Song of the Sea Spirit (The Mindstream Chronicles Book 1)

Song of the Sea Spirit is a new epic fantasy series by author K.C. May. The stone dolphin and wooden flute on the cover can give an impression of a gentle and soothing story, but it's far from it! In fact, it leans more toward dark fantasy than anything else.Jora Lanseri is a free spirit with her own idealistic notions. She prefers avoiding conflict, but when push comes to shove, she doesn't back down, especially if it's important to her. My favorite part of the story was watching Jora develop in her mystical skills and the unique way she learns the language of the sea spirit.A lot of effort was put into the anthropology side of K.C. May's world building. For example, the marriage ritual and the age that young women can get married seemed contradictory until I read it through a second time. That's how much detail there was that I had to study it a bit to get the full understanding.Something I noticed, and it made me cringe a few times, was that K.C. May's writing lacks euphemisms. She isn't shy to call bodily functions what they are. Something to be aware of is that the story contains lots of violence and some parts are even traumatic. The mystery that involves the tree and its fruit adds a good amount of suspense. Overall, it was a good read with a satisfactory ending that leaves a few loose ends for the series to continue.Posted on Amanda's Books and More

Song of the Sea Spirit, Book 1 of Mindstream Chronicles by K.C. May is an intriguing book. Jora Lanseri has the uncommon skill to enter the Mindstream to witness any event in the past or present. She is starting her training as a Truth Sayer in the Order of Justice Officials. She is also getting ready to say goodbye to her friend, Boden, who is going to war. I gave it five stars because I found it intriguing.Nuri had told Jora about a book called The Whispering Sea. Sadly the librarian believed it had been burned in a five-over twenty years ago. "Nuri's eyes widened and brimmed with tears. 'Oh. Oh, that's awful. My favorite book. That saddens me. Books from one's childhood are like dear friends.'"'I know. I'm particularly fond of a few myself. I'm sorry about your book.'"I look forward to reading the next Book, Call of the Colossus.I received a complimentary copy from the author. That did not change my opinion for this review.Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Song-Spirit-Mindstream-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00K4JG6VE

There were some flaws in the characterisation of support characters, people were either too perfect or too purely evil. That being said, there is an interesting enough story here to keep you reading. The world building isn't bad either. It's intriguing to know that a war over a tree/commodity has been going on so long and to see how it shapes the culture, especially the gender relations. The way marriage, child bearing and men going to war is set up in this village, compared to how the religious class operates in the urban setting is a nice contrast. There's enough hinted at from conspiracy theories, to corruption, with enough magic that may be science, flawed gods and Demi Gods who may or may not be aliens from another dimension to make me want to know what happens next. My experience with such series is, you either keep going and like some books better than others but are satisfied overall, or, it goes downhill fast from the first book and you mourn the hours you'll never recover. I'd give book two a shot.

The Author has created a new fantasy series that takes place in a fascinating and intriguing world that is full of magic, music and adventure. It has suspense, mystery, and unpredictable twists. At times, it also has violence.Well written, steadily paced, the story telling is superb.The main character is strong and determined. The reader sees her grow and develop her magical skills as the story unfolds. Captivating, imaginative with good support from the vivid and colourful secondary characters, it is quite unlike anything else around.There is also very good descriptive details given to images, and the various scenes and settings.A stand alone novel that I enjoyed reading.I look forward to the next book in the series. Recommended!

K.C. May has created another intriguing world for her Mindstreaming series! I picked up this book because I enjoyed her Kinshield Saga. This book seemed to be aimed at a slightly younger audience, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. May does a great job of creating a world that is both completely recognizable & completely alien, as well as building characters with substance & flaws. May has no problem getting rid of characters, which means that the ending is always unpredictable & the plot ever-changing. The book is steadily paced, and once I finished this book, I immediately went to my Kindle store & purchased the second book.

I'm torn on my rating for this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed the majority of it and planned to give it at least four stars. Then I started nearing the end, and things became very violent.Though I don't think I'll be reading the sequels, I did enjoy most of the book and thus stuck with original rating of four stars.The main character Jora is awesome. Strong, brave, and intelligent. She has an ability called Mindstreaming where she can look into the lives of others whose lives she's touched. It's an interesting mental magic system that develops over the course of the story and is probably my favorite part of the book (besides Sundancer...but I can't say anymore about her.)The world itself is well-developed and hints at greater things to come in the sequels. Lovers of epic fantasy will certainly enjoy it, provided they don't mind things getting significantly darker during the second half of the story.

This book has a very interesting concept. A girl who can "mindstream" and communicate with dolphins. It also has some interesting elements: a god with a sense of humor, fruit that can bring you back from the dead, creatures from another realm, and a sinister plot. I bought the other book. I'm slightly intrigued to find out what happens next.

The idea of being able to 'float' along a stream of consciousness and connect with not only other people, but the dead, is really unusual. Especially as the dead take unusual forms, to put it mildly. I found this book so intriguing, it was difficult to put down. Following the story of Jora, a leather-worker in a small village, hoping to marry the man of her dreams, to abruptly being taken to the Ministry of Truth, was fascinating! So much so, that as soon as I had finished this book (late at night!), I immediately ordered the others. Excellent read,

Excellent book I could not put it down !.Great Characterisation and a flowing storyline that draws you in page by page.The main character, Jora, is a young girl that starts off very unassuming but is pulled in by events beyond her control into becoming the heroin of the story.With her 'talent' to 'Mindstream' and see from a distance what is happening to her friends and family to conversing with Dolphins K.C.May has created a fantastic worldIf you enjoy fantasy and adventure this will appeal to you.It's never a dull moment !

Brilliant story with a great plot line and such rounded out characters. I love the monsters in it..amazingly well thought out! Such lovely characters...byt I was sad to read of the whole village dying and was sooo hoping that some escaped...seems no one did 😣 The whole time reading this, I just could not put it down. First rate story...I am a total K C May fan now...bring on more books K C! 😊😊

This book had me enthralled from the beginning, the heroine is so unassuming and non-threatening, but becomes so strong in defence of her loved ones. The different threads allow us to see different points of view, and weave together, ending with a cliff hanger, that make me eager for the next book.

I really enjoyed this book. Quirky and in some places unexpected with an imperfect but likable heroine. I go the first two books in the series on offer but have already bought the third book. Good reading and good value. Also well written and edited unlike quite a few contemporary fantasy series.