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Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 16-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders...
This book brings a sense of mystery to the table as Ashley (Ash for short) finds herself in a parallel universe to life as we know it. She is just a normal young woman and works the grindstone of life one excruciating day at a time. Ash wants what every young woman wants and that is to love and peace in her life. Until one painful day she is flung into Fallenwood where she meets some very unexpected friends that join her on a journey to not only save this strange land from destruction, but she must also find herself and purpose in life.
This book holds much conflict at its heart as Ash starts on her journey. She has lost so much in her short lifetime that she is pained to her very core. Ash constantly questions her own existence in her world and once again in Fallenwood. She has fought her own demons, but they have only merely been kept at bay. During her adventure they constantly serve as a reminder of all her failures in life, but can she overcome them to save the day? Is Ash willing to sacrifice herself or will she back down when she is needed most? Does she finally find love? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find that out!
If you enjoy gentle romance, mysterious prophecies, female heroines (and villains), magic, and alternate universes this book was made for you. The author Leslie Soule really does a wonderful job of spanning multiple genres, but never leaving a stone unturned. I also love the way she chose to end the story where you want more and more. I hope to see Ash and her wonderful gang again in the future.
The writing style is easy going with varied paragraph lengths depending on focus. This makes it easy to never become overwhelmed or lost in the story’s communication. I believe that teenagers, young women and those young at heart would really enjoy reading and find a connection with Fallenwood for years to come.
Originally Reviewed at: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating:5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Author for Blog Tour
Reviewer: Heather
Fallenwood is a fantasy within a fantasy. The storyline and characters are incredible. Leslie Soule has one amazing imagination. The creativity that Soule uses in her character devolvement was just outstanding. I would have liked to known her as a child. I'm sure she had one wild imagination.
Fallenwood had me in a fantasy of my own with the six kingdoms, Kings, Queens, Magician, Jester, Gypsies, Shifters, Fairies, and a Dragon. That's doesn't even being to touch all the characters in Fallenwood. Like I said, incredible storyline.
Sixteen-year-old Ash is struggling with her stepfather's death, and finds herself sucked into a magic realm on a quest for the Great Crystal. Ash teams up with Will, a Magician, Terces the Jester, a cat named Greymalkin, and Prince Edward, who she rescuers from the dungeon of Everdown. I really enjoyed seeing Ash grow into her own strength as a person and finding her own self-worth and the Prince she would fall in love with.
Fallenwood is a beautiful fantasy, full of magic, struggles, and love. I recommend Fallenwood as a must read. And for those who love High Fantasy, you're going to love this book.
JMKelley-DrewInBlue
Posted July 10, 2011
I'm not a reader of fantasy. I say that a lot, don't I? "I'm not a reader of <insert sub-genre here>." I swear, I'm a voracious reader. I suppose I should clarify that I'm most often a reader of the classics. Mainstream fiction suits me, I guess. I'm a contemporary girl living in a contemporary world. I've started many a fantasy/paranormal/etc. story and realized I couldn't finish because it's just not my cup of tea. Don't shoot me for that, please?
At any rate, I added Fallenwood, a YA fantasy to my roster of reads. Because of my past experiences with the genre, I have to admit I didn't expect to enjoy the read. But I must give Leslie Soule credit. She crafts a storyline that is compelling and believable.
I think I should note that Fallenwood (to me) isn't a romance story. It's a story with romance sprinkled in. I figure, since the blog is devoted to romances, that should be made clear. I think, though, that the amount of romance used in the story is correct. This is the kind of story where a giant, sweeping, all-consuming love story would detract from everything else going on.
Life in this world was difficult for Ash. She was unhappy, unfulfilled, emotionally adrift, and deeply depressed. Finding a portal to Fallenwood might have ultimately saved her life, even though once she stepped foot into the dimension, her survival was questionable, at best.
The true story is a person who is floundering finally finding her path and discovering the strength she possesses. There is nothing more satisfying to me than reading a story about characters with flaws who overcome. themselves. It rings true to me. Even in a world of dragons and magic. And this world is very well-crafted, very well thought-out. This is a fantasy story that kept me interested until the end, which, when dealing with a woman who can be distracted by a ball of tin foil, says a lot.
Joey, The One Hundred Romances Project
Anonymous
Posted November 30, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 16-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders...