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The Fallen Prince #1
Broken Forest
Spanning two different worlds and species, brother and sister must embrace who they are in order to stop an invasion that will destroy their world.
Seventeen-year-old Avikar spends most of his time in the stables trying to forget his tragic past. But when his sister Jeslyn is kidnapped, he must undertake an impossible quest to save her from the dark lord of Daath, a mystical place thought only to exist in fables. But it's very real, and dark lord Lucino has diabolical plans for Jeslyn.
Lucino is a shapeshifter who feeds off the auras of humans, and Jesyln's is the most powerful shade he's ever encountered. She should hate him. Only, the longer she's in his clutches, the more entranced she becomes with his domain-- and with the monstrous lord himself.
Avikar will give everything to find his sister, but the longer he takes, the harder she falls. And the more they and their world are in grave danger
Seventeen-year-old Avikar spends most of his time in the stables trying to forget his tragic past. But when his sister Jeslyn is kidnapped, he must undertake an impossible quest to save her from the dark lord of Daath, a mystical place thought only to exist in fables. But it's very real, and dark lord Lucino has diabolical plans for Jeslyn.
Lucino is a shapeshifter who feeds off the auras of humans, and Jesyln's is the most powerful shade he's ever encountered. She should hate him. Only, the longer she's in his clutches, the more entranced she becomes with his domain-- and with the monstrous lord himself.
Avikar will give everything to find his sister, but the longer he takes, the harder she falls. And the more they and their world are in grave danger
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
90 people are currently reading
2185 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Tilton
33 books294 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Eliza Tilton graduated from Dowling College with a BA in Visual Communications. When she's not arguing with excel at her day job, chasing after four kids, or playing video games, she's writing fast-paced young adult fantasy and paranormal tales. Check out www.elizatilton.com for more of her books or follow her on tiktok @elizatilton where she shares tons of bookish stuff.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
September 1, 2018
3.8 BROKEN STARS!
You can find the full review and more about this book on my blog!
When I first saw this book, I was immediately drawn by the cover. I really like it,and seeing that I thought that the main character is going to be a girl, because of the girl on the cover, but I was wrong, and I am glad for that. I have not read lately a YA book in a male's POV, and this one surprised me for good.
Broken Forest is a fantasy novel about a teen boy named Avikar. He lives a normal boring life, until his sister got kidnapped. Now he is going on a dangerous quest to save his sister, a quest where he can prove himself,a chance to be a hero.
I really liked the characters, Avikar was interesting, and also the villain is cool. Jeslyn, the kidnapped sister was so annoying, maybe the only character I didn't fully like. I am glad that the author did not turn the story into a cheesy romance, but don't get me wrong, there is romance here, but it's the good kind of romance, the one that doesn't come to the surface of the book and becomes the greatest deal.
I highly recommend this novel. If you are into fantasy and quest kind of book, read it:)
September 30, 2016
A boy mired in guilt is determined to never fail his family or himself again as he heads into the world of the unknown on a quest to save his kidnapped sister. Armed with his tracking skills and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, Avikar and his best friend discover Jeslyn has been taken by the lord of Daath, a place no one has seen, shrouded in mystery and long thought to be a part of fairytales and myths.
Daath is much more than a make believe land of magic, and its people are not human. Was it Jeslyn’s beauty or her innocence that enthralled Lucino almost as strongly as he magically enthralled her? What he wants from her wasn’t meant to be love, it was her aura to feed his power, but has the prey captured the hunter?
Time is running out as Jeslyn falls deeper under Lucino’s spell as two brave boys race against the clock to face an enemy far superior in all ways. How do you prepare for the unknown? Will the human will to survive be enough or will the superior abilities of this shapeshifting creature doom Avikar to fail again? If he dies trying to save his sister, will he be seen as a failure or a hero?
Broken Forest by Eliza Tilton is a fairly light fantasy, perfect for all ages to be mesmerized by as we hear the POVs of Avikar, Jeslyn and Lucino in a brilliant move by Ms. Tilton that she pulled off perfectly. It isn’t often that one is allowed into the mind of the villain of a story, because who would think they have feelings?
Eliza Tilton has built a world that feels real, that one can almost step right into and become part of the story. She carefully takes her time to build up steam as the story unfolds. Characters come to life and their world breathes right along with them. Process her words and notice how they are replaced with mental images as the world around you begins to fade away, then hang on tight because after that it is a maze of epic emotional proportions!
I received this copy from Eliza Tilton in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Series: Daath Chronicles - Book 1
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press (May 1, 2013)
Publication Date: May 1, 2013
ISBN-10: 1620072513
ISBN-13: 978-1620072516
Genre: YA Scifi | Fantasy
Paperback: 296 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Daath is much more than a make believe land of magic, and its people are not human. Was it Jeslyn’s beauty or her innocence that enthralled Lucino almost as strongly as he magically enthralled her? What he wants from her wasn’t meant to be love, it was her aura to feed his power, but has the prey captured the hunter?
Time is running out as Jeslyn falls deeper under Lucino’s spell as two brave boys race against the clock to face an enemy far superior in all ways. How do you prepare for the unknown? Will the human will to survive be enough or will the superior abilities of this shapeshifting creature doom Avikar to fail again? If he dies trying to save his sister, will he be seen as a failure or a hero?
Broken Forest by Eliza Tilton is a fairly light fantasy, perfect for all ages to be mesmerized by as we hear the POVs of Avikar, Jeslyn and Lucino in a brilliant move by Ms. Tilton that she pulled off perfectly. It isn’t often that one is allowed into the mind of the villain of a story, because who would think they have feelings?
Eliza Tilton has built a world that feels real, that one can almost step right into and become part of the story. She carefully takes her time to build up steam as the story unfolds. Characters come to life and their world breathes right along with them. Process her words and notice how they are replaced with mental images as the world around you begins to fade away, then hang on tight because after that it is a maze of epic emotional proportions!
I received this copy from Eliza Tilton in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Series: Daath Chronicles - Book 1
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press (May 1, 2013)
Publication Date: May 1, 2013
ISBN-10: 1620072513
ISBN-13: 978-1620072516
Genre: YA Scifi | Fantasy
Paperback: 296 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 31, 2013
Full disclosure—I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I have a confession to make. I’m not a YA fan. I know the genre is prolific and loved, but I’ve never been bitten by the YA bug. Maybe I’m too old, maybe I’m a curmudgeon, or maybe I’m no longer afflicted with the optimism of youth.
Despite my terrible personality fault, I actually enjoyed Eliza Tilton’s Broken Forest. The premise is very YA oriented. A young stable hand, Avikar, undertakes a quest to save his sister, Jeslyn, from kidnappers. Avikar is accompanied by his stout and trusty friend Derrick, who is also Jeslyn’s love interest. Unbeknowst to Avikar and Derrick, Jeslyn has been taken by agents of Lucino, a powerful alien disguised as human royalty.
Avikar and Derrick journey through strange lands, battle magical beasts, make friends, lose friends, develop love interests (or at least Avikar does with the beautiful and fierce Raven), and learn to rely on their own strengths against a mysterious and dangerous opponent.
Like any good YA story, there is violence without too much gore, there is lust without too much explicitness, and life lessons are doled out alongside near-tragedies. As far as I can tell, the primary component of YA fiction is fun, and Broken Forest certainly fulfills this part of the bargain. It’s fast-paced and action-oriented with engaging characters. The last third of this story is particularly engaging.
I highly recommend this story for fans of the genre.
I have a confession to make. I’m not a YA fan. I know the genre is prolific and loved, but I’ve never been bitten by the YA bug. Maybe I’m too old, maybe I’m a curmudgeon, or maybe I’m no longer afflicted with the optimism of youth.
Despite my terrible personality fault, I actually enjoyed Eliza Tilton’s Broken Forest. The premise is very YA oriented. A young stable hand, Avikar, undertakes a quest to save his sister, Jeslyn, from kidnappers. Avikar is accompanied by his stout and trusty friend Derrick, who is also Jeslyn’s love interest. Unbeknowst to Avikar and Derrick, Jeslyn has been taken by agents of Lucino, a powerful alien disguised as human royalty.
