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CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Pub date February 20, 2021
ISBN 978-1729659144
Price $15.99 (USD) Paperback, $0.00 Kindle edition
Hardy’s intriguing, engrossing tale set in a vividly realized world takes readers on a young woman’s journey to find her true identity. Left at the gate of a Christian orphanage, Nadia longs to learn about her real identity. But answers are difficult to come by, especially when there are things that make her different from others. When a chance encounter with a demonic Ringmaster, Alfredo, puts Nadia in harm’s way, an enigmatic child comes to Nadia’s aid. Together they set out on a journey to destroy the Ringmaster and uncover Nadia’s shadowy past. The setting is well-realized, and the likable protagonists are not only courageous but also believably flawed. In her quest to find her real identity while facing off the demonic Ringmaster, Nadia shows readers the power of perseverance, believing in one’s inner strength, and overcoming fear. The worldbuilding is vibrant and the pacing fluid. Both the story and the prose are rather straightforward, making it more suitable for middle-graders. Relevant themes of trauma, grief, pain, regret, teen and young adult angst, identity, and connection are also explored with honesty; many young readers will resonate with Nadia’s struggle to find her roots as she tries to come to terms with her trauma. Authentic action with plenty of food for thought, suffused in elements of fantasy, this is a satisfying read.
***
Categories: fantasy
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