August Fortress by Andrea Pearson

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Aug 152012
 

August Fortress

Author: Andrea Pearson

Publisher: Self

Published: June 2012

eBook: 381 pages

ASIN: B008AYUYB8

FTC FYI: Review Copy

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary: Jacob Clark’s most dangerous quest yet is just beginning. He and his friends must rescue the powerful Shiengols from August Fortress, where they’ve been held captive for nearly fifteen years. But deadly Lorkon traps are everywhere and affect all involved—even Jacob. To succeed, he’ll have to master more of his powers and put aside distractions from his ordinary life.

My Review

This is my favorite book of the series. I loved the adventure and surprises around every turn. The characters are creative and fun. I really enjoy the world that Andrea has created. The creatures are my favorite, I would not want to be hunted by a fish because I accidentally fell in it’s water. Jacob and his friends embark on their most dangerous quest, to request the Sheingols. All of their senses are effected, and there is danger around every turn. Jacob has some really cool abilities and is everyday learning about them. Andrea’s books are full of fun, suspense, adventure, heart, and have a great sense of family. From the humans to the Makalos, everyone is loved and appreciated. You will enjoy these books even as much as your kids will.

4 out of 5 stars. August Fortress is Book 3 of the Key of Kilenya series. Book 2 is The Ember Gods. Follow Andrea on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / SMASHWORDS

The Ember Gods by Andrea Pearson — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Jan 042012
 

The Ember Gods

Author: Andrea Pearson

Publisher: Self

Published: 2011

Paperback: 268 pages

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

ISBN: 9781466381612

FTC FYI: I received a PDF copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads summary:  “Jacob Clark has just returned from the world of Eklaron, where he frustrated the evil plans of the Lorkon and returned the magical Key of Kilenya to its rightful owners. His quest is far from over, though–Aloren is trapped in Maivoryl City by the Ember Gods, and Jacob can’t return to save her until he receives the potion that will protect his team from the corrosive influence of the Lorkon.

Balancing between this new world and his own proves tricky. Not only has he started his first year of high school, but his magical abilities are bringing him too much attention. He feels pulled by both sides, hoping he’ll figure out his special powers to save Aloren in time.”

This engaging sequel picks up right where The Key of Kilenya stops. Jacob has only been back from his adventure for a short time.  He is coping with his new abilities, all while starting high school. Many frustrating things happen for Jacob on his first day.  Most difficult for him is having his journal taken away, and he won’t get it back for the rest of the week. That was Jacob’s assignment from the Makalos.  Read that journal, it will help answer his questions.  He and Matt get home from school and right away are summoned back to help the Makolos. There is an army coming. He and Matt rush to help.

What was hard for Jacob during this book was his wanting to help and rescue Aloren.  The Fat Lady wants to wait until all of the rescuers can have the protection of a potion. One that takes a very long time to make.  His concern for Aloren has him not using his best judgement.  Jacob and Matt sneak and use the key to try to save her.

I really enjoyed this book!  I loved the action scenes. Especially near the end.  I did think that the basketball playing was a little distracting. I know basketball is a love of Jacob’s, but it took me away from the story a bit.  I thought the Ember Gods were really cool though, and I wanted more from them.  Really great villains. As always, the characters are well written, creative, and enjoyable.  I love this world Andrea has created.  There is an awesome surprise at the end, and I’m very excited for Kilenya Book 3, August Fortress, to see where this new information will take the characters.

4 out of 5 stars. A great action/adventure story. Find out more about Andrea Pearson here. Here is the purchase link for The Ember Gods on smashwords.

Also available from Andrea Pearson:

The Key of Kilenya

Samara: A Kilenya Romance

The Key of Kilenya by Andrea Pearson — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Oct 122011
 

The Key of Kilenya

Author: Andrea Pearson

Self Published

Released: June 2011

ISBN: 9781463671839

Softcover: 296 pages

FTC FYI: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Smashwords Summary:  “When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path from our world into another, his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon—evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doesn’t know he possesses—powers they desire to control.

The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob’s help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key—and Jacob’s special abilities.”

Jacob Clark is very good at basketball.  He is excited and anxious for try-outs the next day.  Jacob knows he will make the team, and hopes it jump starts an NBA career.  His sister Amberly is playing in the sandbox, and his older brother Matt and him just finished a quick shoot out.  Jacob thinks he saw something in the bushes, but pays it no mind, until Amberly starts screaming.  The boys rush over and see a huge black wolf towering over their little sister.  Jacob takes off after them, while yelling at Matt to get Amberly in the house.  He runs and runs and winds up in a place he doesn’t recognize.  Being chased by weird looking creatures, and meeting strange people is just the start of his journey.  Jacob is asked to find the stolen Key of Kilenya from the evil Lorkon.  He isn’t sure he wants to.  What about his family?  What about his future?  All that won’t matter if the Lorkon use the key for evil purposes.

