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The Portal Prophecies Volume I (The Portal Prophecies Volumes Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

The Portal Prophecies Volume I (The Portal Prophecies Volumes Book 1)The Portal Prophecies Volume I by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have loved C. A. King’s The Portal Prophecies series and it’s wonderful to now have the first half of the series collected together in one volume. It provides a great introduction to the series, and a chance to see the story and Willow, the protagonist, develop over a longer stretch of time.
Of the three books included in this volume, A Keeper’s Destiny is my favourite and actually is one of my favourite books that I read last year. It introduces the incredibly well-developed fantasy setting (which continues to expand throughout the series with lots of new, well-connected settings to explore) and gets Willow off on her adventure.
A Halloween’s Curse and Frost Bitten are particularly suited to be in a volume together as they both have a holiday theme to them. Mostly, this works quite well but there are moments (particularly in Frost Bitten) where it gets a bit ridiculous! Both books work well as a continuation of the story, but I would say they’d be best enjoyed in the autumn and winter when you’re in the holiday mood. Reading in the summer was a bit weird!
These are really great books, and it’s very handy having the three combined in one volume (particularly as books 4-6 are going to be released in a single volume as well). For me this definitely deserves 5 stars! It’s an enjoyable Young Adult Fantasy series with a strong female lead and an interesting cast of supporting characters, set in a detailed and awesome world. A Halloween’s Curse also has elements of Urban Fantasy which works quite well. I would definitely recommend this to any fans of YA Fantasy looking for a new series to get sucked into, and think it would be a particularly good collection to read around Halloween and Christmas when the books are set.

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The Portal Prophecies Volume I (The Portal Prophecies Volumes Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Jenni Bishop

The Portal Prophecies Volume I (The Portal Prophecies Volumes Book 1)The Portal Prophecies Volume I by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Portal Prophecies Volume I by C.A King is action packed, emotional, intense and the stakes are high. C.A. has written a unique story that is full of magic and friends but there is also danger lurking in the shadows. Just who can trust who? I enjoyed the different characters and watched them grow as they trek through each adventure. The books in this series should be read in order to put the whole story in perspective.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading anything paranormal, supernatural and fantasy

Reviewed by @jennadb

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A Keeper’s Destiny (The Portal Prophecies #1) By C. A. King – Review by Erica Fish

A Keeper's Destiny (The Portal Prophecies #1)A Keeper’s Destiny by C.A. Kin

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My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

The Portal Prophecies: A Keeper’s Destiny by C. A. King

A portal, a prophecy, and a love story makes up this YA book. The pages keep turning as you are figuring out the adventure that lies before you. C. A. King keeps your attention because just when you think you figure out what is going there is a twist and a turn.

If you like Harry Potter, then you will love Willow. She is a young lady who has been in the dark about the outside world. She is coming of age and now she is realizing that there are magical powers all around her. She is part of something bigger and she is just now learning that the stories she has been hearing are real. She is learning about the voices she hears in her head and why she needed to keep them a secret. She has bigger things coming and she will accomplish them all with the help of her friends.

C. A. King is an amazing author. She keeps you hooked. The characters are always evolving. She has you fall in love with Willow. C. A. really gets you involved with the characters. It is hard to put the story down. I can’t wait to see how Willow evolves in the series

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Finding Balance (The Portal Prophecies #6) by C.A. King – Review by Jenni Bishop

Finding Balance (The Portal Prophecies #6)Finding Balance by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finding Balance is the sixth and last book to The Portal Prophecies written by C.A. King and a wonderful ending to this fantastic series. Just like the other books in this series it does not disappoint. There are plenty of twists and turns, plots, death and survival. This is certainly not a standalone book and you must read every book before to understand this world and the wonderful characters that C.A. has woven.

We find everything coming to a head with the usual suspects Willow and her sidekicks. The final battle is coming and Willow must do everything to stop Cornelius and Cornost. Two evil men who want to conquer the worlds and destroy everything and everyone in their paths. Will must awaken the last of the ancient trees before it’s too late and everything and everyone she holds dear is destroyed. Whilst Willow is racing against time to do everything she can we see the other characters coming to grips with the evil that left them ensnared with no memory of what happened to them and their friends. Along the way Willow finds out exactly who she is and who is on her side and who is not. She also finds out the meaning of love and that true love means selfless sacrifice even though it breaks her heart.

Will Willow find a way to reconcile with long lost friends and family? Will they be taken away before she gets a chance to see them? Will the final battle mean the loss of loved ones? Will Willow loose the one person she loves with all her heart? Will friends be foes and will foes be friends. Can Willow ever overcome the loss she has had to endure?

All in all, this is series for any age and I would recommend it to one and all. I look forward to reading all the books I can from C.A. as she weaves worlds and realms that take you away and yet you feel like you are in it with them every step of the way.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Sleeping Sands (The Portal Prophecies #4) by C.A. King – Review by Sheri Schrader

Sleeping Sands (The Portal Prophecies #4)Sleeping Sands by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Portal Prophecies: Sleeping Sands by C.A. King is the fourth book in the series. These are not standalone books but need to be read in order. The story continues almost seamlessly from one book to the next. Willow and her friends are still together for a short time. The group is being separated to go to different schools across the main world. They are apprehensive because they do not know what changes this will bring to them and helping Willow solve the prophecies. Willow is having a hard struggle because as her powers are developing and becoming stronger she needs to reign them in to hide them from everyone. She does not know from all these new people who is her friend or enemy.
I enjoyed this book as I have the others in the series. King takes the time to develop the story and characters. It is interesting where Willow’s challenges will take her and her friends and what will happen with Cornelius going mad. The change in story from a seasonal theme to school was cool also. I am excited to read the next book in the series and where Willow and her powers will go next.
These books are great for older tweens and adults as well. I enjoy stories that bring in fantasy, sci-fi, magic, etc. and have a good story and characters to go together as well. The characters are interesting, strong, and have to remember the value of friendship and strength in numbers to solve the prophecies.
Review by @sherimichelle1

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Frost Bitten (The Portal Prophecies, #3) by C.A. King – Review by Sheri Schrader

Frost Bitten (The Portal Prophecies, #3)Frost Bitten by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Portal Prophecies: Frost Bitten is written by C.A. King. This is the third book in the series. These books are best read in order because I do not see them as standalone or out of order type of books. The story picks up where book two left off in the adventures of Willow and her friends. This time Willow and gang are up for a new challenge and learning more about themselves. The call has come and they are needing to help. This story is a Christmas/Winter theme. I enjoy how each new story is a new challenge and process for Willow and her gang. Also, that each story has a different season or theme involved.
Everyone is turning against Willow and her friends. Can they help Lance and survive King Cornelius’ wrath all at once? As their world and experiences are expanding so are their obligations and chances for conflict. I enjoyed this story and am getting pulled in deeper to the world that C.A. King has created for Willow and all the different characters. Willow is fun, strong, and adventurous. She has grown since the first book and so have her friends. They are learning quickly but are also challenged at every turn. I enjoy that they have some tough decisions and must weigh the consequences of their actions.
This is not a series for people who want a simple, boring story. Each book takes the reader on a different adventure. I am glad that there are more books in this series and look forward to reading them.

Review by @sherimichelle1

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Deadly Perceptions (The Portal Prophecies #5) by C.A. King – Review by Jenni Bishop

Deadly Perceptions (The Portal Prophecies #5)Deadly Perceptions by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the fourth installment of The Portal Prophecies, Deadly Perceptions. Each book has revealed a little more to the mysteries that surround Willow and her friends and foes and the truly enchanting world she lives in. Through the many trials and tribulations she has had to endure we see Willow becoming stronger and surer of herself in a way that she never has before. C.A has shown that she has a unique knack for writing multiple story lines, whilst at the same time managing to keep you on your toes every step of the way. You are so wrapped up in the story that before you know it, it has come to an end.

At the end of book three we see Willow separated from her friends and those closest to her. Book four picks right up and we see a young girl becoming a young woman whose growth both personal and magical is amazing everyone. Willow is still in the world of the elves and discovers that you can not judge a book by it’s cover. Somethings so beautiful could mean death. Some things lost may become found. Some things thought myths maybe real. Foes could be friends and friends could be foes. It seems that King Cornelius is still up to his tricks but has upped the anti and he is not the only evil threatening to destroy and rule the worlds.

Whilst Willow is stuck on the world of elves we discover, through the help of her friends left behind that there is more behind the goings on and that Willow is and has always been smack bang in the centre of things, time after time. Will Willow be able to finish her journey? Will she discover things once thought lost? Will she be able to find the helps she needs? Will a right choice be the wrong choice?

There are many interesting twists and turns in this fast paced gripping story that has you spellbound. It is one jammed packed fantasy and folklore abound book that you will not want the story to end. I am hanging for the next installment.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Sleeping Sands (The Portal Prophecies #4) by C.A. King – Review by Jenni Bishop

Sleeping Sands (The Portal Prophecies #4)Sleeping Sands by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With William still on death’s door Willow finds herself torn between having to leave for school and staying by his side. After packing and getting ready the gang all meet for final goodbyes before they go their separate ways to different schools, where they will have no contact with anyone. Just before they are ready to go a visitor turns up with unexpected news. They are all shocked at the news that Cassandrhea Tibbins brings. She tells them how the family who run The Empowered, a newspaper, are continuing to run more and more stories about Willow and painting her in a bad light. How they know some of the things they know, shows there may be a spy somewhere and because of that Cassabdrhea has made the choice that Willow must be hidden from everyone to ensure her safety.

If Willow thought she was lonely before going to the school, she finds herself even more so once she is there. Being unable to show her true self, due to the people after her, the pressure, the fear and the isolation are taking it’s toll. Willow is not only trying to survive the pressures of school and without friends, but she trying to fight to stay alive. Willow finds that old friends are now enemies and evil won’t stop till they find her. Willow is learning more about herself and her magic and surprises them all but is she revealing to much too soon?

Can Willow find the strength and courage to carry on? Will Willow put her friends before herself to survive? Will truths be revealed before it is too late? Will lost friends be found? Will the evil that is after her find a new way to break her soul? Will Willow find allies in the most unlikely places? Just how many more enemies are there waiting to destroy her?

Sleeping Sands is the fourth book of the Portal Prophecies series and I must say that the writing gets better with each book. I feel so much for the main character that I could not put it down until I knew the outcome. I must say they way the book ended has me eager to start the next book as soon as possible. I know that if you love magic you will Love this book.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Frost Bitten (The Portal Prophecies, #3) by C.A. King – Review by Jenni Bishop

Frost Bitten (The Portal Prophecies, #3)Frost Bitten by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The last person that Willow and her friends thought would ever come and ask for their help did. Lance is in dire need to find his sister and has turned to the only ones he feels can help him.

Now that Willow and her friends have survived Halloween they find themselves under the watchful eyes of others with magical powers and creatures. Something is happening in the world but they are just not sure what and they don’t know who they can trust anymore. Everywhere they turn it seems that everyone seems to be against them. Whilst having to deal with the hostility they are on a new mission to aid Lance in recovering someone close to him, his sister, Sissy. As they find each new portal another world opens up with problems and new discoveries. Creatures that are more than they first seem, Guardians long lost, A missing Santa that threatens Christmas and friends that could be enemies. Can Willow and her friends find Santa and save Christmas? Will they find the magic of Christmas? The possibility of losing one of their own has Willow feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders and she is starting to feel more alone than ever. The ever present prophecies leave more questions than answers. Adults who think they know better than the young have many hidden agendas and challenges that seem relatively hard may be easier than meets the eye and vice versa.

Do Willow and her friends make more unlikely alliances or do they make more enemies? Can Willow escape and survive King Cornelius’ wrath? Will betrayal be found? Who can they trust? Will evil finally catch up with them? Can they survive in order to save others? Will the magical world pose a threat and leave more than one fighting for their lives?

Frost Bitten is the third book in the Portal Prophecies series. It is action packed, more emotional and intense and stakes are definitely higher. I enjoy the different characters as they trek through each adventure. Again as with the other books in this series I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading anything paranormal, supernatural and fantasy.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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A Halloween’s Curse (The Portal Prophecies #2) by C. A. King- Review by Emma Haverstock

A Halloween's Curse (The Portal Prophecies #2)A Halloween’s Curse by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Halloween’s Curse is the second book in the Portal Prophecies series by C.A. King and it has just as much, if not more, going for it as the first book. I adored the first book (A Keeper’s Destiny) and was supremely excited when I got the second one, half because I was so intrigued by the story and half because of the cliffhanger from the first book. The second one did not disappoint. We learn so much more about the magical creatures inhabiting the world and their extensive powers. There is potential for so much more and I am just as excited to read the third book.
Willow and the others get many answers but just as many new questions about the prophecies and what it means for the world. One of my favorite parts of this book was the witch tour that takes place at the beginning. The tour group is taken to several places that are important historically or otherwise to witches and we are able to learn quite a bit about the magical community on Earth and how it has kept itself hidden from the terunji, or non magical population. A few new races of creatures are introduced and we learn just enough about what King Cornelius has planned for the world to worry what is coming next.
With quite a bit of doom and gloom, I was very happy to see there were still bits of humor when everyday things had to be explained to Willow and her people. Willow’s reaction to the changing of the seasons was hilarious to me.
All in all, this was a great sequel and I can’t wait to read the next one.

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A Halloween’s Curse (The Portal Prophecies #2) by C.A. King – Review by Jenni Bishop

A Halloween's Curse (The Portal Prophecies #2)A Halloween’s Curse by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the second in The Portal Prophecies series and picks up from where the first book left off. Once again we find Willow and her band of friends trying to decipher the prophecies. They are trying to learn what they know, what they need to know and where they should be with learning their strength and weaknesses. After one of their friends goes missing Willow and her best friends have learnt through one their powers just what one of the prophecies means. They discover that he is in danger and they need to go after him now. After trials and tribulation, lies and deceit they finally find Mike. After they return they learn more and more around them is not what it seems. They set about trying to help those that have been torn from their homes and worlds, those that have been misunderstood.

Halloween is fast approaching, prophecies are proving hard to decipher and friends are not what they seem. Willow is approached by a Witch who is also a Gypsy. She speaks words that make no sense and can only be a prophecy. This leads to a hunt to find out who this woman is and what she is trying to say. What they find only leads to more questions, more mystery and more unknown. They also find a betrayal that was in the works long before they arrived and yet leads them closer to danger. They evil, King Cornelius and his family are still searching and destroying world not realising that what they seek is closer than they realise.

As Halloween is no upon them they must race against time to save not only their friends but those who live with magic, come from different worlds, but they must save themselves. In doing so they discover an unlikely alliance.

Will they be able to get to their friends in time? Will they be able to stop the evil? Will they help one who is an enemy?

This story as with the first was filled with different worlds magic, adventure and different creatures and beings. Each character has their own story and I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading anything paranormal, supernatural and fantasy.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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A Keeper’s Destiny (The Portal Prophecies #1) by C.A. King – Review by Jenni Bishop

A Keeper's Destiny (The Portal Prophecies #1)A Keeper’s Destiny by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Willow and her friends live in an ancient world where the authorities keep everything in check everything in control. Where the people have had their own growth and being stunted. The authorities have condemned the reading of books, restricted the knowledge and learning of what they were, what they are and what they can do. There is a definite line between privilege, wealth and sense of self worth. But as they get older, as they come of age they begin to discover and learn things about themselves and that of the world around them. Of things that they never thought was real or possible. The one thing they do have is a trust of themselves and of those closest to them.

The Authorities have kept the secret of prophecies and what it may mean for their world. They believe that the barriers to the portals to other worlds that ancient guardians put up is enough to keep them safe from the dangers those other worlds may pose. But they couldn’t be more wrong as evil has found ways to tear holes in the barriers and travel between worlds destroying everything and everyone in their path.

As Willow and a small group prepare to flee their world before the evil who just invaded can destroy them, they find a book of prophecies.What they find is a world full of wonder and things they never could have dreamed. A world full of creatures and beings that they thought were only in stories. They find a world where holes appear randomly and only a few are left as protectors of the portals.

Will they learn to live on this new world? Can they learn to trust in the new world and more importantly in themselves. Will they be able decode the prophecies and the mysteries surrounding them? Will they be able stop their enemies and stop the evil from invading? Will they make unlikely friends?

This is one book for anyone who enjoys reading fantasy stories. It is full of different worlds and magical creatures and beings. Full of the unknown, of evil versus good. The characters are full of belief, hope and wonder.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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A Keeper’s Destiny (Portal Prophecies Book 1) by C.A. King- Review by Emma Haverstock

A Keeper's Destiny (The Portal Prophecies #1)A Keeper’s Destiny by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Portal Prophecies: A Keeper’s Destiny is a wonderful syfy adventure story for all ages. It the first book in the Portal Prophecies series begins in a magical world where everyone has their own special talent but no one knows exactly what it will be until they reach 16 cycles. The Council and their families are set above everyone else and are mostly concerned with their own pleasures and entertainment. The talents of others are only there to be exploited by the oppressive leaders. Reading and learning are considered unnecessary but listening to the storyteller is on everyone’s list of favorite activities. However, some stories have much more truth than the Council would like the people to believe. Willow has had voices in her head ever since she can remember and they have always looked out for her and helped her make sense of her world.
Willow and her friends are suddenly shifted from life filled with normal teenage woes to a terrifying, enigmatic world they can hardly comprehend. Each person needs to stretch their abilities far beyond what they ever imagined if they hope to make it through the disasters predicted in a mysterious book called “The Portal Prophecies”. Understanding the prophecies is vital but when each one can mean different things to different people how can you know which interpretation is correct? Trusting in new abilities and new friends, Willow and her people prepare for the worst.
A Keeper’s Destiny is written mostly from the main character Willow’s point of view. I love that Willow is confident in herself and isn’t a stereotypical female character. My favorite parts of the book are people trying to describe what is normal to them to someone else who has no idea what they are talking about. The book ends with a gloriously tantalizing cliff hanger and I cannot wait to read the next book in this six part series.

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