Author: Wendy D. Walter
Source: Publisher
Summary: Fourteen-year-old, Ambril struggles with the mystery surrounding her father’s death when she moves back to the mysterious town where she was born. When she accidentally uncovers a secret which threatens to destroy her entire family, she continues her quest, against all odds, to clear her father’s name. But will she be able to claim her magic and and heal the rifts in her family?
Review: Hello! Today I am happy to be part of the blog tour for Ambril's Tale. The author will also be guest posting on January 3rd. Subject? Gnomes xD Apart from my review, keep scrolling to read an excerpt from the book and also a list of other blogs hosting. Although I am not holding a giveaway for this one, others on the tour are. And Wendy herself is giving away a hand-painted gnome, so be sure to check that out below. And on to the review!
Whoa. I think that is the best single word to describe my experience with this distinct work. From the get go, Ambril is a character easy to sympathize with. She has had to move so many different times and her family is like the symbol of dysfunctional. Seemingly normal, her mom is pretty high strung and the sibling rivalry is intense.
The crazy factor is sky high in the beginning and just overwhelming. As the story progressed, things started to get explained and it was easier to swallow that vegetables had been raining from the sky. Although wacky, the writing and the non-chalance of the characters make it a whole new world to be a part of. Ambril is a wonderful main character and I look to reading more about her unusual abilities.
Favorite scene? So many funny things happen in this ridiculous novel, but my personal favorite is the one with the garden gnomes. Grumpy and cynical. Absolutely my favorite characters ever!
Rating: 1 2 3
4 5
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Excerpt Chapter Five
Chapter 5: Fowlclun
to the Rescue
Ambril sighed as her thoughts brought
her back to the present. So here she was, feeling safe and snug. Deep down though,
she knew the chicken-legged monster had done her in.
Well, at least her death had been
painless. It smelled nice in heaven too, kind of like cookies. But when she
tried to turn her head, she realized that she hadn’t made it to heaven yet.
Pain shot through her body, making her wince. She was definitely still alive.
She gingerly explored the top of her head and found a throbbing lump. Someone
had thoughtfully placed an ice-filled cloth on it, which almost helped. That
was what covered her eyes. She thought about the chicken-legged monster again.
Silhouetted against the sky, the thing had been as big as a house.
So why wasn’t she dead?
Her limited experience with monsters had
been that they generally wanted to eat her, not tuck her into bed with an ice
pack.
So just where was she? Then she became
aware of the odd, rocking sensation again. Wherever she was, she seemed to be
moving.
There were also sounds of movement
nearby. She heard the whuffle of fabric, the crinkle of paper, and a grating
ping, as if someone were hopping around on a metal-tipped pogo stick. There
were whispers too. Perhaps the monsters were planning a dinner party–with her
as the main course.
She had to find out. Slowly, Ambril
reached up and moved the ice pack from her eyes. She was lying in a huge bed
layered with patchwork quilts. The vaulted ceiling above her was covered with a
fuzzy, warm fabric. Judging by the swinging lanterns hanging from the rafters,
they were moving along at speed. She looked around with her eyes half closed. The
spacious room was filled with comfortable furniture which had softened with
age. As far as she could tell, she was alone. Where were the whispers coming
from?
She took another look. There was an
old-fashioned kitchen, a huge stone fireplace, and an umbrella hopping around
all by itself.
She stopped and looked again.
As she watched, the umbrella flapped its
fabric as it preened. The ornate bird’s head carved on the handle yawned and
blinked. Ambril scanned the room quickly and swallowed hard when she saw a
feather pen sweeping crumbs off a kitchen table.
What had happened to the world? Ambril’s
body went rigid as she clamped her eyes shut and wished she could just reset
the clock, go to sleep and wake up in her old familiar room with the sound of
the streetcars outside.
But what was she thinking? They didn’t
even live in San Francisco anymore. In fact, they didn’t live anywhere. Even if
she managed to escape, how would she ever find her family? She imagined herself
tacking up signs all over the forest:
HELP!
LOST
FAMILY!
One
blonde mother - One grumpy brother
If
found, send up a flare
She had to smile at that and smiling
helped calm her. Her breathing evened out just as the whispers became loud
enough for her to make out what was being said.
“–Such a slip of a thing and chilled to
the bone. How she ever took on a Dullaith is beyond my thinking!” A young
girl’s voice tisk-tisked from across the room.
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Giveaway Info
Stop by Wendy's website to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. There will be surprise prizes and you can enter to win the grand prize of a gnome hand-painted by Wendy! Oh and don't forget to come back here on January 3rd when Wendy will be here to guest post on guess what? Gnomes! Gotta love those awesome creatures :)
Click here to see the other stops on the tour and enter their contests for a paperback or e-book version of this quirky book. Or look below. This list was taken right off Wendy's site.
About The Author: Wendy D. Walter
Writing was an early passion for Wendy.
As a kid, she wrote lots of stories, but being shy, they usually ended up under
the mattress. When she finally set out to tell Ambril’s Tale, she decided not to write a story but a world, full
with her own marvelous illustrations. She considers The Return of the Dullaith as just the curly tip of the fairy
boot. Wendy lives near San Francisco with her husband, daughters, cat and
border collie. More information about Wendy's book and art, check her
site: http://wendydwalter.com.
Links
