Author Interview: J.R. Johansson

Today, I'm delighted to be interviewing with J.R. Johansson, whose debut novel Insomnia, book one in The Night Walkers, comes out June 8th!

Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.

Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.

Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?

Tell us about yourself and how you got into writing.

My degree is in Communications/Public Relations with my minor in Psychology...clearly not a combinations that screams: WRITE BOOKS! ;-) I never thought I'd like to write books. I never even enjoyed writing when I had to for my university courses. Basically, I went through a really rough time in my life, had an idea in my head, and started writing as a form of release. Then I never stopped. Believe me, I was just as surprised about it as everyone else I knew.

It's interesting, and wonderful, how once you started writing, you kept on doing so, all the way to the publication of your first novel. What inspired you to write about a person who enters other peoples' dreams at night?

I have bizarrely wonky dreams and I always have. I remember waking up one morning and thinking, "WOW! That was crazy! I wonder what other people would think if they saw the things I dream about." It kind of evolved from there.

I love how the craziest things can come to us in our dreams. It would be so interesting to visit other peoples' dreams. On your website, you mention that your minor in abnormal psychology inspired many of your characters. How has this background helped with writing your YA thriller Insomnia?

It helped because of the thriller aspect. Abnormal psychology classes were the best. One of my favorite TV shows is Criminal Minds. I love researching the mind and what situations/abnormalities can result in an average person turning into a sociopath. With Insomnia, this interest took a slightly different turn. Sleep deprivation is a scary thing, physically speaking, but it was so interesting to look into what it does to the brain. Without giving too much away, let's just say a brain without sleep can be a terrifying thing. *insert ominous music here* :-)

I like my sleep. I don't want to think about going a night without sleep, much less four years like Parker! Parker's a teenage boy whose unique abilities threaten to drive him crazy, and now he wonders if it's turning him into something dangerous when all he wants is a good night's sleep. How did you go about developing his character and balancing his vulnerabilities with the craziness he finds himself entangled in?

Great question! That was definitely a tough line to walk. His situation has so many physical repercussions that hold him back. He has tremors and looks terrible, half the people around him (his mom included) think he's doing drugs. On top of all that, he knows he's dying but can't tell anyone. It's a terrifying situation to be in. And that's before the "craziness" really gets going. At the heart of it all, he is a good guy. He wants to do the right thing. But when questions of morality and mortality get swirled up in his crazy mess of a life, the answers aren't so black and white. With all the shades of gray, how do you figure out what the "right" option is? It's a fascinating question that I loved exploring with this character.

Parker has a lot going on in his life. It really makes me appreciate my peaceful, not-so-eventful days of classes and organization activities. Do you plan on writing more YA thrillers, or will you branch out into other genres?

I have a gigantic folder with random ideas in it. Some have fantastical/supernatural elements, some are more contemporary, some even lean toward sci-fi. But the one constant between them all is the scary bits. I see myself going different directions in regards to the other parts, but I'm a YA thriller author, and I don't see that changing. Not for awhile anyway.

That's good to hear. We need more YA thrillers! If you could choose what you dreamed about, what would it be?

Ooh, I think I would probably dream the next scene of my WiP in full detail. It would make the drafting process a lot smoother. Then again...I have some scenes coming up that would REALLY make my dreams more like nightmares. I take it back...I'd dream my favorite happy scenes from my favorite books. With Ryan Gosling, Aaron Rodgers & Adam Levine prominently featured in each one. Mmm...yeah. That.

It would certainly make writing a lot easier (and yay for free dream "movies" starring hotties)! What question do you wish I asked you (and totally forgot to add)?

Hmm...I don't know. These are most excellent questions! Let's see -- I wish you'd asked who my favorite character is in Insomnia. It's a very hard question, but I think it's Finn. Everyone should read it to find out why. :)

What are you working on right now?

Two things: 1 - Finishing up INSOMNIA 2 : WHEN INSOMNIACS ATTACK (unofficial title) 2 - A new project that is what I call a YA Contemporary Psychological Thriller. It's very visual, and VERY scary. I'm loving it.

Sounds exciting! Thanks for interviewing.

About the Author


J.R. Johansson's Website | Facebook | Twitter

J.R. Johansson has a B.S. degree in public relations and a background in marketing. She currently lives with her two young sons, her husband, and her cat Cleo in a valley between majestic mountains and a beautiful lake where the sun shines nearly 300 days per year. When she's not writing, she loves reading, playing board games, and sitting in her hot tub. Her dream is that someday she'll find a way to do all three at the same time.

