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I know only my name. Beyond that is confusion, a void where fantasy and reality swirl together. Fairies, Giants, Elves, Dwarves, ancient Keepers, and...Dragons?
A dark soul threatens the Five Kingdoms, but I am powerless to stand against him, overwhelmed by phantom memories, broken and lost.
Somehow, I must live. I must find my purpose. There are friends to love and battles to fight.
I know my name. Perhaps that is enough.
I am Ocilla.
This is my story.
Anonymous
Posted February 27, 2012
I am Ocilla takes you through many lands. Fairies, Giants,Dwarves,Elves and Dragons..Oh my!
An riveting tale that will leave you foaming at the mouth for more. I recommend to any age. A personal favorite for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Review by Jill Williamson
Ocilla can’t remember anything but her name. She is rescued from a prison, she and her rescuers are pursued by many dark things, and only Ocilla can stand against the evil that is threatening to consume the Five Kingdoms. But until her memory returns, how will she have any idea how to save anything?
I am Ocilla is a literary ball of string, combining fantasy, allegory, and mystery that slowly unwinds to reveal a beautiful picture of one woman’s identity in Christ. Prophecy, a cursed land, talking animals, fairies, dragons, and a chosen one—this book is a creative journey, not just for the mind, but for the soul. It’s an interesting way to tell a story. If you like fantasy, you should give this one a try.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Faithf
Posted February 19, 2012
What do you get in reading Diane Graham’s I am Ocilla? A disappearing panda bear who knows the sleeper hold, and a whole lot more. Ocilla begins her tale in a strange world, with no memory of her past, and is so frail that she cannot walk. She is befriended quickly and her new pals show her a prophecy wherein Ocilla winds up freeing this fantasy world from the clutches of an evil one. No pressure, right? She is sure only of the words that she clings to in an effort to keep her sanity; I am Ocilla.
The small group adventures through five kingdoms, picking up friends along the way—the disappearing panda bear is one of those. The novel is strewn with talking animals: a wolf, owl, panda, and tiger, not to mention dragons. Graham has fun with talking animals and as a result so does her audience. One could easily see the tale as an opera or play.
Ocilla helps bring life and hope to fractured fantasy races as she travels; dry rivers even run with fresh water. As Ocilla learns that she is able to move between worlds, the reader might be reminded of Roger Zelazny’s classic fantasy, the Chronicles of Amber. Graham crafts a solid fantasy world with traditional details like: “Fairies draw their magic from living plants and animals. Any time you find a large group of fairies, you will find abundant flora and fauna.” I am Ocilla should enjoy good crossover readership to non-religious readers because the Christian aspect of the novel is merely part of the setting. There is not a religious character in her story. Graham’s voice contains nothing preachy—her world just runs on Biblical rules.
Diane Graham can turn a striking phrase too, and here are examples of a few. When Ocilla is annoyed and wants to dole out a good tongue thrashing, she thinks: “The urge to scold him clings to the backs of my teeth.” Graham is capable of striking description: “A woman hums a sweet song in my ear. Her voice is a feather over satin.” Graham describes time’s gravel passage as an assembled army awaits a horrible battle: “On the precipice of an unknown future, all wait for the last of the day to evaporate.”
The final confrontation in I am Ocilla could have lasted longer, but Diane Graham has crafted a story that will entertain all fantasy fans; readers raised in church will just enjoy an added depth.
In the end, I am Ocilla is a story about freely given love being the greatest good, a Christian principle embraced by many. So should be this story.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kat_Heckenbach
Posted February 17, 2012
Fairy tale and fantasy, adventure and emotion--I am Ocilla took me on a journey that had me laughing, cheering, crying, and contemplating. It is a story of self-discovery, of love, of good and evil, all told in a voice that captured me from the first page.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.A young woman awakes from a deep darkness to find herself in an even darker prison. She only knows her name, Ocilla, yet the rest of her life is a vague memory. She’s been tortured, she can’t walk and her body is a reminder of hideous deeds done that she has no recollection. Voices whisper in the deep caverns of her mind, but they are too thin to grab hold of and find out who she was. Then the miraculous happens; she is rescued by tree men and the incredible adventure begins. Traveling with her rescuers, Ocilla learns that a great evil has fallen. This evil curse had pitted kingdom against kingdom for five hundred years and unless the Chosen One rebukes this evil then death awaits for all. Who is this Chosen One? Ocilla wonders. Each of her traveling companion are certainly qualified for the task, she muses. With each step and each encounter along the way, Ocilla painfully learns that she is the Chosen One; it is she who has the power to put an end to the curse and drive the Evil One away. As they journey pieces of Ocilla’s former life comes creeping back and a new strength and determination begins to lift her up.
Ms. Graham has crafted a well paced adventure filled with intense action and heart pounding moments that will cause the reader to catch their breath. The intriguing cast of characters makes it a book kindred to The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia. Some readers may take exception to certain things in this book, but all in all, it’s a great read. — Mark Randell
JulieMorris
Posted April 21, 2012
I'm not usually a fan of fantasy fiction. But, "I Am Ocilla" is much more than that. The storyline is intriguing and well-written. When I wasn't reading, I kept wondering what was going to happen next. I fell in love with the characters - I laughed with them, cried with them, and rooted for their victory. Diane M. Graham is a wonderful storyteller, and I can't wait to see what she brings us next!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CKoepp
Posted March 14, 2012
I Am Ocilla is a complex adventure mostly told from the perspective of an amnesiac trying to make sense of fairies, intelligent critters, and nightmares that are clearly more than dreams. Full of wit and wisdom, the tale unfolds for the reader as Ocilla gradually gets a grip on who she is, who she's been, and who she's meant to be.
Although I'm not a fan of stories that switch from first person perspective to third person, this only occurred a couple times when something important to the plot occurred and Ocilla could not be present to relay it to the reader.
The characters are interesting and distinct from each other. Each has unique quirks, strengths, and foibles. Even the common fantasy sorts of creatures like fairies and dragons are not just copied from old legends and stories. They have characteristics that make them recognizable but still different from the usual expectations.
The plot is full of fascinating twists and turns, complicated because Ocilla's amnesia includes curiosity bordering on recklessness. The story moves along at a good pace without bogging down anywhere. The endgame scenario did seem a little rushed because it focused on Ocilla's conflict with the antagonist rather than on the general melee of good vs. evil creatures. Still, the story resolves in a reasonable and satisfying way. There was no sense of something left undone.
Check it out!
Overview
I know only my name. Beyond that is confusion, a void where fantasy and reality swirl together. Fairies, Giants, Elves, Dwarves, ancient Keepers, and...Dragons?
A dark soul threatens the Five Kingdoms, but I am powerless to stand against ...