Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Alisse Lee Goldenberg

  • SITNALTA: Book One of the Sitnalta Series by Alisse Lee Goldenberg – Fantasy, YA, Adventure

    SITNALTA: Book One of the Sitnalta Series by Alisse Lee Goldenberg – Fantasy, YA, Adventure

     

    Alisse Lee Goldenberg’s Sitnalta is a delightful fairytale adventure set in a castle with a classic evil ruler who aims to stifle the spirit of his daughter for his own gain. Sitnalta is a young princess who wants nothing more than to see what lies beyond the walls of the castle—and maybe, one day, to find love.

    Her father, the dreadful king Supmylo, has always kept her at arm’s length, until the day comes when he decides to marry her off for his political gain. Sitnalta makes the only choice she can. She flees the life she has always known by scaling the castle walls and entering the magical forest surrounding the kingdom to strike out on her own in the hope of living a life on her terms.

    There is a lot to like about Sitnalta, most of all its cast of heartwarming characters. Despite being a young princess at only fifteen, Sitnalta knows she deserves more than anything her father has planned for her. Her convictions and empathy toward others are in part thanks to her governess, the faithful Aud. Supmylo, disappointed in not having a son, left Aud to care for Sitnalta until he found a use for her.

    Supmylo stops at nothing to find his daughter and throws anyone who dares to defy him in the castle’s overcrowded dungeon.

    An overarching theme of found family begins with Aud, Sitnalta’s mother figure, who enriches her whole journey.

    Beyond the castle walls, Sitnalta encounters a reclusive forest troll named Najort who, despite being afraid of humans, shows her nothing but kindness and love.

    Najort has a mission of his own. A wizard has entrusted him with a decades-old task to protect an important secret at all costs, and readers will find themselves rooting for him and the other characters surrounding Sitnalta just as much as they will root for her ownfight for freedom.

    While this book comes to a satisfying conclusion, Sitnalta’s story does not end there. Readers enchanted by this tale of perseverance and love will be glad to learn that Sitnalta is the first book in its series. The Sitnalta series has recently been released as eBooks editions with new colorful covers. Follow the rest of Sitnalta’s story in The Kingdom Thief and The City of Arches!

    Perfect for young adult readers and enjoyable for readers of every age, Sitnalta by Alisse Lee Goldenberg is a wonderfully easy-to-read, exciting tale filled with intriguing, relatable characters and a great deal of heart. Readers are sure to be drawn into its vividly imagined world where friendship and self-discovery take center stage.

     

    NOTE: Book 4 in the Sinalta series, The Hedgewitch’s Charm, is on preorder now!

     

  • THE GHOST In The GARDEN by Alisse Lee Goldenberg – Mystery, Young Adult, Paranormal

    THE GHOST In The GARDEN by Alisse Lee Goldenberg – Mystery, Young Adult, Paranormal

     

    In Alisse Goldberg’s engaging young adult mystery, The Ghost in the Garden, a curious 11-year-old must face the challenges of moving to a new city, losing old friends, making new ones, and encountering historic specters in her new home.

    Sophie Madison seems none too happy about her recent move from the bustling city of Calgary, Ablerta to the smaller, quieter landscape of Stratford, Ontario. But upon arrival with her parents, she begins noticing the charm of the place, appearing like a step back in time. Their new house in particular catches her interest, with its tall turret topped by stained glass window panes where Sophie’s bedroom will be. In addition, the wild beauty of the backyard garden draws her in.

    Soon, a mysterious blonde-headed girl named Tabitha appears in the garden.

    As she gets to know Tabitha and faces abnormal happenings with her closet door, Sophie’s left on edge, with nightmares riddling her sleeping hours.

    But with the help of her parents, some newfound friends, and Tabitha’s haunting journal from the attic of Sophie’s closet, Sophie comes to terms with the spirits of the past and gains a positive outlook for her future.

    Author Goldenberg’s story is artfully centered around giving new people and places a chance.

    With clear familiarity and care, Goldenberg and illustrator Hannah Al-shaer paint a beautiful and detailed backdrop of Stratford, a place one could easily grow to love. From the artsy vibe of murals in an area laced with parks, shops, and restaurants, to a fairy gate in the center of town, the place oozes picturesque charm.

    An engaging cast of characters fills this colorful place, from Sophie’s loving and concerned parents to a friendly but quirky vegetarian lady who happens to be the Mom of Sophie’s new friend, Fitz. These two pre-teens enjoy an easy camaraderie, as Fitz introduces Sophie to the area, and the two join forces to investigate the strange happenings in Sophie’s room. A hip, young teacher with an interest in the town’s paranormal history compliments the mysterious storyline.

    Conversation throughout the narrative is realistic and genuine, and text messages between Sophie and Fitz lend a modern-day flair.

    Here the haunting theme of apparitions and spirits continues in present-day terms when Sophie appears to be “ghost” texted by her best friend back in Calgary. Perhaps an indication that friendships may not always withstand the miles.

    Goldenberg weaves a stirring plot with enough questions and scares to keep readers invested, but not cowering.

    Shredded doorframes, decapitated teddy bears, and dark entities with clawing hands likened to a “zombie, hag monster”, offer up just the right amount of chills and thrills.

    For audiences both young and old who enjoy a ghostly mystery featuring relatable issues about settling into a new place, dealing with new people, and discovering things that go bump in the night, The Ghost in the Garden proves a venturous and entertaining literary move.

     

    5 Stars! Best Book Chanticleer Book Reviews