Avikar and Derrick journey through strange lands, battle magical beasts, make friends, lose friends, develop love interests (or at least Avikar does with the beautiful and fierce Raven), and learn to rely on their own strengths against a mysterious and dangerous opponent.
Like any good YA story, there is violence without too much gore, there is lust without too much explicitness, and life lessons are doled out alongside near-tragedies. As far as I can tell, the primary component of YA fiction is fun, and Broken Forest certainly fulfills this part of the bargain. It’s fast-paced and action-oriented with engaging characters. The last third of this story is particularly engaging.
I highly recommend this story for fans of the genre.
April 15, 2013
I was lucky to be one of the first people to read this book, and I had the opportunity to work with the author during the first revisions. I loved BROKEN FOREST immediately, and couldn't wait to see it in print.
I felt that the premise and story were incredibly unique, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and romance.
Be warned--you may end up rooting for the least expected character by the end of it. I sure did! I thought that said a lot about what a talented writer Eliza Tilton is. That she could have me hating someone at the start of BROKEN FOREST, and loving them completely by the end is no small task!
I felt that the premise and story were incredibly unique, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and romance.
Be warned--you may end up rooting for the least expected character by the end of it. I sure did! I thought that said a lot about what a talented writer Eliza Tilton is. That she could have me hating someone at the start of BROKEN FOREST, and loving them completely by the end is no small task!
September 2, 2014
3 1/2 stars.
The nitty-gritty: An atmospheric and magical tale that just needs more work, with female characters that mostly disappointed me, but some fierce action scenes that sort of made up for some of the let downs.
I'm a bit surprised by all the five-and-four-star reviews for this book on Goodreads and Amazon. Maybe I'm just not the right target audience for this story. There is no doubt that Eliza Tilton has a vivid imagination and a promising future as a writer, but the execution of this story did not work for me in many ways. The author sets out to write a fairly traditional fantasy novel, complete with character names that are nearly unpronounceable and a fantasy realm that may or may not exist, and to some extent she succeeds. Broken Forest has a quality of mystery and magic to it that I really enjoyed. There are riddles to be solved, characters that you don’t understand and who require more scrutiny, and exciting action scenes that were very well written. However, despite the very low page count of this book, it took me nearly a week to finish.
The story goes like this: Avikar is a young man who feels responsible for his young brother’s death—he drowned in a lake while Avikar wasn’t paying attention. When his sister Jeslyn is kidnapped, Avikar feels it is his duty to rescue her. But the rescue plans don’t go all that smoothly, especially when Jeslyn gets to the land of Daath, the magical realm where her captor, Lucino, lives.
Not everything worked for me, although these things did:
1. A sense of magical mystery. A lot of plot points aren’t explained until late in story, which kept me interested and trying to guess what was happening. Several clues about who Lucino really is are dropped here and there, but the author never really explains his origins. It was frustrating at times, but hopefully book two will delve into the mysteries of Lucino and his people.
2. Bows and arrows, swords and general violent mayhem. Bows and arrows! Enough said.
3. Multiple points of view. I do love stories that jump around to different characters’ POVs, and Broken Forest circled around the three main characters—Jeslyn, Avikar and Lucino—giving the reader a broad picture of the rather ambitious scope of the story. It’s always fun to peek into the minds of both the good guys and the bad guys!
4. A secret realm called Daath that humans don’t believe in. Just like the fae realm, Daath is simply a fairytale that humans have grown up hearing stories about, but they don’t believe it actually exists. Jeslyn doesn’t either, until she’s brought there by Lucino.
And in the spirit of constructive criticism, here are some things that I think needed work:
1. Tilton’s writing is solid, and she’s on the right track, but some of her sentences are particularly awkward and strange and needed more editing, such as:
“The brush passed through my hair methodically.”
This definitely felt like a “first book” to me, and while I can see the author’s potential, it just wasn’t up to my standards of writing.
2. The character names had me scratching my head. I understand the need to come up with “fantasy” names to make your story feel exotic, but I stumbled over most of the names in this book, over and over again. Avikar, Lucino and Tarrtainya all stopped me in my tracks, for some reason. More perplexing to me was that in the midst of these fantastical names, a few of the characters were named “Martha” and “Susie.” Huh?
3. The horrifyingly old-fashioned, downtrodden, and abused female characters that saturated this story. As a (yes, I’ll admit it) feminist, I’m always on the lookout for strong female characters. It’s almost a given these days, at least in YA literature, that your female lead needs to be strong. But the women in Broken Forest were mostly weak. Jeslyn, our “heroine,” fainted so many times I lost count. Instead of being enraged by being kidnapped and taken to another world, where she will be forced to marry the leader, she meekly accepts her fate, gushes about the wonders of Daath—the flowers! the animals! the beauty!—and (gasp) starts to fall in love with the enemy. Only one female character avoided this trap, sort of, and that was a plucky girl named Raven who, despite her pluck, starts to fall for Avikar.
4. The unexplained “reptilian race” that Lucino is part of. I know, I know, up there I said I liked the mystery. But it was also frustrating that Lucino kept referring to himself as able to change into his reptile form, but we never really get to see that happen. (At least I don’t remember it.)
There was so much more I wanted to know about the characters and the world that Tilton created, and I’m sure she has much more in store for readers in the second book. Whether or not I will read the next installment is still up for debate. Unless Tilton’s female characters take a giant leap forward, I’m not sure I’ll be there for the ride.
I want to thank the author for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.
The nitty-gritty: An atmospheric and magical tale that just needs more work, with female characters that mostly disappointed me, but some fierce action scenes that sort of made up for some of the let downs.
I'm a bit surprised by all the five-and-four-star reviews for this book on Goodreads and Amazon. Maybe I'm just not the right target audience for this story. There is no doubt that Eliza Tilton has a vivid imagination and a promising future as a writer, but the execution of this story did not work for me in many ways. The author sets out to write a fairly traditional fantasy novel, complete with character names that are nearly unpronounceable and a fantasy realm that may or may not exist, and to some extent she succeeds. Broken Forest has a quality of mystery and magic to it that I really enjoyed. There are riddles to be solved, characters that you don’t understand and who require more scrutiny, and exciting action scenes that were very well written. However, despite the very low page count of this book, it took me nearly a week to finish.
The story goes like this: Avikar is a young man who feels responsible for his young brother’s death—he drowned in a lake while Avikar wasn’t paying attention. When his sister Jeslyn is kidnapped, Avikar feels it is his duty to rescue her. But the rescue plans don’t go all that smoothly, especially when Jeslyn gets to the land of Daath, the magical realm where her captor, Lucino, lives.
Not everything worked for me, although these things did:
1. A sense of magical mystery. A lot of plot points aren’t explained until late in story, which kept me interested and trying to guess what was happening. Several clues about who Lucino really is are dropped here and there, but the author never really explains his origins. It was frustrating at times, but hopefully book two will delve into the mysteries of Lucino and his people.
2. Bows and arrows, swords and general violent mayhem. Bows and arrows! Enough said.
3. Multiple points of view. I do love stories that jump around to different characters’ POVs, and Broken Forest circled around the three main characters—Jeslyn, Avikar and Lucino—giving the reader a broad picture of the rather ambitious scope of the story. It’s always fun to peek into the minds of both the good guys and the bad guys!
4. A secret realm called Daath that humans don’t believe in. Just like the fae realm, Daath is simply a fairytale that humans have grown up hearing stories about, but they don’t believe it actually exists. Jeslyn doesn’t either, until she’s brought there by Lucino.
And in the spirit of constructive criticism, here are some things that I think needed work:
1. Tilton’s writing is solid, and she’s on the right track, but some of her sentences are particularly awkward and strange and needed more editing, such as:
“The brush passed through my hair methodically.”
