Yza-Dora's "Secrets of Ravenstone"

Title: Witches, Werewolves, and Vampires, Oh My!

“Secrets of Ravenstone” by Yza-Dora

Reviewed by R.E. Views

07/21/2015

9:30 p.m.

When Yzavela escapes The Great City of London with her witch-mom, the last place she expects to end up is the beautiful castle of Ravenstone. She is even more surprised to find that the castle houses werewolves, witches, and vampires, all living together in harmony under the care and guidance of Marxus, the Keeper of Secrets. Destined to be Marxus’ heir, Yzavela learns about vampire lore, werewolf mythology, and that dragons still exist! Follow Yzavela as she gets prepositions by werewolves, kidnapped by cannibals, and falls in love with a vampire.

Secrets of Ravenstone by Yza-Dora is a young adult novel filled with everything The Twilight Saga and The Vampire Diaries lovers could want. There is tension between the werewolves and vampires, romantic interests between mortals and immortals, and there are deep secrets to uncover. The dialogue is quick, funny, and encapsulates each character well though it is sometimes stiff and clunky. In some occasions, the humor or tone of the dialogue is unclear. Each character had different struggles, different personalities, and different wants. They feel real and relatable. The story moves quickly, flowing like Yzavela’s journal, getting deep into her own thoughts and desires.

Though this novel is in-depth and interesting, the writing is confusing at times. Yza-Dora switches from first person to third person to second person all within one page without any warning or explanation. The writing itself is repetitive and awkward in many places, giving details that aren’t needed. Where Yza-Dora shines is with characters’ emotions. Yza-Dora mesmerizes throughout action sequences, training sessions, or romantic moments. My favorite scenes were when Yzavela encountered Eric; Yza-Dora clearly loved their relationship dynamic and it comes out in the writing.

I give Secrets of Ravenstone 4 out of 5 stars.

Best Wishes,

R.E.Views

N.R. Eccles-Smith's "Kin Seeker"

Title: A World to Discover

“Kin Seeker” by N.R. Eccles-Smith

Reviewed by R.E. Views

6/28/15

6:17 p.m.

What if you couldn’t remember who you were? Kin Seeker, a fantasy novel by N.R. Eccles-Smith, creates a plot centered on asking this question. The story begins with a dragon, Laeka’Draeon, waking up outside a cave alone with no recollection of his past. He eventually learns that all the dragons have disappeared except for him, but why? On his quest to find what happened he battles monsters, gains friends, and journeys farther than he ever imagined.

Eccles-Smith creates a world where the creatures and settings expand the imagination, as well as allow the characters to experience relatable emotions. Using a combination of known mythological creatures and ones created by the author, the world feels familiar yet brand new. And though the main characters are all young they learn about friendship, loss, and destiny.

This story clearly distinguishes between good and evil, while offering an enjoyable story to young readers; however, while this is an interesting tale some may find issues with the vocabulary, the unclear character personalities, and the plot. The tone of the book is lighthearted and the writing style lends itself to a younger audience. In contrast, the vocabulary is difficult, especially in regard to descriptions of the settings. Parents be advised, this is not a hindrance because even if the reader does not understand the exact word, the context is clear. As for some of the characters’ personalities, at times they are inconsistent but remain likeable. And lastly, there were moments that didn’t add to the plot nor move the story along.

Despite some of the hang-ups I would recommend this book to children who enjoy fantasy books and who are looking for one with a more challenging vocabulary.

I give Kin Seeker 4 out of 5 stars

Best Wishes,

R.E. Views