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Of Our Own Creation
Eighteen-year-old Clara Herschel is living with a killer—inside her.
His name is Desch, and they were supposed to be bestest friends. Revel in shared respect. Bask in mutual understanding. That’s how the Advocate program works. A human and a Little One—powerful yet peaceful beings of raw energy—choose one another and bond for life to show the world that two species aren’t so different.
Except Clara and Desch didn’t choose; they were forced to bond. And it lost them everyone they loved. All Clara wants is forgiveness. All Desch wants is revenge. All they can agree on is that the world isn’t ready for their origin story.
When someone threatens genocide against the Little Ones, someone who knows the seemingly indestructible creatures’ only weakness, Clara and Desch must confront their past to save Desch’s kind. Their bonding holds the key to protecting his species.
But it also holds Clara’s secret...
Desch isn’t the only killer.
Part fantasy, part psychological mystery, this urban fantasy is unlike anything you've read before.
His name is Desch, and they were supposed to be bestest friends. Revel in shared respect. Bask in mutual understanding. That’s how the Advocate program works. A human and a Little One—powerful yet peaceful beings of raw energy—choose one another and bond for life to show the world that two species aren’t so different.
Except Clara and Desch didn’t choose; they were forced to bond. And it lost them everyone they loved. All Clara wants is forgiveness. All Desch wants is revenge. All they can agree on is that the world isn’t ready for their origin story.
When someone threatens genocide against the Little Ones, someone who knows the seemingly indestructible creatures’ only weakness, Clara and Desch must confront their past to save Desch’s kind. Their bonding holds the key to protecting his species.
But it also holds Clara’s secret...
Desch isn’t the only killer.
Part fantasy, part psychological mystery, this urban fantasy is unlike anything you've read before.
- GenresFantasyUrban Fantasy
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2020
13 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Brooke Hatchett
3 books22 followersBrooke Hatchett (www.brookehatchett.com) is a past reporter, present fantasy author, and future crazy cat lady. As a lifelong fantasy lover, she can usually be found reading, gaming, or wrapped up in a Miyazaki movie. You can find her at any of these places:
Facebook: @brookehatchettauthor
Instagram: @brookehatchettauthor
Website: www.brookehatchett.com
Facebook: @brookehatchettauthor
Instagram: @brookehatchettauthor
Website: www.brookehatchett.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 6, 2021
Young adult urban fantasy is rarely this good. It's fresh, original, sometimes dark, sometimes strange, and all round so polished you wouldn't know it was an indie novel. I started it with no idea of what to expect and wondered about bailing out early on when the going got a tiny bit confusing... But I didn't and dang am I glad.
Seriously, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an intelligent paranormal urban fantasy.
Think Legendborn with legends you won't have read much before, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials written from a point of love for spiritual mythos rather than derision. I don't want to give too much away, but it's really not quite like anything I'd read before. Top that off with enlightened writing that treats the reader as if they can draw their own conclusions rather than spoon feeding every character revelation, and you get something
Take a girl, 18 year old Clara, and throw her into a world where youngsters are soul-bound with "Little Ones" - strange animals made of spiritual energy in order to protect the rest of spirit-kind. Clara is an Advocate, and has spent her ten years bonded to a sarcastic lion-spirit named Desch who makes it clear he wants as little to do with her as possible. The feeling is mutual. They aren't your typical Advocates though; the rest of the crew are best friends with their charges. But then again, Clara and Desch have a lot of things that make them different from other Advocates, not least their unique ability to "absorb" rogue Little Ones. Because they do go rogue when pumped up on human energy, and that can have destructive consequences. Called in to diffuse one such situation, Clara ends up dragged into a much bigger scheme that threatens to unearth secrets she'd rather left buried in the past even as she fights for the future.
Trying to sum this one up can't really do it justice in the way it deserves. It's a YA urban fantasy paranormal thriller full of twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way.
Clara is tough, sarcastic, fatalistic... and a darn sight better written than those often used words make her sound. She ain't your usual YA over-caffeinated, hormone-fuelled ball of snark and stupidity. She's not easy to like. She's also a bit of an unreliable narrator, as her past and relationship with Desch are things she just wants to avoid. Every time something came up that hinted at it, I was practically shaking the book because while at the beginning I found it vague and confusing later on I was just so desperate to know her truth. She might not exactly be likeable, but she's a compelling enigma. The side characters too are fun to puzzle out, from the winning James to unusually attractive CEO to the emo-kid-next-door Derek and his Little One partner.