This definitely felt like a “first book” to me, and while I can see the author’s potential, it just wasn’t up to my standards of writing.
2. The character names had me scratching my head. I understand the need to come up with “fantasy” names to make your story feel exotic, but I stumbled over most of the names in this book, over and over again. Avikar, Lucino and Tarrtainya all stopped me in my tracks, for some reason. More perplexing to me was that in the midst of these fantastical names, a few of the characters were named “Martha” and “Susie.” Huh?
3. The horrifyingly old-fashioned, downtrodden, and abused female characters that saturated this story. As a (yes, I’ll admit it) feminist, I’m always on the lookout for strong female characters. It’s almost a given these days, at least in YA literature, that your female lead needs to be strong. But the women in Broken Forest were mostly weak. Jeslyn, our “heroine,” fainted so many times I lost count. Instead of being enraged by being kidnapped and taken to another world, where she will be forced to marry the leader, she meekly accepts her fate, gushes about the wonders of Daath—the flowers! the animals! the beauty!—and (gasp) starts to fall in love with the enemy. Only one female character avoided this trap, sort of, and that was a plucky girl named Raven who, despite her pluck, starts to fall for Avikar.
4. The unexplained “reptilian race” that Lucino is part of. I know, I know, up there I said I liked the mystery. But it was also frustrating that Lucino kept referring to himself as able to change into his reptile form, but we never really get to see that happen. (At least I don’t remember it.)
There was so much more I wanted to know about the characters and the world that Tilton created, and I’m sure she has much more in store for readers in the second book. Whether or not I will read the next installment is still up for debate. Unless Tilton’s female characters take a giant leap forward, I’m not sure I’ll be there for the ride.
I want to thank the author for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.
August 21, 2014
I still wonder about the title because there isn't much forest in the plot - The book itself is fast paced action adventure. There are hidden meanings that are poignant and worth looking into deeper. I also enjoyed the changing of the narration between the characters (Avikar's, Jeslyn's and Lucino) to get a better overall perspective of the story. The dialogue seemed natural and conveyed emotion. Suspenseful foreshadowing and ending.(it start with an unsurpassed loss, an authoritarian father with a warrior past (possessor of some special weapons), the premise of a banal future will be just the beginning. Then Jeslyn is kidnapped and her brother Avikar and his friend Derrick set out to rescue her. )
I think that the most interesting character for me is - Lucino - which is very well constructed. at 1st we know is that he isn't not human (has human "doll house" out of curiosity) and than small other details like the ability to shape-shift, the need to ascend (the kind and the reason isn't clear), the arrival to this planet being as key to survival because his world is dying, the scales, and reptilian origin. The ability to use magic and as the on the same time that usage of magic is forbidden on this planet (beside a mysterious organization) He displays a complete lack of compassion or love, and a calculated indifference to the intended murder of his "beloved Jeslyn.", but something is happening as long their acquaintance keep going.
I felt discomfort most of the time for the women characters which seams evil or stupid (Jeslyn) most of the time. Jeslyn figure started good and somewhere we lost her. Lucy is evil but too dependent on Luciano and when she try to rebel he quickly put her in place. Soo... Raven is somehow saving the day. (and also there is Lucy. She is the plain EVIL )
But I like Daath and the idea of Daath as a 13rd country that is hidden and lost from the memory of the other 12 countries and remembered only as a myth. Lucian people control it and don't let any intervention with the outside world. Daath is more prosperous, lush, green and magical and its people seam very content in comparison to the other countries. But in this paradise there are undercurrents that will lead to rebellion.
Eliza Tilton ignite my interest and I am waiting for the next book to see how the plot will carry on.
I think that the most interesting character for me is - Lucino - which is very well constructed. at 1st we know is that he isn't not human (has human "doll house" out of curiosity) and than small other details like the ability to shape-shift, the need to ascend (the kind and the reason isn't clear), the arrival to this planet being as key to survival because his world is dying, the scales, and reptilian origin. The ability to use magic and as the on the same time that usage of magic is forbidden on this planet (beside a mysterious organization) He displays a complete lack of compassion or love, and a calculated indifference to the intended murder of his "beloved Jeslyn.", but something is happening as long their acquaintance keep going.
I felt discomfort most of the time for the women characters which seams evil or stupid (Jeslyn) most of the time. Jeslyn figure started good and somewhere we lost her. Lucy is evil but too dependent on Luciano and when she try to rebel he quickly put her in place. Soo... Raven is somehow saving the day. (and also there is Lucy. She is the plain EVIL )
But I like Daath and the idea of Daath as a 13rd country that is hidden and lost from the memory of the other 12 countries and remembered only as a myth. Lucian people control it and don't let any intervention with the outside world. Daath is more prosperous, lush, green and magical and its people seam very content in comparison to the other countries. But in this paradise there are undercurrents that will lead to rebellion.
Eliza Tilton ignite my interest and I am waiting for the next book to see how the plot will carry on.
August 19, 2013
I have to admit, this book had a slow pull for me. The introduction of Lucino's POV on top of Avikar and Jeslyn, but in the end I was glad to have it. I loved watching his character develop. The big reveal about him at the end felt a bit rushed, but was a big surprise.
Once the story picks up, it really doesn't let go. The tension continues to build. And somehow Eliza Tilton has managed to create another love story for Avikar that didn't feel out of place. It developed very naturally. She also did a very good job of keeping the focus on the main adventure (rescuing Jeslyn) even while so many other potential adventures and obstacles grew around the main characters. Her use of imagery was very well balanced as well.
I really enjoyed the characters, but I enjoyed watching Avikar the most. Jeslyn wasn't my favorite but she is just a bit too girly for my tastes. I prefer characters like Raven, who was awesome. I loved how she could be tough and vulnerable at the same time.
Even as the adventure came to its natural conclusion, I couldn't help but wonder where the rest of the story was. There was still so much more I wanted to see, to experience with these characters. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to what Eliza Tilton has in store for this world next.
Once the story picks up, it really doesn't let go. The tension continues to build. And somehow Eliza Tilton has managed to create another love story for Avikar that didn't feel out of place. It developed very naturally. She also did a very good job of keeping the focus on the main adventure (rescuing Jeslyn) even while so many other potential adventures and obstacles grew around the main characters. Her use of imagery was very well balanced as well.
I really enjoyed the characters, but I enjoyed watching Avikar the most. Jeslyn wasn't my favorite but she is just a bit too girly for my tastes. I prefer characters like Raven, who was awesome. I loved how she could be tough and vulnerable at the same time.
Even as the adventure came to its natural conclusion, I couldn't help but wonder where the rest of the story was. There was still so much more I wanted to see, to experience with these characters. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to what Eliza Tilton has in store for this world next.
December 24, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Avikar embarks on a mission to save his sister Jeslyn who's been kidnapped and taken into the mythical country of Daath.
In the beginning I had some trouble focussing on this book, mainly because it doesn't involve one first person POV, but multiple first person POVs. Especially when the scene wasn't completely set yet this was confusing. There were some thing in the story that I really liked and added something, like Lucino and Jeslyn telling the same story, showing their different ulterior motives. At other times, the story was hopelessly awkward when there were very exposition-filled scenes that felt out of place.
Of the three POV characters Jeslyn is the least entertaining. She's incredibly naive and doesn't seem to learn anything. I hope she will grow more in the rest of the series. All in all, it had its moments and I hope to see more of them in the next book.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Avikar embarks on a mission to save his sister Jeslyn who's been kidnapped and taken into the mythical country of Daath.
In the beginning I had some trouble focussing on this book, mainly because it doesn't involve one first person POV, but multiple first person POVs. Especially when the scene wasn't completely set yet this was confusing. There were some thing in the story that I really liked and added something, like Lucino and Jeslyn telling the same story, showing their different ulterior motives. At other times, the story was hopelessly awkward when there were very exposition-filled scenes that felt out of place.
