Hello Friends!
Like I promise, here is the second review of the series. I hope you enjoy this one, although I have to say, it will have no spoilers, since some of you may have not read the books at all.
“The City of Souls“, written by Vacen Taylor, is the second book in the Starchild Series, a fantasy novel published on October 14th 2013.
I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Vacen Taylor for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Synopsis
A gripping forest adventure full of mystery, betrayal and courage.
When a new sealer boy joins the journey, Mai, Long, and Akra are confident their challenges have come to an end. But as they embark on their journey once again, they find themselves having to escape from the clutches of dangerous enemies.
They travel to Naroan – the forest lands of the soulbankers, the regulators of life and death. Against the backdrop of rules and suspicion, the children are challenged with unravelling the mystery of the Silvershade, which has been calling to Akra from the moment he arrived in the forest city. But Long is tormented by his doubts – he must face a deadly power from the Underworld before it takes him into the darkness.
Will the dark pebble take Long along a road of no return? Or will his friends find a way to help him?
Purchase Links: Odyssey Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK
About the Author
Vacen Taylor is a children’s author with a portfolio of screenwriting and stage play achievements. A selection of her poetry has been published in Art and Literature Journals. One of her plays was selected to be part of the Playwrights Program 2017 and then directed and performed as a performance reading at HOTA (previously the Gold Coast Arts Centre).
Her feature film script received a special commendation for Best Unproduced Screenplay titled Grandfathers at the British Independent Film Festival in 2018. The logline can be found under Special Commendations for Unproduced Screenplays here.
Her TV pilot for a series (teleplay) was selected as a semi-finalist in the Hollywood Just4Shorts Film and Screenplay Competition in Los Angeles, CA. This pilot was listed in the top 50 for the Cinequest Screenwriting Competition in 2018.
She presented the first mental health panel at OZ Comic-Con in 2017. This panel was a fantastic opportunity to discuss openly and honestly about artists and their mental health to help support wellbeing, foster connectivity and provide a culture of support.
In 2018 she presented the panel, ‘An artist’s guide to creative happiness: How to strengthen your creative performance’ at Oz Comic-Con in Brisbane. Her panels are extraordinary opportunities to explore ideas with people who are currently working in the industry. She aims to discuss subjects like individualism, the community, mental health, wellbeing, happiness, creativity, co-creating and self-awareness which often leads to interesting questions from the audience.
What else does she do? Vacen is also a creative workshop facilitator and proficient in, teaching, speaking and concept creation. Guest Speaker. Workshop Presenter. Creative Panel Facilitator. Mentor. Support Worker. Counsellor. Social Welfare Advocate.
Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Quora | Goodreads | Amazon
My Review
This second book continues with as many adventures, danger and new information. And if you haven’t read book one, then you should definitely go read it and then jump in to this second book. I did that an not I’m very curious to read the third novel.
We still get to follow our amazing group and I loved to see them grow and learn, as well as see their relationships get stronger. It’s always something that I absolutely love in a book, and when that story as kids, it makes me get really emotional and very attached to them, because they are young and have to go through a lot, on their quests. And let’s not forget the lizard! An epic pet for a fantasy novel if you ask me.
About the storytelling, it was just as amazing as book one. The description made my mind go crazy with images and colors, sounds and smells, if that’s even possible. Maybe it was because I was so into the story and focus in understand the world, as much as my attention was in the characters, crossing my fingers and hoping they would be okay.
Overall, I loved it and enjoyed it as much as I did with “The Age of Akra”, which wasn’t a surprise for me, because I was expecting to love it. It has friendship, an ancient prophecy, danger, a lizard as a pet, magic and vivid descriptions of a fantasy world that I hope one day I can also read about to my kids.
Giveaway
For a chance to win all 4 books of the Starchild Series by Vacen Taylor CLICK HERE.
Open International
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, from reviews and basic promo/spotlight posts.
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I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.
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Love,
Jess
Jess Bookish Life 
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