Friday, June 17, 2011

Digital Debuts: Wren Emerson's I Wish...

I Wish... (The Witches of Desire)

I Wish... (The Witches of Desire) published by Lakehouse Press May 2011
Author: Wren Emerson

This is my second review in a series called Digital Debuts in which I review debut books for young adults (or younger) by authors who have chosen to publish in eBook format only, at least to start. Usually, these will be self-published, or as good as self-published, and thus usually under $5. They are also great books that will entertain and provoke, but not disappoint.

Product description:
Thistle Nettlebottom knows her life isn't exactly normal. She travels the country with her secretive mother and bestselling author grandmother in a pink RV going from book signings to crazy research trips. She's never been to public school or had a boyfriend, but she can pick a lock and hotwire a car. One day the phone rings and they set a course to a tiny town that's not on any maps. Suddenly, Thistle finds her whole life changing.
From this rather odd beginning, we launch quickly into an almost dystopian world where Thistle, whose real name turns out to be something else, must cope with the Witches of Desire. That is to say, witches in the town of Desire, and a more competitive, nasty lot you will have trouble finding anywhere.

Desire is a matriarchal society, and Thistle faces a constant struggle to stay safe, and even alive, due to powers she never knew she had. If only her powers would let her know who was truly a friend and who was not. Or let her know whether to pursue the enticing-but-verboten Ben or the handsome-but-too-compliant Evan.

In her debut novel, Wren Emerson weaves an exciting and different world, and you will quickly find yourself lost in the intrigue and danger. Meant for older teens and young adults, this is only the first in a planned series, and I am sure that readers will be lining up to buy the sequel when it comes out.

In fact, my biggest objection to the novel was the somewhat abrupt ending, a common objection with YA books in series these days. If this were a traditionally published print book and we had to wait six months to a year for the sequel, I would hold that against the author, but since this is published as an ebook, I may let it slide... if she will hurry up and get the sequel out.

I Wish... is $2.99, and well worth the price. Give it a try, and let me know what you think. I believe this is a series, and an author, you will want to follow.

Four stars out of five.

Buy 'I Wish...' on Amazon.com
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Buy on Amazon.de

7 comments:

  1. Can't wait to get my e-reader so that I can read this one!

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  2. I'm sure you'll enjoy it, but do let us know what you think after you read it.

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  3. I just purchased "I Wish" because of your great review. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  4. Terrific! Let me know what you think.

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  5. Ooh, that sounds great! Thanks for the review - how about an interview with Wren? I'd love to know more about her decision to epublish and her process.

    -Vicki

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  6. I'm interested in her process too. I'll have to check out her book. Don't have a reader, yet.

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  7. Pam - There's a free reader available for the PC (and one for iPhone, Android, etc.), for what it is worth. I know people who buy Kindle books and never get a Kindle, though I love mine. Of course, you could always use this as your excuse to buy one at http://amzn.to/ieXTW2 for only $114, which you'll probably make back pretty quickly because the books are often so much cheaper.

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