Belated BOOK BIRTHDAY wishes to... STEGGIE BELLE & THE DREAM WARRIORS by Elias Pell - REVIEW!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, I'm SO EXCITED to be bringing you news of a Young Adult title that released a little under the radar this past week that SERIOUSLY needs to be right smack on top of your wish/reading list.  It's the first of a planned two book (or perhaps more?) series from a relatively new voice to the writing world, but if this one is anything to go by, their talent will take them far!  So, ready or not, get ready to tread in the land where dreams can come true, but danger is just as much a possibility, as we explore...

Steggie Belle & the Dream Warriors

by

Elias Pell

About the book...

“What if our understanding of dreams is just a poor reflection of another place… a real place?”
During a storm, a man who calls himself Zoofall has barricaded himself inside an attic. He has only seven candles worth of time to reveal his extraordinary secrets. How, when he was a boy, he discovered a wild other world, where Reality and Mythology meet, beyond the limits of Lucid Dreaming. There he found a group of other young dreamers, and together, through many adventures, they tried to unravel the terrifying mysteries of this dream world.

In a race against time, Zoofall must figure out if his own unusual powers make him a possible saviour or a dangerous burden. As dark forces rise up, threatening to engulf their group, he must uncover the greatest mystery of all. Who their incredible leader, Steggie Belle, really is, how she became so powerful, and if by any chance she can be saved?

AMAZON

US | Spain  | France  | Germany |  Italy

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The beginning is the end, and yet the end is only the beginning...

This is definitely one of those sleeper releases that needs its time in the sun!  Basics...Zoofall (so aptly named for how he became one of those potentially destined to be dream warriors) is an adult, writing his memoirs in the locked attic of a house while the candles burn low, one by one.  He's given himself seven in which to complete his task, and then...it won't matter really.  He may never return from where he's going, let alone accomplish all that he has planned, as he tries to rescue those he cares for from an unknown fate more terrible than you'd care to imagine...

...and that my friends is only the beginning!

Along the way, we discover what both the waking and dreaming worlds held for Zoofall (from fantastic flights of fancy to hidden talents, and uber scary potential fates!), along with Wolfe, Puddle, and many others.  The world created is rather curious, but don't try to figure it out too much because as they so perfectly point out, the dream world doesn't follow the same rules as the waking.  Though the friendships, trials, and tribulations these three face do stagger, the equally enthralling tale lies with one Steggie Belle.  How she came to the world of dreams was rather unique, and her abilities within it are fairly spectacular, but the story she shares of those first days/weeks/months are beyond compare.  They start the mix of myth, legend, and every day, really setting us up for all that's still to come...

In the end, I couldn't believe the depth to which this world was created, the characters with which we were granted friendship, the dreams that we were made privy to, and the nightmares that awaited unsuspecting souls in the dark.  Trust me when I say the ending is STUNNING and if you happen to be turning those final pages in the dark of night, you might want to leave a candle of your own burning bright...

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About the author...

Elias Pell is a London born poet, writer, lifelong daydreamer and Lucid Dreamer.
After drifting briefly in and out of University, Elias decided to travel and found he had an
uncanny knack for getting himself into unusual situations. Several years and many adventures
later, Elias returned to London where, at the age of twenty-seven, he published a book of poetry,
buried his backpack at the back of the wardrobe, and attempted to settle down. When this
eventually failed, Elias felt a strong need to cleanse himself of such “sensible aspirations”.

 So, in 2012, he embarked on a crazy mission: camping and sleeping “rough”—in some highly
questionable places—while walking over 1,500 miles barefoot, raising money for charity. It was
during these months when Elias decided Steggie Belle & the Dream Warriors was a story that
needed telling. While recovering from the injuries incurred, Elias Pell came up with a reasonably
rational plan—by his standards. And four and a half years later, having knuckled down, working
and saving every penny he could, he retreated to focus full-time on his life’s true passion:
writing.

 Disguised as an adult (children have somehow always been able to see through this facade) Elias
left England in 2016 and never looked back. Since then, he has won AudioArcadia’s
International Short Story Competition (2018), and earlier this year published a collection of
short stories for adults, entitled Scapegoats & Crowbars .

Elias is currently working on the sequel to Steggie Belle & the Dream Warriors — yes, there is a
sequel, and possibly even more to come — alongside other exciting new writing projects.

SITE  |  TWITTER

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Special thanks to author Elias Pell for the ebook for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or his other works, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy now!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!



