I enjoyed reading this book but felt the need to set it down and read it at another point at times. The book is definitely a slow read with a huge ending climax that makes all the waiting worth it.
I was impressed with the characterization because even though the characters were younger they were very mature. This book is told from multiple perspectives including the villain perspectives. It made the book very cohesive in that regard and I always enjoy reading the book from the villain’s perspective and to get to understand the character better.

I also really liked the way magic was described in the book. The runes were very interesting to read about, they could be hard to understand at times but very interesting nonetheless.

Overall this book was a very enjoyable read and with a little patience this book definitely gives you a bang for your buck feel. I am very interested to find out what happens in the next installment.

Great book with an interesting take on magic with wonderful characters that makes you want to learn more and more!!

I liked it the world building was very well done. The way the powers and runes was done was extremely well executed. Plus unique in its own way. Just something about this story, I felt disconnected. I didn't really feel all that much of a connection to anyone, not the 'good' guys or the 'bad' guys. Good vs evil yet I didn't feel an overpowering urge to route for anyone.

It was a slow burner as well. You can tell this first story is a build up for more to come, for more in the series. Will I read the rest? I don't think so. It didn't suck me in enough to want to read the rest.

I liked how the whole evil vs good was done though. Two pieces of the same coin neither had a choice in who they had become. If you are not whole, you are going to be flawed. I also liked how no one was perfect, everyone had their own issues or their own motives.

This high fantasy was pleasantly deightful. The story centered on a prophecy involving twins. It's not a story that can be accurately described without reading this feast for the eyes. The only issue I had with the book was here and there there would be a character dump. However if your looking for a high fantasy with relatable characters and a deliciously interesting plot pick this up asap!!

Nara lives in a small, poor village called Dimmitt with her adoptive father Bylo. Nara knows that she possesses strange powers but her father will not tell her anything about where she came from. Soon her best friend Mykel and herself will have to attend the announcement ceremony and be tested for magical gifts. She is terrified about what they might find in her. A gifted hasn’t been uncovered in her village for decades and when Nara discovers why, she takes it upon herself to set things right.

This is a creative storyline filled with good versus evil, gifted talents, secrets and more. Wilson crafts interesting characters in this young adult adventure. Nara is loyal to a fault and will stop at nothing to help those that she loves. Mykel is devoted and in love with Nara and will give anything to keep her safe. This well-written book is the first in what I hope continues to be a successful series.

The book takes place in another land with time periods, a religion, and even a regular use of magic that is foreign to us.  Part of the joy of the book is to escape into this foreign world and wait as different layers are peeled back and explained as you read through their adventure.

The author takes the time to explain things that are pertinent to the story without any overwhelming exposition.  Since some books can go off on lengthy tangents, this is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for the fun escape into such a unique world!

Looking for Dei is the debut novel by David A. Willson. The story takes place in the Great Land. Fifteen year old Nara Dall lives in the small town of Dimmit, on the Southeastern corner of the Great Land. She was raised by Bylo, the only man she has known as a father. Nara knows she is different from other girls; the scars on her back prove that. And she has special powers, magic. She can do things others can not. And because of that, Bylo has instructed her to keep her gifts hidden from everyone -that includes her best friend Mykel. The Great Land consists of the gifted people (those with magical powers), regular people and the cursed. The gifted consists of a bear – which has magical strength, a knitter – which is a magical healer, a watcher – a great hunter that with vision would detect animals far away and help feed others, and a harvester – a collector of magic for others to use. You are considered blessed if you held two or more of the gifted powers. Then there was the cursed – the cursed would be put to death right away as they were an affront to the church. Every few years an announcement ceremony is performed. Children who recently entered adolescence would partake in the ceremony. During this ceremony they would find out their destiny. This year’s ceremony would turn out quite different than expected and have traumatic and life changing results. The results would mean that Bylo, Nara and Mykell would need to leave Dimmit in a hurry. Once on the run Mykel finds out about Nara’s magical powers – of which he has always known her to be special. And Mykel has come into some magical powers all of his own. But neither of them knows if they are the good or bad kind of power. From here they encounter an old woman named Anne, who claims to want to help them on their journey and Gwyn, a watcher who has tracked and found the scarred girl she has been looking for. Gwyn was hired to find Nara and bring her to Minister Vorick, a blessed and powerful man. But he has his own reasons for seeking her out. He knows she is not like any other. And he must have her for his own selfish reasons. But will Nara willing help him? Or will she use all of her powers to defeat the minister?

Nara isn’t a typical teenager. She knows she is different. She has a horrific scar on her back to prove it. And her bright red hair makes her stand out in a crowd. She knows she harbors magic powers and has always had to keep them hidden from everyone. But she is strong. And all she wants is to help others and to take care of those in need. I truly enjoyed her character. She is stubborn, but with such a goodness in her heart that her intentions are always for the good. She embraces her magic and as we watch her grow and come into her own it is truly brilliant.

Mykel is also scarred with a birth defect, which I believe is why he is such a good friend to Nara. He truly loves her and would do anything for her. But when Nara saves his life it has earth shattering results. The consequences is that it will change both of their lives dramatically. I loved how he cared about his little brother, took care of him, and watched out for him even though his brother could take care of himself for the most part. He stood beside Nara and care for her with true love and kindness. They both make is very easy to fall for them and want only the best for them.

The story is written in magic. Magic, runes, ancient manuscripts, and hereos are just a few of the wonders awaiting. The author immerses you within the Great Land and he paints a portrait of the world around you. I have sometimes struggled with books that portray other lands as I sometimes can not grasp the world being painted. But this was not the case. This story is beautifully written and the landscape painted before you like a portrait that you want to step into. As the story unfolds you realize that we have only started on this journey. I look forward to continuing with this series and with this author.

Beautifully written and magic abounds. If you are a fan of fantasy and magic this book, this series will pull you in and take you on a magical ride. Highly recommend.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book. The world in the book is interesting, the magic system, the religion , the politics and the world building is good . The main character Nara was so naïve at first ,which isn’t suprising because she has been sheltered in her little village all her life and everyone around her wants to protect her. But as the story progresses she grows , having a sort of subtle strength and becoming even stronger in the use of her magic, facing bitter truths and fighting for what she believes in. Many characters were introduced in this book but they weren't forgettable, I especially liked the mysterious old woman. I loved the action and the plot is intriguing though it was a little predictable and cliché. The plot got intense in the last part of the book and it ended without a cliffhanger but leaves you wanting to know what's next for Nara and see how the prophecies play out in the next book.

There is some romance in this book but it rests mostly in the background as the focus was more on the bonds between friends and family, magic and how things aren't always what they seem.

It took a while to get used to the switching point of views . It felt like I was watching a tv series where the scenes got changed abruptly at first but I realized that the different points of view were necessary to tell the story fully which would not have been possible with just Nara's point of view. The story was told from the point of view of the protagonists and antagonists revealing their back stories and motives. There were also some information dumps here and there but overall I enjoyed reading this book and i look forward to the next one and i recommend it to all lovers of young adult fantasy.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Netgalley in Exchange for a honest review.
Full review on my blog

So, this book just never did grab me at all. 
I was uninterested in the characters shortly after they were introduced, the plot didn't feel very thought out to me. It's written like it's part of a series, but I didn't see any other books on the author's Goodreads page.
I was never able to really picture the world, and the magic system I personally don't think was explained very well.
This book had potential, but everything just felt a little dull to me, nothing grabbed my attention. The characters, the world, the setting, the magic system, all of was just average to me.

I found the cover on this absolutely breathtaking which is why I wanted it. I'm a sucker for beautiful covers. This book did intrigue me, but it didn't engage me as much. Not a bad book, and I am glad that I have read it. I'm felt at points that I was getting "info dumps" which could have been handled in a better way. It feels a bit flat and dragged out because of this, but this does change. I found that Dara is a likeable character and def one I'd be friends with.

Stars: 3.75

A good book.(3.5stars) it held my attention for the whole book and the storyline was good. My favourite POV was Nara and Mykel. It is good ya fantasy novel and i would read more books with these characters in it

I couldn't get into this story, I tried really hard, but it wasn't for me. I would put the story down for a while, come back, and start again, but still nothing. I couldn't connect with the characters, the writing, or the story.

Looking for Dei has a lot of great world building. Not only do we get some beautiful descriptions of the places we visit, there's an emphasis on history, religion and a strong magic system thats easy to understand. We also don't have the typical blind faith in religion that fantasy books often portray, there's doubt from some characters. Plus, some characters out right deny their faith in the god they are 'supposed' to worship. The same goes for the magic system, which is used very differently between characters. Even those with similar intentions seem to have their own nuances when using their powers. 

The problem with all this world building was that sometimes Wilson was overly descriptive. There were a few times where information was just dumped into a few paragraphs, and I wish this could have been more integrated within the story. There was also a lot of talking between characters to explain things, which is fine when done in small amounts. But sometimes it was too much in one time from one character. 

The different POV's did help bring other views to the book, outside of Nara's. This was good for a few reasons. I personally didn't like Nara, and didn't find her to be a strong character. She spent most of her time being babied and protected by male characters. When she does eventually get strong enough to protect herself and loved ones, I could argue that she was then overpowered. Which may be problematic for the next book in the series.

The POV of Vorrick was great as we got to see what the antagonist was planning to do. But he was made into a character that we are meant to feel sympathetic towards. This was difficult as later on he seems to just be an 'evil' person who only cares for power. His backstory is sad but his actions make him into the bad guy very clearly. He's not exactly a morally grey person. I did enjoy that he had insecurities and fears as the bad guy and we got to see this as a reader. 

I also found that the ended dragged on and on a bit. It was an ending, and then another ending, and then a little epilogue kind of finish. I get that it was made to wrap up some finishing plot points and to lead on to the next book, but at that point I was completely ready for the book to end. 

Overall, I think the book is a fun read, but it does have quite a few issues that you would expect from a debut. I would recommend to any fantasy fans as it's a great world, but it's a short book and couldn't be classed as a high or epic fantasy read. 

POSITIVES
+ Different POV's including antagonists

+ World building and magic system

NEGATIVES
– Ending dragged

– Poor character building

I received Looking for Dei by David A Wilson from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an unbiased and honest review

Looking for Dei by David A Wilson starts out with a childhood memory and I’m hoping that means good things are to come. But…the old man…

Mykel and Nara are best friends. Would he like more? Maybe, but he is patient young man. With his scar, he feels inferior, but she doesn’t pay any attention to it. After all, her is bigger, though hidden.

Bylo, her sort of father, loved her, raised her and helped keep her secret. He brought her to Dimmit to hide her, protect her. The announcement exposes them…I knew that would happen, but now what. Is flight the only option? Leave everyone and everything they have ever known?

Our journey has begun, and at twenty eight percent in my Kindle, I see the evil coming their way.

When I first started reading Looking for Dei by David A Wilson, I wondered why I grabbed this ARC for review. Was it just the pretty cover? lol I am a sap for a pretty cover. As I began reading, I found out why. My curiosity and desire for Nara, Mykel and Bylo’s journey made me feel better.

Betrayal won’t stop them, and sometimes things are not as they appear. People can and do change. And love…does it conquer all?

Lots of action happening on many fronts. I wonder what will happen when all the characters come together. Will the bad characters stay bad? Is there no leeway for, at least, some of them to do the right thing?

Looking for Dei by David A Wilson did not go the way I thought it would, but I did enjoy the story and the characters. Is there a happy ever after? I always want to think so. I got into the romance and magic, but I felt no sense of urgency, even when I knew danger was coming. If you are a reader of young love, magic, mystery and danger, this may be one for you.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Looking for Dei by David A Wilson.

4.5 stars. Fascinating fantasy world. Magical pieces are well constructed even if there are pieces still not 100% understood at the end of the book. The author does a great job of helping the reader understand the world while still holding pieces back to discover as the story evolves.

Nara is a great character. I loved her quiet strength and compassion for her family and friends. While this particular story is wrapped up at the end, there's more going on in this world, so there will surely be a sequel.

The cover is beautiful .I have mixed emotions about this book. I loved the starting and the ending, but the story in the middle, was kind of dragging. The story is narrated from the POV of different characters. I loved reading the narrative when Nara was involved. I found that Vorrick ‘s narrative was boring. I enjoyed the showdown at the end . The world building was good , I would love to know more about the backstory of Anne. I found the concept of runes giving magical abilities interesting. The story has fantasy,magic and action and my favorite character is Mykel.

A really captivating story that quickly drew me in. A lot of characters are introduced to us and we follow many different POVs even if Nara and Mykel are the principal protagonists. The story offered by David A. Wilson is quite interesting and I enjoyed following Nara and Mykel during their journey. I'm also curious about what will happen next. Powers, betrayal and a burgeoning romance make for quite a compelling plot. 

I received an ARC of this book by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Looking for Dei is a bit more on the fantastical side than I normally read, but the beautiful cover and interesting blurb intrigued me. The writing is very descriptive and makes it easy to picture the settings and people. That in itself is a great thing for a fantasy novel and lends itself to pulling the reader into the story. However, we also get a bit of information overload at times, which can be distracting. These times felt a bit like the author was attempting to get everything about that particular character or place in at once and then back to the story. I appreciate thorough world building, but I came away feeling like a little less info all at once would've let the story flow more organically. We do get multiple POVs throughout the story - something I enjoy - so we know what's going with several characters as opposed to just one or two. The switches from one character to another did tend to be a little abrupt, making it a tad confusing until I got used to it. In the end, I finished this one with mixed feelings. Nara's story of magic and adventure did hold my interest, but some things about the style made the book feel a bit scattered for me. It is worth the read and I would recommend to teens who enjoy fantasy.

Nara Dall hated the scar on her back and the secrets she had to keep about magic abilities she had. Every three years, a ceremony is held to find those with magic, but no one had been found in her village in decades. Once she fixes that, she and her best friend are on the run with her adoptive father. There are larger secrets than the ones she knows, which draws attention from those in political and religious power.

Nara starts off as a rather sweet and innocent character. Despite all of the pain she endures throughout the story, her spirit remains unbroken and the same. It's interesting how she and Kayna, her twin, have affinities for magic that are opposites of each other. Even their natures are opposite, which is pointed out through their actions. I like that it's up to us to realize this about the characters, and we are shown the nuances in their motivations over time rather than told outright. The changing perspectives take a bit of getting used to, but the world building and magic system are very well done and drew me in.

The ending of the book is tied off rather neatly, but there are still possibilities for another book in this world. I'd be interested to see what happens to the land and the twins, and how the prophecies play out.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm kind of mixed on what I feel about this book. It wasn't bad, but not great either. I felt like the female protagonist wasn't entirely developed. I also didn't like how they kept calling her weak and fragile, it felt like they were infantilizing this supposedly very powerful girl. Then at parts it dragged on with no real development, which made it difficult to read. And the ending, it felt like it was a bit rushed. Suddenly there's a big showdown and...it's over