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Finding Tayna #1
Strange Places
Spunky and irreverent, 13-year-old Tayna is every villain's worst nightmare: an uncooperative victim who refuses to play by his rules.
After living her entire life in a cruel orphanage, Tayna discovers that she may never have actually been an orphan, and flees from nunnish captivity to search for her real family. But time is running out and she has two entire worlds to search: one filled with shopping malls and televisions, and another filled with Brownies, Djin and magic!
After living her entire life in a cruel orphanage, Tayna discovers that she may never have actually been an orphan, and flees from nunnish captivity to search for her real family. But time is running out and she has two entire worlds to search: one filled with shopping malls and televisions, and another filled with Brownies, Djin and magic!
313 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2011
About the author
Jefferson Smith
25 books55 followersJefferson Smith has always been something of a mystery. Born in several different communities scattered across Canada, he has never been able to stay put for long and has spent his entire life walking the byways of distant realms, seeking out stories of the fantastic. Like the time he devoted two months to shoeing the seahorses of Narnia, or that six-week stint as a comic jester for the Mad King Aerys. He even spent three months once, sculpting dreams in light for a Mouse-lord in Hollywood.
But no matter where he goes or what he sees, Jefferson has a passion for gathering the best bits and weaving them into tales of whimsy and delight for his friends back home. Like a foreign news correspondent reporting from the worlds beyond, he brings tales of the weird and wonderful right into your living room, just in time for tea.
But no matter where he goes or what he sees, Jefferson has a passion for gathering the best bits and weaving them into tales of whimsy and delight for his friends back home. Like a foreign news correspondent reporting from the worlds beyond, he brings tales of the weird and wonderful right into your living room, just in time for tea.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 4, 2011
First off I want to thank the Goodreads' First Reads program and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book, but unfortunately it was not my cup of tea. Strange Places is about an orphan girl who is trying to find her parents and embarks on a journey in a completely different and magical world.
In the beginning it was actually pretty great. Very intriguing, mysterious and actually had lots of funny dialogue. But once Tayna goes into the magical world, it dragged on and on and on and on. Eventually I lost interest and skimmed the last 80 pages or so. It's a bummer too, because of that great start I was sure I was going to really enjoy it.
It's not a bad book, and I can see why others like it. It's the little details that bothered me the most. The names! Village names, character's names, kin names. They were strange and hard to keep up with. Some of them had apostrophes, some were tedious and most were just strange. It was hard to keep track of what the heck was going on because of it. I was often confused as to if we were now talking about a person or a town!? Likewise, the towns, villages, the whole world was huge. A map at the beginning of the book would have helped situate us in the story. The point of view switches were also bothersome. They seemed to be random and shifting to characters that were either mundane or irrelevant: I wasn't interested at all in Elecand in his pocket and that weird empathy language they had going on. I just wanted to walk along Tayna and let her find her parents already! Cheese whiz on a stick!!
Now, there ARE a some good aspects in the book. The humour was actually pretty decent; It had me chuckling a few times. I really enjoyed the protagonist. She was strong and brave, and the mysteries behind her life were very interesting. So it wasn't all bad, or even half bad. Mostly, it just felt too long. If the author would have given us a few hints and more excitement towards the middle - or been shorter - it would have definitely kept my interest. Instead, the beginning was great, the middle was way too monotonous and kept changing directions, then the ending was very abrupt: we get all our questions answered in the very last pages. It had nothing in between to keep it fresh. Giving us nothing to ponder over.
I really really wanted to like this. I especially liked the hand written note I got with the book. I presume from the author or publisher. So it pains me to give it a low rating, but it is what it is.
In the beginning it was actually pretty great. Very intriguing, mysterious and actually had lots of funny dialogue. But once Tayna goes into the magical world, it dragged on and on and on and on. Eventually I lost interest and skimmed the last 80 pages or so. It's a bummer too, because of that great start I was sure I was going to really enjoy it.
It's not a bad book, and I can see why others like it. It's the little details that bothered me the most. The names! Village names, character's names, kin names. They were strange and hard to keep up with. Some of them had apostrophes, some were tedious and most were just strange. It was hard to keep track of what the heck was going on because of it. I was often confused as to if we were now talking about a person or a town!? Likewise, the towns, villages, the whole world was huge. A map at the beginning of the book would have helped situate us in the story. The point of view switches were also bothersome. They seemed to be random and shifting to characters that were either mundane or irrelevant: I wasn't interested at all in Elecand in his pocket and that weird empathy language they had going on. I just wanted to walk along Tayna and let her find her parents already! Cheese whiz on a stick!!
Now, there ARE a some good aspects in the book. The humour was actually pretty decent; It had me chuckling a few times. I really enjoyed the protagonist. She was strong and brave, and the mysteries behind her life were very interesting. So it wasn't all bad, or even half bad. Mostly, it just felt too long. If the author would have given us a few hints and more excitement towards the middle - or been shorter - it would have definitely kept my interest. Instead, the beginning was great, the middle was way too monotonous and kept changing directions, then the ending was very abrupt: we get all our questions answered in the very last pages. It had nothing in between to keep it fresh. Giving us nothing to ponder over.
I really really wanted to like this. I especially liked the hand written note I got with the book. I presume from the author or publisher. So it pains me to give it a low rating, but it is what it is.
