I received a digital copy of this book for free. This review is done voluntarily.
Lost in Dara (The Kaleidoscope Chronicles #1) by Robert Barrett is a young adult fantasy novel set to be published on July 7th. The book follows a trio of siblings who find themselves lost in a world of adventure, danger, and mystery, unsure of how to return home.
The story centers on 13-year-old Jack and his sisters, Holly and Emma, who accidentally stumble into the Seven—a collection of seven distinct lands, with Dara being one of them. As they navigate this unfamiliar terrain, they encounter various challenges, from battling dangerous creatures to finding their way through a pitch-black maze. Their ultimate goal is to find their way back home, but the journey is fraught with peril and discoveries about whom they can and cannot trust.
From the very first chapter, Lost in Dara captivates with its vivid descriptions and dynamic characters. Barrett wastes no time allowing readers to truly get to know the trio and their distinct personalities.
As the first book in a series slated to have seven installments (presumably one for each land), Lost in Dara had a big challenge ahead of it. First books in a series need to engage the reader, introduce them to a new world and characters, and avoid feeling rushed or overly dense. Knowing how to properly incorporate the history of this world amidst the ongoing action is an art form, and Robert Barrett excels at this. He creates a setting that is both mysterious and intriguing without neglecting character development. Barrett also does a fantastic job of hinting at the other lands, building anticipation for future books in The Kaleidoscope Chronicles.
Overall, Lost in Dara is a fantastic introduction to a new world and a promising series. With its well-paced narrative, realistic character interactions, and intriguing world-building, it is sure to captivate fans of YA fantasy adventure. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and imaginative read.
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5
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I received a digital copy of this book for free. This review is done voluntarily.
Memoirs are not normally my thing, but something about Voices Carry called to me. Reading about everything Raven has achieved, survived, and struggled with made me feel like I was looking at a version of myself in another timeline. My dream was to be a teacher, and the fact that I never had the opportunity or the right timing to make that happen has always been a significant source of sadness in my life. I also deal with chronic pain and mental health issues.
As I read about the frustrations and difficulties Raven faced while teaching, it had a healing effect on me. I do not doubt that if things had been different and I had become a teacher, my path would have been very similar. However, I don’t think I would have lasted as long in the profession. I have never experienced a book, especially non-fiction, that felt more like it was put into the universe for me to discover. So many of the things I currently struggle with or have in the past have their own chapters in Voices Carry. From issues surrounding body image to accepting yourself (and even just figuring out who that is), it's all here.
Raven’s unsent letters to people made me feel so seen. I find myself doing this all the time as I hate confrontation with others. I have done this since I was a child but have always thought it was probably just another “weird” thing I do. One quote that particularly resonated with me was after Raven described an event with her father. Her words, "Once you go into hiding, you tend to stay there. It’s easier. It’s safer," hit me like a freight train.
Raven’s journey is a powerful exploration of resilience and self-acceptance. Her story is not just about her struggles but also about the universal quest for self-identity and voice. I highly recommend Voices Carry to anyone dealing with chronic pain, mental health struggles, or anyone who feels their dreams have been deferred. Raven’s story offers solace and inspiration.
I know this review is a bit messy. This book left me with so many emotions, and I don’t know how to put it all into words. The most basic way I can express it is that I think I really needed this book. Raven Oak mentioned that she wanted to write this book as a way to gain back her voice. In doing so, she is going to help many others find their way to do the same. After reading Voices Carry, I felt more at peace with my own journey's progress.
Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
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With everything going on in the world (Palestine, Congo, Sudan, government corruption, etc.), I’ve been increasingly concerned about who I’m supporting. As they say, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Educating yourself about ongoing events while managing the difficulties in your own life is challenging. However, this is no excuse for giving up and not caring. Humanity as a whole needs to come together for positive, lasting change. The barriers we put up (and those our governments erect) need to be destroyed. Just because you don’t feel the impact now doesn’t mean you won’t. It doesn’t mean you won’t be the next target.
I’ve been trying my best to find ways to do better. Online, I’ve been sharing links to GoFundMes, videos of current events, and generally trying to spread awareness and show support. However, offline, I don’t think I’ve been doing enough. Disability has prevented me from attending events, I have no money to spare, and I currently lack the knowledge of what else I could be doing. After thinking about it for a while, I’ve concluded that it’s time to confront how I show up in the world and how the people and products I support impact that.
I love reading and reviewing books. But what message am I unknowingly sending if the author I’m supporting turns out to be a problematic person? Many of us have had to confront this question lately, most notably with J.K. Rowling and her beliefs about the Trans community. What do we do with art that has touched our souls if it came from awful people?
Wondermajica hosts reviews of many types of media, but books have been a primary focus for the last few years. Thus, I have begun a major book unhaul. I want to know that the authors represented on my shelves are people I have no problem supporting. This means I need to find information about hundreds of authors and confront things about myself and them that I may not like. I have just started, but I already know this is going to be a sad and disappointing process. I am unsure what action would be best to take. Do I adopt a zero-tolerance approach? Do I sell or donate the offenders' books? What about the really special ones? Do I keep them but put them on a separate, closed-off shelf?
Going forward, I know I will be researching authors before buying new books, but what do I do with what I have now? Should I share who I am removing and why?
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