Author Interview: Christine Amsden

Today, I am interviewing with Christine Amsden, author of Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective.

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing.

I think I was born a writer. I wrote my first short story when I was about 8 -- it involved Cabbage Patch Dolls going to Mars. I've always like to write, and it has always been about strange or unusual events (science fiction or fantasy).

I got "serious" about writing in 2003, when I attended a by-audition boot camp with Orson Scott Card. Before that, becoming an author was a dream. After that, it became a goal.

I love writing about characters more than anything else. Give me a person with a problem and I'll give you a wonderful story of overcoming adversity.

It's wonderful how the writing camp turned your dream into a goal and how you made it become a reality. What inspired you to blend urban fantasy and crime together in a novel?

This is a pretty typical mix. At least, from my own reading. I was into Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series for years before I thought of Cassie. There might have been some inspiration there, although I definitely went my own way with Cassie.

The great thing about mystery/crime is that it allows each of my books to have a beginning, middle, and end (the solution to the mystery), while the bigger story arc continues (Cassie's personal character journey).

Characters make a book for me. I love how the greater story gives plenty of room for Cassie's personal journey. Describe her story within ten words.

You can call me Cassie.

Many books center on paranormal characters in normal families. What drew you to writing about a normal girl in a paranormal family and how do you feel this is important in shaping Cassie's character?

The idea clicked into my head one day and felt absolutely right. You hit on the answer in your question, I think -- lots of paranormal stories focus on paranormal characters in normal families. Lots of paranormal stories focus on "the chosen one" or someone with incredibly strength. I didn't want to write a story that has been told a thousand times before.

It was a challenge! Cassie is almost defined by her lack of magic in a magical family at first. It hurts her self-worth, though she tries to put a brave face on it. (She uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism.) But Cassie is more than she realizes. (And I don't mean that she has a secret magical talent she's somehow repressed for 21 years. I'm proud of the fact that I gave her a problem and owned it.)

Fantasy is a lot of fun. We all like to daydream about what it would be like if we had this or that magical power. How we could save the world. Cassie finds ways to help people without any magic at all. She smart, knowledgeable, brave, and compassionate.

I love how Cassie is able to help people without magic even in a magic-prominent world. It's something we can all learn from. Are there perks to being a normal girl living in a paranormal world?

I'm not sure there are perks in this case. It's a bit like being born deaf in a hearing world. Or blind in a sighted world. The best I can say for it is that since Cassie can't rely on magic, she has to rely on other things -- like her wits.

It would be a serious handicap; at the same time, it must lend to innovation since Cassie has to find other ways to work around her lack of magic. Supposing you got the chance to visit Cassie's world, who would you ask to be your guide and which places would you visit?

Cassie herself would be a great guide. She's got a good heart, and is a great friend. And even though she doesn't have the magic, she's smart enough to steer me away from any real dangers. I'd love to see her parents' castle home, and visit with her friends at the diner. I'd like to meet Evan Blackwood face to face as well.

Oh, Evan. He would be a delight to meet. If you were to write a spinoff for Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective, who would it be about and why?

I've already done it! Well, I have a rough draft, anyway. Cassie has two good friends that stick with her throughout the series -- Madison and Kaitlin. They were supposed to be minor characters and in Cassie's story, they are. But they kept demanding subplots until finally, I realized that each one needs a story of her own. I've written a rough draft of Madison's story already. I'm not ready for Kaitlin yet. She's a bit of a mess, to be honest. She's had a rough life and I haven't figured out how to deal with all of it yet.

It is worth noting that there are 4 books in the Cassie Scot series -- all written and all coming out in the next year or so.

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for these stories! What are you working on right now?

I'm developing a new story and a new world about people who can walk through dreams. I've got a few chapters written, but it is still very early in the process, so I don't want to say too much about it. I'm also hoping to finish Madison's spin-off story sometime this year.

Your new story sounds like a delight. I can't wait to hear more about it. Thanks for interviewing!

About the Author


Webiste | Facebook | Twitter

Christine Amsden is a science fiction and fantasy writer. She currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.

Shadow Chaser Tour: Review & Giveaway

Today, as a part of the Shadow Chaser tour, I have for you my review of the book and a giveaway.