July 28, 2011
You can always tell my favorite books by their placement in my room. Good books are on the bookshelf, great books are on the shelf by my bed and Strange Places is perched on top of the whole thing, overlooking my entire room, it's cover proudly presenting itself to anyone who comes through the door. This book was definitely a thrill to read! There are so many wonderful and varied characters that I can barely keep track of them, all with their own quirks and goals and ideas and they all somehow mesh themselves together to tell this brilliant story. A story covering friendship, growth, adventure, loss, new beginnings and discoveries, hope, danger, risk, excitement, and lots of other things. You'd stick with any of these characters through any of those stories, and even if you don't always agree with what they're doing, you trust them. The characters become your friends and they all seem so eager to bring you on their adventures and share with you what they can do and what you can learn. Obviously, characters are a big part of the book for me. Not that the settings, the descriptions, the plot and the author's bio weren't lovely, because they were, but strong determined and believable characters with a story worth telling are what I look for in a good book. They are my deal breaker and Strange Places does not disappoint. It doesn't matter if you're as young as Winry or as old as Veest, there is absolutely something in this book for everyone.
January 3, 2015
To be honest, I'm not even sure this is a children book, children book involves Prince Charming and damsels in distress, well if this is a children book, I would say it's very very sophisticated. I had a wonderful time reading it and all the time I was whisked away by the wonderland I was in.
I would say that this book is sort of like Alice in Wonderland, yet another kind of unique altogether. It's hard to describe, there's something about it that seemed special and strange, the 'sisters' actually creeped me out and the whole idea of 'Unlovables' is actually quite sympathetic and pitiful, however in my eyes, Tayna is a strong protagonist (not to mention a beautiful name. In fact, the names in the books are all special and unique, Veest, Djin, Abeni, those are really uncommon names) When I was reading this book, I was really absorbed into the story. Thumbs up!
This is a heart warming story about friendship and the discovery of magic, I would say that I never thought of magic that way! The writing was beautiful and the descriptive words provided me with a vivid imagination, I feel so young reading this (although I'm just 16), it was quite adrenaline junkie and lively. Plus, I find myself laughing at Tayna's jokes. I love the characters, they are like a breath of fresh air, each with unique and distinct personality yet a part of a whole :D Do I make sense?
I can't wait for the next one in the Finding Tayna's series!
I would say that this book is sort of like Alice in Wonderland, yet another kind of unique altogether. It's hard to describe, there's something about it that seemed special and strange, the 'sisters' actually creeped me out and the whole idea of 'Unlovables' is actually quite sympathetic and pitiful, however in my eyes, Tayna is a strong protagonist (not to mention a beautiful name. In fact, the names in the books are all special and unique, Veest, Djin, Abeni, those are really uncommon names) When I was reading this book, I was really absorbed into the story. Thumbs up!
This is a heart warming story about friendship and the discovery of magic, I would say that I never thought of magic that way! The writing was beautiful and the descriptive words provided me with a vivid imagination, I feel so young reading this (although I'm just 16), it was quite adrenaline junkie and lively. Plus, I find myself laughing at Tayna's jokes. I love the characters, they are like a breath of fresh air, each with unique and distinct personality yet a part of a whole :D Do I make sense?
I can't wait for the next one in the Finding Tayna's series!
April 7, 2012
This is a great fast paced adventure story about Tayna, a young girl who lives in an orphanage. Throughout the book we follow her on her journey to find out more about herself and who she really is. This book is filled with elements of fantasy and magic and is a lovely read. You will find yourself turning the pages to find out what happens next. Plus it ends in a great cliffhanger to ekep you wanting more. You can read my detailed review here http://midnight-orchids.blogspot.com/...
* I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
* I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
July 16, 2011
This is a fun and funny book with a lot of twists and turns -- you can't tell what's going to happen next in it. The protagonist Tayna is one of the spunkiest book characters that I've come across in a long while. At times I wondered how author Smith thinks, as some of the imagery in the book was just plain weird. Or icky. Or both. He seems to have a wild imagination... all the better for readers. I recommend this book for fans of Harry Potter - it has something for young adult and adult readers alike. I look forward to book two.
August 23, 2011
This debut novel from Jefferson Smith is an engaging read from cover to cover that is likely to entice and engage both young and old. The story's protagonist and antagonist are classic archetypal figures and Smith does more than well developing a suspenseful and rollicking series of adventuresome conflicts between the two. Part Harry Potter, part Avatar, this story is sure to entertain while also give reason to reflect. I, for one, cannot wait for the sequel!
July 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to identify with the characters and I couldn't wait to see what would happen to them next. The writing flowed easily from page to page. The cliff-hanger ending left me eagerly anticipating the next book in this series.
September 8, 2011
Disclaimer: I received this book from the Goodreads First Reads program.
The first thing I want to say about this book is that you should not go into it expecting a typical swords and sorcery fantasy book. If you do you will be greatly disappointed as this is not even close to what this book is about. Rather than being an epic story of good vs evil as most fantasy is this is a book about a young orphan trying to discover herself and her past.
The story starts with Tayna at an orphanage run by nuns who basically do not care about the children. It turns out that at least some of the nuns are working for the antagonist in the book. Tayna is one of the "Unloveables" that the nuns believe can never be adopted so they are hidden from the public and made to do all of the chores for all of the other children. This first part of the book is very well done and sets up the story lines and characters quite nicely.
Eventually Tayna finds the "Duck Man" who she believes is a stalker that is trying to harm her. It turns out that this is not so and he is actually trying to help her. After a few adventures the Duck Man reveals that Tayna was not born in this world at all, but in a magical world called Methilien and after saving her from the antagonist of the book, Angiron, he transports her there.
Methilien is not like any magical world I have seen in fantasy before. Rather than big showy spells, the inhabitants have more of a nature based magic like druids would have. Tayna is eventually abandoned by the "Duck Man" who at this point has revealed himself to be The Watcher, although he never truly explains to her what this means.
It turns out that Tayna is of the race of the Wasketchin and that there are 2 other intelligent races on this world, the Djin and the Gnomelishi. Tayna finds her way to the Wasketchin and the remainder of the book is about Tayna trying to find out who she is. She ends up traveling with one of the Wasketchin named Elicand and a Djin named Abeni and his 2 brothers. Tayna is attempting to get to the Gnomileshi lands to ask find out about her parents. As is typical of fantasy books there are various adventures that happen along the way but she eventually does reach her goal, but what she finds out is not what she expects.
The book ends shortly after this with many threads hanging loose. There is no info on what eventually happens to Elicand after he disappears. There was a scene in the Gnomileshi lands where what seemed to be a corpse came alive in the home of one of the Gnomileshi priests. Neither of these episodes seems to have had much to do with the rest of the book, although with this being advertised as a series hopefully some of these things are tied up. It also seemed odd that Tayna's best friend from the orphanage, Eliza, has a scene late in the book where she is getting adopted, but it is also unfinished.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book. It had excellent character development and moved along rather nicely. As above my major criticisms are the unfinished parts about Elicand and the Gnomileshi priest which really did not seem to fit in.
I had given this book 5 stars when I was 2/3rds through, but reduced it to 4 because of these things. I wish I could give it 4.5 as they are not major but did slow the book down and were very odd.
I look forward to the next book that hopefully makes some of these things fit in better with the overall story.
The first thing I want to say about this book is that you should not go into it expecting a typical swords and sorcery fantasy book. If you do you will be greatly disappointed as this is not even close to what this book is about. Rather than being an epic story of good vs evil as most fantasy is this is a book about a young orphan trying to discover herself and her past.
The story starts with Tayna at an orphanage run by nuns who basically do not care about the children. It turns out that at least some of the nuns are working for the antagonist in the book. Tayna is one of the "Unloveables" that the nuns believe can never be adopted so they are hidden from the public and made to do all of the chores for all of the other children. This first part of the book is very well done and sets up the story lines and characters quite nicely.
Eventually Tayna finds the "Duck Man" who she believes is a stalker that is trying to harm her. It turns out that this is not so and he is actually trying to help her. After a few adventures the Duck Man reveals that Tayna was not born in this world at all, but in a magical world called Methilien and after saving her from the antagonist of the book, Angiron, he transports her there.
Methilien is not like any magical world I have seen in fantasy before. Rather than big showy spells, the inhabitants have more of a nature based magic like druids would have. Tayna is eventually abandoned by the "Duck Man" who at this point has revealed himself to be The Watcher, although he never truly explains to her what this means.
It turns out that Tayna is of the race of the Wasketchin and that there are 2 other intelligent races on this world, the Djin and the Gnomelishi. Tayna finds her way to the Wasketchin and the remainder of the book is about Tayna trying to find out who she is. She ends up traveling with one of the Wasketchin named Elicand and a Djin named Abeni and his 2 brothers. Tayna is attempting to get to the Gnomileshi lands to ask find out about her parents. As is typical of fantasy books there are various adventures that happen along the way but she eventually does reach her goal, but what she finds out is not what she expects.
The book ends shortly after this with many threads hanging loose. There is no info on what eventually happens to Elicand after he disappears. There was a scene in the Gnomileshi lands where what seemed to be a corpse came alive in the home of one of the Gnomileshi priests. Neither of these episodes seems to have had much to do with the rest of the book, although with this being advertised as a series hopefully some of these things are tied up. It also seemed odd that Tayna's best friend from the orphanage, Eliza, has a scene late in the book where she is getting adopted, but it is also unfinished.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book. It had excellent character development and moved along rather nicely. As above my major criticisms are the unfinished parts about Elicand and the Gnomileshi priest which really did not seem to fit in.
I had given this book 5 stars when I was 2/3rds through, but reduced it to 4 because of these things. I wish I could give it 4.5 as they are not major but did slow the book down and were very odd.
I look forward to the next book that hopefully makes some of these things fit in better with the overall story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2017
Updated: I had to change the rating on this book from three to four stars. Why? Because it's been three years and I still check back every once and a while for the third book to come out. Everything I wrote below stands, but if I'm still waiting for more after years have passed, it obviously resonated with me more than I thought.
While reading the first half of "Strange Places", I was a little worried. The evil orphanage, the spunky heroine who leads her band of misfits against tyranny, who turns out to be... well, I don't know. My issues are with the storytelling. It's not bad. I got to the last page and felt that momentary rage at not finding more pages that marks a book I've enjoyed. But the story branches awkwardly. The side stories aren't given enough room to develope, but they take away enough from the main track that they are more distracting than added flavour. Our protagonist, Tayna, reads like a horrible trope: an orphan with untapped supermagic, a born leader who needs to learn a valuable lesson so she can take charge in a later crisis, a teenager with a pop-inflected bon mot for every situation she faces. If this wasn't a published work, I would have thought that Tayna was the Mary Sue in some one's journal of fan fiction.
But the rest of the characters, and the world they inhabit, are well worth the read. I'm excited that the author has chosen to avoid the standard elves and dwarves that populate fantasy fiction, to give other races with more potential for originality the spotlight. I like the little bits of magic I've read so far. By far, characters like Elicand and the Kijamon brothers represent a more varied creation than our heroine.
In the end, I have to admit liking "Strange Places" in spite of myself. The story is there, waiting to be read. I'll have to read around the distracting bits, but the meat is there and that's the important part.
While reading the first half of "Strange Places", I was a little worried. The evil orphanage, the spunky heroine who leads her band of misfits against tyranny, who turns out to be... well, I don't know. My issues are with the storytelling. It's not bad. I got to the last page and felt that momentary rage at not finding more pages that marks a book I've enjoyed. But the story branches awkwardly. The side stories aren't given enough room to develope, but they take away enough from the main track that they are more distracting than added flavour. Our protagonist, Tayna, reads like a horrible trope: an orphan with untapped supermagic, a born leader who needs to learn a valuable lesson so she can take charge in a later crisis, a teenager with a pop-inflected bon mot for every situation she faces. If this wasn't a published work, I would have thought that Tayna was the Mary Sue in some one's journal of fan fiction.
But the rest of the characters, and the world they inhabit, are well worth the read. I'm excited that the author has chosen to avoid the standard elves and dwarves that populate fantasy fiction, to give other races with more potential for originality the spotlight. I like the little bits of magic I've read so far. By far, characters like Elicand and the Kijamon brothers represent a more varied creation than our heroine.
In the end, I have to admit liking "Strange Places" in spite of myself. The story is there, waiting to be read. I'll have to read around the distracting bits, but the meat is there and that's the important part.
August 17, 2012
After reading a character interview and finding out a smidgeon about the young protagonist Tayna, I just knew I had to read this book. A likable, reliable and compassionate young heroine, Tayna also has gumption and an unconquerable spirit. An orphan who is unloved and unwanted, she discovers quite spectacularly that there is a chance she may find out what happened to her parents. After escaping from an orphanage, she gets lost and in so doing begins a journey of adventure and discovery that kept me glued to my kindle. Chased by an evil sorcerer, she meets up with a string of unlikely new friends.
The alternate world is decidedly strange, beautiful, and fearsome. Described succinctly, the author’s carefully chosen words give great depth and clarity to the land in my mind’s eye, and to the various groups residing therein. Several story lines are woven together, coming together in satisfying dollops at pivotal points. There is one, however, that was difficult for me to relate to and I had some trouble staying with the story then – I just wanted to skim through those few places because I became frustrated with the odd syntax and structure. It is to be continued in the following book so perhaps it will make more sense later. I am looking forward to reading the next book, aptly titled Strange People.
This book was purchased by me.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
The alternate world is decidedly strange, beautiful, and fearsome. Described succinctly, the author’s carefully chosen words give great depth and clarity to the land in my mind’s eye, and to the various groups residing therein. Several story lines are woven together, coming together in satisfying dollops at pivotal points. There is one, however, that was difficult for me to relate to and I had some trouble staying with the story then – I just wanted to skim through those few places because I became frustrated with the odd syntax and structure. It is to be continued in the following book so perhaps it will make more sense later. I am looking forward to reading the next book, aptly titled Strange People.
This book was purchased by me.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
April 16, 2013
Strange Places (Finding Tayna #1) is the first book in a series. The story begins with Tayna in an orphanage and housed with the “unlovables.” The cruel religious sisters who run the orphanage abuse all of the children, but especially Tayna’s group. As trouble brews it becomes clear to Tayna that she needs to escape to save herself. She returns to the area where she was originally found. With the help of The Watcher, she finds herself in another world with little knowledge of the customs. She is on a quest to find answers to who she is, how she got to the orphanage, and what forces placed her there. Along the way she becomes involved in the affairs of the world.
The book provokes thoughtful ideas combined with humor and, mostly, follows Tayna. It does have sections that diverge to follow other characters. As with many series, information develops over time, in a manner that some people may find off-putting; however, as the picture of the world, and its rules, unfold the story carries the reader along. The ending leaves many questions to be developed in the next book.
The book provokes thoughtful ideas combined with humor and, mostly, follows Tayna. It does have sections that diverge to follow other characters. As with many series, information develops over time, in a manner that some people may find off-putting; however, as the picture of the world, and its rules, unfold the story carries the reader along. The ending leaves many questions to be developed in the next book.
March 3, 2013
Four stars. Definitely a four star book. Why not five? Lets go into some detail. First of all as I first started reading this I was about to put it down for good simply because I was getting a very strong little orphan annie vibe off of it. And then things started happening. So many things. I would describe it as a sort of whirlwind ride into a very strange world. Not many things are explained sufficiently and you are just sort of sucked in and carried along with the story. And now, with book one of this series completed, I am left with much more questions than answers and wanting to read more just so that I can get a grip on the world I have been transported into by this book.
All in all a very good young adult novel and worthy of buying and spending some time with. You will definitely not be bored. You will just have a lot of questions as the book just sort of ends without much resolution. Eagerly awaiting the second volume.
All in all a very good young adult novel and worthy of buying and spending some time with. You will definitely not be bored. You will just have a lot of questions as the book just sort of ends without much resolution. Eagerly awaiting the second volume.
June 25, 2012
This story is outstanding. The characters and races are simply original and fresh!
The third person head hopping, however, irked me. I think and feel that it was too much head hopping...
I enjoyed the story. But I did not enjoy the book. I am not sure if that will make any sense but I'll try to explain a little.
While I have nothing bad to say about the characters and plots... I didn't like the way those plots appeared in this book.
Just as the head hopping took away from the voice... The plot hopping took away from the story... I'm still not sure which plot has been tied up and which ones weren't.
Like I said ... the story is amazing. Or I'd have not read the book. I just didn't like the way it was unfolded.
But you might...
Give it a go! And tell me what you think of it!!!
The third person head hopping, however, irked me. I think and feel that it was too much head hopping...
I enjoyed the story. But I did not enjoy the book. I am not sure if that will make any sense but I'll try to explain a little.
While I have nothing bad to say about the characters and plots... I didn't like the way those plots appeared in this book.
Just as the head hopping took away from the voice... The plot hopping took away from the story... I'm still not sure which plot has been tied up and which ones weren't.
Like I said ... the story is amazing. Or I'd have not read the book. I just didn't like the way it was unfolded.
But you might...
Give it a go! And tell me what you think of it!!!
February 19, 2012
First of all, I would like to thank the author, Jefferson Smith, for sending an e-copy of his book to me and for inviting me to review it.
I found ''Strange Places'' brimming with imagination and being a cocktail of magic and adventure. It connected the real with the fantastic world in a way that I'm sure would make children from all over the world wonder: "Could it be me in her place?"
