Akarnae: The Medoran Chronicles (book 1)

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There were so many revelations throughout this book, whether its Aven wanting to unleash his fury on Alex and those closest to her (by the end my feelings were a puddle, truly, I did not see the betrayal coming, it just hurt!), but also where there is fear and hurt I know there’s hope, so I definitely am hopeful for a turn around with what one character is now going through! Also though at the same time, I’m kind of looking forward to the darker scenes? Purely though because I’m hopeful that Aven’s deciets and ploys will fail?! Either way, I couldn’t BE more excited to continue my adventure in book 3!

The characters in this book are so well-written and are a group of friends that i want in my own life because they all bring something different to the table. Alex for her determination, fight and loyalty because she never gives up on her family, friends and the challenges she's given. Jordan for his wit, loyalty and sense of humour. Bear for his smarts, loyalty and sense of humour. D.C for her compassion, loyalty, understanding. Friendship plays such a big role in this series because all four of the main characters are so close to each other and it definitely shows and i seriously need these four characters as my friends in real life. I also loved seeing more Medorans, Kyria, Rok and Zain were such intriguing, powerful characters and offered a new dimension to the story. My only reservation is Alex's classmate Skyla, her personality was that of a slow airhead and I found the way she was treated to be kind of sad. She really deserves better. Hmm. A YA Fantasy novel set at a boarding school for 'gifted' kids. Where have I read this plot before??! Once again Lynette Noni's writing is a mixture of sass and humour. The series is perfect for non fantasy reader such as myself as it offers a lighter take on the genre, making it easy for young teens to engage with and relate to it's well written and depth of characters. The world of Medora is incredible. Lynette Noni described the settings, buildings and characters so well that the mental image of it all was real. I could see exactly what Akarnae was like and I was so envious because I wanted to be in that world and attending that school for people with abilities. Although there were some rough parts to the story that didn't flow too well she easily made up for it with her great range of characters, dialogue and imagination. My favourite part of this story is the Library. Without spoiling anything...it's the coolest library you're ever going to hear about!

Let's get the minor dislikes out of the way. When Alex stumbles from one doorway into a new land, I felt she was a bit slow to determine that this was something supernatural. It was also bizarre to me that the first person she meets is the very enemy that has been seeking her out for hundreds/thousands of years. One very minor pet peeve at the beginning: For a book that starts in Oregon, the author used the British spelling of the word enrol that was a bit distracting for me - "enrol"/"enrolment". But after that start for me, I began to fall into the story. The technology is modern and everything is explained by science, but at the same time they use torches and most of the school seems to be medieval. I disliked the names for the devices they used a lot. It just clashed with the whole vibe for me, and trying to forcefully call magical things scientific didn't leave a great taste. Alex has no choice but to remain at Akarnae, with the only person who has the ability to return her to her world, now missing. Based on an age old method of sorting teens by their potential, Alex now finds herself within a multitude of advanced skill classes, including combat. With her two new friends in Jordan and Bear, Alex hides the secret of who she truly is from her peers. I loved The dynamic between Alex, Jordan and Bear. Their friendship wasn't complicated by a romance but it's undeniable that both Alex and Jordan share a connection. The two worlds of Medora which is where Akarnae is based and Freya, which is our own world where Alex was born and based were both very similar, apart from Medora being the magical plane on Earth. It made the storyline incredibly easy to follow even for non fantasy readers and kept the world building simple, making Akarnae perfect for fans who also enjoy middle grade reads. Lynette Noni is a masterful storyteller. Her characters steal into your heart and won't let go!" — Maria V. Snyder, New York Times bestselling author of the Poison Study series One of the most appealing aspects of The Medoran Chronicles is the adventure. Comparable to the Harry Potter series, it appeals to young adult and mature middle grade readers as the storyline is morally uncomplicated and doesn't rely on a romance to develop characters or further the storyline which really is a breath of fresh air. I loved the attraction blooming between Kaiden and Alex and hoping the third book explores a potential romance between the two.

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Almost nothing happens in the book to sway or move Alex. Even if something happens it feels like it gets swept under the rug, and kind of "oh, well this happened, I guess I'll go on with my life". Alex meets Darrius, not knowing he is Headmaster Marselle, in the libraries inner section. He helps and guides her on the rest of her journeys throughout the series. As she awaits enrollment, she already had been given a taste on what the school was like, and it was quite a sour one. She encounters a Library doorway, which she would never had guessed to be a portal into Medora, and her adventurous side overthrows her cautiousness as she steps inside, deeming to be a mistake; or maybe the best thing to ever happen to her.

Befriending Jordan and Bear turned out to be a savior to her sanity – when she started at Akarnae Academy, the boarding school that was for teens with special gifts, the strangeness was helped by their presence. But as she accepted where she was, and participated in the classes she’d been assigned, Alex knew something wasn’t right - something terrifying was around the corner... Was it anything to do with the people of Medora?Bear was with Jordan when Alex first arrived in Medora. Instantly, the three become best friends and hang-out together all the time. Bear was always being the honest and less cheeky one of her friends. I loved so many characters in the book, Jordan and Bear were both funny and friends that i would love to have. From the moment we meet them in the story they were the kind of characters that everyone would love to have in there friend circles. I loved Alex's and D.C relationship in the book because i knew that they would become friends by the end of the first book, they both grew and i'm glad that they became friends by the end of the book. All of the teachers were all good characters to i enjoyed them very much, the doctor fletcher was a character i honestly wouldn't see in the school because he seems so cool.

so many things that did not work for me... I won't mention half of them, I don't want to whinge too much about what is, after all, a pretty good inventive fantasy series. Jarvis then gives her a Potential Pop in which she finds out that she is in the following for the subjects.

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An unwilling pawn in a deadly game, Alex’s shoulders bear the crushing weight of an entire race’s survival. Only she can save the Medorans, but what if doing so prevents her from ever returning home? Lynette Noni is an absolute powerhouse of Australian YA fantasy: young readers are in Harry Potter-level fervour about the Medoran series, and she engages with her community with such warmth and genuine enthusiasm. She's who I want to be when I grow up." — Steph Bowe, author of Girl Saves Boy and Night Swimming The entire series is one of my favorite young adult fantasy series ever, the books aren't stand alone so starting here with the first book is wise. Its not quite right for the youngest listeners(there is a little bit of violence and war in this series) but its a series that would fit well as a family listen on a long road-trips or as a Sunday activity.