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The Guardians: Rise of the Phantom
The Guardians: Rise of the Phantom is a fantasy tale set in the vibrant and mythical world of Felina. The story follows Alada and Tierra, Guardians with immense responsibility, who team up with a mortal named Birch to face the looming threat of the Phantom. Through magical forests, underwater realms, and thrilling battles, the characters weave through a story filled with mysticism, danger, and camaraderie.
The world-building in this novel is a standout feature. The author’s vivid descriptions bring the bioluminescent forests and the ethereal Mizu villages to life. The lore of Guardians, especially their duties and the myths surrounding them, feels rich and immersive.
The character dynamics are a highlight. Alada’s stoic resolve contrasts sharply with Tierra’s playful and quirky personality. I found their relationship endearing, with moments of genuine warmth, like when Tierra introduces Alada to the whimsical tree-traveling technique. Birch adds a touch of humanity and naivety to the mix, which grounds the Guardians’ celestial grandeur. While I enjoyed the story, I would have loved to have seen the supporting characters developed further. They appeared briefly but they were intriguing enough for me to want to know more about them.
The themes of loneliness and duty resonated deeply. Alada’s internal conflict about maintaining her Guardian oath while yearning for companionship was particularly poignant. Scenes where she interacts with the Mizu kittens were heartwarming, showing her nurturing side despite her isolation.
The Guardians: Rise of the Phantom is a tale of adventure and heart. Its lush world-building and endearing characters make it a compelling read for fans of fantasy, particularly those who enjoy stories with mystical creatures and elemental powers. I’d recommend it to young adults and anyone who delights in whimsical yet heartfelt journeys.
Pages: 230 | ASIN : B0DQJWV3KB
Moon Spirit
Moon Spirit by Fred Gracely introduces us to Max Berger, a boy whose life at the Helpren Municipal Orphanage is a never-ending cycle of hardship, amnesia, and dark dreams. The story kicks off in a grimy dorm room, with Max wrestling both the literal bugs under his cot and the nightmares that torment his sleep. But everything changes when he meets Sarina, a mystical moon spirit embroiled in a dangerous mission. What starts as a seemingly small task to watch over a magical orb for a month spirals into a whirlwind of threats, mysteries, and choices that might shape the fate of the world.
The book’s strongest asset is its setting and mood, skillfully painted from the first pages. Gracely writes Helpren Orphanage as a place so vivid you can practically smell the sour socks and feel the asbestos ceiling crumbling onto your head. I admired the way the narrative carries the reader seamlessly between scenes of magical wonder and the oppressive reality of Max’s life. The transition from gritty realism to a more surreal atmosphere had me hooked.
The novel blends elements of fantasy and modern life, creating a unique experience. The narrative structure offers a distinctive approach, with the fantasy world and everyday reality unfolding in parallel, adding layers to the storytelling. Sarina’s world, filled with moon spirits and veptors, bursts with imagination and intrigue, bringing a fresh energy to the narrative. Max, our relatable protagonist, captures the reader’s heart through his search for belonging, and his interactions with Sarina are full of warmth and genuine connection. Even though Spaz, the bully, plays a familiar role, there is potential for further character exploration that keeps readers curious. Sarina shines with a compelling blend of vulnerability and strength, particularly in high-stakes moments that reveal the depth of her character.
Fans of young adult fantasy will find the book exciting, with its gripping drama and suspenseful twists that make it hard to put down. The world-building is captivating and leaves readers eager to explore more of its mysteries. Each encounter between Max and Sarina builds anticipation, ensuring that the journey, even with its challenges, remains an enthralling and satisfying read.
I recommend Moon Spirit to readers who enjoy modern fantasy blended with coming-of-age themes, especially those who appreciate atmospheric settings. It’s a story about finding your place in a world that seems to have abandoned you, with enough magic and danger to make it a thrilling ride.
Pages: 306 | ASIN : B0DCTYWXG7
A Lifetime Commitment
The Not So Funny Bunny follows the adventures of a little boy who makes a wish for a pet bunny and learns just how challenging owning a pet can be. What was the inspiration for your story?
I was trying to come up with a story idea for the next holiday, which was Easter. Of course, the natural choice was to write a bunny story. What always struck me about that time of year was that people would get bunnies for pets because of the Easter bunny, and then they would just as quickly return that pet in a few weeks when the reality hit them – bunnies require work to keep them happy and healthy. They are not self-sufficient. Having grown up on a farm with animals, I have a healthy respect for them. All living things deserve happiness. If you cannot give them a life worth living, then I feel you should pass on the idea of owning a pet.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
Not all pets are the same. Some might be easier or require less maintenance to take care of than others, but they all require some kind of effort and intention to give the animals a happy life.
The goal of this book is to make people realize that getting a pet is a lifetime commitment that requires dedication on their part – it should never be decided on a whim or part of an unthought-out decision that leads one down the path to pet ownership. Do your research. Make a true commitment.
Pet ownership is really about them, not about us.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your story?
Yes, having grown up on a farm, we did have rabbits, but they lived outside in their own hutches. It wasn’t until I was older and the nanny for a family that had an indoor rabbit, that I found out that I’m actually extremely allergic to rabbit dander. Being asthmatic, that was a bad thing.
Some of the antics of the rabbit in the story were things I saw my employer’s pet rabbit actually do in the house. Bored rabbits can actually be quite destructive. They chew on everything. Plants? Yes. Carpeting? Yes. Wood? Yes. My employers had a TV with a wood base. That rabbit did some significant destructive inroads to that wood paneling. Even though the section where Yakov, the rabbit in the book, was highly over-exaggerated with the spaghetti in the kitchen, it wasn’t completely made up. I remember one time when I had a plate of spaghetti in the family room, and my employer’s rabbit practically leaped across the room and into my plate and began to inhale my food. Color me surprised. The part where Yakov is outside jumping high in the grass, I based it on that indoor bunny. His space was in a small living room, but he would race around it very fast, building up speed so that he could fly over the child-proof gate that was up to keep him out of the other areas of the house. Rabbits are amazingly smart creatures.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Yes, the entire series, Holiday Tails, will cover several holidays throughout the year. There are so many to choose from, so this series can be continued for years. Next up is Halloween and Christmas after that, but I have every intention of following up on less celebrated holidays as well. I also have plans for sequels for several of the books, so you will get to see some of these characters again – just living their lives in different stories.
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Well, Sascha is about to find out that all kinds of things can go wrong in ways even he could never imagine. Be careful what wishes you put out into the universe. An unthought-out wish can be catastrophic in the long run. Most people don’t think about the consequences of a wish or whether they should have ever asked for that thing in the first place.
Sascha finds out that wanting and actually having something you wish for are completely different things. A wish is always a lovely thought – a real live bunny living in your house is not!
LITERARY TITAN 