The only thing I consider a minus in this book is that it was sometimes too rich in details. I felt like some parts were unnecessary.
Other than that, I will be looking forward to the sequel!
I found ''Strange Places'' brimming with imagination and being a cocktail of magic and adventure. It connected the real with the fantastic world in a way that I'm sure would make children from all over the world wonder: "Could it be me in her place?"
The only thing I consider a minus in this book is that it was sometimes too rich in details. I felt like some parts were unnecessary.
Other than that, I will be looking forward to the sequel!
February 13, 2012
I already reviewed this wonderful book on Amazon, but I will take the time to do so again out of the sheer amazingness of this book. It was a book of magic, friendship, and so much more. I love the characters and how well they are developed, especially Abeni and Elicand. The Djin are brilliantly written up, as well as the imagery of the Gnomileshi. I can't wait to read the second book.
September 3, 2012
The writing was not that bad. I read the first few pages and thought I would give it a chance. It was too strange and disjointed in places for me to finish. I agree with some others that this book could have been 80 or so pages shorter. Maybe a novella or short story. One woman's opinion.
July 20, 2011
Not my usual read, but easy to empathize with the characters, and hard to put down once started.
Read
November 2, 2011i would love to know more about this book and i have currently met the author and think the book is amazing
July 23, 2017
When the author agreed to send me a copy of this book, I was extremely excited to start reading it, because the premise was so good, yet left me wondering what it meant and how was the story developing around those ideas. When I started this book, back in February, I knew I was holding something special (not my tablet, but what I was looking at in the screen). Unfortunately, life got in the way, school, scouts, exams, reading slumps, so I would like to apologize to the author right now for the long wait for this review. When I was finally able to continue reading this book this month, it was like the world of Tayna had changed completely, because I could not put the book down. It caught my attention from the moment I laid my eyes on the page and I only went to sleep when I had finished the book.
Jefferson Smith has such a lyrical, witty and hilarious writing style, his characters are relatable and compelling and we get so emotionally attached to them that when something happens to one of them we feel it and we suffer with them and we laugh and we think about the meaning they give to this story.
That was something I really enjoyed in 'Strange Places': the phlosophy, the life lessons, the meaning hidden within the words.
There is an adventure around every corner and a new friend to save behind every tree, and in Tayna we find an hilarious and intelligent female main character - one of my favourites, for sure!
Life and death and magic... it all comes together to create a real masterpiece of fiction.
There's something about Jefferson Smith's enormous creativity that just makes us want to absorb every word and even want to live in this world and have Djinn and a Story Uncle as friends to help us out in our ride.
In the end, we are left with a fantastic cliffhanger, that will force everyone to read the sequel when it comes out.
To finish of this review, I will highlight this amazing event that happened from the first page to the last: both Tayna and the author's writing developed as we, readers, got more and more imersed in the story.
So, without any other words in the english language to tell you how I felt about this book, I'll just ensure you that if I ever find a fisical copy of this book in a bookshop, I will definitely buy it to support this incredible writer... and I will definitely want to read the sequel and Smith's other works!
Read the full review on my blog: http://thebookaddictsblog.blogspot.pt...
Jefferson Smith has such a lyrical, witty and hilarious writing style, his characters are relatable and compelling and we get so emotionally attached to them that when something happens to one of them we feel it and we suffer with them and we laugh and we think about the meaning they give to this story.
That was something I really enjoyed in 'Strange Places': the phlosophy, the life lessons, the meaning hidden within the words.
There is an adventure around every corner and a new friend to save behind every tree, and in Tayna we find an hilarious and intelligent female main character - one of my favourites, for sure!
Life and death and magic... it all comes together to create a real masterpiece of fiction.
There's something about Jefferson Smith's enormous creativity that just makes us want to absorb every word and even want to live in this world and have Djinn and a Story Uncle as friends to help us out in our ride.
In the end, we are left with a fantastic cliffhanger, that will force everyone to read the sequel when it comes out.
To finish of this review, I will highlight this amazing event that happened from the first page to the last: both Tayna and the author's writing developed as we, readers, got more and more imersed in the story.
So, without any other words in the english language to tell you how I felt about this book, I'll just ensure you that if I ever find a fisical copy of this book in a bookshop, I will definitely buy it to support this incredible writer... and I will definitely want to read the sequel and Smith's other works!
Read the full review on my blog: http://thebookaddictsblog.blogspot.pt...
February 24, 2016
First off, this book appears to be the first in a series, although there is no indication of how many books are planned for the series. So it is possible some of the criticisms I have may be cleared up in future books. But for now, all I have to work with is the book at hand.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The main character, Tayna, is a young girl growing up in one of the worst orphanages ever, yet she maintains a generally positive attitude, with a good bit of cynicsm mixed in. She reminded me of a more sarcastic "Anne of Green Gables." Suddenly, like Alice going down the rabbit hole or Dorothy travelling to Oz, she finds herself in a strange but magical land, with the realization that pretty much everything she has ever known is wrong.
I really liked the main character, and as long as we stuck with her, the book was really good and very enjoyable. But the second half of the book splintered a bit. One character that we met suddenly got separated and we followed his adventures a bit, although, at least in the first book, that adventure never concluded. And then, without any real reason, we were following another character all-together. I just kept wondering, "Who is this guy and why are we following him?" Granted, it hinted that one thing he did might be very important, but if that is the case, it will come to play in future books. So in the overall scheme of things, it may fit in perfectly, but as it stands now, it didn't seem to fit at all.
And then we pop back with Tayna, who seems to learn a very important lesson about the importance of trusting those around her and helping them, and then promptly discards that lesson, at least temporarily, in favor of her own desires. Which is somewhat understandable, as she is an orphan (or is she?) and has had to rely on herself for so long, but the timing seemed a bit odd.