Shadow Chaser
by Jerel Law

Series: Son of Angels #3
3 Stars: A Good Read
Paperback: 240 Pages
Publication: May 7, 2013 by Thomas Nelson

Many months have passed since part angel siblings Jonah, Eliza, and Jeremiah Stone began their angelic training. As part angels, or "quarterlings," the siblings joined other children of nephilim to begin honing their special powers.

In this third installment in the Son of Angels series, Jonah's story comes to resemble a modern-day Job as he's faced with trials that affect his health, strength, relationships, and most-prized possessions. As he and the other quarterlings prepare for mid-term exams, their powers are tested once again in the most fierce battle against Abaddon's forces yet. Will Jonah's faith in Elohim continue to persevere as he fights Abaddon in his hardest battle yet?

Shadow Chaser is the story of Job. Job is a righteous man, and God has a plan for him. God has decided to let Satan test him as long as Satan doesn’t lay a finger on Job himself. But his family and household are all fair game.

Jonah Stone is a quarterling, a child who is descended from a human and an angel, and he has the gift of prophecy. Though, when he speaks prophetic word, he feels like he is going to throw up. He, his family, and the other quarterlings have already been through a lot of trials and battles in the test. However, the battle that Jonah has to face now will be the hardest one because Abbadon has singled him out. There is trial of fire to test the loyalty of his friends and the strength of his family. And at the end, they will suffer a great loss that will push all of them to the limit of their faith.

We all go through hard times and losses. This is a story of loss, heartbreak, and the faith to overcome. It is a story about how no matter how the enemy imposes illness and wants to make our lives miserable, God is always with us. Jerel Law finds a good way to explain faith to young readers through this novel without preaching.

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

About the Author


Jerel's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Jerel Law is a gifted communicator and pastor with seventeen years of full-time ministry experience. He holds his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Tarheels!), and a master of divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Jerel began writing fiction as a way to encourage his children’s faith to come alive. He lives in North Carolina with his family. Spirit Fighter is his first novel.

Short Hiatus

Finals are coming up. I'm going to try and get a couple reviews up for books that I've read. However, for the next couple weeks or so, I'll be absent for the most part.

Pretty Dark Nothing Tour: Review & Giveaway

Today, as a part of the Pretty Dark Nothing tour, I have for you my review of the book and a giveaway.

Pretty Dark Nothing
by Heather L. Reid

3 Stars: A Good Read
Paperback: 256 Pages
Publication: April 9, 2013 by Thomas Nelson

It’s been twenty three days since Quinn has slept for more than minutes at a time. Demons have invaded her dreams, stalking her, and whispering of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life. Energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. The demons are determined to keep them apart, and Aaron from discovering the secret locked away in his memory. Together, they could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.(less)

I was drawn to this book because of the creepy paranormal factor, and it didn't disappoint in this regard. At the beginning, we are introduced to Quinn as she attempts to stay awake, something most of us would love not to have to do. My friends and I talk about how we need to have a national naptime. Of course, the human body can't resist sleep forever, and Quinn does fall asleep, and we find out why she doesn't want to sleep. Enter her dark world.

This is a tension-filled book, as Quinn tries to figure out what's going on and how she can solve the mess that is her life. She's a decent enough character, and it's fairly easy to sympathize with her. However, she does tend to wallow in self-pity. It's not like she was always like this. She was a normal teen before her life fell apart. I think I would have been able to relate to her more if we saw more of her other side even as she slips into her tendency to pity herself. Though she does tend to rely a lot on the people around her though, she isn't a total damsel in distress. She has her moments.

My favorite character does have to be Aaron. He goes through a lot as well, and he still manages to be so supportive of Quinn even though she pushes him away. I really wanted to see more of his character and abilities developed--and, well, more of him in general.

The characters and their relationships feel like one big high school drama, something I'm not particularly fond of, and the characters lack the depth that would help me sympathize with them more in a high school drama setting.

On the whole, the best part of this book is the paranormal focus, which we really start getting into midway into the novel. I really enjoyed exploring the dark world that consumes Quinn. By the end, I was engrossed enough into this that I would read a sequel if there were one. (Though I do admit this is partly also because a new twist was added at the end that I wasn't expecting and I feel should have been introduced earlier if this is going to be a standalone.)

I recommend this book if you love a good creepy paranormal book.

About the Author


Heather's Website | Twitter

Heather L. Reid eats mayonnaise on her fries, loves men in kilts, and met her husband playing Star Wars Galaxies online. This native Texan now lives with her Scottish hubby in North Ayrshire, Scotland, where she wanders the moors in search of Heathcliff and William Wallace.

