Today, it is my pleasure to review YA Novel Odessa, Book One of the Seraphym Wars Series, by Rebecca Ryals Russell. Read my review after Rebecca's blurb...
The Story…
Myrna Ashlin Watts graduated from High School in Jacksonville , Fl just in time to find herself transported to a bizarre and primal planet corrupted by demon-dragons. And they want her DEAD. Her problem is she has been recruited to kill them, too.
18-year-old Myrna is drawn into the middle of an epic battle between Seraphym and Demons. An average High School student from Florida , struggling with inner demons resulting from a rape two years earlier, she wakes one morning on the Steampunk planet of Dracwald, home of the demon-dragons responsible for her brother’s recent murder as well as many other atrocities in the news. She meets Michael, who becomes her guide and explains that according to prophecy, Myrna must gather the remaining six Vigorios (teen warriors with special talents) then train with the Majikals on an enchanted island.
Reluctantly, and knowing it is her only way to get back home, she agrees to lead, battling dragons and monsters while crossing swamps and mountains, forests and seas. She wrangles with the old inner demons when three very different men join her quest—a seasoned demon/dragon-slayer who irritates but beguiles her, a tender and sweet mentor in whom she trusts completely and a roguishly handsome Scientist who sets her senses aflame. How is she expected to lead the others and keep everyone safe with so much inner turmoil?
Will love and lust, jealousy, greed, deceit and distrust break the delicate tie that binds these teen warriors called The Vigorios? Can a troupe of teens help the Seraphym finally defeat the massive empire of evil dominated for eons by the demon-dragons of Dracwald?
My Review:
My first thoughts as I dove deep into the book Odessa, The Seraphym Wars Series, was to marvel at the comparison between this and C.S. Lewis’ Adventures in Narnia. I always loved Narnia’s new worlds and fast-paced adventures and to read Odessa did not disappoint with much the same amount of excitement, adventure and pace.
Eighteen-year-old Myrna has just recently graduated and is dealing with her own demons when she is mysteriously transported to another world haunted with real demon-dragons. A homesick Myrna discovers she cannot return home until she has completed the mission she was transported to Dracwald for – to join with the other Vigorios (teens with special talents) and destroy the demon-dragons, bringing peace to Dracwald. But it’s not going to be easy.
Myrna is thrust into adventure upon adventure, meeting strange and unique people, animals and other magical creatures along the way; some helping, but most trying to stop her. There is an ample amount of tension and excitement as she struggles to find and meet up with the other Vigorios, battling dragons, shape-shifting demons and other mind-boggling creatures. One cannot get bored with Odessa. In fact I found myself losing many hours of sleep at night because I could not put the book down.
Congratulations to Rebecca Ryals Russell for a fabulous tale. I give it 4 ½ stars out of 5. Now I have to wait (impatiently I might add) for the next installment to see what happens with Myrna and her slew of gifted friends.
C.K. Volnek
The Story…
Myrna Ashlin Watts graduated from High School in Jacksonville , Fl just in time to find herself transported to a bizarre and primal planet corrupted by demon-dragons. And they want her DEAD. Her problem is she has been recruited to kill them, too.
18-year-old Myrna is drawn into the middle of an epic battle between Seraphym and Demons. An average High School student from Florida , struggling with inner demons resulting from a rape two years earlier, she wakes one morning on the Steampunk planet of Dracwald, home of the demon-dragons responsible for her brother’s recent murder as well as many other atrocities in the news. She meets Michael, who becomes her guide and explains that according to prophecy, Myrna must gather the remaining six Vigorios (teen warriors with special talents) then train with the Majikals on an enchanted island.
Reluctantly, and knowing it is her only way to get back home, she agrees to lead, battling dragons and monsters while crossing swamps and mountains, forests and seas. She wrangles with the old inner demons when three very different men join her quest—a seasoned demon/dragon-slayer who irritates but beguiles her, a tender and sweet mentor in whom she trusts completely and a roguishly handsome Scientist who sets her senses aflame. How is she expected to lead the others and keep everyone safe with so much inner turmoil?
Will love and lust, jealousy, greed, deceit and distrust break the delicate tie that binds these teen warriors called The Vigorios? Can a troupe of teens help the Seraphym finally defeat the massive empire of evil dominated for eons by the demon-dragons of Dracwald?
My Review:
My first thoughts as I dove deep into the book Odessa, The Seraphym Wars Series, was to marvel at the comparison between this and C.S. Lewis’ Adventures in Narnia. I always loved Narnia’s new worlds and fast-paced adventures and to read Odessa did not disappoint with much the same amount of excitement, adventure and pace.
Eighteen-year-old Myrna has just recently graduated and is dealing with her own demons when she is mysteriously transported to another world haunted with real demon-dragons. A homesick Myrna discovers she cannot return home until she has completed the mission she was transported to Dracwald for – to join with the other Vigorios (teens with special talents) and destroy the demon-dragons, bringing peace to Dracwald. But it’s not going to be easy.
Myrna is thrust into adventure upon adventure, meeting strange and unique people, animals and other magical creatures along the way; some helping, but most trying to stop her. There is an ample amount of tension and excitement as she struggles to find and meet up with the other Vigorios, battling dragons, shape-shifting demons and other mind-boggling creatures. One cannot get bored with Odessa. In fact I found myself losing many hours of sleep at night because I could not put the book down.
Congratulations to Rebecca Ryals Russell for a fabulous tale. I give it 4 ½ stars out of 5. Now I have to wait (impatiently I might add) for the next installment to see what happens with Myrna and her slew of gifted friends.
C.K. Volnek
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