And just as her past starts to catch up to Tayna, the book simply ends.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more in the series, but as a stand-alone book, it was not without its problems.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The main character, Tayna, is a young girl growing up in one of the worst orphanages ever, yet she maintains a generally positive attitude, with a good bit of cynicsm mixed in. She reminded me of a more sarcastic "Anne of Green Gables." Suddenly, like Alice going down the rabbit hole or Dorothy travelling to Oz, she finds herself in a strange but magical land, with the realization that pretty much everything she has ever known is wrong.
I really liked the main character, and as long as we stuck with her, the book was really good and very enjoyable. But the second half of the book splintered a bit. One character that we met suddenly got separated and we followed his adventures a bit, although, at least in the first book, that adventure never concluded. And then, without any real reason, we were following another character all-together. I just kept wondering, "Who is this guy and why are we following him?" Granted, it hinted that one thing he did might be very important, but if that is the case, it will come to play in future books. So in the overall scheme of things, it may fit in perfectly, but as it stands now, it didn't seem to fit at all.
And then we pop back with Tayna, who seems to learn a very important lesson about the importance of trusting those around her and helping them, and then promptly discards that lesson, at least temporarily, in favor of her own desires. Which is somewhat understandable, as she is an orphan (or is she?) and has had to rely on herself for so long, but the timing seemed a bit odd.
And just as her past starts to catch up to Tayna, the book simply ends.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more in the series, but as a stand-alone book, it was not without its problems.
May 29, 2013
“Strange Places” by, Jefferson Smith
Tayna is a thirteen year old orphan who has grown up in the Good Sisters Orphanage since she was three. Sister Regalia runs the orphanage and she is a nasty piece of work. She keeps a group of girls she calls the “Unlovables” on the fifth floor away from the rest of the orphans and makes them do all the chores.
One day a mysterious stranger comes to the orphanage. Eliza (Lies), Tayna’s best friend, overhears a threat to Tayna’s life and helps her escape. Afraid and on the run, Tayna runs into a man who calls himself “The Watcher”. With one dangerous man chasing after her and a second offering to answer some of her questions about her real family Tayna has no choice but to trust her heart and travel to a land that she never knew existed.
This book was a winner for me on many levels. Strange Places has many varied and complex characters that I love, great world building, and an interesting plot. The story kept my interest until the very last page and I was sorry to see it end.
*Lord Angiron is creepy and sinister.
*Eliza is a very sweet and funny girl. I hope I get to read more about her in book #2.
*Veest is mysterious and is the perfect character to introduce Tayna to her new world.
*I really liked Methilien, the world that Tayna is taken to. Three races live in Methilien, the Wasketchin, the Djin, and the Gnomileshi.
*Elicand is a Wasketchin boy that befriends Tayna and he is very cute. He decided to travel with her on her quest and he adds a lot of fun to the story.
*Abeni is a Djin and he is one of my favorite characters. He becomes not only Tayna’s protector but also her friend. He is a man I would want by my side if I were on an adventure.
*The Gnomes are strange and disgusting. The description of their homes made my skin crawl.
I really enjoyed this story and the ending left me wanting to know what happens next. Book two “Strange People” is in the works and I am very excited to read more.
Tayna is a thirteen year old orphan who has grown up in the Good Sisters Orphanage since she was three. Sister Regalia runs the orphanage and she is a nasty piece of work. She keeps a group of girls she calls the “Unlovables” on the fifth floor away from the rest of the orphans and makes them do all the chores.
One day a mysterious stranger comes to the orphanage. Eliza (Lies), Tayna’s best friend, overhears a threat to Tayna’s life and helps her escape. Afraid and on the run, Tayna runs into a man who calls himself “The Watcher”. With one dangerous man chasing after her and a second offering to answer some of her questions about her real family Tayna has no choice but to trust her heart and travel to a land that she never knew existed.
This book was a winner for me on many levels. Strange Places has many varied and complex characters that I love, great world building, and an interesting plot. The story kept my interest until the very last page and I was sorry to see it end.
*Lord Angiron is creepy and sinister.
*Eliza is a very sweet and funny girl. I hope I get to read more about her in book #2.
*Veest is mysterious and is the perfect character to introduce Tayna to her new world.
*I really liked Methilien, the world that Tayna is taken to. Three races live in Methilien, the Wasketchin, the Djin, and the Gnomileshi.
*Elicand is a Wasketchin boy that befriends Tayna and he is very cute. He decided to travel with her on her quest and he adds a lot of fun to the story.
*Abeni is a Djin and he is one of my favorite characters. He becomes not only Tayna’s protector but also her friend. He is a man I would want by my side if I were on an adventure.
*The Gnomes are strange and disgusting. The description of their homes made my skin crawl.
I really enjoyed this story and the ending left me wanting to know what happens next. Book two “Strange People” is in the works and I am very excited to read more.
February 10, 2015
Strange Places is the first book in a series following the adventures of Tayna, a young girl who lives in an orphanage run by some pretty nasty nuns. Tayna soon discovers that she might not actually be much of an orphan and that her parents might live in another world all together.
I didn't quite know what to expect from Strange Places. I picked it up on a whim at an Entertainment Expo. I had planned to take a break from YA for a little bit but I figured I'd read this book first and I am really glad that I did! Strange Places isn't the most original of stories it has some pretty standard elements to it, but Smith's writing is fresh and it's also funny. His characters are well written and very likable. They're flawed and interesting and you really do feel for all of them.
Despite being a YA novel, I feel like Strange Places is appealing to a wide range of ages. It also avoids insta-love, TDTL heroines and boring villains. AND it features something that is seriously missing in a lot of YA novels. Normal friendships. I really loved the relationship between Tayna and Lies. They're clever and funny and they have each others back and they don't fight over attention from boys...which brings me to another bonus. This book has no stupid love triangles! Tayna also manages to develop a friendship with a few others characters and it is really, really refreshing.