Of the three POV characters Jeslyn is the least entertaining. She's incredibly naive and doesn't seem to learn anything. I hope she will grow more in the rest of the series. All in all, it had its moments and I hope to see more of them in the next book.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
August 29, 2014
REVIEW: BROKEN FOREST (DAATH CHRONICLES BOOK 1) by Eliza Tilton
Those who read my reviews probably know I prefer Supernatural, Horror, Mystery and Suspense, Thrillers, and Arcane, to Fantasy. But sometimes a fantasy author appears to change my mind: Mark T. Barnes did just that earlier in 2014, and now here is Eliza Tilton. BROKEN FOREST is the first entry in the DAATH CHRONICLES , a lively, well-written tale of a boy whose self-imposed guilt has crumpled up all his hopes, dreams, and self-esteem, to the point of resignation to fatalism and to a dull, unpleasant, manual labor life. Until:: fate presents him with a Second Chance, a dangerous, daring, adventurous quest, an opportunity to be a hero. Extra kudos to author Eliza Tilton for introducing a flair of science fiction in the form of the "Others" species.
Those who read my reviews probably know I prefer Supernatural, Horror, Mystery and Suspense, Thrillers, and Arcane, to Fantasy. But sometimes a fantasy author appears to change my mind: Mark T. Barnes did just that earlier in 2014, and now here is Eliza Tilton. BROKEN FOREST is the first entry in the DAATH CHRONICLES , a lively, well-written tale of a boy whose self-imposed guilt has crumpled up all his hopes, dreams, and self-esteem, to the point of resignation to fatalism and to a dull, unpleasant, manual labor life. Until:: fate presents him with a Second Chance, a dangerous, daring, adventurous quest, an opportunity to be a hero. Extra kudos to author Eliza Tilton for introducing a flair of science fiction in the form of the "Others" species.
September 10, 2014
Received a complimentary copy to read and review. Eliza is a great writer. I couldn't put it down. I love the characters and the world she has created. It has some great twists and turns. Jeslyn is taken to a world that humans didn't think existed other than in stories. The longer she is there the more entranced she becomes with it. Her brother goes after her only to find it will be harder than he thinks to free her. Want to know what happens add it to your TBR list. You won't be disappointed. I look forward to reading more of her books.
September 13, 2016
Beautifully crafted world, fascinating characters, worth a read.
April 16, 2023
WOOOOW !!! Such an amazing read! First let me say that the story had me HOOKED ! The whole time I read it I was asking questions, trying to figure out, the suspense was incredible!! It took me one day to read this! I couldn’t put it down ! I NEEEEDD the second book! I need to know what happens to her brother 😩
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2019
I got my hands on a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I have to say that I'm intrigued... ;) I was definitely in the mood to read something a little bit different, so this young adult fantasy novel really landed on my kindle just at the right time... ;) it was my first book written by this author, but it left me curious enough to go back and read the rest of the series... so it's very fortunate that the second installment is already on my kindle ;) but I would love to see what else she has written :) I definitely enjoyed this story... maybe it didn't blew me away or wowed me to the point that I will shove it in your face repeating "read it... read it now" but I gave it 4 stars for a reason ;) my review will be a little bit on the shorter side because there is a lot of things I can't tell you about this book :) after all, I don't want to spoil you all the surprises along the way... ;) but I will do my best, as always, to share with you my thoughts and feelings :) but let's start with a little bit of informations about the story and the characters, shall we? :)
This book is told from three perspectives... :) we have Avikar, a young man, who still feels guilty and blames himself for the death of his little brother a few years back... he used to dream about leaving his home and achieving more than just helping his family with the farm... he still thinks about it, but now he doesn't feel that he deserves it... he was actually my favourite of the three characters :) I think he also had the biggest part in the story, although that may be just connected to the fact that I liked him the best and not necessary to the fact that he had the longest chapters ;) I didn't really count the pages so I can't be sure ;) then we have Jeslyn, his younger sister... when she's kidnapped, he goes on a rescue mission with Derrick... more about him in a minute :) and I don't know what it was exactly about her, but I couldn't really connect to her... yes, there were moments when I really felt for her, but the majority of the time... especially in the second half of the book, I either didn't like what she did or my reaction was "what the WHAT are you doing?!?" :) I hope I will like her more in the second book, but so far I am not a fan... and last but not least there's Lucino... he is... well... "villain" is not the perfect word to use to describe him, but I can't really tell you more about him, so we're just gonna have to go with the "villain" of the story :) he's this very mysterious character from the start of the book, and we get to know only a bit more about him, who he is and what his plans are... :) I don't want to say that I like him, but I am definitely curious about what's gonna happen with him in the future :) and yes, I know I'm being super vague, but I really can't tell you more without some huge spoilers, so you're just gonna have to forgive me for the lack of details :) besides those three main characters, there are of course a bunch of secondary ones, but again... the importance of some of them is definitely a spoiler, so I can't share with you guys their identities... :) the only one I can name here is Derrick :) he's Avikar's best friend and Jeslyn's... "boyfriend" is the closest word I can come up with to describe what is between them :) very close to the beginning of the book Jeslyn is kidnapped and Avikar and Derrick go after her... that's pretty much everything I can tell you about the plot... :) not because there's nothing more, because trust me... there is ;) but all those details contain a lot of unexpected turns or surprising reveals that would spoil you all the fun ;) so I'll leave them for you to discover while you read and instead try to tell you a bit more about my feelings about this story :)
I definitely enjoyed this book :) although it took me a while to understand the world... it feels like we dive straight into the story, and the explanation part is coming along the way... so we get to know bit by bit, more and more about the lands and the characters with each chapter, but it definitely takes some time... :) on the one hand it's a good thing, because you are not overwhelmed by the huge amount of informations thrown at you within the first few chapters... but on the other hand it might be a bit harder to really get into the book because of that... there were definitely parts near the beginning when I got confused and needed a moment to sort things through, but the more you know the easier it gets :) I already told you everything that I can about the characters in this story :) and yes, there are quite more I would love to share with you, but since I don't want to spoil you who is important, I can't tell you about certain secondary characters that caught my attention ;) the writing style was definitely interesting and I am intrigued enough to want to go back to this world and see what's gonna happen next :) so if you are in the mood for a little bit different story then definitely give this one a try ;)
XOXO
A
This book is told from three perspectives... :) we have Avikar, a young man, who still feels guilty and blames himself for the death of his little brother a few years back... he used to dream about leaving his home and achieving more than just helping his family with the farm... he still thinks about it, but now he doesn't feel that he deserves it... he was actually my favourite of the three characters :) I think he also had the biggest part in the story, although that may be just connected to the fact that I liked him the best and not necessary to the fact that he had the longest chapters ;) I didn't really count the pages so I can't be sure ;) then we have Jeslyn, his younger sister... when she's kidnapped, he goes on a rescue mission with Derrick... more about him in a minute :) and I don't know what it was exactly about her, but I couldn't really connect to her... yes, there were moments when I really felt for her, but the majority of the time... especially in the second half of the book, I either didn't like what she did or my reaction was "what the WHAT are you doing?!?" :) I hope I will like her more in the second book, but so far I am not a fan... and last but not least there's Lucino... he is... well... "villain" is not the perfect word to use to describe him, but I can't really tell you more about him, so we're just gonna have to go with the "villain" of the story :) he's this very mysterious character from the start of the book, and we get to know only a bit more about him, who he is and what his plans are... :) I don't want to say that I like him, but I am definitely curious about what's gonna happen with him in the future :) and yes, I know I'm being super vague, but I really can't tell you more without some huge spoilers, so you're just gonna have to forgive me for the lack of details :) besides those three main characters, there are of course a bunch of secondary ones, but again... the importance of some of them is definitely a spoiler, so I can't share with you guys their identities... :) the only one I can name here is Derrick :) he's Avikar's best friend and Jeslyn's... "boyfriend" is the closest word I can come up with to describe what is between them :) very close to the beginning of the book Jeslyn is kidnapped and Avikar and Derrick go after her... that's pretty much everything I can tell you about the plot... :) not because there's nothing more, because trust me... there is ;) but all those details contain a lot of unexpected turns or surprising reveals that would spoil you all the fun ;) so I'll leave them for you to discover while you read and instead try to tell you a bit more about my feelings about this story :)
I definitely enjoyed this book :) although it took me a while to understand the world... it feels like we dive straight into the story, and the explanation part is coming along the way... so we get to know bit by bit, more and more about the lands and the characters with each chapter, but it definitely takes some time... :) on the one hand it's a good thing, because you are not overwhelmed by the huge amount of informations thrown at you within the first few chapters... but on the other hand it might be a bit harder to really get into the book because of that... there were definitely parts near the beginning when I got confused and needed a moment to sort things through, but the more you know the easier it gets :) I already told you everything that I can about the characters in this story :) and yes, there are quite more I would love to share with you, but since I don't want to spoil you who is important, I can't tell you about certain secondary characters that caught my attention ;) the writing style was definitely interesting and I am intrigued enough to want to go back to this world and see what's gonna happen next :) so if you are in the mood for a little bit different story then definitely give this one a try ;)
XOXO
A
November 26, 2017
Fun and fast-paced. Especially enjoyed the rich fantasy settings and the action sequences! Can't wait to see where Eliza takes the series next.
