Beacon

Lantern, Book 2

By: Chess Desalls

Narrated by: Janine Haynes

Length: 2 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

When Serah's life in Havenbrim becomes unbearable, she accepts an apprenticeship with a celestial mechanic and glazier. Her master assigns her the task of opening a globe framed in copper. But the glass and seal are unbreakable. The solution to the puzzle traps Serah inside the globe and transports her to a world where she longs for home.

©2017 Czidor Lore, LLC (P)2017 Czidor Lore, LLC

Finding what she needs in least expected way

Who was your favorite character and why?

Machin is always an interesting catalyst for stories. He creates the lanterns which lead these characters down their paths to where they need to be in their lives. I'm not sure if he finds them or if they find him, but he knows they will eventually find their happy ending.

Did Janine Haynes do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Janine is a new voice for me. I thought she did well with the accents of Havenbrim and where Serah ends up. Giving each land a different feel from each other. The audio book sounded seamless as Janine narrated.

Any additional comments?

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Serah is from a time when Halloween is very different than it is now, or where she ends up. Halloween scares Serah with all the creatures, blood, and body parts we have at parties. Seeing this new world and the way things are done opens Serah's eyes to what's important in life, and what she really wants with her family.

Of course we get a pleasant ending for Serah, after all. But the journey to the end is different through the globes. It's different for each person. I didn't expect the story to take the turn it did here, and I like it. The globe, the locket that's a door, and the delight to see who's where in the end. I know it sounds like I'm rambling, but it'll all make sense when you read or listen to the story.

It's a pleasant story that Young Adults can read/listen to and enjoy what the characters learn along the way about themselves.

Good Read

Any additional comments?

Beacon by Chess Desalls was a good read. Sarah accepted an apprenticeship as a celestial mechanic and glazier. Some of her tasks take her to a world where she longs for home.

Light Up Your Reading Experience

Any additional comments?

I won this as an audio-book in a LibraryThing Member giveaway. Wow... pretty darn good! The narrator, Janine Haynes, was awesome and the writer, Chess Desalls, even better. The characters were well developed for a novella. The time/ different-world travel was a great twist. I was actually starting to get attached to the characters when the story ended... I must have more!

Fairy Tale Fantasy

Summary: A girl goes for a coveted apprenticeship and doesn’t know what exactly that entails.

Additional Comments:
- The story has some neat little twists but it also has some questionable points such as why the apprenticeship is so special. I won’t elaborate on those here to avoid ticking off those who hate spoilers.
- What’s so wonderful about the lanterns anyway? (That might have been answered in book one, but I’m new to the series at book two.)
- The blurb pretty much spells out the tale.
- Serah Kettel’s a decent character. She’s not the most spectacular at anything, yet you’ll probably find yourself rooting for her anyway. There’s an innocent quality to her.
- Master Machin’s just sort of the mysterious puppetmaster type, respected, yet not really known.
- The cook’s probably the most fleshed out of the side characters. Loved her.
- There are some lovely descriptions in here.

Conclusion: If you’re in the mood for a short fairy tale, go for it.

*I received a copy of the audiobook. I chose to review it.*