If you like lots of magic, adventure, dragons and fairies, you'll love this novel. It's a suspenseful page turner, a tale with lots of twists and turns. Ravin, a teenage princess, is the focus of the story along with her mother and queen, as well as a religious Brother, a healer. Their kingdom has fallen. As the book begins, we learn that they have been captured by an evil king who earlier had conquered their realm. He also had killed Ravin's father, the rightful king, in battle. Held captives in their own castle, they hope to escape. This first volume…
A young woman, desperate to save her kingdom, begins her journey to becoming the leader her people need. The characters are well drawn—I was immersed into the story right away. I couldn't wait to see what trouble Ravin would get herself into, and how she'd get herself out. A true coming-of-age story wrapped in a fictional world where not all is as it seems. I kept turning the page. Young Adult and adults should really enjoy this first book in the saga. I know I did.
I’m not generally a fan or reader of fantasy, but a friend suggested that I might enjoy this story and the writer’s craftmanship. I ordered a copy, and it sat for two weeks before I opened it up. Immediately intrigued, I read as fast as time allowed. The first impression was of warmth and comfort, not fear of the unknown. Ravin, while brash and ballistic, helped me relax, and I immediately liked her. She, her mother, and several unexpected allies face an evil man, a demonic man. Despite the dangerous places, Ravin finds herself; the writer manages to extricate her…
Into Madness is the first book in the Born From Stone series, and is based on such an intriguing premise! It tells of the imprisonment of Princess Ravin and her mother by Grigorii, who has killed their father/husband and declared himself king. I absolutely loved the brash Ravin, who tends to get herself into trouble, and her wise mother, Delinda. There is also Delinda's brother, who is a healer previously living in a monastery. I found the medieval world they live in fascinating (and it makes me grateful I didn't live during that time. 😄) Gregorii's son, Brakken, is a…
Having covered Casual Lies as a reporter, I was glad when Shelley Riley decided to record her reflections of his career and Triple Crown adventure. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and she does a good job describing that adventure. She keeps the focus on “Stanley,” as the horse was affectionately known around the barn. While there are some personal back stories that are not included, they do not detract from the story of how a small training operation that did not even stable at a major racetrack could electrify and energize a sport and an entire region (the San Francisco…
I read this book in just a few days. I have watched the Kentucky Derby on t.v., but I did not know all about the regimen that these horses go through. This book shows the inside story and is a great read. It is a story of courage, love and perseverance. I fell in love with Casual Lies or Stanley as the owner nicknamed him. I also felt the immense love and dedication that Shelley Riley had toward her horse. For those of you who love a good story, this book is for you. Not only is it well written,…
I ate this story up with soooo many memories of being at the track! Shelley and Jim Riley worked their butts off for years, side by side, day by day, year by year. She captured and made visual the ins and outs of a small training stable that made it to the big dance, something all of us little people in the horse racing business dream about. Not much else compares to horse racing, in my opinion. There are no higher highs than winning and no loss as big as losing a horse. She really listened to Stanley, made life…
This memoir was so entertaining for me, it reads like really good fiction and yet it was a true story. I could imagine myself watching it on the Disney Chanel some night. The best part for me is how the character of this horse jumps off the page, makes me wish I could of met him. While the author leaves no doubt in your mind about how she loved and admired Casual Lies, she doesn't hesitate to admit what a stroke of luck it was when she stumbled across him at a horse sale in Kentucky. Well edited and easy…