those worlds and their cultures.
The epilogue is most definitely my favorite part of the book and puts a view that I had formed of one of the characters in a slightly different light and honestly made me more intrigued then most of the book. It put a great twist of what I had read, coloring points that had annoyed me with a new understanding. This is where I would like the half star option for ratings.
This is far from a bad book and is hopefully a build up to the next book which will (hopefully) have more depth and world building to explore as we follow Amelia and her partner on their journey.
October 25, 2020
This book was very interesting! While it was a book that I thought would be the same old vampire and werewolf stuff it was has a new creative spin. Garkain is a beautifully written urban fantasy that gives a new look at the mythos vampire and werewolf.. I won't spoil anything but the basis of the plot has our heroine Amelia finding her birth family after being in the foster system since she was a baby. Now she has found her family after a DNA test and while she gets answers for her abandonment they come with questions she never could've imagined. Amelia is an intelligent and very capable woman instead of your typical damsel in distress. If you love vampires and werewolves like I do then Garkain is a must read!
October 23, 2020
I don't read much fantasy, but I was given the chance to read this, and it was actually really really good. Not your typical spoiled teen book, or the main character is all ditsy and you want to put it down. It's actually a really smart take on a book that I've seen a hundred times before, but never wanted to subject myself to reading.
I wouldn't mind reading the next one. Hell, I kind of want to find out what happens next after the way it ended. No spoilers I promise. But it's one I highly recommend, I'm a little ashamed to say.
I'm a fan, there I said it.
I wouldn't mind reading the next one. Hell, I kind of want to find out what happens next after the way it ended. No spoilers I promise. But it's one I highly recommend, I'm a little ashamed to say.
I'm a fan, there I said it.
April 17, 2021
An enjoyable fantasy read.
A story of vampires and werewolves – but not as we know it. I loved the new slant on the cliched vampire/werewolf trope – it’s fresh and unique.
The story is cleverly written and enjoyable. This urban fantasy takes you on an incredible journey, with Amelia, into a world in the outback of Australia and a secret civilisation filled with creatures – creatures of legend and myth.
If you love vampire and werewolves, as I do, then I’d definitely say this is a good choice of book for you.
A story of vampires and werewolves – but not as we know it. I loved the new slant on the cliched vampire/werewolf trope – it’s fresh and unique.
The story is cleverly written and enjoyable. This urban fantasy takes you on an incredible journey, with Amelia, into a world in the outback of Australia and a secret civilisation filled with creatures – creatures of legend and myth.
If you love vampire and werewolves, as I do, then I’d definitely say this is a good choice of book for you.
July 11, 2021
An intriguing and mysterious entrance that explains just enough to invite us to turn to the next page, and then the next, lifting a smile on our faces as we join the dots, but at the same time, giving us even more mysteries to keep looking for their answers. That’s how you do it and Anna J Walner has done it VERY VERY well.
By the end of the first chapter, we are hit with the stakes: There is something wrong with “The Colony”, and our main character has within her the power to change things. Yet she doesn’t have a clue of what, or who, she really is, and why, and things start to get VERY interesting! A perfect start for a very promising book!
Garkain is about vampires, and although we are not much fans of the long-toothed characters, we actually liked this book immensely due to the great narrative abilities of the author. It’s an amusing, pleasurable and comfy experience to read Garkain as we don’t have to think much, and when we do, we are caught off-guard and out of our depths of expectations here because of the approach that Anna J Walner chose to the plot.
The nuances of the interactions of the characters and how they react to each other reveals more than the author could have said straight out about them, which adds to the whole experience of reading Garkain. Anna J Walner leaves little details here and there and repeats them in order to make sure that we are at par with the intentions and the plot that starts to get more complex as things advance in a smooth escalating progression as timelines are switched, going from present to past and them from memories to present always with insinuations of the future, which adds to the whole thriller and suspense thing.
Another thing that we did appreciate is the fact that the author didn’t rush in telling the story to us nor in developing the plot or explained the characters at once, which showed skill and control over the writing process and the plot itself, this added trust to us readers on knowing that we were well taken care of and we were facing a neatly written book. This and the non-challans attitude of narrative increased our relaxation and trust towards the reading session, very well done by Anna J Walner.
The light and dark atmosphere of the writing creates a good contrast of the overall scenarios and set the stage for possible sudden shifts on that come in further in this book. We were smoothly made acquaintance to new environments without even realizing as we progressed with the main character towards her transformations and experiences, and we could understand, with the main character, what were “The Colony”, her abandonment and the “Unbounding” all about, which is SUPER amazing to read.
Anna J Walner has a surprisingly exceptional and non-challans manner of explaining things to the reader through the characters. There’s just NO-FUZZ about it where many other writers would overcomplicate things. It’s something pleasurable, the way the writer makes it all too-easy to read.
We LOVE how the author keeps adding secrets and explaining just enough to keep us going from chapter to chapter. It tests our nerves in a pleasurable way and we want to be up to the challenge, o course, so we stubbornly keep reading and paying attention. AWESOME all the way, and the fact that this book about Vampires, Garkain, doesn’t follow clichés is something EXTREMELY surprising! This is a completely new approach on the vampirism take. We LOVED the small differences and details that Anna J Walner has come up with that literally make all the difference. This book is REFRESHING!
The connection that we as readers get with Amelia is staggering, elevated by the fact that the main character feels normal although she is special in every aspect. The author made a great job in detailing, reinforcing and repeating her problems with anxiety, sleep, worry, emotional reactions, doubt and yet, stubbornness. The surrounding characters are just as excellently described by the author, with flaws and perks of their own making their personalities vibrant, with depth and realistic in every way.
Talking about realism and how great it is, we have to reinforce the fact that the interactions are fluid and pleasant to an extent that you doubt that a person actually wrote this, and the romance in this story is just blissful. It is very good the read such natural and awkwardly good romantic interactions! There nothing wrong and everything right with the romance in here. Nothing forced, nothing overly sexual, nothing cliché, just… natural and steady. It’s LOVELY. EXCELLENT!
This book is so great that you don’t want it to end, or change. It’s PERFECT, and the end, quite surprising.
Pros:
Excellent narrative. Just excellent
Excellent story, plot, plot development
Excellent, and quite unexpected plot twist right at the end
Excellent humour in narrative, with jokes here and there about life and death
Refreshing take on the whole vampire thing
PERFECT and exemplary romance, loved it
Great interaction between characters
No loose-ends, no plot-holes
Great and very fluid reading experience, this is bound to be a best-seller
Cons:
There is that slight “becoming rich for no reason and suddenly having a great financial life” cliché, but it’s literally slight.
Lesson from the book: “Family bounds are deceptive”
Favourite Characters: Ambrose and Roan.
Cover score: 9.5/10
Book score: 8.9/10
Review originally posted at- https://scribblesworth.wordpress.com/...
By the end of the first chapter, we are hit with the stakes: There is something wrong with “The Colony”, and our main character has within her the power to change things. Yet she doesn’t have a clue of what, or who, she really is, and why, and things start to get VERY interesting! A perfect start for a very promising book!
Garkain is about vampires, and although we are not much fans of the long-toothed characters, we actually liked this book immensely due to the great narrative abilities of the author. It’s an amusing, pleasurable and comfy experience to read Garkain as we don’t have to think much, and when we do, we are caught off-guard and out of our depths of expectations here because of the approach that Anna J Walner chose to the plot.
The nuances of the interactions of the characters and how they react to each other reveals more than the author could have said straight out about them, which adds to the whole experience of reading Garkain. Anna J Walner leaves little details here and there and repeats them in order to make sure that we are at par with the intentions and the plot that starts to get more complex as things advance in a smooth escalating progression as timelines are switched, going from present to past and them from memories to present always with insinuations of the future, which adds to the whole thriller and suspense thing.
Another thing that we did appreciate is the fact that the author didn’t rush in telling the story to us nor in developing the plot or explained the characters at once, which showed skill and control over the writing process and the plot itself, this added trust to us readers on knowing that we were well taken care of and we were facing a neatly written book. This and the non-challans attitude of narrative increased our relaxation and trust towards the reading session, very well done by Anna J Walner.
