Title Vivatera (Vivatera #1)

Author Candace J. Thomas

Description from Amazon

The king of Southwick has fallen, and his six daughters have disappeared into hiding, each protecting a magical element that will keep the balance within the world of Parbraven. But when one of the hidden girls is captured by an evil set to obtain them all, the fate of the magical world shifts. The solution rests on a simple farm girl named Naomi, who knows nothing of this world, nor of the awaking magic stirring inside her.

Naomi Bucklingdown has no idea of the importance of her survival; her only clue is a mark on her neck – An interweaving star. In a fast moment Naomi’s life changes forever when she discovers a young woman with the same unusual mark on her neck, but before she can reach her she is kidnapped; spirited away by a mysterious stranger, Reynolds Fairborne. Reynolds alone knows the secret of Naomi’s identity. Only he knows the danger she would face if she were ever discovered, for the Kingdom of Parbraven is poisoned by magic and the only hope for survival lies in a secret only Naomi has. This is where her journey of discovery begins and her true identity is about to be revealed.

Initial Thoughts

I applied for this book in my early days navigating NetGalley. I was applying for everything and not getting approved for much. Once I started getting reviews in for the few titles I was approved for, I started getting more and more approvals that I couldn’t keep up. Vivatera was one of those titles that just fell through the cracks. I’m trying to clean up all the pending items I have so I wanted to start with this one.

Some Things I Liked

POVs – I liked the different POVs in this story. Zander, Naomi, and Teren all make for interesting main characters. I also like that they all figure out different elements of the plot at different times.
Teren Lockwood – AKA The Darkling-esque maybe-villain I needed. I can’t tell if I like Teren or don’t like him and I LOVE THAT. I love a mysterious maybe-villain. It keeps the story mysterious.

Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About

The beginning – this story really just drops you into a world with very little explanation. I was very confused initially and had a difficult time following the story.
Ages – we don’t really get anyone’s ages except for Reynolds and Zander. Where do our other characters fit in? Once again, it made for confusion and muddiness in the plot. I couldn’t tell if Reynolds was a love interest for Naomi or if he was too old for her. Similarly, Teren seems like he might be a bit of a Darkling-esque love interest, but again, I have no idea how old either of them is supposed to be. I have to assume they’re all pretty close in age.

Series Value

As I mentioned above, this book had a super rocky start. There was definitely a reason I didn’t read it right when I got it. The story was incredibly confusing and it reads like it’s a sequel of a book that I haven’t read. By the end of the book, however, I think I started to grasp the storyline. I would read the other books in the series, but not right away. I think the plot is interesting and the world building is different. But, this is definitely not a binge-series for me.

Final Thoughts

I tried to read this as an e-book back in March but just couldn’t get into the story. I was able to finish it as an audiobook but it was a rough start (again). Overall, the story picked up and I can see myself continuing with it. However, I could also see myself never picking this series up again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Furyborn by Claire Legrand – if you liked the elemental magic and multiple POVs used in Vivatera give this series by Claire Legrand a try.
The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter – if you liked the world building, magic system, and big relationship reveals in this story, give this series by Gena Showalter a try.
The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross – again, if you liked the big reveals about who is pretending to be who, try this series by Rebecca Ross. There is also a similar element of a knight-like character who protects the main characters in both books.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to say that I love the way that she writes. It seemed to be a very interesting and crazy magic system with several fantasy elements. The characters were well developed and had their own very different personalities. It was a great introduction to this author. I will probably look in to more by her.

Wasn’t a fan. I found the whole story to be quite confusing from beginning to end. the romance part to this story as well just kinda dropped out of nowhere with not so much a lead up or anything before hand.

Thank you very much for the reading copy. I liked the story and the characters. However, it wasn't easy to find into the story. Interesting were new magical things. And it would have been nice if some things had been explained more, but maybe it will come in the following volumes. A solid opener that makes me want more!

From the beginning I had really rough time with a couple things and had to put it down for a little while before I decided to give it another chance. It felt very jumpy and moved so fast. Characters were thrown in without an explanation of introduction. There was almost no worldbuiling and people where just rambling off locations and cities again with no explanations or even a map. Probably one of the reasons I put it down the first time for because I felt it had such superficial insta love. I usually dislike insta love in books to begin with but in this one it was almost instant and felt unreal.

However, one of the reasons I liked it and continued with the story was the plot. The plot was not perfect and was very confusing in the beginning but had a lot of potential. It had enough intrigue for me to want to know where it was going.  The characters were okay but none that I really connected with and they had very scattered backstory. I did like that there were a lot of surprises and it made me want to know how it ended. 

Overall, not a super memorable book but had a lot of potential.

Thomas, through an interestingly shaky but also strong writing style, created a novel which effectively convinces the reader to continue the series. Starting slowly, the novel dragged enough that it tainted the rest of the reading experience, which Thomas worked hard to combat in the drawing of conceptual natures to construct a imagery laden world, with interesting characters.

A new world is waiting to be discovered. Vivatera is a wild adventure and exciting story. Magic and mystery surround everything. A sign of something more leads our new friends on adventures they never saw coming...

As book one in the trilogy, there are so many questions that arise even after so many have been answered. I am curious to see what happens next.

On several different occasions, I have tried to read this. It just hasn't worked for me. I'm not sure exactly what, but just not for me.

I tried starting this book on several occasions, but for some reason it fell flat for me. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I just didn't connect with the writing or the characters. The concept was interesting though.

I received this book via Netgally to write a review. Im pretty torn I like the book but Idon't love it. It was kind of boring and not very interesting to sit and read. I had to keep putting it down and coming back to it to finish. About 150 pages in and it started to get better. I wish that it would started off that way.

This book sounded amazing but I just couldn’t get into this story.  The world building was wonderful but the character development was fast and there was much jumping around which made it confusing.  I’m wondering if maybe this would be more likable with a younger audience.  I am going to read the rest of this trilogy, I feel like it has promise!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me this complimentary eARC for an honest review.

I just couldn't get attached to this book. The premise was very interesting but I had no feelings for any of the characters because there was no initial background information. The story felt like it jumped right into whatever the action was. It was confusing and so I had to stop reading. If anyone enjoyed this book I am happy for you I am in no way trying to discourage reading.

Thank you Netgalley for providing access to this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fantasy is my bread and butter. I love the stuff. So when I came across Vivatera, I was naturally excited to get stuck in. Magic! Adventure! Young adult romance!
After reading it… well. I didn’t hate this book, which it’s important to say right from the start. Not at all. But I didn’t really love it, either.
We’re introduced to Naomi, a girl who suddenly finds out that the birthmark on her neck actually means more than she ever thought it did; in fact, it marks her out as a magic-wielder. And that makes her dangerous, so she goes on the run with Reynolds, a mysterious man who knows more than he’s letting on about her past.
So. The writing is pacy, and the plot is action packed. And there is a lot to like here: I particularly liked the idea of Browneyes, a malicious demon who haunts the forest that Reynolds and Naomi have to travel through, and the idea behind magic: that it’s a virus that, when it infects you, gives you certain magical powers. Zander, Naomi’s friend who gets taken into the palace and battles to overcome his stutter whilst saving the day, is also a really sweet addition to the story, and one that I was rooting for all the way. 
The writing is interesting, too: Naomi’s dream sequences are written in an off-kilter, absorbing way that leaves you puzzling and pausing over them, trying to find clues about what’s about to happen. 
However, the story itself didn’t really hold my attention. Naomi is an incredibly generic kind of heroine: she’s perfect, kind, loving, always does the right thing, and has the kind of plot-twist involving her family at the end that made me roll my eyes with frustration. Her relationship with Reynolds is also slightly problematic, in my view: he tells her nothing, she pines after him, and they fall in love after about three days. What is there to feel invested in? Not a lot, because you already know how it will turn out.
You’re also kept hanging for a lot of the book- which might not necessarily be a bad thing, depending on how you like your revelations delivered- and while the story delivered on some of its most perplexing questions (which I won’t spoil here), it did so, for me, too late. I didn’t really care anymore.
Overall, then? While I can see why so many people liked Vivatera, it just wasn’t my thing. I wasn’t given enough to be invested in the characters, and at the end, the excitement was gone. Maybe next time!

This book sounded great for the genre and I’m not sure that ultimately it won’t live up to that appeal but only because this is book one in a trilogy (I believe). For a single book, it was so-so. But as part of a series, it maybe better. The time spent world building and on character development may prove to be worthwhile in the end. I’m not yet giving up on this altogether. 

#Vivatera #NetGalley

DNF @ 23%...as much as I tried, I just couldn’t get into this story. The complexity of the characters and how the author jumps around left me confused as to who was whom and where the story was going. 

A huge fan of fantasy, I am disappointed this one didn’t get more than just love for the cover...

Thank you, Netgalley, for offering up this title for review.

This is probably the easiest-to-read English book so you do not have much experience with the English language.

Naomi's a little girl, and that's all she is. Throughout the book I have had the impression that she is preoccupied with issues far less relevant to the story itself than with her friend, for example, with the burden which in one way or another she carries.

I missed missing out on other characters who were in the background (too much). Zander / Ander and the prince is an example.

I believe that in the next books (there are 2 more) the plot will get better and it is for this reason that I indicate this reading.

Vivatera is a good book for those who want to train English or simply spend time with a fantastic literature, it is a promising work that needs many improvements.

I am eager to buy the other two books on Amazon (kindle) to find out how it will all end.

I entered with a lot of confidence and expectation for Vivatera. As it turns out , the writing or the plot for the matter isn't 50 percent interesting as the description promises. 

Chosen one , protecting friends , flawed hero rescuing damsel in distress. Heroine who couldn't handle her power .. it's just so cliche and too much. I was promised a lot in the description and I'm disappointed that it wasn't what i expected.

I thank the publisher and Netgalley for giving me this review copy.

Vivatera – By Candace J. Thomas 
 
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars. 
 
ARC is provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 
 
“Magic is different for everyone, and some are easier to communicate with. I’m curious about you, though. You puzzle me. I know you could be powerful if you had to, but your magic...” He trailed off, looking for the right words. “It’s so unfriendly.” 
 
Vivatera is the debut novel of Candace J. Thomas, and it was published in 2010. It won the Diamond Award for Novel of the year. 
 
When the prince arrives in their town, and Naomi discovers that a girl in his consort has the same scar on her neck as herself, Naomi and Zander are pulled apart. Zander is taken by guards, and Naomi are is rescued by a young man named Reynolds – he whisks her away with the promise that they’ll find Zander later. 
As it turns out, Naomi has hidden powers and needs to be protected at all costs. Reynolds takes her to a place where she can learn and practice how to use her magic, and he leaves her there in the protection of others. 
Naomi is determined to find out what happened to Zander, and she wants to learn about herself, but she is afraid of her own magic. It’s ruthless and she struggles to find the control. 
Upon dreaming that Reynolds is in danger, she and her new found friends decided to leave their camp to find him, but doing so might be way more dangerous than they would have thought. 
 
Vivatera is a story about friendship, magic, dead kings, and lost princesses. It was an easy and quick read and is a good start for readers that are either new to reading or new to the Young Adult genre. Who doesn’t like a delightful story about princesses and friends who are willing to do everything they can to protect you? Had I been younger, I would have swallowed this book whole and been obsessed! 
 
I am not younger – even though I still love Young Adult books and they occupy 80% of my reading list. I must admit I struggled a bit with writing a summary of the plot because during most of the book I couldn’t quite catch what the plot was. In the end, it became more apparent, and I am certain what the next book is about, but I won’t be reading it, so who knows. 
 
Redundant sentences occurred quite often because the book was mostly ‘telling’ instead of ‘showing’. This irks me quite a bit because it removes a lot of the magic in a story – it loses its pull. Authors need to trust their audience’s ability to extract information from the text. Leaving something to the imagination often adds to the magic of reading. 
For example: 
“Possibly,” Naomi blushed. “Sometimes I dream about people or places.” Embarrassment washed over her, though it was nothing to be ashamed of. “It doesn’t matter.” 
And: 
Their hands brushed, and he recoiled, like he was ashamed in some way. 
By leaving it with ‘Naomi blushed’ and ‘Their hands brushed, and he recoiled’, the readers will ask themselves questions that make them want to read more. Why did she blush? Why did he recoil? 
 
During the first three chapters, when our main characters are still strangers, there’s a whole lot of ‘I trust you’ from Naomi, and ‘I’ll protect you with my life’ from Reynolds. Which from Naomi’s side, turns out to be a bad idea, because within the same chapter Reynolds loses her down a ravine, and shortly after he rescued her, she’s almost mauled by beasts. Not doing much of a decent job there are we, Reynolds? 
The same issue goes for other characters as well – they trust each other with their lives and secrets awfully fast. To me, this doesn’t seem believable. 
 
None of the characters stood out to me, except for Zander. They weren’t too interesting, or unique, and they seemed quite flat. Even the villain was the typical ‘evil laughter’ type. 
 
It would seem Reynolds are also Naomi’s love interest, and they have an instant attraction at the beginning of the story. Yet, Reynolds is absent for possibly 70% of the book, and they somehow love each other at the end? Like... how? They’ve known each for literary two or three days. 
 
Naomi is the kind of main character that attracts a lot of people, and everyone needs to rescue her. She faints left and right and is carried here and there. Her development as a character was rather short, and I stopped finding her interesting around the 20% mark. She did not improve during the story. 
On the other hand, my absolute favorite character was Zander! He’s a twelve-year-old with a stutter so strong he often doesn’t get his sentences out, and as a result, he’s often quiet and doesn’t speak too much. 
In the beginning, he comes off as oppressed because of how his father treats him, but during the story, he absolutely kicks ass. He doesn’t take a full 180, but his development is steady and believable, and he impressed me. His stuttering was well written, and when I read his dialogue, I found myself stuttering along with him. It was such a nice touch! 
 
If you are new to the Young Adult genre, then I would absolutely recommend this book. It’s easy to read, fast-paced, and not overly complicated. 
If you’re more of a veteran within the genre, then this book is nothing you haven’t read many times before. You might like it, or you might not. On my part, I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it.

Vivatera (the name of the stone)  and it's connection to Naomi is what the book is about, or well, should be. But the book revolves around Naomi and the Vivatera is only a supporting role until near the end. That is when it rises to the occasion. 
As a reader, I struggled with the beginning and had more interest in Taren and Zander's character than the protagonist. I would have even liked her love interest and protector Reyn but he comes and goes in the story when and where he is needed.

I was only able to enjoy this tale when I realized it's style. For you to be able to enjoy this book, remember that this book is like entering into the magical realm without any knowledge. You discover the world through the eyes and thoughts of Naomi and Zander who know little and comprehend even less. there will be holes and that is alright. Be patient with the characters for it is the first book in the series and has a bigger road ahead of it.

I wish I was told in the beginning on how to read this book and would have set out with lesser expectations. It isn't something I would pick up to re-read but would definitely recommend a YA fantasy lover for a light read.

Beautiful world building but the romance was too fast and some parts of the book sped along at a confusing pace.