The Key of Kilenya struck my interest and got me excited about the story from page one.  I appreciate a great fantasy book that I can pass onto my kids without hesitation.  I love this unique world that the author creates.  I also love the inventive character names.  They are clever and imaginative.  My personal favorites were Early and September, little fairy like creatures called Minyas.  Another cool thing about the story is the magic that the Makalos have.  It’s called Rezend, and it can many cool things.  Even Jacob has special powers of his own.  He just needs to figure out what it is, and hopefully before it’s too late.

Along his journey Jacob meets Aloren.  A girl in need of help herself.  Jacob isn’t sure about her when they first meet, and has a very funny discussion with himself about her.

He glanced at Aloren again–she was still smiling.  What could be so interesting and funny it was making her smile still?  Or, maybe her face never relaxed–maybe it was frozen in a smile.  He almost stopped walking as this thought occurred to him.  Maybe she had a muscular disorder that made her face look like that.  Jacob made a mental note to check to see what her face looked like while she was sleeping.  He almost laughed out loud when this thought formed in his mind, realizing how awkward it would be if she woke up with him in her sleeping area.  He could only imagine what he’d say. “Uh, I’m checking to see if you have a muscle problem in your face that makes you smile all the time.”…

4 out of 5 stars.  This book very enjoyable and is an action packed adventure story for all readers.  The Key of Kilenya is available on Smashwords for FREE! Find it here.  The sequel The Ember Gods was released in September of this year.  Find that here.

Read more about Andrea Pearson with this link.


Review of The Key of Kilenya by Andrea Pearson

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Sep 302011
 

Title: The Key of Kilenya

Author: Andrea Pearson

Self-Published: June 28, 2011

Paperback: 297 pages

ISBN-13:978-1463671839

Review: by Sheila

 

 

A magical key has been stolen, and Jacob must retrieve it as soon as possible to protect his family and our world from danger.

Fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark’s life is about to change when two vicious wolves chase him through a gateway from our world to another. They’ve been sent by the Lorkon–immortal and evil beings from the world Edana, who know Jacob and that he possesses powers which they desire to control.
He escapes the wolves and spends the night in the safety of a tree. The next morning, not knowing he is in a different world, he is surprised to be greeted by strange, human-like creatures.
They beg his assistance in recovering a magical key–which was stolen by the Lorkon and is mysteriously linked to him. He has two choices: help these people, or not. If he helps them he will be in great danger. If he doesn’t, his family and our world will be, as the Lorkon will stop at nothing to unlock the key’s and Jacob’s powers.
He makes his choice and begins a quest of self-discovery and danger.

The Key of Kilenya is a story of a fourteen year old boy, Jacob, who finds himself on a journey that he hadn’t planned on going. His whole world before was basketball, and now he is asked to help save a new world and possibly his own. At first he doesn’t want to help, but he is persuaded by some wolves that he should. They would have scared me into helping for sure.

 

You can tell while reading this book that the key audience are boys between the ages of 10-15. Lovers of Fantasy and strange new worlds, will really love the imaginative creatures and all of the exciting situations that Jacob finds himself in. I found that the story had a slow start for me, and picked up when Jacob and his new friend, Akeno, go on a journey to look for the Key of Kilenya. There is a lot of world building going on as Andrea introduces new plants, monsters and races of people. Some were kind of confusing to keep track of, but as the story progressed pieces started falling together more. I also really like the added element of the journal entries of Prince Dimitri, that explained a back story of what had happened before in this land. These were found at the beginning of every chapter.


Jacob has powers that he didn’t know that he had. Some of the scenes are kind of funny as he discovers what those powers are. His reactions are very true to how a teenage boy would respond. Andrea wrote Jacob realistically, and as I said, this will appeal to it’s core audience. I believe that most people will be very happy with the ending of the story. Fans of this book will also be excited to know that there is a book 2: The Ember Gods. Jacob will head back to the world of Ecklaron to help his new friends again. 


If you would like to purchase “The Key of Kilenya” you can buy the e-book for a really good deal of 99 cents at…

Kindle

Nook

Smashwords

The paperback copy can be purchased here at Amazon.com

If you want to learn more about Andrea and her book please go to her website.

 

                                                       

About this Author

:Andrea is an avid reader and outdoor-er, who loves traveling. She and her husband(AKA Mr. Darcy) were married only a few months ago, and have settled near a river that someday will overflow and flood their house.

It took her nearly a lifetime to do so (nine years), but she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Communications Disorders from Brigham Young University. She plans to open a flying bicycle shop eventually, but for the time being, she is happy teaching orchestra to elementary students.

 ***I want to thank Andrea for the review copy of her book. In no way did this influence the review that was given.