Category: Teenage Relationships & Friendships

#TheWriteReads blog tour | “My Heart is Hurting” by S.E. Reed A #BBNYA Finalist in (2024)

Posted Thursday, 6 March, 2025 by jorielov , , 0 Comments

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Acquired Book By: I found out about this novel via The Write Reads who was hosting a blog tour in March, 2025. I read a sampler of the novel online and found it such a compelling story. I knew I wanted to read the novel in full and marked myself down to host a review. I was able to purchase a copy of the novel about a week and a half ahead of the blog tour and I was wicked happy I was able to feature the novel for the tour. 

Thereby, this is a self-purchase of mine and I was not obligated to post a review. I am sharing my ruminative thoughts for my own edification and for continuing to share my readerly life on Jorie Loves A Story. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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Why I found this story to be a harder read than I expected it to be:

I have had a keen interest in reading more Children’s Lit over the years – which is why I developed my own concentrated readathon over the Summer, which I refer to as #MyYASummer. This past Summer, I made strides towards accomplishing that very goal (see also Post) – of reading a healthy array of YA Lit over the months of Summer but I was unable to finish reading the stories I had begun. This year, I’m doubling down and will start sooner than I had last year – all whilst, in the months leading into June, I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for #newtomeauthors of Young Adult novels which are featuring the types of stories I’d love to be reading right now. I have a penchant for Indie Authors – as I’ve long been a champion of Indies since I first started as a book blogger in this community in (2013). I also actively read Middle Grade Fiction, too.

I truly felt this was going to be a good fit for me as a reader – which is why I elected to be on the blog tour and choose to purchase a copy of the novel in order to read it for the tour itself. However, as you will find throughout my review – there were grave disappointments for me as reader who struggled to come to terms with where the author’s initial framework for the novel led me to believe it was going in one particular direction and then, took a much darker path entirely and wrecked the story for me. I earmarked what went wrong and what I believe are warnings in content for sensitive readers who might want to know what is inclusive of the story ahead of reading it for themselves. I know those help me a lot as I navigate stories to read and am grateful for book bloggers who discuss them on their own reviews.

This story might not have the same effect on someone else and they might not feel as dearly shattered at the end of reading the novel like I had either. Stories affect us in different ways and we each experience a novel differently. What suits one of us, might not suit the rest of us and vice versa. Being a finalist in the BBNYA, I know this story already found a strong audience and that readers resonated with the story as it was told. For me, it just fell short and left me wanton for an ending which matched better with the foundation Reed had established earlier on in the novel.

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#TheWriteReads blog tour | “My Heart is Hurting” by S.E. Reed A #BBNYA Finalist in (2024)My Heart is Hurting
Source: Purchased | Personal Library

Jinny Buffett is lonely…

She’s never had the comfort of a white picket fence with a loving family. Her subsidized apartment in Hollywood Florida echoes with the void of her dead Daddy, and the nights drag long into twilight while her Mama works the block outside the Margaritaville resort.

It’s idealistic Ms. Fleming, who’s brave enough to come knocking first. She wants to see Jinny rise up and use her ace scores to escape the wheel of poverty, convincing Jinny to start a school book club, where she finds the friends and boyfriend she never knew she needed.

But when her Mama spirals out of control and threatens her entire existence, it’s Jinny’s Everglade ancestors who arrive in a mist of magic, bringing the swamp and hope with them.

Genres: Children's Literature, Young Adult Fiction, Upper YA Fiction, YA Contemporary



Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781958531259

Published by Wild Ink Publishing

on 16th July, 2023

Format: POD | Print On Demand Paperback

Pages: 180

Published by: Wild Ink Publishing (@wild_ink_publishing) via Instagram

BBNYA Finalist Badge 2024 provided by The Write Reads and is used with permission.

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Posted Thursday, 6 March, 2025 by jorielov in 21st Century, Bullies and the Bullied, Childhood Friendship, Children's Literature, Coming-Of Age, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Modern Day, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Post-911 (11th September 2001), School Life & Situations, Teacher & Student Relationships, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, Upper YA Fiction, Young Adult Fiction

A #SciFiMonth One Way Ticket Book Review | Space Opera [set in the Rims!] novella series #HeavensEdge by Jennifer Silverwood (stories 1-3!)

Posted Thursday, 28 November, 2024 by jorielov , , , , , 0 Comments

#SciFiMonth Book Review banner created by Jorie in Canva.

