Bookworm for Kids: Review: Lost by Donnielle Tyner with Giveaway @SparkleBookTour @donnielletyner

Presented by: Sparkle Book Tours

Lost - The Caelian Cycle # 1

by Donnielle Tyner

Audience: Young Adult - Genre: SciFi, Paranormal - Format: E-book and Paperback - Publisher: Donnielle Tyner - Cover by: Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs - Editor: Jessica Nelson of Rare Bird Editing - Pages: 208 - ISBN-10: 069243299X - ISBN-13: 978-0692432990 - ASIN: B00YFPW3N8 - Date Published: 6/19/2015

During WW1, a meteorite crashed, releasing a mist that changed the DNA of all who were exposed. One hundred years has passed and society is divided between the Norms and the Caelians, whose changed DNA awakened dormant gifts, called Talents.
Sadie is over it!
She’s an orphan, her boyfriend was murdered, and she’s the only Caelian at St. Vincent’s without a Talent. Once she turns 18, there will be no place for her in the world. That is, until a chance encounter with Kian, a Caelian boy who makes her feel uncomfortable and alive at the same time.
Secrets of her past are uncovered and Sadie’s latent, rare Talent is exposed. With great power comes the hunters, hired by an egomaniac who wants to use Sadie’s power to establish Caelian dominance. On the run with Kian and her friends, Sadie will have to decide: hide or fight.
Will Sadie accept her new reality or will she stay lost?

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MY TIDBITS

This story is set in a different reality, where a meteorite crash during WWI has left a portion of humanity with special Talents (a type of magical power), while the other portion has remained normal. This has not only started a distrust between the two factions, but the talented themselves are divided a bit like mob families (but supposedly a kind type). This world has many similarities to our own, which made it easy to get caught up in despite differences such as colored skin.

Sadie is a senior at an orphange with a secret past, which we do get a glimpse of in the prologue (one of the few times I found a prologue helpful). Since her boyfriend was murdered in front of her eyes, she carries some baggage, but still, is a strong character who is very easy to like and cheer for. She has a big heart, is ready to dive into danger, and knows what her priorities are. But she still is a little unsure of herself and people around her...almost shy. Especially her friends added a nice flare, not only being full of energy and life, but made it easy to see the good points in Sadie. I think readers will have no trouble picturing her as a possible friend of their own.

The beginning was a bit difficult for me. It felt more like a book 2 in a series than the beginning of one. Although all necessary information is disclosed as the pages go on, I felt the urge to stop reading and grab book 1 first (which doesn't exist) so as to fill in the gaps and experiences Sadie had before. But ignoring this, the story grabbed after the first pages and didn't let go, only stumbling now and then over little plot holes.

That said, I did read this in one setting. There's a dark, mysterious guy who brings the entire thing to life, and tension mounts on every page. The evil side is evil...very violent...and Sadie gets few quiet moments as she discovers the mysteries of her past. A scene or two toward the ending seemed to be lacking a little on stakes, but the ending was able to wrap that up nicely as well.

Summed up, this is an enjoyable read. There are a few typos and a few tiny holes, but it didn't change the fact that I was swept away for most of the book and definitely will be looking forward to getting my fingers on book 2. It's times like these that I wish there was a 4.5 star possibilities.

Amazon / Goodreads / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

I put my phone back in my back pocket. Crossing my arms, I looked up at the stars again. The night was devoid of clouds, unusual for spring. Golden stars glittered across the heavens, winking at me from the endless arch of the void and transporting me to a place of tranquillity. The peace of space poured into my soul.
“What’s a Liam moment?” Kian’s gruff voice whispered. I felt his hot breath caress my ear. His closeness both startled me and sent a shiver down my spine. I straightened my back.
“I thought I told you I wasn’t interested.” I attempted to make my voice sound forceful, but it came out soft. I felt the heat from his body as he stepped closer to me.
“What’s your name?” Kian asked. The gruffness of his voice from earlier had left. This new voice was smooth and flowed like poetry. My heart sped up and I heard the blood pulsing in my ears. I was sure he could hear it. What kind of Talent was he using to cause me to react this way?
“Quit using your Talent on me,” I hissed.
“I’m not. If I was, you’d know it,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Oh.” I didn’t understand what was happening. He placed a hand on my waist and the warmth was searing. I was sure it would leave a mark. My eyes closed and my breath deepened. Tingles flowed from his hand, spreading throughout my body and stirring something in my soul. I released a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. “Take your hand off me and back away before I break your fingers.”
Kian snickered. “Spunky.”
“Creepy,” I replied.
Kian chuckled again, his hot breath shooting sparks right to my stomach.
“Don’t make me ask again.” I felt his hand tense. His fingers increased their pressure against my waist right before the coldness swept in as he removed his hand. I released the breath I was holding.

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Donnielle Tyner has held down many jobs, but never found satisfaction until she became a freelance writer and stay at home mom. She began writing in junior high when a teacher gave her a book of poetry. Ever since, she found a deep passion for reading and writing. Donnielle is from North Texas and enjoys her chickens, garden, and most of all her children.