I can't wait until the second book comes out. There was so much going on by the end of Strange Places and I can't wait to find out more. I really, really hope that Lies and Tayna manage to meet up again. I enjoy how they play off each other.
I definitely recommend picking this book up, it's a really fun read.
I didn't quite know what to expect from Strange Places. I picked it up on a whim at an Entertainment Expo. I had planned to take a break from YA for a little bit but I figured I'd read this book first and I am really glad that I did! Strange Places isn't the most original of stories it has some pretty standard elements to it, but Smith's writing is fresh and it's also funny. His characters are well written and very likable. They're flawed and interesting and you really do feel for all of them.
Despite being a YA novel, I feel like Strange Places is appealing to a wide range of ages. It also avoids insta-love, TDTL heroines and boring villains. AND it features something that is seriously missing in a lot of YA novels. Normal friendships. I really loved the relationship between Tayna and Lies. They're clever and funny and they have each others back and they don't fight over attention from boys...which brings me to another bonus. This book has no stupid love triangles! Tayna also manages to develop a friendship with a few others characters and it is really, really refreshing.
I can't wait until the second book comes out. There was so much going on by the end of Strange Places and I can't wait to find out more. I really, really hope that Lies and Tayna manage to meet up again. I enjoy how they play off each other.
I definitely recommend picking this book up, it's a really fun read.
February 2, 2015
Strange Places was an enjoyable fantasy adventure with a handful of interesting major characters and a well realized setting. I would recommend it to other fantasy readers, and I intend to continue the series.
Tayna, the protagonist, is a strong, capable girl with an amusing cynical snarkiness. She solves problems and puzzles in ways that feel naturally clever, not contrived. I started rooting for her to succeed quite early on, and she held my interest through the story.
The setting itself, first in the real world, and then in magical Methilien, was interesting and deeply developed, but I never felt bogged down in the details. The Gnomileshi race, in particular, was fascinatingly alien and grotesque but still sympathetic. Their economy is original, but I wonder if I'm not already running into plot holes related to it. It certainly seems like it could create problems for the author.
The action of the novel never lets you get too comfortable. As soon as you start to settle in with a group of characters, something will happen to pull the group apart and start the plot down another path. While this kept the story from ever becoming boring, I also felt pulled away from the characters I wanted to spend more time with.
This book is the first in a series, so I shouldn't be surprised that it ends with a cliffhanger. Actually, very few questions are answered and little is properly resolved by the end. Be warned, if you come to care about these characters, you're going to have to keep reading.
Tayna, the protagonist, is a strong, capable girl with an amusing cynical snarkiness. She solves problems and puzzles in ways that feel naturally clever, not contrived. I started rooting for her to succeed quite early on, and she held my interest through the story.
The setting itself, first in the real world, and then in magical Methilien, was interesting and deeply developed, but I never felt bogged down in the details. The Gnomileshi race, in particular, was fascinatingly alien and grotesque but still sympathetic. Their economy is original, but I wonder if I'm not already running into plot holes related to it. It certainly seems like it could create problems for the author.
The action of the novel never lets you get too comfortable. As soon as you start to settle in with a group of characters, something will happen to pull the group apart and start the plot down another path. While this kept the story from ever becoming boring, I also felt pulled away from the characters I wanted to spend more time with.
This book is the first in a series, so I shouldn't be surprised that it ends with a cliffhanger. Actually, very few questions are answered and little is properly resolved by the end. Be warned, if you come to care about these characters, you're going to have to keep reading.
March 24, 2013
Strange Places is a fairy tale to the last inch. It starts with a protagonist, Tayna, who is an orphaned girl in a terrible orphanage run by terrible nuns. They call it the Old Shoe and that, really, is your first tipoff that this is a fairly tale. Things get worse before they get better and the next thing you know, Tanya is in a whole new world, advised that there is danger, but also that she may have parents somewhere that she hasn't known before.
Tayna is an enchanting heroine. She's enough a part of our world that she doesn't entirely trust everything that's going on around her, and enough of a little girl that she really really wants all this magic stuff to be magic.
And the magic...it's what I like best about this series so far. We're introduced to the magic in a forest where the ability to do magic is based on the awe one can see in the world around you. This is referred to as life magic, and we later see death magic which is kinda dark, creepy, and gross, but that's how you know it's a fairly tale.
The plot is more of a "Let's put this person in a new world and let them explore it" than it is a "Let's get things done" kind of plot and perhaps that's to be expected from something called Strange Places.
All in all, I would call this an enjoyable read for adults while being safe for children, although, if you're considering reading it to a child, I would warn you that the chapters tend to be rather long.
Tayna is an enchanting heroine. She's enough a part of our world that she doesn't entirely trust everything that's going on around her, and enough of a little girl that she really really wants all this magic stuff to be magic.
And the magic...it's what I like best about this series so far. We're introduced to the magic in a forest where the ability to do magic is based on the awe one can see in the world around you. This is referred to as life magic, and we later see death magic which is kinda dark, creepy, and gross, but that's how you know it's a fairly tale.
The plot is more of a "Let's put this person in a new world and let them explore it" than it is a "Let's get things done" kind of plot and perhaps that's to be expected from something called Strange Places.
All in all, I would call this an enjoyable read for adults while being safe for children, although, if you're considering reading it to a child, I would warn you that the chapters tend to be rather long.
March 13, 2013
This review is for the Kindle edition ebook.
Orphans, magic, strangers, and wonderfully strange places. What else could you ask for?
An orphan for most of her life, Tayna suddenly finds herself on her own in a city she knows nothing about. She wants to know where she came from, and no one is willing to tell. When she finally finds someone willing to help, she must help them as much as they will help her.