Echo Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway

The countdown clock reads ten days until the end of the world. The citizens are organized. Everyone's been notified and assigned a duty. The problem is . . . no one knows for sure how it will end.

Energy-hungry Mages are the most likely culprit. They travel toward a single location from every corner of the continent. Fueled by the two suns, each Mage holds the power of an element: air, earth, fire, metal, water, or ether. They harness their powers to draw energy from the most readily available resource: humans.

Ashara has been assigned to the Ethereal task force, made up of human ether manipulators and directed by Loken, a young man with whom she has a complicated past. Loken and Ashara bond over a common goal: to stop the Mages from occupying their home and gaining more energy than they can contain. But soon, they begin to suspect that the future of the world may depend on Ashara's death.

Rey flashed me his trademark lopsided grin. “So how was your first day as an Ethereal?”

I considered flinging an ether ball at his smug face. Sadly, I had no idea how to do that. So instead, I leaned back into the vehicle cushion. The leather sighed as it accepted my weight. “I’m the worst Ethereal ever.” The exhaustion that had chased me most of the day finally caught up. I let my eyes drift shut.

“But you are an Ethereal?” Excitement rang in his voice.

“That’s what they tell me.”

The smooth motion of the vehicle lulled me into something that resembled relaxation. It was hard to be completely at ease with my comm pressed against my waist. Its countdown clock ticked closer and closer to the end with each second that passed.

Rey shook me so hard I thought my brain would smash into my skull.

“What?” My eyes flew open and I shoved him away.

“Why aren’t you excited about this?”

“It’s not that I’m not excited.” I yawned and stretched my arms. The yawn went on longer than expected, and Rey stared at me with raised brows as he waited.

“Are you done?”

“Maybe. It’s just that I’m more tired than I am excited. Did you know you have to channel your own energy into elemental manipulations?”

He gave me a blank expression.

“Right, of course. You knew that. You’ve been a practitioner most of your life.” My gaze scanned up and down his body; his excited expression, the nervous drumming of his fingertips against the armrest. “How come you’re not exhausted?”

“You get used to it.”

About the Author


Alicia's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Alicia Wright Brewster is a mild-mannered lady of average height and above average paranormal obsession. By day, she works in an office. At night she is an author, an electronics junkie, and a secret superhero. In her virtually non-existent free time, she loves to read, watch movies, and eat food. She is particularly fond of the food-eating and makes a point to perform this task at least three times per day, usually more.

Review: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

Reconstructing Amelia
Kimberly McCreight

4 Stars: A Great Read
Hardback: 384 Pages
Publication: April 2, 2013 by HarperCollins

Litigation lawyer and harried single mother Kate Baron is stunned when her daughter's exclusive private school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, calls with disturbing news: her intelligent, high-achieving fifteen-year-old daughter, Amelia, has been caught cheating.

Kate can't believe that Amelia, an ambitious, levelheaded girl who's never been in trouble would do something like that. But by the time she arrives at Grace Hall, Kate's faced with far more devastating news. Amelia is dead.

Seemingly unable to cope with what she'd done, a despondent Amelia has jumped from the school's roof in an act of "spontaneous" suicide. At least that's the story Grace Hall and the police tell Kate. And overwhelmed as she is by her own guilt and shattered by grief, it is the story that Kate believes until she gets the anonymous text:

She didn't jump.

Sifting through Amelia's emails, text messages, social media postings, and cell phone logs, Kate is determined to learn the heartbreaking truth about why Amelia was on Grace Hall's roof that day-and why she died.

Reconstructing Amelia is about the importance of open communication between parents and children. It's also a book about the dangers of keeping secrets and the need to feel fit in at school. The book teaches us that we need to get more involved in our children’s lives and listen to them. We can't take our relationships with them for granted.

Amelia is smart and funny. She is the intellectual girl that every mother dreams of. Kate is a single mother and a litigation attorney at a big Manhattan law firm. Kate thinks they are as close as a mother and daughter can be. That is, until she gets a call at work that Amelia has been accused of cheating on a paper and has been suspended. The school wants Kate picks up Amelia as soon as possible. When she finally gets to the school, police officers have surrounded school. Amelia has jumped off the roof and killed herself.