The light and dark atmosphere of the writing creates a good contrast of the overall scenarios and set the stage for possible sudden shifts on that come in further in this book. We were smoothly made acquaintance to new environments without even realizing as we progressed with the main character towards her transformations and experiences, and we could understand, with the main character, what were “The Colony”, her abandonment and the “Unbounding” all about, which is SUPER amazing to read.
Anna J Walner has a surprisingly exceptional and non-challans manner of explaining things to the reader through the characters. There’s just NO-FUZZ about it where many other writers would overcomplicate things. It’s something pleasurable, the way the writer makes it all too-easy to read.
We LOVE how the author keeps adding secrets and explaining just enough to keep us going from chapter to chapter. It tests our nerves in a pleasurable way and we want to be up to the challenge, o course, so we stubbornly keep reading and paying attention. AWESOME all the way, and the fact that this book about Vampires, Garkain, doesn’t follow clichés is something EXTREMELY surprising! This is a completely new approach on the vampirism take. We LOVED the small differences and details that Anna J Walner has come up with that literally make all the difference. This book is REFRESHING!
The connection that we as readers get with Amelia is staggering, elevated by the fact that the main character feels normal although she is special in every aspect. The author made a great job in detailing, reinforcing and repeating her problems with anxiety, sleep, worry, emotional reactions, doubt and yet, stubbornness. The surrounding characters are just as excellently described by the author, with flaws and perks of their own making their personalities vibrant, with depth and realistic in every way.
Talking about realism and how great it is, we have to reinforce the fact that the interactions are fluid and pleasant to an extent that you doubt that a person actually wrote this, and the romance in this story is just blissful. It is very good the read such natural and awkwardly good romantic interactions! There nothing wrong and everything right with the romance in here. Nothing forced, nothing overly sexual, nothing cliché, just… natural and steady. It’s LOVELY. EXCELLENT!
This book is so great that you don’t want it to end, or change. It’s PERFECT, and the end, quite surprising.
Pros:
Excellent narrative. Just excellent
Excellent story, plot, plot development
Excellent, and quite unexpected plot twist right at the end
Excellent humour in narrative, with jokes here and there about life and death
Refreshing take on the whole vampire thing
PERFECT and exemplary romance, loved it
Great interaction between characters
No loose-ends, no plot-holes
Great and very fluid reading experience, this is bound to be a best-seller
Cons:
There is that slight “becoming rich for no reason and suddenly having a great financial life” cliché, but it’s literally slight.
Lesson from the book: “Family bounds are deceptive”
Favourite Characters: Ambrose and Roan.
Cover score: 9.5/10
Book score: 8.9/10
Review originally posted at- https://scribblesworth.wordpress.com/...
March 14, 2022
This book was not for me.
The first chapter of the book tells you what is going to happen and then you go back in time to learn about it? Although it’s not clearly marked that you are going back in time. I didn’t enjoy the writing style. The majority of this book is dialogue. The word said is in this book 659 times and the book is only 227 pages. Another word that I noticed used a lot was “sounds” “sounds great” “sounds crazy” “sounds pretty good”. Because of how much dialogue there is it felt a lot like telling me instead of showing me and I didn’t enjoy this and will not be continuing.
The first chapter of the book tells you what is going to happen and then you go back in time to learn about it? Although it’s not clearly marked that you are going back in time. I didn’t enjoy the writing style. The majority of this book is dialogue. The word said is in this book 659 times and the book is only 227 pages. Another word that I noticed used a lot was “sounds” “sounds great” “sounds crazy” “sounds pretty good”. Because of how much dialogue there is it felt a lot like telling me instead of showing me and I didn’t enjoy this and will not be continuing.
January 7, 2022
This book is a mixed of the top three things everyone loves to read or watch movies about.
The top three are: vampires, werewolves, and witches.
This book is about the top three but with so many twists and turns. I loved how it was a mix with all of them but it was a totally different view on them from all of the other books or movies I've read/seen.