September 7, 2013
When I received this book, I delayed reading it for months due to studies and other things and it sort of took a backseat in my mind. I did read the first few chapters and I was intrigued, but then I forgot about it. Boy, that was a mistake. Because when I finally got around to it, I found that this book was awesome.
Let's start with the narrators (there are 3).
1.Avikar-
I love him. He was a teenager reaching adulthood, and bearing the guilt of his brother's death. He was struggling with having hope and faith. He felt unworthy and afraid of failing again. When his sister was kidnapped, he showed determination. In fact he might have come across as a mature adult, if it had not been for the way he acted around women. Then he was charming, witty and had a sense of humor that made me laugh till people looked at me weird. It could be considered insensitive of him to become distracted from rescuing his sister, but instead it reminded me that he was still a child and he should not have to bear the weight of the world and those glimpses of the boy that he was wonderful. And lastly I love the fact that it seemed to be implied that he would have a big role to play in the future.
2.Jeslyn-
She came off as a mature yet somewhat naïve girl. When she was kidnapped she was terrified and yet remained clearheaded enough to try to plan an escape. Even with Lucino she was wary of him first until it seemed that he was genuinely a kind person. If I had not been privy to his thoughts I would have fallen for his act too. So I can't fault her for that. Neither can I blame her for wishing to have riches and live in comfort and be taken care of (I mean how many times have we wished that we were princesses in a magic land?). I just feel sorry for her and Derrick, because she seems to have actual feelings for Lucino, might even be in love with him.
3.Lucino-
The villain. In some stories the villain is so multi-faceted that you kind of feel sorry for him, and even cheer for him occasionally. That conflict of loyalties did not happen here. Truth be told he was very creepy. The only saving grace is that if Jeslyn loves him, he at least returns those feelings to some degree.
Other than that Raven, Derrick and perhaps Jericho are worthy of being mentioned as interesting side characters. (although Raven deserves more than that. Same as Avikar, I like her. Here's hoping they end up together.)
The story itself was compelling. There were many mysteries I look forward to unraveling in the rest of the books. The epilogue certainly gave some hints about what was to come.
My rating: 4.5 stars
ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press
Let's start with the narrators (there are 3).
1.Avikar-
I love him. He was a teenager reaching adulthood, and bearing the guilt of his brother's death. He was struggling with having hope and faith. He felt unworthy and afraid of failing again. When his sister was kidnapped, he showed determination. In fact he might have come across as a mature adult, if it had not been for the way he acted around women. Then he was charming, witty and had a sense of humor that made me laugh till people looked at me weird. It could be considered insensitive of him to become distracted from rescuing his sister, but instead it reminded me that he was still a child and he should not have to bear the weight of the world and those glimpses of the boy that he was wonderful. And lastly I love the fact that it seemed to be implied that he would have a big role to play in the future.
2.Jeslyn-
She came off as a mature yet somewhat naïve girl. When she was kidnapped she was terrified and yet remained clearheaded enough to try to plan an escape. Even with Lucino she was wary of him first until it seemed that he was genuinely a kind person. If I had not been privy to his thoughts I would have fallen for his act too. So I can't fault her for that. Neither can I blame her for wishing to have riches and live in comfort and be taken care of (I mean how many times have we wished that we were princesses in a magic land?). I just feel sorry for her and Derrick, because she seems to have actual feelings for Lucino, might even be in love with him.
3.Lucino-
The villain. In some stories the villain is so multi-faceted that you kind of feel sorry for him, and even cheer for him occasionally. That conflict of loyalties did not happen here. Truth be told he was very creepy. The only saving grace is that if Jeslyn loves him, he at least returns those feelings to some degree.
Other than that Raven, Derrick and perhaps Jericho are worthy of being mentioned as interesting side characters. (although Raven deserves more than that. Same as Avikar, I like her. Here's hoping they end up together.)
The story itself was compelling. There were many mysteries I look forward to unraveling in the rest of the books. The epilogue certainly gave some hints about what was to come.
My rating: 4.5 stars
ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press
July 16, 2013
Sometimes it's hard to write what you think about a book, not because you do not know what to say or the book is not deserving, but simply because you do not know how to do it better (and without giving spoilers) and because it seems the inspiration by pass you. So if this review sounds more ... do not blame Broken Forest, blame me.
In Broken Forest the action begins quickly. First page may mislead you about your expectations: an unsurpassed loss, an authoritarian father with a warrior past (possessor of some special weapons), the premise of a banal future will be just the beginning. But we must pay attention to them because they will form the basis for what will follow. The changes come suddenly and everyone will react somehow. The journey that begins will change many of those involved. Fights and casualties will not miss and not once the salvation will hang by a thread.
Since the beginning, the descriptions will support and motivate the story and the characters, succeeding to create the climate necessary for the action at different times.
Although there are some drawbacks, some explanation too facile, but with significant effects, Broken Forest is a pleasant reading, sweet and will make you to think a little to all those who are involved.
I liked how the author built the characters. I love the honest way in which they analyzes themselves, recognizing their limits and trying to overcome them or, conversely, acknowledging their "superiority" and accepting everything as their right. I love how the characters evolve naturally, their thoughts, reflections and the characteristics of each, even if not all of them benefit the same attention in the story. The major changes, sometimes may be unpleasant for the reader, are understandable, and is nothing to reproach to a person when love sticks its tail. You’ll take one side or the other, you will suffer for one or the other, but in the end do not wonder how you've been manipulated. You cannot choose who to love and that will leave you eager for a sequel, especially since a promise that there will be a continuation results and also is suggested by the way things seem to have been resolved. It will be room for new confrontations and broken hearts, but also for the hope of fulfilled love.
In short, Broken Forest offers adventure, egos and power struggles, rescue missions, sister - brother relationships, some magic and few love stories. What could you want more?
In Broken Forest the action begins quickly. First page may mislead you about your expectations: an unsurpassed loss, an authoritarian father with a warrior past (possessor of some special weapons), the premise of a banal future will be just the beginning. But we must pay attention to them because they will form the basis for what will follow. The changes come suddenly and everyone will react somehow. The journey that begins will change many of those involved. Fights and casualties will not miss and not once the salvation will hang by a thread.
Since the beginning, the descriptions will support and motivate the story and the characters, succeeding to create the climate necessary for the action at different times.
Although there are some drawbacks, some explanation too facile, but with significant effects, Broken Forest is a pleasant reading, sweet and will make you to think a little to all those who are involved.
