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World Of Zaylyn fantasy novel Feedback and Comment
Here you can read the feedback from fellow readers.
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******* WORLD OF ZAYLYN professional reviews *********************
### Writer's Digest judge's commentary: ### Book #1
Score of 1-5 (1 meaning poor to 5 meaning excellent)
Plot: 4 Grammar: 5 Character development: 4 Cover design: 5
Category: Genre Fiction
== The cover is intriguing. I was particularly curious about the cloaked figure on the left-hand side of the picture. The author has clearly drawn a vivid word picture of the setting and characters in her book, Quest for the Sword of Anthrowst. This story of the forces of good and evil is strongly told, with sympathetic characters and obvious villians. The dialogue is interesting and for the most part natural. The narrative is written in a very clear, straightforward manner. The author's voice is strong and consistent, with intersting word choices and clever phrases.
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### Writer's Digest judge's commentary: ### Book #1
Category: Mainstream/Literary Fiction
== The author has taken a great deal of care to create this unique world. It's obvious that the author is well-versed in fantasy literature and is approaching it from the perspective of creating a world like ones created by Tolkien and Robert Jordan and even George Lucas.
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### Writer's Digest judge's commentary: ### Book #1 + 2
Plot: 3 Grammar: 3 Character development: 4 Cover design: 1
== The author has a talent for characterization, making clear the distinctions among various characters by their speech patterns, word choice and tone. For example, Vordin speaks/thinks in a halting, childlike manner at the beginning of the book, before his bildungsroman has commenced ("I'm a selfish coward. I was rightened. I panicked. I ran and hid...."). Shadow, on the other hand, speaks in complex sentences, with a much more sophisticated vocabulary ("He expects you to act in a similar manner to a certain degree. He will know instantly if you become attracted even in the slightest to another and will probably accept it, as long as you don't compare, or judge, or feel you must trade one love for another."). I'm impressed by the fact that once the reader becomes more familiar with the characters and the tone of each, it's often clear who's talking, even without dialogue tags. That's impressive, because effective dialogue can be a challenge.
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### Writer's Digest judge's commentary: ### Book #1 + 2
Plot: 4 Grammar: 4 Character development: 4 Cover design: 2
Category: Middle-Grade/Young Adult Books
== If you like "Lord of the Rings" type fantasy, you will like this book. Actually, this was 2 volumes in one. The story was complicated. there are lots of characters, human, elf, creatures, etc. Ms. Mandrake-Johnston has put together a wide sweeping world and populated with many diverse characters. There is a quest and evil to outrun or defeat. For the genre, it was well done and well conceived.
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THE WORLD OF ZAYLYN (to post similar feedback, put "Zaylyn" in subject and send email to katshyann@hotmail.com)
Age groups: under 14 / 14-19 / 20-29 / 30-39 / 40-49 / 50-59 / 60-69 / 70+
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=> Age: under 14 yrs / Favorite character: The fairy queen + Nexzath / Comments: It's really good
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= > Age: under 14 yrs / Favorite character: The fairy queen / Comments: good
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= > Age: 50 - 59 yrs / Favorite character: Dendrox + Nodwel / Favorite chapter: “The Scissors” and “The Bounty Hunters” / Comments: very imaginative. The characters of Dendrox, Nodwel, and Candra are very well developed and seem realistic
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= > Age: 50 - 59 yrs / Favorite character: Weena / Comments: a trip into fantasy, everyone should read it
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= > Age: 14 - 19 yrs / Favorite character: The Black Shadow / Comments: great story and holds your interest
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= > Age: 20 - 29 yrs / Favorite character: Dendrox
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= > Age: 70 and up yrs / Favorite character: Vordin / Comments: very well written and draws reader into the story
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= > Age: 70 and up yrs / Comments: impressed that the characters have so much dimension even to their thoughts and dreams. I visualize the people and events rather than just seeing words. It's very good and I had a hard time putting it down. I can hardly wait to read #2
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= > Age: 50 - 60 yrs / Comments: I don't normally read fantasy, but I found it to be excellent and I recommend others to read it.
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= > Age: 20 - 29 yrs / Comments: Hey! I finished your books the other day. They were great! I couldn't hardly put it down. Most of the time I would find myself reading your book until 1:30 or so in the morning. Or worse I would find myself reading the book instead of studying for an upcoming exam :) Considering I'm in college that is practically every week. I really enjoyed reading your books and I can't wait to read the third one. I can't thank you enough for sending me your books so I could explore the world of zaylyn. Thanks again. Bye!!
P.S. Do you have a guess on when #3 will come out or be finished. Thanks. I hope your book sells wonderfully. Later!
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= > Age: 20 - 29 yrs / favorite characters: Asdella + Blandorf / comments: i hate to read, almost as much as i hate to type, so the fact that this books is making me do both is suprizing. but at least it had a nice physcodic half naked warrior chick was nice. every time she's mentioned; you can look forward to someone eating her sword >^.^< ... then there's blandorf... well he's a gargoyle
( o.O)" .. need i say more? if so... " TOO BAD!! "
_l_ ( @.@) _l_ read the book :P
######### A DOORWAY OF MIRRORS professional reviews ##############
WRITER'S DIGEST JUDGE REVIEW: (Book #1 - Part 1)
Category: Children's picture books
scale of 1-5 poor =1 excellent =5
Plot: 5 Grammer: 3 Character development: 5 Cover design: 5
= Judge's commentary:
== The story is well plotted. The author explains Jenny's disappearance by way of the clock recently added to the household. As in all good stories, the problem of the narrative is revealed immediately. The genre of the story is a popular one. Middle grade and upper elementary boys especially like fantasies. It's a tale of another world, dispossessed queens and an evil man with no name. In short, it has all the ingredients for a "page turner" book. Billy is a well draen character. he might be willing to risk his life in another dimension, but he doesn't mind putting his adventure on hold until after he eats pizza. As in fairy tales and other well told tales, Billy meets unusual characters in his quest who help him. The cloack was especially interesting, for it had a definite personality. Squeeshna and Rashnin are appealing as well. A lesson to children can be taught here. Billy's friends are odd, but that doesn't make them unworthy or unappealing. The set of questions at the end of the book is a good idea. The author created a fascinating world that I found hard to leave.
WRITER'S DIGEST JUDGE REVIEW: (Book #1 - Part 1-3)
Category: Children's picture books
Structure and organization: 4 Grammer: 2 1/2 Cover design: 2
= Judge's commentary:
== What an imagination this author has! She does and excellent job of taking us straight into the action, rather than wasting pages with introductions and backstory. From there, it's a fast-,oving story that's chock full of creative characters and an interesting plot. The descriptions are succinct and amusing, the bits of light humour serve the story well, and the author has a good sense of dialogue. I believe this story would be of great interest to kids in the intended age group, and could easily be spun off into a movie, television series, comic book, etc.
www.world-of-zaylyn-fantasy-novels.ws (order / guide site)
Greater book details, size, IBSN, etc.
Access World of Zaylyn book #1 = read first three chapters
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Send E-Mail to: katshyann@hotmail.com
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