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The Archive #1
Golden Touch
Amaya Wilson already thought her family was struggling to make ends meet when she comes home one night to find her father has lost his job. Hopelessness starts to settle in until her younger brother, Tyler, remembers a map and a story their grandfather used to tell them. A story of their ancestor who found and hid a Golden Gift up in the mountains.
Out of desperation to help their family get back on their feet, they head into the mountains with the newfound map guiding them, hoping to find the treasure he hid. What they find instead is not a pile of gold, but Darren, a boy who was put under a timeless sleep and has the ability to turn anything to gold with a touch of a finger.
But before the three of them can figure out what to do, they quickly discover there are people after Darren who believe he may be the key to a mystical book this mysterious group has been searching for.
All Amaya wanted to do was find some gold in the mountains to save her family, but what she got instead was a world of secret societies, supernatural abilities and a search for an ancient book that could make or break all of their futures.
Out of desperation to help their family get back on their feet, they head into the mountains with the newfound map guiding them, hoping to find the treasure he hid. What they find instead is not a pile of gold, but Darren, a boy who was put under a timeless sleep and has the ability to turn anything to gold with a touch of a finger.
But before the three of them can figure out what to do, they quickly discover there are people after Darren who believe he may be the key to a mystical book this mysterious group has been searching for.
All Amaya wanted to do was find some gold in the mountains to save her family, but what she got instead was a world of secret societies, supernatural abilities and a search for an ancient book that could make or break all of their futures.
385 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2021
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Melody Personette
37 books30 followersMelody Personette is a YA author, book dragon and follower of Jesus. She's been writing since she can remember and now tells stories about the magic of hope, light in the darkness and love conquering all and is passionate about inspiring teens and young adults with her novels. Melody lives in the home she shares with her family in Indiana where she is a college student working toward her Bachelors in general studies, is an avid reader and tea lover. You can find her on her website at www.melodypersonette.com or connect with her on her blog at www.melodypersonetteauthor.blogspot.com where she talks about everything from writing, to faith, to her latest readers. You can also connect with her on instagram @_melody_author_
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 13, 2021
(note: I beta-read this book and also received a copy in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.)
Um. So where is book two???
That's what I closed the book thinking, because I need more of these characters ASAP. They were truly the best part of this book. Amaya the overworking older sibling was just amazing as a main character. And Darren. DARREN. I love this boy so, so much, and Certain Decisions he made towards the end of this book absolutely broke my heart.
The side characters - both good and bad guys - were all SUPER interesting as well. But I have to say that the main antagonist is probably my favorite character. XD (in my defense, he is very cool - pun intended). I thought he was very well-done in terms of motivation and personality, and I'm excited to see what he does in book 2!
The plot was gripping and mysterious, and I flew through the climax because I needed to know what happened. And the world in which the story happened was fascinating. I'm not sure I've quite read a book with a world like this :D.
The ONLY thing I didn't like as much was the romance. Despite the fact that the Amaya-Darren ship managed to melt my heart by the end, it felt a bit too insta-lovey for my taste? (But it's a pretty wholesome ship, so I'm not even that mad. XD)
But I very much enjoyed this first book, and I can't wait for Emerald Phantom!
Um. So where is book two???
That's what I closed the book thinking, because I need more of these characters ASAP. They were truly the best part of this book. Amaya the overworking older sibling was just amazing as a main character. And Darren. DARREN. I love this boy so, so much, and Certain Decisions he made towards the end of this book absolutely broke my heart.
The side characters - both good and bad guys - were all SUPER interesting as well. But I have to say that the main antagonist is probably my favorite character. XD (in my defense, he is very cool - pun intended). I thought he was very well-done in terms of motivation and personality, and I'm excited to see what he does in book 2!
The plot was gripping and mysterious, and I flew through the climax because I needed to know what happened. And the world in which the story happened was fascinating. I'm not sure I've quite read a book with a world like this :D.
