Banished (Tales of Ever) [Kindle Edition]

5 stars, it's short but it's sweet and there's a sequel coming in April for it, which makes it even better. Misha is easy to get to know, she's a regular teenager and even with the shortness, you begin to feel for her right off the bat. Some things aren't explained, but in a 55 page book they don't really need to be. I enjoyed the ride and it only took me an hour to read it.

That means you need to buy it for a quick and easy read too!
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Banished is the first installment of the YA series Tales of Ever. The MC, Misha, and her mother live alone in a rundown house. Misha struggles with herself and her situation, wanting a better life for herself and her mother. She's shy, doesn't have many friends, but her lack of money and quietness isn't what sets her apart from the wealthy kids at school, it's the fire she sees dancing in front of her vision. When her mother tells her she's basically a firestarter, Misha then understands why she's been having strange dreams and seeing fire. Her mother guides her, giving her lessons about her unusual gift, until the day she becomes ill, leaving Misha alone in the world. Misha's character is amazingly strong. I fell in love with this girl right from the start. She's already been through so much growing up, and now faces all new obstacles. When she meets a long lost relative who takes her into his care, she's cautious, not knowing if she can really trust him. Her uncle knows things, and he's keeping secrets about her family from her. Misha sets off to discover the truth, and during her mission becomes banished to another realm called Ever. As I'm trying not to give spoilers, I'll tell you this much. Ever is a scary place. You don't get sent away on vacation here, you're sent because the people who sent you here don't want you to come back. Wylie's description of Ever is haunting. I love the world the author created, and I felt for Misha as she struggled to survive her first day there. Misha's only chance of survival is a strange and gorgeous guy she runs into named Jadus. He's been there for a long time and knows about the plants, monsters, and other magical creatures living there. Banished left me hanging big time, but that's okay, because I know there's going to be a new story each month for six months! I don't have to wait a year to get my hands on the next chapter of Misha's story. I love that about this series. Banished is a fun and fast read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its wonderfully crafted characters, original plotline, and action-packed scenes, I think Ever is a fantastic addition to the YA market!

I liked the first instalment of Tales of Ever. It tells the story of Mischa, a girl who can control fire. She's got a tragic life, her father mysteriously disappeared and only his burnt out car was found, and at the age of 16, her mother dies. This is only the beginning of her story.

This is my first real introduction to Jen Wylie's work. I orginally rated it 5 stars on goodreads and reread it yesterday, it's still an awesome read. I'm looking forward to reading Fire Girl and the rest of the instalments as soon as possible.

Okay, this is what I liked about it. The use of pop culture references makes it easy to identify with the young girl. She's completely thrown out of her element, I would explain that statement but that might spoil the story for other readers, so as Mischa has to adapt with her new situation the reader is pulled along for the ride. Jen has written a story that helps us feel sympathy for the character.

I can't wait to see how this ends.