Later, Kate receives an anonymous text said Amelia did not jump. With the help of a lieutenant from the NYPD, Kate begins going through Amelia’s email, texts, Facebook posts, and the Gossip Girl-eque school blog called gRaCeFULLY. Kate finds out Amelia was tapped to join a secret society of girls, that she fell in love for the first time, and that she had a Manti Te’o-type correspondence with a gay boy Ben. All of these happened without Kate’s knowledge. Kate soon realizes there is a lot she doesn’t know about Amelia.

I can feel Amelia’s pain on the pages. I also can see why Amelia makes bad decisions, because all she wanted deep down was to belong. Her experiences are eye opening.

As a mother of two teens, it makes me wonder that what they do on the internet, who they chat with on Facebook, and who their friends are. I don't really know. I want to trust them and let them grow up without me nosing into their business, but this book shows just how much about parents don’t really know about their own children. It scares me that I may not be able to protect my children from all the horrible things out there in the world.

Reconstructing Amelia is a heartbreaking story. I enjoyed this book from beginning to the end. The book addresses many important issues such as bullying, single parents, posh private schools, homosexuality, ethics, secret clubs, adultery, and role of technology and social media in teen culture. It is a good read, and I highly recommend this book to read and share with your teens.

An ARC was provided by Harper Collins for review.

Rock Harber Search and Rescue Tour: Review & Giveaway

 

Today, as a part of the Rock Harbor Search & Rescue tour, I have for you my review of the book.

Rock Harbor Search and Rescue
by Colleen Coble and Robin Caroll

3 Stars: A Good Read
Series: Rock Harber Search and Rescue #1
Paperback: 256 Pages
Publication: April 9, 2013 by Thomas Nelson

Emily O'Reilly is obsessed with all things Search and Rescue. She volunteers with the team and goes on rescue missions with her stepmom. She is even selling homemade jewelry to save up for her own Search and Rescue puppy. But when an expensive necklace is stolen from a renowned jewelry artist at Rock Harbor's fall festival and Emily is accused of the crime, it looks like she'll never get her puppy and be able to join the Rock Harbor Search and Rescue team.

Emily isn't willing to give up on her Search and Rescue dreams that easily, and she sets out to find the real culprit and to restore her reputation. With a few suspects in mind, Emily is determined to uncover the truth, but she isn't prepared for the secrets she and the Search and Rescue dogs sniff out in the process.

I love big furry creatures, and dogs rank high up on the list of my favorite animals. It was an absolute joy to read about Search & Rescue and to see Emily's passion for the job. The story opens in the midst of a search, allowing us to get to know key people in Emily's life and how much she values the job. I love how Emily is a strong character in that she stands up for herself without going so far as to get into trouble that she can't handle despite her insistence on clearing her own name. At the same time, her youth and vulnerabilities also come out in moments of weakness, such as when the topic of her mother comes up and with her fear of the Windigo.

Add to that the strong support from those around her. Emily's younger brother Timmy and best friend Olivia are always there to cheer her up and help her out. I also love Bree and Emily's step-mother Naomi. In time, I grew to like her father as well, though I can't forgive him for being so quick to suspect Emily of stealing Mary Dancer's necklace initially. I don't want to believe that a parent can put down his or her own child like that, but he does. And she still loves him.

I do feel as though the relationships in the novel could be straightened out more, especially early on in the novel. We never do find out why Emily's father is so suspicious of her initially when she is accused of stealing the necklace, and Josh is never more than that boy Emily is interested in. I also never really felt a sense of urgency about Emily's biological mother. Though Emily fears her mother, we don't find out until late in the book why she is. I also wonder what role Greg plays in the novel and why he bothers to make an appearance in the novel when he was never brought up before and he doesn't play much of a role in the story.

The emotions could come off a bit clearer as well. It falls flat at times, which is especially noticeable because there are times when Emily's emotions really come off the page, like when she feels betrayed by her father and when she remembers the time she went to the beach with her mother.

On the whole, this was a solid read with strong dialogue and an amazing cast of characters. The novel does get a little too much on the religious side for me in the second half with the subject of God coming up more frequently; it isn't over the top, but there were too many similar references, especially in such a short novel. The ending is a bit anticlimactic. After all the searching for the true thief, Emily stumbles upon the truth by chance, and everything wraps up pretty nicely afterwards. I would have liked to see more suspense and action surrounding the mystery. At the same time, the ending is believable. Not every mystery has a big bad guy waiting at the end.

An ARC was provided by Thomas Nelson for review.

About the Authors


Colleen's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Carol Award winner Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 2 million books in print.

Robin's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. She gives back to the writing community by serving as Conference Director for ACFW. Her books have finaled/placed in such contests as Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year. To learn more about this author of deep South mysteries of suspense to inspire your heart.

