Kira and Henry: Young Adult Fantasy Series
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Kira, the fearless teenage princess of the mythical kingdom of Latavia, has trained her whole life to rule until her father remarried and a male heir was born. When the new prince is kidnapped, Kira becomes a suspect. Kira and her childhood friend, Henry, must lead a quest through the Forbidden Lands to save her kingdom, prove her loyalty, and discover her heart. They encounter twin trolls that want to eat them, a monstrous mountain that won’t let them pass and a poison snake bridge that threatens their lives. But these dangers are not what they must fear the most. She is a flying raptor - a secret mutation she must hide or be exiled to the Enchanted Forest. Young Adult, but an exciting tale for all ages!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Nephew liked it - he's 12
I bought this for my nephew, who is a big gamer and hoped that by the cover, he'd read this. His mom (my sister) is a fussy person, so that meant I had to read it first before letting him read it on my Kindle. I liked it. It was a fun book. The story of Kira having to hide that she flies is cool, and that she gets replaced by a sibling - sad. I jumped to some of the chapters first and thought how she handled the snake bridge pretty good - reminds me of a video game. Same with the mountain - she uses her brains a lot. The verdict - my nephew who is 12 loved it. We celebrated last weekend. He doesn't like our big family gatherings, so I saw him reading it on my Kindle happily. I asked him what he thought, and he said - good. The next day, he texted that he finished it - liked it and to say thanks. That is a first. I asked him what he liked and he rattled off the Snake bridge, the fight at the ravine, the Twin Trolls. So I'm happy too. Good book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Adventure!
I really enjoyed this book.. I tend to read books before giving them to my Grandkids to be sure that they are suitable for their ages. I found this book to be entertaining and delightful. The characters responded to each other with a lot of fun play antics! Very enjoyable and I am looking forward to their next adventures!
5.0 out of 5 stars What a delight! I surrender!
What a delight! I surrender! Don’t hide, get on your raptor and fly to seek out this fantasy young adult novel. You’ll be enchanted with the exploits of Kiera, a princess wronged, in her search for truth, justice, and the kingdom’s way.
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for kids
I got this for my grandson, but read it first to make sure it was okay and loved it. What a fun tale, love the message that it is okay to be different and how to fight things by being smarter - not stronger. Great story, lots of fun.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story!
Exciting, with a wonderful ending. Great for young adults and adults young at heart, too.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story Telling
What a great book. I loved the story. This is a must have in your book collection.
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Prologue
Princess Kira remembered everything about the day she killed her mother. She had been summoned early to the queen's chambers; it was so early that Kira caught a glimpse of her mother's wings before her lady-in-waiting tucked them carefully into the queen's elegant morning gown.
"Kira," Queen Kirena said as she greeted her young daughter. Unlike most royals, the queen hugged her daughter affectionately.
"Let me look at you," the queen said as she spun Kira around.
"Can’t see a thing," Kira said proudly. She tugged at her tunic's shoulders and then two small wings came out.
"I'd rather you wear a gown like I do. The dressmaker has been disguising my wings for years."
"But how can I fence, jump on a horse, or joust in that," Kira said as she gently touched her mother's gown.
"Things that a young girl shouldn't be doing."
"I'm going to be the future ruler of Latavia, I have to be prepared,” Kira argued.
“A wise ruler doesn’t need the sword,” the queen said as she tucked in Kira’s wings. “Maybe someday, raptors will be accepted, but until then, we must be wise.”
“The first thing I will do is change that law.”
“Don’t you think your father has tried? He doesn’t want his wife and only child banished to the Enchanted Forest. But when that raptor stole the little girl and flew high into the air…”
“It was the arrows from the stupid villagers that killed her, not the raptor,” Kira argued. The queen agreed with a nod.
“A crowd of angry parents are a dangerous thing, remember that. Now, I need you to rest. I fear the plague has come to the castle gates.”
“But…” Kira started to argue, but she knew that face. If only she had listened to her mother that day.
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Sandi's books are published by SmilingEagle Press - https://www.smilingeagle.com/
Wilma Wallaby: A Genius Girl Detective Series
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As a modern-day Enola Holmes, Wilma Wallaby is an aspiring kick-ass detective. When she overhears a real murder being planned, she must stand up against her bully of a brother in her crafty way before she is the one who gets murdered. Young Adult Mystery.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I read this to see if okay for my kids and I couldn't put it down - read in one afternoon. Magic Kingdom is my happy place and this took me back to my childhood. Great read.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for young or young at heart
Funny and engaging, great for younger kids, teens and forever young like myself. Wilma is a hoot.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
As a soon to be, first-time father, I want my daughter to be strong like Wilma - a great book for young girls and boys alike.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Book for All Ages, Not Just Pixies
I bought this for a niece who is a huge Disney fan, as am I. So, of course, I also had to read it. Lucky me. I found the story to be both funny and suspenseful. Wilma is a delight. And guess what? Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo… I feel younger having read this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
I really like Wilma, and it was fun to virtually visit the Magic Kingdom.
5.0 out of 5 stars Magic Disney World
I bought for my grandson, but read it first to make sure okay and it was so good. He has started reading and likes it and he is hard to get to read, but he likes Disney.
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It Could be Worse
Preventing a murder can make you thirsty, but that was the least of my problems. Anytime I was in a frightful situation, I liked to make a mental list of how it could be worse. Last week, when I was caught in a rainstorm, I thought it could be worse; there could be thunder and lightning. Today, I was trapped in a murderer’s hotel closet. My hands were zip-tied behind me, and I was up against a wall. I could tap with my toe on the other side and lean each way to feel the back of the closet and door. My mouth was covered with duct tape, and I was claustrophobic.
Having a fear of small places triggered my panic attacks. It was hard for others to understand, but I explained that it was like body surfing in the ocean. You could see infinity along the horizon. The air was heavenly with sea salts, and each deep breath brought billions of life molecules. The water was translucent, and the sun made my toes look like sparkling starfish.
Then, something pulled me under. It might have been a crushing wave, but it could be worse. If it was a saltwater crocodile that frequents our Florida coast, then I knew that sticking my fingers in its nostrils would force it to release me. A shark? Simple, hit it hard in the snout. My brother Winston? The best solution was to go limp. He only enjoyed it when I put up a fight.
But today, it couldn’t be any worse, I thought. People would die because of me. Peter had tossed me into this closet, and the last thing I saw was the baggie in his pocket with the poison.
Was that what I was smelling? I wondered. My nose started to get stuffed up. I couldn’t breathe. Panic set in. I kicked the closet wall. I had to get out!
Peter opened the door a crack and held up the baggie full of poison crystals.
“Hush! One more sound out of you, and I’ll put one of these in your mouth,” he said as he slammed the closet door shut. I froze. Getting poisoned wasn’t on the mental list of ways that I thought Peter would kill me after seeing all those terrible things on his bed.
It could get worse, I thought. Peter was going to kill Justin and maybe Ryan during the next hour, and I wouldn’t be able to prevent it. Claire will never find out that her father was the ferry boy. I had failed as a detective. Peter was probably going to come back and kill me.
Thinking that I was going to be murdered wasn’t a problem. I was used to it, but other people dying was new.
It had all started in my own closet twenty-four hours ago.
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Sandi's books are published by SmilingEagle Press - https://www.smilingeagle.com/
Coming soon! Young Adult Fantasy RomCom
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When a wolf saves your life, falling in love gets complicated.
Dakota Buschkoetter thought moving to Oklahoma would be his worst nightmare—until a she-wolf named Chandra stops him from eating poison berries. Now she won't leave him alone. Literally. She's living in his guest room. As a human girl.
Cherokee legend says spirit guides appear during blood moons to help lost souls find their way. But Chandra has three years until she can stay human forever—and Dakota's crush on redheaded Riana is seriously complicating things.
Sometimes the hardest choice isn't between two people.
It's between two worlds.
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You've written the Indigenous YA fantasy rom-com the market doesn't know it needs. It's Ms. Marvel meets Reservation Dogs with the heart of Heartstopper—and it's authentically, specifically Cherokee in a way that enhances rather than limits its appeal.
Stan Lee would greenlight this. More importantly, Indigenous teens deserve to see themselves as romantic leads in supernatural stories—not just tragic historical figures or mystical sidekicks.
You've given them Dakota, Chandra, and a world where being Cherokee and being in love and being awkward and being brave all coexist.
That's the revolution.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND for publication and continued development. Read full review