A Journey Unveiled Reviews
The number of ratings and reviews always varies between Amazon marketplaces, but for some reason since publishing a second edition of A Journey Unveiled, some sites have dropped as drastically as from 17 to 4. I've contacted customer service several times, but it still hasn't been taken care of.
Thankfully, I have a habit of copying the reviews into a Word document for easy reference when I create advertising. So here they are! Every review A Journey Unveiled has received in any Amazon marketplace as well as from Goodreads. The final three reviews are from Instagram. All were copied and pasted without correction or any form of alteration.
I'll update this post each time I receive a new review from any platform, and please check out the post with An Enemy Defined's reviews while you're here.
Thank you for your support!
Aaron Zappacosta
5 out of 5 stars
Incredible First Steps into a Fantastical New World!
Reviewed in Canada on June 16, 2022
Angie Hardy
5 out of 5 stars
Very good
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2022
I was so caught up in this book. I enjoyed it it’s a fun book. I was given an arc and I choose to give an honest review.
Karenb
4 out of 5 stars
So emotionally driven
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2022
This books starts with an emotional doozy. And it just keeps going. Plus a fun supernatural element. Fast paced
Gumiho Reviews
5 out of 5 stars (Goodreads)
It was amazing
Trigger warning: death, grief,
violence, oppression, slavery, sexual assault, rape
Magic, elements, portals, and prophecies, what’s not to
love?
A Journey Unveiled by Amy Maltman is the
first in the Daughter of Venus Trilogy and is an epic journey of coming
together to release the oppressed. (MILD SPOILERS IN THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH) Lexi, the air and Aeric, the fire are
prophesied to be, as a duo, the one. One from another world and the other, the
hated prince, are meant to save everyone from the tyranny and oppression his
father and grandfather have institutionalized. They have to learn to use their
magic while working together in order to fulfill the prophecy. In addition,
Aeric has to go against his father, who thinks he’s dead. At least it’ll be a
surprise. (END OF SPOILERS)
Oh my goddess, this story was so action packed, I wasn’t
ready for it! Literally from the prologue, I was thrust into exciting and
intense chaos. Then from there, a plane crash and some portal magic. I mean,
what a great way to keep the reader engaged. With a combination of science, astrology,
magic, war, monarchy, and a prophecy, this was as epic as one would think.
I love that the main characters were so diverse. Not only
were they from different worlds, but also Lexi was biracial. It was definitely
a lot to take in, but so worth it and relatable to today’s societal issues.
There was also a fun anecdote with time and the constant explanation of
technology. This was beautifully written!
This would be great for anyone who’s into portal
fantasies, epic fantasies, a prophecy based story, and a start to an enemies to
lovers romance/friendship.
I’m excited to dive into An Enemy Defined!
This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of A Journey Unveiled from Amy Maltman via Hidden Gems
Julie
5.0 out of 5 stars
The first of an epic fantasy series- easy to follow and engaging!
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2022
'A Journey Unveiled' is the first
book in a series. The beginning was gripping, with shock value-- a terrible
tragedy kicking off the story of Lexi, a young woman who had lived in
modern-day Canada. She is on an airline flight with her entire family-- and the
plane crashes.
Lexi is the sole survivor of her family. With nowhere to go, she finds herself
taken in by strangers who take her to a portal into a magical, parallel
medieval-style fantasy world and a nation called Gowerland, ruled by the royal
family of Gower.
What comes is similar to classic stories like Lord of the Rings, but in an easy
to read and digestible form which can be enjoyed by adults and teens alike.
This is an epic fantasy for the reader who can feel overwhelmed by more
long-winded novel series. This book is fast-paced, engaging, and flows well
without a lot of world detail to bog down the reader. When we learn about the
world, we learn it as Lexi does, within the dialogue and storyline.
(WARNING: SPOILERS IN THE REST OF THIS REVIEW)
Lexi is trained by a magical woman named Kiandra. She is hiding in her home a
prince named Aeric, whose father, the king of Gowerland, was a cruel tyrant.
Aeric must choose- either be cruel and evil as his father or make his own way.
Lexi is not fond of him and his attitude-- he's said to be very much the king's
son, and hated.
I absolutely love the gradual alliance, acceptance, and even friendship (the
bloom of a potential romance!) between Prince Aeric and Lexi. There's a bit of
a love triangle between Aeric, Lexi, and another young man named Jarsen, which
gets the romance-happy reader like me anxious to find out from the beginning of
the book which guy ends up winning her heart! There's no 'steam' in this story
at all. It's wholesome in that aspect, though there is a good deal of violence
and battle.
Lexi learns that she, too, is able to unleash an elemental power that she can
use against foes. There are also a group of 'light' elves who are on their
side. Their leader gives Lexi and Aeric his amulet necklace to call them for
help if needed- which is a delightful trope and one of my favorite details.
There is a community of dwarves who even have a queen of their own, and 'dark'
elves whom I'm curious to read more about in the next story.
Lexi and Aeric's storyline includes a quest to rescue someone, leading to a
series of violent battles, which are exciting and well-detailed. It ends with a
tragedy which I was sad to read, but also a lead-in for a classic quest journey
for the second book.
In all, this was a great read!
KennyB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Would totally recommend
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2022
Verified Purchase
My friend was raving about this book so I decided to check it out. Was sooo glad I did. Its a fantastic story with well developed and believable characters (who you will both love and hate in equal measure) set in a world where you can just lose yourself. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Jon Herrera (author of Emma and the Minotaur and Emma and the Prince of Darkness)
5.0 out of 5 stars
It’s part slice of life, part epic fantasy
Reviewed in Canada on May 1, 2022
Verified Purchase
Recently, I found out that the
word count for this book is close to 100,000. I was very surprised because I
felt that the book was much shorter than that. Thinking back on it, though, I
can see that, yes, there was who lot of stuff that happened in the story so the
word count certainly makes sense, but it’s a compliment to the author that this
feels like a much shorter book than it actually is. When I was finished with
the book, after reading an exciting and heartbreaking climax, I immediately
wanted to continue with the second book in the series.
The opening of the story is equally exciting. The fantastic prologue takes
place in a another world, the one we’ll be spending most of our time in, during
the dying moments of a battle. Here is where me meet Prince Aeric, one of the
main characters of the story. He has been near-fatally injured, and we read
about his struggle with whether death would be better than fighting to keep on
living. Thinking back on it, I do believe that this is the only part of the story
described from Aeric’s perspective. It sets the stage for who he will be for
the rest of the story, and provides the insight needed in order to understand
the choices that he makes.
And then we find ourselves on a plane. It is, after all, a portal fantasy type
of book. On the plane, we meet our other main character, Lexi, through whose
eyes we see the rest of the story unfold. As can be seen in the description,
things are not going to go well during this plane ride.
This opening is another excellent introduction to a character. It’s an intense
and exciting sequence, and we get a peek into Lexi’s family dynamic before it’s
all taken away from her. We see a few precious moments between Lexi and her
family before the plane goes down and tragedy strikes.
I was curious about how a story that begins with tragedy would move on to more
of a portal fantasy territory. You know, with all the fun magic and all that. I
have to say that this was done very well. Lexi is suitably heartbroken and
desperate as she finds her way through a portal to another world. Once there, a
good portion of the book takes place in the same location, a small town called
Jalnarrah. It is here that Lexi gets the time to grieve for her family for a
short while before being required to learn about her new world and the magic
she did not know she possessed.
This part of the story, Lexi’s time in Jalnarrah has a sort of slice of life
quality to it as we see Lexi get acquainted with the town and form
relationships with its inhabitants. These relationships are critical to the the
stunning climax.
I like to think of the climax of this one as something of a double feature.
Lexi’s life in the sleepy Jalnarrah takes an abrupt turn as a tragic fate
befalls the town. From this point on, I felt spoiled by the story. This second
part of the book just does not let up, going from exciting development to
exciting development. There is a short break in between the two big events,
thankfully, giving the reader a few moments to catch their breath.
I very much enjoyed this dual quality of the book. It’s part slice of life,
part epic fantasy. The ending is fantastic, and though it brings closure to
this part of the story, it certainly ignited my interest for the subsequent
volumes. I can’t wait to read the next book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2022
Nick Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read for those who love fantasy novels
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2022
kindle customer (a.k.a Peter-Shaun Tyrell, author of The Oath & Blood Price Parts 1 & 2)
5.0 out of 5 stars
Such an enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 October 2021
Verified Purchase
Firstly this is probably one of the most unique ways to
start a fantasy book I have ever read.
A classic fantasy tale. A chosen one and a prophecy with an evil overlord to
overthrow.
Lexi brings a fresh take on the story with her unique perspective and her voice
gives some great moments of humour.
The connection between characters is slowly and purposefully built making all
their decisions and actions worthwhile.
Highly recommend for fantasy and general readers.
buttenhole
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy it!
Reviewed in Canada on July 9, 2021
Amazingly written storyline, that is hard to put down. Detailed enough to not be overwhelming, yet you can picture yourself there, in the book, like a birds eye view. The descriptive writing is excellent. Highly recommend you purchase this, you won't regret it!
Reviewed in Canada on July 5, 2021
darnfinehobby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best story ever!!!
Reviewed in Canada on March 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book is a can't put it down read. You get captivated on the first page, the author is a great story teller. The only disappointment is finding you are at the end and have to wait for what's next. I highly recommend this author, my new favourite!!!!
J
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating!
Reviewed in Canada on June 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am a big fantasy/sci-fi nut and this book really hit the spot! Captivating read from beginning to end--can't wait for more to come out in this series! I guess I will just have to re-read this one in the mean time.
Sam Tarantino
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read!
Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
I loved this book! It had an interesting plot, and I literally couldn’t put it down. The writing was awesome, and I thought it was a great read! If you love adventure, fantasy and magic, this is definitely the book for you!
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down!
Reviewed in Canada on September 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
A fantastic read from start to finish. Exciting and well written. Looking forward to the sequel!
K Szijarto
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting fantasy adventure
Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
An exciting fantasy adventure topped with a strong heroine. I fell in love with the characters, their relationships, and love Lexi's connection with animals. Amazing read that I could not put down!
Earl Dunn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cant wait for the second book in the series
Reviewed in Canada on February 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
The book was well written held my interest throughout. The story moved along at a good pace. The characters were well developed. With that said I cant wait to read more from this writer.
Oota E. Love
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressed!
Reviewed in Canada on January 23, 2020
SO GOOD.
I feel replete. And I can’t wait to read the next one!
The story arc was pitch-perfect. SO many times it took me by surprise,
which feels rare for me to experience anymore. I fully got into all the
characters, to the point of serious grief over an unexpected death (not going
to give any spoilers.) It’s just … the bomb. I absolutely loved it. This
story is so freaking awesome.
I kept saying to my partner ..."holy crap... I think I'm reading the
beginning of the next Harry Potter-style series"
Annieo
5.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable fantasy and page turner!
Reviewed in Canada on March 11, 2020
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this story. A
delightful fantasy! Lots of action and suspense, and I found Amy's writing
skills excellent in explaining scenes and describing characters (Trolls, elves,
witches, along with both hateful and hunky men :)
I'm an animal lover, especially horses and dogs. I enjoyed Lexi's ability to
communicate with the horses and the fierce-gentle, "huge black dog"
in the story.
Emotions in this captivating fantasy range from tragically sad scenes to
laughter, anger, to love and happiness. I picked up possible undertones of an
unlikely blooming romance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE: For those of you who may struggle like I did with some of the many names
and characters in the book, turn four pages BACKWARDS from the REAR book cover
where you'll find a "Character and Pronunciation Guide." It helps to
know who's who. Thanks Amy!
And now I look forward to the sequel...
Over-spending Mum
5.0 out of 5 stars Characters to connect with, be infuriated by and to ultimately adore.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2020
Verified Purchase
I read this in one sitting,
falling in love with the characters immediately. A fantastic read and one to go
back to time and time again.
Honestly fantastic.
Caroline
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2020
Wow, I really enjoyed this book.
Lexi starts out her day as an
average person on vacation with her family and ends it with a horrifying plane
crash and an accidental trip into an alternate world that she is now stuck in.
That's one heck of a day.
In fact, one of the things I
appreciated most about this book in the pacing. She doesn't experience that day
and just dive into her new life. She proceeds to spend a week recovering
physically and emotionally. And it's not a boring read by any means as Lexi is
also inquisitive and willing to learn more about this new world. Other aspects
of good pacing I noticed were how long it takes for news to travel (for the most
part as, besides magic, the fastest mode of transportation is horse). And how
the author includes details like eating meals and learning magic. These details
may seem small, but they help keep the story from flying away at breakneck
speed and they help develop a fully-fleshed out world.
I also love the emotions the
characters experience. Lexi has just suffered a horrible tragedy and upheaval
the likes of which I cannot imagine and it shows. She spends days grieving her
old life and even months into the story she still feels the pain of loss. She's
not just some robot who can brush off negative emotions like dust and move on.
Aside from my love of how the
author paced her book and wrote Lexi, the world we find ourselves in is a
well-developed fantasy land filled with magic, elves, dwarves, and witches. And
that's just book one! I'm excited to see where the rest of the story takes us.
Good for people who like fantasy with a serving of prophecy.
Tiffany Martin (Pages and Ponies on Instagram)
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Fantasy Book!
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2020
What a lovely, magical journey to a new
world! If you enjoy Elves, Dwarves, witches, and even goblins, this is the
story for you!
Following a bad plane accident, Lexi finds herself stumbling through a portal
into an alternate world...where it is supposedly her fate to help save it!
I was immediately swept away by the possibility that Lexi's fate is tied to
that of Prince Aeric and they must find a way to save all of those they care
about before it is too late.
However, Aeric isn't too keen on helping Lexi and he doesn't seem completely
trustworthy. After all, his dad is the head of the opposing force.
But, even though I didn't trust Prince Aeric completely, I still liked him!
He's just cool and a great character! I also really liked the characters of
Jarsen, Elf Lord Taron and Lexi's mentor, Kiandra.
I admit the world building had me a bit confused at times because of it's
complexity and because it is a lot to take in. However, I adored the story
and the characters. This is one to read if you enjoy a good fantasy so I
certainly recommend it!
Ariel
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excited to see where the story goes.
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020
As a disclaimer I received a free
copy of this book to review. Now onto my review.
If you are a lover of quest books such as The Lord of the Rings this is going
to be a series to keep you eye on. Elves, magic, kings, and other creatures
live in this book. My favorite part about all of this, is it’s taken in from a
girl who lived in our world. So you’ll find you and the main character asking
the same questions. I also appreciate that the main character’s progress is
realistic. She didn’t get two weeks of training and suddenly can put magic and
out battle the best or the best, her progress is filled with starts, stops, and
confusion. I love the realistic aspect, too many times I find in books that the
character posses incredible skill from the start or shortly after and it’s just
not realistic character progression in my opinion. I like to read through the
struggle.
The only con I have about this ONE book is it’s a lot to take in and the
progression can feel slow. However this is because it’s such a complex world,
and the character building in it is true in nature. So although it can seem
slow, it’s because the is the first book setting us up for what is sure to be
an extreme adventure with real character progression.
To summarize, I recommend you read it. Not only that, but I also recommend preparing for her second book. Once I passed through the first part of this book (the part I felt was slow) I couldn’t put it down.
Kaitlin H
4.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting beginning
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020
My favorite trope is someone from
our world being transported to a fantasy world. This book starts slow but then
you have disdain, betrayal, and heartbreak. I am so looking forward to the
next one.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
Mommy and Daddy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Plunging head long into an inner world where fate can be determined.
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2020
This was a fantastic book a real page turner. You were drawn into the story only to be released at the end but leaving yearning for more
The.mixed.pages (Instagram)
A Journey Unveiled was a fun read! It is something different from the average YA fantasy, and I can’t wait to see how the story continues. From the first page I was interested, and the world developed so nicely! I liked all of the characters, and they all had growth. I would recommend this for fans of The Folk of the Air series!
Gigisbooknook (Instagram)
If you're looking for a high fantasy series, this is for
you. I'm talking elves, dwarves, magic, the whole deal.
As with any first book in a high fantasy series there was quite a bit of info
dumping in this book and at times I just wanted to get to the action! However,
when you are setting up a world as complex and wonderful as Ayandoh it's to be
expected. This did also affect the pacing, slow start and a ton of action all
towards the end - which of course leaves us waiting for the next book!
I'm excited to see the character development for our two chosen ones, Lexi and
Prince Aeric. Aeric is an ass to the highest degree - his character arc is
going to be something! I'm interested to see how these characters will mature
over their journey
TW: Violence, Grief, Implied Assualt Attempt
Readerofthewrittenword (Instagram)
A Journey Unveiled by Amy Maltman is the first book in the
Daughter of Venus series and was such a wonderful story to lose myself in!
After the plane carrying Lexi and her family crashes, Lexi stumbles through the
veil into an alternate world full of magic and mystical beings. Struggling with
a new world, physical injuries and the loss of her family, Lexi has to make her
way in this new world.
The world-building is wonderful and Ms. Maltman took the time to really
give the reader a detailed view of this other world called Ayandoh, connected
to our world by a veil. It is a bit complex to start but as with any new start,
laying the foundation of this unique world is crucial to better understand the
dynamics of this well-plotted high fantasy.
The characters are interesting and include elves, dwarves, witches – or Vendosh
as they prefer to be called and more. The energy between Lexi and Aeric, the
Prince of Gowerland is interesting to watch progress. Lexi’s friend and mentor,
Vendosh Kiandra is probably my favorite character, so wise and kind. There’s
political intrigue, battles between dark and light, found family and an
intricate fantasy world that makes this a compelling read.
Comments
Post a Comment