When fifteen-year-old Ciarán Morrigan eavesdrops on a conversation between his father and two mysterious strangers, his life–and the life of his little sister, Remiel–is changed forever. After their father makes a startling decision, the Morrigan siblings are forced to flee the only life they’ve ever known and embark on a dangerous adventure across the nation of Empirya. With the help of a … disinherited vagabond, a cynical violinist, a fire-juggler with a fierce temper, an aspiring mechanic, and a cheerful librarian, Ciarán and Remiel must fight to escape those who have been hired to hunt them. But will Remiel’s dark secret prevent the Morrigan children from finding a place they can truly call home?
more
A lot of writers struggle to find the balance of character depth that Allie Frost hits with this novel. There are signs this is a new author, but the writing here has definitely been crafted with care.
The characters are thrown into an extraordinary situation thanks to some very special talents (Remiel). Ciaran (the central character), is a young teenage boy who is smart beyond his years. He struggles with this and finds a full cast of peers and friends to help pull him through this adventure and grow.
This is a rich world with a diverse and amazing set of characters. Though it’s not a unique plot, it’s told and shared in a way that brings a new light on a struggle for survival. I’d recommend this book to anyone that wants a good read that you can hammer out over the weekend. It’s a great story about the family we create, and the people we depend on.
Well, well, well. I am going to say this and I am pleased to say it, this book was like a blockbuster movie for me. I could liken the plot of this movie to that of the 80’s film, Willow, but with a few alterations. The main characters are a pair of siblings by the names of Ciaran and Remiel who are on the run from their father who has hired big-time assassins to murder them due to Remiel’s gift for predicting a person’s death. The book starts off with them all eating breakfast to their butler driving Ciaran and Remiel to school to Ciaran realizing he’s forgotten his homework at home and thus going back to get it. Upon arriving home, he discovers his father’s malicious intentions for his sister and therefore goes out of his way to make sure he and his sister escape him. Along the way, they befriend certain outcasts who swear on their own lives to get Ciaran and Remiel to safety. The book takes place in an alternate universe in a country known as Empirya which I suspect is the equivalent of our country (the United States). The author, Allie Frost, has a refreshing tone in her writing of this book and that’s what I liked about it. Her own way of weaving fantasy with reality is so expertly done that it captured my attention throughout.
The characters of this book are relatable. Each one has an inner strength as well as a conflict that affects the way they act throughout their journey. They are consisted of a pair of gays, a former prostitute, a librarian with a hidden temper, a circus juggler with a monstrous alternative personality, and the two main characters who realize that their friends are relying on them and the reward they have promised them in return for their companionship. What I really enjoyed about this book was the way their alternate world mirrored our real world. The Northern part of Empirya resembles our Northern region where it is described as more modern, more having to do with the city life than its Southern counterpart which is made up of rural communities like farming for instance. There is a part of this book that endeared itself to the Christian in me when they stopped by a monastery where monks dwelt who are worshippers of a deity similar to the real-life Jesus Christ. He is referred to as Irovas and their religion is termed the Irovasian faith. His teachings paralleled that of Jesus to give love and to serve each other. I found myself at a verge of tears when I realized that this book has a hidden Christian meaning to it and it got me to recall C.S. Lewis’ Narnia which really is a great thing to consider while reading the book.
I will not spoil the contents of this great read but if you are looking for an adventure with all the deadly weaponry and wit, this book will sate you. I wholeheartedly recommend it to teenagers because although it may sound like a plot of a children’s book, it has themes and some language that are inappropriate for children. So yes, this is a great YA book I must assert. I really want you the reader to read it because it both has modern and old-fashioned elements for both the adult lover of YA fiction and the millennial teenager him or herself. When I read the last word of the last page of this book, I honestly breathed a huge sigh and told myself: “whoa, that was a super-fantastic blockbuster of a book. Just wait when some interested Hollywood producer and screenwriter and director finds out about it.” It will make an awesome movie someday and Allie Frost, you have got yourself a superfan in me, yes! I will anxiously await your next book. You are an amazing writer! I give your book a solid 5 stars for being the masterpiece it is! Good work!
The story follows Ciaran Morrigan and his sister Remiel, who find themselves in danger, in the place where they are supposed to be the safest. They flee across the mythical nation of Empirya. Their journey is full of danger, but also full of interesting characters they meet along the way that offer help to the stricken family. Will their long journey lead to a sanctuary, or will the dark premonitions his sister Remiel has, lead to their ruin? I loved my journey to find out.
I probably say this way too much: This is the perfect book for a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Remiel Morrigan has a supernatural gift, but it is not one that anyone would wish for. She has premonitions of death, even predicting the untimely death of her own mother. Her brother Ciaran is fiercely protective of her, and when he overhears the details of a devastating plan, he will have to go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. ‘I’m With You’ by Allie Frost, is a fantasy novel that will draw you in, and pull you along right until the last page.
Reading this wonderful fantasy novel, I felt with the characters – the desperation of the Morrigan siblings, the mad grief of their father, and the underlying feelings of hope and love, that comes with friendship. The writing style was very smooth, with the plot flowing smoothly throughout, with sub-plots weaved into the tapestry of the story, seamlessly. Beautiful scene setting, punchy dialogue, a flawless plot, and character that will steal your heart. What more can you want from a fantasy novel?
What I really loved about ‘I’m With You’, was the extraordinary characters, debut author Allie Frost has a real talent for them. Ciaran and Rimiel Morrigan are siblings who have suffered the tragic loss of their mother. Worse still, their father puts the blame firmly at Rimiel’s feet as she experiences a vision of the mother’s demise. But, they could never have predicted the other dark thoughts going on in their father’s mind. I started to feel for the siblings very quickly, relating and empathising with them, and rooting for them to find safety and acceptance. They are just beautifully written characters, and I would love to see more from the Morrigan siblings in the future.
It is not just the main protagonists that I fell in love with. Be prepared for a ragtag bunch of secondary characters – like a short-tempered fire-juggler and upper-class street dweller – that really make this novel come to life. Their personalities are diverse, they have their own quirks and backstories, and they are all genuinely loveable. Brilliant.
A lot of writers struggle to find the balance of character depth that Allie Frost hits with this novel. There are signs this is a new author, but the writing here has definitely been crafted with care.
The characters are thrown into an extraordinary situation thanks to some very special talents (Remiel). Ciaran (the central character), is a young teenage boy who is smart beyond his years. He struggles with this and finds a full cast of peers and friends to help pull him through this adventure and grow.
This is a rich world with a diverse and amazing set of characters. Though it’s not a unique plot, it’s told and shared in a way that brings a new light on a struggle for survival. I’d recommend this book to anyone that wants a good read that you can hammer out over the weekend. It’s a great story about the family we create, and the people we depend on.
It’s hard to believe that I’m With You by Allie Frost is this author’s first novel. Expertly written, Frost has set the stage for a great future of significant and entertaining works that will appeal to teens and adults alike. The characters are quite realistically drawn; brother and sister, Ciarán Morrigan and Remiel are on the run for their lives, after their father determines he has had enough of Remiel’s seemingly odd ways. You see, she has a way of knowing when someone is about to die, and predicted the death of her mother. Remiel’s father thinks she is wicked, and must be killed. On their journey to escape their father, Ciaran and Remiel meet a ton of interesting characters who endeavor to help them. This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel, one which has fantastic characterization, a hefty plot, well described surroundings, and a true sense of desperation covering the brother and sister team. The author writes well, fully utilizing and expanding on her command of language to pull the reader in to the journey. The further you get into the book, the more you will appreciate the story, as emotions develop, and the plot thickens. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a different kind of book.