The cliffhanger killed me so much but it was an amazing read and I can't wait for more in the series!
The top three are: vampires, werewolves, and witches.
This book is about the top three but with so many twists and turns. I loved how it was a mix with all of them but it was a totally different view on them from all of the other books or movies I've read/seen.
The cliffhanger killed me so much but it was an amazing read and I can't wait for more in the series!
July 12, 2021
‘Only a few months ago she’d been a girl with no family…’ – critical changes!
Author Anna J. Walner is a fresh new voice on the teen and YA scene, arriving with two series to date – THE ENROVIA SERIES (two books) and now THE ULURU LEGACY SERIES, of which GARKAIN is the initial volume. She has established the Silver Dawn Publishing Company and seems on her way to a very successful career.
Anna’s ability to weave both the real and unreal worlds of her story together is quite masterful. For those readers committed to tales of vampires and werewolves or other exotic themes, her manner of incorporating that realm with the contemporary world and life will likely satisfy as much as for those readers testing the waters of fantasy for the first time. The opening of her story embraces both locales, subtly: ‘Amelia stared at the man in the seat next to her, watching him breathe deeply in a dreamless sleep as they flew over the Pacific Ocean on their way back to the States. She would be going home to tie up loose ends and delete her former life completely. Roan would be seeing the States for the first time, both of them making the most of their three months before returning to a life that would be a huge commitment for them. A life that she never dreamed of, but now she couldn’t imagine any other way. She still pondered the events of the last few weeks, and their future to come. How they would unite two separate worlds as one. How they would lead a new community into the future, reshaping it and bringing fresh ideas to an archaic society.’
That fluid degree of creating characters of note and ideas of interest is characteristic of Anna’s new volume. The surprisingly unique tale has been condensed as follows: ‘Amelia’s journey to find the truth behind her adoption twenty-five years ago, might end up being just a quick tour around the sights and a visit with her biological family. Or it could reveal a more mysterious and shocking history to her lineage than she thought possible. The realization that vampires and werewolves have existed all along in secret. A place called The Colony. Amelia realizes she must make a choice. Join The Colony and her family, or literally be made to forget they ever existed in the first place.’
Colorful, imaginative, well scribed, this novel signals the arrival of a very fine new artist in the YA fantasy mystery genre. Anna will be an author to observe as she rises in the ranks of impressive writers.
Author Anna J. Walner is a fresh new voice on the teen and YA scene, arriving with two series to date – THE ENROVIA SERIES (two books) and now THE ULURU LEGACY SERIES, of which GARKAIN is the initial volume. She has established the Silver Dawn Publishing Company and seems on her way to a very successful career.
Anna’s ability to weave both the real and unreal worlds of her story together is quite masterful. For those readers committed to tales of vampires and werewolves or other exotic themes, her manner of incorporating that realm with the contemporary world and life will likely satisfy as much as for those readers testing the waters of fantasy for the first time. The opening of her story embraces both locales, subtly: ‘Amelia stared at the man in the seat next to her, watching him breathe deeply in a dreamless sleep as they flew over the Pacific Ocean on their way back to the States. She would be going home to tie up loose ends and delete her former life completely. Roan would be seeing the States for the first time, both of them making the most of their three months before returning to a life that would be a huge commitment for them. A life that she never dreamed of, but now she couldn’t imagine any other way. She still pondered the events of the last few weeks, and their future to come. How they would unite two separate worlds as one. How they would lead a new community into the future, reshaping it and bringing fresh ideas to an archaic society.’
That fluid degree of creating characters of note and ideas of interest is characteristic of Anna’s new volume. The surprisingly unique tale has been condensed as follows: ‘Amelia’s journey to find the truth behind her adoption twenty-five years ago, might end up being just a quick tour around the sights and a visit with her biological family. Or it could reveal a more mysterious and shocking history to her lineage than she thought possible. The realization that vampires and werewolves have existed all along in secret. A place called The Colony. Amelia realizes she must make a choice. Join The Colony and her family, or literally be made to forget they ever existed in the first place.’