Unplug and Read Tour: Review of The Flame in the Mist

 

Today, as a part of the Unplug & Read tour, I have for you my review of The Flame in the Mist.
For more about Books Unplugs, check out Random House Children's Youtube videos here!

The Flame in the Mist
Kit Grindstaff

3 Stars: A Good Read
Hardback: 464 Pages
Publication: April 9, 2013 by Delacorte Press

Fiery-headed Jemma Agromond is not who she thinks she is, and when the secrets and lies behind her life at mist-shrouded Agromond Castle begin to unravel, she finds herself in a chilling race for her life. Ghosts and misfits, a stone and crystals, a mysterious book, an ancient prophecy—all these reveal the truth about Jemma's past and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than she could have imagined in her wildest fantasies. With her telepathic golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and her trusted friend, Digby, Jemma navigates increasingly dark forces, as helpers both seen and unseen, gather. But in the end, it is her own powers that she must bring to light, for only she has the key to defeating the evil ones and fulfilling the prophecy that will bring back the sun and restore peace in Anglavia.

Jemma believes that she has a weak constitution and is an utter failure to her family. She has been raised to believe so by the Noxes, a family specializing in the dark arts that has raised her since she was a little babe. However, right as she is preparing for her Initiation, which is to happen on her thirteenth birthday, Jemma learns that the Noxes are not her true family and, worse, plan to sacrifice her to strengthen their dark hold over Anglavia. Frightened, she escapes from Agromond Castle on a quest to find her real parents and get Initiated into the Light before the Noxes steal her powers for themselves.

Jemma is what I look for in a middle-grade protagonist. She's at the tender age where she still wants to believe in the adults she's grown up thinking were always in the right. Upon finding out that they aren't perfect after all, she must struggle on her own to find her way in the suddenly very big and scary world. She does depend on greater powers a lot in the story, and it was conflicting to me because I really wanted to see her do more on her own. In the end, however, I'm okay with it because she is still a child, and it's very realistic for her to need to depend on others before reaching the end goal, where she must stand on her own to protect those she cares about.

The supporting character were a joy. I have an especial place in my heart for the rats. I had one that I was very fond of as a child, and I was so sad when she died. I haven't had a rat since, but they're warm, intelligent critters. I have a soft heart for mammals, generally larger ones but these rattusses are special. Digby is strong, pure-hearted, and very supportive of Jemma. I wish that there was more of him in the story. He isn't present as often as I thought he'd be given the synopsis. Marsh is someone I'd love to have as my aunt or grandmother even. She's a bundle of warmth and someone I imagine would be fierce to face off against. (In short, don't.)  To my surprise, I ended up sympathizing with a couple of the Noxes, though I wouldn't change their endings. They deserve what they get in the end.

The plot was predictible, but that is to be expected when there is a prophecy about good defeating evil. I knew from the beginning that Jemma would be the one to defeat the Noxes, and she must do so on her own without outside help. The heart of the story lies in Jemma's journey to finding her powers and the strength to defeat the Noxes. It was a bit frustrating that it took Jemma two parts of the book to escape, as the synopsis hadn't suggested that she'd be alone for so long. It bogs the story down, though it does provide context and developments that help pull the story together in the end.

What didn't work for me is how lucky Jemma is. When she gets into bad situations, all she needs to do is call upon the crystals for help, her rats will help her, or some other lucky coincidence will provide aid to her. Jemma does have to raise her fighting spirit in order to get out of scrapes, but I would have liked to see her work out more things for herself. This is a coming-of-age novel about a girl coming into her powers that were always meant to be. Not to mention that she is the prophesized Fire One who will defeat the evil residing in Agromond Castle. There needs to be more of her struggling to fend for herself for me to believe in her story.

Overall, this is an enjoyable fantasy read with epic elements that will delight upper middle-grade readers. While there are predictable elements and lucky coincidences, and the pacing is slow, the characters are a joy and the overall writing is strong for a debut work. This story is very light on the whole and a good fit for younger readers seeking to start reading larger books.

A copy was provided by Random House for review.

About the Author


Kit's Website | Facebook | Twitter

Kit Grindstaff was born near London, and grew up in the rolling countryside of England. After a brush with pop stardom, she moved to New York and embarked on her career as a pop song writer. Kit now lives with her husband in the rolling countryside of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the SCBWI. The Flame In The Mist is her first novel.