Acquired Book by: Long before Sci Fi November 2019 – I started planning which authors I wanted to host during @SatBookChat (my Romance & Women’s Fiction chat wherein I discuss multi-genres in/out of those spheres of interest) – whilst I also had a hearty knowledge of which stories I would be reading throughout November during the event. I wasn’t sure if this was available to request for review – and due to a slight misreading of an email I nearly missed my chance to have a copy of it in time for the event itself – all I knew prior to event starting is I wanted to feature Ms Silverwood and I wanted to chat about Heaven’s Edge due to the fact this series is first told through novellas and secondly I have a newfound affinity of interest of Space Opera Rim stories! Being blessed with an omnibus print edition of the first three stories is something which filled my bookish heart with loads of happiness – such a beautiful edition, with lush purple cover art and a series of bookmarks tucked in for added random joy from Ms Silverwood’s other series I already love reading the Borderlands Saga!

Uniquely, it has taken me more years than I deemed possible to continue my journey into this series and to complete my ruminative thoughts about what I was reading therein. I am thankful for the patience of the author and of allowing me to continue this journey into Heaven’s Edge at a timeline which suited me best as a reader. This might have taken a long time to finish reading and reviewing – but the journey of being held inside this series was an experience I shall not soon forget and am grateful for being able to undertake.

I received a complimentary copy of the omnibus edition of “Heaven’s Edge: Novellas No. 1-3” direct from the author Jennifer Silverwood in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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on why i am itching
to read this novella series:

Ever since I first learnt about Space Opera stories set at the Rims – those tucked off remote areas of space where Spacers and Miners have to come to an accord to live amongst each other whilst they mine & live so far removed from inhabited planets & interstellar civilisation – it begs the question, what kind of people can take that kind of challenge and how would they thrive in that kind of chaotic environment of wit, stamina and fortitude?

My first introduction to this Rim side of Space was within the delightfully addictive audiobook “Rimrider” of which I had this to share about the environment & atmosphere of Rim set stories:

I truly loved the humourous takes on Spacer life through the pen of Ms Kelley,.. I knew from the jump-start this was going to be a fast moving story, as soon as Jane’s voice filled my earphones – the was something happily different about this Space Opera. It was written from the perspective of teens – wherein this would fit well with Young Adult SF, but it’s more layered than your typical teen angst novel set in Space. No, it’s more about the curious way how if you have the fortitude to change your own destiny, you can do incredible things!

The author kept the ‘pirate’ traditions and legacies of their rituals in place throughout Rimrider – including sorting out how to ‘insert’ this culture into a Spacer’s experiences. Basically if your familiar with this culture, the interesting bit is watching how even in outer space, pirates can surprise you! There was one aspect of their lives which took me back to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – especially when we are treated to another ‘parlay’.

As Jane learns more about how free traders can lay claim on both ships and land – she gets a wider picture of how her life can play out. She doesn’t want to make too many plans too far ahead – not that you can blame her truly, she’s lost a lot and is just starting to gain her confidence back in knowing she’s living for the moment. Except even in this new life of hers, she has hard choices to make – including how to help someone whose dying but who has a lost daughter. She surprises herself for the rising strength inside her bones – of being able to table her own anguished emotions and focus on someone else who needs someone to care about them more than worrying about things which cannot be changed. It was here – in those hard moments where Jane was no longer a teenager but a young woman – one step closer to being an adult, Jane emerged as a leader.

From this moment forward – Jane is coming into her own skin. She’s taking on more responsibilities but also finding within her the strength she needs to carve out her own niche amongst the free traders by sorting out how she can help take a stand against the UEC. There is so much going on – I simply found myself fully absorbed into the action of it all! When Jane goes undercover in order to seek out the ‘missing’ – you get caught up in the fuller back-story of how the UEC is truly working against the will of humans and aliens alike – you start to see how what is held back from sight is really right there waiting for someone to take notice and do something to affect change!

I am in love with the fuzzy aliens with paws on Rimrock! Jem and Jane are a dynamic duo of a team – there are elements of telepathy and inter-species communications which I found fascinating as it showed how despite the differences between species, there is a general acceptance for what is ‘right and what is wrong’. The overlays between this culture and ours are clearly present – especially when it comes to scathingly horrid practices of non-environmental friendly industrial mining – this in of itself, is worth watching unfold.

Honestly – the narrator nailed the characters and the theatrical mannerisms which make this audiobook ‘SING’ to the reader – meaning, you can easily forsake whatever else you intended to do and simply ‘listen’ to this Space Opera! The humour is bang-on brilliant, the setting is intoxicating because you dearly want to know ‘more’ rather than ‘less’ and if this first installment is the gateway into the series at large – your going to want to consume the next books in sequence! I truly loved this audiobook – it was wonderfully produced, but it’s more than that — my sci-fi geeky heart was overjoyed getting caught inside a world which simply gripped me from the first moment I heard ‘Jane’ come through my headphones!