The storyline is just so unusual it honestly did keep me on the edge of my seat. When plot twists are foreshadowed, it's a super-satisfying payoff to finally get that confirmation that your were right (or sometimes wrong and you got so involved in the story you had your own crazy theories!)
The pace keeps everything at a fairly slow simmer until near the end, but that's not to say it rushes into any plot points. I adored that, while there is a hint of romance alongside the action, it's just that: a hint.
It ends on a "To be continued..." note, which was a slight disappointment for me as I hadn't known this was part of a planned series. However, it's not a cruel cliffhanger or abrupt cut off - think the usual end-of-a-chapter with a hook in the epilogue ready for part 2.
So if I loved this bizarre book so much, why not the full 5 stars? Basically: confusion. There were times, particularly in action sequences involving "energy", where I had to go back and re-read sections because I got a bit lost. Clara's revelations took a bit of putting together after reading as well, so I'm not sure her recollections were as understandable as I'd like (though as an unreliable narrator avoiding the topic, maybe that's the point). Occasionally I felt details were a little info-dumped in just the moment after needing to understand the concept rather than neatly foreshadowed (). There are quite a few abbreviations for various things that appear, go away for large chunks of the story, then turn up again. I couldn't always keep track of what the HYP/IMP/DCI referred to and so felt a bit lost. I also felt I was... Missing something. Not so much something that's part of the narrative itself, but the context. This could be because I'm not of the Americas and am unaware of how much the "lore" behind some of the story is common knowledge.
But did I end up loving this story? Resoundingly yes. While I was lukewarm towards it at the start, towards the end I couldn't wait to pick the book back up again. Yes, I still have a little lingering confusion, but the main story with it's strange characters, nuanced relationships, and compelling world really drew me in. There are plenty of questions that still need answering, and I'd look forward to finding out just how deep this river runs.
Seriously, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an intelligent paranormal urban fantasy.
Think Legendborn with legends you won't have read much before, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials written from a point of love for spiritual mythos rather than derision. I don't want to give too much away, but it's really not quite like anything I'd read before. Top that off with enlightened writing that treats the reader as if they can draw their own conclusions rather than spoon feeding every character revelation, and you get something
Take a girl, 18 year old Clara, and throw her into a world where youngsters are soul-bound with "Little Ones" - strange animals made of spiritual energy in order to protect the rest of spirit-kind. Clara is an Advocate, and has spent her ten years bonded to a sarcastic lion-spirit named Desch who makes it clear he wants as little to do with her as possible. The feeling is mutual. They aren't your typical Advocates though; the rest of the crew are best friends with their charges. But then again, Clara and Desch have a lot of things that make them different from other Advocates, not least their unique ability to "absorb" rogue Little Ones. Because they do go rogue when pumped up on human energy, and that can have destructive consequences. Called in to diffuse one such situation, Clara ends up dragged into a much bigger scheme that threatens to unearth secrets she'd rather left buried in the past even as she fights for the future.
Trying to sum this one up can't really do it justice in the way it deserves. It's a YA urban fantasy paranormal thriller full of twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way.
Clara is tough, sarcastic, fatalistic... and a darn sight better written than those often used words make her sound. She ain't your usual YA over-caffeinated, hormone-fuelled ball of snark and stupidity. She's not easy to like. She's also a bit of an unreliable narrator, as her past and relationship with Desch are things she just wants to avoid. Every time something came up that hinted at it, I was practically shaking the book because while at the beginning I found it vague and confusing later on I was just so desperate to know her truth. She might not exactly be likeable, but she's a compelling enigma. The side characters too are fun to puzzle out, from the winning James to unusually attractive CEO to the emo-kid-next-door Derek and his Little One partner.
The storyline is just so unusual it honestly did keep me on the edge of my seat. When plot twists are foreshadowed, it's a super-satisfying payoff to finally get that confirmation that your were right (or sometimes wrong and you got so involved in the story you had your own crazy theories!)
The pace keeps everything at a fairly slow simmer until near the end, but that's not to say it rushes into any plot points. I adored that, while there is a hint of romance alongside the action, it's just that: a hint.