Once Upon a Pyramid: The Pharaoh's Cat by Maria Luisa Lang

Hi gang!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Yesterday, we traveled to the West; today we're heading to the West...Nile.  That's right!  Pack your headress and don your flowing white robes accented with gold, we're heading to ancient Egypt for a curous tale that could only be told by....a cat.  Yes, a cat.  Curious?  Well then, let's get this show on the road!  Today's book of choice is...

The Pharaoh's Cat

by

Maria Luisa Lang

9780996335201

About the book...

The Pharaoh’s Cat, narrated in the present tense by the cat himself, is the story of a free-spirited, quick-witted stray in ancient Egypt who suddenly finds himself with human powers joined to his feline nature. 

The cat immediately captures the attention of the seventeen-year-old Pharaoh, making him laugh for the first time since his parents' death, and is brought to live with him at the royal palace.

The cat also becomes friends with the High Priest of the god Amun-Ra and seeks his help in solving the mystery of his human powers and the supernatural manifestations that later plague him. He has an enemy in the Vizier—the Pharaoh's uncle and the second most powerful man in Egypt. The Vizier hates him for himself and even more for his relationship with the Pharaoh.

The cat participates in festivities at the royal palace, developing an insatiable appetite for good food, wine, and gossip. He later accompanies the Pharaoh on a trip through his kingdom, all the while renewing the Pharaoh’s ability to enjoy life and inspiring him to become a stronger leader. 

Between the cat and the Pharaoh a bond of love gradually forms which will determine Egypt's destiny.

The Pharaoh's Cat imaginatively blends Egyptology with comedy, drama, and even time travel--the cat and the High Priest will meet Elena, a resident of the twenty-first century and the daughter of a renowned Egyptologist. 

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A few things that impressed...

...a talking cat!

Well who wouldn't be impressed by that?  Seriously though, Wrappen-Hamen was a great specimen of a cat.  He was funny, witty, giving with his heart, and easy to please.  The love he had for the Pharaoh was like that of a brother; they brought out the best in each other though not even of the same species.  He was also quite the unintentional troublemaker...killing off the royal crocodile, popping the Vizier in the head with the butt cork of a hippo (it's not dirty like it sounds), and several other HI-larious moments.

...Egyptian history galore!

It's not so often you get an edutainment title from the Young Adult genre; it's usually strictly one or the other.  Here, we get a glimpse of life from ancient times.  The glitz and glamour, the rivalries and quests for power...gee, doesn't sound that far off from today's world expect for the dress code now does it?

...the emotional depth expressed!

Yes, indeed.  Despite the lead being a cat, the feelings shown were strong and utterly believable.  The love between him and the Pharaoh.  The friendship between him and the High Priest.  The awe and wonder when Bastet appears to him.  (...him in all these cases being Wrappa-Hamen...)  The mischievious rumbles of laughter rippling from throat to belly as the bull chased a certain enemy.  The sadness when death claimed someone near and dear.  All these and more emote right off the page with ease.

A few things that confused...

...a talking cat!  Deja vu much?

Just kidding.  It wasn't actually the cat talking that stuck in my caw but what he said or rather the language he used.  For a newly talking cat, he was pretty advance.  Perhaps it could be explained by his exposure to humans as a whole and that he's a quick learner, but the frequency that the word "a**" was used, felt off.  I know it's not a bad word or off limits per se, but for a story that for the most part fit the targeted Young Adult audience it was seeking, it didn't sit well with me.

...time travel!

Latter in the story, it plays a prominent feature in getting them out of some MAJOR trouble...for a while at least.  Though I was glad for the escape (and what they uncovered!), the believability of landing in modern day New York even if it was in the house of Egyptian scholars, just seemed a bit of a stretch.  

Let's call it a wrap (as in mummy)!

It's a unique story you definitely won't find every day.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll find yourself researching the myths mentioned and beyond.  The creativity used to bring this story to the page is certainly not lost on this reader, nor do I believe it will be on you.  Recommended read for teens and beyond.

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About the author...

Maria Luisa Lang was born in Rome, Italy, and lives in New York City. She has a degree in art from the City University of New York, and her artwork has been exhibited in New York galleries. 

She often returns to Italy to visit her family. She has also stayed for extended periods in Bath and London. She loves all animals and is an amateur Egyptologist. Her love of cats and ancient Egypt inspired her to write two novels about them. The Pharaoh's Cat is her first novel. She has almost completed its sequel, The Lady of Mystery. 

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Special thanks to the author for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the forthcoming sequel, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now in print and ebook forms, so be on the lookout for it at an online retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

Mermaid in Chelsea Creek by Michelle Tea

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when you search deep inside yourself and discover that your zawolanie sounds like the rustle of book pages in the morning breeze.  ^_^

What's a zawolanie, you ask?  Good question...but the answer to that and MUCH more lies within the pages of today's featured title.  It's the first in a brand new Young Adult trilogy that's, well....definitely different than most things I've seen and that's merely on the surface.  Ready to take a plunge beneath the salty water of the creek to discover the world you know from an unimaginable view?  Let's.  Today's book of choice is...

