Finding Meara
by
Lara Schiffbauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free eBook of Finding Meara from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.
Plot
(by Goodreads)
To keep her safe, Hazel Michelli’s parents never told her she was adopted, or that her birthplace was in an alternative land where magic and monsters exist. She found out the truth the day a ferocious winged creature stole her from her Denver apartment and delivered her to Lucian, the sadistic Lifeforce magician who happens to be Hazel’s biological father.
“Dysfunctional family” takes on new meaning when she learns Lucian must sacrifice a daughter to maintain immortality and take over the Realm. When Hazel’s younger half-sister disappears just days before the Rite, Lucian moves Hazel to the top of the sacrificial short list.
Afraid, yet compelled to protect her four-year-old half-sister, Hazel races between both worlds, searching for Meara while being hunted by Lucian. Their lives, and the future of the Realm, leave her no room for failure.
My Opinion
It is true: The idea does not seem new at first. Just a few pages into the story you realise that this is different. The story evolves into an adventurous hunt to save a little girl. Hazel is abducted by a winged creature, finds herself talking to a bird, is befriended by a cat, and nothing is as it used to be. It is a pleasure to see how Hazel’s character develops throughout the story. I actually cheered her and her friends on. 😉 No. I will not tell you more. This would spoil the fun of reading this book yourself.
With this first volume of a fantasy series, Lara Schiffbauer proves that it is not required to provide never ending descriptions. You can clearly imagine her surroundings and those she deals with. Finding Meara is a seemingly light read – it provides food for thought, however.
Now I am waiting for the next book in the Adven Realm Adventure series about Hazel, Arden, Quinn, Tavi, etc. 🙂
Lara Schiffbauer (http://www.laraschiffbauer.com) is the very promising author of this fantasy novel (Finding Meara). In 2010, her horror flash fiction story The Copier was published in the anthology Daily Bites of Flesh 2011: 365 Days of Flash Fiction. In 2011, her erotic horror story Phantom Deposit was published in the anthology Steamy Screams, and in February 2012 her urban fantasy short story Bear Hug was published online at Hogglepot.
A must read for all readers who enjoy adventures and a little romance, and good versus evil plots.
I am looking forward to reading more of Hazel’s adventures in the Realm.
My statement on reading is described in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about Finding Meara? Or – if you did not yet read Finding Meara – are you now interested in reading it yourself?
I am looking forward to your comments.
My train of thoughts on... 