North Star Rising by Darielle Mac is a magical tale that will thrill fans of Fantasy and YA. This coming-of-age story follows Amber Emrys who lives in the isle of Tir Na Nor in the North Sea. Pavarotti, a Puffin, has watched over Amber as she grew up from a chick to a fledgling. As her Nest Naming Celebration approaches, Amber discovers a secret that makes her question everything she has ever known. So, she sets out to uncover the secret about her mother's death and her hidden identity.
This is a tale of family, love, adventure, and self-discovery. Readers are introduced to Amber who lives with her father, and her world is filled with wonder as she explores the world under the watchful eyes of Pavarotti. In this coming-of-age, the heroine must uncover the truth about her identity, the highlight of the plot. The pacing is great, the lyrical writing entices readers through every page, and the first-person narrative voice beautifully captures the perspective and the inner world of the young heroine. The descriptions are terrific, offering wonderful imagery to delight and prick the imagination of readers. The image of the grassy dune highlands that bypass two large rocks with strange shadows is one superb example. The rocks turn out to be trolls that are “tall and square with a gristly lichen beard; one is corpulent with bird nests in place of hair.” Darielle Mac is a great storyteller whose North Star Rising is a gorgeous offering for readers looking for a fun read filled with adventure. Relationships between the characters are well-written, the world-building is impeccable, a dazzling world filled with all sorts of creatures. This novel is as well-written as it is transporting.
Reviewed By: Daniel Rhodes
Self-discovery is something everyone must face. Sometimes, things might be going well around us, but then a feeling that something is missing keeps lurking in our minds. This is the case of Amber in the book North Star Rising by Darielle Mac.
This book starts with the introduction of Pavarotti, a bird, after a self-indulgent landing. Then we see Amber searching for her soul gem. This gem is said to reveal problems you must overcome in your life's path and mirror your soul. You will have a guide to help you stay on the right path for your true destiny if a soul gem chooses you to be its steward. When a person discovers a soul gem, the finder will soon depart from their family to go on a quest. When Amber found her soul gem, it became evident that a quest was before her. She started experiencing things pointing to this quest. In Amber's family history, they celebrate their "Story-Nest Naming Day" when they turn fourteen. This is when you celebrate yourself and take up your own name. This name you take up is used for your nest. When she found her soul gem, she discovered something about her family that her father (Finn) had hidden from her for years to protect her. This new knowledge sets her on a quest for self-discovery. What did Amber Emrys learn about her family? What did she discover on her journey? It would be best if you found out, and the only way to find out is by reading this book.
I loved a lot of things about North Star Rising by Darielle Mac. First, this book started in a fun way that will draw you in, thanks to Pavarotti. Pavarotti is a guardian in the air of the Isle of Tir Na Nor. The bird is responsible for weaving the nests. Pavarotti has a humourous personality that makes you love the bird. Second, this book contains images at the beginning of every chapter. This was one of the things I loved most about the book. Third, I love how short each chapter is. It makes the reading process fast and easy. Themes of music, family, and self-discovery can be seen in this book. Finally, the book was well-plotted with a captivating storyline. You can never predict where the story will go, as it all comes as a surprise. I could never have guessed what Count Framboiz was up to. Also, it was heartwarming to see some of the songs I love in this book, especially "Falling, falling, ground control to Major Tom," "I'm just a soul whose intentions are good," and "Country roads, take me home." Pete has the best collection of songs! Now I wish I could have him!
The book explores a magical island called Tir Na Nor, where a lot of things are possible. I commend Darielle Mac for being very descriptive in this book. The characters and scenes were well-developed, making the environment come alive in my mind's eye.
The author's style is just something so dynamic and beautiful to behold. This book could only be written by a talented writer. The way the Islanders speak might confuse some readers, but it fascinated me. I had to drastically reduce my reading speed so that I could keep up with the way the Islanders spoke. Nothing in this book diminished its excellence for me, so I am rating it the 4 out of 4 stars it deserves.
The fantasy world the author describes is so magical. I would recommend this book to readers who love to read about fantasy and magical worlds. This book is suitable for readers from age 12 and above. I will say that this book was professionally edited, as I encountered just a few errors while reading it.
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I found Skooter Girl by Darielle Mac with illustrations by Dell Barras to be a fun book. It is an enchanting fantasy about a lively young girl, Amber, who has just turned 16, who lives in a forgotten land. Bran Bloom, a handsome loving man wants desperately to marry her and Amber’s dad is pushing her to do so, but Amber does not love him, feels she is too young to marry at age 16, and has a yearning to travel.
Amber travels to the home of her uncle who is an unusual inventor. He invented a skooter that can fly, a robot that speaks and sings. Her uncle gifts Amber the flying electric skooter and off she goes to find her mother whom she has discovered is alive and playing in a rock band.
Readers will enjoy Amber’s adventure and the images in the graphic novel.
Darielle Mac’s Skooter Girl is a great book not just for YA readers and fans of graphic novels but for almost all speculative fiction fans. The world is well-developed, the characters come in a wide range of personalities and backgrounds, and the illustrations are vivid and beautiful. I truly could not put it down until I finished all 80 pages (which, as it turns out, don’t take that long to get through).
Amber is an ordinary girl on the brink of womanhood. Well, mostly ordinary, except for the fact that she lives on a small mythical island called Tir Na Nor (roughly translated to magic Isle) and has the “magic touch” when it comes to music and plants. On the day of her sixteenth birthday, the revelation of a big surprise from her father leaves Amber with a choice to make: stay and follow the path her father has set for her future, or explore the world and find her destiny herself.
With the help of family, old friends, and new friends, Amber sets out to begin a new chapter in her life filled with adventure, mystery, and secrets buried deep in her family’s past. What curveballs will Amber’s new life throw at her? Will she discover the truth behind her identity and her family’s history? And what in the world is happening to the wine grapes of Colorfulnation?
The world which Mac creates gripped me from page one; from selkies to robots, an inventor to a prophetic music teacher, both the concepts and the characters of this short illustrated novel are as diverse as you’d expect to see in real life. I wish that more of this diversity had been shown in the races and ethnicities of the characters, but there’s only so much that can be done in 80 pages (and islands as small as Tir Na Nor aren’t normally known for their diversity). I was captivated by the magic and the magical creatures Mac introduces, and I can’t wait to find out more; I was actually disappointed that the book ended when it did. I wanted to learn more about Amber, Tir Na Nor, Colorfulnation, everything about the world of Skooter Girl—fortunately for me, “to be continued” means another book is forthcoming.
Of course, this means that the ending is quite the cliffhanger. While I was disappointed with that, it also makes me excited to read the next book, and I’m certain that other fans of this genre will feel the same. However, if you don’t like suspenseful cliffhangers, this book might not be for you.
All in all, this book is lighthearted and beautifully illustrated. Young adults will really relate to the coming-of-age story, and science fiction/fantasy stories will love all the fantastical elements. I highly recommend it, especially if you need a quick, fun read to pass the time.
Perfect, engaging reading for my 12 year old granddaughter...increased confidence and thoughtfulness!