It ends on a "To be continued..." note, which was a slight disappointment for me as I hadn't known this was part of a planned series. However, it's not a cruel cliffhanger or abrupt cut off - think the usual end-of-a-chapter with a hook in the epilogue ready for part 2.
So if I loved this bizarre book so much, why not the full 5 stars? Basically: confusion. There were times, particularly in action sequences involving "energy", where I had to go back and re-read sections because I got a bit lost. Clara's revelations took a bit of putting together after reading as well, so I'm not sure her recollections were as understandable as I'd like (though as an unreliable narrator avoiding the topic, maybe that's the point). Occasionally I felt details were a little info-dumped in just the moment after needing to understand the concept rather than neatly foreshadowed (). There are quite a few abbreviations for various things that appear, go away for large chunks of the story, then turn up again. I couldn't always keep track of what the HYP/IMP/DCI referred to and so felt a bit lost. I also felt I was... Missing something. Not so much something that's part of the narrative itself, but the context. This could be because I'm not of the Americas and am unaware of how much the "lore" behind some of the story is common knowledge.
But did I end up loving this story? Resoundingly yes. While I was lukewarm towards it at the start, towards the end I couldn't wait to pick the book back up again. Yes, I still have a little lingering confusion, but the main story with it's strange characters, nuanced relationships, and compelling world really drew me in. There are plenty of questions that still need answering, and I'd look forward to finding out just how deep this river runs.
January 20, 2021
Ok I’m loving this book , Desch is a asshole and I love it !! What can I do ? I like assholes hahahaha But what is really making me intrigued is the world building, I won’t lie I was lost like shi* in water in the beginning...but after ? I found myself and I’m really liking everything so far . All the details and everything ..I think this book was going to be a amazing series but is a standalone ? Is it ?
Girl...this makes us both , I think it’s been so long that someone hugged me too ,that borders depressing hahahaha This damn pandemic, fuc*ed my zero social skills, when I go back to society I’m fic*ed .
OMG I’m laughing so hard right now hahahaha seriously? In a situation like this ? Hahahaha damn I’m really liking this girl . And .... just I don’t trust Andrew Etworth ? Seriously? I’m being paranoid? Or is just because I want her with her Little One Desch ? Is this weird ? He is a lion and not in a time in the part of the book I’m now has he assumed human form ....so this can be classified how weird uh?
Damn Clara is really young I don’t know her age but ...lm really intrigued about her story like ...she is really old ? Like a Little One ? Why she is with Desch ? Why that Little One clan Leader called her that difficult name ? Damn so much questions I’m loving this book so far . And Why everyone is so fuc*ing rude with her ? Damn the girl is struggling, and what’s Desch excuse ? Why he is like this ? She just want someone and I understand her jealousy about the relationship of the other Advocates with their partners...everyone is so ...I don’t know friendly ? And Desch is a Asshole with her ...damn Desch makes me remember my dog . Not even my cats are like this .
I think I like Derek ...yeah I approve him and Istaqa, damn this name is so cool hahaha .
I’m loving this trip to memory land , is really answering all my questions , and I think I’m almost in the end ...damn I really don’t want this book to end ...now makes sense why the name of the book is Of Our Own Creation.... and what a amazing book really. FU*k !!!! This end in a cliffhanger!!, WTF? I thought this was a standalone...... fuc* I’m crying now tsk tsk tsk tsk .... Damn I finished 384 pages in one day ... so healthy.
“Derek’s frown deepens, and quicker than I could imagine, he lunges forward and embraces me. My entire body goes rigid. It’s been so long since someone hugged me.”
Girl...this makes us both , I think it’s been so long that someone hugged me too ,that borders depressing hahahaha This damn pandemic, fuc*ed my zero social skills, when I go back to society I’m fic*ed .
“He takes a running leap, grabs my ankles, and I immediately wonder what the hell I was thinking because my feet feel like they’re about to be ripped off and I just know I’m going to lose my pants. Absurdly, I start backtracking to remember which panties I wore today.”
OMG I’m laughing so hard right now hahahaha seriously? In a situation like this ? Hahahaha damn I’m really liking this girl . And .... just I don’t trust Andrew Etworth ? Seriously? I’m being paranoid? Or is just because I want her with her Little One Desch ? Is this weird ? He is a lion and not in a time in the part of the book I’m now has he assumed human form ....so this can be classified how weird uh?