-as quoted from my review of “RimRider”

You can clearly see what motivates me into the Heaven’s Edge series now – as Kelley gave me the curiosity about how young persons reliant on themselves can do extraordinary things on the Rims. I cannot wait to see what Silverwood has done with her series as I entreat inside Heaven’s Edge and sort out what is about to befell her characters in this lovely hidden niche of Space Opera Lit!

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On my connection to Jennifer Silverwood:

When our paths first crossed, Ms Silverwood and I shared a mutual interest and connection; however, our friendship did not form for a while afterwards. It was truly after the interview went live and after I noticed I was reading her blog as much as she was reading mine – where I realised we shared a lot of commonalities in our reading lives as well as our writerly lives! We decided to stay in touch, and it is an honour to find someone who understands the bridge between reader, blogger and writer.

I am disclosing this, to assure you that I can formulate an honest opinion, even though I have interacted with Ms Silverwood through our respective love & passion of reading inside the twitterverse whilst I hosted her Silver Hollow blog tour and privately as well. I treat each book as a ‘new experience’, whether I personally know the author OR whether I am reading a book by them for the first time or continuing to read their releases as they are available. This also applies to hosting a guest feature by the author I share a connection.Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

A #SciFiMonth One Way Ticket Book Review | Space Opera [set in the Rims!] novella series #HeavensEdge by Jennifer Silverwood (stories 1-3!)Heaven's Edge | Novellas No. 1-3 (omnibus edition)
by Jennifer Silverwood
Source: Direct from Author

Series Introduction from the author Jennifer Silverwood:

Welcome to Heaven’s Edge! Grab your scythe blades, strap on your plasma gauntlets and prepare yourselves for one steampunkish adventure to the far corners of space with Qeya and co.

But before we begin, did you know this series about a group of stranded space teens was among the first stories I ever penned? A long time ago, in the year 1998, my folks had just bought our first computer. I wanted to write stories set in a world like Star Wars, but without adults interfering, of course. I spent my first formative writing years exploring Heaven’s Edge with Qeya and the gang. So it seemed only natural to update the story and make it my first publication twelve years later. My struggle to see Qeya published was what directed me to self-publishing and the rest is history.

We meet a crew of former Royals, the Miners who once served them. In Qeya, the crew was attacked by a mysterious alien force, then crash landed on the primitive world below. Trouble is, none of the adults survived and now a small band of children and teenagers must cross the boundaries their parents imposed on them to survive.

Over the years and between releasing my “big” books, I worked with editor and friend, Jessica Augustsson to breathe back life into this mini-series. It’s been one epic steam-clunking ride, reinventing this world from my childhood.

I hope you’re ready to take a tour of the Rim with me. Enjoy the adventure!

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Young Adult Fiction



Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-1717897091

Also by this author: Author Interview: Jennifer Silverwood (Silver Hollow), Stay, Book Spotlight: Borderlands Saga, Silver Hollow, Book Spotlight: Blackbriar Cove

Published by JayHenge Publishing

on 4th April, 2019

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 326

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The Heaven’s Edge novella series:

Qeya by Jennifer SilverwoodOhre by Jennifer SilverwoodTamn by Jennifer Silverwood

**Omnibus includes first three Heaven’s Edge Novellas**

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Qeya (book one)

Qeya, the future Queen of Datura, can’t do much about her red hair, but she knows how to wield a scythe blade and suck the life out of her enemy, literally. Life seems great, if a little boring on heaven’s edge. Until her ship is attacked and nearly everyone on board is murdered. Now, the miner who saved her is the only thing standing between her and the hungry beasts hunting them.

Ohre (book two)

All Ohre wants is the kind of freedom a life in the sea can give. But he doesn’t want to live it alone anymore. He wants the princess and if Qeya won’t come willingly, he’ll make her.

Tamn (book three)

Tamn has always lived by a code. He doesn’t question his duty. Until his crew is stranded on a hostile alien world and he’s forced to watch the girl he loves burn in the sky. Stripped of his reason for living, the voices from his past haunt and guide him in a path of endless retribution. Only the strongest will survive the trials ahead and Tamn is determined to keep the family he has left alive.

As revealled in #SatBookChat,
there are a potential 2x novella sequences & a full-length novel!

