Blog Tour | Aerenden: The Child Returns

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Hey to all my my YA Fantasy readers and book lovers! Welcome.to my tour stop for the Aerenden Series Blog Tour. Today is my first tour stop in which I take this time to review the first book in the series. The other two books will be reviewed on Thursday and Friday.

If you would like to see other reviews from Bloggers that are on the blog tour check the schedule below:

Title: Aerenden: The Child Returns

Author: Kristen Taber

Series: Aerenden #1

Genres: YA Fantasy Romance

Publication Date: September 3rd, 2012

Publisher: Sean Tigh Press

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 iBooks | Audible Audio | iTunes Audio


Source: The author

Synopsis
Seventeen-year-old Meaghan has no idea her perfect life has been a lie — until she witnesses her parents’ brutal murders at the hands of red-eyed creatures. 
After nearly sharing their fate, she escapes with her best friend, Nick, who tells her the creatures are called Mardróch. They come from another world, and so does she. Now that the Mardróch have found her, she must return to her homeland of Ærenden or face death. 
Left with little choice, she follows Nick into a strange world both similar to Earth and drastically different. Vines have the ability to attack. Monkeys freeze their victims with a glare. Men create bombs from thin air. Even Meaghan’s newly discovered empath power turns into a danger she cannot control. 
But control becomes the least of her worries once the Mardróch begin targeting her. When Nick confesses he knows the reason they want her, she learns the truth behind the kingdom's fifteen-year civil war — a long-buried secret that could cost Meaghan her life.
If you're interested in knowing more about this series check out the website:

My rating★★★★.5

My Review

Kristen Taber has created a fabulous take on the idea of a lost princess returning home. The world building in this book absolutely fantastic. I felt consumed by the world and every turn of the page I imagined each aspect: the dranyx, the creepers, the blue birds, the phantmouse and so forth. Just outstanding world building. The characters were even awesome as well. This was a predictable, but not predictable story. Even though I did enjoy it a lot, I couldn't thoroughly give it a 5 stars. I gave it a 4.5 star rating simply because some parts of the story bored me with all the details and walking they did. As crucial as it was for the story I did have my moments of wanting to skip through the pages.

Meaghan was a fearless young lady. She had her moments where she was frightened and scared, but who wouldn't. I mean not only did she see her parents die and see these strange red eyed men (Mardroch), but she finds out those were not her parents, who her parents really are, who she is and that she's from a totally different planet. Considering everything, she definitely handled herself very well. Even though she couldn't control her power she still rose to the occasion to be a ruler.

Nick is flipping awesome. Battling his feelings for Meaghan while trying to save his Kingdom is a hard thing to do, but seeing how he handled everything made him strong. He definitely had his weak points where he fought his feelings and doubted his future as Meaghan's Guardian, but he stayed true and in the end gained two amazing things. What happened to Nick when he was younger killed me. Seeing what happened to that man and knowing who that man was -- purely unforgivable of Goran to do it.

The connection that transpired between Nick and Meaghan was outstanding. I never would have thought it would happen. I mean how it happened and why it happened was crazy and the fact that Vivian knew and prophesied it was more of a shocker.

What Vivian and James did for Meaghan was outstanding. Knowing they would die and still staying on Earth for her and protecting her was pure love. What Vivian knew would happen for Meaghan was totally heartwarming and truly a motherly thing.

I don't know if it's just me, but Cal seems like a very suspicious man. I understand that he's a guide, but he knows to much about Aldin and Meaghan to be trusted. I feel like he's working for Goran. I'm making assumptions, but he's too set on keeping her alive and helping Aldin for some strange reason. He's just a very strange man to me.

The young boy, Aldin, has such an amazing power and to find out his brother Caide has the same power -- both Spellmasters is incredible. Hopefully they work together with Meaghan to defeat Goran and his Mardroch army.

Angus…just his name alone sounds disgusting. How could he do what he did?! Why betray your people? I wish he would have died. And this King Goran just brings death every where he goes. Maybe he should die too. Just saying. I hope to see more of him in the next book.

Even though this is not a really gruesome book, when it did come to those moments of death and fighting the blood and gory details were there. It made me flinch and even want to close my eyes as I read on because it was just a bit intense and realistic. It sounds nasty, but it was a perfect asset to keep a reader, like myself, wanting more and on my toes.

This was a fantastic start to a YA Fantasy series. I'm totally engrossed and excited to see what happens next for Nick and Meaghan.



About the Author

Born in Bangor, Maine, author Kristen Taber spent her childhood at the feet of an Irish storytelling grandfather, learning to blend fact with fiction and imagination with reality. She lived within the realm of the tales that captivated her, breathing life into characters and crafting stories even before she could read. Those stories have since turned into over a hundred poems, several short tales, and five manuscripts in both the Young Adult and Adult genres. Currently, Ms. Taber is
completing the five-part Ærenden series from her home office in the suburbs of
Washington D.C.

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Giveaway

$20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)   

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