Damn Clara is really young I don’t know her age but ...lm really intrigued about her story like ...she is really old ? Like a Little One ? Why she is with Desch ? Why that Little One clan Leader called her that difficult name ? Damn so much questions I’m loving this book so far . And Why everyone is so fuc*ing rude with her ? Damn the girl is struggling, and what’s Desch excuse ? Why he is like this ? She just want someone and I understand her jealousy about the relationship of the other Advocates with their partners...everyone is so ...I don’t know friendly ? And Desch is a Asshole with her ...damn Desch makes me remember my dog . Not even my cats are like this .
“But as Istaqa and Derek join me on either side like dark sentries, I remember that’s not what I’m here for today”
I think I like Derek ...yeah I approve him and Istaqa, damn this name is so cool hahaha .
“Some days, I forget how old I am.
Am I child running wild and free and innocent? Am I ancient like Desch and Myna and Brensay? Maybe I dreamed this life as an Advocate, dreamed this world of messages that fly across the world in a wing beat, filled with metal and noise. Maybe I am still trapped in the ice, dreaming, fighting, dreaming”
I’m loving this trip to memory land , is really answering all my questions , and I think I’m almost in the end ...damn I really don’t want this book to end ...now makes sense why the name of the book is Of Our Own Creation.... and what a amazing book really. FU*k !!!! This end in a cliffhanger!!, WTF? I thought this was a standalone...... fuc* I’m crying now tsk tsk tsk tsk .... Damn I finished 384 pages in one day ... so healthy.
October 16, 2020
I rarely read fantasy, but this seemed worth my time. I wasn't wrong about that!
Great characters, VERY fun banter throughout. Great setting -- different enough from our current world to be intriguing without feeling as if you've been thrown into a completely foreign situation where you can't get a grip on what's going on.
I don't want to put any details in this review because I went into this without any clue, really, where it might be going. I want you to experience that too. Suffice it to say that Clara and Desch are a unique, odd, yet strangely believable pair. Partners in crime, if you will. Enjoy them as I did... with fresh eyes.
Great characters, VERY fun banter throughout. Great setting -- different enough from our current world to be intriguing without feeling as if you've been thrown into a completely foreign situation where you can't get a grip on what's going on.
I don't want to put any details in this review because I went into this without any clue, really, where it might be going. I want you to experience that too. Suffice it to say that Clara and Desch are a unique, odd, yet strangely believable pair. Partners in crime, if you will. Enjoy them as I did... with fresh eyes.
September 2, 2020
review to come
August 28, 2020
If you, like me, love what-if scenarios, strong female leads and alternate worlds with magic and mayhem, this book is for you. I immediately fell in love with the concept - a world in which humans try to coexist with a race of beings made of energy, called Little Ones.
I loved the Little Ones, powerful beings that are one with nature and can bond for life with humans in beautiful partnership. All, it seems, except Desch - the stubborn lion bonded to Clara, the protagonist - who has his own (often hilarious) agenda.
Despite her strained partnership with Desch, Clara works for an agency seeking to maintain relations between humans and Little Ones. As the most capable Advocate in the agency, she is called upon for help whenever things go south. Her character is complex and powerful, with admirable morals and a standoffish attitude. At first, like much of the world she exists in, she is a mystery to the reader. However, I came to like her more and more as the novel progressed and secrets from her past helped to soften her towards others and herself.
The pace was strong and the characters memorable. I will be thinking about this story for a long time, and would love to read others set in the same world.
I loved the Little Ones, powerful beings that are one with nature and can bond for life with humans in beautiful partnership. All, it seems, except Desch - the stubborn lion bonded to Clara, the protagonist - who has his own (often hilarious) agenda.
Despite her strained partnership with Desch, Clara works for an agency seeking to maintain relations between humans and Little Ones. As the most capable Advocate in the agency, she is called upon for help whenever things go south. Her character is complex and powerful, with admirable morals and a standoffish attitude. At first, like much of the world she exists in, she is a mystery to the reader. However, I came to like her more and more as the novel progressed and secrets from her past helped to soften her towards others and herself.
