Windchaser

Windchaser is a great new YA fantasy book about some teenagers who cross a river and end up in a place called White Island. The characters are very well-written, however, I found most of them unlikable, except the characters from the White Island. I loved the world-building, it has some serious potential. As far as the mysterious island, the inhabitants follow the 4 elements trope that seems popular nowadays. I am curious to see what happens next as the book basically ends mid-sentence. It makes for a great read for YA fans.

I received an eARC from Thunderfly Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

This story follows Whitnee and her 2 best friends, Caleb and Morgan. They meet in 6th Grade while attending Camp Fusion. This is a camp for kids who have suffered a life altering event.. Each friend has a tragic story that they have a difficult time dealing with. They all become very close friends and remain so after the camp is over. Fast forward to High school where they all head back to camp and become Camp Mentors to children attending the same camp. What follows is Mystery, teen love and heartbreak.

This book was fun and intriguing. Their is a mystery through the first part of the book that will hook you and make you read into the night.. I enjoyed how the author combined the the teens heartbreak and their love for each other to cement their relationships. You will feel invested in their stories and want to continue this story.

This book is a 5 parts series with the 6th book coming soon . Fans of teen romance, fantasy and mystery will love this story. I wish I had book series like this when I was in Schoo.l

In this exciting novel we follow Whitnee and her friends to Camp Fusion, a camp for troubled kids who suffer from life changing events. They once met there and are now back as mentors. There they not only find teen love and heartbreak but as well mysterious incidents.
Theo story is told in a very exciting way and I was well entertained. The characters with they background stories and the relationships between them are also entertaining and captivating. A great mix of interactions between people and they mysterious setting and events make this book a great read and reader want for sure more.

A really great true YA book. Through no fault of its own, this book wasn't exactly what I had thought it was going to be.

The story is well written and will, no doubt, touch many of those in it's audience deeply. I was invested in Whitnee and what comes of her.

Whitney has come back to Camp Fusion to be a mentor. She wants to pay back Camp Fusion for the help she received at this summer camp. Six years ago, Whitney’s father disappeared, Whitnee had the help she needed to deal with her feelings. She also made friends with two others — Morgan and Caleb. They are all at Camp Fusion for the same reason — to help the kids. Something strange is happening to Whitnee which makes her wonder why is she having her illusion of seeing her dad on the other side of the river and in her dreams. She decides that she must go to the other side of the river even though it is forbidden. Why is it forbidden? Morgan and Caleb go with her as well two campers. When they reach the other side, there is a strange orange mist swirling on the ground. Whitnee disappears when the orange mist has contact with her. Where did she go? Will she be able to get back? Will she find her father?

In the novel, there are secrets to be discovered, adventures and some romance. It’s not a perfect but the magic and romance do help. I think that a book that holds my attention as this one did is fantastic. My only problem with the book was the beginning as it seemed slow. I must admit that I can’t wait to read the next book!

(I was provided with a copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own).

OOOH I was so keen to get back into some YA and I am SO GLAD this was the book I chose. It's my first read by Krissi Dallas and I would recommend to any YA fantasy lover- It's technically high fantasy but set in modern day (involving an alternate worldscape). Super appropriate for middle class reading levels but also, I am 28 and loved it.

SYNOPSIS:
Windchaser follows Whitnee- a high school senior and mentor at Camp Fusion; a camp for healing for children who have experienced trauma. Camp Fusion hold a special place for Whitnee as well as her two best friends; Caleb and Morgan. Whitnee first attended the camp when she was six, shortly after her father mysteriously disappeared off the shores of Hawaii.

As she returns to Camp Fusion as a mentor the camp is not exactly how Whitnee remembers it- She is flooded by vivid hallucinations and haunting nightmares that have one thing in common- the forbidden land on the other side of the river. Her idea to explore leads her and her band of friends in an unknown world. This book explores trauma, grief, friendship and teen romance so beautifully!

What I loved:
I LOVED Whitnee's emotions as a teenager were portrayed- I loved the complex relationships she developed between her and the other characters and I especially loved the dynamic between Whitnee, Gabriel and Caleb.
The author has built an incredible world that is original and so enticing. I want to know EVERYTHING about White Island. I was lore of the different tribes, I want fan fiction. I want it all. I am so excited for this to be a series and for us to know more about it.

What I didn't love as much:
To be honest there isn't much to critique about this book. It is well written, the dialogue flows nicely, I loved the descriptive nature of the writing. I will say that one of my book gripes is when a book seems like the ending is "unfinished." I understand it's a series and we will have questions answered in the next book but I think it's important the book still has it's own start-middle-end, and I don't think Windchaser had this. I turned the last page and was a little dumfounded to find I had reached the end.

However, this has had the positive effect of making me extremely keen to read the next book in the Phantom Island adventure!