I liked how the author built the characters. I love the honest way in which they analyzes themselves, recognizing their limits and trying to overcome them or, conversely, acknowledging their "superiority" and accepting everything as their right. I love how the characters evolve naturally, their thoughts, reflections and the characteristics of each, even if not all of them benefit the same attention in the story. The major changes, sometimes may be unpleasant for the reader, are understandable, and is nothing to reproach to a person when love sticks its tail. You’ll take one side or the other, you will suffer for one or the other, but in the end do not wonder how you've been manipulated. You cannot choose who to love and that will leave you eager for a sequel, especially since a promise that there will be a continuation results and also is suggested by the way things seem to have been resolved. It will be room for new confrontations and broken hearts, but also for the hope of fulfilled love.
In short, Broken Forest offers adventure, egos and power struggles, rescue missions, sister - brother relationships, some magic and few love stories. What could you want more?
October 12, 2016
I received this book for free from the publisher/author via Lady Amber's Reviews and PR in exchange for an honest review.
When I started reading this book, I was expecting a straight up high fantasy read. I was pleasantly surprised with the delicate blend of science fiction integrated into this fantasy. It made for a very unique twist on the story. I definitely wasn't expecting it.
The best thing about Broken Forest was definitely the characters. They were very easy to get to know, and I enjoyed reading about them. My favorite was Raven. She was spunky, strong, and hinting at a problematic past. I just adored her. I always enjoyed Avikar. He was such a lovely character. He was so selfless throughout the story. Many of the other characters were also very striking.
The author did a good job with plot building. There were many details included to make the world come alive. I think that the execution could have been a little better though, because some of it felt a little boring at times. Finding out plot information and details in a surprising way would have been better.
The pacing of the story was fast-paced, but not overwhelmingly so. I definitely wanted to keep turning the pages, and the story progressed nicely.
I enjoyed the romance between Avikar and Raven. They were clearly drawn to one another and had similar strong personalities. I wasn't really feeling the romance between Jeslyn and Lucino. She was quite annoying through most of it. At the beginning of the book she was in a relationship with Derrik, and a handsome prince makes her forget all that? I'm not buying it. Even if a charming prince saves you from a horrible situation, you are not just going to fall madly in love and forget everything that you feel for your significant other.
I felt like the reptilian race angle needed to be explored more. I know that there are sequels, but I felt like I needed more information now.
Overall, this was a refreshing read. While I liked this book very much, I didn't fall head over heels for it. I will most certainly be finishing the series though. I feel very invested in the characters and need to know what happens next and how everything plays out in the end. I would recommend this to all that love a good fantasy read with strong character building.
More reviews on my blog: The Alchemy of Ink
When I started reading this book, I was expecting a straight up high fantasy read. I was pleasantly surprised with the delicate blend of science fiction integrated into this fantasy. It made for a very unique twist on the story. I definitely wasn't expecting it.
The best thing about Broken Forest was definitely the characters. They were very easy to get to know, and I enjoyed reading about them. My favorite was Raven. She was spunky, strong, and hinting at a problematic past. I just adored her. I always enjoyed Avikar. He was such a lovely character. He was so selfless throughout the story. Many of the other characters were also very striking.
The author did a good job with plot building. There were many details included to make the world come alive. I think that the execution could have been a little better though, because some of it felt a little boring at times. Finding out plot information and details in a surprising way would have been better.
The pacing of the story was fast-paced, but not overwhelmingly so. I definitely wanted to keep turning the pages, and the story progressed nicely.
I enjoyed the romance between Avikar and Raven. They were clearly drawn to one another and had similar strong personalities. I wasn't really feeling the romance between Jeslyn and Lucino. She was quite annoying through most of it. At the beginning of the book she was in a relationship with Derrik, and a handsome prince makes her forget all that? I'm not buying it. Even if a charming prince saves you from a horrible situation, you are not just going to fall madly in love and forget everything that you feel for your significant other.
I felt like the reptilian race angle needed to be explored more. I know that there are sequels, but I felt like I needed more information now.
Overall, this was a refreshing read. While I liked this book very much, I didn't fall head over heels for it. I will most certainly be finishing the series though. I feel very invested in the characters and need to know what happens next and how everything plays out in the end. I would recommend this to all that love a good fantasy read with strong character building.
More reviews on my blog: The Alchemy of Ink
August 13, 2014
I still wonder about the title because there isn't much forest in the plot - The book itself is fast paced action adventure. There are hidden meanings that are poignant and worth looking into deeper. I also enjoyed the changing of the narration between the characters (Avikar's, Jeslyn's and Lucino) to get a better overall perspective of the story. The dialogue seemed natural and conveyed emotion. Suspenseful foreshadowing and ending.(it start with an unsurpassed loss, an authoritarian father with a warrior past (possessor of some special weapons), the premise of a banal future will be just the beginning. Then Jeslyn is kidnapped and her brother Avikar and his friend Derrick set out to rescue her. )
I think that the most interesting character for me is - Lucino - which is very well constructed. at 1st we know is that he isn't not human (has human "doll house" out of curiosity) and than small other details like the ability to shape-shift, the need to ascend (the kind and the reason isn't clear), the arrival to this planet being as key to survival because his world is dying, the scales, and reptilian origin. The ability to use magic and as the on the same time that usage of magic is forbidden on this planet (beside a mysterious organization) He displays a complete lack of compassion or love, and a calculated indifference to the intended murder of his "beloved Jeslyn.", but something is happening as long their acquaintance keep going.
I felt discomfort most of the time for the women characters which seams evil or stupid (Jeslyn) most of the time. Jeslyn figure started good and somewhere we lost her. Lucy is evil but too dependent on Luciano and when she try to rebel he quickly put her in place. Soo... Raven is somehow saving the day. (and also there is Lucy. She is the plain EVIL )
But I like Daath and the idea of Daath as a 13rd country that is hidden and lost from the memory of the other 12 countries and remembered only as a myth. Lucian people control it and don't let any intervention with the outside world. Daath is more prosperous, lush, green and magical and its people seam very content in comparison to the other countries. But in this paradise there are undercurrents that will lead to rebellion.
Eliza Tilton ignite my interest and I am waiting for the next book to see how the plot will carry on.
I think that the most interesting character for me is - Lucino - which is very well constructed. at 1st we know is that he isn't not human (has human "doll house" out of curiosity) and than small other details like the ability to shape-shift, the need to ascend (the kind and the reason isn't clear), the arrival to this planet being as key to survival because his world is dying, the scales, and reptilian origin. The ability to use magic and as the on the same time that usage of magic is forbidden on this planet (beside a mysterious organization) He displays a complete lack of compassion or love, and a calculated indifference to the intended murder of his "beloved Jeslyn.", but something is happening as long their acquaintance keep going.
I felt discomfort most of the time for the women characters which seams evil or stupid (Jeslyn) most of the time. Jeslyn figure started good and somewhere we lost her. Lucy is evil but too dependent on Luciano and when she try to rebel he quickly put her in place. Soo... Raven is somehow saving the day. (and also there is Lucy. She is the plain EVIL )
But I like Daath and the idea of Daath as a 13rd country that is hidden and lost from the memory of the other 12 countries and remembered only as a myth. Lucian people control it and don't let any intervention with the outside world. Daath is more prosperous, lush, green and magical and its people seam very content in comparison to the other countries. But in this paradise there are undercurrents that will lead to rebellion.
Eliza Tilton ignite my interest and I am waiting for the next book to see how the plot will carry on.
Read
July 24, 2013A quick disclosure before I get started: I received my copy of this book from the author, Eliza Tilton. She is a friend I've met through blogging and I think she's great. It's always tricky when a friend asks you to read their book, because if their book is not your kind of thing, that can be horrendously awkward.
Luckily, I really liked Broken Forest -- and check out the beautiful new cover :)
Broken Forest is a fun fantasy-adventure with a great blend of romance, action and suspense. Multiple POV is something that's not easy to pull off, but I really liked the way that the chapters alternated between Avikar's, Jeslyn's and Lucino's POVs. The switch-offs in POV added a lot suspense to the story, gave the reader insight into what each character was thinking and feeling and really propelled the plot along. Often, in multiple POV stories, I have a strong preference for one narrator, but in the case of Broken Forest, I thought all three were equally compelling.
Jeslyn is kidnapped at the opening of the story, and her brother Avikar and his friend Derrick set out to rescue her. The action moved smoothly, with the guys facing challenges and picking up a few allies (and enemies) on the way. Avikar was definitely my favorite character. He's one of those "weight of the world on his shoulders" characters that I love. He holds himself responsible for a family tragedy and this experience adds more psychological depth to his character and more urgency to his quest to save his sister.
Lucino is a very intriguing villain -- I think including the POV of the villain is a great way to make his character much more three-dimensional -- and scary!
Jeslyn is probably the least developed character, or maybe it's more fair to say that she's the hardest character to figure out. She gets put into the "damsel in distress" role at the outset of the story, but by the end of the story, she's … well, even more in distress…
I'd definitely recommend Broken Forest to fans of light/fairytale fantasy --- books like Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes and Poison by Bridget Zinn.
Luckily, I really liked Broken Forest -- and check out the beautiful new cover :)
Broken Forest is a fun fantasy-adventure with a great blend of romance, action and suspense. Multiple POV is something that's not easy to pull off, but I really liked the way that the chapters alternated between Avikar's, Jeslyn's and Lucino's POVs. The switch-offs in POV added a lot suspense to the story, gave the reader insight into what each character was thinking and feeling and really propelled the plot along. Often, in multiple POV stories, I have a strong preference for one narrator, but in the case of Broken Forest, I thought all three were equally compelling.
Jeslyn is kidnapped at the opening of the story, and her brother Avikar and his friend Derrick set out to rescue her. The action moved smoothly, with the guys facing challenges and picking up a few allies (and enemies) on the way. Avikar was definitely my favorite character. He's one of those "weight of the world on his shoulders" characters that I love. He holds himself responsible for a family tragedy and this experience adds more psychological depth to his character and more urgency to his quest to save his sister.
Lucino is a very intriguing villain -- I think including the POV of the villain is a great way to make his character much more three-dimensional -- and scary!
Jeslyn is probably the least developed character, or maybe it's more fair to say that she's the hardest character to figure out. She gets put into the "damsel in distress" role at the outset of the story, but by the end of the story, she's … well, even more in distress…
I'd definitely recommend Broken Forest to fans of light/fairytale fantasy --- books like Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes and Poison by Bridget Zinn.
September 5, 2014
Broken Forest was a fast-paced, highly enjoyable read. Contrary to what the blurb implies, it’s actually told in alternating, first-person POVs from the three main characters — Avikar, Jeslyn, and Lucino. Avikar is presented as the dominant character, though, as his storyline drives the overall plot. Haunted by a past failure that cost his family a son and brother, he’s a flawed hero, but a hero all the same. When his sister is captured by the lord of a supposedly mythical land, Avikar takes it upon himself to rescue her. Together with his friend Derrick, Avikar travels to the long-lost Daath, facing great evil in order to save Jeslyn from it’s shape-shifting, slightly psychopathic overlord.
The writing is eloquent and the characters fairly well developed, but I think what I enjoyed most was the world. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of Maggie Steifvater’s Books of Faerie series. Not necessarily because of the content, but because of the overall feel and lyrical prose. It’s listed as a fantasy, but it should be noted there is a slight Science Fiction aspect to the creatures that was both surprising and unique. I was honestly expecting the Fey, but Tilton took the story in a direction that was much more original.
My only complaint, and the reason this has earned 4 instead of 5 stars, is that Avikar and Jeslyn sounded very similar. Lucino was fascinating and Tilton captured his indifferent, cold assessment of the world perfectly. But the siblings were fairly indistinguishable, making it hard to remember whose POV I was reading without the aid of the chapter headers. I would have preferred a little more differentiation in the voices, but otherwise, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new voice in YA fantasy, and I will most definitely be looking to pick up the rest of the series.
**Disclosure Statement: I received a copy from the blog tour company in exchange for an honest review. **
The writing is eloquent and the characters fairly well developed, but I think what I enjoyed most was the world. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of Maggie Steifvater’s Books of Faerie series. Not necessarily because of the content, but because of the overall feel and lyrical prose. It’s listed as a fantasy, but it should be noted there is a slight Science Fiction aspect to the creatures that was both surprising and unique. I was honestly expecting the Fey, but Tilton took the story in a direction that was much more original.
My only complaint, and the reason this has earned 4 instead of 5 stars, is that Avikar and Jeslyn sounded very similar. Lucino was fascinating and Tilton captured his indifferent, cold assessment of the world perfectly. But the siblings were fairly indistinguishable, making it hard to remember whose POV I was reading without the aid of the chapter headers. I would have preferred a little more differentiation in the voices, but otherwise, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new voice in YA fantasy, and I will most definitely be looking to pick up the rest of the series.
**Disclosure Statement: I received a copy from the blog tour company in exchange for an honest review. **
September 2, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
Although I did have some trouble at first to get into this book, I found myself eventually becoming involved in the world and the characters. Although I don’t really like multiple first person POVs, it wasn’t too hard to read this book, even if there were a few occasions where I got confused.
I think my favourite character in this book was probably Avikar. I felt myself easily able to connect with him and I felt that his relationships and connections to the other characters in the book came across really well. I particularly felt his relationship with Raven came across as really believable and natural.
I was less keen on Jeslyn’s character. Although her storyline was interesting, I found Lucino a more well-rounded character than she was. I didn’t think she came across as all that faithful and she seemed a little less three-dimensional.
Lucino’s people came across as really intriguing. I would have liked to know more about their origins and see more of them than just Lucino and Lucy. There were some things in the book that weren’t explored as much I would have liked.
I also found Jericho to be quite an intriguing character. He certainly changed quite a lot from how he’d appeared in the first place. One of the things I also liked was how Avikar reacted when he faced actually having to kill people.
The world in this book was a particularly intriguing one as well. I would have liked to see more of its history, but as a Christian, it was quite nice to see those elements included in the book as well.
I would definitely read the next book following on from this one. This was an intriguing world and at least two of the main characters were intriguing ones I’d like to see more of.
(This review may contain spoilers).
Although I did have some trouble at first to get into this book, I found myself eventually becoming involved in the world and the characters. Although I don’t really like multiple first person POVs, it wasn’t too hard to read this book, even if there were a few occasions where I got confused.
I think my favourite character in this book was probably Avikar. I felt myself easily able to connect with him and I felt that his relationships and connections to the other characters in the book came across really well. I particularly felt his relationship with Raven came across as really believable and natural.
I was less keen on Jeslyn’s character. Although her storyline was interesting, I found Lucino a more well-rounded character than she was. I didn’t think she came across as all that faithful and she seemed a little less three-dimensional.
Lucino’s people came across as really intriguing. I would have liked to know more about their origins and see more of them than just Lucino and Lucy. There were some things in the book that weren’t explored as much I would have liked.
I also found Jericho to be quite an intriguing character. He certainly changed quite a lot from how he’d appeared in the first place. One of the things I also liked was how Avikar reacted when he faced actually having to kill people.
The world in this book was a particularly intriguing one as well. I would have liked to see more of its history, but as a Christian, it was quite nice to see those elements included in the book as well.
I would definitely read the next book following on from this one. This was an intriguing world and at least two of the main characters were intriguing ones I’d like to see more of.
October 2, 2014
This was an amazing story! I don't usually read books like this one buy The cover and Synapses really captured my interest and I couldn't help but want to read it. Eliza Tilton is a wonderful writer! I loved the characters and the world that she had created, it was a world that made you feel like you were in the past, with horses and buggy's but at the same time had these magical elements that gave it a modern and fantasy feel all at the same time.
This book had all the fantasy elements: magic, creatures and battles. The characters were like everyday people though and you could connect to each one no matter the character, even the bad guys, which is unusual for a story. This story was so brilliantly written that no one was seen as a various shades of grey, the bad guys weren't just bad guys and the good guys were just good guys. I really liked it as it brought a feel of real life to the story.