The pace was strong and the characters memorable. I will be thinking about this story for a long time, and would love to read others set in the same world.
August 16, 2020
This is a fabulous read unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved the Little Ones, beings made of energy, that manifest in the form of an animal. Clara is an Advocate, a human bonded to a Little One, and part of an agency dedicated to helping Little Ones and maintaining human-Little One relations. But Clara and Desch don’t get along the way other Advocates do with their Partners, and their secret past may have something to do with it. This book is complex and well written! It is full of mystery as the reader is kept in the dark about Clara and Desch’s secrets are the beginning and slowly things are revealed along the way. This makes it a bit confusing at the beginning since you are thrown into this world with little explanation, but stick with it because everything becomes clear, and the journey is so worth it! I really hope there will be more books in this world because I loved it so much!
July 25, 2020
Wow wow wow!
I was kind of skeptical before reading this. I couldn’t get a clear read on what this book was about and I just jumped in. But oh man! IM SO GLAD I DID! I absolutely loved it!
It was hard to follow at first, but I pushed through and questions were answered. It was an amazing book that sucked me right in to where I read it in one sitting. I am definitely excited to find out what happens next!
I was kind of skeptical before reading this. I couldn’t get a clear read on what this book was about and I just jumped in. But oh man! IM SO GLAD I DID! I absolutely loved it!
It was hard to follow at first, but I pushed through and questions were answered. It was an amazing book that sucked me right in to where I read it in one sitting. I am definitely excited to find out what happens next!
March 7, 2023
my new favorite
Brooke is quickly becoming a new favorite author! Her worlds draw you in, her characters grow and you end up loving them more and more…. This story is slow to start and you feel like you are missing something but things do snap into place over the story line and it honesty makes sense once you understand the story. Jump into her world and be amazed.
Brooke is quickly becoming a new favorite author! Her worlds draw you in, her characters grow and you end up loving them more and more…. This story is slow to start and you feel like you are missing something but things do snap into place over the story line and it honesty makes sense once you understand the story. Jump into her world and be amazed.
September 10, 2023
Our own creation
This was another interesting story of futuristic fantasy by Brooke Hatchett. Although it took a few pages to get the gist of the story, I did enjoy it. the characters were three dimensional in that I could empathize with each one even the 'bad guy' and would recommend to those who also enjoy futuristic fantasy.
This was another interesting story of futuristic fantasy by Brooke Hatchett. Although it took a few pages to get the gist of the story, I did enjoy it. the characters were three dimensional in that I could empathize with each one even the 'bad guy' and would recommend to those who also enjoy futuristic fantasy.
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February 12, 2024Fascinating world and characters
I really enjoyed this unique story! The fmc is Native American and has a vivid, tragic backstory.
I did feel confused through much of the book about the magic and how things worked. I had to reread parts frequently. If you enjoy complicated magic systems, you may really enjoy this one!
I really enjoyed this unique story! The fmc is Native American and has a vivid, tragic backstory.
I did feel confused through much of the book about the magic and how things worked. I had to reread parts frequently. If you enjoy complicated magic systems, you may really enjoy this one!
May 8, 2024
While this book has a lot of good reviews, a number of them mention some of the same issues I had: I had a lot of confusion while reading. The whole magic/world system seems not well explained. My biggest issue though was that I liked neither the main character nor her spirit partner.
DNF at about 20%.
DNF at about 20%.
November 18, 2022
It has been a very long time since I stayed up all night reading a book because I couldn't put it down.
Ms. Hatchett has managed to do just that to me with this book.
In my next life, I want to be an Advocate.
Ms. Hatchett has managed to do just that to me with this book.
In my next life, I want to be an Advocate.
March 15, 2023
a story with a deep respect for Life of all kinds..
Good character development/reveal. Unique story line for me. I found it intriguing and very enjoyable. I look forward to what follows.
Good character development/reveal. Unique story line for me. I found it intriguing and very enjoyable. I look forward to what follows.
October 25, 2022
Different
Interestingly different. It took a while to get into and understand, but then, I couldn't stop. I would recommend this for people looking for something out there!
Interestingly different. It took a while to get into and understand, but then, I couldn't stop. I would recommend this for people looking for something out there!
March 15, 2023
Outstanding. This is speculative fiction of a high calibre. Please keep writing.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews