Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Story Star Publishing
Source: Author
First book in a possible series
Be prepared to immerse your self in a world where falling in love could cost you your life and nothing is as it seems.
Innovera Yakov – The Journey of A Thousand Eyes is the first installment in an action-packed fantasy drama where characters with powers of healing and destruction live, love, compete and disappear without a trace while they are being prepared for the Journey.
What is the Journey? What happens to the ones who do not return? What unspeakable, stomach-churning things can happen to them there?
Even Ayana the Great Healer, Krave ‘The Golden One’ and the powerful Blu Tara are terrified of it.
Review
This one has me a little confused. My feelings are somewhat conflicted at the moment. I wasn't sure what the overall plot of the story was so I found it hard to keep up. But, I did like the characters and I thought the world building was unique. I also thought it was a great start to the series.
This one tells the story of Innovera Yakov, a world where nothing is as it seems. No one has much insight into the world their living or their past. Everyone has a certain special power to them.
This one has tons of important characters. I liked that everyone had their own purpose to the story. I didn't like having no back story. I understood why there wasn't but I didn't ever feel like I got to know the characters. It was also somewhat hard to keep up with all the characters. I did really like all the different powers. And, how the characters stuck together throughout the story. They learned to stick together and that everyone can be useful.
As I said earlier I wasn't too sure of the plot. For the first half it was just them living but then it became a journey. One thing I didn't really like was how everything was a hint about things to come. I know this is the first in a series but I wish it felt like it was important too instead of just setting up for the future bit was a little hard to keep up with at times because there wasn't much explaining of things. This one was difficult to put down because I wanted to know what was happening. It was fast paced at times. There was a fair share of action. The ending was kinda abrupt. It didn't wrap up much. So now I'm curious to see where to story is going to go. Overall this was just an okay read. It had some great aspects and some things that needed work. But I do think it was a great start. I do want to continue the series and learn more about these characters and this world.
Do you have a favorite character to write?
My favourite character is Ayana. I love Ayana, in Innovera Yakov. She is the underdog and it takes her a long time to discover her strengths. It took me a long time to start to believe in myself. The day I started doing that, I realised that I had the power to transform my life and be the person I hope to be. I can relate to her because she has scars, both inner and outer scares that she has to learn to live with and it’s only once she has embraced them that she truly begins to find herself.
Did you have any inspiration?
Ever since I can remember, I have always been writing, so I don't know if I can call it inspiration. But I certainly feel 'driven'. Still, I have always shied away from letting people read my work. At school, it was taboo to say that you wanted to be a writer; it was never a career option. I was led to believe that you had to be different, more intelligent even a little eccentric to be a writer.
I wake around two in the morning and the ideas come flooding into my head. I jot them down in my notepad which I always kept next to my pillow. They grow into stories or ideas for stories and my book evolved from that process.
Do you read YA books? If so what are some of your favorites?
YA fiction seems to me to be a recent category. I suppose that by YA we mean fiction aimed at 12-18 year olds. I particularly loved the Twilight and Harry Potter series. But that was some time ago. Recently I've been purchasing books whose storylines appeal to me; for example Gabrielle Zevin's, Elsewhere; Chanda Hahn's, UnEnchanted and Markus Zusak's wonderful novel, The Book Thief. I have to say, I read as widely as possible and not only what we refer to now as YA fiction. My bookshelf is packed with Stephen King's novels and quite a lot of crime fiction.
Do you listen to music while writing?
I do. Anything from swing-beat to blues to jazz. But I write best while listening to classical music turnED down low, especially Bach.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently while writing?
No there isn’t really anything I would have done differently. I am quite happy with what I have achieved.
What was the hardest and easiest part of writing for you?
The hardest part of writing for me is always when I am faced with characters who have to die or disappear. Losing them is very hard.
My favourite and easiest part is visualising the world my characters live in. I love mind-mapping that world and thinking of the possible dangers of falling in love in that world, including the terrible jealousies and rivalries that threaten to destroy the ones involved.
Is there anything you would like to share about your book?
I'd like people to read it and tell me what they think. If you're at that place in your life where relationships are important then Ayana's confusion about who she really loves will speak to you. If not Ayana then Krave's and Gamma's longing to be with each other at the risk of endangering their existence. Then there is the rivalry between Gamma and her sister, Blu Tara, where we have the idea of selfish, destructive love.
If you are more interested in drama and conflict there is more than enough to satisfy even the most enthusiastic thrill-seeker: the stand-off between Males and Males; Females and Females and Males and Females - who are every bit as powerful as the males. I haven't even mentioned the natural disasters like Firestorms and Floods they have to deal with and the big showdown between the Innoverans and their enemies from water world of Verheer.
So there is something in there for everyone, I believe.
What is your favorite candy?
Ferrero Rocher, but I'm also addicted to Snickers
Dogs or cats?
Cats! I have a cat named Shimore, and I adore her.
What is your favorite color?
Pink. It’s a soft, warm and gentle color, in my view.
What is your favorite TV show or movie?
I'm torn here. It used to be Face of an Angel but now it’s The Grey! In fact I am going to watch it right now.
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