At first glance, Jake, Shayna, Seneca, and Conner seem like average teens. Maybe even like some kids you know. But they’re special. They know that magic, spells, and prophecies are real.In Crossroads and the Dominion of Four, author C. Toni Graham continues the tale introduced in Crossroads and the Himalayan Crystals. The teens have accepted their fate as defenders of the Otherworld. The realm’s … realm’s mythical beings have chosen sides in a deadly magical war, but it’s not always clear to whom they pledge their allegiance. Jake, Shayna, Conner and Seneca must use their new magical abilities to battle treacherous creatures and face life-altering crossroads. Only a powerful druid and her loyal minions stand in their way to fulfilling their destiny of becoming the prophesized Dominion of Four.The Crossroads series brings together creatures and humans as they fight for the common goal of returning harmony to the Otherworld and rid the realm of evil forever. Teen readers and fans of action-packed fantasy genres will enjoy this thrilling saga.
more
This is a great story that follows a young group of magic-using teens as they fight evil forces in the name of good. This is a book of moral fortitude and adventure, and the author does a great job of showing us that.
The story starts off with a real grab, following the villain, Brigara. I did find the villain a tad cliché, sharing her knowledge to herself so the audience knows what’s she’s thinking, and being angsty and rude. Though she fits the cliché, she was written well and fits into the plot nicely. We don’t see her much in the beginning/middle of the story, but we hear about her impact a lot.
The heroes, all four of them (Jake, Seneca, Conner, Shayna), were very dynamic and had diverse and fleshed-out personalities that put life into the story. We first see them trapped in Otherworld (the adverse to our zero world/human realm) and in their scramble to get stronger and defeat Brigara we see exactly how valuable each character’s personality is to the story.
Be patient, this is the second book in the series and there’s still a good bit of lore/power development that drags through the middle, but it’s worth the read. The pace does pick up and the closer you get to the end, the harder it is to put down.
If you like great magic stories with a dynamic cast, murkgoblins, good plot and lore, and a classic good vs. evil theme, then this should be the next book on your to-read list.
I’m definitely getting the next one!
The second installment in the ‘Crossroads’ trilogy by C. Toni Graham, is just as exciting and thrilling as the Book One, the ‘Himalayan Crystals’. In fact, it may be one of those ‘Empire Strikes Back’ situations, where the sequel is better than the original. Graham has amped up her imagination another notch. She firmly cemented the plot for her teen protagonists in the first novel, ‘Crossroads and the Dominion of Four’, she can get straight into what she does best…fast-paced fantasy action, and plenty of it.
Jake, Seneca, Connor, and Shayna, look like your normal teens, but their lives are anything but normal. There is a whole other world that exists, and they have been tasked to defend it from whatever nefarious creatures would do it harm. They are the Dominion of Four and with each threat to the Otherworld that they extinguish, the closer they are to fulfilling their destiny.
What a great great, I can’t wait until the final part of the trilogy and to see how much further Graham can push the limits of imagination.
Crossroads and the Dominion of Four was a great book that for me stood out from the crowd of Young Adult books full of magic and fantasy. It’s the second book I’ve read by Graham, and right now this one is my favourite, although i do hope the author will follow up with more books in the future. The characters in this, as with the first book, are well-crafted, individual and are compelling enough to draw me in quickly and make both books hard to put down. Five stars for a most enjoyable read.
I found this book very entertaining and was especially enthralled by the characters of the book, both human and other worldly. The detail that has been put into each persona really brings them and the story to life, reenforcing the connection felt and making the book so much more impactful. The plot itself is fast paced with lots of things happening which is key for keep a young readers attention. Highly recommend the whole series.
Crossroads and the Dominion of Four by C. Toni Graham begin with evil Brigara stuck on earth, while the four teenagers are in the Otherworld train to learn their full potential. Jake, Shayna, Seneca, and Conner have magical powers that they are just beginning to learn about. Their goal is to keep peace in the Otherworld, for some it is so their family cans one day return. The road they take isn’t an easy one, even harder when their guide disappears. Will their new guide keep them on the right path, or could this be a trap?
