The Awakening by Dorine White Review

The Awakening by Dorine White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fifteen-year-old Kyler Birkwood discovers that he comes from a family of Mages, and dangerous mythical creatures do exist. He must learn to use his magic while convincing the high court they are in peril.

Kyler is a fantastic hero. He takes what he learns in stride and does not give up. He is smart and open minded. He makes commendable friends whom he values and respects. It is easy to like him and his friends.

I especially appreciated Kylers, classmate, Darcy. I love that she didn’t act like a stuck-up princess (literally), and that she did not let being a girl hold her back. She is strong-willed and clever. I like that she is determined and will help defend her family and friends.

White did a great job in developing Mordrake. He is an interesting and powerful villain. I valued discovering his background as the kids researched his existence.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The plot was adventurous and exciting. Many clever things happen that keep the reader engaged. The descriptions are well done and imaginative. Dorine White created an inspirational world that was believable.

The Awakening reminded of the Septimus Heap Series by Angie Sage. It also had some qualities similar to The Hobbit and Harry Potter. It is a fun read for any age and would make a terrific movie.

Paperback, 300 pages
Published December 2nd 2014 by Skyrocket Press
ISBN 0692296077 (ISBN13: 9780692296073)
edition language: English


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The Earthkeepers by Shawn Underhill: Giveaway

The Earthkeepers 
by Shawn Underhill 

 From the author of The Great North Woods Pack series comes a new adventure... Millions of people talk to animals every day. If you happen to be such a person, there’s nothing terribly unusual about you. But what if animals spoke to you in return? What if you could clearly understand them, while the people around you could not? That would be very unusual, remarkably interesting, and would likely be tremendously fun. For nine-year-old Ethan Dewfield, talking with his dog is an everyday occurrence. Add to this the fact that he lives not in a regular house but in a sprawling hilltop inn, and what you’ll find is a highly unusual boy with a unique tale to tell. In this personally narrated account he discovers the depths of his abilities, makes new friends, goes for a long walk in the snow, meets a special pack of wolves known as Earthkeepers, uncovers a nasty scheme devised by his even nastier uncle, eats a stack of pancakes, and does all he can to save his beautiful home from the greedy men plotting to destroy it.   *If you’re someone who likes a wide assortment of animals, with funny names and contrasting views of the world, and you like Christmas decorations, happy endings, and you’re open to the possibility of liking boys named Ethan, there’s a good chance you might enjoy this story.   *If you’re someone who admires deceitful, scheming, selfish people who manipulate others, who dislike animals, kids, beautiful buildings, and beautiful scenery, you might enjoy a long career in politics, but will probably not like this story in the least. *If you’re someone searching for an epic, unrealistic romance between two people resembling Ken and Barbie, you are looking in the wrong place. You are now terribly lost. I’m shocked you’ve read this far. You should probably hit the back arrow now. There’s no telling what could happen if you don’t.   *If you’re someone shopping for affordable health insurance, you might try a different website.  

Amazon

Author Shawn Underhill 

 The true story of Shawn Underhill may never be fully realized to the world at large. Theories and rumors abound, ranging from the fantastic to the absurd, but none can be entirely trusted. Most scholars agree that he is certainly a devoted admirer of Jack London, while less credible claims suggest that he is loosely related to the novelist, merely adopting the false name Underhill as a means to anonymity. The most bizarre of all rumors state that Mr. Underhill actually is Jack London reincarnate, that in his spare time he pilots experimental aircraft on dangerous test missions, and is slated to appear on DWTS. Attempts by this biographer to uncover solid evidence have proven frustrating at best, and dangerous at worst. Establishing contact with Mr. Underhill's family in the slim hope of acquiring trustworthy information has been, for the most part, an exercise in futility. The most viable explanation came by a series of mysterious phone calls leading to a secret meeting with an individual claiming to be Shawn's second cousin. This unnamed source (who only spoke with me under cover of darkness behind a Dunkin Donuts off highway 93 in rural New Hampshire) states that the author was last known to be located within his secret writing cave--a high mountain fortress, heavily defended by steep ledges and rushing waterfalls. The grounds near the secret trail leading to the hidden entrance are said to be patrolled day and night by wolves, watchdogs and bears. In an interesting side note, UFO's and Bigfoot sightings have been reported in the general area of Mr. Underhill's alleged stronghold, but none have been officially confirmed by any reputable organizations. The author's Facebook page, Shawn Underhill (Author) is the only known source of contact he has with the outside world.

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       Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/30/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   

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REX'D: Welcome to Scholomance by J.B. Skelter & Jack Reher Review

REX'D: Welcome to Scholomance by J.B. Skelter
My rating: 3 ½ of 5 Stars

Rex Gerard and his father move to Scholomance after his mother died in a car accident. Rex is not convinced her passing was an accident. As he investigates the crash, he makes some interesting discoveries about the monsters living in Scholomance and his family’s past.

Rex is a noble hero. He has good instincts and follows them. I enjoyed that he is into classic horror books and movies. My heart went out to him for the unfortunate situations that happened to him.

Harlow becomes a really good friend to Rex. I like that she is not afraid to take risks, especially considering her mother is the school principal.

The plot was interesting and original. REX'D: Welcome to Scholomance had a really great ending and some interesting surprises. I could see my eleven-year-old son and his friends enjoying this book. It would also make a good movie.

Complimentary copy provided by Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for an honest review.

Kindle Edition
Published August 18th 2014 by Curiosity Quills Press
ISBN139781620076262
edition language: English
urlhttps://curiosityquills.com/books/rexd/


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Rising Fang by Anfal Khaliq: Spotlight & Interview

Rising Fang

by Anfal Khaliq 

Fourteen-year-old Ellie Paige dealt with monsters like most high school losers: she pretended they didn't exist—from the prettier, slimmer girls who wrote nasty things about her on the bathroom walls to the boys who taped dirty drawings to her locker door.

But some monsters couldn't be ignored, and there are worse things in the world than high school; a lesson Ellie learnt when she was savaged one night by a terrifying creature in the woods behind the school, turning her into a creature she had feared all her life ...

Now, a sinister transformation had begun in Ellie, and dark dreams were calling her into the mountains west of town, where her life as she had always known it would almost certainly come to an end, her fate forever changed by the light of a full moon ...

Revenge of the Wild

by Anfal Khaliq

Ellie Paige, now fifteen, used to deal with monsters like most high school losers: she pretended they didn't exist—from the prettier, slimmer girls who wrote nasty things about her on the bathroom walls to the boys who taped dirty drawings to her locker door.

But some monsters couldn't be ignored, and there are worse things in the world than high school; a lesson Ellie learnt when she was savaged one night by a terrifying creature in the woods behind the school, turning her into a creature she had feared all her life …


In the sequel to 'Rising Fang', life has never been harder for Ellie. With Connor lost to her when her secret came out, she tried her best to move on. She tried to be human, but the boy whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continued to haunt her. When Connor returned, Ellie's life was complete – but he returned with danger in store, and the wild wanted revenge on her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tested her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Ellie must reconsider who and what she is, no matter what the cost.

Revenge of the Wild can be read for free at: http://www.swoonreads.com/m/revenge-of-the-wild  Please 'love' it and give it the relevant 'swoon' indexes. 

It is recommended that you read Rising Fang first, as this is a sequel. 

About the Author:

Anfal Khaliq is a 14-year old Muslim student/writer living in the UK. She mainly writes for children; a mixture of both novels for older readers and story books for younger readers.

Her novels are; ROSE-MAY; SAPPHIRE AND ME; RUNAWAY; RISING FANG; SHATTERED [and REVENGE OF THE WILD {the sequel to Rising Fang} which is coming soon.]

Her short stories are; THE TRUTH; SHADOWS BENEATH THE VEIL; STARLIGHT; YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW; LOST PRINCESS; THREE-LEGGED MADNESS.

She is now selling very well and many people have praised and enjoyed her works.


www.anfalkhaliq.weebly.com 

Goodreads

Interview:

I would like to welcome Anfal Khaliq and thank her for stopping by to tell us a little about heself and her works.

How long did it take you to write Rising Fang?

It took me one month to write Rising Fang.

What is your favorite book that you wrote? 

My favourite book that I wrote is probably Revenge of the Wild (the sequel to Rising Fang.)

If you were stranded on a desert island which characters do you want by your side?

If I was stranded on a desert island I would like to be with Tracy Beaker (a character created by author Jacqueline Wilson.)

What do you prefer paperback, hardcover, or ebooks? 

I prefer paperbacks.

What is your typical day like? 

My typical day is mostly me being in school. When I'm not in school sometimes I mooch around town, watch TV all day or just play games on the computer.

The Key (The True Reign Series #1) By- Jennifer Anne Davis

The Key

The True Reign Series #1

By- Jennifer Anne Davis

Expected Publication Date- November 15th, 2103

Published By- Clean Teen Publishing  

Within these pages lie kingdoms with castles and princes who fall in love with fair maidens, but make no mistake−this is no fairytale. 

His father’s kingdom is on the brink of upheaval and at the center of it all is an ordinary girl who could be the key to its undoing. When faced with the ultimate choice, will he choose the girl he’s falling in love with or the kingdom he has sworn to protect? 

An ordinary girl with an extraordinary past. All she wants is to be free. What she doesn’t realize is that freedom comes with a price she can’t afford to pay. She’s forced to accept the proposal of a prince she despises, even though her heart belongs to someone else . . . his brother. 

Seventeen-year-old Rema lives in a brutal kingdom where travel between regions is forbidden, people are starving, and looking at someone the wrong way can mean death. Nineteen-year-old Darmik is the king’s son and Commander of the King’s Army. He spends his days roving the island, doing his father’s bidding and trying to maintain control over the people.

When a chance encounter throws Rema and Darmik together, they share an instantaneous connection, but any sort of relationship between them is strictly forbidden. Darmik’s brother, the Crown Prince, notices Darmik’s interest in Rema and, in a calculated, political move, blackmails her. Faced with an impossible choice, Rema is forced to sacrifice her heart in order to save her family.

As Rema is taken to the palace with the Crown Prince, Darmik confronts the growing rumor that a legitimate blood heir to the throne exists and is trying to overthrow Darmik’s family. In Darmik’s quest to hunt down and kill the threat, he discovers that nothing is as it seems. Locked in the king’s castle, Rema finds herself a key player in a massive power struggle. When Darmik shows up, she’s not sure if she can trust him. The line between friends, enemies, and loyalty becomes blurred. As truths are unlocked, Rema understands that she just might be the key to finding the rightful heir and restoring peace to the kingdom… if she can manage to stay alive long enough.

  

Panic in Pittsburgh (Screech Owl’s, #24) by Roy MacGregor

Panic in Pittsburgh by Roy MacGregor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book not only had a mystery to solve, but it teaches life lessons and a bit of history.

Travis, the Screech Owl’s team captain, suffers a concussion early in the book. MacMregor did an excellent job of portraying his experience and feelings as he has to sit on the sidelines and watch his teammates. It was also touching how the person on the opposing team reacted. I know my son and his friends are always deeply concerned when someone gets hurt on the ice. Roy did an excellent job driving that fact home.

As the team manager of my son’s travel squirt hockey team, I truly appreciated Roy MacGragor’s attention to detail and hockey commentary. Not to mention he does a brilliant job in capturing the spirit of a travel hockey team.

This book literally made me laugh and cry. My ten-year-old son has all the Screech Owl books. He would agree that it is well worth the read. I highly recommend not only this book but series for any kid (or adult) that enjoys hockey and/or mysteries.

ARC provided publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ebook

Published January 1st 2013 by Tundra Books (NY)

ISBN 1299879217 (ISBN13: 9781299879218)

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The Good Dog by Avi

The Good Dog by Avi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought it would be appropriate to post my son's book report for this book. He was nine years old when he wrote it. Ya, okay I helped edit it...

First I have a funny story about this book. The main character in the book is a black and white malamute named McKinley. We have a black and white husky named McKinley. While my son, Justin, was reading this book, our "Bad Dog" McKinley decided to eat the book "The Good Dog." How is that for irony?

Justin gave the book 4 1/2 stars out of 5. Here is his review:

(spoiler alert)

I finished reading an awesome book called The Good Dog by Avi. The book is about a black-and-white malamute named McKinley. It is set in modern day. He has an owner named Jack. They live in Steamboat Springs. In the story, McKinley makes friends with a wolf, named Lupin. McKinley is the head dog, and the other dogs support him, except for his rival, Redburn. Redburn thinks he should be the head dog.

One morning McKinley woke up and opened the door with his paw. Someone left a piece of paper at the door with a picture of his greyhound friend Duchess on it. It said “Lost” and “Reward $200” on it. McKinley knew why she ran off, Duchess’ owner, Pycraft, was mean. Afterward, Pycraft planned a hunting party to hunt the wolf because he thought Duchess ran off with her. He wants to kill both of them. McKinley knew he must protect his friends. McKinley found Lupin and told her humans were hunting them. When the hunters were nearby, McKinley saw Redburn leading them. McKinley was not surprised. Redburn did everything his humans told him. Redburn tries to attach Lupin. McKinley launched on top on Redburn to protect her. Redburn yelps because McKinley scratched him. Pycraft aims his gun to shoot McKinley thinking he is the wolf. Fortunately, McKinley’s owner, Jack, pushed Pycraft on the ground. Jacked saved McKinley. The hunters gave up. Everything was fine. McKinley was still head dog. He didn’t get shot. Duchess joined Lupin’s pack. They lived happily ever after.

I enjoyed the action in this book. Plus, most of the dogs were really cool. I enjoyed that my dog is also named McKinley and looks like the main character.

Paperback, 224 pages

Published May 25th 2004 by Aladdin Paperbacks (first published October 1st 2001)

original title: The Good Dog

ISBN: 0689871198 (ISBN13: 9780689871191)

edition language: English

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