I thought this book was fascinating reading. Being alone in the world forces a person to do things they otherwise would not have attempted. The heroine of this story, Tayna, certainly does attempt many things. There were parts of this story that left me wondering what happened. A very abrupt ending means I will have to get the next book to find out what happened.
Tayna is the daughter most of us would like to have. She is a leader, an organizer, and very motivated to get things done. She is someone the younger children can look up to. She is also scared and needs guidance. She has enough sense to do what needs to be done, and yet makes enough mistakes to learn what works and what does not.
I can recommend this story to the teenage readers and all who enjoy fantasy. It has enough twists to keep the reader guessing, while most of the answers are provided if the reader just keeps going. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Orphans, magic, strangers, and wonderfully strange places. What else could you ask for?
An orphan for most of her life, Tayna suddenly finds herself on her own in a city she knows nothing about. She wants to know where she came from, and no one is willing to tell. When she finally finds someone willing to help, she must help them as much as they will help her.
I thought this book was fascinating reading. Being alone in the world forces a person to do things they otherwise would not have attempted. The heroine of this story, Tayna, certainly does attempt many things. There were parts of this story that left me wondering what happened. A very abrupt ending means I will have to get the next book to find out what happened.
Tayna is the daughter most of us would like to have. She is a leader, an organizer, and very motivated to get things done. She is someone the younger children can look up to. She is also scared and needs guidance. She has enough sense to do what needs to be done, and yet makes enough mistakes to learn what works and what does not.
I can recommend this story to the teenage readers and all who enjoy fantasy. It has enough twists to keep the reader guessing, while most of the answers are provided if the reader just keeps going. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
July 27, 2014
This book was amazing!!!!! :D Just, amazing!! :D
I literally just finished it, like, a minute ago so my brain is kind of muddled by the amazing-ness (I can't stop saying that word, and I don't care)and I'm trying not to put spoilers lol.
Tayna is such a brilliant character, so snarky and funny.
I loved all the characters so much, but I think she is my favorite. :D
This was a brilliant book, the writing was fantastic and flowed really well.
The characters were really well developed and each had a unique personality.
I felt really bad for those girls at the orphanage, I really wanted to throttle the Goodies.
There were parts where I had to put the book down simply because I was laughing so hard. (My favorite scene is when she first meets Elicand :D)
The only problem I had with this book (not even with the book itself) was just how long it took me to actually start reading it, and that was entirely my fault. I was in a bit of a reading slump, and this book definitely helped get me out of that, I can tell that immediately :D
I DEFINITELY recommend this book. :D
And now, I am off to start Oath Keeper :D
(there were a lot of ':D's in this review and I don't care :D)
I literally just finished it, like, a minute ago so my brain is kind of muddled by the amazing-ness (I can't stop saying that word, and I don't care)and I'm trying not to put spoilers lol.
Tayna is such a brilliant character, so snarky and funny.
I loved all the characters so much, but I think she is my favorite. :D
This was a brilliant book, the writing was fantastic and flowed really well.
The characters were really well developed and each had a unique personality.
I felt really bad for those girls at the orphanage, I really wanted to throttle the Goodies.
There were parts where I had to put the book down simply because I was laughing so hard. (My favorite scene is when she first meets Elicand :D)
The only problem I had with this book (not even with the book itself) was just how long it took me to actually start reading it, and that was entirely my fault. I was in a bit of a reading slump, and this book definitely helped get me out of that, I can tell that immediately :D
I DEFINITELY recommend this book. :D
And now, I am off to start Oath Keeper :D
(there were a lot of ':D's in this review and I don't care :D)
November 26, 2014
This was a great, fun romp through a unique fantasy world with a serious, compelling story (and poignant moments) underlying all the fun. The main character, Tayna, is a very likeable character who comes out with some really funny, dry witty retorts. There are other unforgettable, complex and unique characters in here as well. Abeni for example, is one I'll never forget, on par with Hagrid from Harry Potter. The different societies are well thought out and distinct as well. The description of the Gnomileshi food and kitchens had me laughing out loud. The only downside was that the story lines didn't all tie up at the end, so we're forced to read the next book to find out what happens. This kind of force, however, is not too cruel, because I would have willingly read the next book anyway just for the laughs! Overall, a great read and very entertaining! I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
June 28, 2017
Compelling story that moves at an agreeable pace. The dialogue is ideal for juvenile readers, and the themes are applicable to young adults, most notably a very strong resistance to structured religion, any sense of higher powers, and a fatalistic approach to finding 'your other half'. This book creates a remote mythic landscape that somehow feels right at home - the most vile of creatures, Gnomileshi are not always portrayed as entirely threatening or hostile, which cultivates more of a sense of adventure than peril, perfect for a younger reader. In short, I would have gone bananas over this book as a 14 year old, but I find it enjoyable as a 19 year old too. Keep your ears on!
September 10, 2016
This guy is a genius. Strange Places I came across quite by accident, when I took a class with the author himself. I read it, as was pro quo with these kinds of classes... and loved it. I fell in love with a world based partly upon my own, and with a girl who's story plucks at every string in your heart, and keeps you laughing along the way. I thirst for his upcoming sequel, and I can feel in my writerish soul that it will be just as good as the first. Fall in love with Tayna, who is far from Annie, but still managed to worm her way into our hearts.
July 20, 2014
There are a lot of interesting elements here, and intriguing bits of worldbuilding, but they don't quite add up to a story. So very many threads are left dangling and right from the beginning I had so many questions. Was the world Tayna grew up in meant to be our modern world? It seemed so, with the slang and the level of technology, but not the neo-Victorian orphanage. The same sorts of questions dogged me every step of the way, as people appeared and disappeared from the story and we never quite find out their fates, or in many cases much about them in the first place.
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