Review: Talisman of El
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 27, 2012
A little while back, I entered a contest to win an ARC of this book, and to my surprise, two weeks later, I received the email that I had won one. I was very excited, as I never win contests and giveaways, so I was pleasantly surprised to get this one. Then, I was worried. What if I don't like it? What if it is hard for me to get into and read? I have never read an ARC before, so what do I do if there are glaring editing errors that I cannot get past?As I sat down to read, my fears were quickly allayed. The Talisman of El is an interesting, plot filled story that probably fits well into the category of coming-of-age, young adult fantasy fiction.I was instantly drawn to the main character of Charlie, an orphaned boy whose whole life changes in the blink of an eye, and he embarks on an adventure and a journey of self-discovery unlike any other. In a sense, it is a story that most, if not all, teens can relate to: Feeling like you don't fit into the world around you. The caveat, of course, is that in Charlie's case, that is entirely true.As you journey with the characters, you see what they see, hear what they hear, and experience what they experience. Alecia Stone does an excellent job of showing us what the characters are going through. Many authors make the mistake of TELLING us what the character is feeling/seeing/hearing/doing. That was not the case in this delightful novel.While I personally felt that there were a few gaps in the plot at the end, and some parts seemed like they might have been a little disjointed, I still felt that the story was enjoyable, realistic and relatable. I definitely look forward to more to come from this up and coming author, and cannot wait to see what happens next to Charlie and his friends in the next installment. Hey, Ms. Stone, there is going to be another installment, right?