My favourite character was Avikar he was just a boy starting off on the journey to find his sister and he ends the journey a man, a man who knows what he wants and has the strength of will to fight for it. I loved his character also because he struggles so and overcomes so many personal daemons on his journey. I don't usually pick one of the main characters as a fav but Avi was such an inspiring character that I couldn't not pick him. My other fav would have to be Raven, smart, sassy and good at kicking anyones ass!...lol
I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait to read more as I would love to watch these characters grow and see more to come! if you haven't read this one your missing out get your copy today! this is a awesome one for all you fantasy readers out there!
This book had all the fantasy elements: magic, creatures and battles. The characters were like everyday people though and you could connect to each one no matter the character, even the bad guys, which is unusual for a story. This story was so brilliantly written that no one was seen as a various shades of grey, the bad guys weren't just bad guys and the good guys were just good guys. I really liked it as it brought a feel of real life to the story.
My favourite character was Avikar he was just a boy starting off on the journey to find his sister and he ends the journey a man, a man who knows what he wants and has the strength of will to fight for it. I loved his character also because he struggles so and overcomes so many personal daemons on his journey. I don't usually pick one of the main characters as a fav but Avi was such an inspiring character that I couldn't not pick him. My other fav would have to be Raven, smart, sassy and good at kicking anyones ass!...lol
I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait to read more as I would love to watch these characters grow and see more to come! if you haven't read this one your missing out get your copy today! this is a awesome one for all you fantasy readers out there!
August 26, 2013
I want to say in full disclosure that Eliza and I share the same publisher. I was given her book in exchange for an honest review. I wouldn't have accepted the offer if I didn't think it sounded like a book I'd enjoy, and I wasn't disappointed! It had my four favorite things in a book: love, adventure, fantasy, and a twisted ending!
The opening page immediately drew me in and from the very start, I could tell Tilton had a gift for storytelling. There's danger, there's desire, and there's decision. You won't read the first few chapters of this book asking yourself, "Who gives a crap?" I'm a middle school Language Arts teacher, so I can testify that kids have short attention spans. They inhale violent video games. They think life can be encapsulated in a text message. I can say with conviction that my students would enjoy this book because there's something for everyone here and because the story moved along at a good pace. Her plot and characterization were spot on. Every scene was manipulated for maximum impact. This was Tilton's fantasy world, but I felt like I was a part of it (and who wouldn't want to be . . . did you see that beautiful cover? Seriously one of my favorite book covers of the year!)
The *BONUS* is the characters are inspiring. My favorite character remained Avikar throughout the book, but the other secondary characters were enjoyable too. As the plot unfolded, I was interested in what happened next for everybody. Needless to say, I can't wait for Book Two in The Daath Chronicles, and I'll be purchasing the print copy for my classroom!
The opening page immediately drew me in and from the very start, I could tell Tilton had a gift for storytelling. There's danger, there's desire, and there's decision. You won't read the first few chapters of this book asking yourself, "Who gives a crap?" I'm a middle school Language Arts teacher, so I can testify that kids have short attention spans. They inhale violent video games. They think life can be encapsulated in a text message. I can say with conviction that my students would enjoy this book because there's something for everyone here and because the story moved along at a good pace. Her plot and characterization were spot on. Every scene was manipulated for maximum impact. This was Tilton's fantasy world, but I felt like I was a part of it (and who wouldn't want to be . . . did you see that beautiful cover? Seriously one of my favorite book covers of the year!)
The *BONUS* is the characters are inspiring. My favorite character remained Avikar throughout the book, but the other secondary characters were enjoyable too. As the plot unfolded, I was interested in what happened next for everybody. Needless to say, I can't wait for Book Two in The Daath Chronicles, and I'll be purchasing the print copy for my classroom!
September 15, 2014
4.5 Stars
First off I loved the cover! It was original and not made up from stock photos that everyone else is using. This is my first book read by Eliza and I really enjoyed her style and writing abilities. I am a big fan of multiple POV’s and Eliza did an amazing job with the three main characters and their personalities. I was able to read through the chapters with ease not having to go back and see who it was that was talking.
This story is full of action, determination, heart, beauty depth and warmth. The world that Eliza describes is colorful and full of many creatures of folk lore, a good thing in a fantasy book! I like her description of Daath as a 13 country that was hidden from the other countries and only thought of as a mythical place. This place is run by Lucian the villain and his people in the story.
The main character is Avikar a 17 year old boy that feels like a failure for not being able to save his younger brother and accepts his life as a stable boy to try to forget his failure. When his sister Jeslyn is kidnapped and taken by the evil Lucian a non human shape shifter. He and his best friend Derrick set out to find her and bring her home. But Avikar must battle more than Lucian he must battle his inner demons to prove to himself that he has what it takes to be a warrior.
First off I loved the cover! It was original and not made up from stock photos that everyone else is using. This is my first book read by Eliza and I really enjoyed her style and writing abilities. I am a big fan of multiple POV’s and Eliza did an amazing job with the three main characters and their personalities. I was able to read through the chapters with ease not having to go back and see who it was that was talking.
This story is full of action, determination, heart, beauty depth and warmth. The world that Eliza describes is colorful and full of many creatures of folk lore, a good thing in a fantasy book! I like her description of Daath as a 13 country that was hidden from the other countries and only thought of as a mythical place. This place is run by Lucian the villain and his people in the story.
The main character is Avikar a 17 year old boy that feels like a failure for not being able to save his younger brother and accepts his life as a stable boy to try to forget his failure. When his sister Jeslyn is kidnapped and taken by the evil Lucian a non human shape shifter. He and his best friend Derrick set out to find her and bring her home. But Avikar must battle more than Lucian he must battle his inner demons to prove to himself that he has what it takes to be a warrior.
May 17, 2016
4.5 stars!!! I have found a new favourite author. I absolutely loved this story. The characters were thoroughly enjoyable. Avikar who is the MC is a conflicted yet gentle soul. He feels he always lets everyone down especially after his brother's death. He is seeking redemption. Then, there's Lucino. Although, he is the villian, I can't help but love him. He is my favorite character. Is that wrong? :p. Among the girls, I liked Raven the most. She is feisty. Lucy is great too but sometimes I felt she gave into Lucino's orders too easily. I wished she had a mind of her own. Jeslyn was the most pitiful. Yeah she is pretty and innocent but she seems to only depend on the guys in the book to help her out of dangerous situations. Hopefully, her character grows over the next two books. But that is a small negative. Overall, I loved how the book has a mixture of romance, loads of action, magic and a dash of humor. The worldbuilding was good but I would have liked a map. Anyway, I can't wait to read the next one :)
May 7, 2016
DNF 50%
Okay I tried with this book but it just wasn't for me. It definitely has potential to be great and I was really torn over putting it down, but in the end I just had no motivation to pick it up and keep going. There's nothing 'bad' about the book and I might pick it up in the future and give it another go - but it just didn't grab my attention and keep it.
I am, however, in awe of the beauty of its cover. 'Twas not my cup of tea but perhaps it'll be yours!
Happy reading!
Okay I tried with this book but it just wasn't for me. It definitely has potential to be great and I was really torn over putting it down, but in the end I just had no motivation to pick it up and keep going. There's nothing 'bad' about the book and I might pick it up in the future and give it another go - but it just didn't grab my attention and keep it.
I am, however, in awe of the beauty of its cover. 'Twas not my cup of tea but perhaps it'll be yours!
Happy reading!
January 19, 2014
Great Read for Everyone
The book was written with a great deal of skill. Even what seems,a slow start it was needed to understand the characters. Read it, enjoy it and prepare for your next book.
The book was written with a great deal of skill. Even what seems,a slow start it was needed to understand the characters. Read it, enjoy it and prepare for your next book.
Read
January 8, 2014this was a great book i loved it.. :)
December 9, 2014
Amazing, Magical, Love <3
November 18, 2015
I really like the story and the characters. The series could definitely be interesting. The writing is not consistent, but it is still very enjoyable to read.
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