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Formats Available: Trade Paperback (omnibus) or Ebook (individual or combined)

Genre(s): Space Opera | Stories set on the Rims | Young Adult Speculative Fiction

Converse via: #HeavensEdge, #SpaceOpera, #YALit,
#FuellYourSciFi and #SciFiMonth

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11th Annual Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.

This story took the award for BEST Space Opera Series.
(Young Adult Science Fiction
)

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About Jennifer Silverwood

Jennifer Silverwood

Jennifer Silverwood was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it’s the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador or a road trip to the next town. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas. She is the author of two series—Heaven's Edge and Wylder Tales—and the stand-alone titles Stay and Silver Hollow.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • Sci Fi November 2024
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Posted Thursday, 28 November, 2024 by jorielov in Anthology Collection of Stories, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Book Review (non-blog tour), Bookmark slipped inside a Review Book, Brothers and Sisters, Children's Literature, Coming-Of Age, Novellas or Short Stories, Sci-Fi November, Science Fiction, Siblings, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, Young Adult Fiction

Jorie’s #KidsLit Summer | feat. “The Phoenix and the Firebird” by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford

Posted Thursday, 29 August, 2024 by jorielov , , , 0 Comments

Children's Lit Summer photo collage created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: jorielovesastory.com

Acquired Book By: I started to notice I was receiving quite a few enquiries on my blog the last few months – in respect, to authors reaching out to me directly about reviewing their novels and one publicity firm I hadn’t worked with in the past as well. Mr Crawford was one of those lovely authors who reached out to me and told me about the novel he co-wrote with his wife. I was taken by the premise of it and asked a few questions as potential trigger warnings for the book in respect to violence or other issues I might be unaware of as a potential reader. I have been actively asking these questions for certain stories in Children’s Lit (ie. Middle Grade and Young Adult) as more times than not, these stories can sometimes be inclusive of scenes and depictions I am not interested in experiencing as a reader. Blessedly his responses reassured my concerns, and I realised the novel was written for an Upper Middle Grade or early Young Adult reader in mind. 

I received a complimentary copy of “The Phoenix and the Firebird” direct from the authors Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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Why this particular story impressed me and why I wanted to read it:

I have oft sought out the stories which speak to me to read – stories which have the tendency of being independently published and outside the scope of the mainstream, too. Especially if you consider all my top favourite reads within Speculative Fiction (ie. Fantasy, Science Fiction and Cosy Horror) are either published by Indie publishers, Small Trade Press or are self-published by the authors themselves. I love seeking out the stories which might not have a wide audience yet and are as eager to find us as readers as we desire to find them to read. I love finding stories which are uniquely told, share a different perspective and have incredible world-building. Which is why when I read the message from the author asking me to consider this for review, I was immediately smitten with curiosity.

I am also one of the few readers who doesn’t judge a book or select a book strictly on cover art alone – it has to have some teeth behind it in respect to plot, character and the overall arc of journey. I love to feel emotional connections to the stories I’m reading, too whilst finding myself carted off to someplace new – whether that is by location, time or dimensional shift. I love exploring timescapes as much as worlds – seeing how writers choose to tell their tales but also how they develop the world round the story, too. In essence, one of the reasons I love reading SpecFic is because it is redefined and evolved through each new writer who writes a story within its scope of the craft.

When it comes to Mythological Fiction – that is something I credit as an interest of my own to a fellow book blogger and friend of mine, Louise @ FoxesFairyTales who developed the readathon #Mythothon years ago. I was one of the first to join the ranks of readers and bloggers and the socially bookish to follow in her stead and see where that challenge took us. For the initial challenge, I took it a step further and sought out Mythological stories in Fantasy and Fiction which parlayed into the prompts. It is still an on-going quest of mine to read those books in full and to travel prompt by prompt of the other events she’s held over the years, too. I am endeavouring to participate in the current round of #Mythothon whilst being active with the community of the event via Discord this year as Round 9 Climb the World Tree begins this September!

Previously, I did start to dip my toes into Mythologically inclined stories or stories which bent into other aspects of SpecFic into their plots such as The Ghost Bride. However, by participating in #Mythothon off/on over the years, I’ve become much more inclined and open to seeking out a wider variety of stories in this scope of literature. Including my on-going project to read The Cycles of Norse Mythology.

And this brings to the book I am featuring today. My journey as a reader has been evolving these last eleven years, I’ve been a book blogger – each new story and writer or co-author team I find offers a new window into literature and a new way of experiencing a ‘story’. Thereby without the journey leading into today, I might not be reading The Phoenix and the Firebird because I might not have been ready to read it. I’m hunger for stories like this right now and I am grateful I started opening doors into books like this one a while ago now to where I can pivot and dive into a novel like this one and savour every single second of it.

This one is meant to be at the intersection Middle Grade and Young Adult – as it could appeal to both readers of those kinds of stories. What perked my interest the most was the premise itself – combined with the research the authors did on the story’s behalf and how they lived in China, too. Their a unique writing team and there was just something wicked special about this story that felt like a story I could really sink my teeth into and become entranced by it.

It is considered Historical Fantasy rooted in the authors’ own family’s journey during the Russian Revolution. Described as a merger of Chinese and Slavic myths – we entreat into the 1920s and follow in the footsteps of Lucy whose father has been kidnapped. I love stories which feature brave children facing incredible circumstances and how their journey is both external and internal, too. This one feels like the kind of story the Wyrd And Wonder community would appreciate, too, based on the fact it parallels both the fantastic and the reality in which we all know.

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I did find this interview by the authors, but I didn’t read it until I read the story myself as I wanted to keep the experience of discovering the story to myself for a bit longer. Sometimes I read interviews ahead of reading stories and other times like now, I keep them to read afterwards. It just depends. I hope by sharing my thoughts and reactions on behalf of reading The Phoenix and the Firebird – I might inspire you to take a chance on reading it, too!

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Jorie’s #KidsLit Summer | feat. “The Phoenix and the Firebird” by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes CrawfordThe Phoenix and the Firebird
by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Dinara Mirtalipova (cover artist)
Source: Direct from Author

War and revolution took almost everything from them. Now they must brave a world of magic and monsters to save what’s left.

A bullet-riddled train staggers into the station, delivering an ominous message that will change Lucy Markov’s destiny: her father, a Russian officer, has been kidnapped. A refugee who lost so much before she found a home in China, Lucy refuses to lose her last remaining family. Guided by a mysterious feather, she must cross into an enchanted realm to find him.

Lucy’s quick-witted, spirited friend Su joins her quest. Following the clues, they discover a warlord commanding an army of human soldiers and magical beasts has seized Lucy’s father – and now plots to invade their city. To save her father and their home, Lucy and Su must confront the criminal underworld, cross a haunted forest, and outsmart creatures they thought lived only in fairytales. With each step closer to the warlord’s lair, dangers test their courage and their bonds to each other. Will they unlock the secrets of the feather in time?

The Phoenix and the Firebird melds the turmoil of 1920s China with the majesty of Slavic and Chinese myth. Join Lucy and Su as they soar into a world woven from history and folklore and learn whether friendship is the strongest weapon of all.

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade, Young Adult Fiction, YA Fantasy, Historical-Fantasy, Mythological Fantasy



Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-9888843381

on 20th August, 2024

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 224

Published by: Earnshaw Books

Follow @EarnshawBooks (via Instagram)

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11th Annual Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.

This story took the award for BEST Middle Grade Fantasy.

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Posted Thursday, 29 August, 2024 by jorielov in #EnterTheFantastic, 20th Century, Animals in Fiction & Non-Fiction, Autobiographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Book Review (non-blog tour), Bookish Discussions, Childhood Friendship, Children's Literature, China, Chinese Folklore, Chinese Literature, Coming-Of Age, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Cosy Horror, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Earthen Magic, Equality In Literature, Family Life, Fantasy Fiction, Folklore, Folklore and Mythology, Geographically Specific, Good vs. Evil, Historical Fantasy, Indie Author, Inspired by Stories, Multi-cultural Characters and/or Honest Representations of Ethnicity, Russian Folklore, Russian Literature, Seers, Shapeshifters, Supernatural Creatures & Beings, Supernatural Fiction, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, the Nineteen Hundreds, Upper Middle Grade, Witches and Warlocks, World Literature, YA Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

A #WyrdAndWonder Book Review | featuring “Tree Magic” (Tree Magic series, Book One) by Harriet Springbett, published by @ImpressBooks1

Posted Sunday, 23 May, 2021 by jorielov , , , , 0 Comments

#WyrdAndWonder Book Review badge created by Jorie in Canva.

Gifted Book By: Last year, I had the chance to feature this lovely series by Impress Books UK twice – for a Spotlight & Extract as well as an author interview for the tour celebrating the sequel. I enjoyed hosting for the touring company attached to these tours, but during late (2020) I decided to pull back from a few of the touring companies I was hosting and re-focus on the blog tours, publishers & authors I regularly host more often. My memory is a bit foggy if I was conversing with the publisher about ‘Tree Magic’ before or after the second blog tour. In that conversation, I was mentioning the book wasn’t yet released stateside in a print edition and I wasn’t sure (at the time) when I’d be able to purchase a copy as 2020 was quite an adverse year for my family all told. Especially for medical emergencies and/or ER visits in particular. Thereby, when the publisher offered to send me a copy of ‘Tree Magic’ when it was available in print, I thanked them for their gracious offer and knew once my migraines calmed down, I wanted to dive into this novel!

The months passed by and as 2021 started off with adversities of its own, I can honestly say, it wasn’t until May this year, during #WyrdAndWonder where I could read past the first few pages of ‘Tree Magic’!! I am overjoyed I could wait until now to talk about this novel and the series it begins as I felt such a strong attachment to this book and the world it is set in due to the showcases I hosted last year. I had eight migraines in September, 2020 after the five I had in May, 2020 – so betwixt and between both those months, I’m equally in the dark if I received this for review consideration or for my own personal readerly curiosity. 

Thereby, I was gifted a copy of “Tree Magic” by the publisher Impress Books UK without being obligated to post an honest review. I am sharing my thoughts on behalf of this novel for my own edification and a continued journey of sharing my readerly life on Jorie Loves A Story. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Note: I received the Press Materials last year from the publisher and vaguely remember asking if / when I was able to read this novel if I could re-use the materials given to me on both blog tours and being given permission to do that if / when the time arose. Therefore, this is why the Press Materials for this series are included on this review.

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Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

I have had a firm attachment to the natural world ever since I was a young girl – growing up with a fascination and wonderment about nature, wildlife and especially of trees! This is why when I first saw this blog tour being announced, I was super giddy about participating on the tour because any writer who can celebrate and champion the natural world in a pro-positive way is an author I would love to feature on Jorie Loves A Story!

I could immediately connect with the premise with this novel which is why I am trying to seek out a copy of this in print through my local library – there is something quite magical about how trees are the guardians within the natural habitats we visit whilst hiking or walking in natural landscapes; they know things and they remember everything. This is partially why it is soul-crushing whenever there are huge wildfire seasons like the ones that are affecting the Western United States right now and/or the fires in Australia at the turning of the New Year. Nature grieves for the losses those fires bring to those habitats but I oft felt the trees especially are full of the grief of what could not be protected and what fell at their feet due to how the forests have not been able to withstand fire as they had in the past. I still remember hearing about the old growth forests of the Redwoods recently and of how achingly hard it was to see them aflame.

I have regularly spoken about the natural world on Jorie Loves A Story – from the stories I am reading to the context of the stories which seek to bring an ecological mindset and heart for conservation onto my blog because I believe strongly those stories are necessary for today’s world. Not just due to the climatic changes we’re all experiencing but to help re-connect readers with the knowledge about the natural ecosystems they might overlook and not be as familiar with as I have become myself. Knowledge is the first step towards change and to remain connected to the connectivity of how the natural world and our world intersect is one step closer to finding better balance in how to keep Earth a healthier place.

– previously I shared this introduction to why I was wicked curious about Tree Magic

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There is one reason I held off reading this novel –  it took me until May to reconcile how to read Tree Magic was because of a gutting loss of trees in my neighbourhood which were uncalled for and mercilessly butchered by a bulldozer rather than cut with respect with a chainsaw. The trees were sacrificed due to a ridiculous expansion of a sidewalk which had zero benefit to the neighbourhood and took out a total of seven trees for reasons NO ONE understood lest of all the trees! I will never forget that feeling of knowing the trees were trying to defend themselves and the murmuring after effects of their death. These were full-grown cedar trees – whose rings in their trunks showcased their years of life and the emptiness of their protective shade has never felt more absent than the arrival of Summer. I still feel affected by what happened and how it was done – why cities plan their designs to erase more of the natural world than preserve it is not something I’ll ever comprehend.

This is why I had to let this novel sit on my shelf even longer than planned – I just couldn’t bring myself to read about trees and our connections to them until I could deal with the loss of the majestic cedars which once stood silently against storms and sun and whose presence was a kind reminder of how quietly trees whisper to us throughout the year.

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A #WyrdAndWonder Book Review | featuring “Tree Magic” (Tree Magic series, Book One) by Harriet Springbett, published by @ImpressBooks1Tree Magic
by Harriet Springbett
Source: Direct from Publisher, Gifted

Thirteen-year-old Rainbow discovers she can communicate with trees.

But that’s just the beginning. Her magic hands can shape trees at her will, but her gift is dangerous and has fatal consequences. An accident that leaves Rainbow unconscious leads her mother to make a confession that will change Rainbow’s life forever. Are her abilities a gift or a curse? Can Rainbow really trust her mother? From England to France, through secrets, fears and parallel worlds, Rainbow’s journey to understand her powers takes her beyond everything she’s ever known.

To find the truth, she must also find herself.

Genres: Young Adult Fiction, YA Fantasy, Magical Realism



Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-1-911293-63-7

ASIN: B087MCBT53

Also by this author: Tree Magic, Tree Slayer

Published by Impress Books

on 2nd June, 2020

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 440

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The Tree Magic series: (a trilogy)

Tree Magic by Harriet SpringbettTree Slayer by Harriet Springbett

Tree Magic (book one)

Tree Slayer (book two)

Tree Sacrifice (book three) ← forthcoming Autumn, 2021!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Published by:  Impress Books (@ImpressBooks1)

Available Formats: Trade Paperback and Ebook

Converse via: #YALit, #Trees and #Magic, #MagicalRealism, #YAFantasy
as well as #TreeMagic or #Fantasy

About Harriet Springbett

Harriet Springbett

Harriet Springbett’s childhood on a small farm in West Dorset gave her an early exposure to nature, which continues to inspire her writing.

She qualified as an engineer but, during a Raleigh International expedition in Chile, she realised she preferred words to numbers. She abandoned her profession, moved to France, studied French and then worked as a project manager, feature writer, translator and TEFL teacher. She now lives in Poitou-Charentes with her French partner and their teenage children.

Since her first literary success, aged 10, her short stories and poetry have been published in literary journals and placed in writing competitions, including a shortlisting in the 2017 Bath Short Story Award.

Harriet leads writing workshops, has judged the Segora international short story competition.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • #WyrdAndWonder
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Posted Sunday, 23 May, 2021 by jorielov in 20th Century, Animals in Fiction & Non-Fiction, Book Review (non-blog tour), British Literature, Brothers and Sisters, Cats and Kittens, Childhood Friendship, Coming-Of Age, Content Note, Death of a Sibling, Death, Sorrow, and Loss, Dendrology (Study of Woody Plants or Trees), Disillusionment in Marriage, Divorce & Martial Strife, Earthen Magic, Earthen Spirituality, England, Environmental Conscience, Environmental Science, Family Drama, Family Life, Fantasy Fiction, Father-daughter Relationships, Fathers and Daughters, Fly in the Ointment, Folklore and Mythology, France, French Literature, Green-Minded Social Awareness, Horticulture, Indie Author, Magical Realism, Modern British Literature, Modern Day, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Mother-Son Relationships, Nature & Wildlife, Realistic Fiction, Rescue & Adoption of Animals, Siblings, Single Mothers, Spirituality & Metaphysics, Sustainability & Ecological Preservation, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, The Natural World, Treeshaping, Young Adult Fiction

A #WyrdAndWonder Book Review| A Mythological Fantasy re-telling in the pages of “Cassandra” by Kathryn Gossow

Posted Sunday, 16 May, 2021 by jorielov , , , 1 Comment

#WyrdAndWonder Book Review badge created by Jorie in Canva.

Gifted Book By: This novel “Cassandra” was part of a gifted #bookhaul of mine from my Mum and Dad for #WyrdAndWonder, Year 4! They happily surprised me with a lovely bundle of books I featured last Wyrd And Wonder celebrating the Indie Publisher Odyssey Books! This kicks-off my readings of those novels as I was overjoyed I can read all the lovely stories I had either showcased and/or featured but wasn’t able to read during our Year 3 Wyrd And Wonder.

Thereby, I was gifted a copy of “Cassandra” by my parents and I was not obligated to post a review on its behalf. I am sharing my thoughts on behalf of this novel for my own edification and a continued journey of sharing my readerly life on Jorie Loves A Story. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Note: I received the Press Materials last year from the publisher and had asked if I could re-use them if and when I was able to read and/or review the stories I was featuring during Wyrd And Wonder Year 3 (2020); and thankfully was given permission to do so which is why I am using them during my readings this 4th Year of Wyrd And Wonder.

Rainbow Digital Clip Art Washi Tape made by The Paper Pegasus. Purchased on Etsy by Jorie and used with permission.

