Synopsis:
Follows the life of Scarlett Cavanaugh, a golden-hearted but reckless fifteen-year-old. Although born with a hole in her heart, she has learned to live life without limits—in contrast to her twin sister, Gwendolyn. A few weeks before the girls’ sweet sixteenth birthday party, Scarlett is punished after breaking curfew with a school boy. In lieu of a weekend with friends, she is instead banished to the attic in her house, to clean. It is there that Scarlett discovers a mysterious diary, a mirror with secrets, and a pet’s unnatural mother tongue.
A newly-acquainted friend named Habock, leads Scarlett into the future through an unsuspecting portal. In his attempt to show how her life has changed, they accidentally become trapped in another time and their journey soon diverges. With a little guidance from a celestial spirit, each learns the truth about the past as they both encounter new friends and enemies along the way. In the hopes of finding one another, Scarlett and Habock instead become part of a deceptive plot, devised by those who wish to destroy their family lines.
A jumble of truth, deceit, fear and illusion, we watch as Habock and Scarlett take us on their rollercoaster adventure.
Author Bio:
Kara Bartley has always been interested in animals, so it comes as no surprise that her world is surrounded by them in both her life and imagination. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology/Earth Science, a post-graduate diploma in Geographic Information Systems and a master’s degree in Vertebrate Paleontology. In the spring of 2002, she began writing her first novel The Siamese Mummy while on a dig for fossils in Kansas. The book was later released in 2006.
Kara is also the author of The Unearthlings and Call of Adhara. She lives in Niagara Falls with her three Siamese cats—Apollo, Achilles and Agamemnon. Her horse Dapplynn is her biggest companion, and anxiously awaits the day that she too will have a guest appearance in one of her mother’s books.
You can visit Kara at http://karabartley.blogspot.com
©2011
My Opinion:
This is one of those books that you should definitely not judge by its cover. I look at the cover and think it has lovely colors, and thanks to Velvet I now notice the moon has the best eyelashes, but really the cover is meh.
The story, on the other hand, is not meh at all. It is magical, fantastic and fun!
I also love that it's setting is my homeland of Southern Ontario.
It's a story to me that defines true friendship, and the bond that can be built when you love someone. The fantasy aspect of the story drew me right in though. The idea of a talking cat leading the way for this girl to save the day... it was reminiscent of Chronicles of Narnia. To me at least.
A lot of fun to read and a quick one too! People of all ages will enjoy it!
4.5/5
Recommend? YES!
~I received a copy for Pump Up Your Book. I was not compensated for my opinion.~
I saw you post in another blog that your brother died and I just wanted to offer my condolences. We just had my father-in-law pass away. I wish you the best at this time under the circumstances.
ReplyDeletesounds like a good one for cat lovers too!
ReplyDelete