Colorful, imaginative, well scribed, this novel signals the arrival of a very fine new artist in the YA fantasy mystery genre. Anna will be an author to observe as she rises in the ranks of impressive writers.
July 25, 2021
The Review
What a unique and original take on the urban paranormal genre of YA Fantasy. The way the author elevates and changes the mythology of vampires, werewolves, and the paranormal overall was inspired to say the least. The mythos balanced out the incredible setting of Australia in this novel, a setting not often seen in a YA Fantasy series.
The novel itself is very character-driven. The focus on Amelia is evident from the start, slowly introducing her evolution from a self-reliant young woman searching for answers to a powerful paranormal leader in the making. Her relationships with characters like Roan and her mother really elevate the narrative, drawing the reader in as Amelia serves as the eyes and ears of the reader themselves, exploring this fascinating world first-hand.
The Verdict
A memorable, engaging, and iconic first novel in a brand new YA Fantasy and Urban Fantasy series, author Anna J. Walner’s “Garkain” is a must-read novel for fans of paranormal storytelling YA genre is known for, but with a twist. The updated mythos of vampires, werewolves, and everything in-between makes this story shine, and the characters really keep the reader invested in this evolving narrative. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
What a unique and original take on the urban paranormal genre of YA Fantasy. The way the author elevates and changes the mythology of vampires, werewolves, and the paranormal overall was inspired to say the least. The mythos balanced out the incredible setting of Australia in this novel, a setting not often seen in a YA Fantasy series.
The novel itself is very character-driven. The focus on Amelia is evident from the start, slowly introducing her evolution from a self-reliant young woman searching for answers to a powerful paranormal leader in the making. Her relationships with characters like Roan and her mother really elevate the narrative, drawing the reader in as Amelia serves as the eyes and ears of the reader themselves, exploring this fascinating world first-hand.
The Verdict
A memorable, engaging, and iconic first novel in a brand new YA Fantasy and Urban Fantasy series, author Anna J. Walner’s “Garkain” is a must-read novel for fans of paranormal storytelling YA genre is known for, but with a twist. The updated mythos of vampires, werewolves, and everything in-between makes this story shine, and the characters really keep the reader invested in this evolving narrative. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
August 23, 2021
Can speak talk about cliffhanger ending?! I need more of the story. I need answers. I had a feeling all along that something was up and something wasn’t been fully discussed. Did I mention I need answers? Like now! The way this story is told is amazing, you jump right in and get all the information.
I really like how the species are described, the witty banter between the MC and her love interest.
I really like how the species are described, the witty banter between the MC and her love interest.
July 18, 2021
Omg this book was amazing This is such a great take on vampires and werewolves! I really enjoyed this book! I would like to see what going to happen with Amelia and phoebe relationship as a mother and daughter . also love the chemistry between roan and Amelia .
So all I can say wow the author did an amazing job I can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next go read it if u haven’t yet I recommend it
So all I can say wow the author did an amazing job I can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next go read it if u haven’t yet I recommend it
July 21, 2021
Garkain is the first book in this unique vampire and werewolf series. Anna J Walner's writing is impeccable. This is a quick and interesting read!
This story is about Amelia, an orphan who comes into contact with her bilogical family and enters their world in Australia. She finds out that she is VERY special in that she is part Vampire and part werewolf.
This makes her Garkain (vampire) pack and the Larougo (werewolf) pack very interested in having her join them and leave her normal world in Texas.
Through this, Amelia meets Roan who is the son of the Larougo leader. They have an instant connection!
Will Amelia be hesitant and go back to her normal life in Texas? Or will she be drawn to this new world, family, and Roan?
Check it out! I highly recommend.
This story is about Amelia, an orphan who comes into contact with her bilogical family and enters their world in Australia. She finds out that she is VERY special in that she is part Vampire and part werewolf.
This makes her Garkain (vampire) pack and the Larougo (werewolf) pack very interested in having her join them and leave her normal world in Texas.
Through this, Amelia meets Roan who is the son of the Larougo leader. They have an instant connection!
Will Amelia be hesitant and go back to her normal life in Texas? Or will she be drawn to this new world, family, and Roan?
Check it out! I highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews