Guide to categories: YA Review – review of books for teens

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About the Book

Book: Torch

Author: Sofia Simpson

Genre: Young Adult Christian Fantasy

Release Date: February 6, 2024

Relentlessly pursued by the Extremists, Vela and Linc embark on a perilous journey toward a hidden Elemental community in the Canadian mountains. It’s a place where couples of different elements thrive, raising families while living off the grid.

These Elementals, like the Extremists, are searching for the portended Chosen Child, the one who will unite the clans. Vela is forced to accept she might be a part of this prophecy whether she likes it or not.

Vela is more than intrigued by a mixed Elemental in the community who single-mindedly pursues her. Faced with a choice between two very different men makes committing to Linc as her Intended harder than she imagined.

Can Linc win the fight for her heart? Will this prophecy be her undoing or the Elementals’ salvation?

Click here to get your copy!

My YA Review

Simpson, Sofia. Torch. NP: Starlight Books, 2024.

An Elemental Series, 2

Sofia Simpson has created an interesting fantasy series. Some people, who are not considered “human” in the book, have certain powers based on elements – fire, water, nature, and others. Humans do not understand the “elementals” and many elementals don’t trust elementals with a different power. However, the main characters, Vela and Linc, have different powers but have become bonded.

Unfortunately, I have not read the first book in the story so I often felt like I was “missing something” while I was reading. There are things I still don’t completely understand about the plot even after reading the book. I think this could have been helped if the book had started with a “previously in…” section that gave a bit of a synopsis of the first book. If I had been able to fully comprehend the information I was missing, I probably would have given this book a 5 star rating. It is well written and enjoyable once I stopped trying to figure out what I was missing. 

I would recommend Torch for a K-12 Christian school library, provided you got the whole series and encouraged students to read the book in order. The book is appropriate for high schoolers. 

I received a complimentary copy of Torch. This is my honest review.

About the Author – Sofia Simpson

Sofia grew up moving constantly. Never in one place more than three years, there was plenty of time to daydream during long car rides. College finally gave her a chance to study what she had always dreamed of doing, writing her stories.

She obtained a B.A. in Journalism, married her handsome husband and had two amazing sons.

A big believer in dreaming big, Sofia loves speaking to youth, encouraging them to find hope no matter what their life looks like. Sofia is a daughter of the Lord first and foremost and finds inspiration with the stories like King David and Esther.

More from Sofia Simpson

This book has been my absolute favorite to write. I switched my POV to first person, and it made all the difference in the world as far as getting into my character’s head. I’ve been so intimidated in writing in first person POV, so I’m so happy I went out on a limb and tried it. The story flowed so easily once I did! I wrote the first draft of this book in 10 weeks! I got on an intense writing schedule, stuck to it and voila! Out popped this book.

I loved every minute of it, especially the researching part. Researching how to live off the grid was fascinating to me, and it couldn’t have been more interesting. It really made me understand how people lived without modern conveniences. Well, in my book, they lived with modern conveniences thanks to generators and the Elementals’ gifts and abilities, but they had to make their own soap, butter, cheese, sometimes, clothes. I learned how a toilet can work thanks to gravity and setting up the pump on a hill. It’s all fascinating to me and I hope everyone finds it fun to learn, too, all while a great story unfolds!

The following recipe was so neat, I had to include it! And, yes, it’s in the book. They had to cook bread without an oven, so this worked nicely so they could still enjoy some fresh cooked bread.

This recipe was copied from the following link from Veganonboard.com:

Campfire Bread on a Stick Recipe – Vegan on Board

Ingredients

• 1 tsp dried yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 ½ cups (300 g) flour
• ⅞ cup (200 ml) warm water
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
• 1 tsp salt

Dough:

• In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients into a moist dough. No need to knead!
• Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size – about 1 hour.
• With floured hands, briefly ‘knock back’ the dough by making it into a ball.
• Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into 8 pieces.

Shaping your breadsticks:

• Start by stretching the dough into a strip and then roll it into a long sausage shape.
• Twist a strip around the end of your sticks. Pinch the dough together to secure the end if necessary.

Cooking Over a Campfire:

• Either hold or prop up your stick over the fire.
• Choose a spot over hot embers for best results.
• Keep rotating until all sides are browned.
• Enjoy your freshly baked bread!

Blog Stops

Artistic Nobody, February 15 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 16

Guild Master, February 17 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 17

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

Fiction Book Lover, February 19 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 20

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, February 22

Simple Harvest Reads, February 23 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 24

A Reader’s Brain, February 25 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, February 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 26

Through the Fire Blogs, February 27 (Author Interview)

Blogging with Carol, February 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sofia is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/29dba/torch-celebration-tour-giveaway

Read more YA Review posts.