The ONLY thing I didn't like as much was the romance. Despite the fact that the Amaya-Darren ship managed to melt my heart by the end, it felt a bit too insta-lovey for my taste? (But it's a pretty wholesome ship, so I'm not even that mad. XD)
But I very much enjoyed this first book, and I can't wait for Emerald Phantom!
July 4, 2021
“She would make him believe her no matter how long it took. He would realize one day that she really would never regret finding him, no matter how many bad things may happen because of it.” –Golden Touch
Melody has done it again! She sucked me into a world of her imagination and made me wish I never had to leave. She masterfully entwines the fantastic with reality. Reading through Golden Touch, I vividly experienced the world through the character’s perspectives. I could see and hear and feel the things they did. The writing is vivid and descriptive and oh so easy to get lost in. The plot will keep you guessing at what happens next. From treasure hunts to secret societies to hidden powers this book has it all, including one of the sweetest slow burns ever. And the characters are just so… real. A big sister who desperately wants to ensure her family’s security. A boy lost in time who just wants to belong. A little brother who hopes for the best. An adventurer, an academic attempting to explain the unexplainable, and a protector with mad baking skills. And who could forget the antagonist with an icy heart? And just remember…
“Magic is just science we don’t yet understand,” –Arthur C. Clarke.
Melody has done it again! She sucked me into a world of her imagination and made me wish I never had to leave. She masterfully entwines the fantastic with reality. Reading through Golden Touch, I vividly experienced the world through the character’s perspectives. I could see and hear and feel the things they did. The writing is vivid and descriptive and oh so easy to get lost in. The plot will keep you guessing at what happens next. From treasure hunts to secret societies to hidden powers this book has it all, including one of the sweetest slow burns ever. And the characters are just so… real. A big sister who desperately wants to ensure her family’s security. A boy lost in time who just wants to belong. A little brother who hopes for the best. An adventurer, an academic attempting to explain the unexplainable, and a protector with mad baking skills. And who could forget the antagonist with an icy heart? And just remember…
“Magic is just science we don’t yet understand,” –Arthur C. Clarke.
February 18, 2022
What a fun adventure book. I wasn't sure if I would like it when I started, but within a few chapters I was in love.
I could really relate to Amaya, which I think helped a lot. She's a broke girl working herself into the ground for her family. I've often said we need more poor characters in fiction, and I was happy to see that here. Would I have liked more of that in the story, since it is kind of the inciting incident? Yes, but this isn't so much about that as the adventure.
Both Amaya and Darren are great characters. Very well developed and great chemistry. Tyler was okay, and so were the rest of the side characters. I wish we'd gotten more time with the villain as well, but hopefully that will come in future books.
It drew me in from the beginning and kept me turning pages all the way through. The pacing was great and the slower moments were done just as well as the action packed ones. I look very forward to reading more of this series and seeing what happens.
I could really relate to Amaya, which I think helped a lot. She's a broke girl working herself into the ground for her family. I've often said we need more poor characters in fiction, and I was happy to see that here. Would I have liked more of that in the story, since it is kind of the inciting incident? Yes, but this isn't so much about that as the adventure.
Both Amaya and Darren are great characters. Very well developed and great chemistry. Tyler was okay, and so were the rest of the side characters. I wish we'd gotten more time with the villain as well, but hopefully that will come in future books.
It drew me in from the beginning and kept me turning pages all the way through. The pacing was great and the slower moments were done just as well as the action packed ones. I look very forward to reading more of this series and seeing what happens.
March 25, 2023
Melody Personette has a great writing style and I was invested in this opening chapter in the Archive series. It did everything that I was hoping for and glad I got to read this. The characters were what I was looking for and they worked with the story. It left me excited to read more in this series and from the author.
"Just… be quiet and let me think,” Amaya snapped, scanning the part of the river they had stopped in front of. This was the shallowest section. There was a dam of rocks a little ways upriver that helped to slow the flow. This seemed like the best place to cross."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Just… be quiet and let me think,” Amaya snapped, scanning the part of the river they had stopped in front of. This was the shallowest section. There was a dam of rocks a little ways upriver that helped to slow the flow. This seemed like the best place to cross."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews