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Published: Sep. 22, 2011
Words: 112,137 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781465907608
Short description
When her father disappears, eighteen-year old Daria Jones is forced on an inescapable journey through a magical world, while a lifetime of shattering secrets, hidden power, and unforeseen love unfold; all of which she must harness before an ancient, reviving evil kills her father.Extended description
Eighteen-year old Daria Jones feels trapped in the cow-strewn suburbs of Fresno, California. And with a dad so overprotective he’s installed video and thermal surveillance down the street, she doesn’t get out much. Until the night he disappears. Following the trail of notes he left, Daria gathers three things: someone’s after her, her dad’s gone to another world on a cryptic mission, and the only one left to trust is her ex-best friend, Alex.After a heart-wrenching break and three years of silence, Alex is the last person she wants to see. But the more she learns about her dad’s absence, the more she realizes she must go to that other world to find him. Even if it means trusting the guy she hates. She agrees to follow Alex through the nearest of seven portals—the heart of Yosemite National Park. But finding her dad in a magical world isn’t easy with a brigade of dark sorcerers chasing her trail.
Amidst a world of diabolical creatures, ancient magic, and bizarrely in.. (Read more)
Tags
romance, coming of age, young adult fantasy, fantasy action, sword and sorcerer, magic and romance, magic adventureAvailable ebook reading formats
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Reviews
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Review by:
Brea Nicole Bond
on Sep. 14, 2012 :
"Gaia's Secret" is a throroughly readable (and rereadable!) novel that sets the foundation for what promises to be an above-par fantasy series, independent or otherwise.
While Kloss's style is contemporary, her approach to the genre pays homage to children's high fantasy of previous generations--like Alice in Wonderland or Lucy in Narnia, the heroine Daria is tossed headfirst into a magical realm, and readers learn the lay of the land as she does. Also like many epic fantasies, the first novel of this series is a journey story, and Kloss manages the character-development-on-horseback well. Daria and each of her companions are three-dimensional and engaging, and even more impressive is the attention and care that Kloss spends developing the dynamics between the characters, particularly Daria and Alex. While Daria's inability to comprehend his feelings is at times maddening--almost to the point of the reader's disbelief--the friendship between the two characters is explored in great depth and detail, the result of which is a romantic conflict that is authentic, absorbing, and refreshingly human for a fantasy novel.
That said, "Gaia's Secret" is by no means a romance. This story is a beautiful balance of romance, fantasy, and the classic coming-of-age story arc. Episodic-style adventures intersperse the long passages of back story and character dialogue, keeping the pace clipping along at an even and page-turning rate. The eventual success of the series may depend on Kloss's ability to maintain such a pace as the journey portion of the story comes to a close, but the strength she develops in her characters suggests that she will do so...and that her readers have much to look forward to! Five stars, and bring on the sequel.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Christina G Gaudet
on Aug. 02, 2012 :
This is the first time in a long while that I've felt such a strong connection to characters in a book. It brought me back to the first young adult fantasy books that I discovered as a teen and I loved every minute of the story. It caused distractions in the rest of my life causing it impossible to complete regular tasks such as cooking and cleaning until I finished reading the story.
Having said that, there were times when I was very frustrated with the writing. Kloss had a tendency to repeat words and phrases within small areas which detracted from the pure awesomeness of the story. I'm hopeful that this editing problem will be fixed in future books. Especially since I now need to purchase all of them in order to find out what happens next with Daria and Alex.
I'm so excited to have discovered this author and I can't wait to read more.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Cassie Padgett
on May 03, 2012 :
This isn't the type of fantasy I usually like, but I have nothing but love for this ebook! It was so well written and exciting. I felt like I could relate to Daria even when she was in the most bizarre situations. I have only one complaint. WHere is the sequel??????
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
Jacquelin Rodriguez
on March 04, 2012 :
Well, well, well...I read (bought at AMAZON) this book sometime ago and let it macerate before reviewing. Here's my, exactly, $.02 FWIW.
Mrs. Kloss,
1) I Love your three-dimensional CHARACTERS and want to know who/what inspired them. I would also like to note, that if I could have Alex over for coffee, I would show him my...well, I can't say THAT here now can I;-)
2) Your THEMES, while traditional, are escapist, and sometimes didactic (not a bad thing when used sparingly). How you combined them was masterful and entertaining. Aside of the technical jargon your writing reminds me of an imagination left UNHINGED and UNRESTRAINED by the modern-day gatekeeper we shall always FONDLY remember as "The Literati". Well played Mrs. Kloss, run with it...it suits you!
3) There are deep EMOTIONAL and AESTHETIC qualities to your writing that are reminiscent of the inner turmoil I find in Tolstoy's Pierre (War and Peace) and the "capriciousness" of the summer air in Frost's, "The Silken Tent". Yet the accessibility of your writing is just that; accessible. Yours is PURE PLEASURE to read amidst the bland, re-tooled, Y.A. paranormal romance/dystopian drool-producing churnings of the modern literati presses. I digress.
4) Stong female character. Need I say more? Thank you Mrs. Kloss.
People: DO NOT BY THIS BOOK because I told you too...BUY THIS BOOK because, to not, would be to deny yourself PURE FANTASTICAL PLEASURE (without getting into trouble)!
Truly looking forward to a book #2, #3, #4......?
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Rebecah Johnsored
on March 04, 2012 :
Excellent story line. Fantastic character development. Superb world building. Effervescent romance. Strong female character. Idyllic male lead. This author is going places and I want to be there. WHERE, Mrs. Kloss, is the SEQUAL!
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Sari Webb
on Jan. 18, 2012 :
An excellent read from a debut author. Packed full of adventure, excitement and secrets. Daria is a headstrong girl thrown into a world she knew nothing about, and is frustrated by the secrets kept from her. As a result she gets herself into all sorts of troube. Alex is swoonworthy, and not in the same vein of controlling, stalking, somewhat crazy male love interests that seem to be overly represented in YA these days. Can't wait for the next one to see what else is in store for Daria and her companions.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
sorie bean
on Oct. 20, 2011 :
(no rating)
How do I judge the quality of a book? By how irritated I get when my reading is interrupted. And I have to say every phone call/email (yes it is true I was reading non-stop at work) which took me away from Gaia (of course we are on a first name basis) put me in a mood equal to having no coffee in the morning and/or finding the perfect boot on sale but not in my size. Thus you can correctly assume that I LOVED IT. Mrs. Kloss has more then a knack for storytelling and a refreshing attention to detail. Gaia is in essence an ideal fantasy world – magical creatures, breathtaking scenery, beautiful damsels - albeit one in particular seems to like putting herself in distress and of course the type of handsome young love interest that leaves even the happiest married ladies fluttering. Yet, I would be doing this energetic novel a disservice if I have misrepresented its attraction as only aesthetic. Chapter by chapter what pleased me the most was the honest subtlety of the authors depiction of each character’s personal struggle. Each and every one of us is all too familiar with our own imperfections as well as the faults of those whom we love. Mrs. Kloss has captured humanity in a most exciting depiction – through the anguish of a young girl struggling to find her place in a world so dazzling and new that she risks losing her own identity. Throw in a deviously delightful plot, enough imagination to flood all of Yosemite Forrest, and a touch of warmth found so rare in novels these days and you have Gaia’s Secret. Now that is what I look for when I pick up a book and I strongly suggest you invest some time into getting to know these characters – well done Mrs. Kloss well done!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Teri Lee Kloss
on Oct. 14, 2011 :
This book has it all! Mystery, romance, fantasy, love and loyalty, and funtastical action/adventure. As Daria learns her true identity, and falls in love with her best friend, she grows as a young woman and learns the importance of dedication and trust in family and friends. I can hardly wait for the sequel, book 2, to find out if Daria embraces her destiny as the Princess of Gaia, or if she returns to her life back on earth...and does she gain the freedom to marry Alexander as she thinks she must...or is the man of her dreams still unknown to her and waiting to be discovered in her exciting future. I loved this book and highly recommend it for a spellbinding escape, and a "must read".
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Ashley Nixon
on Oct. 02, 2011 :
I loved this book. I could NOT put it down! For a very long time I have been looking for a book with the right mixture of fantastical elements, romance, and adventure and this was it! I loved that the love story was not the center of the novel, and that it did not take priority over the real adventure of the novel. The love story was also not without a foundation. These were characters I fell in love with and thought about LONG after I finished the book. As for Gaia, well, the world itself is believable and the history is wonderfully intertwined throughout the novel--this is a world you yearn to revisit. I did not want to leave Gaia and I am VERY excited to read the sequel! Judging by this book, I will not be able to stop reading until I am finished!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)
Review by:
Becky Wallace
on Sep. 30, 2011 :
(no rating)
Great story, great details, and a swoon-worthy love interest! Can't wait for the sequel!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)
Review by:
Misty May
on Sep. 28, 2011 :
I LOVED reading this book! The characters are captivating, and come alive as you read. The story is exciting and daring, yet sweet and romantic at the same time. The close of each chapter left me more and more eager to continue reading, and the end left me wishing I had the second book in hand! Gaia's Secret is a fantastically fun read!
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Kim Knapp
on Sep. 28, 2011 :
you will love this book!!! The author's use of words brings the story alive visually.
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Christie posey
on Sep. 26, 2011 :
I loved how the author described each character. It was a great story and I couldn't wait to get back to each chapter. Looking forward to the sequel.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)
Review by:
Gina Mulligan
on Sep. 23, 2011 :
This YA story has great suspense and an even better love story. It's a fun book with lively characters, a creative setting, and good pacing. Looking forward to the sequel.
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Trea DeVigne
on Sep. 23, 2011 :
...apologies, forgot to star it! LOVED IT!!!
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Trea DeVigne
on Sep. 23, 2011 :
(no rating)
I LOVED IT!!
Fun, easy read...blew through it in one night (couldn't put it down)! Definitely a stand-out YA Fantasy writer in the slush-pile. Really looking forward to a sequel...PLEASE!
If you're wondering wether or not to pick this up...DO IT.
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
Laura Josephsen
on Sep. 22, 2011 :
(no rating)
A unique fantasy full of beautiful language and imagery, and characters that make you love them and sometimes make you want to throttle them. The protagonist is one of the most stubborn characters I have ever read--and it was such fun to see the ways she began to grow, and grow up. Lots of action and intrigue, and the author's voice is wonderful.
(reviewed the day of purchase)
Review by:
swcain
on Sep. 22, 2011 :
I love this book! A great story that combines mystery, romance, action, and fantasy. It kept my interest from the very start and I can't wait for the sequel. I was able to connect to the characters through their descriptive personalities and facial features. What an adventure. Well done!
(reviewed the day of purchase)