I found Crossroads and the Dominion of Four enchanting as the four teenagers interact with each other. C. Toni Graham makes their unique personalities shine through. This unknown world still holds a mystique as they travel deeper into the realm. Graham builds the tension as they meet new creatures and depend on more strangers. The reader feels the anticipation as nothing is as expected. Overall, this novel is well written with the perfect amount of drama, suspense, and thrill to hold a fantasy fan enthralled.
California author C. Toni Graham is both an inspirational speaker and an author. Her initial book – CROSSROADS AND THE HIMALAYAN CRYSTALS – met with awards, the Silver Medal for Young Adult action novels, and now she continues her projected trilogy with CROSSROADS AND THE DOMINION OF FOUR.
Writing for the Young Adult audience is a challenge, especially these days when manipulation of the social media on all available devices competes for attention away form reading. Toni has successfully solved that resistance by making this novel so rich in characterizations – both from this world and ‘other’ places – and lets her story spin with gossamer effervescence that proves addicting.
Toni provides a terse outline for her story – ‘At first glance, Jake, Shayna, Seneca, and Conner seem like average teens. Maybe even like some kids you know. But they’re not. They know that magic, spells, and prophecies are real. The teens have accepted their fate as defenders of the Otherworld. The realm’s mythical beings have chosen sides in a deadly magical war, but it’s not always clear to whom they pledge their allegiance. Jake, Shayna, Conner and Seneca must use their new magical abilities to battle treacherous creatures and face life-altering crossroads. Only a powerful druid and her loyal minions stand in their way to fulfilling their destiny of becoming the prophesized Dominion of Four…’
In very fine prose opens this further adventure – ‘Yellow crime-scene tape surrounded the deserted high school. Brigara scowled at the absurdity of the flimsy barrier. “As if this would stop me!” She spat at the ground before stepping over the tape and then scanned the parking lot one last time. Once she was certain no one was watching, she began her march toward the administration building. She was determined to claim her belongings, and nothing in the mortal realm was going to stop her. She focused on the coveted fireproof box; it called to her from inside the principal’s office…’
That degree of energy is sustained throughout this absorbing fantasy – a novel that easily becomes visual and enchanting. Toni’s ability to transport high school kids to another realm (Fionia) populated with magic and strange forms is rendered with beautiful prose and imagination. Her writing is first class and leaves the reader fueled for the next installment in this trilogy. Recommended.
I thought this was a great follow up to the first instalment of the series. The characters remained consistent and the new characters and creatures were fantastic. The plot was a little slow in the beginning but very enjoyable and full of action in the second half. I especially liked the character and role of Brigara – impressive villain. A really fun and multilayered book for young adults.
Crossroads and the Dominion of Four by C. Toni Graham opens with a promising start as a mysterious creature is looking for a powerful black box in a deserted high school. Once she finds it, and sets a janitors cart on fire, you know you are in for an interesting read. Chapter two delves further into this story as we are introduced to the four main characters, Jake, Seneca, Conner, and Shayna. While they appear to be ordinary teenagers, they are in fact trapped in the Otherworld. They have a plethora of magical powers and are battling the forces of evil. This is a fascinating, well described story that will appeal to teens and adults as well. Graham writes with an easygoing tone, and sets the stage well for the characters to win at all costs. Highly recommend for anyone interested in alternate realities and mysterious forces.
” Crossroads and the Dominion of Four” continues the tale from the first book ” Crossroads and the Himalayan Crystal”. We meet again four friends which special abilities, who fight for a common goal, which is bring back harmony and peace to the Otherworld. I am sure that fantasy fans won’t be disappointed. I enjoyed this book much more than I could have hoped. C. Toni Graham contains everything what good fantasy- fiction should get: action, thrilling story, adventure, magic, well described main characters.
Excellent book for not only teen readers but in general for any fantasy fans. Superb entertainment and worth reading.