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

I first was introduced to Mythological Fantasy through my readings during the first #Mythothon (@Mythothon) hosted by a dear friend, Louise @foxesfairytale. I was truly overtaken by all the different stories you can root out to read and how depending on the theme of what you wanted to read in Mythological Fantasy, you could take quite a wondrously lovely journey into this new (slightly hidden) niche of Fantasy literature. Ever since those first readings of mine, I’ve wanted to continue to join #Mythothon each year, but something seems to distract my attention or avert the hours I need in order to read during those events. Try as I might, I’ve missed a few rounds of the event and have set my eye on September, 2021 to re-join the community of readers who will be taking part in that round.

The credit goes to Louise for helping me re-look at this niche of literature and of unearthing such a wonderful foray into how stories set round different sets of Mythologies can become such entertaining reads! In this instance, I was wicked happy a copy of Cassandra was amongst the #bookhaul selections my parents surprised me with this Wyrd And Wonder, as I had known this was based on the myth of Cassandra but I hadn’t truly known much more than that before I started reading the story this May.

Cassandra is an intricate coming-of age story, wherein we follow in the footsteps of Cassandra (ie. Cassie) from a young girl into a budding young adult, as she curiously starts to recognise she has a gift for premonitions and knowing the future ahead of its arrival – but how that translates through her childhood and how she personally processes her precognitive thoughts and foreknowledge is uniquely writ into a backdrop of a life on a farm in Australia. Gossow takes you into this interpersonal journey of Cassie, as she navigates her home life, the pains of having a younger brother and of course, school life, too.

When I first started reading this story, I thought it was going to end up in a certain place by the end – yet, the final quarter of the novel tested my ability to stay rooted in the story and to find the ending. I just felt myself detaching from that mark in the book and I didn’t enjoy the final chapters as much as I had the rest of the novel as you’ll read in my review.

Rainbow Digital Clip Art Washi Tape made by The Paper Pegasus. Purchased on Etsy by Jorie and used with permission.

A #WyrdAndWonder Book Review| A Mythological Fantasy re-telling in the pages of “Cassandra” by Kathryn GossowCassandra
by Kathryn Gossow
Source: Gifted

On a remote farm in Queensland, Cassie Shultz feels useless. Her perfect brother Alex has an uncanny ability to predict the weather, and the fortunes of the entire family hinge upon his forecasts. However, her own gift for prophecy remains frustratingly obscure. Attempts to help her family usually result in failure.

After meeting with her new genius neighbour Athena, Cassie thinks she has unlocked the secret of her powers. But as her visions grow more vivid, she learns that the cost of honing her gift may be her sanity.

With her family breaking apart, the future hurtles towards Cassie faster than she can comprehend it.

Genres: Australian Lit, Fantasy Fiction, Greek Mythos | Legacies, Re-telling &/or Sequel, Upper YA Fantasy, Upper YA Fiction



Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-1922200785

Also by this author: Cassandra (Author Interview)

Published by Odyssey Books

on 6th February, 2017

About [ “Cassandra” ] by the author:

My book Cassandra is a reimagining of the myth of Cassandra, set in Australian in the 1980s.
It was a finalist for Best Fantasy Novel in the Australian Aurealis Awards.

Published by: Odyssey Books (@OdysseyBooks)

Converse via: #Fantasy, #UpperYA, #Cassandra
as well as #OdysseyBooks & #WyrdAndWonder

About Kathryn Gossow

Kathryn Gossow

Kathryn Gossow is a writer and sometimes gardener living in a two acre garden in a pocket of the Brisbane River. When she is writing, her garden is a mess. When she is gardening, she forgets to write. It seems she cannot have both. She writes for that elusive feeling when she gets into the zone and there is nothing else in the world but her and the words that tumble onto the page. Kathryn has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, won a commendation in the Australian Horror Writers’ Association Flash Fiction Competition and has a number of published stories out in the world.

Rainbow Digital Clip Art Washi Tape made by The Paper Pegasus. Purchased on Etsy by Jorie and used with permission. Read More

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Posted Sunday, 16 May, 2021 by jorielov in #WyrdAndWonder, 21st Century, Australia, Australian Fiction, Book Review (non-blog tour), Brothers and Sisters, Bullies and the Bullied, Childhood Friendship, Coming-Of Age, Content Note, Death of a Sibling, Fantasy Fiction, Father-daughter Relationships, Fly in the Ointment, Folklore and Mythology, Greek Mythology, Indie Author, Inspired by Stories, Modern Day, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Prejudicial Bullying & Non-Tolerance, Re-Told Tales, School Life & Situations, Siblings, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, Twitterland & Twitterverse Event, Upper YA Fiction, Vulgarity in Literature, YA Fantasy