We belong to the Earth, Lainie-Bug. We were sent here in human form for a reason. If you don’t know what to do, then just be human.Right. Like that was ever a simple thing to do.In the heart of the Wimmera region of Victoria, an ancient gateway to Eden is kept hidden and safe by a creature so powerful that even the moon would obey her commands – at least it would if she had any idea that she … idea that she wasn’t just a normal girl about to finish high school.
When a mining company begins exploratory sampling near Lainie’s sheep farm, a family secret is revealed that makes her regret not having learnt more about her Indigenous heritage.
What she’s told by their farmhand, Harry – an Aboriginal Elder – can’t possibly be true, but then the most irritating guy in class, Bane, begins to act even more insanely toward her than ever, until she can no longer deny that something very unusual is going on.
When Harry doesn’t return from his quest to seek help to protect the area from the miners, Lainie sets out to discover the truth of her heritage, and of the secret she’s been born to protect.
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Songlines is a fresh and unusual YA urban fantasy, with a unique supernatural twist: situating Paradise in a remote corner of the Victorian countryside. Songlines begins with Lainie Gracewood finishing off her last weeks of school, unaware that her university plans are about to be derailed. Her mission to protect her aunt’s farm from unscrupulous mining prospectors becomes an exploration of the land’s profound ties to humanity – and the role a close-knit network of farmers plays in safeguarding this sacred connection.
I loved Laine’s adventurous spirit, her wicked sense of humour and her practical approach to every issue – whether it be looking after an orphaned joey, or finding a way to save the farm’s precious cave system with its hidden secrets. The mystery of the river which sends its sorrowful music into Lainie’s dreams, the role the Garden of Eden plays, and the inclusion of a strong romance element keeps the story rolling along.
I honestly enjoyed this book. It gave a unique spin off a tale as old as time about Adam and Eve. I loved the characters. They were all eccentric but fun to read about. It was beautifully written in a way that sucked you in from the start and didn’t let go until the very last page. It was easy to comprehend and follow along with it. There were twists at every corner that left not only the readers gasping but the characters as well. It was such a brilliant new world that you are sucked into. I could easily see myself on the farm right next to the characters helping out. I’m so glad I decided to give this book a go. I was captured from the moment I saw the cover, then reading the blurb had me so excited I just had to read it! Once I dove into the book I definitely didn’t regret it. Absolutely loved it.
Well written, easy to read. After a slow start the action picks up and turns this book into a page turner. There is always a choice and hope can be found in the most unlikely of places.
This novel has a promising premise as it follows Lainie, a young girl who wants nothing more than to escape the backwoods of Australia and go live in the city and attend university. It is a typical coming-of-age premise of a young individual seeking out a chance to spread their wings and escape their repetitive simple lives. However, the twist here is that Lainie is not an ordinary human; she is a Cherub, a creature meant to protect the gate from humans. It is an interesting enough premise, and the book cover is beautiful enough to draw in any reader.
However, the novel itself pales in comparison.
Songlines is one of those novels that was difficult to hold my attention. The detail that went into the description of the setting and backdrop was terrific. It is beautiful how Denman can create that backdrop in such magical way without losing realism. Then there was the approach to Judeo-Christian religion. It was respectful in the way it captured religion and took the ideals of Eden and transformed them into mythology. The novel is incredibly respectful, so for that; the novel holds merit. What is hard to get a handle on is the characters and the dynamics.
Lainie’s relationship with Bane is one that is not only predictable but cliché. These are two characters who hate each other that are destined to be with one another. As a cliché trope, it is one that is fine to work with, especially when the reader can connect to the characters. However, Lainie and Bane are challenging to connect to, and their guardian-sentinel forced relationship takes away half of the magic that could have been used to build up their dynamics. As a couple, the fact that they are forced together, it does not come off well to the reader, and both characters do not jump off the pages. They are lackluster, and the reader is not given much depth to their relationship, at least not enough to make the reader care about them. Their voices are stagnant.
Now, while the detail may be incredible, the pace of the story is incredibly slow. It is hard to get a firm grip on the direction of the novel because it is almost as if two stories are going on here, but neither is built up well enough. It is as if the reader is driving between the fork on the road, looking at both roads for direction. It just takes too long to capture the reader’s interest, following the slow pace and adding in scenes that do not add anything to the plot or the character development. They are, quite simply, nothing but filler, lacking any substance.
Once again, as compelling as the novel could have been, it ultimately just fell flat.
Sounded great but could not get into the book!
Songlines by Carolyn Denman is a wonderful story that will take you away and make you think about life and heaven and earth. Do angels exist? Was the Garden of Eden real? There is so much going on in this story that I do not want to add anything to the synopsis about this book. I do feel that reading it will leave you with a wonderful feeling that cannot be explained. It is a different story and you must read it with an open mind. I guarantee you will love it!
I received this story as part of a Quirky Blind Date with an author and I always review every book that I read. I highly recommend this one. Enjoy.
Overall rating: 4.5
It took me a bit to get into this storyline but it was only due to my lack of knowledge towards certain terms as well as folklore references. With that said, I admire this authors ability to ignite a readers curiosity to gain more knowledge. For me, this was truly a unique read and I enjoyed these characters immensely. The range of emotions thus brought out was huge, spanning from childlike innocence to tragic and bittersweet. My spirit feels as though it went through a thorough workout. There are some unanswered questions so I am definitely curious about book 2. All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
Carolyn Denman’s 4-book “Sentinels of Eden” series is exactly what young adult fantasy should be: vulnerable, brave, and compelling. The central idea is that the Garden of Eden must be protected, and it has been moved to country Australia, where certain individuals are fated to protect it.