Mermaid in Chelsea Creek

by

Michelle Tea

Illustrated by

Jason Polan

About the book...

Everyone in the broken-down town of Chelsea, Massachusetts, has a story too worn to repeat—from the girls who play the pass-out game just to feel like they're somewhere else, to the packs of aimless teenage boys, to the old women from far away who left everything behind. But there’s one story they all still tell: the oldest and saddest but most hopeful story, the one about the girl who will be able to take their twisted world and straighten it out. The girl who will bring the magic.
Could Sophie Swankowski be that girl? With her tangled hair and grubby clothes, her weird habits and her visions of a filthy, swearing mermaid who comes to her when she’s unconscious, Sophie could be the one to uncover the power flowing beneath Chelsea’s potholed streets and sludge-filled rivers, and the one to fight the evil that flows there, too. Sophie might discover her destiny, and maybe even in time to save them all.

This is a hard one to describe, but I'll do my best.  Perhaps a break down of the varied aspects of the text would do us both well.

THE GOOD:  The story line and mixed characters.  The story itself braids threads of ancient myths and lore with today's world full of mixed emotions and environmental neglect.  It blurs the line between fact and fiction gracefully, thereby making the impossible seem possible....just don't go poisoning anyone from a salt overdose, kay?  *nods*  I liked the fact that the "old country" was brought to life in memories and histories, and the power of words both spoken and thought emphasized.  Think "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" versus Voldemort.  Speaking of characters...

No, old Volde does not play a role in this book (though I wouldn't be surprised if Kishka knew him *-* ...~ahem~), but the cast of friends and foes here is rather unique.  EVERYONE has a part to play from the pigeons to the dog, the "best friend" to the neglectful mother, the presumed evil grocery store owner to the tomboy at the dump...they are all there for a reason, with a purpose bigger than themselves and willingly accept the destinies laid before them, even if they are unable to see the full scope of what's to come.  Where's a Dola when you need them?  (Sorry, book reference joke...^_^)  Sophie, our lead, has had a childhood that many wouldn't want while some still would hope to partake of and yet she herself, though not grateful for it, comes to terms with it.  It certainly wasn't her fault the way things were...and surprisingly, it wasn't fully her mother's either, something we come to learn as time goes by.  No, I shan't be ruining the surprise for you, just rest assured her character's past plays a big part in who she is today (as usual) and will still become (yep, it's not over for her yet...both good times and bad).  

THE CONFUSING:  Viewpoints.  There are many of them (which I can totally handle) and they switch OFTEN (which made it more challenging).  Even within the same conversation, one character will lead us there and be speaking and BOOM, you're now seeing things through the other character's eyes, heart and mind.  It was disorienting for me and made it hard to get a handle on just who was who and what was what.  Once we hit around page 40 or so, I had things sorted for the most part but until then, it was rough seas indeed.

THE CONCLUSION:  With characters you'll come to care for and animal friends you wouldn't dream of, this book certainly takes one for the team of "unusual" but bears the term proudly as a zawolanie (oh, that term...it's sorta like a person's individual call to magic) all its own. Sophie's rings loud and clear of purity, an open heart touched by evil but not broken by it, and a fierceness she's only begun to uncover.  She'll draw you into her crazy world and remind you how powerful feelings truly are, both those felt within and those tangible to all.  The next time you see a friend, coworker, or acquaintance with their head bowed and the light of uncertainty in their eyes...perhaps you'll be more forthcoming in offering your ear in kindness or shoulder in sympathy.

A fantastical tale for those in their mid-teens and beyond; there is drinking, smoking, and a smidge of swearing but the rougher and tumbler aspects is what I'd keep from prying little eyes until their sensibilities about the world around them have settled a bit.  After all, life is not all rainbows and sunshine but there's no need to introduce them fictionally to that aspect of reality any sooner than necessary.  Take what you will from the creek at Chelsea.  For me, I'm storing away a bit of magic, a love of the striking cover, a lot of sorrow, and the hugeness of the possibilities still to come from this amazing group of friends.  Book 2 will certainly have a spot on my future reads list.

ARC and final edition for review courtesy of Allie at McSweeney's Publishing.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog ranging from magazines and books to t shirts and more, be sure to visit them online, like them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter.  This book just celebrated its book birthday yesterday via McSweeney's McMullens, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time...happy reading!